Methods for assisting a person in transitioning from one disposable absorbent product to another

• US 8,386,326 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Woltman, Garry Roland, Zickler, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Civan, Ethan D
• Application Number:
  US12/762,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47 Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins A61F13/49 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/551 Packaging before or after use general packaging of absorbent pads B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for assisting consumers in transitioning from a current absorbent product to a future absorbent product. Also described are transition aids for assisting in this transition. In particular, the transition aids provide a consumer with a means for comparing different characteristics of their current absorbent product with characteristics of a future absorbent product.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, at least one feature designated by the user as being a desired feature the future absorbent product should include;

receiving, by a computer, information from the consumer about an absorbent product currently used by the consumer;

selecting a first group of related absorbent products, wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprise the current absorbent product choice of the consumer;

selecting at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein each of the related absorbent products in the at least one additional group includes the at least one desired feature; and

providing, by a computer, the consumer with a transition aid via a visual medium, the transition aid comprising a first region comprising a depiction of the first group of related absorbent products, a second region comprising a depiction of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, and a third region comprising at least one scale of reference comprising a depiction of a common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein the depiction of each of the first and at least one additional group of related absorbent products is positioned along the scale to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product, and wherein the common characteristic includes the at least one desired feature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired feature is received by allowing the consumer to input the desired feature into a user interface of an interactive computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the current absorbent product choice of the consumer is selected from the group consisting of diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first group of related absorbent products is selected by the consumer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional group of related absorbent products is selected by the consumer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first group of related absorbent products is selected based on personal information received from the consumer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional group of related absorbent products is selected based on the desired feature received from the consumer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the common characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a benefit, an attribute, a feature, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising recommending a future absorbent product choice from among the at least one additional group of related absorbent products.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the recommendation is made based on the information received from the consumer.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing the consumer to purchase the recommended absorbent product choice.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the consumer with a transition aid via a visual medium comprises providing the transition aid via a computer display.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the consumer with a transition aid via a visual medium comprises providing the transition aid via an interactive display.

14. A method for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, at least one feature designated by the user as being a desired feature the future absorbent product should include;

receiving, by a computer, information from a store about an availability of a plurality of absorbent products;

selecting a first group of related absorbent products, wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprise the current absorbent product choice of the consumer;

selecting at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein the at least one additional group of related absorbent products is available from the store, and wherein each of the related absorbent products in the at least one additional group of related absorbent products includes a the desired feature specified by the consumer; and

providing, by a computer, the consumer with a transition aid via a visual medium, the transition aid comprising a first region comprising a depiction of the first group of related absorbent products, a second region comprising a depiction of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, and a third region comprising at least one scale of reference comprising a depiction of a common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein the depiction of each of the first and at least one additional group of related absorbent products is positioned along the scale to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product, and wherein the common characteristic includes the at least one desired feature.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving personal information from the consumer about at least desired feature the future absorbent product should include prior to selecting the first group of related absorbent products.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the consumer with a transition aid via a visual medium comprises providing the transition aid via a printed medium.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the consumer with a transition aid via a visual medium comprises providing the transition aid via an electronic visual medium.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the consumer with a transition aid via a display medium comprises providing the transition aid via an interactive display.