Patent ID: 7243477

Claim:
A method of disguisedly packaging a diaper, the diaper when worn having both an exterior surface including a front exterior surface and a rear exterior surface, and side elastic banded edges extending about leg openings, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transitioning a diaper from an initial configuration having an initial volume to an intermediate configuration having an intermediate volume, the intermediate volume being less than the initial volume by, (i) folding the diaper such that the width of the diaper is reduced and the side elastic banded edges of the diaper are folded inward by, (A) folding the diaper about a first lengthwise foidline located between the side elastic banded edges of the diaper, and (B) folding the diaper about a second lengthwise foldline located between the side elastic banded edges of the diaper, and (ii) folding the diaper along at least one widthwise foldline such that the length of the diaper is reduced generally by at least 50%, a height of the diaper being increased thereby, (iii) whereby a central portion of the exterior surface of the diaper is visible and the remainder of the exterior surface of the diaper is hidden from view within the folds of the diaper, and (iv) after said folding of said steps (a)(i) and (a)(ii), reducing the height of the folded diaper by compressing the diaper; (b) after performance of said transitioning of the diaper to the intermediate configuration, further transitioning the diaper to a final configuration having a final volume that is less than the intermediate volume by vacuum-sealing the diaper within an encasement, the encasement having an interior volume that closely corresponds to the intermediate volume of the diaper, said vacuum-sealing including sealing the diaper within the encasement under a vacuum that is sufficient to result in further compression of the diaper to a very firm and dense state in which the central portion of the exterior surface of the diaper is hard; and (c) disposing the vacuum-sealed diaper within a package; (d) wherein the package includes a deceptive size and outward appearance such that it is not visually evident that a vacuum-sealed diaper is disposed therein, the size of the package being substantially smaller than the nominal size of the diaper whereby the size of the package contributes to the deceptive outward appearance of the package.