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  Absorbent articles in a unitary packageRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Means And Methods For Collecting Body Fluids Or Waste Material (e.g., Receptacles, Etc.), Absorbent Pad For External Or Internal Application And Supports Therefor (e.g., Catamenial Devices, Diapers, Etc.), Having Specific Design, Shape, Or Structural Feature, Individual WrapperThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060069372. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention is directed to multiple types of absorbent articles provided in a single package, as well as a method of providing such a package, and a method of forming various types of absorbent articles. [0002] Absorbent articles, such as diapers, are often over-designed in order to provide a single type of absorbent article that can accommodate a wide range of users in a wide range of usage conditions. More particularly, absorbent structures within absorbent articles are often designed to have a considerably high absorbent capacity and/or product design that is sufficient for both normal and extreme usage conditions. However, the use of excess absorbent material and/or more expensive absorbent material in garments that are used under normal usage conditions results in unnecessarily high material costs. [0003] Specially-designed products for specific usage conditions, such as daytime wear or more absorbent overnight wear, are available. However, in order for a consumer to use the appropriate articles at the appropriate time, the consumer must purchase a package of each type of absorbent article. The multiplicity of packages takes up storage space and may be cumbersome to contend with in terms of finding the appropriate package at the appropriate time. Additionally, each product type is typically produced on a separate product line. This multiplicity of product lines also takes up space, as well as requiring additional equipment as well as supervision. [0004] There is thus a need or desire for a package of absorbent articles that can provide suitable articles for various usage conditions without requiring excess storage space. There is a further need or desire for a method of making absorbent articles that can produce multiple types of absorbent articles simultaneously on a single product line. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] In response to the discussed difficulties and problems encountered in the prior art, a new package of absorbent articles, as well as methods of forming such absorbent articles, has been discovered. This single package contains different types of absorbent articles and therefore obviates the need to buy multiple packages each containing a different type of absorbent article. Additionally, the method of forming multiple types of absorbent articles on a single product line reduces the amount of space and equipment normally required to maintain multiple product lines. The principles of the invention may be applied to any of a number of disposable absorbent article applications, such as diapers, diaper pants, training pants, swimwear, adult incontinence products, feminine care products, and the like. [0006] In accordance with the invention, a single package of disposable absorbent articles may include at least two different types of disposable absorbent articles each having an absorbent structure. The absorbent structures are specific to each absorbent article type, and thus the absorbent structure of each type of absorbent article is different than the absorbent structure of the other type(s) of absorbent articles. Also, each type of absorbent article has an appearance that is visibly distinguished from the other type(s) of absorbent articles. [0007] The absorbent structures may differ among the absorbent article types in one or more ways. For example, one type of absorbent article may have a greater absorbent capacity than another type of absorbent article. Alternatively, the absorbent structure may be narrower in a crotch region width, and/or narrower in a front region width, and/or narrower in a back region width in one absorbent article type than in another absorbent article type. The absorbent structure may also vary in length among the absorbent article types. As another example, the absorbent structure may be zoned differently in the different types of absorbent articles, with either no zoning present in one type and/or different zoning in front/back or front/crotch/back regions among the absorbent article types. Furthermore, the absorbent structure may be bonded or embossed differently among the absorbent article types, and/or not bonded or embossed at all in one of the absorbent article types. In certain embodiments, different types of superabsorbent material may be used among the different types of absorbent articles. As yet another example of possible differentiating features among the types of absorbent articles, a specific type of surge layer may be present in the absorbent structure of one type and the absorbent structure of another type may have either no surge layer or a different type of surge layer. [0008] The frequency of the different types of absorbent articles within a single package may be any suitable frequency. For example, in a package containing at least two different types of absorbent articles, the first type and the second type may be present in a ratio between about 12:1 and about 3:1. [0009] The types of absorbent articles may differ from one another in more aspects than just the absorbent structure and appearance. For example, one type of absorbent article may include an enhanced liner compared to another type of absorbent article. Each type of absorbent article within the package may be designed to fit wearers of the same size. Additionally, each absorbent article within the package may be designed to fit wearers during a single stage of development. Furthermore, each absorbent article within the package may be a complete absorbent article, rather than being provided as separate components that may be combined to form a complete absorbent article. [0010] A method of providing a package of disposable absorbent articles may be carried out by producing at least two different types of disposable absorbent articles each having an absorbent structure that differs from the absorbent structure present in the other types of absorbent articles. The different types of absorbent articles have an appearance that is visibly distinguished from one another. The different types of absorbent articles are packaged in a single package prior to distribution to consumers. [0011] The various types of absorbent articles may be formed on a single product line. For example, a conventional absorbent structure forming method can be modified using a forming screen having various pocket depths along a length of the screen to form absorbent structures that differ from one another. More particularly, every third, fourth, sixth, or twelfth pocket, for example, can have a higher depth than normal to produce a higher absorbency article through zoning. Alternatively or additionally, a forming drum having variably-shaped contour rings can be used to form absorbent structures that differ from one another in shape and/or dimensions. [0012] As yet another alternative for enhancing the absorbent features in some or all of the articles, an absorbent pledget can be added to a flat or zoned primary absorbent layer. The pledget can be added in just a portion of the absorbent layer or across the entire absorbent layer, and may contain a special superabsorbent and/or fibrous material. The pledget may be formed online or brought to the converting line on a roll to be cut and placed as desired. [0013] A printing-based registering system can be used to create the visual distinction between the different types of absorbent articles. For example, a wax-jet printing-based registering system can imprint a graphical representation on one type of article that designates that type of article as suitable for overnight use. Any suitable process control method can be used, such as a closed-loop feedback system that identifies an absorbent article having a different absorbent structure, surge, or liner than a preceding absorbent article as a precursor signal to activate a registering system to create the visual distinction on the absorbent article having the different absorbent structure. The feedback system may identify such differences between absorbent articles as weight, basis weight (grams per square meter, GSM), and/or dimension of the absorbent structure. For instance, high-speed microwave or laser-based GSM/weight measuring devices can be placed upstream to trigger the downstream registering system. [0014] By providing a single package that contains at least two different types of absorbent articles that are visually distinguished from one another, consumers can purchase a single package of absorbent articles that can accommodate a wearer during at least two different levels of usage, and can quickly identify which absorbent article in the package is most appropriate for a particular severity of expected usage, such as less-severe daytime use or more-severe overnight use. [0015] This combination packaging results in significant cost savings through the use of less absorbent material and/or less expensive absorbent material in at least one of the types of absorbent articles. Additionally, the message of "enhanced care" is conveyed to consumers through the personalization of multiple types of absorbent articles within a single package, as well as the convenience of not having to buy separate overnight or higher absorbency type products. [0016] With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a package of absorbent articles that can provide suitable articles for various usage conditions without requiring excess storage space. It is another feature and advantage to provide a method of making absorbent articles that can produce multiple types of absorbent articles simultaneously on a single product line. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package of absorbent articles. [0019] FIGS. 2A and 2B are front views of different embodiments of the package of FIG. 1 in an opened position. [0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an absorbent article, such as a diaper, in a fastened position. [0021] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an absorbent article similar to the absorbent article of FIG. 3 in a stretched flat state, and showing the surface of the article that faces away from the wearer when the article is worn. Continue reading... Full patent description for Absorbent articles in a unitary package Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Absorbent articles in a unitary package patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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