Beth Johnson, Menasha, WI; Sarah Kleuskens, Neenah, WI; James R Niedt, Grand Chute, WI; Kyle M Barriger, Neenah, WI; and Thomas A. Ray, Oshkosh, WI.
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.

Filed: 5/23/18
Issued: 9/12/23

An absorbent article including a front region, a crotch region, and a rear region, the article having a first side edge and a second side edge and further comprising: an absorbent insert having a front insert region with a front insert waist edge, and a rear insert region with a rear insert waist edge, and comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the liner; a first waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert, the first waist panel having a first waist panel bottom edge, a first waist panel top edge, a first waist panel outer surface, and a first waist panel inner surface, the first waist panel having an un-elasticized region; and
a second waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert, wherein the first waist panel is coupled to the second waist panel proximate the first side edge of the absorbent article and the second side edge of the absorbent article, wherein the first waist panel comprises a weakened region extending at least partially between the first waist panel bottom edge and the first waist panel top edge, the weakened region comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a middle portion disposed between the weakened region top portion and the weakened region bottom portion, and at least a portion of the weakened region extends through the un-elasticized region, and wherein an average peak shear strength of the weakened region bottom portion is greater than the average peak shear strength of the weakened region middle portion.