Robert Lee Popp, Greenville, WI; Julie Ann Paveletzke, Appleton, WI; and Michael John Faulks, Neenah, WI.
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.

Filed: 5/22/13
Issued: 4/25/17

An absorbent article comprising: a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; a front end region, a rear end region, a crotch region, the crotch region being disposed between the front end region and the rear end region; a front end edge in the front end region, a rear end edge in the rear end region, a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge each extending from the front end edge to the rear end edge; a body facing liner comprising a body facing surface and a garment facing surface; a backsheet coupled to the body facing liner; an absorbent body positioned between the body facing liner and the backsheet; a first containment flap and a second containment flap, the first containment flap and the second containment flap each extending from the front end region to the rear end region, the first containment flap being on a first side of the longitudinal axis, the second containment flap being on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the first containment flap and the second containment flap each comprising: a stem bonded to one of the body facing liner and the backsheet, the stem configured to extend away from the body facing surface of the body facing liner and the backsheet in at least the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed condition; an inner flap projection extending laterally from the stem towards the longitudinal axis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed condition, at least a portion of the inner flap projection being elasticized; and an outer flap projection, the outer flap projection extending laterally from the stem away from the longitudinal axis and the inner flap projection to a distal end when the absorbent article is in the relaxed condition, at least a portion of the outer flap projection being elasticized, a first fold line of the absorbent article for packaging being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on the first side of the longitudinal axis and extending from the front end edge to the rear end edge;

a second fold line of the absorbent article for packaging being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on the second side of the longitudinal axis and extending from the front end edge to the rear end edge; and wherein the distal end of the outer flap projection of the first containment flap is positioned laterally inside of the first folding line when the absorbent article is in an unfolded and stretched condition.