Absorbent article having breathable side panels

Abstract

A disposable absorbent articles having breathable side panels. The disposable absorbent article preferably comprises a containment assembly including a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core has a pair of opposing longitudinal edges, an inner surface and an outer surface. The backsheet has a garment-facing surface, a body-facing surface, a central region and an outer region. The backsheet preferably further includes at least three distinct zones, a pair of apertured zones comprising apertures and a non-apertured zone. The apertured zones preferably include at least a portion of the outer region of the backsheet and extend laterally outwardly form each of the longitudinal edges. The non-apertured zone preferably comprises the central region and is juxtaposed the outer surface of the absorbent core. The disposable absorbent article preferably further comprises a liquid and air pervious outer cover joined with the garment-facing surface of the backsheet to form a breathable laminate in the apertured zones. In preferred embodiments, a side panel extends laterally outwardly from each of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent core, each of the side panels comprising at least a portion of the laminate such that the side panels are breathable.