Mark James Kline, Okeana, OH; Anna Elizabeth Macura, Cincinnati, OH; Michael Irwin Lawson, Fairfield, OH; and Ronald Joseph Zink, Blue Ash, OH. Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH.
Filed: 11/15/10
Issued: 1/26/16
A fastening member having an inboard end and an outboard end, the fastening member further comprising: a.) a panel region is disposed adjacent to the inboard end, the panel region comprising: i.) a first substrate; ii.) a second substrate joined to the first substrate; and iii.) an elastomeric element disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate such that the elastomeric element is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; b.) an end region disposed adjacent to the outboard end wherein the end region comprises a fastening element zone having a first stiffness and an intermediate zone having a second stiffness, wherein the intermediate zone is disposed between the fastening element zone and the panel region adjacent an interface between the panel region and the end region, wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness; c.) a fastening element disposed in the end region and defining the fastening element zone; and d.) a stiffening element disposed in the end region, wherein the stiffening element is disposed between the first and the second substrate; wherein an exposure ratio of the exposed edges of the stiffness element to the end region length is from about 0% to about 10%.