Packaged diaper, related accessories and packaging system

Abstract

A packaged diaper ( 10 ), including a diaper ( 12 ), having a first, a nominal size, and a second, reduced size, the reduced size of the diaper being convenient for carriage and storage of the diaper. The diaper is disposed in an encasement ( 14 ) in the second, reduced size. The encasement confines the diaper so that the diaper is retained in its reduced size by the encasement and so that the diaper is returned to its nominal size upon opening of the encasement.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . A method of packaging a single, unused diaper, comprising the steps of: 
 disposing the single, unused diaper within a substantially air impermeable encasement, the diaper being the only diaper disposed within the encasement;    volumetrically reducing a size of the unused diaper to a size convenient for carriage and storage of the diaper; and    maintaining the volumetrically reduced size of the diaper with the encasement;    wherein the step of maintaining the volumetrically reduced size of the diaper with the encasement includes the step of maintaining the volumetrically reduced size with a pressure differential acting upon the encasement; and    wherein the pressure differential acting upon the encasement is created by forming a vacuum within the encasement and then sealing the encasement.    
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of volumetrically reducing the size of the diaper by folding the diaper into a substantially rectangular shape prior to said step of disposing the single, unused diaper within a substantially air impermeable encasement.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of volumetrically reducing the size of the diaper by rolling the diaper into a substantially cylindrical shape prior to said step of disposing the single, unused diaper within a substantially air impermeable encasement.  
     
     
         24 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the packaged diaper has three dimensions comprising a width, length, and height, and the sum of two of the three dimensions is less than 10 cm with no single dimension of the three dimensions exceeding 10 cm.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a pressure within the encasement when sealed is about 5 millibars to about 1 millibar.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of disposing at least one diaper accessory with the diaper within the encasement prior to sealing of the encasement, the diaper accessory being used for changing of a diaper to thereby form a diaper changing kit.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of packaging the sealed encasement, which maintains the volumetrically reduced size of the diaper, with at least one diaper accessory for changing of a diaper to thereby form a diaper changing kit.