Absorbent article with waist gasketing element and leg cuffs

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis that includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a leg gasketing system and a waist gasketing element. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff folded edge and an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally inward to form the outer cuff folded edge and folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge. The leg gasketing system may also include a leg gasketing system pocket with an opening on an inboard longitudinal edge of the pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable absorbent article for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; wherein the disposable absorbent article comprises a chassis comprising:
 a topsheet;   a backsheet; and   an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;   wherein the disposable absorbent article further comprises a leg gasketing system and at least one waist gasketing element;   wherein the leg gasketing system comprises a web of material forming an inner cuff and an outer cuff;   wherein the inner cuff comprises an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff comprises an outer cuff material edge, such that the web of material is folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge;   wherein at least a portion of the web of material between the inner cuff folded edge and the outer cuff material edge is attached to the chassis in the first waist region, the second waist region and the crotch region;   wherein the at least one waist gasketing element has an inboard lateral edge, an outboard lateral edge, and two longitudinal edges; the at least one waist gasketing element comprising at least one elastic material;   wherein the at least one waist gasketing element is attached to: the chassis of the disposable absorbent article and the leg gasketing system, such that at least a portion of the outboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is adhesively attached to the chassis and at least a portion of the longitudinal edges of the waist gasketing element are pressure bonded to the web of material forming the leg gasketing system; and wherein at least a portion of the inboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is unattached to the chassis of the disposable absorbent article.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic material of the waist gasketing element is an elastic strand. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the waist gasketing element comprises at least four elastic strands. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic material of the waist gasketing element is an elastic film or an elastomeric nonwoven. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the outboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is coterminous with the second waist edge of the disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is attached to the leg gasketing system. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the waist gasketing element is attached to leg gasketing system over substantially an entire area that the leg gasketing system overlaps with the waist gasketing element. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic material of the waist gasketing element is only partially extended when the respective waist region is fully extended. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the leg gasketing system pocket is free of elastic members. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the leg gasketing system pocket contains one or more snap back elastic members. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the leg gasketing system extends from the first waist edge to the second waist edge. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the leg gasketing system and the at least one waist gasketing element comprises an N-fiber material. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the leg gasketing system pocket comprises a hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         14 . A disposable absorbent article for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable absorbent article comprising: a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; wherein the disposable absorbent article comprises a chassis comprising:
 a topsheet;   a backsheet;   an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;   wherein the disposable absorbent article further comprises a leg gasketing system and at least one waist gasketing element;   wherein the leg gasketing system comprises a web of material forming an inner cuff and an outer cuff;   wherein the inner cuff comprises an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff comprises an outer cuff material edge, such that the web of material is folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge;   wherein at least a portion of the web of material between the inner cuff folded edge and the outer cuff material edge is attached to the chassis in the first waist region, the second waist region and the crotch region;   wherein the outer cuff comprises an elastics adhesive and at least one longitudinally oriented elastic member;   wherein the at least one waist gasketing element has an inboard lateral edge, an outboard lateral edge, and two longitudinal edges, the at least one waist gasketing element comprising at least one elastic material; and   wherein the at least one waist gasketing element is attached to: the chassis of the disposable absorbent article and the leg gasketing system, such that at least a portion of the outboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is adhesively attached to the chassis and at least a portion of the longitudinal edges of the waist gasketing element are pressure bonded to the web of material forming the leg gasketing system; and wherein at least a portion of the inboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is unattached to the chassis of the disposable absorbent article.   
     
     
         15 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one elastic material of the waist gasketing element is an elastic strand. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one elastic material of the waist gasketing element is an elastic film or an elastomeric nonwoven. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the outboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is coterminous with the second waist edge of the disposable absorbent article. 
     
     
         18 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the inboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is attached to the leg gasketing system 
     
     
         19 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein an entire length of each of the two longitudinal edges of the waist gasketing element are attached to the leg gasketing system. 
     
     
         20 . A package comprising at least ten disposable absorbent articles for wearing about the lower torso of a wearer, the disposable absorbent articles comprising: a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; a first waist edge and a second waist edge; and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; wherein the disposable absorbent articles comprise a chassis comprising:
 a topsheet;   a backsheet;   an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;   wherein the disposable absorbent articles further comprise a leg gasketing system and at least one waist gasketing element;   wherein the leg gasketing system comprises a web of material forming an inner cuff and an outer cuff;   wherein the inner cuff comprises an inner cuff folded edge and the outer cuff comprises an outer cuff material edge, such that the web of material is folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge;   wherein at least a portion of the web of material between the outer cuff folded edge and the outer cuff material edge is attached to the chassis in the first waist region, the second waist region and the crotch region;   wherein the at least one waist gasketing element comprises an inboard lateral edge, an outboard lateral edge, and two longitudinal edges; the at least one waist gasketing element comprising at least one elastic material; and   wherein the at least one waist gasketing element is attached to: the chassis of the disposable absorbent article and the leg gasketing system, such that at least a portion of the outboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is adhesively attached to the chassis, at least a portion of the outboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is attached to the web of material forming the leg gasketing system, and at least a portion of the longitudinal edges of the waist gasketing element are pressure bonded to the web of material forming the leg gasketing system; and wherein the inboard lateral edge of the waist gasketing element is unattached to the chassis of the disposable absorbent article.