Absorbent article having a telescoping waist

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article comprising a chassis which includes a front region having two opposing longitudinal edges; a back region having two opposing longitudinal edges; a crotch region having two longitudinal edges wherein said crotch region is disposed between said front and back regions; and at least two side panels extending outwardly from the two opposing longitudinal edges of one or both of the front or back regions and interconnecting said front and the back regions to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings; wherein the article exhibits a pre-application side panel length, L i , and a post-application side panel length, L f , such that L i is less than L f .

1 . A disposable absorbent article comprising a chassis which comprises: 
 a. a front region having two opposing longitudinal edges;    b. a back region having two opposing longitudinal edges;    c. a crotch region having two opposing longitudinal edges wherein said crotch region is disposed between said front and back regions; and    d. at least two side panels extending outwardly from the two opposing longitudinal edges of one or both of the front or back regions and interconnecting said front and the back regions to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings;    wherein the article exhibits a pre-application side panel length, L i , and a post-application side panel length, L f , such that L i  is less than L f .    
     
     
         2 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein L f  is at least 5% greater than L i .  
     
     
         3 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein L f  is at least 25% greater than L i .  
     
     
         4 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein L f  is at least 50% greater than L i .  
     
     
         5 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the side panels exhibit the pre-application side panel length, L i , upon presentation to a consumer.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article comprises a furled continuous belt formed by the side panels and the front and back regions of the chassis.  
     
     
         7 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the furled continuous belt is rolled.  
     
     
         8 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the furled continuous belt is folded.  
     
     
         9 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the furled continuous belt is pleated.  
     
     
         10 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the article further comprises at least one graphic disposed on a garment-facing surface of the article.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the graphic is a hidden graphic not directly visible upon inspection of the garment-facing surfaces of the article while the article is in its pre-application state  
     
     
         12 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the article in a pre-application state comprises at least one visible graphic and at least one hidden graphic.  
     
     
         13 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the visible graphic and the hidden graphic are interactively interrelated.  
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising a plurality of disposable absorbent articles each article comprising a chassis which comprises: 
 a. a front region having two opposing longitudinal edges;    b. a back region having two opposing longitudinal edges;    c. a crotch region having two opposing longitudinal edges wherein said crotch region is disposed between said front and back regions; and    d. at least two side panels extending outwardly from the two opposing longitudinal edges of one or both of the front or back regions and interconnecting said front and the back regions to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings;    wherein the article exhibits a pre-application side panel length, L i , and a post-application side panel length, L f , such that L i  is less than L f .    
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of disposable absorbent articles are packaged by an overwrap.  
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the kit further comprises an instruction for a toilet training regimen.  
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the side panels exhibit the pre-application side panel length, L i , upon presentation to a consumer.  
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the absorbent articles comprise a furled continuous belt formed by the side panels and the front and back region of the chassis.  
     
     
         19 . A method for applying a reversibly foreshortened disposable absorbent article comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing an absorbent article exhibiting a pre-application side panel length, L i ;    b. donning the absorbent article; and    c. extending the absorbent article to a post-application side panel length, L f ;    wherein L i  is less than L f .    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the donning of the absorbent article is performed by a wearer.