Abstract: Absorbent articles comprising pleats and methods for forming pleated absorbent articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, an absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction may comprise a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent core disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, and a pleat extending in the longitudinal direction and having a lower pleat portion and an upper pleat portion, the pleat having a pleat height, wherein the lower pleat portion has a greater stiffness than the upper pleat portion.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly is formed separately from the chassis, and attached to the chassis by an attachment area. The attachment area includes a front attachment zone, a rear attachment zone, and a central attachment zone extending between the front and rear attachment zones. The front and rear attachment zones have a first width and a second width, respectively, and the central attachment zone has a third width less than the first and second widths.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region. The front and back waist regions are permanently attached or releasably attachable to each other by an article fastening system to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article is configurable from the wear configuration to a disposal configuration. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one of the sides of the article and extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of a length Lp of one of the sides. A tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The attachment region has a first surface attached to one of the sides of the article and a second surface that defines part of the article fastening system.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The absorbent assembly is formed separately from the chassis, and attached to the chassis by an attachment area. The attachment area includes a front attachment zone, a rear attachment zone, and a central attachment zone extending between the front and rear attachment zones. The front and rear attachment zones have a first width and a second width, respectively, and the central attachment zone has a third width less than the first and second widths.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner for facing the wearer, an outer cover for facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover. A primary fastening system is provided for securing the article in a wear configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening. A secondary fastening system comprises a pair of tabs having a fastener region selectively attachable to the article and an attachment region defining a portion of the primary fastening system.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region. The front and back waist regions are permanently attached or releasably attachable to each other by an article fastening system to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article is configurable from the wear configuration to a disposal configuration. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one of the sides of the article and extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of a length Lp of one of the sides. A tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The attachment region has a first surface attached to one of the sides of the article and a second surface that defines part of the article fastening system.

Abstract: An absorbent article generally has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions. The article comprises an outer cover stretchable in at least the lateral direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least the lateral direction. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The article has an attachment zone and at least one non-attachment zone laterally adjacent the attachment zone. The absorbent structure is configured for improved lateral stretch distribution of the article.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable bodyside liner for facing the wearer, an outer cover for facing away from the wearer, and an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover. A primary fastening system is provided for securing the article in a wear configuration having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings spaced from the waist opening. A secondary fastening system comprises a pair of tabs having a fastener region selectively attachable to the article and an attachment region defining a portion of the primary fastening system.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region. The front and back waist regions are permanently attached or releasably attachable to each other by an article fastening system to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article is configurable from the wear configuration to a disposal configuration. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one of the sides of the article and extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of a length Lp of one of the sides. A tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The attachment region has a first surface attached to one of the sides of the article and a second surface that defines part of the article fastening system.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a central absorbent assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region interconnecting the front and back waist regions. Front side panels extend outward from the front waist region and back side panels extend outward from the back waist region. The article includes a pair of tabs. Each tab has an attachment region attached to one of the front side panels and the back side panels, and a tab region extending transversely outward from the attachment region and being releasably attachable to the other one of the front side panels and the back side panels. The one of the front side panels and the back side panels to which the attachment region of the tab is attached has a first stiffness and at least a portion of the tab region has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

Abstract: An absorbent article generally has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions. The article comprises an outer cover stretchable in at least the lateral direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least the lateral direction. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The article has an attachment zone and at least one non-attachment zone laterally adjacent the attachment zone. The absorbent structure is configured for improved lateral stretch distribution of the article.

Abstract: An absorbent article generally has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions. The article comprises an outer cover stretchable in at least the lateral direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least the lateral direction. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The article has an attachment zone and at least one non-attachment zone laterally adjacent the attachment zone. The absorbent structure is configured for improved lateral stretch distribution of the article.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region. The front and back waist regions are permanently attached or releasably attachable to each other by an article fastening system to define a wear configuration of the absorbent article. The article is configurable from the wear configuration to a disposal configuration. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one of the sides of the article and extends a greatest length La along at least a portion of a length Lp of one of the sides. A tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The attachment region has a first surface attached to one of the sides of the article and a second surface that defines part of the article fastening system.

Abstract: An absorbent article has front and back waist regions that define transversely opposite sides each extending a length Lp from a waist opening to a leg opening of the article. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one side of the article and extending a greatest length La along at least a portion of the length Lp of the side. A tab region of the tab extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least a disposal configuration of the article. The greatest length La of the attachment region is substantially greater than the greatest distance Dt that the tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region. The greatest length La of the attachment region is in the range of about 35 percent to 100 percent of the length Lp of the side of the article.

Abstract: An absorbent article generally has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The absorbent article has an outer cover stretchable in at least one direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The absorbent structure has at least one weakening element disposed therein for reducing the resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent article of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a central absorbent assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region interconnecting the front and back waist regions. Front side panels extend outward from the front waist region and back side panels extend outward from the back waist region. The article also includes a pair of tabs. Each tab has an attachment region attached to one of the front side panels and the back side panels, and a tab region extending transversely outward from the attachment region and being releasably attachable to the other one of the front side panels and the back side panels. The one of the front side panels and the back side panels to which the attachment region of the tab is attached has a first stiffness and at least a portion of the tab region of the tab has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

Abstract: An absorbent article for personal wear has front and back waist regions that are one of permanently attached and releasably attachable to define transversely opposite sides each extending a length Lp from a waist opening to a leg opening of the article. A disposal tab has an attachment region attached to one side of the article and extending a greatest length La along at least a portion of the length Lp of the side. A tab region of the tab extends transversely outward from the attachment region a greatest distance Dt and is attachable to the article in at least the disposal configuration of the article. The greatest length La of the attachment region of the tab is substantially greater than the greatest distance Dt that the tab region extends transversely outward from the attachment region. The greatest length La of the attachment region is in the range of about 35 percent to 100 percent of the length Lp of the side of the article.