System and method for identifying disposable absorbent products

• US 7,321,315 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Wagner, Eric F., Brumm, Russell J., Westbrook, Dan, Cohen, Jason, Ellingson, Daniel L., Ellingson, Alissa, Eppstein, Brian C., Hu, Sheng-Hsin, Marvin, Jennifer, Reade, Walter, Ribble, Brendon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/749,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.1, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/573.5, 340/692, 340/384.1, 235/385, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/691.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system that includes a plurality of disposable absorbent products where at least one of the disposable absorbent products includes a tag. The system further includes a reader that identifies the tags on the plurality of disposable absorbent products and plays media based on the identity of the tags. In another form, the system includes a reader that identifies the tags on the plurality of disposable absorbent products and provides information relating to one other product based on the identity of the tags. In still another form, the present invention relates to a method that includes marking a plurality of disposable absorbent products (e.g., diapers) with a tag, and providing a reader that plays media based on the identity of the tags.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of disposable absorbent products, wherein at least one of said disposable absorbent products includes a tag, each of said tags including a transmitter; and

a reader that includes a receiver which identifies said transmitters and plays media based on the identity of said tags.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said reader monitors a location of said tags.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each tag on said plurality of disposable absorbent products is different from other tags on said plurality of disposable absorbent products, and said reader plays different media based on the identity of said tags.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of disposable absorbent products is diapers.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of disposable absorbent products is wipes.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said reader is included in a toy.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said reader is operatively associated with an item selected from the group consisting of a changing pad, a play mat, a car seat, a high chair pad, a protective polymeric sheet and a crib liner.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said media includes audio recordings.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said media includes video recordings.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said media includes aroma emitted by said reader.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said reader is a first reader and the system further comprises a second reader that plays media based on the identity of the tags, the first reader playing different media than the second reader.

12. A system comprising:

a first plurality of disposable absorbent products, wherein at least one of said first plurality of disposable absorbent products includes a tag, each of said tags including a transmitter;

a second plurality of disposable absorbent products, wherein at least one of said second plurality of disposable absorbent products includes a tag, each of said tags including a transmitter; and

a reader that includes a receiver which identifies said transmitters and plays media based on the identity of said tags, wherein said reader plays one type of media when a tag identifies a product in said first plurality of disposable absorbent products and plays different media when a tag identifies a product in said second plurality of disposable absorbent products.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said first plurality of disposable absorbent products is diapers and said second plurality of disposable absorbent products is wipes.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said reader is included in a toy.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said reader is operatively associated with an item selected from the group consisting of a changing pad, a play mat, a car seat, a high chair pad, a protective polymeric sheet and a crib liner.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said media includes audio recordings.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of disposable absorbent products, wherein at least one of said disposable absorbent products includes a tag; and

a reader that identifies said tags on said plurality of disposable absorbent products, wherein said reader provides information relating to one other product based on the identity of said tags.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of disposable absorbent products is diapers, and said one other product is food.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of disposable absorbent products is diapers, and said one other product is toys.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said reader provides promotional information relating to said one other product based on the identity of said tags.

21. A method comprising:

marking at least one of a plurality of disposable absorbent products with a tag by placing a transmitter on some of the plurality of disposable absorbent products; and

providing a reader that includes a receiver which identifies the transmitters on the plurality of disposable absorbent products and plays media based on the identity of the tag.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein marking at least one of a plurality of disposable absorbent products with a tag includes marking some diapers with a tag.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader that includes a receiver which identifies the transmitters on the plurality of disposable absorbent products includes providing a reader that monitors a location of the tags.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader that plays media based on the identity of the tags includes providing a reader that plays different media based on the identity of the tags.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader that plays media includes providing a reader that plays audio-video recordings.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader that plays media includes providing a reader that emits an aroma.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein said reader is a first reader, and the method further comprises providing a second reader that plays different media based on the identity of the tags.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader includes providing a reader to consumers of the plurality of disposable absorbent products.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein providing a reader to consumers includes providing a toy to consumers.

30. The method of claim 21 further comprising selling the plurality of disposable absorbent products to consumers.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader to the consumers of the plurality of disposable absorbent products includes selling the reader to the consumers.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein providing a reader to the consumers of the plurality of disposable absorbent products includes providing media to the consumers that can be played by the reader.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein providing media to the consumers that can be played by the reader includes providing media to the consumers over the internet.

34. A method comprising:

marking at least one of a plurality of disposable absorbent products with a tag; and

providing a reader to consumers of the plurality of disposable absorbent products such that the reader supplies information to the consumers relating to one other product based on the identity of the tags.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein marking at least one of a plurality of disposable absorbent products with a tag includes marking diapers with a tag.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein supplying information to consumers relating to one other product includes supplying information relating to a toy product.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein supplying information to consumers relating to one other product includes supplying information relating to a food product.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein providing a reader to consumers includes providing a reader that plays media with information relating to the one other product based on the identity of the tags.