Method of vacuum packaging a single use disposable diaper

1. A method of miniaturizing a single unused disposable diaper by folding and vacuum-sealing, the diaper when worn having both an exterior surface including a front exterior surface and a rear exterior surface, and side elastic banded edges extending about leg openings, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transitioning a diaper from an initial configuration having an initial volume to an intermediate configuration having an intermediate volume, the intermediate volume being less than the initial volume by,

(i) folding the diaper such that the width of the diaper is reduced and the side elastic banded edges of the diaper are folded inward by,

(A) folding the diaper about a first lengthwise foldline located between the side elastic banded edges of the diaper, and

(B) folding the diaper about a second lengthwise foldline located between the side elastic banded edges of the diaper, and

(ii) folding the diaper along at least one widthwise foldline such that the length of the diaper is reduced generally by at least 50%, a height of the diaper being increased thereby,

(iii) whereby a central portion of the exterior surface of the diaper is visible and the remainder of the exterior surface of the diaper is hidden from view within the folds of the diaper, and

(iv) after said folding of said steps (a)(i) and (a)(ii), reducing the height of the folded diaper by compressing the diaper between opposed surfaces of a press; and

(b) after performance of said transitioning of the diaper to the intermediate configuration, further transitioning the diaper to a final configuration having a final volume that is less than the intermediate volume by vacuum-sealing the diaper within an encasement, the encasement having an interior volume that closely corresponds to the intermediate volume of the diaper, said vacuum-sealing including sealing the diaper within the encasement under a vacuum that is sufficient to result in further compression of the diaper to a very firm and dense state in which the central portion of the exterior surface of the diaper is hard.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum under which the diaper is sealed within the encasement is between about 5 mbar and 1 mbar.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the width of the diaper is reduced generally by at least 50% in said step (a)(i).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the length of the diaper is reduced generally by at least 33% in said step (a)(ii).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the length of the diaper is reduced generally by at least 25% in said step (a)(ii).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaper vacuum-sealed within the encasement includes a generally rectangular configuration having three dimensions comprising a width, length, and height, and wherein the sum of two of said three dimensions is less than 10 cm with no single dimension of said three dimensions exceeding 10 cm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaper vacuum-sealed within the encasement includes a generally rectangular configuration having three dimensions comprising a width, length, and height, and wherein none of the three dimensions exceeds about four inches.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaper vacuum-sealed within the encasement includes a generally rectangular configuration having three dimensions comprising a final width, final length, and final height, and wherein the final height is approximately equal to an initial height of the diaper in the initial configuration.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaper vacuum-sealed within the encasement includes a generally rectangular configuration having three dimensions comprising a final width, final length, and final height, and wherein the final length is between two and four inches and wherein the final height exceeds neither the final length nor the final width.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encasement comprises at least a portion thereof that is transparent such that the diaper is viewable through the encasement.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum-sealed diaper includes printed indicia thereon, and further comprising the step of arranging the vacuum-sealed diaper within the encasement such that the printed indicia is visible through a transparent portion of the encasement.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diaper is the only diaper disposed within the encasement.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encasement in which the diaper is vacuum-sealed comprises a flexible, air impermeable material.