Reconfiguring and Vacuum-Packaging Diaper

Abstract

A method of individually packaging a diaper includes reconfiguring a diaper from a first configuration to a second configuration; and compressing the diaper to, and retaining the diaper in, a compressed condition by vacuum-packaging of the reconfigured diaper. Vacuum-packaging of the reconfigured diaper includes the steps of locating the diaper in an interior space of a substantially flexible material, creating a negative pressure within the interior space, and hermetically sealing the diaper at the negative pressure in the interior space of the flexible material. The packaged diaper may be the only diaper contained within the interior space of the flexible material. The diaper also may be packaged such that the packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person.

1 . A method of individually packaging a diaper, comprising: 
 (a) reconfiguring a diaper from a first configuration to a second configuration; and    (b) compressing the diaper to, and retaining the diaper in, a compressed condition by vacuum-packaging of the reconfigured diaper.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum-packaging of the reconfigured diaper comprises the steps of, 
 (i) locating the diaper in an interior space of a substantially flexible material,    (ii) creating a negative pressure within the interior space, and    (iii) hermetically sealing the diaper at the negative pressure in the interior space of the flexible material.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , 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 diaper is packaged such that the packaged diaper is dimensioned to fit within a pocket of an article of clothing on one's person.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packaging material comprises a thermoplastic shrink-wrap material.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step (b) is performed after said step (a).  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of reconfiguring the diaper includes folding the diaper.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said folding includes forming three crosswise folds in the diaper.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said three crosswise folds are about evenly spaced along a length of the diaper between opposed ends of the diaper.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of reconfiguring the diaper includes rolling the diaper such that the reconfigured diaper is cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of compressing the diaper includes reducing at least two of height, width, and length dimensions of the diaper.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the height, width, and length dimensions of the diaper are reduced without folding or rolling of the diaper during said step of compressing the diaper.  
     
     
         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 step of compressing the diaper includes reducing at least two of width, thickness, and diameter dimensions of the diaper.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein two dimensions of the group of the width, thickness, and diameter of the diaper are reduced without folding or rolling of the diaper during said step of compressing the diaper.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein one of the reduced dimensions is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of compressing the diaper includes compressing the diaper such that a volume of the diaper is reduced by at least 30%.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of compressing the diaper includes compressing the diaper such that a volume of the diaper is reduced by 50%.