Methods for assisting a person in transitioning from one disposable absorbent product to another

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for assisting consumers in transitioning from a current absorbent product to a future absorbent product. Also described are transition aids for assisting in this transition. In particular, the transition aids provide a consumer with a means for comparing different characteristics of their current absorbent product with characteristics of a future absorbent product.

1 . A transition aid for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the transition aid comprising: 
 a first region comprising a depiction of a first group of related absorbent products, wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprises a current absorbent product choice of the consumer;    a second region comprising a depiction of a second group of related absorbent products, wherein the second group of related absorbent products comprises a future absorbent product choice of the consumer; and    a third region comprising at least one scale of reference comprising a depiction of a common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and of the second group of related absorbent products;    wherein the depiction of each of the first and second group of related absorbent products is positioned along the scale to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product.    
     
     
         2 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the common characteristic is related to a consumer need, a consumer desire, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The transition aid of  claim 2  wherein the common characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a benefit, an attribute, a feature, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The transition aid of  claim 3  wherein the benefit is selected from the group consisting of protection, comfort, discretion, convenience, price, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The transition aid of  claim 3  wherein the attribute is selected from the group consisting of absorbency, saturated retention capacity, rewet capacity, dryness, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The transition aid of  claim 3  wherein the feature is selected from the group consisting of type of cover material, presence or absence of wings, means for controlling odor, thickness, length, flat or curved product, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the depiction of the common characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a letter, a number, a word, a symbol, a picture, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the first group of related absorbent products are related based on a first common characteristic, the second group of related absorbent products are related based on a second common characteristic, and wherein the first common characteristic and the second common characteristic are independently selected from the group consisting of a company, a product category, a benefit, an attribute, a feature, a brand, a distribution channel, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The transition aid of  claim 8  wherein the first common characteristic and the second common characteristic are different common characteristics.  
     
     
         10 . The transition aid of  claim 8  wherein the first common characteristic and the second common characteristic are the same common characteristic.  
     
     
         11 . The transition aid of  claim 8  wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprises absorbent products of a first brand and the second group of related absorbent products comprises absorbent products of a second brand.  
     
     
         12 . The transition aid of  claim 8  wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprises absorbent products of a first product category and the second group of related absorbent products comprises absorbent products of a second product category.  
     
     
         13 . The transition aid of  claim 12  wherein the first product category and the second product category are independently selected from the group consisting of diapers, training pants, adult incontinence garments, feminine hygiene products, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The transition aid of  claim 12  wherein the first product category is feminine hygiene products and the second product category is adult incontinence garments.  
     
     
         15 . The transition aid of  claim 14  wherein the first product category is feminine napkins and the second product category is tampons.  
     
     
         16 . The transition aid of  claim 8  wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprises absorbent products of a first company and the second group of related absorbent products comprises absorbent products of a second company.  
     
     
         17 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the depiction of the first group of related absorbent products and the depiction of the second group of related absorbent products are independently selected from the group consisting of a letter, a number, a word, a symbol, a picture, a graphical image, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the third region is positioned adjacent to the first region and the second region.  
     
     
         19 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the transition aid is displayed on a medium selected from the group consisting of a printed medium, an electronic medium, a packaging material, an absorbent article, an in-store display, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The transition aid of  claim 1  further comprising a fourth region, wherein the third region comprises a first scale of reference and the fourth region comprises a second scale of reference.  
     
     
         21 . The transition aid of  claim 20  wherein the first scale of reference comprises a depiction of a first common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and the second group of related products, and the second scale of reference comprises a depiction of a second common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and the second group of related absorbent products.  
     
     
         22 . The transition aid of  claim 1  wherein the current absorbent product choice and the future absorbent product choice are independently selected from the group consisting of diapers, training pants, incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . A package of absorbent articles comprising the transition aid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         24 . A printed material comprising the transition aid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         25 . A display comprising the transition aid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         26 . The transition aid of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a fourth region comprising a depiction of a third group of related absorbent products;    a fifth region comprising a depiction of a fourth group of related absorbent products; and    a sixth region comprising a scale of reference comprising a depiction of a common characteristic of both the third group of related absorbent products and of the fourth group of related absorbent products;    wherein the sixth region is adjacent to both the fourth region and the fifth region; and    wherein the depiction of each of the products in the fourth region and in the fifth region is positioned along the scale of the sixth region to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product.    
     
     
         27 . A transition aid for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the transition aid comprising: 
 a first region comprising a depiction of a first group of related absorbent products wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprises a current absorbent product choice of the consumer;    a second region comprising a depiction of a second group of related absorbent products, wherein the second group of related absorbent products comprises a future absorbent product choice of the consumer;    a third region comprising a scale of reference comprising a depiction of a first common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and of the second group of related absorbent products;    wherein the third region is adjacent to both the first region and the second region and wherein the depiction of each of the products in the first region and in the second region is positioned along the scale of the third region to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product;    a fourth region comprising a depiction of the first group of related absorbent products;    a fifth region comprising a depiction of the second group of related absorbent products; and    a sixth region comprising a scale of reference comprising a depiction of a second common characteristic of both the first group of related products and of the second group of related products;    wherein the sixth region is adjacent to both the fourth region and the fifth region and wherein the depiction of each of the products in the fourth region and in the fifth region is positioned along the scale of the sixth region to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product.    
     
     
         28 . A transition aid for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the transition aid comprising: 
 a first region comprising a depiction of a group of related absorbent products;    a second region comprising a scale of reference comprising a depiction of a first common characteristic of the group of related absorbent products;    wherein the second region is adjacent to the first region and wherein the depiction of each of the products in the first region is positioned along the scale of the second region to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product;    a third region comprising a depiction of the group of related absorbent products; and    a fourth region comprising a scale of reference comprising a depiction of a second common characteristic of the group of related absorbent products;    wherein the fourth region is adjacent to the third region and wherein the depiction of each of the products in the third region is positioned along the scale of the fourth region to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product.    
     
     
         29 . A method for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the method comprising: 
 receiving personal information from the consumer about at least one need of the consumer;    receiving information from the consumer about an absorbent product currently used by the consumer;    selecting a first group of related absorbent products, wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprise the current absorbent product choice of the consumer;    selecting at least one additional group of related absorbent products; and    providing the consumer with a transition aid, the transition aid comprising a first region comprising a depiction of the first group of related absorbent products, a second region comprising a depiction of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, and a third region comprising at least one scale of reference comprising a depiction of a common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein the depiction of each of the first and at least one additional group of related absorbent products is positioned along the scale to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the personal information is received by allowing the consumer to input the personal information into an interface.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the current absorbent product choice of the consumer is selected from the group consisting of diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the first group of related absorbent products is selected by the consumer.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the at least one additional group of related absorbent products is selected by the consumer.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the first group of related absorbent products is selected based on the personal information received from the consumer.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the at least one additional group of related absorbent products is selected based on the personal information received from the consumer.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the common characteristic is related to a consumer need, a consumer desire, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the common characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a benefit, an attribute, a feature, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the common characteristic is selected by the consumer.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising recommending a future absorbent product choice from among the at least one additional group of related absorbent products.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the recommendation is made based on the information received from the consumer.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising allowing the consumer to purchase the recommended absorbent product choice.  
     
     
         42 . A method for assisting a consumer in transitioning from a current absorbent product choice to a future absorbent product choice, the method comprising: 
 receiving information from a store about the availability of the absorbent products;    selecting a first group of related absorbent products, wherein the first group of related absorbent products comprise the current absorbent product choice of the consumer;    selecting at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein the at least one additional group of related absorbent products is available from the store; and    providing the consumer with a transition aid, the transition aid comprising a first region comprising a depiction of the first group of related absorbent products, a second region comprising a depiction of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, and a third region comprising at least one scale of reference comprising a depiction of a common characteristic of both the first group of related absorbent products and of the at least one additional group of related absorbent products, wherein the depiction of each of the first and at least one additional group of related absorbent products is positioned along the scale to indicate the common characteristic of each depicted product.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising receiving personal information from the consumer about at least one need of the consumer prior to selecting the first group of related absorbent products.