Method of providing a series of disposable absorbent articles to consumers

• US 20050137543A1
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Christopher Peter Olson, Rebecca Suzanne Walter, Richard Louis Underhill, Shirlee Ann Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Shirlee Ann, Olson, Christopher Peter, Walter, Rebecca Suzanne, Underhill, Richard Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,335,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of providing a series of types of pant-like garments and corresponding information to consumers. The series includes two or more pant-like garments, each of the garments corresponding to a stage of toilet training. Each of the garments in the series may differ from one another in terms of absorbent capacity, size, and/or features. The information provided to the consumer helps the consumer discern which garment from the series is most appropriate for a child in a specific stage of the toilet training process.

Claims

1. A method of providing a series of types of training pants to consumers, comprising:

providing a series of at least two different types of disposable pant-like garments, wherein a first type of garment having a first absorbent capacity is targeted to fit wearers in a first weight range, and a second type of garment having a second absorbent capacity is targeted to fit wearers in a second weight range, the first weight range being lower than the second weight range, and the second absorbent capacity being lower than the first absorbent capacity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying information to a consumer that provides guidance to the consumer in selecting an appropriate type of garment from the series for a child in a stage of toilet training.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of garment is adapted for a first stage of toilet training, and the second type of garment is adapted for a second stage of toilet training subsequent to the first stage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the series includes at least one unisex pant-like garment, and at least one gender-specific pant-like garment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gender-specific pant-like garment is the second type of garment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a first wetness indicator, and at least one garment having a second wetness indicator of a different type than the first wetness indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a tactile wetness indicator, and at least one garment having a visual wetness indicator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first type of garment includes a visual wetness indicator, and the second type of garment includes a tactile wetness indicator.

9. A method of providing a series of types of training pants to consumers, comprising:

providing a series of at least three different types of disposable pant-like garments, wherein a first type of garment having a first absorbent capacity is targeted to fit wearers in a first weight range, a second type of garment having a second absorbent capacity is targeted to fit wearers in a second weight range, and a third type of garment having a third absorbent capacity is targeted to fit wearers in a third weight range, the first weight range being lower than the third weight range, and the third absorbent capacity being lower than at least one of the first and second absorbent capacities.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising conveying information to a consumer that provides guidance to the consumer in selecting an appropriate type of garment from the series for a child in a stage of toilet training.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first absorbent capacity is lower than the second absorbent capacity.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second types of garments are adapted for a first and second stage of toilet training, respectively, and the third type of garment is adapted for a third stage of toilet training subsequent to the first and second stages.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the series includes at least one unisex pant-like garment, and at least one gender-specific pant-like garment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gender-specific pant-like garment is the third type of garment.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a first wetness indicator, and at least one garment having a second wetness indicator of a different type than the first wetness indicator.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a tactile wetness indicator, and at least one garment having a visual wetness indicator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second type of garment includes a visual wetness indicator, and the third type of garment includes a tactile wetness indicator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first type of garment includes no wetness indicator.

19. A method of providing a series of types of training pants to consumers, comprising:

providing a series of at least three different types of disposable pant-like garments, each garment type differing from at least one other garment type in at least two ways, the at least two differences selected from the group consisting of;

size, level of absorbency, refastenability of side seams, gender specificity, and wetness indicators; and

conveying information to a consumer regarding correlations between a child'"'"'s readiness and the appropriate training pant from the series.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the series includes a first garment type and a second garment type each having substantially the same size, the first garment type having an absorbent capacity of greater than about 400 grams and the second garment type having an absorbent capacity of less than about 300 grams.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a refastenable fastening system for attaching a front portion of the garment to a back portion of the garment, and at least one garment having a pair of permanently bonded side seams for attaching a front portion of the garment to a back portion of the garment.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the series includes at least one unisex pant-like garment, and at least one gender-specific pant-like garment.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a first wetness indicator, and at least one garment having a second wetness indicator of a different type than the first wetness indicator.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the series includes at least one garment having a tactile wetness indicator, and at least one garment having a visual wetness indicator.

25. A method of providing a series of types of training pants to consumers, comprising:

providing a series of at least, three different types of disposable pant-like garments comprising a first type of garment, a second type of garment, and a third type of garment,

wherein the first, second, and third type of garments are respectively adapted for a first, a second and a third stage of toilet training, wherein the second stage of toilet training is subsequent to the first stage, and the third stage of toilet training is subsequent to the second stage;

wherein the third type of garment is gender-specific;

wherein at least one of the first and second types of garment include a visual wetness indicator, and the third type of garment includes a tactile wetness indicator.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the third type of garment has a lower absorbent capacity than the second type of garment.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and second types of garments is unisex.

28. A method of providing a series of types of training pants to consumers, comprising:

providing a series of at least three different types of disposable pant-like garments comprising a first type of garment, a second type of garment, and a third type of garment,

wherein the first, second, and third type of garments are respectively adapted for a first, a second and a third stage of toilet training, wherein the second stage of toilet training is subsequent to the first stage, and the third stage of toilet training is subsequent to the second stage;

wherein the third type of garment has a lower absorbent capacity than the second type of garment.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the third type of garment has a lower absorbent capacity than the first type of garment.