Carrying vacuum-packaged diaper in pocket on person

Abstract

A method of traveling with a disposable diaper on one's person includes: first, vacuum-packaging a disposable diaper such that the vacuum-packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person and, thereafter, placing said vacuum-packaged diaper in a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, and traveling with said disposed packaged diaper in the pocket of the article of clothing on one's person. The vacuum-packaged diaper includes a packaging made from a substantially flexible material and a disposable diaper contained within the packaging in a compressed condition. The packaging is hermetically sealed at negative pressure such that a pressure differential acts upon the packaging to maintain the diaper in the compressed condition when the packaged diaper is carried in the pocket.

1 . A method of traveling with a disposable diaper on one's person, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) first, packaging a disposable diaper such that the packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, said packaging including, 
 (i) compressing the disposable diaper from a first condition to a second, compressed condition, and  
 (ii) retaining the disposable diaper in the second, compressed condition by, 
 (A) locating the diaper in an interior space defined by a substantially flexible material,  
 (B) creating a negative pressure within the interior space, and  
 (C) hermetically sealing the diaper at the negative pressure within the interior space of the flexible material such that, when placed within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, a pressure differential acts upon the flexible material to maintain the diaper in the compressed condition; and  
 
   (b) thereafter, 
 (i) placing said packaged diaper in a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, and  
 (ii) traveling with said disposed packaged diaper in the pocket of the article of clothing on one's person.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of a jacket that is worn on one's person.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said packaged diaper is the only diaper contained within the interior space of the flexible material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises a thermoplastic shrink-wrap material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step (a) of packaging the disposable diaper further includes, prior to said compressing, reconfiguring the diaper.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of reconfiguring the disposable diaper includes folding the diaper.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said folding includes forming three widthwise folds in the disposable diaper.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said three widthwise folds are about evenly spaced along a length of the diaper between opposed ends of the diaper.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of reconfiguring the disposable diaper includes rolling the diaper such that the disposable diaper is cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper from a first condition to a second includes compressing the diaper in a normal condition without folding the diaper.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper includes reducing at least two of height, width, and length dimensions of the disposable diaper.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the height, width, and length dimensions of the disposable diaper are reduced without folding or rolling of the diaper during said compressing.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper includes reducing each of height, width, and length dimensions of the disposable diaper.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the height, width, and length dimensions of the disposable diaper are reduced without folding or rolling of the diaper during said compressing.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper includes reducing at least two of width, thickness, and diameter dimensions of the disposable diaper.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least two of the width, thickness, and diameter dimensions of the disposable diaper are reduced without folding or rolling of the diaper during said compressing.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper includes reducing each of width, thickness, and diameter dimensions of the disposable diaper.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the width, thickness, and diameter dimensions of the disposable diaper are reduced without folding or rolling of the diaper during said compressing.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper includes compressing the diaper such that a volume of the diaper is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing of the disposable diaper includes compressing the diaper such that a volume of the diaper is reduced by 50%.  
     
     
         25 . A method of traveling with a disposable diaper on one's person, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) first, packaging a disposable diaper such that the packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, said packaging including, 
 (i) folding the disposable diaper by forming three widthwise folds in the disposable diaper evenly spaced along a length of the diaper between opposed ends of the diaper,  
 (ii) after said folding, 
 (A) compressing the disposable diaper from a first condition to a second, compressed condition such that each of the height, width, and length dimensions of the disposable diaper is reduced without folding of the diaper during said compressing, and such that at least one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%, and  
 (B) retaining the disposable diaper in the second, compressed condition by, 
 (1) locating the diaper in an interior space defined by a substantially flexible material,  
 (2) creating a negative pressure within the interior space, and  
 (3) hermetically sealing the diaper at the negative pressure within the interior space of the flexible material such that, when placed within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, a pressure differential acts upon the flexible material to maintain the diaper in the compressed condition; and  
 
 
   (b) thereafter, 
 (i) placing said packaged diaper in a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, and  
 (ii) traveling with said disposed packaged diaper in the pocket of the article of clothing on one's person.  
   
     
     
         26 . A method of traveling with a disposable diaper on one's person, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) first, packaging a disposable diaper such that the packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, said packaging including, 
 (i) rolling the disposable diaper such that the disposable diaper is cylindrical in shape,  
 (ii) after said rolling, 
 (A) compressing the disposable diaper from a first condition to a second, compressed condition such that each of the width, thickness, and diameter dimensions of the disposable diaper is reduced without rolling of the diaper during said compressing, and such that at least one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%, and  
 (B) retaining the disposable diaper in the second, compressed condition by, 
 (1) locating the diaper in an interior space defined by a substantially flexible material,  
 (2) creating a negative pressure within the interior space, and  
 (3) hermetically sealing the diaper at the negative pressure within the interior space of the flexible material such that, when placed within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, a pressure differential acts upon the flexible material to maintain the diaper in the compressed condition; and  
 
 
   (b) thereafter, 
 (i) placing said packaged diaper in a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, and  
 (ii) traveling with said disposed packaged diaper in the pocket of the article of clothing on one's person.  
   
     
     
         27 . A method of traveling with a disposable diaper on one's person, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) first, vacuum-packaging a disposable diaper such that the vacuum-packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, said vacuum-packaged diaper comprising, 
 (i) packaging made from a substantially flexible material, and  
 (ii) a disposable diaper contained within the packaging in a compressed condition,  
 (iii) wherein the packaging is hermetically sealed at negative pressure such that a pressure differential acts upon the packaging to maintain the diaper in the compressed condition; and  
   (b) thereafter, 
 (i) placing said vacuum-packaged diaper in a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person, and  
   (ii) traveling with said disposed packaged diaper in the pocket of the article of clothing on one's person.