U.S. Patent No.: 8,246,593 B2 

Inventor(s): Bruce William Lavash, West Chester, OH, U.S.

Company: The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.

Filed: 7/3/03

Issued: 8/21/12

An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis and a periphery, the absorbent article comprising, a. a fluid permeable facing layer, at least portions of which having facing layer zones of enhanced extensibility; b. a first absorbent layer joined to the facing layer, the first absorbent layer comprising at least one first absorbent layer zone of extensibility, the at least one zone of extensibility being a region of the first absorbent layer of relatively higher extensibility than regions of the first absorbent layer adjacent to the at least one zone of extensibility, the at least one zone of extensibility being in registry with the facing layer zones of enhanced extensibility, wherein the joining of the facing layer and the first absorbent layer is substantially limited to the portions of the facing layer adjacent the at least one zone of extensibility; c. a liquid impermeable backsheet joined to the facing layer at the periphery, the liquid impermeable backsheet having a garment facing surface; d. fastening means disposed on at least a portion of the garment facing surface of the liquid impermeable backsheet, the fastening means defining attachment zones; and e. wherein the at least one first absorbent layer zone of extensibility is decoupled from the attachment zones of the fluid impermeable backsheet.