Disposable absorbent garment having highly extensible leg openings and finished outer leg cuffs

Abstract

Absorbent article having a containment assembly and leg openings, the margins of which may be highly elastically extensible. The absorbent article may also have outer leg cuffs providing a finished appearance. The absorbent article may thus provide ease of application and removal, sustained dynamic fit, prevention of leakage, sustained wearer comfort, and desirable appearance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pre-closed absorbent article for fitting about a wearer's body to contain excreta and/or bodily exudates, comprising: 
 a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, side edges comprising portions defining leg openings when the absorbent article is closed, leg opening margins, a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet, at least one of the leg opening margins having an elastic extensibility of at least about 60 percent when the absorbent article is elastically extended laterally by a 5 kg lateral spreading force applied at an uppermost distal point of each of the leg opening margins; and    at least one outer leg cuff comprising an incrementally stretched laminate having an elastic extensibility of at least about 60 percent when the absorbent article is elastically extended laterally by the 5 kg lateral spreading force.    
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is wrapped over at least one of the portions of one of the side edges defining one of the leg openings.  
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2  wherein the outer leg cuff is folded such that a free edge of the outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the containment assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is continuous with the backsheet.  
     
     
         5 . An absorbent article for fitting about a wearer's body to contain excreta and/or bodily exudates, comprising: 
 a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, side edges comprising portions defining leg openings when the absorbent article is closed, leg opening margins, a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet, at least one of the leg opening margins having an elastic extensibility of at least about 60 percent when the absorbent article is elastically extended laterally by a 5 kg lateral spreading force applied at an uppermost distal point of each of the leg opening margins; and    at least one outer leg cuff comprising an incrementally stretched laminate having an elastic extensibility of at least about 60 percent when the absorbent article is elastically extended laterally by the 5 kg lateral spreading force.    
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is wrapped over at least one of the portions of one of the side edges defining one of the leg openings.  
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 6  wherein the outer leg cuff is folded such that a free edge of the outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the containment assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is continuous with the backsheet.  
     
     
         9 . An absorbent article for fitting about a wearer's body to contain excreta and/or bodily exudates, comprising: 
 a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, side edges comprising portions defining leg openings when the absorbent article is closed, leg opening margins, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet, and    at least one outer leg cuff comprising an incrementally stretched laminate.    
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is wrapped over at least one of the portions of one of the side edges defining one of the leg openings.  
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 10  wherein the outer leg cuff is folded such that a free edge of the outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the containment assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is continuous with the backsheet.  
     
     
         13 . A pre-closed absorbent article for fitting about a wearer's body to contain excreta and/or bodily exudates, comprising: 
 a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, side edges comprising portions defining leg openings when the absorbent article is closed, leg opening margins, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet, and    at least one outer leg cuff comprising an incrementally stretched laminate.    
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is wrapped over at least one of the portions of one of the side edges defining one of the leg openings.  
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 14  wherein the outer leg cuff is folded such that a free edge of the outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the containment assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of the outer leg cuff is continuous with the backsheet.