| 1. An absorbent article comprising a chassis and a stretchable fastening member, the chassis extending longitudinally and
laterally and comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween,
the stretchable fastening member comprising a fixed portion permanently joined to the chassis, a distal portion provided with
a fastening material and a stretchable panel positioned between the fixed portion and the distal portion, the stretchable
fastening member being joined to the chassis such that the distal portion is positioned laterally outwardly from the fixed
portion in the flat-out configuration of the stretchable fastening member, wherein the stretchable panel comprises a laminate
of a stretchable film and a nonwoven web, and wherein the stretchable panel of the stretchable fastening member comprises
a first stretchable zone and a second stretchable zone disposed in the lateral direction,
the first stretchable zone is capable of providing extensibility upon an initially applied extension force, and
extensibility of the second stretchable zone is restricted by a restriction means until the restriction means is inactivated,
and the restriction means is inactivated upon a further applied extension force such that the second stretchable zone provides
an additional extensibility to reduce a stress developed in the stretchable panel.
|
