Compact absorbent article

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article which is compactly packaged is provided, which has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. A ratio between the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration is less than 0.09.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A disposable absorbent article having a folded configuration and an folded configuration, wherein a ratio between the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration is less than 0.09.  
     
     
         2 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is positioned and sealed in a package, and the article has a configuration in the package which is smaller in at least two dimensions than the un-packaged folded article.  
     
     
         3 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the article is vacuum packaged.  
     
     
         4 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the article is maintained prior to and during packaging at a moisture content of less than 10 percent.  
     
     
         5 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 4 , wherein the article is maintained and packaged at a moisture content of less than 5 percent.  
     
     
         6 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein the article is maintained and packaged at a moisture content of less than 3 percent.  
     
     
         7 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the article is packaged in a package having a gas permeability range of less than about 3.0 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours to about 0.10 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours.  
     
     
         8 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 7 , wherein the article is packaged in a package having a gas permeability range of less than about 2.0 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours to about 0.10 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours.  
     
     
         9 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the article is a diaper.  
     
     
         10 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a training pant.  
     
     
         11 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is an adult incontinence garment.  
     
     
         12 . A compact packaged disposable absorbent article, comprising: 
 a disposable absorbent article having a folded configuration and an folded configuration, wherein a ratio between the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration is less than 0.12; and    a package having a gas permeability in a range of less than about 5.0 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours to about 0.05 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours,    wherein the disposable absorbent article is folded to have more than three overlapping folds in its folded configuration, and it is maintained and packaged in the package at a moisture content of less than 5 percent.    
     
     
         13 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 12  wherein the article is vacuum packaged.  
     
     
         14 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 12  wherein the article is a single packaged article.  
     
     
         15 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the article is a diaper.  
     
     
         16 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the article is a training pant.  
     
     
         17 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the article is an adult incontinence garment.  
     
     
         18 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of single packaged articles are releasably coupled together.  
     
     
         19 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the article is maintained and packaged at a moisture level of less than 3 percent.  
     
     
         20 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the package is selected from the group consisting of a blister package, an injection molded package, and a form-fill-seal package.  
     
     
         21 . A compact packaged disposable absorbent article, comprising: 
 a disposable absorbent article having a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein a ratio between the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration is less than 0.12; and    a package having a low degree of gas permeability and a pull tab, the package configured to remain in one piece after being opened and having the article removed therefrom,    wherein the article is maintained and packaged at a moisture content of less than about 3 percent such that when the article is positioned and sealed in the package, the article has a configuration in the package which is at least 30 percent less in volume than an un-packaged identically folded article.    
     
     
         22 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 21  wherein the article is a single packaged article.  
     
     
         23 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 22 , wherein the article is a diaper.  
     
     
         24 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 22 , wherein the article is a training pant.  
     
     
         25 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 22 , wherein the article is an adult incontinence garment.  
     
     
         26 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 21 , wherein the article is packaged in a package having a gas permeability range of less than about 5.0 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours to about 0.05 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours.  
     
     
         27 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 26 , wherein the article is packaged in a package having a gas permeability range of less than about 3.0 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours to about 0.10 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours.  
     
     
         28 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 27 , wherein the article is packaged in a package having a gas permeability range of less than about 2.0 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours to about 0.10 cc/100 in 2 /24 hours.  
     
     
         29 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 21 , wherein the package is selected from the group consisting of a blister package, an injection molded package, and a form-fill-seal package.  
     
     
         30 . The compact packaged disposable absorbent article of  claim 21  wherein the article is vacuum packaged.