Abstract:
The present invention aims to provide a package for absorbent articles allows the consumers to recognize at a glance principal functional information of the article displayed on the front surface of the package and thereby to be adequately informed of these principal functions. Two or more function displays on the front surface of the article package may be divided into a main-function display element and sub-function display elements wherein the main-function display element is displayed to be accentuated in comparison with the respective sub-function display elements.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to packages for absorbent articles and more particularly to packages for disposable diapers particularly tailored for babies (infants) provided on a front surface of the package with display elements allowing consumers to obtain various kinds of functional information on each packaged article. 
       RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Conventionally, on a front surface of a package for baby&#39;s disposable diapers, in addition to a trade name (article name), a trademark, an appearance of the diaper, a figure of wearer, functions of this article (diaper) are displayed and, on the rear surface of the package, these functions are displayed by graphic arts and letters in more detail. 
         [0003]    As one example of prior arts, a known package for baby&#39;s disposable diapers illustrated by  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the accompanying drawings is cited here. It should be appreciated here that  FIGS. 4 and 5  are partially eliminated diagrams schematically illustrating front and rear surfaces of the package. In this package  100 , a trademark  102 , a  FIG. 104  of a baby lying on his or her back and wearing a diaper  103 , letters  105  identifying the diaper  103  as the diaper for newborns and graphic arts displaying respective functions A through D of the diaper  103  in the form of puzzle pieces  106   a  through  106   d  separated by color are displayed on the front surface. On the rear surface  101   b , a developed partial diagram of the diaper  103  is displayed and regions in this developed diagram having the respective functions A through ID are displayed in association with the respective graphic arts  106   a  through  106   d  via lead tracks and letters  107   a  through  107   d  are displayed adjacent the respective graphic arts  106   a  through  106   d , respectively, for further explanation of the respective functions A through D.
   [Non-patent Document 1] Package for disposable diaper of prior art as illustrated by  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the accompanying drawings.   
 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
       [0005]    However, display of the respective functions of the diaper in the above-cited prior art is nothing but enumeration even though the display is separated by color or shape. Even if the consumer (e.g., mother) takes the detailed explanation of the respective functions displayed on the rear surface of the package, the display is not arranged to suggest which is the most important function of the diaper is to be worn by the wearer. In consequence, the consumer will select and buy the diaper not on the basis of firm recognition of this diaper&#39;s functions and it is impossible for the consumer to select and buy the diaper considered to have the principal functions required or preferable for the wearer. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the package for commercially available disposable diapers inclusive of the package for prior art is usually provided with the growth stage display of the wearer, specifically, the display (See, e.g., the letters  105 ) indicating that the packaged diaper is for the wearer at a predetermined age in month or younger. 
         [0007]    However, the display of the respective function is not related with the growth stage display. In other words, the respective functions are not displayed to suggest one or more functions are necessary or preferable for the wearer in the stage indicated by the growth stage display. Consequently, it is impossible for the consumer to select and buy the diaper considered to have such necessary or preferable functions. 
         [0008]    In view of the problems as have been described above, it is one principal object of the present invention is to provide a package for absorbent articles wherein a display of two or more functions of the article is divided into a main-function display element and sub-function display elements and the main-function display element is formed to be accentuated in comparison with the sub-function display elements so that consumers can recognize at a glance at least the main-function display element and the consumers can be adequately informed of these functions. 
         [0009]    In view of the problems as have been described above, it is another principal object of the present invention is to provide a package for absorbent articles wherein, in addition to the features described just above, the main- and sub-function display elements are displayed in correspondence relationship with the wearer&#39;s growth stage display element displayed on the front surface of the package so that the consumer can recognize the main- and sub-function display elements in correspondence relationship with the growth stage display element and the consumer can be adequately informed of these functions. 
       Measure to Solve the Problem 
       [0010]    The objects set forth above are achieved, according to the present invention, by an improvement in package for absorbent articles provided on a front surface with at least a trade name or a trademark and functions of each of the packaged article displayed by letters and/or graphic arts. The present invention is characterized as will be described below. 
         [0011]    A display of the functions includes one main-function display element and two or more sub-function display elements. The main- and sub-function display elements are arranged in appropriate regions of a front surface of the package closely adjacent one to another to form one group. The main-function display element occupies a display region larger than respective display regions of the two or more sub-function display elements. The main-function display element includes graphic arts and letters. The sub-function display elements include graphic arts and/or letters. 
         [0012]    The present invention includes preferred embodiments as follow. 
         [0013]    The main- and sub-function display elements respectively include outlines adapted to encircle the graphic arts and/or letters and the outline for the main-function display element has a size larger than respective the outlines for the two or more sub-function display elements. 
         [0014]    The graphic arts and letters serve to display the functions. 
         [0015]    The graphic arts display the article substantially wholly as viewed from its inside and outside and regions having the functions are indicated inside and/or outside the graphic arts by at least one of an illustration, a mark and a color. 
         [0016]    The package further includes a wearer&#39;s growth stage display element arranged in an appropriate region of the front surface of the package and the growth stage display element includes graphic arts and/or letters. 
         [0017]    The growth stage display element is arranged in the vicinity of the one group of the main- and sub-function display elements. 
         [0018]    The main- and sub-function display elements display functions of the article tailored for the wearer in the stage displayed by the growth stage. 
         [0019]    The graphic arts in the growth stage display element include the figure of the wearer and/or a character. 
       Effect of the Invention 
       [0020]    In the package for absorbent articles according to the present invention, one main-function display element and two or more sub-function display elements are arranged closely adjacent one to another to form one group on the front surface of the package. Obviously, the present invention does not exclude displaying various functions of the article on the rear surface of the package and anticipation that the consumers check such information displayed on the rear surface of the package. However, the present invention allows the consumers to recognize at a glance various functions of the article at least from the main- and sub-function display elements displayed on the front surface of the package and thereby to be informed of these functions, particularly the main-functions. Thus the consumers can adequately recognize this functional information and selectively buy the article. 
         [0021]    The front surface of the package additionally includes the growth stage display element displaying the growth stage of the wearer adapted to wear the packaged article. The main- and sub-function display elements may be correlated with the growth stage display element to inform the consumers having babies in the growth stage displayed on the front surface of the package for the main- and sub-function display elements corresponding to the growth state display element. In this way, the consumers can adequately recognize this functional information and selectively buy the article. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a plan view schematically illustrating a front surface of the package for the diaper as a typical example of absorbent articles tailored for newborn babies of predetermined month age or less and having a body weight in a range of a birth weight to 5 kg. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , schematically illustrating the front surface of the package for the diapers tailored for wearers having become older than the stage displayed in a growth stage display element (predetermined age in month) and each having a body weight in a range of 4 to 8 kg so that the wearers can move their bodies rather vividly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , schematically illustrating the front surface of the package for the diapers tailored for the wearers having further become older in month age and each having a body weight in a range of 6 to 11 kg so that the wearers can sit up. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , schematically illustrating the front surface of the package for baby&#39;s disposable diapers of a prior art. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a plan view schematically illustrating the rear surface of the package for the prior art of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     IDENTIFICATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  package 
           11  front surface 
           12  trademark 
           13  illustration of diaper 
           14  figure of wearer 
           17  main function display element 
           18  sub-function display element 
           19  sub-function display element 
           20  graphic art element 
           21  graphic art 
           22  circular outline 
           23  letters 
           24  circular outline 
           25  letters 
           26  circular outline 
           27  letters 
           28  letters 
           29  letters 
           30  letters 
           31  imaginary baby mark 
           32  growing stage display element 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0048]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0049]      FIG. 1  is a plan view schematically illustrating a front surface of the package for the diapers as a typical example of the absorbent articles tailored for newborn babies of predetermined month age or less and each having a body weight in a range of a birth weight to 5 kg. The package  10  having on a front surface  11 , a trademark  12 , a  FIG. 14  of a wearer of the diaper  13 , a function display  15  of the diaper  13  and a display element  31  of a wearer&#39;s growth stage. 
         [0050]    The function display  15  includes one main function display element  17  and two sub-function display elements  18 ,  19 . The main and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19  are arranged closely one to another to form one group. 
         [0051]    The main function element  17  includes a developed perspective view  21  illustrating the inner side of the diaper having a colored graphic art  20  symbolically showing feces retaining pocket formed inside the diaper, a circular outline  22  encircling the graphic art  21  and letters  23  written above and outside the circular outline  22  representing “doo-doo pocket well prevents doo-doo from leaking out”. 
         [0052]    The sub-function display element  18  includes a circular outline  24  smaller than the circular outline  22  for the main function display element  17  and letters  25  written within this circular outline  24  and representing “cut bellybutton area”. Similarly, the other sub-function display element  19  includes a small circular outline  26  and letters  27  written within this circular outline  24  and representing “whole area breathable”. 
         [0053]    As will be apparent from an occupancy ratio the circular outline  22  for the main function display element  17  and the circular outline  26  for the sub-function display elements  18   19  on the front surface  11  of the package  10 , a display area of the main function display element  17  is larger than respective display areas of the sub-function display elements  18 ,  19 . 
         [0054]    Consequently, both the main function display element  17  and the sub-function display elements  18 ,  19  well show up and particularly the main function display element  17  stands out, assuring that the consumer can be reliably informed of these functions. To make it further sure, these main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19 , the circular outlines  22 ,  24 ,  26  and the letters  23 ,  25 ,  27  may be respectively separated by color for emphatic effect. 
         [0055]    The circular outlines  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be replaced by the outlines having other curve geometry such as oblong, heart-shaped or cloverleaf-shaped geometry, or angulated geometry such as quadrangular, triangular or rhombic geometry. It is also possible without departing from the scope of the invention to combine the curve geometry with the angulated geometry. 
         [0056]    The letters  23  defining the main-function display element  17  may be arranged inside the circular outline  22 . The letters  25 ,  27  defining the respective sub-function display elements  18 ,  19  also may be arranged outside the respective circular outlines  24 ,  26  so far as these letters are adjacent to the respective circular outlines. 
         [0057]    While not illustrated, it is possible for the circular outlines  24 ,  26  encircling the sub-function display elements  18 ,  19 , respectively, without departing from the scope of the invention to contain therein symbolic graphic arts associated with the letters “cut bellybutton area”, “whole area breathable”  25 ,  27 , respectively, in the place of or together with these letters  25 ,  27  (See the graphic art element  20  complementing the main-function display element  20 ). Regarding the sub-function display elements  18 ,  19 , one or more sub-function display element(s) may be added, if desired. 
         [0058]    The symbolic graphic art element  20  included in the main-function display element  17  as well as any similar symbolic graphic art element added, if desired, may be accentuated by color or the other marks such as arrows upon which the consumers may be impressed. 
         [0059]    As the  FIG. 14  of the wearer, a newborn baby at a predetermined age in month or younger lying on his or her back and sleeping is displayed substantially in the central region on the front surface  11  of the package  10  in a relatively large size compared to the other displays. At least one of this  FIG. 14 , the letters  28  “tailored for newborn”, the letters  30  “from birth weight to 5 kg”, and the imaginary baby mark  31  lying face up assures the consumer to understand that the diapers within the package  10  is for newborn babies at a predetermined age in month or younger. 
         [0060]    According to the present invention, the  FIG. 14  of the wearer, the letters  28 ,  29 ,  30  and the imaginary baby mark  31 , particularly the  FIG. 14  and the letters  28  are adapted to inform the consumers of the fact that this baby is on the growth stage at a predetermined age in month or younger. Such figure and/or the letters may be defined as the growth stage display element  32 . 
         [0061]    This growth stage display element  32  is displayed in the vicinity of a group of the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19 . for this reason, these display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19  readily come in sight of the consumer at a glance and therefore the consumer can visually recognize correspondence relationship between the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19  and the growth stage display element  32 . 
         [0062]    While the letters  23 ,  24  of the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18  are represented in relatively friendly colloquial style, it is possible to represent these letters  23 ,  24  in the literary style or the styles containing literary style so far as the representation same as or substantially same as the representation of the letters written in colloquial style are informed to the consumers. 
         [0063]    An aspect of the present invention which should be kept in mind is a correspondence relationship between the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19  and the growth stage display element  32 . 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , of the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19 , at least the functions represented by the graphic art element  20  or the letters  23  of the main-function display element  17  are required or preferable for the diaper adapted for a newborn baby at a predetermined age in month or younger. Such newborn baby at a predetermined age in month or younger normally excretes loose passage which would otherwise flow and disperse on the topsheet of the diaper and soil the wearer&#39;s skin, causing so-called skin trouble. To prevent such loose passage from flowing and dispersing, it is required or preferable to provide the diaper with the feces retaining pocket (doo-doo pocket). In many cases, the newborn baby at such age in month is not long after his or her naval cord has been cut away. Considering this, it is undesirable that the component material of the diaper might come in direct contact with the baby&#39;s bellybutton. To avoid this direct contact, it is required or preferable to cut away a region of the diaper supposed to come in direct contact with the bellybutton. (See the region designated by referential mark P in the  FIG. 14  of  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0065]    In this way, the consumer is surely informed of the fact that the diaper adapted to be worn by the baby in such growth stage is provided with the functions displayed by the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 . 
         [0066]    Breathability assured over whole area displayed by the sub-function display element  19  is required or preferable for the baby whose age in month has further increased and this sub-function display element  19  also is useful functional information for the consumers. 
         [0067]      FIG. 2  is a plan view schematically illustrating the front surface of the package for the diapers tailored for the wearers each having become older than the stage displayed in the growth stage display element  32  (predetermined age in month or younger) and having a body weight in a range of 4 to 8 kg so that the wearer can move his or her body rather vividly.  FIG. 3  a plan view schematically illustrating the front surface of the package for the diaper tailored for the wearers each having further become older in month age and having a body weight in a range of 6 to 11 kg so that the wearer can sit up. 
         [0068]    The packages  10  illustrated by  FIGS. 2 and 3  are similar to the package  10  shown by  FIG. 1  in construction and purpose except the expressive manner of the main- and sub-function display elements  17 ,  18 ,  19  and the growth stage display element  32 . Therefore, the similar elements, letters, figure and graphic arts are designated by similar reference numerals or marks and repetitive description thereof will be avoided. 
         [0069]    A function display  15   a  on the package  10  shown by  FIG. 2  includes one main-function display element  17   a  and two sub-function display elements  18   a ,  19   a . The main- and sub-function display elements  17   a ,  18   a ,  19   a  are arranged adjacent one to another to form one group. 
         [0070]    The main-function display element  17   a  includes a developed perspective view  21   a  of the diaper as viewed from outside in which a colored graphic art element  20   a  symbolically illustrating gathered waist of the diaper and indicated by an arrow, and letters  23   a  representing “fully gathered waist stops doo-doo” arranged above and outside a circular outline  22   a  encircling the perspective view  21   a.    
         [0071]    The one sub-function display element  18   a  includes a circular outline  24   a  smaller than the circular outline  22   a  for the main-function display element  17   a  and letters  25   a  arranged inside the circular outline  24   a  and representing “doo-doo pocket”. In like wise, the other sub-function display element  19   a  includes a relatively small circular outline  26   a  and letters  27   a  arranged inside the circular outline  26   a  and representing “whole area breathable”. 
         [0072]    A growth stage display element  32   a  includes letters  28   a  representing “tailored for baby able to roll over”, letters  30   a  of “S 4 to 8 kg” and in imaginary baby mark  31   a  representing a baby lying face down. 
         [0073]    A function display  15   b  on the package  10  illustrated by  FIG. 3  includes one main-function display element  17   b  and two sub-function display elements  18   b ,  19   b . The main- and sub-function display elements  17   b ,  18   b ,  19   b  are arranged adjacent one to another to form one group. 
         [0074]    The main-function display element  17   b  includes a developed perspective view  21   b  of the diaper as viewed from inside, a circular outline  22   b  encircling the perspective view  21   b  and letters  23   b  arranged above and outside the circular outline  22   b  and representing “elastics well follows movement of the wearer”. 
         [0075]    The one sub-function display element  18   b  includes a circular outline  24   b  smaller than the circular outline  22   b  for the main-function display element  17   b  and letters  25   b  arranged inside the circular outline  24   b  and representing “whole area breathable”. In like wise, the other sub-function display element  19   b  includes a relatively small circular outline  26   b  and letters  27   b  arranged inside the circular outline  26   b  and representing “comfortable textured sheet”. 
         [0076]    A growth stage display element  32   b  includes letters  28   b  representing “tailored for baby able to sit up”, letters  30   b  representing “M 6 to 11 kg” and an imaginary baby mark  31   b  representing a baby sitting up. 
         [0077]    The purpose of the main- and sub-function display elements  17   a ,  18   a ,  19   a ;  17   b ,  18   b ,  19   b  and the growth stage display elements  32   a ,  32   b  on the packages  10  illustrated by  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively, is the same as the purpose of such display elements on the package  10  illustrated by  FIG. 1 . In other words, the main- and sub-function display elements  17   a ,  18   a ,  19   a ;  17   b ,  18   b ,  19   b  on the packages  10  illustrated by  FIGS. 2 and 3  are in correspondence relationship with the growth stage display elements  32   a ,  32   b , respectively. Expression “in correspondence relationship” used here means the relationship which has been described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0078]    It should be understood here that the present invention relates to displays on the front surface of the package and the rear surface of the package  10  is not illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Usually the other functions of the diaper are displayed in details and the present invention neither exclude nor restrict display of various kinds of information such as functions of the diaper on the rear surface of the package.