Absorbent article with improved garment-like character

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; and an ear joined to the rear waist region of the chassis such that at least a portion of said ear extends laterally outward from the longitudinal edge of the chassis in the rear waist region. The article further comprises a fastening system including an engaging member disposed proximate to distal edge of the ear and a receiving member disposed on the chassis in the front waist region, wherein the ear interconnects the front waist region and the rear waist region upon engagement of the engaging member with the receiving member. The ear has a Front Edge Displacement and a Rear Edge Displacement such that a sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 12 mm.

1 . A disposable absorbent article comprising: 
 a) a chassis having a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region between the front waist region and the rear waist region, and a pair of opposing longitudinal edges, said chassis comprising: 
 i) a topsheet,  
 ii) a backsheet, and  
 iii) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet;  
   b) an ear having an upper lateral edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge, wherein the ear is joined to the rear waist region of the chassis such that at least a portion of said ear extends laterally outward from the longitudinal edge of the chassis in the rear waist region; and    c) a fastening system comprising: 
 i) an engaging member disposed proximate to distal edge of the ear, and  
 ii) a receiving member disposed on the chassis in the front waist region, wherein the ear interconnects the front waist region and the rear waist region upon engagement of the engaging member with the receiving member, and wherein the ear has a Front Edge Displacement and a Rear Edge Displacement such that a sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 12 mm.  
   
     
     
         2 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the Front Edge Displacement is no greater than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 10 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the article has an Ear Span Width; wherein a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.30.  
     
     
         5 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 4  wherein the ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.20.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 4  wherein a ratio of the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.20.  
     
     
         7 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 6  wherein the ratio of the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.10.  
     
     
         8 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the ear has an Ear Midpoint Width; wherein a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Midpoint Width is no greater than about 0.30.  
     
     
         9 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 8  wherein the ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Midpoint Width is no greater than about 0.20  
     
     
         10 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the ear is elasticized.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the fastening system is a hooks-to-loops system, hooks-to-hooks system, adhesive-to-polymeric film system; cohesive-to-cohesive system, adhesive-to-adhesive system; tab-to-slot system; or a button-to-button hole system.  
     
     
         12 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the article is a prefastened disposable absorbent article.  
     
     
         13 . A disposable absorbent article comprising: 
 a) a chassis having a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region between the front waist region and the rear waist region, and a pair of opposing longitudinal edges, said chassis comprising: 
 i) a topsheet,  
 ii) a backsheet, and  
 iii) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet;  
   b) a back ear having an upper lateral edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge, wherein the back ear is joined to the rear waist region of the chassis such that at least a portion of said back ear extends laterally outward from the longitudinal edge of the chassis in the rear waist region;    c) a front ear having an upper lateral edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge, wherein the front ear is joined to the front waist region of the chassis such that at least a portion of said front ear extends laterally outward from the longitudinal edge of the chassis in the front waist region; and    d) a fastening system comprising: 
 i) an engaging member disposed on the back ear or the front ear, and  
 ii) a receiving member disposed on the opposing ear,  
 wherein the front ear and back ear interconnect the front waist region and the rear waist region upon engagement of the engaging member with the receiving member, and  
 wherein the front ear has a Front Edge Displacement and the back ear has a Rear Edge Displacement such that a sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 12 mm.  
   
     
     
         14 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein the Front Edge Displacement is no greater than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 10 mm.  
     
     
         16 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein the article has an Ear Span Width; wherein a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.30.  
     
     
         17 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein a ratio of the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.20.  
     
     
         18 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein the ear has an Ear Midpoint Width; wherein a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Midpoint Width is no greater than about 0.30.  
     
     
         19 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein at least a portion of at least one ear is elasticized.  
     
     
         20 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein the fastening system is a hooks-to-loops system, hooks-to-hooks system, adhesive-to-polymeric film system; cohesive-to-cohesive system, adhesive-to-adhesive system; tab-to-slot system; or a button-to-button hole system.  
     
     
         21 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 13  wherein the article is a prefastened disposable absorbent article.  
     
     
         22 . A disposable absorbent article comprising: 
 a) a chassis having a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region between the front waist region and the rear waist region, and a pair of opposing longitudinal edges, said chassis comprising: 
 i) a liquid permeable topsheet,  
 ii) a backsheet, and  
 iii) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet;  
   b) an ear having an upper lateral edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge, wherein the ear is joined to the rear waist region of the chassis such that at least a portion of said ear extends laterally outward from the longitudinal edge of the chassis in the rear waist region; and    c) a fastening system comprising: 
 i) an engaging member disposed proximate to distal edge of the ear, and  
 ii) a receiving member disposed on the chassis in the front waist region,  
 wherein the ear interconnects the front waist region and the rear waist region upon engagement of the engaging member with the receiving member, and  
 wherein the ear has a Front Edge Displacement, a Rear Edge Displacement, an Ear Span Width, and an Ear Midpoint Width such that: 
 1. a sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement is no greater than about 12 mm,  
 2. a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Span Width is no greater than about 0.30, and  
 3. a ratio of the sum of the Front Edge Displacement and the Rear Edge Displacement to the Ear Midpoint Width is no greater than about 0.30.