Importance

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Abstract

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants, and the like, that provide dynamic fit about the wearer by the use of elasticized hip panels. Such absorbent articles comprise a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; elasticized side panels positioned in the side panels of the back waist region; and an elasticized hip panel positioned in the central region of the back waist region. The elasticized hip panel comprises a stretch laminate comprising one or more elongatable components and an elastic hip panel member that are mechanically stretched to allow expansion of the stretch laminate beyond the original planar state of the diaper in the lateral direction. By adding stretch to the middle-back of the absorbent article, the absorbent article is capable of expanding in the back waist region thereby creating a more three-dimensional fit to better contour the hips and buttocks and to more completely wrap the wearer's hips and buttocks. In an alternative embodiment, a single elastic hip panel member is positioned in most of the central region of the back waist region with the stretch laminate being mechanically stretched in selected zones or preferably over the entire area of the elastic hip panel member. The absorbent core is either stretchable or preferably not attached to the stretch laminate in the mechanically stretched zones to not encumber the stretch of the stretch laminate. The topsheet is also preferably stretchable.

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First Claim