US20100155269A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20100155269A1
Application number: US12/343,079
Authority: US
Inventors: Paula Mary Sosalla
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 2008-12-23
Filing date: 2008-12-23
Publication date: 2010-06-24

Abstract

A packaging system for a consumer product includes a container having an interior space for holding the consumer product therein and an audio device having a prerecorded verbal message that is related to the consumer product.

Description

BACKGROUND

The field of this invention relates generally to packaging systems for consumer goods and in particular to packaging systems for consumer goods having an audio device programmed to emit a message.

Consumer products are often transported, stored, displayed by a retailer, and purchased by a consumer while packaged in a packaging system. Along with a container to hold the consumer product or products, packaging systems often include written literature related to the product (e.g., instructions, owner's manual, product registration card, etc.). However, this information is often ignored by the consumer. In some instances, the written information is discarded with the container upon removal of the consumer product from the container. This is often the case when the written information is provided directly on the container. In other instances, the written information, when provided separate from the container, is often set aside or misplaced by the consumer.

For consumer products, such as those geared toward young children, the consumer is unable to read the written information. Disposable absorbent training pants, which are useful in toilet (or potty) training children, are one example of a consumer product directed to young children. Training pants provide a child undergoing toilet training with an undergarment that eases the transition from diapers to washable, cloth underwear as they become more confident in their ability to use the toilet independently. Typically, disposable absorbent training pants are similar to washable, cloth underwear in the manner in which they are put on and worn, yet provide an absorbent function similar to diapers to maintain skin health and prevent leakage. More specifically, conventional training pants include an absorbent body disposed between an inner layer adapted for contacting the wearer's skin and an outer layer for inhibiting liquid waste absorbed by the absorbent body from leaking out of the pants. The inner layer of the training pants is typically liquid permeable to permit body waste to pass therethrough for absorption by the absorbent body.

The toilet training process is usually a frustrating experience for both the caregiver and the child (or wearer). This process can be much less frustrating when both the caregiver and child are informed about the toilet training process and how to go about it. It would also be less frustrating if it can be made more fun for the young child. Thus, there is a need for a packaging system that is able to inform both the caregiver and child about the toilet training process while making the process more fun for the child.

It is understood that the need for more suitable packaging systems extends beyond those for training pants and that packaging systems for many other consumer products suffer from similar shortcomings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a packaging system for a consumer product generally comprises a container having an interior space for holding the consumer product therein and an audio device having a prerecorded verbal message that is related to the consumer product.

In another aspect, a packaging system for a plurality of absorbent articles generally comprises a container having a bottom unit and a cover. The cover and bottom unit cooperatively define an interior space. The cover is moveable relative to the bottom unit for gaining access to the interior space. A plurality of absorbent articles is disposed within the interior space of the container. An audio device is operatively connected to the cover so that movement of the cover relative to the bottom unit to gain access to the interior space of the container activates the audio device.

In yet another aspect, a packaging system for holding a food item generally comprises a container having a bottom unit and a cover. The bottom unit collectively defines an interior space for receiving the food therein. The packaging system also includes an audio device having a prerecorded message.

In still another aspect, a method of potty training a child generally comprises obtaining a training pants from a container having an audio device. The audio device is adapted for emitting a prerecorded message that is directed to potty training. The message stored on the audio device is played.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially-cutaway perspective view of one embodiment of a packaging system for personal care products wherein the packaging system includes a storage bin with a bottom unit and a cover.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging system ofFIG. 1 with the cover removed from the bottom unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a packaging system wherein the packaging system includes a container for receiving a food product.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging system ofFIG. 3 with a cover of the container opened and showing the food product therein.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, apackaging system100 of a first embodiment includes a storage bin110 (broadly, a “container”) having abottom unit115 and a cover120 (broadly, a “closure”). Thecover120 can be formed integrally with the storagebin bottom unit115 or can be formed separately. In other words, thecover120 can either be partially (e.g., living hinge, mechanical hinge) or completely removable from the storagebin bottom unit115, and can be capable of being reattached to or re-set upon the storage bin bottom unit to close thestorage bin110. Thecover120 can be a separate piece that is attached to thestorage bin110 with a tab-and-slot mechanism that forms a usable, flip-top opening and closing lid. In another embodiment, a flip-top cover can be a component of the storagebin bottom unit115 and can form a usable, flip-top opening and closing lid employing a scored, folded hinge. In yet another embodiment, thecover120 can be in the form of single or multiple flaps. The illustratedstorage bin110 is a generally rectangular box but can be formed in any suitable shape, e.g., an oval, a hemisphere, a triangle, a square.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the storagebin bottom unit115 andcover120 together define aninterior space125 of thestorage bin110. In one suitable embodiment, theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 can contain one or more consumer products for transport, retail sale, and home use. In one particularly suitable embodiment, the consumer product can be a plurality of personal care products, for instance, a moist or dry wipe, a toiletry, or an absorbent article such as a diaper, a training pant, an incontinence product, a feminine hygiene product, a medical garment, a bandage, or the like. Often personal care products are disposable, meaning that they are designed to be discarded after a limited use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 is seen containing a plurality ofdisposable training pants200, each being in a folded configuration. It is understood that any suitable consumer product can be placed into theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 for transport, retail sale, and home use.

In one suitable embodiment, thepackaging system100 is adapted to be reused and/or recycled. In one example, theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 can be restocked with a new supply oftraining pants200. In another example, theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 can be used to store other items, e.g., toys, clothes, books, or the like. In other words, the illustratedstorage bin110 can be restocked with the original consumer product or can be used to store different items.

As seen inFIG. 1, thetraining pants200 can be contained within one or moreinner packages160. Suchinner packages160 can provide compression, containment, environmental protection, and/or organization. In one embodiment, theinner package160 is a flexible consumer package, which refers to non-rigid containers such as polyethylene bags, which are adapted to contain personal care products and are adapted to be presented to a consumer. In other embodiments, theinner package160 is manufactured from standard poly film, paper, woven or nonwoven fabric, or from any other suitable material or combination of materials and in any suitable manner. Thetraining pants200 can be removed from theinner package160 making them easier to access by either the caregiver or the wearer as seen inFIG. 2. It is also contemplated that theinner packages160 can be omitted. In this embodiment, thetraining pants200 can be placed directly into theinterior space125 of the storage bin.

Theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 can include dividers or other structure (not shown) suitable for breaking up theinterior space125 into smaller portions. Thecover120 of thestorage bin110 can also be configured such that it is a drawer that is slidably inserted into theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110. Positioning thestorage bin110 such that the storage bin opening is on a side of thestorage bin110 enhances the use of the drawer and the appearance of thestorage bin110 as a dresser. In this aspect, the drawer can include dividers or other structure suitable for breaking up the drawer into smaller portions. In such an embodiment, it is contemplated that theinterior space125 of thestorage bin110 can include different consumer products, which may or may not be related.

Thestorage bin110 can be manufactured from any suitable material including corrugated cardboard, injection-molded or other plastic, film material, wood, woven or nonwoven fabrics, or a combination of these. As a result, thestorage bin110 can be rigid or flexible. Theentire storage bin110 or portions thereof can be opaque, translucent, or generally transparent, and can be of any suitable color. In one example, thestorage bin110 can be manufactured from corrugated cardboard sturdy enough to support reuse of thestorage bin110 by the consumer. In one suitable embodiment, thestorage bin110 is made from containerboard. Containerboard has two main components: a linerboard and a medium. The linerboard is a flat facing or liner and is adhered to the medium. The medium is corrugated or fluted paper glued between at least two linerboard facings. The linerboard can be single face, single wall, double wall, or triple wall. Flutes come in several common sizes or profiles ranging from size A (33 flutes/foot) to size F (125 flutes/foot). Smaller flute profiles provide enhanced structural and graphics capability for primary and retail packaging, while larger flute profiles provide greater vertical compression strength and cushioning. Different flute profiles can be combined in one piece of combined board. Mixing flute profiles allows designers to manipulate the compression strength and total thickness of the combined board.

A flat piece of containerboard that has been cut, slotted, and scored is called a box blank. For some box styles, in order to make a box, the ends of the box blank must be fastened together with glue, tape, staples, or other suitable fasteners. The location where the ends meet is known as a manufacturer's joint. For the illustratedstorage bin110, a manufacturer's joint is located on the inside of the storage bin. This is done for both aesthetics and safety reasons. Also, for thestorage bin110 and cover120 in general, it is desired to use glue versus taped or stapled. Suitable glues include starch-based adhesives that are available in several levels of water resistance.

In one embodiment, thecover120 can include a latching element (not shown) to allow the cover to be positively attached to the storagebin bottom unit115. The latching element can be any suitable mechanism, including adhesives, rigid or flexible tabs that engage a slot or other device, elements to allow thecover120 to be snapped onto the storagebin bottom unit115, a simple friction fit, hardware such as hinges and hasps, or any combination of these. Thecover120 can have an indentation sized to the outline of thelower face130 of anotherstorage bin110 to assist in positioning and to provide stability while stackingstorage bins110.

Thepackaging system100 includes product-identifyinggraphics195, such as, the type or types of personal care products disposed in the interior space125 (e.g., training pants200) of thestorage bin110, the size or sizes of personal care products disposed in the interior space, and the count, amount, or volume of personal care products disposed in theinterior space125. Product-identifyinggraphics195 can also include the name of the manufacturer, trademarks, customer service information, instructions, patent markings, and any other information typically disposed on a package of personal care products or other consumer product.

Further, to enhance the caregiver's and wearer's interest in reusing thestorage bin110, the storage bin can also include non-product-identifyinggraphics190. The non-product-identifyinggraphics190 can include designs, patterns, characters, or any other suitable graphic elements, including those that might be attractive to a child or other users of thestorage bin110. For example, the non-product-identifyinggraphics190 can include depictions of a popular cartoon character as well as depictions of items and/or colors associated with that character. The non-product-identifyinggraphics190 on thestorage bin110 can be registered in relation to the storagebin bottom unit115. The non-product-identifyinggraphics190 on thestorage bin110 can include graphic elements such as labels, hinges, hasps, locks, and other elements to enhance the look of thestorage bin110. The non-product-identifyinggraphics190 can further, or alternatively, include textured elements such as those that can be supplied by embossing. Non-product-identifyinggraphics190 can also be applied or otherwise disposed within theinterior space125 of the storage bin110 (i.e., disposed on the inner surfaces of the storage bin).

Still further, the non-product-identifyinggraphics190 can include graphic elements designed to make thestorage bin110 resemble a household item, including a household storage item such as a chest, a dresser, a cabinet, a toy box, a toy, a wardrobe, a trunk, a jewelry box, or a similar item. For example, the addition of real or graphic hinges and pulls and coordinating graphics can make thestorage bin110 resemble such a household storage item. In one embodiment, thestorage bin110 can include one or more attachments or accessories to enhance the resemblance of the storage bin to a household item, including simulated feet, handles, or backs. Such attachments or accessories can be attached to thestorage bin110 or included within thestorage bin110 by the manufacturer, or may be provided to the consumer by any suitable means for further assembly by the consumer.

Thestorage bin110 can include alabel180 for allowing the consumer to label thestorage bin110 with a child's name, the contents of the storage bin, or other desired or identifying information. Thelabel180 can be positioned on any face or surface of thestorage bin110.

Thepackaging system100 can also include an enclosure that partially or completely envelops thestorage bin110. The enclosure can assist in ensuring thecover120 stays in place atop the storagebin bottom unit115 through shipping and retail handling. The enclosure can also provide space on which to provide product, brand, shipping, and other labeling information. The enclosure can provide environmental protection to shield thestorage bin110 from dust, dirt, water, and other hazards that might otherwise adversely affect the appearance, performance, and value of thestorage bin110 and the products within.

In one suitable embodiment, the bin enclosure is anoverwrap175 that surrounds all or part of thestorage bin110. In general, theoverwrap175 encloses thestorage bin110 to provide a means of keeping thecover120 in place atop the storagebin bottom unit115, an additional surface on which to provide product, brand, shipping, and other labeling information, and environmental protection of thestorage bin110 and its contents. Theoverwrap175 can be manufactured from poly film, polarizing film, woven or nonwoven fabric, or any other suitable material or combination of materials. Theoverwrap175 is wrapped around thestorage bin110 and then attached to itself and/or thestorage bin110 using heat, shrinking, adhesives, tabs, or any other suitable mechanisms.

Thepackaging system100 can include asleeve170 that surrounds all or part of the vertical perimeter of thestorage bin110. In general, the sleeve encircles thestorage bin110 to provide both a means of keeping thecover120 in place atop the storagebin bottom unit115 and an additional surface to provide product, brand, shipping, and other labeling information. Thesleeve170 has a bin-facing side and an outward-facing side. Thesleeve170 can be manufactured from paperboard, poly film, woven or nonwoven fabric, or any other suitable material or combination of materials. Thesleeve170 is wrapped around thestorage bin110 and then attached to itself and/or thestorage bin110 using adhesives, tabs, or any other suitable mechanisms. Thesleeve170 can be centered on the storage bin110 (as illustrated) or can be offset toward one side of thestorage bin110.

In some embodiments thepackaging system100 can include both asleeve170 and anoverwrap175. Thesleeve170 is typically placed directly on thestorage bin110 as a means of keeping thecover120 in place atop the storagebin bottom unit115. Theoverwrap175 is then placed to enclose both thestorage bin110 and thesleeve170 as environmental protection of thestorage bin110 and its contents. Either or both of thesleeve170 and theoverwrap175 can be used as a surface to provide product-identifyinggraphics195 including product, brand, and other labeling information. Thesleeve170 and/or theoverwrap175 of the packaging system can include indicia indicating one or more secondary uses of thestorage bin110. It is understood, however, that either or both of thesleeve170 and theoverwrap175 can be omitted from thepackaging system100.

Thestorage bin110 can also include at least one hand-hold155 adapted to accommodate at least a portion of a human hand to facilitate grasping thestorage bin110 such as for lifting the storage bin. The hand-hold155 can be positioned on any side, on thelower face130, or on thecover120. Thestorage bin110 can alternatively include a plurality of hand-holds155 positioned on any or all of those locations. In one suitable embodiment, the hand-hold155 is defined by a hole formed in thestorage bin110. The hand-hold155 can also be a handle or any other suitable device that can affixed to thestorage bin110 and is adapted for grasping such as for lifting thestorage bin110.

Thestorage bin110 can be used as a training aid in the toilet training process. Children are aware that their clothing is kept in dresser drawers, in a closet, etc. Choosing what they want to wear and trying to dress themselves is one of the first steps to becoming a “big kid” and it is a step that children find fun and exciting. At the same time, choosing clothing is a real step towards autonomy for them. Keeping the child's training pants200 in the child's own special place, such as a drawer, puts more focus on the product as more underwear-like, and less like a diaper, because diapers are for babies and are kept in a bag or in a stack on the changing table.

The practice of keepingtraining pants200 in the child's own drawer, for example, meets many of the criteria for a successful training aid. It is motivational for the child. It teaches that absorbent articles designed for training are more like clothing/underwear than like a diaper. It makes the child feel special because the drawer is their possession. It makes the child feel grown-up because they can open and close the storage themselves, and can even have their name on it. It can even precipitate the move into real, cloth underwear by eventually keeping some cloth underwear in “their drawer” in addition to theirtraining pants200 to wear during the day or whenever they feel like trying real underwear. In addition, graphic design features that aid in toilet training, e.g., a progress chart or other type of reward chart, can be provided on thestorage bin110.

Thepackaging system100 can also include one or more informational items meant to instruct a caregiver with respect to the approaches and benefits described above. The informational item can describe the philosophy behind treating thestorage bin110 as the child's own possession (e.g., their drawer) and in instructing the child to take ownership of thestorage bin110 and the absorbent articles within it. The informational item can also include information with respect to other tips and approaches to successful toilet training including information regarding appropriate responses to an insult incident. Appropriate responses to an insult incident can include discussing the physical sensations with the wearer; informing the wearer with respect to the relation between the physical sensations and the imminence of the insult; taking the wearer to a bathroom; positioning the wearer on a toilet; encouraging the wearer to produce an insult; recognizing positive actions by the wearer; and recognizing toilet training progress by the wearer.

In other embodiments, thepackaging system100 can include other informational items such as instructions in the use of the product and tips for toilet training, enuresis control, or incontinence control. As used herein, the term “informational item” refers to objects that are provided in addition totraining pants200, are adapted to communicate information to the user and/or consumer of the training pants, and are associated with individual components of thepackaging system100. Examples of informational items include cards, paper, electronic media, printing on the packaging, or other suitable media capable of storing and conveying information. In another aspect of the present application, an informational item can be incorporated into the non-product-identifyinggraphics190. For example, if the non-product-identifyinggraphics190 include a car, a progress chart in the form of a racetrack can be incorporated into the non-product-identifyinggraphics190.

In one particularly suitable embodiment, information relating to the use of the product and tips for toilet training, enuresis control, or incontinence control can be auditorily conveyed to the caregiver and/or the user of the training pants200 via an audio device300 (FIG. 2). In one suitable embodiment, theaudio device300 can include prerecorded verbal messages for the caregiver with instructions, guidance, and information with respect to potty training a young child. The caregiver can be instructed to respond to an insult while the insult is occurring or as soon as possible thereafter. For example, the caregiver may be instructed to discuss the physical sensations sensed by the wearer before the insult occurs, while the insult is occurring, and after the insult has occurred, such physical sensations include sensations of pressure, temperature, wetness, and any other appropriate sensations. The caregiver and wearer may also be auditorily instructed to discuss the relation between the physical sensations and the imminence of the insult. For example, the caregiver may be instructed to point out the sensations experienced by the wearer just before the insult (i.e., the feeling of a full bladder) and help the wearer associate those sensations with the imminence of an insult.

Theaudio device300 can also include verbal messages reminding the caregiver to take the wearer to a bathroom and by discussing the relationship between an insult and the bathroom. The caregiver may be further instructed to place the wearer on the toilet or other suitable receptacle (e.g., a potty chair) and to encourage the wearer to produce an insult while positioned on the toilet. Theaudio device300 may also provide an auditory reminder the caregiver to complete the progress chart and acknowledge that the wearer is becoming a “big kid” when the wearer successfully uses the toilet.

Theaudio device300 can also contain verbal messages directed to the wearer. For example, the message may remind the wearer to use the bathroom frequently, to keep his training pants dry, or to wash his/her hands after using the toilet. The audio message can also provide encouragement to the wearer. For example, encouraging audio messages may be “Great job keeping your training pants dry”; “Good work potty training” and/or “You're a big kid now”. The message can also be audio reminders for the wearer, such as, “Did you remember to wash your hands?” and/or “Did you remember to flush the toilet?”

In another suitable embodiment, theaudio device300 can include a message that is related to the branding and/or marketing theme of the product. In one example, the message stored on theaudio device300 can be related to the branding and/or marketing theme of the training pants200 disposed in thestorage bin110. In one embodiment, for example, the message can be recorded in the voice of a cartoon character whose image also appears on the training pants200.

Theaudio device300 can also be programmed with music. In one embodiment, thestorage bin110 can be placed in the bathroom in close proximity to the toilet other suitable receptacle so that the wearer could activate the audio device while he/she is on the toilet. In a suitable embodiment, theaudio device300 would be preprogrammed with a potty training song that would play when the audio device is activated. Thus, in this embodiment, the potty training song can be selectively played by the wearer (or caregiver) while the wearer is on the toilet.

In one embodiment, the training pants200 can include an audio device that is activated when an insult occurs, such as that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/799,209 filed Apr. 30, 2007 and titled Wetness Sensor with Audible Signal for an Absorbent Article, which is incorporated herein by reference. The message and/or music stored on theaudio device300 mounted on thestorage bin110 can be complementary or otherwise related to the message and/or music stored on the audio devices mounted to the training pants200. In one particularly suitable embodiment, theaudio device300 mounted on thestorage bin110 plays the same message and/or music as the audio devices secured to the training pants200. As a result, the message and/or music played by thestorage bin110 mountedaudio device300 can remind the wearer and the caregiver that each of the training pants200 contain an audio device and that the wearer should try to avoid activating the audio device in the training pants. It is also contemplated that thestorage bin110 having theaudio device300 can be used to store conventional training pants (e.g., training pants without an audio device).

It is contemplated that theaudio device300 can be prerecorded with a plurality of audio messages. In one suitable embodiment, theaudio device300 can include audio messages directed to both the caregiver and the wearer. It is also contemplated that a selection switch can be provided on theaudio device300 to change between the different messages. It is further contemplated that the caregiver can record a custom message on theaudio device300 that can be specifically tailored toward the wearer, e.g., “Johnny, you did a great job staying dry all day yesterday.”

As illustrated inFIG. 2, theaudio device300 is located in the interior space of the storage bin and affixed to the interior of the sidewall adjacent the cover. Theaudio device300 can be located in other areas of the storage bin. In one embodiment, theaudio device300 includes a prerecorded sound chip, a circuit board, a source of electrical power (e.g., batteries), a speaker, and ahousing310 for containing the components of the audio device. The speaker is connected to the sound chip via the circuit board so that the prerecorded messages stored in the sound chip can be emitted through the speaker. Theaudio device300 may be mounted on the storage bin in any suitable way without departing from the scope of this invention. In one suitable embodiment, thehousing310 of theaudio device300 is adhered to the interior surface of one of the sidewalls of thestorage bin110.

In one embodiment, theaudio device300 includes anactuator switch312 for activating the audio device (i.e., causing it to play the recorded message(s)). Theactuator switch312 may be operatively connected to thecover120 so that removal of the cover activates theaudio device300. In another embodiment and as illustrated inFIG. 2, theactuator switch312 is a push button that can be selectively activated by the caregiver or wearer by manually pushing the button inward. In yet another embodiment, theactuator switch312 can be a light sensor that activates theaudio device300 when there is a sufficient amount of light present, such as when thecover120 is removed, and deactivated when there is an insufficient amount of light present, such as when the cover is placed on thebottom unit115.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of apackaging system500 for holding a consumer product in the form of afood item600. In this embodiment, thepackaging system500 includes a generallyrectangular container510 having abottom unit515 and acover520. Thebottom unit515 and cover520 collectively define aninterior space525 for receiving the food therein. In one suitable embodiment, thecover520 of thecontainer510 includes a line ofweakness526 for facilitating opening the container. The illustratedcontainer510 is a generally rectangular box but can be formed in any suitable shape, e.g., an oval, a hemisphere, a triangle, a square. It is also contemplated that other suitable ways of opening thecontainer510 can be provided (e.g., a pull tab).

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the packaging system includes anaudio device700 having prerecorded messages. Theaudio device700 is substantially the same as theaudio device300 described above with respect toFIG. 1 and 2 except for the prerecorded messages. In this embodiment, the prerecorded messages can provide the consumer with information relating to the food disposed within thecontainer510 including cooking instructions, nutritional information, and/or a description of the food. The prerecorded message can also provide warnings regarding potential food allergies, such as, “Warning this meal contains peanuts.” The messages can further provide general nutritional information such as reminding the consumer to eat their fruit and vegetables or to limit their intact of chips, candy, and fried foods.

The message prerecorded on theaudio device300 can also be unrelated to the food item (i.e., the consumer product) disposed in thecontainer510. In one example, music is prerecorded on theaudio device300. In another example, the prerecorded message is a reminder, such as, “Remember to wash your hands before you eat.”

In another suitable embodiment, thepackaging system500 can be configured to hold prescription or non-prescription drugs. In this embodiment, the prerecorded message on theaudio device700 can provide the consumer with information relating to the drug disposed within thecontainer510, such as, the recommended dosage, how often the drug should be taken, and if the drug needs to be taken with water and/or food. The prerecorded message can also provide the consumer with warnings regarding the drug including potential drug allergies, drug interactions, and/or side effects of the drug.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A packaging system for a consumer product comprising a container having an interior space for holding the consumer product therein and an audio device having a prerecorded verbal message that is related to the consumer product.

2. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 wherein the container includes a bottom unit and a cover, the audio device being disposed in the bottom unit and operatively connected to the cover such that movement of the cover relative to the bottom unit activates the audio device.

3. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 wherein the audio device includes a push button actuator switch for causing the audio device to play the prerecorded verbal message.

4. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 wherein a song is prerecorded on the audio device.

5. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 wherein the prerecorded verbal message comprises instructions on using the consumer product.

6. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 wherein the prerecorded verbal message comprises at least one warning related to the consumer product.

7. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 in combination with one or more personal care products.

8. The combination set forth inclaim 7 wherein the personal care products are a plurality of absorbent articles.

9. The combination set forth inclaim 8 wherein the plurality of absorbent articles is a plurality of training pants.

10. The packaging system set forth inclaim 1 in combination with one or more food products.

11. A packaging system for a plurality of absorbent articles comprising:

a container having a bottom unit and a cover, the cover and bottom unit cooperatively defining an interior space, the cover being moveable relative to the bottom unit for gaining access to the interior space;

a plurality of absorbent articles disposed within the interior space of the container; and

an audio device operatively connected to the cover so that movement of the cover relative to the bottom unit to gain access to the interior space of the container activates the audio device.

12. The packaging system set forth inclaim 11 wherein the plurality of absorbent articles comprises a plurality of training pants.

13. The packaging system set forth inclaim 11 wherein the audio device is prerecorded with information relating to potty training a young child.

14. The packaging system set forth inclaim 13 wherein the audio device is prerecorded with instructions to the caregiver.

15. The packaging system set forth inclaim 13 wherein the audio device is prerecorded with a message directed to the wearer.

16. The packaging system set forth inclaim 12 wherein the audio device is programmed with music.

17. The packaging system set forth inclaim 16 wherein at least one of the training pants include an audio device that is activated when an insult occurs.

18. The packaging system set forth inclaim 12 wherein the training pants are free of audio devices.

19. A packaging system for holding a food item comprises a container having a bottom unit and a cover, the bottom unit collectively defining an interior space for receiving the food therein, and an audio device having a prerecorded message.

20. The packaging system set forth inclaim 19 wherein the audio device has a prerecorded message with information related to the food disposed within the interior space.

21. The packaging system set forth inclaim 19 wherein the audio device has a prerecorded message with information unrelated to the food disposed within the interior space.

22. A method of potty training a child, the method comprising:

obtaining a training pants from a container having an audio device, the audio device being adapted for emitting a prerecorded message stored thereon, the message being directed to potty training; and

playing the message stored on the audio device.

23. The method set forth inclaim 22 wherein playing the message comprises playing a message with instructions for the child.

24. The method set forth inclaim 22 wherein playing the message comprises playing a message with instructions for a caregiver of the child.

25. The method set forth inclaim 22 wherein playing the message comprises playing a message that encourages the child.