Disposable Absorbent Garment With Improved Elastication

Abstract

A disposable absorbent garment includes front and rear panels with zones of elastication and non-elastication in the abdomen and rear regions of the garments. The zones of elastication comprise an elastified region, and a non-elastified region or a de-elastified region. The elastified non-elastified or de-elastified regions work in tandem to provide greater contour support and improved fit.

1 . A disposable absorbent garment comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and a crotch panel, where the front and rear panels comprise right and left side edges, and where the side edges of the respective panels are joined to form side seams, leg openings, and a waist opening, and at least one of the front and rear panels comprises at least one elasticized zone and at least one non-elasticized zone, with at least a portion of the at least one non-elasticized zone being positioned along at least one of the side edges of at least one of the front or rear panel. 
     
     
         2 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 1 , where the at least one elasticized zone includes a first elasticized area defined by the side edges of the respective panel, a crotch edge of the respective panel, and a first laterally-extending line laterally extending between the side edges of the respective panel, the first elasticized area longitudinally spaced from a waist edge, and where the at least one non-elasticized zone comprises a first non-elasticized area defined by the side edges of the respective panel, the first laterally-extending line, and a second laterally extending line disposed longitudinally between the first laterally-extending line and the waist edge of the respective panel. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 2 , where the front and rear panels each includes a respective first elasticized area and a respective first non-elasticized area. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 2 , where the front panel includes a respective first elasticized area and a respective first non-elasticized area, and where the rear panel does not include a respective first elasticized area and a respective first non-elasticized area. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 2 , where the rear panel includes a respective first elasticized area and a respective first non-elasticized area, and where the front panel does not include a respective first elasticized area and a respective first non-elasticized area. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 2 , where the first non-elasticized area is continuous between the side edges of the respective panel. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 2 , where the first non-elasticized area is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 7 , where longitudinal dimensions of the first non-elasticized area are less than lateral dimensions of the first non-elasticized area. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 2 , where the first non-elasticized area is discontinuous between the side edges of the respective panel. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 9 , where the first non-elasticized area comprises multiple non-elasticized areas, and where the multiple non-elasticized areas are intermittently spaced with multiple elasticized areas of the at least one elasticized zone between the side edges of the respective panel. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 1 , where the at least one elasticized zone includes a first elasticized area extending from the right side edge to the left side edge of the respective panel along the entirety of a waist edge of the respective panel and a second elasticized area laterally extending from the right side edge to the left side edge of the respective panel and longitudinally extending along a portion of the side edges, and where the at least one non-elasticized zone includes a first non-elasticized area laterally extending from the right side edge to the left side edge of the respective panel and disposed longitudinally between the first elasticized area and the second elasticized area, the first non-elasticized area longitudinally extending along a portion of a length of each of the side edges of the respective panel. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 11 , where the first non-elasticized area is continuous between the right side edge and the left side edge of the respective panel. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 11 , where the first non-elasticized area is discontinuous between the right side edge and the left side edge of the respective panel. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 1 , where the at least one elasticized zone includes a first elasticized area laterally extending from the left side edge to the right side edge of the respective panel along the width of the respective panel and longitudinally extending along a portion of the side edges of the respective panel, and where the at least one elasticized zone further includes a second elasticized area that laterally extends along a crotch edge of the respective panel. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 1 , where the at least one elasticized zone includes a first elasticized area laterally extending from the left side edge to the right side edge along the width of the respective panel and longitudinally extending along a portion of the side edges of the respective panel. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 1 , where a first end portion of the crotch panel overlaps a portion of the front panel, and a second end portion of the crotch panel overlaps a portion of the rear panel. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 16 , where the at least one elasticized zone does not extend over the crotch panel. 
     
     
         18 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 16 , where the portion of the front panel overlapped by the first end portion of the crotch panel is not elasticized. 
     
     
         19 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 18 , where the portion of the rear panel overlapped by the second end portion of the crotch panel is not elasticized. 
     
     
         20 . The disposable absorbent garment of  claim 16 , where the portion of the rear panel overlapped by the second end portion of the crotch panel is not elasticized.