Patent Publication Number: US-10780001-B2

Title: Method of maximizing shipping efficiency of absorbent articles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to absorbent products, and more particularly, to methods of maximizing product delivery and shipping of absorbent articles having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, pant style diapers, training pants, adult incontinence undergarments, absorbent inserts, and the like absorb and contain body exudates. 
     Such absorbent articles are intended to prevent body exudates from soiling, wetting, or otherwise contaminating clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that come into contact with a wearer of the absorbent articles. Absorbent articles may be worn for several hours in a dry state or in a urine (or other body exudates) loaded state. Efforts are made to constantly improve the fit and comfort of such absorbent articles both in the wet and dry state. 
     Many current absorbent articles, particularly those with airfelt (or cellulose) absorbent cores are soft and flexible when first placed in an undergarment, but become more stiff when wet. Such flexible-then stiff characteristics are seen in absorbent articles with other types of cores as well. Additionally, such airfelt (or cellulose) absorbent articles are typically bulky. Overall, traditional absorbent articles that utilize airfelt (or cellulose) are bulky and somewhat uncomfortable to wear. 
     Moreover, such airfelt (or cellulose) absorbent articles are inefficient to ship as the large amount of airspace in such articles (for example, between the cellulose fibers) translates into fewer absorbent articles per package and fewer packages per box. While product compression may increase packing efficiency of airfelt (or cellulose) absorbent articles, over compression reduces the absorbency effectiveness of such absorbent articles. Additionally, over compression can reduce aesthetic appeal of such absorbent articles by making the product stiff and uncomfortable to wear, or by reducing the apparent softness of individual components of the absorbent article, such as the absorbent core. Quite often, when absorbent pads containing cellulose are compressed to achieve a thin form, hard spots develop within the pads, thereby resulting in a stiffer pad and a lack of uniformity in the absorbent material. 
     Due to the high volume/weight ratio of traditional airfelt absorbent articles, most often shipping and packing of such articles is limited by volume instead of weight. In other words, a maximum container or vehicle volume is reached before a maximum container or vehicle weight capacity is reached when packing and/or shipping the traditional airfelt absorbent articles. This results in a shipping inefficiency due to the fact that the maximum weight bearing capacity of the container or vehicle is not being fully utilized. Essentially, shipping capacity is lost due to the amount of air within the absorbent articles that are being shipped. 
     Improvements have been made to absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, by including an absorbent polymer material (sometimes known as superabsorbent polymers), such as an absorbent particulate polymer material. Absorbent particulate polymer material absorbs liquid and swells and may be particularly effective when the absorbent particulate polymer is disposed in a particular pattern, arrangement, or matrix that optimizes absorbency, fit and/or comfort. Combinations of airfelt cores and absorbent polymer materials produce diapers that are thinner, more flexible, and more absorbent than previous diapers. This type of diaper construction is now prevalent and has been in use for some time. However, these diapers are still viewed to some extent as being bulky, stiff when wet, and inefficient to ship to various store locations. 
     It is therefore desirable to have an even thinner, less bulky diaper that is more comfortable to use, remains flexible when wet, and more cost effective to ship to various store locations. One option to reduce bulk is to reduce or eliminate airfelt from the absorbent core. The difficulty with this approach is that it would also necessitate the absorbent particulate polymer material remaining fixed in its intended location within the absorbent article without the airfelt core to help immobilize the material, regardless of whether the absorbent article is dry or wet. Several recent publications have disclosed diapers with reduced or eliminated airfelt cores combined with immobilized absorbent particulate polymer materials. For example, an absorbent article having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0312617, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     In addition, typical computerized pallet loading software cannot improve loading of absorbent articles beyond a characteristic volume/weight ratio based on assumed inherent properties of the product being shipped. Such known computerized pallet loading software usually includes assumptions that continuous improvements in size and material reduction of absorbent articles will yield ever increasing shipping efficiency. However, such known computerized pallet loading software does not account for optimization processes that produce synergistic benefits associated with discontinuous improvements in product performance and physical parameters such as compressibility. As a result, known computerized pallet loading software fails to fully optimize shipping efficiency for most absorbent articles. 
     While the aforementioned application discloses an absorbent core for an absorbent article having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core, a need still exists for a mechanism to avoid hard, stiff spots in the article upon compressing to fit in a package. There further exists a need for a mechanism to fully optimize product delivery and shipping for such articles (optimization from the point of view of more articles per unit volume and less packaging per number of articles packed). These types of shipping efficiencies reduce the environmental impact of shipping such articles by reducing the number of pallets and the number of trucks needed to ship the articles to various store locations and warehouses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a shipping optimization process for absorbent articles having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core is disclosed. The shipping optimization process includes the steps of: identifying an optimized diaper; identifying an optimized bag for holding two or more optimized diapers; identifying an optimized box for holding two or more optimized bags; identifying an optimized pallet and arranging the optimized boxes thereon; and identifying an optimized load plan for a vehicle and arranging the optimized pallets therein. The vehicle has a calculated Load Factor of from about 0.75 to about 1.0 when the vehicle is loaded with the optimized pallets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter that is regarded as the invention, it is believed the various embodiments will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an absorbent article having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the absorbent article of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional view of an absorbent core layer of the absorbent article of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross sectional view of an absorbent core in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5 a    is side view of a package of absorbent articles in accordance with one embodiment showing the package width. The outer surface is illustrated as transparent for purposes of clarity; 
         FIG. 5 b    is a side view of a package of absorbent articles in accordance with one embodiment showing the package height. The outer surface is illustrated as transparent for purposes of clarity; 
         FIG. 5 c    is a perspective view of a package of absorbent articles in accordance with one embodiment showing the package depth; 
         FIG. 6 a    is a front plan view showing a stiffness test apparatus with an upper fixture assembly and a lower fixture assembly. 
         FIG. 6 b    is a front plan view showing the stiffness test apparatus with the upper fixture assembly engaging a test specimen. 
         FIG. 7 a    is a side view of an absorbent article that has been bi-folded; 
         FIG. 7 b    is a side view of an absorbent article that has been tri-folded; 
         FIG. 8  is a logic diagram of a shipping optimization process in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a logic diagram of the diaper optimization procedure of the optimization process of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a logic diagram of the bag optimization procedure of the optimization process of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a logic diagram of the box optimization procedure of the optimization process of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 12 a  to 12 f    are perspective views of different box and bag orientations that may be considered during the box optimization procedure of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a logic diagram of the pallet optimization procedure of the optimization process of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a logic diagram of the vehicle optimization procedure of the optimization process of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram of a load optimization system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a front plan view of a pallet comprising containers or boxes. 
     
    
    
     The figures herein are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     “Absorbent article” refers to devices that absorb and contain body exudates, and, more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. Absorbent articles may include diapers, training pants, and adult incontinence undergarments. 
     “Absorbent core” means a structure typically disposed between a topsheet and backsheet of an absorbent article for absorbing and storing liquid received by the absorbent article and may comprise one or more substrates, absorbent polymer material disposed on the one or more substrates, and a thermoplastic composition on the absorbent particulate polymer material and at least a portion of the one or more substrates for immobilizing the absorbent particulate polymer material on the one or more substrates. In a multilayer absorbent core, the absorbent core may also include a cover layer. The one or more substrates and the cover layer may comprise a nonwoven. Further, the absorbent core may be substantially cellulose free. The absorbent core includes the one or more substrates, the absorbent polymer material, the thermoplastic composition, optionally the cover layer and optionally auxiliary glue. 
     “Absorbent polymer material,” “absorbent gelling material,” “AGM,” “superabsorbent,” and “superabsorbent material” are used herein interchangeably and refer to substantially water-insoluble polymer particles that can absorb at least 5 times their weight of an aqueous 0.9% saline solution by way of an osmotic mechanism. 
     “Absorbent particulate polymer material” is used herein to refer to an absorbent polymer material which is in particulate form so as to be flowable in the dry state. 
     “Absorbent particulate polymer material area” as used herein refers to the area of the core wherein the first substrate and second substrate are separated by a multiplicity of superabsorbent particles. A boundary of the absorbent particulate polymer material area is defined by perimeters of overlapping shapes. There may be some extraneous superabsorbent particles outside of the perimeter between the first substrate and second substrate. 
     “Acquisition system” means a structure serving as a temporary reservoir for body fluids until the absorbent core can absorb the fluids. The acquisition system may be in direct contact with the absorbent core and resides between topsheet and the backsheet. The acquisition system may comprise a single layer or multiple layers, such as an upper acquisition layer facing towards the wearer&#39;s skin and a lower acquisition layer facing the garment of the wearer. The acquisition system may function to receive a surge of liquid, such as a gush of urine. 
     “Airfelt” and “Cellulose” are used interchangeably herein and refer to comminuted wood pulp, which is a form of cellulosic fiber. 
     “Disposable” is used in its ordinary sense to mean an article that is disposed or discarded after a limited number of usage events over varying lengths of time, for example, less than about 20 events, less than about 10 events, less than about 5 events, or less than about 2 events. 
     “Diaper” refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons about the lower torso so as to encircle the waist and legs of the wearer and that is specifically adapted to receive and contain urinary and fecal waste. As used herein, term “diaper” also includes “pants” which is defined below. 
     “Fiber” and “filament” are used interchangeably. 
     A “nonwoven” is a manufactured sheet, web or batt of directionally or randomly orientated fibers, bonded by friction, and/or cohesion and/or adhesion, excluding paper and products which are woven, knitted, tufted, stitch-bonded incorporating binding yarns or filaments, or felted by wet-milling, whether or not additionally needled. The fibers may be of natural or man-made origin and may be staple or continuous filaments or be formed in situ. Commercially available fibers have diameters ranging from less than about 0.001 mm to more than about 0.2 mm and they come in several different forms: short fibers (known as staple, or chopped), continuous single fibers (filaments or monofilaments), untwisted bundles of continuous filaments (tow), and twisted bundles of continuous filaments (yarn). Nonwoven fabrics can be formed by many processes such as meltblowing, spunbonding, solvent spinning, electrospinning, and carding. The basis weight of nonwoven fabrics is usually expressed in grams per square meter (gsm). 
     “Infant” diaper refers to an absorbent article generally intended for babies that are from about 0 to 6 months old. Within this group of diapers, 4 sizes are common; premature infants (up to about 6 lbs), newborn infants (up to about 10 lbs), size 1 infants (generally from about 8 to 14 lbs), and size 2 infants (generally from about 12 to 18 lbs). It is common for design features of this type of diaper to focus on benefits such as softness and/or gentleness to skin. 
     “Baby” diaper refers to an absorbent article generally intended for babies that are from about 6 to 12 months old. Within this group of diapers, 5 sizes are common; size 3 (from about 16 to 28 lbs), size 4 (from about 22 to 37 lbs), size 5 (greater than about 27 lbs), size 6 (greater than about 35 lbs), and size 7 (greater than about 41 lbs). It is common for design features of this type of diaper to focus on benefits such as fit and stretch, thereby allowing the baby more flexibility in crawling or walking. 
     “Toddler” diaper refers to an absorbent article generally intended for babies that are older than about 12 months, and may be in life stage where they are learning to use a toilet facility. Within this group, there are 3 common sizes; size 4 (from about 16 to 34 lbs), size 5 (from about 30 to 40 lbs), and size 6 (greater than about 37 lbs). It is common for design features of this type of diaper to focus on benefits such as fit and ease of placement/removal, thereby allowing the baby more convenience as they are trained on toilet facility usage. These diapers may be designed as pants or training pants, as defined below, or may simply be larger size diapers. The overlapping weight ranges for the various sizes described above are to accommodate the various size and shapes of babies within each stage of development. 
     “Pant” or “training pant,” as used herein, refer to disposable garments having a waist opening and leg openings designed for infant or adult wearers. A pant may be placed in position on the wearer by inserting the wearer&#39;s legs into the leg openings and sliding the pant into position about a wearer&#39;s lower torso. A pant may be preformed by any suitable technique including, but not limited to, joining together portions of the article using refastenable and/or non-refastenable bonds (e.g., seam, weld, adhesive, cohesive bond, fastener, etc.). A pant may be preformed anywhere along the circumference of the article (e.g., side fastened, front waist fastened). While the terms “pant” or “pants” are used herein, pants are also commonly referred to as “closed diapers,” “prefastened diapers,” “pull-on diapers,” “training pants,” and “diaper-pants.” Suitable pants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,433, issued to Hasse, et al. on Sep. 21, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,234, issued to Buell et al. on Oct. 29, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,487, issued to Ashton on Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,489, issued to Johnson et al. on Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,464, issued to Van Gompel et al. on Jul. 10, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,861, issued to Nomura et al. on Mar. 3, 1992; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0233082 A1, entitled “Highly Flexible And Low Deformation Fastening Device”, filed on Jun. 13, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,545, issued to Kline et al. on Apr. 27, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,908, issued to Kline et al on Sep. 28, 1999, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     “Substantially cellulose free” or “substantially airfelt free” is used herein to describe an article, such as an absorbent core, that contains less than 10% by weight cellulosic fibers, less than 5% cellulosic fibers, less than 1% cellulosic fibers, no cellulosic fibers, or no more than an immaterial amount of cellulosic fibers. An immaterial amount of cellulosic material would not materially affect the thinness, flexibility, or absorbency of an absorbent core. For example, the % by weight cellulose fiber for an absorbent core is calculated based upon using the total weight of absorbent particulate polymer material and cellulose fiber found in the absorbent core. 
     “Substantially continuously distributed” as used herein indicates that within the absorbent particulate polymer material area, the first substrate and second substrate are separated by a multiplicity of superabsorbent particles. It is recognized that there may be minor incidental contact areas between the first substrate and second substrate within the absorbent particulate polymer material area. Incidental contact areas between the first substrate and second substrate may be intentional or unintentional (e.g. manufacturing artifacts) but do not form geometries such as pillows, pockets, tubes, quilted patterns and the like. 
     “Thermoplastic adhesive material” as used herein is understood to comprise a polymer composition from which fibers are formed and applied to the superabsorbent material with the intent to immobilize the superabsorbent material in both the dry and wet state. The thermoplastic adhesive material of the present invention forms a fibrous network over the superabsorbent material. 
     “Thickness” and “caliper” are used herein interchangeably. 
     “In-Bag Compression” as used herein is one minus the height of a stack of 10 diaper pads in millimeters, measured while under compression within a poly-bag (In-Bag Stack Height), divided by the height of a stack of 10 diaper pads of the same type before compression, multiplied by 100; i.e., (1−In-Bag Stack Height/stack height before compression)×100, reported as a percentage. 
     “Weight efficiency” as used herein refers to the net product and package weight of a transportation vehicle, such as a semi-trailer and tractor combination, divided by the maximum legal weight capacity of the vehicle on a percent basis. This weight efficiency is a numerical representation of the loading efficiency of a transportation vehicle in fully utilizing its maximum legally allowed weight capacity. 
     “Volume efficiency” as used herein refers to the net product and package volume of a transportation vehicle, such as a semi-trailer and tractor combination, divided by the volume capacity of the vehicle on a percent basis. This volume efficiency is a numerical representation of the loading efficiency of a transportation vehicle in fully utilizing its maximum physical space intended for transporting products. 
     “Load factor” as used herein refers to the ratio of weight efficiency divided by volume efficiency for a transportation vehicle, such as a semi-trail and tractor combination, and is a numerical representation of how well a load of absorbent articles is optimized for both the weight and volume capacities of a particular transportation vehicle. 
     An absorbent article having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0312617, owned by The Procter and Gamble Company, and hereby incorporated by reference herein. An absorbent article having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core, such as a diaper, is shown in  FIG. 1 . The diaper  10  is shown in its flat out, uncontracted state (i.e., without elastic induced contraction) and portions of the diaper  10  are cut away to more clearly show the underlying structure of the diaper  10 . A portion of the diaper  10  that contacts a wearer is facing the viewer in  FIG. 1 . The diaper  10  generally may comprise a chassis  12  and an absorbent core  14  disposed in the chassis. 
     The chassis  12  of the diaper  10  in  FIG. 1  may comprise the main body of the diaper  10 . The chassis  12  may comprise an outer covering  16  including a topsheet  18 , which may be liquid pervious, and/or a backsheet  20 , which may be liquid impervious. The absorbent core  14  may be encased between the topsheet  18  and the backsheet  20 . The chassis  12  may also include side panels  22 , elasticized leg cuffs  24 , and an elastic waist feature  26 . 
     The leg cuffs  24  and the elastic waist feature  26  may each typically comprise elastic members  28 . One end portion of the diaper  10  may be configured as a first waist region  30  of the diaper  10 . An opposite end portion of the diaper  10  may be configured as a second waist region  32  of the diaper  10 . An intermediate portion of the diaper  10  may be configured as a crotch region  34 , which extends longitudinally between the first and second waist regions  30  and  32 . The waist regions  30  and  32  may include elastic elements such that they gather about the waist of the wearer to provide improved fit and containment (elastic waist feature  26 ). The crotch region  34  is that portion of the diaper  10  which, when the diaper  10  is worn, is generally positioned between the wearer&#39;s legs. 
     The diaper  10  is depicted in  FIG. 1  with its longitudinal axis  36  and its transverse axis  38 . A periphery  40  of the diaper  10  is defined by the outer edges of the diaper  10  in which the longitudinal edges  42  run generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  36  of the diaper  10  and the end edges  44  run between the longitudinal edges  42  generally parallel to the transverse axis  38  of the diaper  10 . The chassis  12  may also comprise a fastening system, which may include at least one fastening member  46  and at least one stored landing zone  48 . 
     The diaper  10  may also include such other features as are known in the art including front and rear ear panels, waist cap features, elastics and the like to provide better fit, containment and aesthetic characteristics. Such additional features are well known in the art and are e.g., described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,860,003 and 5,151,092, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     In order to keep the diaper  10  in place about the wearer, at least a portion of the first waist region  30  may be attached by the fastening members  46  to at least a portion of the second waist region  32  to form leg opening(s) and an article waist. When fastened, the fastening system carries a tensile load around the article waist. The fastening system may allow an article user to hold one element of the fastening system, such as the fastening member  46 , and connect the first waist region  30  to the second waist region  32  in at least two places. This may be achieved through manipulation of bond strengths between the fastening device elements. In one embodiment, fastening member  46  may include tape tab fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, mushroom and loop fasteners, snaps, pins, belts and the like, and combinations thereof. Typically, fastening member  46  is configured to be refastenable or re-closable. In some embodiments, fastening member  46  may be adapted to engage or otherwise join with a fastening element, for example, the outer covering  16 . In other embodiments, the fastening element may be a fastener landing zone  48 . Fastener landing zone  48  may be a piece of loop material located on the outer covering  16  in the front waist region  30  and is adapted to engage a hook-type fastening member  46 . In alternative embodiments, the landing zone  48  may be a film adapted to engage with a tape tab fastening member  46 . 
     The diaper  10  may be provided with a re-closable fastening system or may alternatively be provided in the form of a pant-type diaper. When the absorbent article is a diaper, it may comprise a re-closable fastening system joined to the chassis for securing the diaper to a wearer. When the absorbent article is a pant-type diaper, the article may comprise at least two side panels joined to the chassis and to each other to form a pant. The fastening system and any component thereof may include any material suitable for such a use, including but not limited to plastics, films, foams, nonwoven, woven, paper, laminates, fiber reinforced plastics and the like, or combinations thereof. The materials making up the fastening device may be flexible. The flexibility may allow the fastening system to conform to the shape of the body and thus, reduce the likelihood that the fastening system will irritate or injure the wearer&#39;s skin. 
     For unitary absorbent articles, the chassis  12  and absorbent core  14  may form the main structure of the diaper  10  with other features added to form the composite diaper structure. While the topsheet  18 , the backsheet  20 , and the absorbent core  14  may be assembled in a variety of well-known configurations, some diaper configurations are described generally in U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,145 entitled “Absorbent Article With Multiple Zone Structural Elastic-Like Film Web Extensible Waist Feature” issued to Roe et al. on Sep. 10, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,234 entitled “Disposable Pull-On Pant” issued to Buell et al. on Oct. 29, 1996; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,306 entitled “Absorbent Article With Multi-Directional Extensible Side Panels” issued to Robles et al. on Dec. 21, 1999, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The topsheet  18  in  FIG. 1  may be fully or partially elasticized or may be foreshortened to provide a void space between the topsheet  18  and the absorbent core  14 . Exemplary structures including elasticized or foreshortened topsheets are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,416 entitled “Disposable Absorbent Article Having Elastically Extensible Topsheet” issued to Allen et al. on Aug. 6, 1991; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,775 entitled “Trisection Topsheets for Disposable Absorbent Articles and Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such Trisection Topsheets” issued to Freeland et al. on Dec. 14, 1993, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The backsheet  26  may be joined with the topsheet  18 . The backsheet  20  may prevent the exudates absorbed by the absorbent core  14  and contained within the diaper  10  from soiling other external articles that may contact the diaper  10 , such as bed sheets and undergarments. The backsheet  26  may be substantially impervious to liquids (e.g., urine) and comprise a laminate of a nonwoven and a thin plastic film such as a thermoplastic film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils). Suitable backsheet films include those manufactured by Tredegar Industries Inc. of Terre Haute, Ind. and sold under the trade names X15306, X10962, and X10964. Other suitable backsheet materials may include breathable materials that permit vapors to escape from the diaper  10  while still preventing liquid exudates from passing through the backsheet  10 . Exemplary breathable materials may include materials such as woven webs, nonwoven webs, composite materials such as film-coated nonwoven webs, and microporous films such as manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Co., of Japan under the designation ESPOIR NO and by EXXON Chemical Co., of Bay City, Tex., under the designation EXXAIRE. Suitable breathable composite materials comprising polymer blends are available from Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio under the name HYTREL blend P18-3097. Such breathable composite materials are described in greater detail in PCT Application No. WO 95/16746, published on Jun. 22, 1995 in the name of E.I. DuPont, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Other breathable backsheets including nonwoven webs and apertured formed films are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,096 issued to Dobrin et al. on Nov. 5, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The backsheet may have a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of greater than about 2000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 3000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 5000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 6000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 7000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 8000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 9000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 10000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 11000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 12000 g/24 h/m 2 , greater than about 15000 g/24 h/m 2 , measured according to WSP 70.5 (08) at 37.8.° C. and 60% Relative Humidity. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross section of the diaper  10  of  FIG. 1  taken along the sectional line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . Starting from the wearer facing side, the diaper  10  may comprise the topsheet  18 , the components of the absorbent core  14 , and the backsheet  20 . The diaper  10  may also comprise an acquisition system  50  disposed between the liquid permeable topsheet  18  and the backsheet  20 . In one embodiment, the diaper  10  may comprise an acquisition system  50  disposed between the liquid permeable topsheet  18  and a wearer facing side of the absorbent core  14 . The acquisition system  50  may be in direct contact with the absorbent core  14 . The acquisition system  50  may comprise a single layer or multiple layers (not shown), such as an upper acquisition layer  52  facing towards the wearer&#39;s skin and a lower acquisition layer  54  facing the garment of the wearer. The acquisition system  50  may function to receive a surge of liquid, such as a gush of urine. In other words, the acquisition system  50  may serve as a temporary reservoir for liquid until the absorbent core  14  can absorb the liquid. 
     The lower acquisition layer  54  may have a high fluid uptake capability. Fluid uptake is measured in grams of absorbed fluid per gram of absorbent material and is expressed by the value of “maximum uptake.” A high fluid uptake corresponds therefore to a high capacity of the material and is beneficial, because it ensures the complete acquisition of fluids to be absorbed by an acquisition material. The lower acquisition layer  54  may have a maximum uptake of about 10 g/g. 
     A relevant attribute of the upper acquisition layer  54  is its Median Desorption Pressure, MDP. The MDP is a measure of the capillary pressure that is required to dewater the lower acquisition layer  54  to about 50% of its capacity at 0 cm capillary suction height under an applied mechanical pressure of 0.3 psi. Generally, a relatively lower MDP may be useful. The lower MDP may allow the lower acquisition layer  54  to more efficiently drain the upper acquisition material. The ability of the lower acquisition layer  54  to move liquid vertically via capillary forces will be directly impacted by gravity and the opposing capillary forces associated with desorption of the upper acquisition layer. Minimizing these capillary forces may positively impact the performance of the lower acquisition layer  54 . However, the lower acquisition layer  54  may also have adequate capillary absorption suction in order to drain the layers above (upper acquisition layer  52  and topsheet  18 , in particular) and to temporarily hold liquid until the liquid can be partitioned away by the absorbent core components. Therefore, the lower acquisition layer  54  may have a minimum MDP of greater than 5 cm. Further, the lower acquisition layer  54  has an MDP value of less than about 20.5 cm H 2 O, or less than about 19 cm H 2 O, or less than about 18 cm H 2 O to provide for fast acquisition. 
     In one embodiment, the absorbent core  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4  generally is disposed between the topsheet  18  and the backsheet  20  and comprises two layers, a first absorbent layer  60  and a second absorbent layer  62 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the first absorbent layer  60  of the absorbent core  14  comprises a substrate  64 , an absorbent particulate polymer material  66  on the substrate  64 , and a thermoplastic composition  68  on the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and at least portions of the first substrate  64  as an adhesive for covering and immobilizing the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  on the first substrate  64 . The first absorbent layer  60  of the absorbent core  14  may also include a cover layer (not shown) on the thermoplastic composition  68 . 
     Likewise, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the second absorbent layer  62  of the absorbent core  14  may also include a substrate  72 , an absorbent particulate polymer material  74  on the second substrate  72 , and a thermoplastic composition  76  on the absorbent particulate polymer material  74  and at least a portion of the second substrate  72  for immobilizing the absorbent particulate polymer material  74  on the second substrate  72 . Although not illustrated, the second absorbent layer  62  may also include a cover layer. 
     The substrate  64  of the first absorbent layer  60  may be referred to as a dusting layer and has a first surface  78  ( FIG. 3 ) which faces the backsheet  20  of the diaper  10  and a second surface  80  which faces the absorbent particulate polymer material  66 . Likewise, the substrate  72  of the second absorbent layer  62  may be referred to as a core cover and has a first surface facing the topsheet  18  of the diaper  10  and a second surface facing the absorbent particulate polymer material  74 . The first and second substrates  64  and  72  may be adhered to one another with adhesive about the periphery to form an envelope about the absorbent particulate polymer materials  66  and  74  to hold the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and  74  within the absorbent core  14 . 
     The substrates  64  and  72  of the first and second absorbent layers  60  and  62  may be a non-woven material. The non-wovens may be porous and may have a pore size of about 32 microns. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and  74  is deposited on the respective substrates  64  and  72  of the first and second absorbent layers  60  and  62  in clusters  90  of particles to form a grid pattern comprising land areas  94  and junction areas  96  between the land areas  94 . As defined herein, land areas  94  are areas where the thermoplastic adhesive material does not contact the nonwoven substrate or the auxiliary adhesive directly; junction areas  96  are areas where the thermoplastic adhesive material does contact the non-woven substrate or the auxiliary adhesive directly. The junction areas  96  in the grid pattern contain little or no absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and  74 . The land areas  94  and junction areas  96  can have a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, any polygon shape, and the like. 
     The size of the land areas  94  may vary. The width of the land areas  94  may range from about 8 mm to about 12 mm. The junction areas  96 , on the other hand, may have a width or larger span of less than about 5 mm, less than about 3 mm, less than about 2 mm, less than about 1.5 mm, less than about 1 mm, or less than about 0.5 mm. 
     The junction areas  96  can be disposed in a regular or irregular pattern. In one embodiment, the arrangement of land areas  94  and junction areas  96  forms an angle which may be 0 degrees, greater than 0 degrees, or 15 to 30 degrees, or from about 5 to about 85 degrees, or from about 10 to about 60 degrees, or from about 15 to about 30 degrees. 
     The first and second absorbent layers  60  and  62  may be combined together to form the absorbent core  14  such that the layers may be offset such that the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  is substantially continuously distributed across the absorbent polymer area. In a certain embodiment, absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  is substantially continuously distributed across the absorbent polymer material area despite absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  discontinuously distributed across the first and second substrates  64  and  72  in clusters  90 . In a certain embodiment, the absorbent layers may be offset such that the land areas  94  of the first absorbent layer  60  face the junction areas  96  of the second absorbent layer  62  and the land areas of the second absorbent layer  62  face the junction areas  96  of the first absorbent layer  60 . When the land areas  94  and junction areas  96  are appropriately sized and arranged, the resulting combination of absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  is a substantially continuous layer of absorbent polymer material across the absorbent polymer material area of the absorbent core  14  (i.e. first and second substrates  64  and  72  do not form a plurality of pockets, each containing a cluster  90  of absorbent particulate polymer material  66  therebetween). 
     In a certain embodiment, the amount of absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  may vary along the length of the core. The amount of absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  present in the absorbent core  14  may vary, but in certain embodiments, is present in the absorbent core in an amount greater than about 80% by weight of the absorbent core, or greater than about 85% by weight of the absorbent core, or greater than about 90% by weight of the absorbent core, or greater than about 95% by weight of the core. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent core  14  comprises first and second substrates  64  and  72 , the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 , and the thermoplastic composition  68  and  76 . In such an embodiment, the absorbent core  14  is substantially cellulose free. 
     It has been found that, for most absorbent articles such as diapers, the liquid discharge occurs predominately in the front half of the diaper. The front half of the absorbent core  14  should therefore comprise most of the absorbent capacity of the core. Thus, according to certain embodiments, the front half of said absorbent core  14  may comprise more than about 60% of the superabsorbent material, or more than about 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, or 90% of the superabsorbent material. The front half is defined as the region between the midpoint on the longitudinal axis  36  and the end edge  44  disposed in the first waist region  30 . 
     In certain embodiments, the absorbent core  14  may further comprise any absorbent material that is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer&#39;s skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids such as urine and other certain body exudates. In such embodiments, the absorbent core  14  may comprise a wide variety of liquid-absorbent materials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles such as comminuted wood pulp, which is generally referred to as airfelt, creped cellulose wadding, melt blown polymers, including co-form, chemically stiffened, modified or cross-linked cellulosic fibers, tissue, including tissue wraps and tissue laminates, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges, or any other known absorbent material or combinations of materials. The absorbent core  14  may further comprise minor amounts (typically less than about 10%) of materials, such as adhesives, waxes, oils and the like. 
     Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent assemblies are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,678 (Weisman et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,735 (Alemany et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,231 (Angstadt); U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,345 (DesMarais et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,207 (Dyer et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,316 (LaVon et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,222 (DesMarais et al.). 
     In one embodiment, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  may serve to cover and at least partially immobilize the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 . In one embodiment, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  can be disposed essentially uniformly within the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 , between the polymers. However, in a certain embodiment, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  may be provided as a fibrous layer which is at least partially in contact with the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  and partially in contact with the substrate layers  64  and  72  of the first and second absorbent layers  60  and  62 .  FIG. 4  shows such a structure, and in that structure, the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  is provided as a discontinuous layer, and a layer of fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  is laid down onto the layer of absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 , such that the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  is in direct contact with the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 , but also in direct contact with the second surfaces  80  and  84  of the substrates  64  and  72 , where the substrates are not covered by the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 . This imparts an essentially three-dimensional structure to the fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76 , which in itself is essentially a two-dimensional structure of relatively small thickness, as compared to the dimension in length and width directions. In other words, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  undulates between the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  and the second surfaces of the substrates  64  and  72 . 
     Thereby, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  may provide cavities to cover the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74 , and thereby immobilizes this material. In a further aspect, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  bonds to the substrates  64  and  72  and thus affixes the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  to the substrates  64  and  72 . Some thermoplastic adhesive materials will also penetrate into both the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  and the substrates  64  and  72 , thus providing for further immobilization and affixation. Of course, while the thermoplastic adhesive materials disclosed herein provide a much improved wet immobilization (i.e., immobilization of absorbent material when the article is wet or at least partially loaded), these thermoplastic adhesive materials may also provide a very good immobilization of absorbent material when the absorbent core  14  is dry. The thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  may also be referred to as a hot melt adhesive. 
     Without wishing to be bound by theory, it has been found that those thermoplastic adhesive materials which are most useful for immobilizing the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  combine good cohesion and good adhesion behavior. Good adhesion may promote good contact between the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  and the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and  74  and the substrates  64  and  72 . Good cohesion reduces the likelihood that the adhesive breaks, in particular in response to external forces, and namely in response to strain. When the absorbent core  14  absorbs liquid, the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  swells and subjects the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  to external forces. In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  may allow for such swelling, without breaking and without imparting too many compressive forces, which would restrain the absorbent polymer material  66  and  74  from swelling. 
     In accordance with certain embodiments, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  may comprise, in its entirety, a single thermoplastic polymer or a blend of thermoplastic polymers, having a softening point, as determined by the ASTM Method D-36-95 “Ring and Ball”, in the range between 50° C. and 300° C., or alternatively the thermoplastic adhesive material may be a hot melt adhesive comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer in combination with other diluents such as tackifying resins, plasticizers and additives such as antioxidants. In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic polymer has typically a molecular weight (Mw) of more than 10,000 and a glass transition temperature (Tg) usually below room temperature or −6° C.&gt;Tg&lt;16° C. In certain embodiments, typical concentrations of the polymer in a hot melt are in the range of about 20 to about 40% by weight. In certain embodiments, thermoplastic polymers may be water insensitive. Exemplary polymers are (styrenic) block copolymers including A-B-A triblock structures, A-B diblock structures and (A-B)n radial block copolymer structures wherein the A blocks are non-elastomeric polymer blocks, typically comprising polystyrene, and the B blocks are unsaturated conjugated diene or (partly) hydrogenated versions of such. The B block is typically isoprene, butadiene, ethylene/butylene (hydrogenated butadiene), ethylene/propylene (hydrogenated isoprene), and mixtures thereof. 
     Other suitable thermoplastic polymers that may be employed are metallocene polyolefins, which are ethylene polymers prepared using single-site or metallocene catalysts. Therein, at least one comonomer can be polymerized with ethylene to make a copolymer, terpolymer or higher order polymer. Also applicable are amorphous polyolefins or amorphous polyalphaolefins (APAO) which are homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers of C2 to C8 alpha olefins. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the tackifying resin typically has a Mw below 5,000 and a Tg usually above room temperature, typical concentrations of the resin in a hot melt are in the range of about 30 to about 60%, and the plasticizer has a low Mw of typically less than 1,000 and a Tg below room temperature, with a typical concentration of about 0 to about 15%. 
     In certain embodiments, the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  is present in the form of fibers. In some embodiments, the fibers will have an average thickness of from about 1 to about 50 micrometers or from about 1 to about 35 micrometers and an average length of from about 5 mm to about 50 mm or from about 5 mm to about 30 mm. To improve the adhesion of the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  to the substrates  64  and  72  or to any other layer, in particular any other non-woven layer, such layers may be pre-treated with an auxiliary adhesive. 
     The absorbent core  14  may also comprise an auxiliary adhesive which is not illustrated in the figures. The auxiliary adhesive may be deposited on the first and second substrates  64  and  72  of the respective first and second absorbent layers  60  and  62  before application of the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and  74  for enhancing adhesion of the absorbent particulate polymer materials  66  and  74  and the thermoplastic adhesive material  68  and  76  to the respective substrates  64  and  72 . The auxiliary glue may also aid in immobilizing the absorbent particulate polymer material  66  and  74  and may comprise the same thermoplastic adhesive material as described hereinabove or may also comprise other adhesives including but not limited to sprayable hot melt adhesives, such as H.B. Fuller Co. (St. Paul, Minn.) Product No. HL-1620-B. The auxiliary glue may be applied to the substrates  64  and  72  by any suitable means, but according to certain embodiments, may be applied in about 0.5 to about 1 mm wide slots spaced about 0.5 to about 2 mm apart. 
     In addition to being thin, flexible, absorbent, and more comfortable to wear, these types of absorbent articles have an unexpected benefit. These absorbent articles can be compressed to higher levels during production, packing, and storage than previous airfelt core absorbent articles without causing an in-use increase in product stiffness due to over compression. The increase in compressibility provides multiple cost-savings benefits; lower shipping costs lower storage/warehousing costs, reduced packaging costs, reduced shelving/stocking costs, lower disposal costs, etc. The increase in compressibility also provides smaller package sizes by reducing the in-bag stack thickness or in-bag stack height for unopened packages of absorbent articles resulting in more environmentally friendly packaging. 
     In one embodiment, absorbent products according to the present disclosure may have an in-bag stack height of less than or equal to about 80 mm according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test described herein. In another embodiment, absorbent products according to the present disclosure may have an in-bag stack height of less than about 78 mm and in another embodiment of less than 76 mm according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test described herein. In another embodiment, absorbent products may have an In-Bag Stack Height of from about 72 mm to about 80 mm and in yet another embodiment of from about 74 mm to about 78 mm. 
     Typically, products such as absorbent articles are not sold individually, but rather are sold in packages containing a plurality of absorbent articles. For example, smaller absorbent articles, such as infant diapers may be sold in packages of thirty or more diapers, while toddler training pants may be sold in packages of twelve to eighteen training pants. In one embodiment, the absorbent articles are packaged in a poly bag. In another embodiment, the package may be a plastic “shrink-wrap” container. As shown in  FIG. 5 a   , package  100  is a poly bag. Package  100  has an interior space  102 , an exterior surface  112  and a height, width, and depth dimension. Package  100  may be any shape known in the art. For example, the package may have a polyhedral shape defining or forming a polyhedral enclosure. Interior  102  defines an interior space for containing absorbent articles  104 . In one embodiment, the absorbent articles may all be identical to one another. 
     The absorbent articles  104  are arranged to form a stack  106  within interior  102 . The articles may be stacked in any direction. As used herein, the term “stack” means an orderly pile. For example, the articles may be stacked vertically, horizontally, or at any angle inside the interior of the package. As shown in  FIG. 5 a   , package  100  has a package width  108  that is defined as the maximum distance between the two highest bulging points along the same compression stack axis  110  of the package. Absorbent articles according to the present disclosure can be bi-folded, as shown in  FIG. 7 a   , or tri-folded, as shown in  FIG. 7 b   . Other suitable folding techniques are also contemplated, for example, rolled or double bi-folded. The package  100  may also include a mechanism or means for accessing the interior space, for example, a gusset, a line of perforations, tabs, adhesive openings or any other means known in the art. 
     Package  100  may be composed of different materials or may be composed of substantially the same type of material. Package  100  may be composed of one layer or a laminate. The material can comprise a blown or cast film in a blend of low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene, metallocenes, ethylene vinyl acetate, surlyn, polyethylene terephtalate, biaxially oriented polypropylene, and/or nylon. 
     The number of absorbent articles placed in a package depends on several factors, including for example, folded dimensions, weight and a target compressibility range. For instance, Infant diapers (0-6 months) are expected to have a very soft backsheet feel for consumers when they hold or cuddle with their baby. To prevent a reduction in backsheet softness, these diapers are normally only compressed to between 30-38% within the product package, also known as in-bag compression, based on the number of pads contained in the package. 
     Baby diapers (6-12 months) and Toddlers (12-24+ months) do not have the same backsheet softness requirements as mothers are not spending as much time holding and cuddling babies within this age group. Within this age group, the diaper performance requirements (beyond absorbency) primarily relate to stretch, flexibility, and fit, and are associated with babies learning to crawl and walk. Diaper stiffness is an important product attribute for these diapers, and can be negatively affected by over-compression of product within the package. These diapers are normally compressed to between about 50 and 57% within the product package. Compression of these diapers beyond 57% leads to overall diaper stiffness associated with core over-compression. 
     Pants and training pants (24+ months) are designed with a focus on change-ability. Ease of pulling on and off as well as side-opening features are the two most important elements of these diapers. Absorbency and softness are sacrificed in order to encourage potty training and to minimize product costs. Therefore, diapers in this range are occasionally over-compressed beyond 57% to reduce material and shipping costs. However, backsheet roughness and overall diaper stiffness are seen as product negatives with the pants category. 
     Surprisingly, we have found that with Baby and Toddler size substantially airfelt free diapers, the target compressibility range can be increased without adversely affecting key consumer aesthetic attributes of the diaper (stiffness/flexibility, softness, etc.). For example, absorbent products according to the present disclosure may have an in-bag compression of greater than or equal to about 58%. In another embodiment, absorbent products may have an in-bag compression of from about 58% to about 62%, in another embodiment of from about 58.5% to about 61.5% and in yet another embodiment of from about 59% to about 61%. Further, the in-bag compression for absorbent products having substantially airfelt free diapers can be increased, while at the same time reducing stiffness and increasing flexibility. In one embodiment, absorbent products according to the present disclosure may include absorbent articles having a longitudinal bending stiffness of less than or equal to about 355 N/m according to the Stiffness Test described herein. In another embodiment, absorbent products may include absorbent articles having a longitudinal bending stiffness of less than about 325 N/m and in another embodiment of less than about 310 N/m. In another embodiment, absorbent products may include absorbent articles having a longitudinal bending stiffness of from about 285 N/m to about 355 N/m and in another embodiment of from about 295 N/m to about 345 N/m. 
     The effects of over compression on diapers with airfelt cores, measured in terms of stiffness, is illustrated in Table 1 below: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Longitudinal Bending Stiffness Results 
               
               
                 for Sample Diapers and Pants 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Longitudinal Bending Stiffness 
               
               
                   
                 Example 
                 (N/m) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 
                 699 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 530 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 619 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 641 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 554 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 470 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 507 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Avg. 574 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 414 
               
               
                   
                 9 
                 429 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 474 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 494 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 Not recorded due to instrument malfunction 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 392 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 437 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Avg. 440 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 528 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 579 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 582 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 427 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 539 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 446 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 553 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Avg. 522 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 286 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 325 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 325 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 355 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 299 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 285 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 286 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Avg. 309 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Examples 1-7 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (size 3/4T; bag count 23; Lot # b1919719F 19.1). 
     Examples 8-14 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS CRUISERS (size 5; bag count 28; Lot #9200U01766 05:16) 
     Examples 15-21 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS CRUISERS (size 5; bag count 25; Lot #9242U01764 11:50). 10 of these diapers were removed from the bag and compressed under conditions similar to Examples 22-28, i.e. a height of 40 mm for 2 seconds (intended to simulate the compression during transfer from the manufacturing line to the bagger for absorbent articles in accordance with the present disclosure) and then held at a height of 74 mm for 24 hours (intended to simulate the compression while in-bag for absorbent articles in accordance with the present disclosure). This demonstrates that current airfelt diapers compressed under conditions similar to Examples 22-28, adversely affects product stiffness. 
     Examples 22-28 are embodiments of absorbent articles in accordance with the present disclosure (size 5; bag count 40; Lot #9244U01762X1504). These examples were less stiff and thus more flexible than the other comparative diapers and pants having airfelt cores from Examples 1-21 above. 
     Stiffness is measured by the following test.  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    illustrate a Stiffness Test apparatus  300  used to measure the stiffness. The Stiffness Test apparatus  300  includes a constant rate of extension tensile tester  302  with computer interface (a suitable instrument is a MTS Alliance under Test Works 4 software, as available from MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn.) fitted with a 25 N load cell. The test apparatus  300  also includes an upper movable test fixture  304  and a lower stationary test fixture  306 . A plunger blade  308  is used for the upper movable test fixture  304  and base support platforms  310  are used as the lower stationary test fixture  306 . All testing is performed in a conditioned room maintained at 23° C.±2° C. and 50%±2% relative humidity. As discussed in more detail below, during stiffness testing, the upper fixture assembly  304  moves from a first position, such as shown in  FIG. 7 a   , to a second position, such as shown in  FIG. 7 b   , to engage and bend a test specimen  312  disposed on the lower stationary test fixture  306 . 
     Components of the plunger blade  308  are made of aluminum to maximize the available load cell capacity. A shaft  314  is machined to fit the tensile tester and has a locking collar  316  to stabilize the plunger blade  308  and maintain alignment orthogonal to base support platforms  310 . The plunger blade defines a length  318 L of 300 mm long, a height  318 H of 65 mm, and thickness  318 T of 3.25 mm, and has a material contact edge  320  with a continuous radius  322  of 1.625 mm. A bracket  324  fitted with set screws  326  are used to level the blade and a main set screw  328  to firmly hold the plunger blade  308  in place after adjustment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , the lower test fixture  306  is attached to the tensile tester  302  with a shaft  330  and locking collar  332 . The two support platforms  310  are movably mounted on a rail  334 . The two support platforms each have a test surface  336  having a width  336 W of 85 mm and length of 300 mm (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). The test surfaces  336  are made of polished stainless steel so as to have a minimal coefficient of friction. Each platform  310  has a digital position monitor  338  which reads the individual platform positions (to the nearest 0.01 mm), and set screws  340  to lock the positions of the platforms  310  after adjustment. The two platforms form a gap  342  with an adjustable gap width  344 . The two platforms  310  are square at the gap edge and the plate edges must be parallel front to back. The surfaces  364  must be at the same height so as to be disposed within the same plane. 
     A test specimen  312  may include an absorbent article, shown for example, in  FIG. 1 . The following provides a description of the steps that are followed to carry out a Stiffness Test to determine the longitudinal bending stiffness of a test specimen  312 . To test the longitudinal bending stiffness of a test specimen, the plunger blade is accurately aligned (±0.02 mm) so that the plunger blade is orthogonal to top surfaces  364  of the support platforms  310  and exhibits no skew relative to gap edges  366 . Using the position monitors  338 , the width  344  of the gap  342  is accurately set to 50.00±0.02 mm between the two gap edges  366  of the support platforms  310 , with the plunger blade  308  accurately (±0.02 mm) centered in the gap  342 . The tensile tester is programmed for a compression test. The gage length is set from the material contact edge  320  of the plunger blade  308  to the top surfaces  364  of the support platforms  310  to 25 mm. The crosshead is set to lower at 500 mm/min for a distance of 50 mm. The data acquisition rate is set to 200 Hz. 
     Test specimens are preconditioned at 23° C.±2° C. and 50%±2% relative humidity for 2 hours prior to testing. During preconditioning the specimens should remain compressed and sealed within its package until just before testing. The specimen is tested in the same folded configuration it was in the package and should not be tested more than once. 
     To test the longitudinal bending stiffness, specimen is placed flat onto the top surfaces  364  of the support platforms  310  over the gap  342  with the top side  358  facing upward. The test specimen is placed with the longitudinal axis  36  parallel to the length dimension of the plunger blade  308 , and centered in the lateral  38  and the longitudinal  346  directions under the shaft  314  of the plunger blade. The load cell is zeroed and the tensile tester and the data acquisition are started. 
     The software is programmed to calculate the maximum peak force (N) and stiffness (N/m) from the force (N) versus displacement (m) curves. Stiffness is calculated as the slope of the force/displacement curve for the linear region of the curve, using a minimum line segment of at least 25% of the total peak force to calculate the slope. The stiffness is reported to the nearest 0.1 N/m. At least five samples are measured in this manner for a given product and the stiffness values are aggregated to calculate an average and standard deviation. 
     Consumers generally prefer smaller, more environmentally friendly packaging for products. As mentioned above, the increase in compressibility provides smaller package sizes and thus reduces the amount of packaging materials, for example, film material that is required per package of absorbent articles. One way to compare the amount of packaging materials used for absorbent articles is to calculate a bag or film utilization factor by measuring the package width, height and depth and calculating a surface area of the package utilizing the equation: Surface Area=(width×height×2)+(width×depth×2)+(height×depth×2). This package surface area is then divided by the bag pad count, i.e. the number of absorbent articles in the package, to give an area per pad result. However, such a calculation fails to account for differences associated with the size of diapers. Thus, one way to compare the bag utilization factor for different packages is to normalize for differences in Folded Stack Length of the absorbent articles within the package. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 a   , package width  108  is defined as the maximum distance between the two highest bulging points along the same compression stack axis  110  of a diaper package. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 b   , package height  120  is defined as the maximum distance between the bottom panel and highest point of the top panel. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 c   , package depth  130  is defined as the maximum distance between the front and back panels of a diaper package. 
     Therefore, the Bag Utilization Factor can be determined by the following equation: 
               Bag   ⁢           ⁢   Utlization   ⁢           ⁢   Factor   ⁢           ⁢     (       m   2     ⁢     /     ⁢   pad   ⁢     /     ⁢   m     )       =         Surface   ⁢           ⁢   Area   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   Package   ⁢           ⁢     (     cm   2     )     ⁢     /     ⁢   Bag   ⁢           ⁢   Count       Folded   ⁢           ⁢   Stack   ⁢           ⁢   Length   ⁢           ⁢     (   cm   )         ÷   100           
Using the averages of Examples 1-5 from Table 2 below, the Bag Utilization Factor is determined as follows:
 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Bag 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     Utlization 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     Factor 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         
                           m 
                           2 
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         
                           / 
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         pad 
                         ⁢ 
                         
                           / 
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         m 
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   = 
                     
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   16.3 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   cm 
                                   × 
                                   40.1 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   cm 
                                   × 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               + 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   16.3 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   cm 
                                   × 
                                   11.0 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   cm 
                                   × 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               + 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   40.1 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   cm 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   × 
                                   11.0 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   cm 
                                   × 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                 / 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               36 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         20.6 
                         ⁢ 
                         
                             
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         cm 
                       
                     
                     ÷ 
                     100 
                   
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   = 
                     
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     3.436 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       / 
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     100 
                   
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   = 
                     
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     0.034 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       m 
                       2 
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       / 
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     pad 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       / 
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     m 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     In one embodiment, absorbent products according to the present disclosure may have a bag utilization factor of less than or equal to 0.030 m 2 /pad/m. In another embodiment, absorbent products may have a bag utilization factor of less than about 0.029 m 2 /pad/m. In another embodiment, absorbent products may have a bag utilization factor of from about 0.027 m 2 /pad/m to about 0.030 m 2 /pad/m. 
     In another embodiment, a Box Utilization Factor can also be determined by the following equation: 
     
       
         
           
             
               Box 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               Utlization 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               Factor 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               
                 ( 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     2 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     / 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   pad 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     / 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   m 
                 
                 ) 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   Surface 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Area 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   of 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Box 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       cm 
                       2 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     / 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Box 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Count 
                 
                 
                   Folded 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Stack 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Length 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ( 
                     cm 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               ÷ 
               100 
             
           
         
       
     
     In one embodiment, boxes containing absorbent products according to the present disclosure may have a box utilization factor of less than 0.0119 m 2 /pad/m. In another embodiment, boxes containing absorbent products according to the present disclosure may have a box utilization factor of from about 0.0090 m 2 /pad/m to about 0.0119 m 2 /pad/m. 
       FIGS. 8-15  describe a shipping optimization process for absorbent articles having a substantially airfelt free absorbent core. The overall shipping optimization process  400  according to the teachings of the disclosure includes five optimization procedures, the diaper optimization procedure  510 , the bag optimization procedure  610 , the box optimization procedure  710 , the pallet optimization procedure  810 , and the vehicle optimization procedure  910 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the diaper optimization procedure  510  begins with a design input phase  520 . The design input phase  520  includes gathering data regarding consumer needs  522 , business needs  524 , habits and practices  526 , and market research  528 . For example, consumer needs  522  may include data such as 1) absorbency requirements, 2) physiology of the consumer, 3) fluid absorbency rate, 4) fluid retention duration, 5) customer comfort, 6) weight of the diaper, etc. Business needs  524  may include data such as 1) capital equipment use, 2) gaps in the existing product line, 3) startup costs, 4) startup time, etc. Habits and practices  526  may include data such as 1) past consumer purchase practices, 2) change habits (including day and night frequencies), 3) when toilet training will start, etc. Market research  528  may include data such as 1) cross category purchases, 2) trade margins, 3) competitive marketing programs, etc. After completing the design inputs phase  520 , the data collected is input into a design objective phase  530 . After a basic design for the product is determined from the design inputs phase  520 , several additional factors are considered to modify and engineer the product. For example, raw material costs  532  and raw material availability  534  may drive certain engineering choices to accomplish the design objectives  530 . Moreover, the products sizes and dimensions  536  are determined based on the design inputs  520  data along with performance requirements  538 . Ultimately the final optimized diaper  550  may be refined based on product aesthetics  540  and manufacturing capabilities  542 . Normally products such as absorbent articles and diapers are not sold individually, but rather such absorbent articles are sold in packages containing a plurality of the absorbent articles. For example, smaller absorbent articles, such as infant diapers may be sold in packages of thirty or more diapers, while toddler training pants may be sold in packages of twelve to eighteen training pants. The number of absorbent articles placed in a package depends on several factors. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the optimized diaper  550  has certain characteristics based on the diaper design. For example, the optimized diaper  550  has certain folded dimensions  620 , a certain weight  622 , and a target compressibility range  624 . For instance, new-born diapers (0-6 months) are expected to have a very soft backsheet feel. To prevent a reduction in backsheet softness, these diapers are normally compressed to between 30-38% within the product package, also known as in-bag compression  626 , based on the number of pads  628  contained in the package. Baby diapers (6-12 months) and Toddlers (12-24+ months) do not have the same softness requirements and are normally compressed to between about 50 and 57% within the product package. Over-compression beyond this range will lead to stiffness in the diapers with air-felt cores, another undesired product negative. In order to package absorbent articles with this level of compression, the diapers must be transferred to the polybag or other package under a significant level of compression, known as transfer compression  630 . Surprisingly, we have found that with larger size air-felt free diapers, the target compressibility range  624 , can be increased to greater than about 58% without adversely affecting key consumer aesthetic attributes of the diaper (stiffness, softness, etc.). Once all the optimized diaper parameters are gathered at  640 , data on the packaging is gathered at  650 . Based on the optimized diaper parameters  640 , certain materials may be selected for the package. Each material has different inherent physical characteristics, such as material stretch  652 , material thickness, material weight, etc. Based on these material properties, a number of optimized diapers  654  may be selected for each individual package based on the packaging material, shipping and display limitations, orientation of the diapers  656 , orientation of the pads in the diapers  658 , and the height of the stack of diapers  660 . Additional packing considerations include whether a handle should be included and if so, what type of handle  662  and whether a window  664  or a wicket slit  668  should be included in the package. The number of diapers and the type of material that comprises the container will determine how much side bulge  666  the completed package will have. Ultimately, an optimized package  670  is determined. The optimized package  670  will have certain physical characteristics and dimensions based on the type and number of diapers contained in the package. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the optimized package  670  has certain characteristics based on the package design. For example, the optimized package  670  has certain overall dimensions  672 , including height, weight, and depth, a certain weight  674 , and a package compressibility  676 , which is dependent on, for example, the degree of compression  678  that the pads contained in the package are under. Typically a number of optimized packages  670  are shipped in larger containers or boxes  780 . These larger containers or boxes  780  make loading and unloading of shipping vehicles more efficient. Once the optimized package  670  parameters are determined at  720 , the larger container or box  780  may initially be sized based on the number of package  670  desired in each container or box  780 . Once a general idea as to the number of packages  670  should be in each box  780  is determined at  734 , physical data describing each package  670  is gathered. The data may include the package circumference  732 , the package width  736 , the package length  740 , the package side bulge  738 , the package edge radius  742 , the package height  744 , the film thickness or gauge  746 , and the stretch of the loaded package  748 . Each package  770  will also have a certain amount of in-box compression  750  when loaded and each stack of packages  670  will have an in-box height  754 . Some of these factors will depend on package orientation  756 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the packages  670  may be loaded in many different orientations within the box  780 . The orientations shown in  FIG. 12  are for illustration purposes only, other package  670  orientations are possible during the box  780  optimization process. Some exemplary package  670  orientations are a horizontal side oriented width-wise stack, as shown in the top left illustration; a horizontal side oriented length-wise stack, as shown in the top right illustration; a dual upright horizontal depth-wise stack, as shown in the middle left illustration; a flat vertical length-wise stack, as shown in the lower left illustration; an upright horizontal width-wise stack, as shown in the middle right illustration; and a dual flat vertical width-wise stack, as shown in the lower right illustration. Each loading configuration may result in a different shaped or dimensioned box  780 . On the other hand, the loading orientation may be adapted to standard box  780  shapes and sizes. Each box  780  may have an ultimate weight capacity, based on the material and construction of the box  780 , and a volume capacity. When optimizing loading of the box  480 , the number and orientation of packages  670  is optimized based on the weight and volume capacity of the box  780 . 
     Once an optimal box design is determined, peripheral features may be included in the optimized box  780 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the optimized box  780  may further include a container type  820 , a color of a container  822 , printing on the container  826 , and handles on the container  830 . Color and printing on the container may help readily identify each optimized box  780  as containing a certain absorbent product. The type and location of the flaps  828  and the type and location of adhesive  824  may also be determined Once the optimized box  780  is finalized, the box parameters may be determined at  840 . The box  780  parameters are input into a pallet loading optimization process at  850 . 
     A pallet (sometimes called a skid) is a flat transport structure that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack, or other jacking device. A pallet is the foundation of a unit load design, which can be as simple as placing the goods on a pallet, and securing them with straps or stretch-wrapped plastic film, or as exotic as a ULD mini-container. 
     Containerization for transport has spurred the use of pallets because the containers have the clean, level surfaces needed for easy pallet movement. Most pallets can easily carry a load of 1,000 kg (about 2,000 lb). Pallets make it easy to move heavy stacks. Loads with pallets under them can be hauled by forklift trucks of different sizes, or even by hand-pumped and hand-drawn pallet jacks. Movement is easy on a wide, strong, flat floor, such as concrete. Organizations using standard pallets for loading and unloading can have much lower costs for handling and storage, with faster material movement than businesses that do not. The lack of a single international standard for pallets causes substantial continuing expense in international trade. A single standard is difficult because of the wide variety of needs a standard pallet would have to satisfy, such as passing doorways, fitting in standard containers, and bringing low labor costs. For example, organizations already handling large pallets often see no reason to pay the higher handling cost of using smaller pallets that can fit through doors. 
     The size, shape, and weight capacity of a given pallet may be determined in part by the shipping vehicle into which the pallet will be placed. Moreover, the volume capacity of a pallet is generally undetermined because pallets generally do not have side walls or tops. However, a volume capacity of a pallet can be determined based on a particular shipping vehicle. For example, if a particular shipping vehicle has an interior height of approximately 110 inches (e.g., a typical interior height of a semi trailer), then the combined height of the pallets and products cannot exceed 110 inches. Moreover, the combined height of the pallets must be less than 110 inches so that they can be inserted, stacked, and removed from the trailer using common loading and unloading techniques (e.g. using a forklift). Typical pallets are 5.75 inches high. Thus, if two levels of pallets are desired, each pallet can have a maximum product height of about 4 feet (48 inches). Typically, a semi-trailer is loaded with two rows of pallets, side by side. Semi-trailers are usually 8 ft, or 96 inches wide. Pallets may measure 3.3 by 4 ft (40×48 inches). If the rows of pallets are alternated so that the pallets inserted side by side have one 40 inch and one 48 inch side perpendicular to the length of the trailer, there will be a few inches of space between and on each side of the two pallets. This extra space also provides the room necessary for easy insertion and removal of the pallets. This alternating pallet configuration is also staggered from the front to the back of the trailer, thereby minimizing gaps between pallets and minimizing load shifting during transportation. A typical semi-trail can hold up to 60 pallets, 30 per layer, in this type of configuration. In addition, the area of a typical pallet may be approximately 13.2 square feet. By determining the maximum height of the pallet and products to be 4 feet when loaded in the vehicle, the volume capacity of each pallet in this example is approximately 52.8 cubic feet. In reality, each pallet must be designed to have 1-2 inches on underhang on each pallet to minimize product damage during shipment. Too much underhang will lead to unstable pallet loads and any amount of overhang will likely lead to product damage. If the desired underhang is subtracted from the previously calculated volume capacity of the pallet, a more accurate number for a true volume capacity for each pallet is about 52.4 ft 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , generally the pallet volume capacity may be determined by the pallet dimensions  852 , under or over hang specifications  854 ,  856 , pallet pattern selection  858 , cases per pallet  860 , layers per pallet  862 , and mixed pallet requirements  864 . The pallet weight capacity may be determined by the pallet material and the pallet construction. However, the pallet weight capacity is also dependent on the trailer weight capacity. For instance, if the trailer maximum legal weight capacity is about 50,000 lbs and there are 60 pallets contained within the trailer, each pallet would have a maximum load capacity of about 830 lbs. Each pallet weighs about 65 lbs, so the net load capacity of each pallet is about 765 lbs. Given each pallet has a maximum load capacity of about 765 lbs and a maximum volume capacity of about 52.4 ft 3 , the maximum density of product and packages on each pallet would be approximately 14.6 lbs/ft 3 . This number is significant in that it highlights that shipments of traditional air-felt absorbent products, especially diaper products, significantly underutilize the weight capacity of the most common form of product transportation, semi-trailers. Today&#39;s traditional air-felt absorbent article products, averaging a little under 9 lbs/ft3 have an average Load Factor of about 0.62 and a maximum Load Factor of about 0.70, while the substantially air-felt free absorbent article products may have an average Load Factor of about 0.82 and a minimum Load Factor of about 0.75. In one embodiment, the substantially air-felt free absorbent article products may have a Load Factor between about 0.75 and about 1.0, in another embodiment between about 0.77 and about 1.0, and in another embodiment between about 0.81 and about 0.95. 
     The Load Factor can be determined by the following equation:
 
Load Factor=(Weight of Trailer Load/Legal Trailer Weight Limit)/(Volume of Trailer Load/Volume Capacity of Trailer)
 
     As a result, a significant savings in terms of logistics costs in getting these products from a manufacturing site through distribution and on to the store shelves is realized. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14  and indicated previously, the optimized pallet  880  will have certain physical characteristics useful in load planning of a transportation vehicle, such as a trailer. The optimized pallet  880  includes a loaded weight  920 , a loaded volume  922  and a loaded volume utilization  924 . These optimized pallet parameters  940  are used to create a load plan for the transportation vehicle at  950 . The transportation vehicle includes certain physical transportation area dimensions, such as a height  952 , a length  956 , and a width  954  along with staggered load requirements  958 . Once all the pallet and vehicle parameters are determined, the vehicle is loaded such that the optimized loaded vehicle  980  has a Load Factor of between 0.7 and 1.0. Again, this load factor assures the user that he/she is maximizing his/her transportation value. 
     In one embodiment, a pallet of absorbent products comprises a plurality of packages each having a plurality of disposable absorbent articles disposed within the interior space of the package, each of the disposable absorbent articles having a topsheet; a backsheet; a substantially cellulose free absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet; a first waist region; a second waist region; a crotch region extending longitudinally between the first and second waist regions; and a fastening member extending laterally outward from the second waist region and adapted to releasably connect with a landing zone located in the first waist region; wherein the absorbent products arranged on the pallet exhibit a calculated Load Factor less than about 1.0, in another embodiment from about 0.7 to about 1.0. 
     In one embodiment, a shipping vehicle of absorbent products comprises a transportation area for receiving items to be transported, the vehicle having a maximum weight capacity for transporting items and a maximum volume capacity for transporting items; and a plurality of packages each having a plurality of disposable absorbent articles disposed within the interior space of the package, each of the disposable absorbent articles having a topsheet; a backsheet; a substantially cellulose free absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet; a first waist region; a second waist region; a crotch region extending longitudinally between the first and second waist regions; and a fastening member extending laterally outward from the second waist region and adapted to releasably connect with a landing zone located in the first waist region; wherein the vehicle exhibits a calculated Load Factor of from about 0.7 to about 1.0, in another embodiment from about 0.75 to about 1.0. 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram of a load planning system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. The load planning system  1000  includes a processor  1010  operatively connected to an input device  1012 , such as a computer keyboard, a computer mouse, a voice recognition system, a touchscreen, or any other type of input device, and an output device  1014 , such as a computer monitor, a computer printer, a speaker, or any other type of output device. The processor  1010  is operatively coupled to a memory  1016 . The memory  1016  may include software  1018  having one or more routines operable on the processor  1010 . The software routines may perform the processes illustrated in  FIGS. 8-15 . The processor  1010  may also be connected to a loading device, such as an automatic loading system, or a display to instruct manual loaders. The software routines may run iteratively on the processor  1010  until the load factor is optimized for each of the packaging, the container, the pallet and the vehicle. Examples of container loading and cargo load planning software are MaxLoad Pro, commercially available from TOPS Engineering Corporation of Richardson, Tex. and CubeMaster, commercially available from Logen Solutions, Co. of Belmont, Calif. 
     EXAMPLES 
     The following Examples provide a comparison between diapers that are commercially available in the United States to diapers having optimized parameters according to the present disclosure. Tables 2-6 provide data for various diaper packages (folded stack length, in-bag stack height, and bag utilization factor) measured according to the Folded Stack Length Test and In-Bag Stack Height Test described in detail below. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 In-Bag Stack Height/Bag Utilization Factor Results for Sample Diaper Packages (Size 3) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Bag 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Child 
                 Folded 
                 In-Bag 
                 Utilization 
               
               
                   
                 Height 
                 Width 
                 Depth 
                 Bag 
                 Pad Count 
                 Wt. Range 
                 Stack Length 
                 Stack Ht 
                 Factor 
               
               
                 Example 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 Count 
                 Per Stack 
                 (kg) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (m 2 /pad/m) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1. 
                 400 
                 166 
                 110 
                 36 
                 18 
                 7-13 
                 210 
                 92 
                 0.0340 
               
               
                 2. 
                 401 
                 163 
                 110 
                 36 
                 18 
                 7-13 
                 206 
                 91 
                 0.0344 
               
               
                 3. 
                 400 
                 162 
                 109 
                 36 
                 18 
                 7-13 
                 206 
                 90 
                 0.0340 
               
               
                 4. 
                 402 
                 162 
                 110 
                 36 
                 18 
                 7-13 
                 204 
                 90 
                 0.0346 
               
               
                 5. 
                 400 
                 164 
                 109 
                 36 
                 18 
                 7-13 
                 206 
                 91 
                 0.0343 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 206 
                 91 
                 0.034 
               
               
                 6. 
                 211 
                 284 
                 217 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 210 
                 109 
                 0.0306 
               
               
                 7. 
                 216 
                 289 
                 220 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 209 
                 111 
                 0.0319 
               
               
                 8. 
                 213 
                 281 
                 217 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 208 
                 108 
                 0.0309 
               
               
                 9. 
                 213 
                 285 
                 218 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 210 
                 110 
                 0.0310 
               
               
                 10. 
                 208 
                 274 
                 223 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 208 
                 105 
                 0.0304 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 209 
                 109 
                 0.031 
               
               
                 11. 
                 204 
                 295 
                 102 
                 26 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 211 
                 113 
                 0.0405 
               
               
                 12. 
                 203 
                 293 
                 102 
                 26 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 210 
                 113 
                 0.0403 
               
               
                 13. 
                 205 
                 294 
                 101 
                 26 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 208 
                 113 
                 0.0409 
               
               
                 14. 
                 204 
                 294 
                 104 
                 26 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 208 
                 113 
                 0.0413 
               
               
                 15. 
                 203 
                 297 
                 103 
                 26 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 207 
                 114 
                 0.0415 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 209 
                 113 
                 0.041 
               
               
                 16. 
                 198 
                 327 
                 111 
                 38 
                 38 
                 7-13 
                 200 
                 86 
                 0.0324 
               
               
                 17. 
                 197 
                 328 
                 111 
                 38 
                 38 
                 7-13 
                 205 
                 86 
                 0.0316 
               
               
                 18. 
                 189 
                 327 
                 111 
                 38 
                 38 
                 7-13 
                 196 
                 86 
                 0.0320 
               
               
                 19. 
                 187 
                 329 
                 112 
                 38 
                 38 
                 7-13 
                 196 
                 87 
                 0.0320 
               
               
                 20. 
                 194 
                 330 
                 113 
                 38 
                 38 
                 7-13 
                 204 
                 87 
                 0.0318 
               
               
                 21. 
                 193 
                 334 
                 114 
                 38 
                 38 
                 7-13 
                 205 
                 88 
                 0.0320 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 201 
                 87 
                 0.032 
               
               
                 22. 
                 203 
                 229 
                 114 
                 31 
                 31 
                 7-13 
                 205 
                 74 
                 0.0301 
               
               
                 23. 
                 202 
                 229 
                 114 
                 31 
                 31 
                 7-13 
                 208 
                 74 
                 0.0296 
               
               
                 24. 
                 204 
                 230 
                 112 
                 31 
                 31 
                 7-13 
                 207 
                 74 
                 0.0298 
               
               
                 25. 
                 204 
                 226 
                 112 
                 31 
                 31 
                 7-13 
                 205 
                 73 
                 0.0297 
               
               
                 26. 
                 204 
                 226 
                 113 
                 31 
                 31 
                 7-13 
                 206 
                 73 
                 0.0297 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 206 
                 74 
                 0.030 
               
               
                 27. 
                 393 
                 203 
                 113 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 206 
                 78 
                 0.0275 
               
               
                 28. 
                 396 
                 209 
                 111 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 206 
                 80 
                 0.0280 
               
               
                 29. 
                 392 
                 207 
                 110 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 204 
                 80 
                 0.0277 
               
               
                 30. 
                 391 
                 206 
                 112 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 202 
                 79 
                 0.0281 
               
               
                 31. 
                 392 
                 207 
                 110 
                 52 
                 26 
                 7-13 
                 204 
                 80 
                 0.0277 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 204 
                 79 
                 0.028 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Examples 1-5 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES SNUG &amp; DRY (size 3; bag count 36; Lot #&#39;s UT915306F 10:09; UT915306F 09:50; UT916806B 06:17; UT915306F 09:50; and UT9168068 06:17, respectively). 
     Examples 6-10 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LITTLE MOVERS (size 3; bag count 52; Lot #&#39;s UT815001B 22:24; BI913412B 00:20; BI913412B 00:20; BI913412B 00:19; and BI913412B 00:20, respectively). 
     Examples 11-15 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES PURE &amp; NATURAL (size 3; bag count 26; Lot # BI914617B 23:58—Ex. 11 and 12; BI920317B 06:00—Ex. 13; and BI920317B 01:19—Ex. 14 and 15). 
     Examples 16-21 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS CRUISERS (size 3; bag count 76; Lot #&#39;s 9154U01142 02:35 15837—Ex. 16 and 17; 9192U01142 09:41 38287—Ex. 18 and 19; and 9095U01142 11:03 25875—Ex. 20 and 21). 
     Examples 22-26 are embodiments of absorbent products in accordance with the present disclosure (size 3; bag count 31; Lot #&#39;s 9242U01762X1028; 9242U01762X1009—Ex. 23-26). 
     Examples 27-31 are embodiments of absorbent products in accordance with the present disclosure (size 3; bag count 52; Lot #&#39;s 9242U01762X1251—Ex. 27 and 28 and 9242U011762X1317—Ex. 29-31). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 In-Bag Stack Height/Bag Utilization Factor Results for Sample Diaper Packages (Size 4) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Bag 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Child 
                 Folded 
                 In-Bag 
                 Utilization 
               
               
                   
                 Height 
                 Width 
                 Depth 
                 Bag 
                 Pad Count 
                 Wt. Range 
                 Stack Length 
                 Stack Ht 
                 Factor 
               
               
                 Example 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 Count 
                 Per Stack 
                 (kg) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (m 2 /pad/m) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 32. 
                 230 
                 262 
                 116 
                 31 
                 31 
                 10-17 
                 228 
                 85 
                 0.0332 
               
               
                 33. 
                 219 
                 254 
                 118 
                 31 
                 31 
                 10-17 
                 226 
                 82 
                 0.0318 
               
               
                 34. 
                 222 
                 267 
                 116 
                 31 
                 31 
                 10-17 
                 222 
                 86 
                 0.0337 
               
               
                 35. 
                 230 
                 262 
                 118 
                 31 
                 31 
                 10-17 
                 227 
                 85 
                 0.0336 
               
               
                 36. 
                 221 
                 261 
                 116 
                 31 
                 31 
                 10-17 
                 219 
                 84 
                 0.0335 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 224 
                 84 
                 0.033 
               
               
                 37. 
                 212 
                 340 
                 220 
                 32 
                 32 
                 10-17 
                 218 
                 106 
                 0.0555 
               
               
                 38. 
                 220 
                 336 
                 222 
                 32 
                 32 
                 10-17 
                 223 
                 105 
                 0.0553 
               
               
                 39. 
                 215 
                 339 
                 224 
                 32 
                 32 
                 10-17 
                 221 
                 106 
                 0.0557 
               
               
                 40. 
                 209 
                 337 
                 218 
                 32 
                 32 
                 10-17 
                 215 
                 105 
                 0.0551 
               
               
                 41. 
                 211 
                 337 
                 219 
                 32 
                 32 
                 10-17 
                 215 
                 105 
                 0.0556 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 218 
                 106 
                 0.055 
               
               
                 42. 
                 218 
                 255 
                 109 
                 23 
                 23 
                 10-17 
                 226 
                 111 
                 0.0412 
               
               
                 43. 
                 217 
                 258 
                 108 
                 23 
                 23 
                 10-17 
                 227 
                 112 
                 0.0411 
               
               
                 44. 
                 216 
                 255 
                 109 
                 23 
                 23 
                 10-17 
                 222 
                 111 
                 0.0417 
               
               
                 45. 
                 217 
                 257 
                 108 
                 23 
                 23 
                 10-17 
                 226 
                 112 
                 0.0411 
               
               
                 46. 
                 216 
                 254 
                 108 
                 23 
                 23 
                 10-17 
                 226 
                 110 
                 0.0406 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 225 
                 111 
                 0.041 
               
               
                 47. 
                 218 
                 233 
                 110 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 225 
                 86 
                 0.0331 
               
               
                 48. 
                 218 
                 233 
                 111 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 222 
                 86 
                 0.0337 
               
               
                 49. 
                 218 
                 232 
                 111 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 225 
                 86 
                 0.0337 
               
               
                 50. 
                 217 
                 239 
                 111 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 219 
                 89 
                 0.0347 
               
               
                 51. 
                 219 
                 233 
                 114 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 221 
                 86 
                 0.0344 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 222 
                 87 
                 0.034 
               
               
                 52. 
                 217 
                 211 
                 112 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 220 
                 78 
                 0.0316 
               
               
                 53. 
                 216 
                 208 
                 112 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 216 
                 77 
                 0.0317 
               
               
                 54. 
                 216 
                 210 
                 112 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 220 
                 78 
                 0.0313 
               
               
                 55. 
                 216 
                 209 
                 112 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 220 
                 77 
                 0.0312 
               
               
                 56. 
                 212 
                 212 
                 112 
                 27 
                 27 
                 10-17 
                 219 
                 79 
                 0.0313 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 219 
                 78 
                 0.031 
               
               
                 57. 
                 212 
                 344 
                 121 
                 46 
                 46 
                 10-17 
                 221 
                 75 
                 0.0276 
               
               
                 58. 
                 213 
                 344 
                 117 
                 46 
                 46 
                 10-17 
                 220 
                 75 
                 0.0274 
               
               
                 59. 
                 213 
                 345 
                 120 
                 46 
                 46 
                 10-17 
                 220 
                 75 
                 0.0278 
               
               
                 60. 
                 214 
                 349 
                 118 
                 46 
                 46 
                 10-17 
                 221 
                 76 
                 0.0278 
               
               
                 61. 
                 211 
                 348 
                 119 
                 46 
                 46 
                 10-17 
                 222 
                 76 
                 0.0274 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 221 
                 75 
                 0.028 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Examples 32-36 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES SNUG &amp; DRY (size 4; bag count 31; Lot #&#39;s PA913908B 20:06; BI917716B 22:41; WP 920310 F; PA913908B 20:05; and WP 920310 F, respectively). 
     Examples 37-41 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LITTLE MOVERS (size 4; bag count 64; Lot #&#39;s UT916502B 2049#9917; BI916812X 10:15 82616; BI919112X 11:16 331403; UT917102F 10:01 4548; and UT917102F 09:57, respectively). 
     Examples 42-46 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES PURE &amp; NATURAL (size 4; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s BI911212B 21:24—Ex. 42-44 and BI911212B 21:18—Ex. 45 and 46). 
     Examples 47-51 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS CRUISERS (size 4; bag count 27; Lot #&#39;s 9200 U01129 21:15—Ex. 47-49; 9194U01129 11:46; and 9214 U01754 19:30, respectively). 
     Examples 52-56 are embodiments of absorbent products in accordance with the present disclosure (size 4; bag count 27; Lot #&#39;s 924762U01762X1755—Ex. 52, 53 and 55; and 924762U01762X1754—Ex. 54 and 56). 
     Examples 57-61 are embodiments of absorbent products in accordance with the present disclosure (size 4; bag count 46; Lot #9247U01762X10:36). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 In-Bag Stack Height/Bag Utilization Factor Results for Sample Diaper Packages (Size 5) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Bag 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Child 
                 Folded 
                 In-Bag 
                 Utilization 
               
               
                   
                 Height 
                 Width 
                 Depth 
                 Bag 
                 Pad Count 
                 Wt. Range 
                 Stack Length 
                 Stack Ht 
                 Factor 
               
               
                 Example 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 Count 
                 Per Stack 
                 (kg) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (m 2 /pad/m) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 62. 
                 235 
                 304 
                 120 
                 35 
                 35 
                 12+ 
                 232 
                 87 
                 0.0335 
               
               
                 63. 
                 234 
                 304 
                 121 
                 35 
                 35 
                 12+ 
                 229 
                 87 
                 0.0340 
               
               
                 64. 
                 234 
                 295 
                 119 
                 35 
                 35 
                 12+ 
                 236 
                 84 
                 0.0320 
               
               
                 65. 
                 235 
                 294 
                 118 
                 35 
                 35 
                 12+ 
                 230 
                 84 
                 0.0327 
               
               
                 66. 
                 234 
                 302 
                 122 
                 35 
                 35 
                 12+ 
                 232 
                 86 
                 0.0335 
               
               
                 67. 
                 235 
                 305 
                 121 
                 35 
                 35 
                 12+ 
                 233 
                 87 
                 0.0336 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 232 
                 86 
                 0.033 
               
               
                 68. 
                 224 
                 256 
                 111 
                 23 
                 23 
                 12+ 
                 230 
                 111 
                 0.0418 
               
               
                 69. 
                 230 
                 258 
                 112 
                 23 
                 23 
                 12+ 
                 231 
                 112 
                 0.0429 
               
               
                 70. 
                 221 
                 254 
                 111 
                 23 
                 23 
                 12+ 
                 223 
                 110 
                 0.0424 
               
               
                 71. 
                 223 
                 255 
                 111 
                 23 
                 23 
                 12+ 
                 223 
                 111 
                 0.0429 
               
               
                 72. 
                 224 
                 253 
                 111 
                 23 
                 23 
                 12+ 
                 226 
                 110 
                 0.0422 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 227 
                 111 
                 0.042 
               
               
                 73. 
                 215 
                 261 
                 104 
                 20 
                 20 
                 12+ 
                 221 
                 131 
                 0.0477 
               
               
                 74. 
                 217 
                 264 
                 102 
                 20 
                 20 
                 12+ 
                 221 
                 132 
                 0.0483 
               
               
                 75. 
                 215 
                 261 
                 102 
                 20 
                 20 
                 12+ 
                 224 
                 130 
                 0.0468 
               
               
                 76. 
                 222 
                 269 
                 95 
                 20 
                 20 
                 12+ 
                 227 
                 134 
                 0.0469 
               
               
                 77. 
                 214 
                 262 
                 104 
                 20 
                 20 
                 12+ 
                 223 
                 131 
                 0.0473 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 223 
                 132 
                 0.047 
               
               
                 78. 
                 212 
                 268 
                 117 
                 28 
                 28 
                 12+ 
                 220 
                 96 
                 0.0367 
               
               
                 79. 
                 211 
                 269 
                 118 
                 28 
                 28 
                 12+ 
                 218 
                 96 
                 0.0372 
               
               
                 80. 
                 210 
                 267 
                 118 
                 28 
                 28 
                 12+ 
                 220 
                 95 
                 0.0365 
               
               
                 81. 
                 212 
                 270 
                 117 
                 28 
                 28 
                 12+ 
                 219 
                 96 
                 0.0371 
               
               
                 82. 
                 212 
                 271 
                 120 
                 28 
                 28 
                 12+ 
                 221 
                 97 
                 0.0373 
               
               
                 83. 
                 211 
                 271 
                 121 
                 28 
                 28 
                 12+ 
                 220 
                 97 
                 0.0375 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 220 
                 96 
                 0.037 
               
               
                 84. 
                 214 
                 302 
                 120 
                 40 
                 40 
                 12+ 
                 223 
                 76 
                 0.0284 
               
               
                 85. 
                 213 
                 304 
                 118 
                 40 
                 40 
                 12+ 
                 226 
                 76 
                 0.0278 
               
               
                 86. 
                 216 
                 304 
                 120 
                 40 
                 40 
                 12+ 
                 225 
                 76 
                 0.0285 
               
               
                 87. 
                 216 
                 302 
                 119 
                 40 
                 40 
                 12+ 
                 225 
                 76 
                 0.0282 
               
               
                 88. 
                 216 
                 304 
                 118 
                 40 
                 40 
                 12+ 
                 222 
                 76 
                 0.0286 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 224 
                 76 
                 0.028 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Examples 62-67 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES SNUG &amp; DRY (size 5; bag count 35; Lot #&#39;s PA919002B 04:11—Ex. 62 and 63; BI907015X 02:03 16118—Ex. 64 and 65; and PA915502F 17:00—Ex. 66 and 67). 
     Examples 68-72 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LITTLE MOVERS (size 5; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s PA914807X 17:15; PA914907X 02:04; and PA917707B 04:55—Ex. 70-72, respectively). 
     Examples 73-77 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES PURE &amp; NATURAL (size 5; bag count 20; Lot #&#39;s UT918102F 16:33—Ex. 73-75; UT907802F 14:11; and UT918102F 14:45, respectively). 
     Examples 78-83 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS CRUISERS (size 5; bag count 56; Lot #&#39;s 9208U01130 08:07 02501—Ex. 78-81 and 9292U01130 21:12 46676—Ex. 82 and 83). 
     Examples 84-88 are embodiments of absorbent products in accordance with the present disclosure (size 5; bag count 40; Lot #9244U01762X1504). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 In-Bag Stack Height/Bag Utilization Factor Results for Sample Diaper Packages (Size 6) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Bag 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Child 
                 Folded 
                 In-Bag 
                 Utilization 
               
               
                   
                 Height 
                 Width 
                 Depth 
                 Bag 
                 Pad Count 
                 Wt. Range 
                 Stack Length 
                 Stack Ht 
                 Factor 
               
               
                 Example 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 Count 
                 Per Stack 
                 (kg) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (m 2 /pad/m) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 89. 
                 233 
                 253 
                 218 
                 40 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 233 
                 127 
                 0.0354 
               
               
                 90. 
                 241 
                 252 
                 216 
                 40 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 235 
                 126 
                 0.0356 
               
               
                 91. 
                 227 
                 259 
                 223 
                 40 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 233 
                 130 
                 0.0359 
               
               
                 92. 
                 232 
                 256 
                 212 
                 40 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 239 
                 128 
                 0.0341 
               
               
                 93. 
                 227 
                 261 
                 217 
                 40 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 237 
                 131 
                 0.0348 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 235 
                 128 
                 0.035 
               
               
                 94. 
                 237 
                 219 
                 108 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 238 
                 110 
                 0.0425 
               
               
                 95. 
                 235 
                 220 
                 108 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 240 
                 110 
                 0.0420 
               
               
                 96. 
                 233 
                 220 
                 110 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 235 
                 110 
                 0.0430 
               
               
                 97. 
                 237 
                 217 
                 111 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 238 
                 109 
                 0.0428 
               
               
                 98. 
                 232 
                 219 
                 111 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 237 
                 110 
                 0.0426 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 238 
                 110 
                 0.043 
               
               
                 99. 
                 188 
                 228 
                 115 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 235 
                 114 
                 0.0386 
               
               
                 100. 
                 189 
                 232 
                 113 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 233 
                 116 
                 0.0392 
               
               
                 101. 
                 192 
                 232 
                 114 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 235 
                 116 
                 0.0395 
               
               
                 102. 
                 192 
                 234 
                 116 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 235 
                 117 
                 0.0401 
               
               
                 103. 
                 192 
                 231 
                 115 
                 20 
                 20 
                 16+ 
                 235 
                 116 
                 0.0396 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 235 
                 116 
                 0.039 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Examples 89-93 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES SNUG &amp; DRY (size 6; bag count 40; Lot #&#39;s PA901405B 03:52; PA901405B 03:54; WP 823109F; PA8142055 15:17; and PA901505F 14:41, respectively). 
     Examples 94-98 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LITTLE MOVERS (size 6; bag count 34; Lot #&#39;s PA913107X 11:39; PA913107X 11:37; PA913207X 01:32; PA919007F 10:19; and PA910207X 23:21, respectively). 
     Examples 99-103 are commercially available airfelt diapers sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS CRUISERS (size 6; bag count 20; Lot #&#39;s 9141U017642235 and 9155U017641647). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 In-Bag Stack Height/Bag Utilization Factor Results for Sample Diaper Packages (Training Pants) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Bag 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Child 
                 Folded 
                 In-Bag 
                 Utilization 
               
               
                   
                 Height 
                 Width 
                 Depth 
                 Bag 
                 Pad Count 
                 Wt. Range 
                 Stack Length 
                 Stack Ht 
                 Factor 
               
               
                 Example 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 Count 
                 Per Stack 
                 (kg) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (m 2 /pad/m) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 104. 
                 272 
                 249 
                 125 
                 27 
                 27 
                 17-29 
                 274 
                 92 
                 0.0359 
               
               
                 105. 
                 277 
                 248 
                 123 
                 27 
                 27 
                 17-29 
                 275 
                 92 
                 0.0359 
               
               
                 106. 
                 276 
                 258 
                 117 
                 27 
                 27 
                 17-29 
                 274 
                 96 
                 0.0361 
               
               
                 107. 
                 275 
                 256 
                 117 
                 27 
                 27 
                 17-29 
                 278 
                 95 
                 0.0353 
               
               
                 108. 
                 272 
                 246 
                 125 
                 27 
                 27 
                 17-29 
                 272 
                 91 
                 0.0359 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 272 
                 93 
                 0.036 
               
               
                 109. 
                 294 
                 205 
                 130 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 293 
                 98 
                 0.0407 
               
               
                 110. 
                 295 
                 206 
                 129 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 290 
                 98 
                 0.0412 
               
               
                 111. 
                 288 
                 209 
                 129 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 286 
                 100 
                 0.0414 
               
               
                 112. 
                 291 
                 205 
                 129 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 287 
                 98 
                 0.0410 
               
               
                 113. 
                 286 
                 209 
                 130 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 286 
                 100 
                 0.0413 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 288 
                 98 
                 0.041 
               
               
                 114. 
                 266 
                 166 
                 124 
                 15 
                 15 
                 17-29 
                 268 
                 111 
                 0.0486 
               
               
                 115. 
                 268 
                 169 
                 121 
                 15 
                 15 
                 17-29 
                 268 
                 113 
                 0.0488 
               
               
                 116. 
                 269 
                 170 
                 122 
                 15 
                 15 
                 17-29 
                 270 
                 113 
                 0.0490 
               
               
                 117. 
                 269 
                 169 
                 122 
                 15 
                 15 
                 17-29 
                 268 
                 113 
                 0.0492 
               
               
                 118. 
                 270 
                 167 
                 122 
                 15 
                 15 
                 17-29 
                 269 
                 111 
                 0.0488 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 269 
                 112 
                 0.049 
               
               
                 119. 
                 300 
                 205 
                 121 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 302 
                 98 
                 0.0387 
               
               
                 120. 
                 299 
                 209 
                 121 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 298 
                 100 
                 0.0396 
               
               
                 121. 
                 291 
                 205 
                 126 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 288 
                 98 
                 0.0404 
               
               
                 122. 
                 296 
                 205 
                 127 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 295 
                 98 
                 0.0401 
               
               
                 123. 
                 291 
                 207 
                 127 
                 21 
                 21 
                  27-57+ 
                 293 
                 99 
                 0.0401 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 295 
                 98 
                 0.040 
               
               
                 124. 
                 216 
                 279 
                 132 
                 44 
                 44 
                  8-15 
                 211 
                 63 
                 0.0271 
               
               
                 125. 
                 220 
                 279 
                 132 
                 44 
                 44 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 63 
                 0.0269 
               
               
                 126. 
                 219 
                 277 
                 134 
                 44 
                 44 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 63 
                 0.0269 
               
               
                 127. 
                 219 
                 279 
                 134 
                 44 
                 44 
                  8-15 
                 218 
                 63 
                 0.0267 
               
               
                 128. 
                 218 
                 279 
                 132 
                 44 
                 44 
                  8-15 
                 216 
                 63 
                 0.0266 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 215 
                 63 
                 0.027 
               
               
                 129. 
                 232 
                 172 
                 134 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 235 
                 75 
                 0.0348 
               
               
                 130. 
                 233 
                 176 
                 132 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 235 
                 77 
                 0.0352 
               
               
                 131. 
                 233 
                 175 
                 132 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 235 
                 76 
                 0.0350 
               
               
                 132. 
                 229 
                 175 
                 134 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 231 
                 76 
                 0.0355 
               
               
                 133. 
                 232 
                 176 
                 129 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 231 
                 77 
                 0.0352 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 233 
                 76 
                 0.035 
               
               
                 134. 
                 240 
                 156 
                 130 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 240 
                 82 
                 0.0390 
               
               
                 135. 
                 241 
                 156 
                 130 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 238 
                 82 
                 0.0395 
               
               
                 136. 
                 243 
                 156 
                 130 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 240 
                 82 
                 0.0394 
               
               
                 137. 
                 238 
                 152 
                 133 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 239 
                 80 
                 0.0388 
               
               
                 138. 
                 243 
                 153 
                 133 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 235 
                 81 
                 0.0402 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 238 
                 81 
                 0.039 
               
               
                 139. 
                 209 
                 204 
                 129 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 211 
                 78 
                 0.0350 
               
               
                 140. 
                 211 
                 205 
                 129 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 208 
                 79 
                 0.0358 
               
               
                 141. 
                 213 
                 201 
                 130 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 212 
                 77 
                 0.0351 
               
               
                 142. 
                 213 
                 199 
                 129 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 77 
                 0.0342 
               
               
                 143. 
                 213 
                 199 
                 130 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 214 
                 77 
                 0.0345 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 212 
                 78 
                 0.035 
               
               
                 144. 
                 227 
                 176 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 228 
                 77 
                 0.0354 
               
               
                 145. 
                 227 
                 174 
                 132 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 228 
                 76 
                 0.0353 
               
               
                 146. 
                 231 
                 175 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 229 
                 76 
                 0.0355 
               
               
                 147. 
                 230 
                 172 
                 132 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 227 
                 75 
                 0.0355 
               
               
                 148. 
                 226 
                 178 
                 133 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 230 
                 77 
                 0.0355 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 228 
                 76 
                 0.035 
               
               
                 149. 
                 238 
                 158 
                 130 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 238 
                 83 
                 0.0394 
               
               
                 150. 
                 237 
                 158 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 236 
                 83 
                 0.0398 
               
               
                 151. 
                 238 
                 157 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 238 
                 83 
                 0.0394 
               
               
                 152. 
                 239 
                 158 
                 132 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 238 
                 83 
                 0.0399 
               
               
                 153. 
                 240 
                 158 
                 132 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 241 
                 83 
                 0.0395 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 238 
                 83 
                 0.040 
               
               
                 154. 
                 214 
                 196 
                 129 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 219 
                 75 
                 0.0333 
               
               
                 155. 
                 215 
                 196 
                 128 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 218 
                 75 
                 0.0334 
               
               
                 156. 
                 218 
                 195 
                 128 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 218 
                 75 
                 0.0337 
               
               
                 157. 
                 215 
                 196 
                 129 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 218 
                 75 
                 0.0336 
               
               
                 158. 
                 210 
                 202 
                 126 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 217 
                 78 
                 0.0334 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 218 
                 76 
                 0.033 
               
               
                 159. 
                 230 
                 182 
                 124 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 233 
                 79 
                 0.0347 
               
               
                 160. 
                 230 
                 182 
                 128 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 232 
                 79 
                 0.0355 
               
               
                 161. 
                 231 
                 182 
                 126 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 231 
                 79 
                 0.0354 
               
               
                 162. 
                 226 
                 170 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 233 
                 74 
                 0.0337 
               
               
                 163. 
                 230 
                 171 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 233 
                 74 
                 0.0343 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 232 
                 77 
                 0.035 
               
               
                 164. 
                 236 
                 160 
                 130 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 237 
                 84 
                 0.0396 
               
               
                 165. 
                 235 
                 161 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 236 
                 85 
                 0.0400 
               
               
                 166. 
                 236 
                 160 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 238 
                 84 
                 0.0396 
               
               
                 167. 
                 235 
                 160 
                 135 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 240 
                 84 
                 0.0399 
               
               
                 168. 
                 236 
                 163 
                 133 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 239 
                 86 
                 0.0403 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 238 
                 85 
                 0.040 
               
               
                 169. 
                 212 
                 197 
                 124 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 76 
                 0.0311 
               
               
                 170. 
                 213 
                 190 
                 123 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 73 
                 0.0322 
               
               
                 171. 
                 214 
                 190 
                 122 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 73 
                 0.0322 
               
               
                 172. 
                 211 
                 194 
                 127 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 215 
                 75 
                 0.0330 
               
               
                 173. 
                 211 
                 202 
                 125 
                 26 
                 26 
                  8-15 
                 214 
                 78 
                 0.0339 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 215 
                 75 
                 0.033 
               
               
                 174. 
                 230 
                 172 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 235 
                 75 
                 0.0341 
               
               
                 175. 
                 232 
                 173 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 233 
                 75 
                 0.0348 
               
               
                 176. 
                 228 
                 171 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 233 
                 74 
                 0.0341 
               
               
                 177. 
                 226 
                 172 
                 132 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 235 
                 75 
                 0.0338 
               
               
                 178. 
                 226 
                 171 
                 131 
                 23 
                 23 
                 15-18 
                 234 
                 74 
                 0.0337 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 234 
                 75 
                 0.034 
               
               
                 179. 
                 237 
                 160 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 239 
                 84 
                 0.0396 
               
               
                 180. 
                 235 
                 161 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 240 
                 85 
                 0.0393 
               
               
                 181. 
                 235 
                 161 
                 131 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 238 
                 85 
                 0.0397 
               
               
                 182. 
                 233 
                 154 
                 132 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 239 
                 81 
                 0.0383 
               
               
                 183. 
                 234 
                 154 
                 133 
                 19 
                 19 
                 17-23 
                 240 
                 81 
                 0.0384 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 239 
                 83 
                 0.039 
               
               
                 184. 
                 219 
                 265 
                 118 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 218 
                 102 
                 0.0406 
               
               
                 185. 
                 216 
                 265 
                 120 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 220 
                 102 
                 0.0402 
               
               
                 186. 
                 219 
                 267 
                 118 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 220 
                 103 
                 0.0405 
               
               
                 187. 
                 220 
                 269 
                 120 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 220 
                 103 
                 0.0412 
               
               
                 188. 
                 219 
                 266 
                 118 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 215 
                 102 
                 0.0413 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 219 
                 102 
                 0.041 
               
               
                 189. 
                 222 
                 231 
                 122 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 228 
                 100 
                 0.0406 
               
               
                 190. 
                 224 
                 229 
                 119 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 225 
                 100 
                 0.0407 
               
               
                 191. 
                 225 
                 228 
                 117 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 224 
                 99 
                 0.0405 
               
               
                 192. 
                 225 
                 228 
                 117 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 228 
                 99 
                 0.0398 
               
               
                 193. 
                 225 
                 226 
                 116 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 227 
                 98 
                 0.0395 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 226 
                 99 
                 0.040 
               
               
                 194. 
                 218 
                 263 
                 117 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 222 
                 101 
                 0.0394 
               
               
                 195. 
                 219 
                 265 
                 116 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 224 
                 102 
                 0.0392 
               
               
                 196. 
                 215 
                 266 
                 118 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 216 
                 102 
                 0.0406 
               
               
                 197. 
                 217 
                 267 
                 116 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 220 
                 103 
                 0.0399 
               
               
                 198. 
                 218 
                 263 
                 117 
                 26 
                 26 
                  7-15 
                 220 
                 101 
                 0.0397 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 220 
                 102 
                 0.040 
               
               
                 199. 
                 222 
                 220 
                 122 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 224 
                 96 
                 0.0399 
               
               
                 200. 
                 225 
                 220 
                 122 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 228 
                 96 
                 0.0396 
               
               
                 201. 
                 226 
                 224 
                 121 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 225 
                 97 
                 0.0406 
               
               
                 202. 
                 228 
                 228 
                 121 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 224 
                 99 
                 0.0416 
               
               
                 203. 
                 233 
                 225 
                 124 
                 23 
                 23 
                 14-18 
                 226 
                 98 
                 0.0420 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 225 
                 97 
                 0.041 
               
               
                 204. 
                 245 
                 213 
                 119 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 256 
                 125 
                 0.0490 
               
               
                 205. 
                 247 
                 212 
                 120 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 255 
                 125 
                 0.0496 
               
               
                 206. 
                 245 
                 214 
                 118 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 255 
                 126 
                 0.0492 
               
               
                 207. 
                 248 
                 212 
                 119 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 252 
                 125 
                 0.0501 
               
               
                 208. 
                 241 
                 215 
                 119 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 247 
                 126 
                 0.0505 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 253 
                 125 
                 0.050 
               
               
                 209. 
                 260 
                 171 
                 119 
                 13 
                 13 
                 26-39 
                 265 
                 132 
                 0.0556 
               
               
                 210. 
                 258 
                 171 
                 121 
                 13 
                 13 
                 26-39 
                 263 
                 132 
                 0.0562 
               
               
                 211. 
                 249 
                 170 
                 120 
                 13 
                 13 
                 26-39 
                 252 
                 131 
                 0.0565 
               
               
                 212. 
                 249 
                 171 
                 120 
                 13 
                 13 
                 26-39 
                 255 
                 132 
                 0.0561 
               
               
                 213. 
                 249 
                 171 
                 118 
                 13 
                 13 
                 26-39 
                 254 
                 132 
                 0.0558 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 258 
                 131 
                 0.056 
               
               
                 214. 
                 248 
                 216 
                 118 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 256 
                 127 
                 0.0498 
               
               
                 215. 
                 244 
                 214 
                 119 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 253 
                 126 
                 0.0496 
               
               
                 216. 
                 250 
                 212 
                 118 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 255 
                 125 
                 0.0496 
               
               
                 217. 
                 245 
                 213 
                 120 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 247 
                 125 
                 0.0510 
               
               
                 218. 
                 245 
                 214 
                 121 
                 17 
                 17 
                 17-29 
                 245 
                 126 
                 0.0518 
               
               
                 Avg. 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 251 
                 126 
                 0.050 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Examples 104-108 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES GOOD NITES (girl S-M; bag count 27; Lot #&#39;s PA19915B 23:25—Ex. 104, 105 and 108; PA916113X 17:29—Ex. 106; and PA916113X 17:31—Ex. 107). 
     Examples 109-113 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES GOOD NITES (girl L-XL; bag count 21; Lot #&#39;s PA920414F 17:46—Ex. 109 and 110; PA915614B 01:54; PA915414F 10:38; and PA915614B 01:52). 
     Examples 114-118 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES GOOD NITES (boy S-M; bag count 15; Lot #&#39;s PA917215F 15:09; PA917915F 16:02; PA917915F 16:04; PA916315F 10:44; and PA917915F 16:04, respectively). 
     Examples 119-123 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES GOOD NITES (boy L-XL; bag count 21; Lot #&#39;s PA919613F 14:33—Ex. 119 and 120; and PA920914F 18:05—Ex. 121-123). 
     Examples 124-128 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (girl 2T/3T; bag count 44; Lot #&#39;s PA920017F 07:03; PA920910B 03:55; PA919917B 06:28; and PA920910B 04:17-Ex. 127 and 128, respectively). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 129-133 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (girl 3T/4T; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s BI919619B 20:40; BI917919B 05:35—Ex. 130-132; and PA917009X 19:14, respectively). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 134-138 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (girl 4T/5T; bag count 19; Lot # PA921018F 10:48). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 139-143 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (boy 2T/3T; bag count 26; Lot #&#39;s PA922610F08:48—Ex. 139 and 140; PA921210B23:28; PA92120B23:21; and PA92120B23:20). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 144-148 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (boy 3T/4T; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s PA92189B02:00—Ex. 144-147 and PA919312B03:07). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 149-153 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES LEARNING DESIGN (boy 4T/5T; bag count 19; Lot #&#39;s PA920718F 12:39; and PA915818X 03:06). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 154-158 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES COOL ALERT (girl 2T/3T; bag count 26; Lot #&#39;s PA914610X 01:46—Ex. 154-157; and UT911011F 09:25). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 159-163 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES COOL ALERT (girl 3T/4T; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s UT911812B 23:34—Ex. 159 and 160; UT919412F07:36—Ex. 161; and BI917219B 03:11—Ex. 162 and 163). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 164-168 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES COOL ALERT (girl 4T/5T; bag count 19; Lot #&#39;s UT909610B 23:35—Ex. 164-166; and BI912818F 08:46—Ex. 167 and 168). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 169-173 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES COOL ALERT (boy 2T/3T; bag count 26; Lot #&#39;s WP919510E—Ex. 169-172; and PA914810X 18:23). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 174-178 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES COOL ALERT (boy 3T/4T; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s UT917312B 21:51—Ex. 174 and 175; UT917312B 17:43—Ex. 176 and 177; and UT917312F 17:42). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 179-183 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the trademark HUGGIES COOL ALERT (boy 4T/5T; bag count 19; Lot #&#39;s BI910818B 23:42—Ex. 179 and 180; PA911418X 02:48—Ex. 181; and BI919918B 01:34—Ex. 182 and 183). These particular examples do not have a substantially cellulose free absorbent core as defined herein. 
     Examples 184-188 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS EASY UPS (girl size 4; bag count 26; Lot #&#39;s 9215U0175512:45; 9214U0175516:19—Ex. 185-187; and 9214U175512:46). 
     Examples 189-193 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS EASY UPS (girl size 5; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s 914U0112806:15; 9205U0175520:33; and 918U0175517:44—Ex. 191-193). 
     Examples 194-198 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS EASY UPS (boy size 4; bag count 26; Lot #&#39;s 9109U01701R06:26—Ex. 194 and 195; 9191U0175503:59—Ex. 196 and 197; and 9109U1701R06:25). 
     Examples 199-203 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS EASY UPS (boy size 5; bag count 23; Lot #&#39;s 9227U0175510:51—Ex. 199 and 200; 9123U0175504:27; 9207U175519:34; and 9207U0175519:30). 
     Examples 204-208 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS UNDERJAMS (girl size S/M; bag count 17; Lot #&#39;s 9213U0112601:47—Ex. 204-207; and 9156U0112600:34). 
     Examples 209-213 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS UNDERJAMS (girl size L/XL; bag count 13; Lot #&#39;s 9030U0112620:06; 9030U0112616:52; and 9136U0112600:40—Ex. 211-213). 
     Examples 214-218 are commercially available airfelt training pants sold by The Procter &amp; Gamble Company under the trademark PAMPERS UNDERJAMS (boy size S/M; bag count 17; Lot #&#39;s 9091U0112623:43; 9147U0112621:33; 9212U0112618L54; and 9220U0112603:23—Ex. 217 and 218). 
     Test Methods 
     The test methods and apparatus described below may be useful in testing embodiments of the present disclosure: 
     Stiffness Test 
     The Stiffness Test is described in detail above. 
     In-Bag Stack Height 
     The In-Bag Stack Height is determined as follows: 
     Equipment 
     
         
         
           
             Universal Diaper Packaging Tester (UDPT) (Model # M-ROEL; Machine # MK-1071), including a horizontal sliding plate (horizontal plate that moves up and down in a vertical plane) for adding weights. It is counter-balanced by a suspended weight to assure that no downward force is added from the horizontal sliding plate assembly to the diaper package at all times. The UDPT is available from Matsushita Industry Co. LTD, 7-21-101, Midorigaoka-cho, Ashiya-city, Hyogo JAPAN. Zip code: 659-0014. 
             A 850 g (±5 g) weight.
 
Definitions
 
             As illustrated in  FIG. 5 a   , package width  108  is defined as the maximum distance between the two highest bulging points along the same compression stack axis  110  of a diaper package. 
             In-Bag Stack Height=(Package Width/Pad Count Per Stack)×10 pads of diapers.
 
Apparatus Calibration
 
             Pull down the horizontal sliding plate until its bottom touches the tester base plate. 
             Set the digital meter located at the side of the horizontal sliding scale to zero mark. 
             Raise the horizontal sliding plate away from the tester base plate.
 
Test Procedure
 
             Put one of the side panel of the diaper package along its width standing at the center of the tester base plate. Make sure the vertical sliding plate (vertical plate that moves left and right in a horizontal plane) is pulled to the right so it does not touch the package being tested. 
             Add the 850 g weight onto the vertical sliding plate. 
             Allow the horizontal sliding plate to slide down slowly until its bottom lightly touches desired highest point of the package. 
             Measure the package width in mm (distance from the top of the base plate to the top of the diaper package). Record the reading that appears on the digital meter. 
             Remove the 850 g weight. 
             Raise the horizontal sliding plate away from the diaper package. 
             Remove the diaper package.
 
Calculation/Reporting
 
             Calculate and report the “In-Bag Stack Height”=(Package Width/Pad Count Per Stack)×10. 
             Report Sample Identification, i.e. complete description of product being tested (product brand name/size). 
             Report the determined value for each width measurement to the nearest 1 mm. 
           
         
       
    
     At least five diaper packages having the same pad count are measured in this manner for a given product and the in-bag stack height values are aggregated to calculate an average and standard deviation.
         Report the Production Date of the measured package (taken from package coding).   Report the Testing Date and Analytical Method used.
 
Folded Stack Length
       

     The Folded Stack Length is determined as follows: 
     Equipment 
     
         
         
           
             Universal Diaper Packaging Tester (UDPT) (Model # M-ROEL; Machine # MK-1071), including a horizontal sliding plate (horizontal plate that moves up and down in a vertical plane) for adding weights. It is counter-balanced by a suspended weight to assure that no downward force is added from the horizontal sliding plate assembly to the diaper package at all times. The UDPT is available from Matsushita Industry Co. LTD, 7-21-101, Midorigaoka-cho, Ashiya-city, Hyogo JAPAN. Zip code: 659-0014. 
             A 850 g (±5 g) weight.
 
Definitions
 
             As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b   , pad nose  142  is the outer pad folding of an absorbent article and pad tail  140  is the outer endflap end of an absorbent article. 
             As further illustrated in  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b   , stack length is the average folded pad length  144  of 10 pads of diapers.
 
Apparatus Calibration
 
             Raise the horizontal sliding plate away from the tester base plate to allow stacks of diapers to be placed on the tester base plate. 
             Move the vertical sliding plate (vertical plate that moves left and right in a horizontal plane) to the left until it touches the vertical anchored plate. 
             Set the digital meter located on the side of the horizontal sliding plate to the zero mark. 
             Move the vertical sliding plate to the right to allow stacks of diapers to be placed on the tester base plate.
 
Stack Length
 
           
         
       
    
     Preparation
         Place 10 diapers individually on top of each other on the tester base. For taped diapers, the landing zone side is upwards within the UDPT. For pants, the front-side is upwards within the UDPT.   Place the stack of 10 diapers along the folded pad length (“nose” facing vertical anchored plate) on the tester base, such that good contact is achieved between the stack and the vertical anchored plate.       

     Test Procedure
         Add the 850 g weight onto the horizontal sliding plate.   Allow the horizontal sliding plate to slide down slowly until its bottom lightly touches the stack of diapers. Release the plate such that the plate comes to rest on the diaper stack.   Condition the stack under the weight for 15 seconds.   Move the vertical sliding plate towards the anchored vertical plate until the plate touches the tail of the first pad. Stop moving the vertical plate as soon as it gets in contact with the tail of the first pad.   Record the reading that appears on the digital meter.   Remove the 850 g weight.   Raise the horizontal sliding plate away from the stack of diapers.   Remove the stack of diapers.
 
Calculation/Reporting
   Report the determined value for stack length. At least five samples (5 diaper packages having the same pad count) are measured in this manner for a given product and the folded stack length values are aggregated to calculate an average and standard deviation.   Report Sample Identification, i.e. complete description of product being tested (product brand name/size).   Report the Production Date of the measured package (taken from package coding).   Report the Testing Date and Analytical Method used.       

     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm” 
     Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.