Absorbent article with spaced hydrocolloid material

Claim 1

A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the side edges, a fluid pervious top sheet, a backing sheet of fluid impervious material, and an absorbent pad comprising a mass of fibers located intermediate said top and backing sheets and having a pair of opposed side edges located adjacent the side edges of the pad assembly, said pad assembly having a pair of longitudinal first fold lines defining a longitudinally extending central panel, and a pair of second longitudinal fold lines defining a pair of longitudinally extending first panels located intermediate the first and second fold lines and overlying the central panel, said second fold lines defining a pair of longitudinally extending outermost panels overlying the first panels and located intermediate the second fold lines and the side edges of the pad assembly, with the outermost panels including side margins of the pad, said pad assembly having a hydrocolloid material dispersed in fibers of the pad and positioned in longitudinal central regions of said opposed pad side margins, a pair of opposed pad end margins located adjacent said pair of opposed end edges of the pad assembly, said opposed pad end margins having a hydrocolloid material dispersed in fibers of the pad, with said central panel defining a fluid receiving region and being substantially free of hydrocolloid material, and said diaper having a pair of tape fasteners located adjacent said opposed side edges of the pad assembly and adjacent one of said end edges.