Interactive Garment Printing for Enhanced Functionality of Absorbent Articles

• US 20090005748A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Ales, Thomas, Long, Andrew, Weber, Shirlee Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,334,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/425 being also a toilet training aid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08

Abstract

An absorbent article may include one or more circuits formed on the exterior of the article that are configured to connect to a monitoring device. When connected to a monitoring device, the circuit(s) can be used to provide input data to the monitoring device. The monitoring device may provide audio, visual, and other feedback that changes based on user input data. In some embodiments, the monitoring device can further connect to one or more circuits internal to the article to sense changes in the state of the article. For example, interactive features supported by the monitoring device may relate to the wetness state of the article and/or may be used to control the type of indication(s) provided by the monitoring device when wetness (or another state) is detected. In some embodiments, the monitoring device can be used to provide interactive games for the user of the article. In some embodiments, the monitoring device can be configured to provide feedback triggered by a caregiver, such as potty training reinforcement messages.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for use with an absorbent article, the monitoring device comprising:

at least one microprocessor;

a first plurality of terminals; and

a second plurality of terminals;

wherein the first plurality of terminals are positioned to connect the microprocessor to at least one monitoring circuit on an exterior surface of an absorbent article and the second plurality of terminals are positioned to connect the microprocessor to at least one circuit internal to the article.

2. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive input data from a user of the article by monitoring for a change in a characteristic of the at least one external circuit.

3. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the at least one internal circuit and provide at least one response based on monitoring for a change in a characteristic of the at least one internal circuit;

and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to provide the at least one response based on the input data received from a user.

4. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the microprocessor is configured to support a plurality of modes, each mode defining at least one type of response to be provided based on monitoring for a change in a characteristic of the at least one internal circuit;

and

wherein the input data received from a user indicates the selection of a mode.

5. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the modes comprise at least a silent mode wherein no audible feedback is provided and at least one other mode wherein audible feedback is provided.

6. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the microprocessor is further configured to prompt a user of the device for input.

7. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is configured to provide at least one game wherein the microprocessor prompts the user of the device for input and acts in response to the receipt or non-receipt of input data based on at least one parameter defining the at least one game.

8. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to store data in response to received input data.

9. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 8,

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the at least one internal circuit and provide at least one response based on monitoring for a change in a characteristic of the at least one internal circuit;

and

wherein the microprocessor is configured store data indicating the status of the at least one internal circuit over at least one time period.

10. The monitoring device as set forth in claim 2, wherein, in response to received input data, the microprocessor is configured to provide feedback indicating the outcome of at least one component test.

11. An absorbent article comprising:

a chassis comprising an outer cover, the outer cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover, the chassis including a crotch region positioned in between a front region and a back region, the front region and the back region defining a waist region therebetween; and

at least one monitoring circuit formed on the exterior surface of the outer cover and configured to connect to a monitoring device;

wherein the at least one monitoring circuit is configured so that a characteristic of the circuit changes when a user contacts the circuit.

12. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 11, wherein each at least one monitoring circuit comprises a plurality of traces associated with a respective region on the exterior surface of the outer cover.

13. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 12, wherein each region corresponds to at least part of a feature visible at the outer cover.

14. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a monitoring device comprising a microprocessor and a plurality of terminals connected to the microprocessor;

wherein the monitoring device is configured so that, when the monitoring device is positioned on the absorbent article, the plurality of terminals are in electrical communication with the at least one monitoring circuit.

15. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 14,

wherein the absorbent article comprises a plurality of different monitoring circuits each connected via respective terminals of the monitoring device to the microprocessor;

wherein each monitoring circuit is associated with a different region on the exterior surface of the outer cover; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive input data by monitoring for a change in a characteristic of each circuit.

16. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 15,

wherein each region corresponds to at least a part of at least one feature visible at the cover;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to provide an interactive game; and

wherein providing an interactive game comprises providing feedback corresponding to a selection of a visible feature or part of a visible feature.

17. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 15,

wherein at least one visible feature comprises an image of at least one character;

wherein each region corresponds to all or portion of at least one character; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to provide a response to input data indicating selection of a character or portion of a character, the response matched to the selected character or portion of a character.

18. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 11, further comprising at least one internal circuit configured to connect to the monitoring device and positioned so that a characteristic of the circuit changes based on a condition within the article.

19. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 18,

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the at least one internal circuit and provide at least one response based on monitoring for a change in a characteristic of the at least one internal circuit.

20. A method comprising:

aligning a plurality of terminals of a monitoring device with a plurality of corresponding terminals carried on an absorbent article so as to place the terminals of the monitoring device in electrical communication with the corresponding terminals carried on the absorbent article;

wherein aligning comprises positioning terminals connected to at least one external circuit in electrical communication with corresponding terminals on the monitoring device;

wherein the at least one external circuit is formed at least partially on the exterior of the absorbent article.

22. The method as set forth in claim 22, further comprising providing data to the monitoring device by changing an electrical characteristic of at least one circuit in electrical communication with the monitoring device.

21. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein aligning further comprises positioning terminals of at least one internal circuit located inside the absorbent article in electrical communication with corresponding terminals on the monitoring device.