US20040211696A1

US20040211696A1 - Method of merchandising disposable absorbent pants

Info

Publication number: US20040211696A1
Application number: US10/424,655
Authority: US
Inventors: Kimberly Underhill; Brian Angielski
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 2003-04-28
Filing date: 2003-04-28
Publication date: 2004-10-28
Also published as: US20100072108A1

Abstract

A method of displaying a package of disposable absorbent pant products includes placing the package in a retail store in the same region of the store that also includes clothing. A package for disposable absorbent pant products includes a pocket and device for hanging the package. The package may include a display window through which a consumer may view the disposable absorbent pant products.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for displaying disposable absorbent pant products in a retail store with reusable clothing, and also to a package for disposable absorbent pant products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, disposable absorbent pant products, such as training pants, are displayed in the diaper aisle of a retail store and are typically packaged in bulk conventional packages containing from about 15 to about 100 products. The disposable absorbent pant products are generally stacked within the conventional package in either one or two stacks similar to how diapers are packaged. The packages generally sit on the store shelf and cannot be hung from other merchandising apparatus.

The use of disposable absorbent pant products is a next logical step in the toilet training process after diapers, but prior to regular reusable underwear. Caregivers frequently transition directly from diapers to reusable underwear for their toddler. One reason is that caregivers are overly optimistic that training will go quickly and smoothly, or do not recognize that specifically designed training pants will promote an easier transition by more readily accommodating accidents than reusable underwear.

Thus, what is lacking and needed in the art is a method for displaying or merchandising disposable absorbent pant products in a retail store with reusable clothing to encourage or remind caregivers that training pants can be used after diapers and before reusable underwear to promote the toilet training process, as well as a package for disposable absorbent pant products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In response to the above-referenced unfulfilled need in the art, a new method for displaying such disposable absorbent pant products and a new package for disposable absorbent pant products have been invented.

One aspect of the invention pertains to a method for displaying disposable absorbent pant products in a retail store. The method includes displaying clothing in the store, and displaying a package of disposable absorbent pant products in the store in the same region in which the clothing is displayed. Such packages can include from 1 to about 5 disposable absorbent pant products, to provide a cost effective vehicle for caregivers to try training pants, and thereby realize the benefits they can bring to the toilet training process.

Another aspect of the invention pertains to a package containing at least one disposable absorbent pant product. The package includes a pocket and can also include a display window through which consumers may view the disposable absorbent pant product inside the package. The package is similar to packages currently used for reusable underwear. The package also includes a device for hanging the package in a retail store, such as for example, an aperture in a flap attached to the pocket through which the package may be hung on a hook, or a small hanger, or any other hanging or displaying means known in the art. The pocket may be reclosable to allow the package to be used as a waste container to hold soiled pants.

One of the benefits provided by the method and package of the invention is an increased perception of the disposable absorbent pant product being more “underwear-like” than a diaper. This increased perception benefits not only the user, but also the caretaker. Another benefit provided by the method and package of the invention is greater ease for consumers to try the disposable absorbent pant products without the necessity of purchasing a conventional package containing a larger number of the products. Another benefit applies to consumers who use disposable absorbent pant products for overnight use and/or other incontinence use. The package of disposable absorbent pant products of the invention marketed discreetly in the durable goods section of a store helps to preserve the modesty and privacy of these consumers, i.e., a discretion benefit. Furthermore, the ability to try disposable absorbent pant products (without a big purchase commitment for a larger sized package) can allow consumers to experiment with different routes toward toilet training with the greatest ease. Such experimenting with different routes toward toilet training can be beneficial because children differ in their abilities and will train at various rates, using a variety of methods, depending on each child's capabilities and preferences at the time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: [0009]
FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a disposable absorbent pant product; [0010]
FIG. 2 is a front view of a package of the present invention showing a disposable absorbent pant product through the display window; [0011]
FIG. 3 is a front view of a package of the present invention showing disposable absorbent pant products in a rolled configuration through the display window; [0012]
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 along line [0013] 4-4
FIG. 5 is a front view of a package of the present invention showing disposable absorbent pant products in a folded and staggered configuration through the display window; [0014]
FIG. 6 is a front view of disposable absorbent pant products in a folded and staggered configuration outside of the package; and [0015]
FIG. 7 is a schematic of a layout of a retail store.[0016]

DEFINITIONS

“Attached” refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, bonding, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be attached together when they are attached directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly attached to intermediate elements. [0017]
“Component,” when used with reference to a disposable absorbent pant product, refers to all or a segment of a designated selected region such as edges, corners, sides or the like; structural members, such as elastic strips, absorbent pads, elastic layers or panels, layers of material; or the like, or a graphic. [0018]
“Comprising” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. [0019]
“Connected” refers to the joining, adhering, bonding, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be connected together when they are connected directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly connected to intermediate elements. [0020]
“Conventional package” refers to a package containing from about 15 to about 100 disposable absorbent pants products. [0021]
“Disposable” refers to articles which are designed to be discarded after a limited use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. [0022]
“Disposable absorbent pant product” refers to any disposable pant-like absorbent article, including disposable training pants, disposable swimwear, disposable youth pants, disposable incontinence products, and feminine care products. [0023]
“Film” refers to a thermoplastic film made using a film extrusion and/or forming process, such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, and other porous films which constitute liquid transfer films, as well as films which do not transfer liquid. [0024]
“Graphic” refers to an image, design, pattern, symbology, indicia, or the like. [0025]
“Layer” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements. [0026]
“Member” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements. [0027]
“Retail Store” refers to a business that offers durable and/or disposable products for sale. [0028]
“Reusable” refers to an item intended to be laundered. A reusable item is not considered to be disposable. Reusable items are sometimes referred to as durable. [0029]
“Spatially separated” refers to regions or items in a retail store that are not in proximity to one another, such as might require a consumer to travel to a remote or different region of the store, or to exit one region such as an aisle, to reach the other region or item; adjoining regions of the store, such as on either side (i.e., facing sides) of an aisle, are not considered to be spatially separated; however, consecutive aisles would generally be considered to be spatially separated. Regions or items in a retail store that are spatially separated are not in visual proximity to one another. [0030]
“Surface” includes any layer, film, woven, nonwoven, laminate, composite, or the like, whether pervious or impervious to air, gas, and/or liquids. [0031]
“Toilet training material” refers to any item that can be used to facilitate toilet training. [0032]
“Visual proximity” refers to regions or items in a retail store within 15 meters of one another and that can be viewed from a consumer's location in the retail store by the turning of the consumer's head or by the turning around of the consumer's body. [0033]
These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions of the specification. [0034]

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a disposable [0035] absorbent pant product 10, or disposable training pant. The disposable absorbent pant product 10 includes a front panel 12, a back panel 14, a crotch panel 16 interconnecting front and back panels 12 and 14, and a pair of elastic side panels 18. Each elastic side panel 18 is formed from two separate elastic portions and are suitably joined together, such as by ultrasonic bonding, to form a side seam 20. The side panels 18 can be partially or fully integral with the front and back panels 12 and 14. Upon construction of the side seams 20, a waist opening 22 and leg openings 24 are formed. The side seams 20 may be constructed to be manually tearable in order to allow the disposable absorbent pant product 10 to be disassembled manually by the caregiver, so that it can be easily removed from the child after a bowel movement. A more detailed description of the construction and design of the above-described disposable absorbent pant product 10 can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,464, herein incorporated by reference. The manufacture of training pants can be accomplished in the manner described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/855,484, filed 15 May 2001 (U.S. Publication US 2002/0000291, Jan. 3, 2002) by Joseph D. Coenen et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. One specific manner of supplying elastic side panels 18 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,405 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,116, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The provision of side seams 20 can be accomplished in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,272,herein incorporated by reference. The side seams 20 can be permanent seams or refastenable seams.
The disposable [0036] absorbent pant product 10 can have multiple appearance-related and/or function-related components. Examples of components that are appearance-related include, but are not limited to, graphics; the highlighting or emphasizing of leg and waist openings in order to make product shaping more evident or visible; the highlighting or emphasizing of areas in the article to simulate functional components such as elastic leg bands, elastic waistbands, simulated “fly openings” for boys, or ruffles for girls; the highlighting of areas of the product to change the appearance of the size of the product; selectively positioned wetness indicators; back labels or front labels; and selectively positioned written instructions at a desired location on the article.
Examples of function-related components include, but are not limited to, waist elastics, leg elastics, areas of breathability, fluid repellent areas, fluid wettable areas, adhesives, coatings, encapsulated inks, chemically-sensitive materials, environmentally-sensitive materials, heat-sensitive materials, moisture-sensitive materials, perfumes, odor control agents, inks, fasteners, fluid storage areas, textured or embossed areas, or the like. [0037]
The disposable [0038] absorbent pant product 10 can further comprise a front waist elastic 26, suitably joined to front panel 12, a back waist elastic 28 suitably joined to back panel 14, leg elastics 30 suitably positioned in crotch panel 16, and an absorbent pad 32 positioned between a liquid impermeable outer cover or back sheet 34 and a liquid permeable liner or topsheet 36. The absorbent pad 32, positioned between the backsheet 34 and the topsheet 36, can be any structure which is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids and certain body wastes. The absorbent pad 32 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and from a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used in the art. For example, the absorbent pad 32 can suitably include a matrix of hydrophilic fibers, such as a web of cellulosic fluff, and the cellulosic fluff may be mixed with particles of a high-absorbency material commonly known as superabsorbent material. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent pad 32 includes a matrix of cellulosic fluff, such as wood pulp fluff, and synthetic fibers, such as coform or airlaid materials. The wood pulp fluff can be exchanged with synthetic, polymeric, meltblown fibers or with a combination of meltblown fibers and natural fibers. The superabsorbent particles can be substantially homogeneously mixed with the hydrophilic fibers or can be nonuniformly mixed. The fluff and superabsorbent particles can also be selectively placed into desired zones of the absorbent pad 32 to better contain and absorb body exudates. The concentration of the superabsorbent particles can also vary through the thickness of the absorbent pad 32. Alternatively, the absorbent pad 32 can include a laminate of fibrous webs and superabsorbent material or other suitable means of maintaining a superabsorbent material in a localized area.
Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. The superabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such as crosslinked polymers. Suitable superabsorbent materials are available from various commercial vendors, such as Dow Chemical Company located in Midland, Mich., U.S.A., and Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG, D-47805 Krefeld, Federal Republic of Germany. Typically, a superabsorbent material is capable of absorbing at least about 15 times its weight in water, and desirably is capable of absorbing more than about 25 times its weight in water. [0039]
In one embodiment, the [0040] absorbent pad 32 is generally rectangular in shape, and includes a blend of wood pulp fluff and superabsorbent material. One preferred type of fluff is identified with the trade designation CR1654, available from U.S. Alliance, Childersberg, Ala., U.S.A., and is a bleached, highly absorbent sulfate wood pulp containing primarily soft wood fibers. As a general rule, the superabsorbent material is present in the absorbent pad 32 in an amount of from about 0 to about 90 weight percent based on total weight of the absorbent pad 32. The absorbent pad 32 suitably has a density within the range of about 0.10 to about 0.35 grams per cubic centimeter. The absorbent pad 32 may or may not be wrapped or encompassed by a suitable tissue wrap that maintains the integrity and/or shape of the absorbent pad 32.
A graphic [0041] 38 can be selectively positioned on front panel 12, and as illustrated includes a design of a simulated “fly opening” 40, typical of a male's underwear, along with a rainbow, sun, clouds, and cars. The graphic 38 can be any type of desired pattern, artistic feature, or the like, and is desired to be positioned in the article at a selected location. The graphic 38 can also include, for example, simulated waist ruffles and/or, simulated leg ruffles (not shown). Again any suitable graphic can be utilized so as to convey an aesthetically and/or functionally pleasing appearance to the user and caregiver.
As representatively illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, an embodiment of a [0042] package 50 of the present invention includes a pocket 54. The package 50 can include a flap or tab 52 attached to the pocket 54. The pocket 54 includes an outer surface 56, an inner surface 58, a front surface 60 and a back surface 66 (FIG. 4) opposite the front surface 60. The package 50 has a generally rectangular shape, but can be any desired shape. The length of the flap 52 is generally less than one-third of the length of the entire package 50 as shown, but can be any desired length. The width of the flap 52 can be greater than, equal to, or less than the width of the pocket 54.
The [0043] package 50 further includes a disposable absorbent pant product 10, such as for example, a training pant or the like, on the inside of the pocket 54. The pocket 54 can include a display window 62 disposed or positioned within a portion of the front surface 60 of the package 50. Display window 62 includes a window periphery 64 that has a shape that is substantially semi-circular, but any desired shape is contemplated. Display window 62 at least substantially frames a component of the disposable absorbent pant product 10. In FIGS. 2-3 and 5, the component framed by display window 62 is a portion or segment of graphic 38, which is visually perceivable through display window 62.
The [0044] pocket 54 can contain at least one disposable absorbent pant product 10, desirably up to five disposable absorbent pant products 10, but desirably not more than ten disposable absorbent pant products 10. The graphic 38 of the disposable absorbent pant product 10 can be selectively positioned on the disposable absorbent pant product 10, and the disposable absorbent pant product 10 can be selectively positioned in the pocket 54 so that the graphic 38 shows at least partially through the display window 62. The graphic 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 and 5, can be a cat illustration, or any other design as previously mentioned.
As shown in FIG. 2 each of the disposable [0045] absorbent pant products 10 can be disposed inside the pocket 54 in a flat configuration stacked one on top of another in a manner such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,555 issued Nov. 20, 2001 to Kuske et al., herein incorporated by reference. As an alternative, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 each of the disposable absorbent pant products 10 can be disposed inside the pocket 54 in a rolled configuration by rolling the disposable absorbent pant product 10 from the crotch panel 16 in the direction of arrow 70 (FIG. 1) upward toward the back waist elastic 28. As another alternative, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the disposable absorbent pant products 10 can be disposed inside the pocket in a folded and staggered configuration in a manner similar to how reusable underwear is folded by folding the side panels 18 in the direction of arrows 72 (FIG. 1) and by also folding the crotch panel 16 back towards the back panel 14 and then staggering the disposable absorbent pant products 10 as shown. It is contemplated that the disposable absorbent pant product 10 can be in any folded or other configuration known within the art in the pocket 54.
In particular embodiments, the [0046] pocket 54 including the disposable absorbent pant products 10 can be sealed so as to provide a sanitary environment inside the pocket 54 for the disposable absorbent pant products 10. The pocket 54 can be heat sealed, adhesively-sealed, or sealed by any sealing method known in the art.
Referring to display [0047] window 62 framing a component, such as graphic 38, the terms “framing,” “substantially framing,” or variations thereof, mean that the window periphery 64 surrounds or encompasses all or at least a portion of the component for visual display. Within the context of this description, a component is visually perceivable if the portion of the display window 62 over the component is clear or substantially clear to the person viewing it. The term “clear” refers to the material's capability of transmitting light so that the component, or a portion thereof, can be seen as clearly as if there were no intervening material between the component and the individual. The term “substantially clear” refers to the capability of transmitting light, but causing sufficient diffusion of the light to eliminate perception of distinct images, shapes, forms or the like.
The [0048] display window 62 can cover either all or a portion of the front surface 60 of the pocket 54 of the package 50. In particular embodiments, the display window 62 covers at least 10%, but not more than 90% of the front surface 60 of the package 50.
The present invention thus provides the feature of permitting a user, a caregiver, or the like, to visually see or perceive a component, or a portion thereof, of the article they are purchasing. The purchaser may also be able to see or determine the size of the article, thereby providing a degree of confidence in proper fit. This provides product visibility at the time of purchase, which is important, both to the user and the caregiver. For example, when the [0049] package 50 contains a training pant, a child can see the gender-specific graphic, as well as the specific product being selected. This provides the child with a sense of ownership and an active role in the toilet training process. This is extremely important in encouraging the child to become toilet trained. In addition, the increased perception of the disposable absorbent pant product being more “underwear-like” than a diaper also helps to encourage the child to become toilet trained. Equally important is that the caregiver can see a desirable feature or component of the product. For example, if a training pant has a unique outer cover that is, for example, both cloth-like in texture and includes a unique design or graphic, then the caregiver can have a high degree of confidence in the appropriateness of the product being selected for purchase.
In manufacturing packages, such as [0050] package 50, for containing, for example, disposable absorbent pant products 10, it is customary to print the package material, either on its outermost surface or its innermost surface, with a color, illustrations, written instructions, source of manufacture, or the like. In this description, the term “background” or variations thereof refers to the surrounding, primarily discernible or perceivable color ink image printed on the package 50. For example, if disposable absorbent pant products 10 are manufactured as gender-specific pants, such as training pants, then the package 50 can have a background color of blue for boys, and pink for girls. In this case, the surrounding, primarily perceivable or discernible color would be blue or pink in areas other than in the display window 62. The term “copy” refers to written indicia, numbers, letters, symbols, artistic images or patterns, or the like. Generally, copy is either printed over the background, or over areas of the package 50 not printed with background.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, [0051] package 50 includes copy to indicate the product as training pants, weight range (i.e., 32-40 lb, 15-18 kg), size range (i.e., 3T-4T), and the number of items in the package (i.e., 3).
Desirably, the [0052] package 50 includes a device for hanging the package 50 for sale in a retail store. Such device can include, for example, a flap or tab 52 with an aperture 80. The aperture 80 can be adapted to fit over a J-hook so that the package 50 can hang vertically from the J-hook for display on the display rack or shelf. It is also contemplated that the device for hanging the package 50 can include small hangers attached to the pocket 54 or to the flap 52. Other examples of devices for hanging include, for example, an aperture in the pocket, hook or loop fastener material on the package 50 which will attach to corresponding loop or hook fastener material on a display shelf or wall, or a flap or tab adapted to be hung or secured by a clip located on a display shelf or wall, or other hanging apparatus or means known in the art.
In addition, it is also contemplated that the [0053] pocket 54 can include a reclosable feature 82, such as for example, a zip-type seal. One example of such a reclosable feature is the ZIPLOC® food storage plastic bag manufactured by the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., U.S.A. The reclosable feature 82 will also enable the caregiver to use the pocket 54 as a receptacle for soiled disposable absorbent pant products. Alternatively, the reclosable feature 82 can include buttons, snaps, hook and loop fastening components, or any other reclosable devices known in the art. It is contemplated that the pocket 54 can include this reclosable feature 82 in addition to being sealed to provide a sanitary environment as discussed above.
The [0054] package 50 may be composed of different materials, or may be composed of substantially a single type of material. Typically, the material may be a polymer film which is flexible for accommodating the desired number of disposable absorbent pant products 10. In addition, the material should have sufficient strength to hold and contain the disposable absorbent pant products 10 without breaking and without excessive bulging or stretching of the film material. For example, the film material may be composed of a polyethylene film or film laminate having a thickness of about 2.5 mils (about 0.0635 millimeters). Other examples include a LDPE (low density polyethylene) film, a LDPE/LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) film laminate, a LDPE/MDPE (medium density polyethylene) film laminate, a LDPE/HDPE (high density polyethylene) film laminate or the like.
The [0055] package 50 can also include other items, such as an interactivity device and/or an activity device. Interactivity devices and activity devices are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,382 issued to Walter et al. on Mar. 10, 1998, herein incorporated by reference. Interactivity devices can serve to encourage and motivate the wearer to begin and successfully progress through the toilet training process and also to promote interaction between the caregiver and the wearer. In order to promote interaction between the caregiver and the wearer, interactivity devices to be used by the caregiver and wearer for instructing and aiding in toilet training can be included in the package 50. Typical examples of interactivity devices include, but are not limited to, a two-dimensional learning graphic illustrating a child using the toilet properly, a two-dimensional learning graphic illustrating a child pulling up or pulling down a training pant properly; educational materials; informational materials; flash cards; reward items; videotapes; or the like. These examples are typical of an interactivity device that creates the appropriate interaction between a caregiver and the wearer. For example, a graphic illustrating a child using the toilet properly can be used by the caregiver to explain to the child how he or she can use the toilet in the same manner. Similarly, other two-dimensional learning graphics, flash cards, stickers and an associated progress chart, educational or informational materials, or the like can be used by the caregiver to encourage and motivate the wearer in toilet training. These interactivity devices can be linked or associated together with common graphics or characters to reinforce the learning process in toilet training. This positive interaction between the caregiver and the wearer, which creates an encouraging and motivational atmosphere for the wearer, is extremely important in the wearer's progressing through the toilet training process easily and quickly.
Another feature of the present invention, in addition to the interactivity devices described above, are activity devices to be used by the child in toilet training. These activity devices are intended to be used independently by the child to encourage and motivate the child through the toilet training process. For example, the activity devices can acquaint and educate the child to toilet training, provide the motivation for the child to desire to toilet train, create a sense of ownership and independence in the child that encourages the child to progress through toilet training, or the like. Examples of these activity devices include, but are not limited to, crayons, a graphic to be colored, colored pre-printed graphics, urine targets, or the like. [0056]
The [0057] package 50 can also include purchase incentive items. Such purchase incentive items can include the interactivity devices and activity devices described above, or other items such as coupons.
The present invention is also directed to a method for displaying disposable [0058] absorbent pant products 10 for sale in a retail store. Within a retail store, disposable goods are generally separated from durable goods (i.e., non-disposable). Usually, separate buying units are responsible for purchasing the disposable goods and durable goods for the retail store. In addition, the purchase dynamics on the part of the consumers are often significantly different. Disposable products may be purchased in bulk on a more frequent (e.g. weekly) basis than durable goods. However, durable goods may be purchased in smaller numbers less frequently (e.g. every month or two, or longer.)
As illustrated schematically in FIG. 7, a [0059] retail store 200 can include different regions for displaying different categories of products. The retail store 200 can include a first region 202. The first region 202 can include display units 204. The display units 204 can, for example, be shelves, partitions, racks, or any other appropriate unit for displaying products. The display unit 204 can define aisles 206 through which consumers can walk and from which consumers can see and access the display units 204. The first region 202, for example, can be the region of the retail store 200 having display units 204 displaying diapers, training pants, or other disposable absorbent pant products, wipes and other disposable absorbent products for infants, toddlers, and adults, and related items. The retail store 200 can also include a second region 220 spatially separated from the first region 202 in the retail store 200. The second region 220 can also have display units 204, and aisles 206. The second region 220, for example, can be the region of the retail store 200 having display units 204 displaying clothing and regular reusable or durable (i.e., launderable) underwear. It is contemplated that some retail stores (e.g. some department stores) will sell clothing such as reusable or durable underwear but not sell disposable products, in which case they will be considered for purposes of the present invention to have one region but not first and second regions as those terms are used herein.
According to the invention, a previously described disposable [0060] absorbent pant product 10 is placed into the previously described package 50. The disposable absorbent pant product 10 can be a training pant. Desirably, the package 50 is generally the same size and shape as packages of reusable underwear, for example children's reusable underwear. Clothing is displayed in the second region 220 of the retail store 200. The clothing can be reusable children's clothing. The package 50 is then displayed in the retail store 200 in the second region 220 of the retail store 200. Conventional packages of disposable absorbent pant products and/or packages of diapers may also be displayed in the retail store 200 in the first region 202. In those retail stores that do not sell disposable products, the package 50 can be displayed in the region of the store that also displays clothing.
In an alternative embodiment, the method of the invention includes displaying reusable clothing in the [0061] retail store 200 and hanging a package 50 of disposable absorbent pant products 10 in the region of the retail store 200 displaying the reusable clothing. The package 50 of disposable absorbent pant products 10 is hung in the same aisle as and in visual proximity to a hanging package of reusable children's underwear.
It will be appreciated that details of the foregoing embodiments, given for purposes of illustration, are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. For example, features described in relation to one embodiment may be incorporated into any other embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, which is defined in the following claims and all equivalents thereto. Further, it is recognized that many embodiments may be conceived that do not achieve all of the advantages of some embodiments, particularly of the preferred embodiments, yet the absence of a particular advantage shall not be construed to necessarily mean that such an embodiment is outside the scope of the present invention. [0062]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of displaying disposable absorbent pant products in a retail store, comprising:

displaying reusable clothing in the store; and

displaying a package of disposable absorbent pant products in a region of the store, the region also displaying the reusable clothing, the package containing from about 1 to about 5 disposable absorbent pant products.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the store comprises a first region and a second region, the first and second regions spatially separated from one another, and the method further comprising:

displaying conventional packages of disposable absorbent pant products in the first region, each conventional package containing from about 15 to about 100 disposable absorbent pant products, and the reusable clothing being displayed in the second region.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second regions comprise different aisles of the store.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first region also comprises packages of diapers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the package further comprises:

a pocket having an inner surface, an outer surface and a front surface; and

a device for hanging the package.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent pant products comprise training pants.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reusable clothing and the package of disposable absorbent pant products are in visual proximity to one another.

8. A method of displaying disposable absorbent training pants in a retail store, comprising:

displaying conventional packages of training pants and packages of diapers in a first region of the store;

displaying reusable children's clothing in a second region of the store, the second region being spatially separated from the first region; and

displaying packages of from about 1 to about 5 disposable absorbent training pants in the second region.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reusable children's clothing and the packages of from about 1 to about 5 disposable absorbent training pants are in visual proximity to one another.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the conventional packages of training pants and the packages of from about 1 to about 5 disposable absorbent training pants are not in visual proximity to one another.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the first and second regions comprise different aisles of the store.

12. A method of displaying disposable absorbent pant products in a retail store, comprising:

hanging packages of reusable children's underwear in an aisle of the store; and

hanging packages of disposable absorbent pant products in the same aisle, the packages containing from about 1 to about 5 disposable absorbent pant products;

wherein the packages of disposable absorbent pant comprise a pocket having an inner surface, an outer surface, a front surface, and an aperture in a flap attached to the pocket, the aperture comprising a device for hanging the package, each disposable absorbent pant product comprising an absorbent pad between a topsheet and a back sheet; and

wherein the packages of disposable absorbent pant products are located in visual proximity to the packages of reusable children's underwear.

13. A package comprising:

a pocket having an inner surface, an outer surface and a front surface;

not more than 5 disposable absorbent pant products in the pocket, each disposable absorbent pant product comprising an absorbent pad between a topsheet and a backsheet; and

a device for hanging the package.

14. The package of claim 13, further comprising a flap attached to the pocket.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein the device for hanging the package comprises an aperture in the flap.

16. The package of claim 13, wherein the package comprises a polymer film.

17. The package of claim 13, wherein the package comprises a reclosable feature.

18. The package of claim 13, further comprising a display window.

19. The package of claim 13, further comprising at least one of an activity device and an interactivity device.

20. The package of claim 13, wherein the at least one disposable absorbent pant comprises a folded pant.

21. The package of claim 13, wherein the at least one disposable absorbent pant comprises a rolled pant.

22. The package of claim 13, wherein in the pocket comprises a sealed pocket.

23. The package of claim 13, wherein the absorbent pad is selected from a web comprising cellulosic fluff and a web comprising superabsorbent material.

24. The package of claim 13, wherein the disposable absorbent pant products comprise training pants.