Disposable absorbent article having side panels with structurally, functionally and visually different regions

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article worn about the lower torso of a wearer includes at least one pair of side panels connecting a first waist region to a second waist region forming a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each side panel includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region differs structurally, functionally and visually to provide an improved initial fit and sustained fit while exhibiting a garment-like appearance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable pant style absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable pant style absorbent article including a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed between the first waist region and the second waist region, a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, the disposable article comprising:
 a chassis having first and second side edges and first and second transverse end edges, the chassis comprising:
 a topsheet; 
 a backsheet; and 
 an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; 
 an elasticized panel joined to the chassis and extending outboard of the first and/or second side edges, the elasticized panel disposed in both the first waist region and the second waist region, the elasticized panel further comprising at least a first hip region, a second hip region, a first leg region, and a second leg region, 
 the elasticized panel comprising a stretch laminate in the first waist region and the second waist region, wherein the stretch laminate comprises first elastic strands joined to at least one layer of a nonwoven material; 
 wherein at least one of the first leg region or second leg region comprise second elastic strands at least in part outboard of at least one of the first and second side edges of the chassis such that the second elastic strands overlap with at least a portion of the stretch laminate of the elasticized panel; and 
 wherein the first hip region differs from the first leg region by a functional difference. 
   
     
     
         2 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises stiffness. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises bending modulus. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises elastic modulus. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises extensibility. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises force relaxation. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises set. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises torsional modulus. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises recovery rate. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises compression modulus. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises surface energy. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the functional difference comprises compressibility. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the hip region differs from the leg region by a visual difference, wherein the visual difference is selected from the group comprising colors, textures, patterns, thickness, opacity, reflectivity, sheen, rugosity size, rugosity spacing, rugosity frequency and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the hip region differs from the leg region by a structural difference, wherein the structural difference is selected from the group comprising differences in types of materials used; activation patterns in zero-strain elastomeric laminates; material thicknesses; bonding patterns; layers of materials and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A disposable pant style absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable pant style absorbent article including a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed between the first waist region and the second waist region, a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, the disposable article comprising:
 a chassis having first and second side edges and first and second transverse end edges, the chassis comprising:
 a topsheet; 
 a backsheet; and 
 an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; 
 an elasticized panel joined to the chassis and extending outboard of the first and/or second side edges, the elasticized panel disposed in both the first waist region and the second waist region, the elasticized panel further comprising at least a first hip region, a second hip region, a first leg region, and a second leg region, 
 the elasticized panel comprising a stretch laminate in the first waist region and the second waist region, wherein the stretch laminate comprises first elastic strands joined to at least one layer of a nonwoven material; 
 wherein at least one of the first leg region or second leg region comprise second elastic strands at least in part outboard of at least one of the first and second side edges of the chassis such that the second elastic strands overlap with at least a portion of the stretch laminate of the elasticized panel; and 
 wherein the first hip region differs from the first leg region by a visual difference. 
   
     
     
         17 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16 , wherein the visual difference comprises color. 
     
     
         18 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises texture. 
     
     
         19 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises a pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises thickness. 
     
     
         21 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises opacity. 
     
     
         22 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises reflectivity. 
     
     
         23 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises sheen. 
     
     
         24 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the visual difference comprises at least one of a difference in rigosity. 
     
     
         25 . The disposable pant style absorbent article of  claim 16  wherein the hip region differs from the leg region by a structural difference, wherein the structural difference is selected from the group comprising differences in types of materials used; activation patterns in zero-strain elastomeric laminates; material thicknesses; bonding patterns; layers of materials and combinations thereof.