Education and demonstration – Means for demonstrating apparatus – product – or surface... – Demonstration or display means combined with storage or...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-18
2004-01-20
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Means for demonstrating apparatus, product, or surface...
Demonstration or display means combined with storage or...
C434S430000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679705
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to methods for the selection and use of a system of feminine hygiene products. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method in which information is collected from a consumer regarding certain characteristics of her menstrual cycle. The information collected is used to select a particular system of feminine hygiene products for use by the consumer. The system of products selected is then revealed to the consumer for use by the consumer to achieve a reduction in soiling and improvements in comfort as compared to the use of a single type of feminine hygiene products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A woman's menstrual cycle is typically characterized by initial light flow which subsequently increases and finally tapers off to the end of the period. Additionally, women all have different levels of overall menstrual flow throughout their cycle. In attempt to meet these varying needs, numerous absorbencies of tampons are provided in the market place. However, many women are forced to purchase more than one product to meet their varying needs throughout their cycle, or to settle for inferior protection and/or some discomfort.
It has also been found that many women are not proficient in accurately describing their flow intensity as compared to other consumers. Most currently available feminine hygiene products describe the differences between the various available products only in terms of a consumer's assessment of her own overall protection needs. This especially causes problems for tampon use. Underestimation of flow intensity can result in soiling, whereas overestimation may result in an uncomfortable use experience for the consumer.
Consequently, the need remains for providing information to the consumer for the selection and use of tampons to achieve a reduction in soiling and improvements in comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method of providing an individual protection system consisting of feminine hygiene products to a consumer is provided. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) collecting input information from an individual consumer regarding her menstrual cycle characteristics wherein at least some of the information collected includes data expected to be readily known by most consumers using the method, said information including at least the perceived flow of the consumer on the heaviest flow day during the consumer's menstrual cycle;
(b) using the input information collected in step (a) to develop feedback information by identifying an individual protection system wherein the individual protection system is adapted to correspond to composite data from multiple consumers falling within a predetermined range of menstrual cycle characteristics, wherein the individual protection system comprises a plurality of first tampons and a plurality of second tampons; and
(c) providing said feedback information to the consumer regarding the individual protection system thereby allowing the consumer to select and use said individual protection system to provide optimum protection and comfort at any particular instant during the consumer's menstrual cycle.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method of using feminine hygiene products by a consumer is provided. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) providing input information regarding the consumer's menstrual cycle characteristics to a system selection interface, wherein the menstrual cycle characteristics include the perceived flow of the consumer on the heaviest flow day during the consumer's menstrual cycle;
(b) receiving feedback information based on the input information from step (a) to allow selection of an individual protection system for feminine hygiene products for the consumer from at least two available different types of said individual protection system by said system selection interface, wherein each of said individual protection system is adapted to correspond to a predetermined range of menstrual cycle characteristics, and comprises a plurality of first tampons and a plurality of second tampons; and
(c) delivering the information from the system selection interface regarding the first tampons and the second tampons which make up the selected individual protection system thereby allowing the consumer to use the selected individual protection system in a manner to provide optimum protection and comfort for the consumer at any particular instant during the consumer's menstrual cycle.
All patents, articles, documents, and other materials cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference, unless otherwise indicated.
All percentages, ratios and proportions are by number, and all temperatures are in degrees Celsius (° C.), unless otherwise specified. All measurements are in SI units unless otherwise specified.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As used herein the term “tampon” refers to any type of absorbent structure which is inserted into the vaginal canal for the absorption of fluid therefrom. Typically, tampons are constructed from an absorbent material which has been compressed in any or all of: the width direction; the radial direction; and the axial direction, in order to provide a tampon which is of a size and stability to allow insertion within the vagina. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,239 issued to Beastall et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,541 issued to Frayman et al. which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
As used herein, the term “common package” refers to a package, which may be optionally sealed, used to distribute the final tampon product. The term “common package” includes: a unitary package housing all of the tampons of the final product being distributed/sold to the consumer; a unitary package housing smaller, individual packages or units which each house or group portions of the tampons of the final product being distributed/sold to the consumer; and/or a set of individual unitary packages grouped together to form a the final product being distributed/sold to the consumer. As such, the term “common package” includes, but is not limited to, paperboard or plastic containers or cans (with or without individual sleeves or other means for separating various absorbencies of tampons therein) and individually sealed packages which are connected together (e.g. by glue, string, shrink wrap, etc.) to form the final product being distributed/sold to the consumer.
As used herein, the term “comprising” means that the various components, ingredients, or steps, can be conjointly employed in practicing the present invention. Accordingly, the term “comprising” encompasses the more restrictive terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” The percentage of tampons provided for various products is based on the total number of tampons in the common package. Other terms may be defined as they are discussed in greater detail below.
(a) Collecting Information—
In one particularly preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the step of collecting information from a consumer selecting an individual protection system is performed in a substantially continuous, interactive process. For example, the information may be collected from a consumer and an individual protection system selected through the use of an interactive store display. Such a display may be equipped with an interactive computer which will prompt the user to answer questions, keep track of the answers, and select an appropriate individual protection system based on feedback developed from those answers as described above. In alternative embodiments, the information may be collected from a consumer though the use of an interactive site on the World Wide Web, an interactive in-store display, a modified slide-rule type device or through the use of an interactive menu-driven phone system. Charts, tables or other figures may be used to collect information from a consumer and take the consumer through the individual protection syste
Burgdorf Brian Kenneth
Supinski Jodi Elizabeth
Cheng Joe H.
Johnson Kevin C.
Robinson Ian S.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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