Patent Application
20050239029
The present invention relates to a method of assisting caregivers and children during the toilet training process, and more particularly to a method of enunciating a prerecorded message related to toilet training in response to a contact.
The toilet training process has long been a challenge for both parents and children. The toilet training process may incorporate a wide variety of different aspects, including many training techniques and training aids that may be used by parents and caregivers, hereinafter simply referred to as caregivers. One aspect of the total toilet training process is the change from diapers to training pants to help the child understand that he or she should now use the toilet just like adults. Another aspect of the total toilet training process can include accidents or other set-backs, which can be discouraging for both the caregiver and the child. Yet another aspect of the total toilet training process is successful completion of the process. In these and other aspects, positive encouragement, praise, and support are helpful to the training child. Such encouragement, praise, and support have traditionally been provided by the caregiver or other family member.
Further, many caregivers have difficulty in determining the readiness of a child to begin the toilet training process, and underestimate the difficulty of teaching the toilet training process to young children. If a child does not respond to an initial toilet training instruction or introduction, the caregiver can be at a loss for finding techniques, methods, or teaching tools to encourage the child to master the art of toilet training. Thus, while various teaching tools such as books, videotapes, charts with stickers, personalized toilets, and interactive toilet training kits are available, and while training pants and positive encouragement and support from the caregiver have been helpful in the toilet training process, there remains a need for new and improved educational and motivational mechanisms to facilitate the toilet training process.
In response to the unmet needs set forth above, a new method of enunciating a prerecorded message related to toilet training in response to a contact has been invented.
In one embodiment, the method comprises providing at least a first prerecorded message related to toilet training; receiving a contact from a consumer, wherein the contact is received telephonically; and enunciating the prerecorded message to the consumer, wherein the prerecorded message is enunciated telephonically.
In another embodiment, the method comprises providing at least a first prerecorded message related to toilet training; receiving a contact from a consumer, wherein the contact is received via the internet; and enunciating the prerecorded message to the consumer, wherein the prerecorded message is enunciated via the internet, and wherein the message includes both audible and visible content.
In still another embodiment, the method comprises providing a toilet training garment that includes a character graphic; providing at least a first prerecorded message related to toilet training, the prerecorded message enunciated by a voice or image associated with the character graphic; receiving a contact from a consumer; and enunciating the prerecorded message to the consumer.
In yet another embodiment, the method comprises providing at least a first prerecorded caregiver message directed to assisting a caregiver with a toilet training process, and at least a first prerecorded child message directed to motivating a child during the toilet training process; receiving a contact from a consumer; prompting the consumer to make a message-type selection from among at least the first prerecorded caregiver message and the first prerecorded child message; receiving the message-type selection from the consumer; and enunciating the prerecorded message corresponding to the message-type selection.
In still another embodiment, the method comprises providing a package containing a plurality of toilet training garments, wherein access information is included at least one of on the package, within the package, or on each toilet training garment; providing at least three prerecorded child messages directed to motivating a child during a toilet training process, each prerecorded child message relating to a different stage of the toilet training process; providing at least three prerecorded caregiver messages directed to assisting a caregiver with the toilet training process, each prerecorded caregiver message relating to a different stage of the toilet training process; receiving a contact from a consumer; prompting the consumer to make a first selection from among at least the prerecorded child messages and prerecorded caregiver messages; subsequently prompting the consumer to make a second selection from among the at least three prerecorded messages corresponding to the first selection; and enunciating the prerecorded message corresponding to the second selection.
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention includes providing one or more prerecorded messages related to toilet training. “Prerecorded” means previously recorded into or onto a message storage medium. Various media on which to record audio and/or video messages are well known in the art, and include such well known devices as magnetic tape, digital storage mechanisms, automated voice message systems, and the like. “Toilet training” refers to any activity or situation connected with learning to consistently urinate or defecate in a toilet or potty chair, and includes efforts to overcome enuresis. “Related to toilet training” means having some relation to the toilet training process, such as, for example, having instructional, educational, motivational, or encouraging aspects with respect to the subject of toilet training. The one or more messages can contain audible content, visual content, or both. In one example, one or more of the prerecorded messages is a song.
In particular embodiments, at least one of the prerecorded messages is a prerecorded child message. “Prerecorded child message” means a prerecorded message primarily intended to be heard or viewed by a child involved in toilet training, such as a message intended to encourage, motivate, or praise the child with respect to his or her participation in the toilet training process. Further, in particular embodiments, at least one of the prerecorded messages is a prerecorded caregiver message. “Prerecorded caregiver message” means a prerecorded message primarily intended to be heard or viewed by a caregiver, such as a message intended to educate the caregiver about the toilet training process, to provide toilet training tips or advice, or to offer/promote products or services related to toilet training.
In particular embodiments, one or more of the prerecorded messages can but need not be associated with a particular gender. “Associated with a particular gender,” “associated with a first gender,” “associated with a second gender,” and the like as used herein means that a message is tailored to or particularly suitable for a child of a particular gender. For example, in certain embodiments, a prerecorded child message is associated with a particular gender in that the message would be expected to be particularly well received by a child of that particular gender who hears or views the message. For instance, a message associated with boys can be articulated by a male voice or figure, and a message associated with girls can be articulated by a female voice or figure. This can be particularly advantageous in the toilet training process, as some research indicates that children are more receptive to toilet training guidance provided by an adult of the same gender. In a particular embodiment, the message is articulated by a popular children's character with which children of a particular gender relate especially well. For instance, boys are often excited about and interested in toy characters, cartoon characters, and movie characters that relate to subjects such as trains, racecars, space travel, power equipment, certain sports, or the like.
Girls, in contrast, are frequently excited about subjects such as dancing, dolls, dress-up activities, tea parties, certain fairytales, or the like. A prerecorded caregiver message can also be associated with a particular gender in that the prerecorded caregiver message would be adapted to deliver toilet training guidance or tips especially suitable for children of a particular gender.
In particular embodiments, one or more of the prerecorded messages relates to a particular stage in a toilet training process. For example, if a toilet training process is conceptually divided into the three general stages of (1) child about to begin or just beginning to toilet train, (2) child approximately midway through toilet training, and (3) child about to complete or having just completed toilet training, the method of the present invention can include at least three prerecorded messages, each one related to one of those three stages. In another example in which a toilet training process is conceptually divided into the three general stages of (1) determining that the child is ready to being toilet training based on observed signs of readiness, (2) making the switch from diapers to training pants, and (3) successfully coaching the child through the toilet training process, the method of the present invention can include at least three prerecorded messages, each one related to one of those three stages. In either example, the at least three messages can be either prerecorded caregiver messages, or prerecorded child messages. Alternatively, both prerecorded caregiver messages and prerecorded child messages can be provided that relate to the three stages in either example. Additional stages of a toilet training process can relate to, for example, a regressive stage or stage defined by setbacks, wherein the child is having difficultly maintaining previous success, or begins to or continues to wet his or her pants at day or night.
The method of the present invention further includes receiving a contact from a consumer. In one example, the contact is received telephonically. In another example, the contact is received via the internet. The method of the invention also includes enunciating at least one prerecorded message to a listener or viewer, such as a caregiver, a child, or both. The prerecorded message can be enunciated telephonically, via the internet, or by other suitable modes of communication. Note that as used herein, “enunciate” and conjugations thereof can refer to the articulation and/or display of audible and/or visual content. In certain embodiments, the one or more prerecorded messages can be stored on a medium that could be distributed to and retained by consumers (such as in response to a contact), such as a compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD). The prerecorded messages could then be enunciated via a playback device owned by the consumer using the CD, DVD, or similar medium.
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention includes prompting the consumer to make a gender selection signaling a selected gender. For example, prompting the consumer to make a gender selection can include a prompt that explicitly asks the consumer to select either male or female, either boy or girl, or the like. Alternatively, prompting the consumer to make a gender selection to signal a selected gender can be less direct. In one such example, the consumer can be prompted to choose between (1) hearing messages from a popular character with which boys typically relate, or (2) hearing messages from a popular character with which girls typically relate. In this way, a consumer's selection signals a selected gender without the consumer explicitly and directly selecting a particular gender.
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention also includes receiving a gender selection from the consumer. In one example, the gender selection is received telephonically. For example, in certain embodiments, a consumer presses a button on a touchtone telephone to make a gender selection in response to a prompt. In other embodiments, a consumer vocalizes a selection into a telephone in response to a prompt. In another example, the gender selection is received via the internet. For example, in certain embodiments, a consumer presses a key, button, or combination of keys or buttons on a computer keyboard and/or mouse to make a gender selection in response to a prompt. In such embodiments, the prompt can include audible and/or visual content.
In embodiments in which a consumer makes a gender selection, the enunciating of the prerecorded message can include enunciating a message associated with the selected gender. For example, if the consumer makes a gender selection that signals the male gender, one or more messages associated with the male gender can be enunciated. Alternatively, if the consumer makes a gender selection that signals the female gender, one or more messages associated with the female gender can be enunciated.
In particular embodiments, the method of present invention includes prompting the consumer to input their child's name. For example, in certain embodiments, a consumer keys in the letters to her child's first name using a touchtone telephone. In another example, a consumer vocalizes her child's name into a telephone in response to a prompt. In another example, the child's name is input by a consumer via keys on a computer keyboard. By obtaining the child's name as part of particular embodiments of the method of present invention, subsequent prerecorded messages can be personalized via inclusion of the child's name, such as by the enunciation of a prerecorded articulation of the child's name.
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention includes prompting the consumer to make a stage selection signaling a selected stage of the toilet training process. For example, prompting the consumer to make a stage selection can include a prompt that explicitly asks the consumer to select from among specific toilet training stages, such as those discussed above. Alternatively, prompting the consumer to make a stage selection to signal a selected stage of the toilet training process can be less direct, such as by asking the consumer a series of questions concerning their child's behavior or their child's level of involvement or progress in toilet training. One suitable example of a method to determine a child's level of progress in the toilet training process is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,929 issued Jun. 26, 2001 to Kolb et al. and assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein to the extent it is consistent herewith.
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention also includes receiving a stage selection from the consumer. In one example, the stage selection is received telephonically. For example, in certain embodiments, a consumer presses a button on a touchtone telephone to make a stage selection in response to a prompt. In other embodiments, a consumer vocalizes a selection into a telephone in response to a prompt. In another example, the stage selection is received via the internet. For example, in certain embodiments, a consumer presses a key, button, or combination of keys or buttons on a computer keyboard and/or mouse to make a stage selection in response to a prompt. In such embodiments, the prompt can include audible and/or visual content.
In embodiments in which a consumer makes a stage selection, the enunciating of the prerecorded message can include enunciating a message that relates to the selected stage. For example, if the consumer makes a stage selection that signals that the child is just beginning the toilet training process, one or more messages that relate to beginning the toilet training process can be enunciated.
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention includes prompting the consumer to make a message-type selection from among two or more message types. For example, a consumer can be prompted to choose to hear either prerecorded caregiver messages or prerecorded child messages. Certain embodiments of the invention can further include receiving a message-type selection from the consumer. In one example, the message-type selection is received telephonically. In another example, the message-type selection is received via the internet as described above in relation to the receipt of other selections. In embodiments in which a consumer makes a message-type selection, the enunciating of the prerecorded message can include enunciating a message that relates to the selected message-type. For example, if the consumer selects caregiver-type messages, one or more caregiver messages can be enunciated. Likewise, if the consumer selects child-type messages, one or more child messages can be enunciated.
In particular embodiments, method of the present invention includes prompting the consumer to choose among two or more language selections. For example, the first message can prompt the consumer to choose a language, such as English, Spanish, or French, in which the succeeding messages will be articulated.
It should be noted that various combinations and subcombinations of the above features of the present method are possible. For example, one embodiment of the method of the present invention, representatively illustrated in the form of a flowchart in
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention further includes providing a toilet training garment that includes a character graphic. The term “character graphic” is used herein to refer to a graphic containing an anthropomorphous image, and in particular an image having or suggesting human form or appearance which ascribes human motivations, characteristics or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, natural phenomena, cartoon characters, or the like. With respect to children's training pants, a character graphic would ideally be suitable for children's underwear and could be utilized to motivate children to wear the training pants and use a potty or toilet. To that end, a character graphic can be associated with popular characters in the media, advertising or well known in a particular culture. The role of the character graphic can be to help a child feel like a BIG KID® (a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Corporation) and to motivate them to become toilet trained. The character graphic can also give parents and caregivers an interactive element for use during toilet training. Further, the character graphic may provide a source of comfort for the child and a buddy who reduces stress during the training period. The character graphic can, in particular embodiments, comprise a portion of a multicolored scene graphic that sets up a theme for the illustrated scene. As such, the character graphic can provide an opportunity for educational interaction between the child and the parent or caregiver. More specifically, the parent or caregiver can use the graphic story-line to make up a game or story for the purpose of toilet training progress.
Suitable character graphics can include animals, people, inanimate objects, natural phenomena, cartoon characters, or the like that can or can not be provided with human features such as arms, legs, facial features or the like. For purposes of enhanced toilet training, it may be desirable for the character graphic to be familiar to the child, such as an identifiable cartoon character. The character graphics should at least be a type that the child can relate to, examples of which could include animals, toys, licensed characters, or the like. Character graphics can be made more personable and friendly to the child by including human-like features, human-like expressions, apparel, abilities, or the like. By way of illustration, an animal character graphic can be shown smiling, wearing clothing, or involved in or performing some activity, such as playing sports, fishing, driving, playing with toys, having a tea party, or the like. In particular embodiments, the character graphic can desirably be created to project an appearance that could be described as friendly, positive, non-intimidating, silly, independent, inspirational, active, expressive, dauntless and/or persevering.
The training garment desirably comprises one or more appearance-related components. Examples of appearance-related components include, but are not limited to, graphics; highlighting or emphasizing leg and waist openings in order to make product shaping more evident or visible to the user; highlighting or emphasizing areas of the product to simulate functional components such as elastic leg bands, elastic waistbands, simulated “fly openings” for boys, ruffles for girls; highlighting areas of the product to change the appearance of the size of the product; registering active graphics, temperature indicators, and the like in the product; registering a back label, or a front label, in the product; and registering written instructions at a desired location in the product.
In particular embodiments, the toilet training garment that is provided in certain embodiments of the method of the present invention includes at least one active graphic. The term “active graphic” as used herein refers to an appearing graphic, a fading graphic, or a combination of appearing and fading graphics. The term “appearing graphic” is used herein to refer to a graphic that becomes visible or becomes significantly more visible when exposed to urine, or that becomes visible or becomes significantly more visible with the passage of time when exposed to the environment but not exposed to urine. Conversely, the term “fading graphic” is used herein to refer to a graphic that becomes invisible or significantly less visible when exposed to urine, or that becomes invisible or significantly less visible with the passage of time when exposed to the environment but not exposed to urine. Examples of toilet training garments suitable for use with particular embodiments of the present invention, including toilet training garments that have character graphics and active graphics, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,424 issued Oct. 2, 2001 to Olson et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,119 issued Oct. 23, 2001 to Cammarota et al, both assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., and both of which are incorporated by reference herein to the extent they are consistent herewith.
One embodiment of a training pant designed for use by young boys is representatively illustrated in
An embodiment of a training pant designed for use by young girls is representatively illustrated in
In particular embodiments, the method of the present invention includes providing a prerecorded message articulated by a voice associated with the character graphic depicted on the toilet training garment provided to the consumer. “Enunciated by a voice or image associated with a character graphic” and the like means that the message is articulated by a voice that children would perceive to be the voice of the depicted character, or that the message is presented by an image, such as an animated image, that children would perceive to be the depicted character. In certain embodiments, the character voice or character image is associated with a particular gender. For example, in an embodiment in which the consumer has made a gender selection, a message can be articulated by a voice which is that of a speaker of the selected gender. For example, if the character graphic is a well known male sports figure, the consumer can make a gender selection that signals the male gender, and a prerecorded child message can be articulated by a voice that is or that resembles the voice of the well known male sports figure. In certain embodiments, the character graphic is an animal, and one or more prerecorded messages are articulated by a voice resembling the sound of the animal.
In embodiments of the present invention in which a toilet training garment includes active graphics, the prerecorded message can be adapted to encourage a child to maintain the active graphic 40 in an inactivated condition. For example, in an embodiment in which the toilet training garment 20 includes active graphics 78 in the form of disappearing fish as representatively illustrated in
The toilet training garment can be provided to the consumer in a variety of ways. Desirably, the garment is suitably packaged for sale or other distribution. Such packaged garments can be sold in stores, via the internet, or by other methods of sale or distribution as are well known in the art. In particular embodiments, the toilet training garments that are provided in certain embodiments of the present method are provided in a package. In such embodiments, access information can be included on the package, within the package, on one or more toilet training garments within the package, or combinations thereof. “Access information” means information that instructs a consumer how to access the one or more prerecorded messages provided in accordance with the method of the present invention. Such access information can be provided on the package, such as printed on a plastic packaging bag or on a leaflet or coupon attached to the bag; within the package, such as printed on a leaflet or coupon placed inside the bag; or printed on one or more individual garments residing within the package. Examples of access information include, but are not limited to, a telephone number and an internet website address. Access information can be provided other than on the package, such as via a website, email, direct mail, newspaper advertising, television or radio commercials, or other media.
The following example constitutes a “script” containing various prompts and prerecorded messages that form one possible embodiment of the method of the present invention. This particular embodiment contemplates primarily telephonic communication. The example makes reference to a consumer (e.g., mother) experiencing the toilet training process with her son or daughter, though the example is of course equally suitable to other caregivers, such as a day care provider. In this example, a package of either boy or girl toilet training garments, such as a bag of HUGGIES PULL-UPS training pants, available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., U.S.A., is sold to a consumer in a retail store. Each training pant garment includes a character graphic thereon, and it is contemplated in this particular example that the characters on the boy training pants are different from the characters on the girl training pants. A toll-free access telephone number is printed on each bag. When the consumer calls the access number, she hears the following prerecorded message:
It will be appreciated that details of the foregoing embodiments, given for purposes of illustration, are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. For example, features described in relation to one embodiment may be incorporated into any other embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, which is defined in the following claims and all equivalents thereto. Further, it is recognized that many embodiments may be conceived that do not achieve all of the advantages of some embodiments, particularly of the preferred embodiments such as the Example outlined above, yet the absence of a particular advantage shall not be construed to necessarily mean that such an embodiment is outside the scope of the present invention.
