Diaper package with plurality of individual diaper packages vacuum packed therein

Abstract

The invention relates to diaper packaging and, more particularly, to vacuum packing together a plurality of individual diaper packages. The invention also relates to an overall package containing a plurality of individual diaper packages, wherein each individual diaper package is a vacuum packed diaper (VPD). In accordance therewith, a method of packaging diapers includes the steps of: (a) individually packing each of a plurality of diapers to form a plurality of individual diaper packages; and thereafter (b) vacuum packing the plurality of individual diaper packages together to form an overall package of diapers. In a feature, each individual diaper package includes only a single vacuum packed diaper. In another feature, a retail package for sale to consumers includes a group of non vacuum packed diapers, none of which are individually packaged, and an overall package of VPDs.

1 . A method of packaging diapers, comprising the steps of:
 (a) individually packing each of a plurality of diapers to form a plurality of individual diaper packages;   (b) thereafter, vacuum sealing together the plurality of individual diaper packages within a substantially air impermeable material to form an overall package of diapers; and   (c) presenting the overall package of diapers, in a collectively vacuum sealed state, as a retail package for sale to consumers.   
     
     
         2 . A method of packaging diapers, comprising the steps of:
 (a) individually vacuum sealing each of a plurality of diapers within a substantially air impermeable material such that each respective diaper is contained within a substantially airtight interior space of a respective diaper package so as to form a plurality of vacuum packed diapers (VPDs);   (b) thereafter, vacuum sealing together the plurality of VPDs within a substantially air impermeable material such that the plurality of VPDs are contained within a substantially airtight interior space of the overall package; and   (c) presenting the overall package of diapers, in a collectively vacuum sealed state, as a retail package for sale to consumers.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the diapers is vacuum sealed in said step (a) at a first vacuum pressure, wherein the plurality of VPDs are vacuum sealed in said step (b) at a second vacuum pressure, and wherein the first vacuum pressure is substantially greater than the second vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the diapers is vacuum sealed in said step (a) at a first vacuum pressure, wherein the plurality of VPDs are vacuum sealed at a second vacuum pressure, and wherein the first vacuum pressure is substantially less than the second vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the diapers is vacuum sealed in said step (a) at a first vacuum pressure, wherein the plurality of VPDs are vacuum sealed at a second vacuum pressure, and wherein the first vacuum pressure is substantially the same as the second vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the diapers is vacuum sealed in said step (a) at a first pressure, wherein the plurality of VPDs are vacuum sealed at a second pressure, and wherein the first pressure is less than ambient atmospheric pressure and wherein the second pressure is less than ambient atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each VPD comprises an encasement in which the diaper thereof is vacuum sealed, the encasement is formed from the substantially air impermeable material prior to vacuum sealing of the respective diaper therein, and the diaper is compressed prior to being located within the encasement for vacuum sealing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the encasement includes a volume and dimensions that closely match the volume and dimensions of the compressed diaper when located within the encasement such that the encasement retains the diaper substantially in the compressed state prior to vacuum sealing of the diaper within the encasement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each VPD comprises an encasement in which the diaper thereof is vacuum sealed, the encasement is formed from the substantially air impermeable material prior to vacuum sealing of the respective diaper, and each encasement in which a diaper is vacuum sealed includes a hoop strength that is sufficient to retain the diaper therein and prevent breach of a vacuum state therein when the encasement is exposed to extremely low pressure during vacuum packing thereof in said step (b) to form the overall package of VPDs. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said steps (a) and (b) is performed using a vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of pressing the plurality of VPDs during performance of said step (b). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said further step of pressing the plurality of VPDs comprises pressing VPDs with one or more substantially smooth surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of pressing the plurality of VPDs when the VPDs are exposed to vacuum during performance of said step (b). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising pressing the plurality of VPDs while sealing of the VPDs within the substantially air impermeable material during performance of said step (b). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising pressing the plurality of VPDs while initially exposing the overall packaging to ambient atmospheric pressure during performance of said step (b). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising pressing the plurality of VPDs after performance of said steps (a) and (b). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each diaper is arranged in a nominal configuration when individually vacuum packed during performance of said step (a). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising compressing a diaper that is arranged in a nominal configuration prior to vacuum sealing of the diaper during performance of said step (a), wherein the diaper is in a compressed state when vacuum sealed within the substantially air impermeable material during performance of said step (a). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the overall package resulting from the performance of said step (b) consists of five VPDs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein following performance of said step (b), the overall package of VPDs has a hard exterior surface that results from the vacuum sealing of the VPDs within the substantially air impermeable material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein following performance of said step (a), each of the VPDs has a hard exterior surface that results from the individual vacuum sealing of each diaper of the VPDs.