WO1992020595A1

WO1992020595A1 - Condom package

Info

Publication number: WO1992020595A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/008506
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Forster; Johanne Guenette; Joseph Sverapa; Ella Osnovikova; Ary S. Chernomorsky
Original assignee: Ronald Forster; Johanne Guenette; Joseph Sverapa; Ella Osnovikova; Chernomorsky Ary S
Priority date: 1991-05-21
Filing date: 1991-11-12
Publication date: 1992-11-26
Also published as: AU1208192A

Abstract

In a condom package with a base (14) with edges and a cover (10) secured to the edges and covering a condom (12) between the base and the cover the base is flexible enough along at least one line (52, 56, 62, 64) to bend in response to fingertip pressure and the cover is weak enough along at least a second line (50, 54, 48, 60) aligned with the first line to break in response to fingertip pressure.

Description

CONDOM PACKAGE

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation-in-Part of our copending application Serial No. 604,906 filed October 26, 1990 which in turn is a Continuation-in- Part of our copending application Serial No. 525,775 filed May 18, 1990.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to packages for condoms, and particularly to easy open condom packages of the type that can be conveniently opened with one hand without damaging the condom.

In recent years condoms have become a desirable way of preventing conception and avoiding the spread of diseases. Unfortunately condoms often remain unused because of the difficulty of unpacking them, and when used may become ineffective if the process of unpacking damages them. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to improve condom packages, the method of packaging condoms, and/or the method of opening condom packages.

According to features of the inventic ., such objects are attained by placing a condom between a cover and a rigid base, securing the cover to the edges of the base, making the base flexible enough along an axis to bend in response to fingertip pressure, and making the cover weak enough in response to tension to break in response to fingertip pressure bending the base in the absence of force transverse to the cover.

These and other features of the invention are pointed out in the claims. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following detailed description when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a top view of a condom package embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section II - II of the condom package in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the method of opening the package on Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the opened package in Fig. 3 invention.

Fig. 5 is a section of the package in Fig. 2 being fully opened.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the package of Figs. 1 and 2 being opened yet another way.

Fig. 7 is a top view of yet another package embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view VI - VI of the package in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the method of opening the package of Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 9A is a sectional view if the package of Figs. 7 and 8 being fully opened.

Fig. 10 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 13 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a top view of a base for use with package of Figs. 7 to 9 and 15.

Fig. 17 is a top view of a base for using the package of Fig. 10.

Fig. 18 is a top view of a base for use with the package of Figs. 11 and 13.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view illustrating a package according to the invention of Figs. 16 to 19 in the open position with the condom popping out of the package.

Fig. 20 is a flow chart illustrating the process of manufacturing the packaged condom according to Figs. 1 to 6 and 14.

Fig. 21 is a flow chart illustrating the process of manufacturing the packaged condoms of Figs. 7 to 13 and 15 to 19. Fig. 22 is a top view of yet another condom package embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 23 is a section XXIII - XXIII of the condom package in Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a sectional view illustrating the method of opening the package on Figs. 22 and 23.

Fig. 25 is a top view of the partially opened package in Fig. 24 of the invention.

Fig. 26 is a section of the package in Fig. 23 being fully opened.

Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the open package in Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a top view of yet another package embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 29 is a sectional view XXIX-XXIX of the package in Fig. 28.

Fig. 30 is a sectional view illustrating the method of opening the package of Figs. 28 and 29.

Fig. 31 is a sectional view if the package of Figs. 28 and 29 being fully opened.

Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the opened package of Figs. 28 and 29. Fig. 33 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 34 to 37, including Fig. 35A illustrate other embodiments of the invention.

Figs. 38 and 39 are graphs illustration the bending action of a portion of Figs. 34 to 37.

Figs. 40 and 41 are flow charts showing details of a variation in the charts of Figs. 20 and 21.

Fig. 42 is a diagram of a machine for making the devices and performing the processes of Figs. 1 to 41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

. Figs, l and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the invention, wherein a flexible cover 10 encapsulates a rolled-up condom 12 between the cover and -a rigid but flexible base 14. A suitable adhesive 16 secures the cover 12 to the upper peripheral edge surface 18 of the base 14 to the lower peripheral surface 20 Of the cover 12. The condom 12 in its rolled-up form takes the shape of a doughnut 22 with a barrier and sheet 24 across its lower surface. The cover 10 generally follows the contours of the rolled-up condom 12 and is composed of a material which is flexible but substantially unstretchable. According to another embodiment the material of the cover 10 is rigid and substantially unstretchable. In both of these embodiments of the material of the cover 10, the material responds to tension by yielding only slightly before breaking.

According to the invention, when the cover 10 and the base 14 encapsulate the condom 12, the base is made sufficiently weak to bend, and the cover is made sufficiently weak to tear, in response to fingertip pressure.

Figs. 3 and 4 show two fingers 30 and 32 and a thumb 34 applying pressures in the directions of the arrows 36, 38, and 40 to open the condom package in Figs. 1 and 2 at a break 42. According to this embodiment of the invention the rigid base 10 is sufficiently flexible to bend in response to fingertip pressure of the type shown in Fig. 3 when the cover 10 encapsulates the condom 12 as shown in Figs, l and 2. At the same time, the cover 10 is sufficiently weak to tear in response to tension produced by fingertip pressure shown in Fig. 3 when the cover 10 and base 14 encapsulate the condom 12. That is, the materials of the cover 10 and the base 20 are such that the fingertip pressure of Figs. 3 and 4 is sufficient to bend the base 14 to break the cover 10.

The user can then remove the condom with the same or other hand as used with the fingers 30 and 32. However the user may also go further and make the condom pop out of the package.

When the finger pressure of Fig. 3 continues the base 10 bends further as shown in Fig. 5. The rolled-up condom 12 then pops out of one side or the other of the package. The thumb 34 in effect pushes the condom 12 out of package. The user may then easily remove the condom with the thumb 34 and a finger of the hand that opened the package, or with the other hand. This avoids damage to the condom.

Bending of the base 14 causes the cover 10 to break because the bending places the cover in sufficient tension transverse to the axis of the bend to cause the material of the cover to break. the cover 10 material is thin enough to break under the fingertip pressure illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates another place in which the fingertip pressure can be applied. Fig. 6 shows the fingertip pressure applied at the very edges of the package with just one finger 30 and the thumb. This bends the base 14 and the cover 10.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the material of the cover 10 is weakened along a line 50 to encourage breaking. At the same time, the base is weakened along a section shown by the line 52 in the vertical plane of the line 50 to encourage bending of the base as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9A shows the base bent further, enough to cause the condom 12 to pop out of he package. A user can remove the condom with the same hand as he or she opened it either when the opening reaches the condition shown in Fig. 9 or the condition shown in Fig. 9A.

In one embodiment, the cover 10 is weakened only in the section along the line 50, In anther embodiment, the over is also weakened along a line 51 extending only partially across the cover 10 transverse to the line 50.

Fig. 10 illustrates the package with a cover 10 weakened not only along the line 50 but along a line 54 transverse thereto and extending across the entire cover. The base 14 appears in

Fig. 10 as extending slightly beyond the edge of the cover 10 and is weakened along lines 52 and 56, which are shown slightly offset from lines 50 and 54 for clarity. The weakening lines 52 and 56 are in fact directly behind or under the lines 50 and 54. The lines 52 and 56 weaken the base 14 for preferential bending.

Another embodiment of the invention appears in Fig. 11. Here, the weakening (tear) sections along the lines 58 and 60 occur in the cover 10 in addition to the weakening along the line 50 for the purpose of allowing the material of cover 10 to tear preferentially and more readily along the lines. Similarly, the material of the base 14 is 10

weakened along lines 62 and 64 as well as the line 52 for constraining the material of the base 14 to bend preferentially along the lines 62 and 64. Again in Fig. 11 as in Fig. 10, the lines 52, 60, and 62 fall directly behind or under the lines 50, 58 and 60 and are shown as offset only for clarity.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the lines 52, 56, 62 and 64 are offset slightly from the lines 50, 58, and 60 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

According to another embodiment of the invention, only the cover contains weakened sections along the lines shown in Figs. 8 to 11 while the base contains no weakened section and bends as shown in Fig. 3. This causes the cover to break at preferential portions. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 12.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, only the base 14 is weakened for bending along lines 52, 62 and 64 as shown in Fig. 13.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the base and the cover may be rectangular in shown in Fig. 14. Rectangular construction may be made with or without weakened portions. Here, a cover 70 corresponding in material and weakening to any of the covers in Figs. 1 to 13 encapsulates the condom 12 between the cover and the base 14 whose material and weakening correspond to many of the 11

structures shown in Figs. 1 to 13.

Fig. 14 shows the base and cover without weakening. Fig. 15 illustrates the package with weakening along lines 50 and 52, as well as 54 and 56. In Fig. 15, the lines 52 and 56 indicating weakening for bending in the base 14 lie directly under the line 50 and 54 which indicate the sections weakened in the cover for tearing or breaking.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the weakening along lines in the base 14, such as along the line 52, is spread through several parallel lines 52a, 52b, 52c as shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a bottom view which shows the base 14. The parallel sections of weakening along the lines of 52a, 52b, and 52c prevents force concentration on the condom 12. Figs. 17 and 18 show similar parallel weakened sections along lines 56a, 56b, 56c, 62a, 62b and 62c and 64a, 64b, 64c. The condom 12 then pops out as shown in Fig. 19.

In the structure of the invention, bending the base 14 as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 about an axis stretches the cover, starting at the portions most remote from the base, in a.direction transverse to a plane through the axis so the cover tears. The tear is mainly along the plane going through the axis. In Figs. 3 and 4, the axis about which the base 14 bends is the center of curvature of the bending of the base. The axis of curvature changes the more the base is bent. However, it is 12

believed to move substantially along a single vertical plane along which the cover 10 tears along the break 42. In Fig. 9, the axis is turned along the line 52 at which the base 14 bends because it is weakened. This produces a break along the line 50.

In Figs. 16 to 19 the base bends along several lines. In certain embodiments of Figs. 16 to 19, the cover 10 has a weakened section parallel to the center line 52b, 52b and 56b, and 52b and 62b and 64b of each respective figure. In other embodiments, the weakened sections for tearing appear in the cover 10 aligned with each of the weakened bending sections in the base 14. On other embodiments the cover contains no weakened sections for tearing.

A person using the package can open the package simply by pressing with the fingers of one hand as shown in any of Figs. 3, 4 and 9 and reach into the break to remove the condom 12 with the same hand as that which opened the package.

Alternatively, the user may open the package until the condom pops out as in Figs 5, 9A and 19, with the same hand that the user used to open the package. Of course in all cases two hands may be used if convenient.

Fig. 20 is a flow chart illustrating the manner of manufacturing the package and packaging the condom according to an embodiment of the invention, namely to make the embodiment shown in 13

Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 20, step 80 involves making the cover of a material sufficiently weak to tear in response to fingertip tensile stress of the type shown in Figs. 3 to 6. Step 82 involves making the base of a rigid material sufficiently flexible to bend with the fingertips as shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

Step 84 involves making the condom. Step 86 involves encapsulating the condom between the cover and base. Step 88 involves sealing the surface at the underside along the edges of the cover to the surface at the topside near the edges of the base.

Fig. 21 deals with the manufacture of the products shown in Figs. 7 to 13 and 15 to 19. Step 90 involves making the cover. Step 92 involves weakening the cover along predetermined lines such as the lines 50 and 54. Step 94 involves making the base and step 96 involves weakening the base along predetermined lines such as 52, 54, 62, 64, 52a, 52b, 52c, 54a, 54b, 54c, 62a, 62b, 62c, and 64a, 64b, 64c. Step 98 involves making the condom and step 100 involves placing the condom between the cover and the base so that the weakening lines such as 50 and 54 align with the weakening lines 52 and 56 on the base. Step 102 involves sealing the bottom surface of the cover along the edges with the top surface of the base along the edges.

In both manufacturing methods, each of the covers and bases may be made in multiples out of 14

single sheets and .a plurality of condoms placed in suitable places. The entire multiples of the cover and the sheet are then secured together with an adhesive and thereafter cut into individual packages.

In the embodiments which have no weakened sections along prescribed lines, it should be understood that the general weakness of the base and the cover result in weaknesses along an infinite number of lines in the base and in the cover.

Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Here a flexible cover 110 encapsulates a^' rolled-up condom 112 between the cover and a rigid but flexible base 114. A suitable adhesive 116 secures the cover 112 to the upper peripheral edge surface 118 of the base 114 to the lower peripheral surface 120 Of the cover 112. The condom 112 in its rolled-up form takes the shape of a doughnut 122 with a barrier and sheet 124 across its lower surface. The cover 110 generally follows the contours of the rolled-up condom 112 and is composed of a material which is flexible but substantially unstretchable. According to another embodiment the material of the cover 110 is rigid and substantially unstretchable. In both of these embodiments of the material of the cover 110, the material responds to tension by yielding only slightly before breaking.

According to another embodiment the 15

cover 110 does not follow the contour of the condom but is effectively stretched across the top of the base and does not touch the condom material. The base 114 includes a rigid upstanding annular wall 126 terminating in an integral flat annulus 128. f. According to the invention, when the ^"cover

110 and the base 114 encapsulate the condom 112, the base is made sufficiently weak to bend, and the cover is made sufficiently weak to tear, in response to fingertip pressure. Preferably, according to an embodiment a space exists between the condom sheet

124 and the cover 110 so that the condom applies no pressure.

Figs. 24 and 25 show two fingers 130 and 132 and a thumb 134 applying pressures in the directions of the arrows 136, 138, and 140 to open the condom package in Figs. 22, 23 and 24 at a break 142. According to this embodiment of the invention the rigid base 114 is sufficiently flexible to bend in response to fingertip pressure of the type shown in Fig. 24 when the cover 110 encapsulates the condom 112 as shown in Figs. 23 and 24. At the same time, the cover 110 is sufficiently weak to tear in response to tension produced by fingertip pressure shown in Fig. 24 when the cover 110 and base 114 encapsulate the condom 112. That is, the materials of the cover 110 and the base 114 are such that the fingertip pressure of Figs. 24 and 25 is sufficient to bend the base 114 to break the cover 110. 16

The user can then remove the condom with the same or other hand as used with the fingers 130 and 132. However the user may also go further and make the condom pop out of the package.

When the finger pressure of Fig. 24 continues the base 110 bends further as shown in Figs. 26 and 27. The rolled-up condom 112 then pops out of one side or the other of the package. The thumb 134 in effect pushes the condom 112 out of package. The user may then easily remove the condom with the thumb 34 and a finger of the hand that opened the package. This avoids damage to the condom.

Bending of the base 114 causes the cover 110 to break because the bending places the cover in sufficient tension transverse to the axis of the bend to cause the material of the cover to break, the cover 110 material is thin enough to break under the fingertip pressure illustrated in Figs. 24 and 25,

According to another embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 28 and 29, the material of the cover 110 is weakened along a line 150 to encourage breaking. Fig. 30 shows the base bent further, enough to cause the condom 112 to pop out of the package. A user can remove the condom with the same hand as he or she opened it when the opening reaches the condition shown in Fig. 31 and 32. 17

In one embodiment, the cover 110 is weakened only in the section along the line 150. In another embodiment, the cover is also weakened along a line 151 extending only partially across the cover 110 transverse to the line 150.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the package of Figs. 28 and 29 is weakened along several lines as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the shape of the base 114 need not be circular but is for example rectangular as shown in Fig. 33.

According to an embodiment of the invention, one that applies to all other embodiments, it is the tension imparted to the cover along the plane of the cover which breaks the cover. Before the cover bursts, the base bends only slightly and upward pressure of the thumb or finger below the base does not push the condom enough to apply significant upward force at the potential break line in the cover. That is, it is not the upward force at the break point which is significant to force open the cover but the tension created by the bending of the base about the axis of rupture and the pull exerted transverse to the axis of rupture and along the plane of the cover.

The tension in the cover before break 18

allows only light bending. After bursting, the base can bend more easily and allow one to push the condom through the opening.

In the embodiments of Figs. 23 to 33, the rigid annular wall widens at its top when the finger bends the base 114. This stretches the cover 110 and causes it to break. The wall furnishes leverage that imparts tensional force to the cover along the face of the cover. Before the break, the tension resists bending. After the rupture further bending can proceed easily to permit pushing the condom out of the package. Before the cover breaks, any upward force against the center of the cover 110 by the condom 112 or the barrier 124 is insignificant relative to the tensional force from the wall 126. After the cover is broken, the base may be bent further to push the condom through the opening. At the instant of rupture the package pops because of the sudden release of the cover.

The method of manufacture of the packages in Figs. 22 to 33 is substantially the same as shown if Fig. 20 and 21. While Figs. 20 and 21 describe manufacture of a single condom package, the same method is used for multiple or mass production.

Figs. 34 to 37, including 35A, illustrate other embodiments of the invention. Here, like numerals designate parts which are alike in Figs. 23 to 33. In Figs. 34 to 37, ribs 200 along the bottom lip 202 and the sides of the walls 126 and stiffen 19

the walls. Near the center of the base V-shaped radially-extending pie shaped ridges 206 project downwardly and form flat pie shaped valleys 210 between them. In the embodiment of Fig. 35A, the ridges project upwardly. These ridges and valleys make the package structure more rigid than otherwise and ant the same time form weakened axes that act as hinges for bending the base 114. When the base is bent along a ridge 206, the ridge being bent opens as shown in Figs. 38 and 39. Fig. 38 shows the ridge 206 in an unstressed condition and Fig. 39 illustrates it during the stressed condition while the base is bent along its axis. Fig. 37 shows the cover 110 rupturing.

The ridges 206 make the package more rigid in the axial direction and less rigid along a circular direction.

According to an embodiment of the invention, all these packages open in response to tensile stress along the plane or face of the cover 110 transverse to the axis of bending of the base 114. No upward force is required to rupture the cover. Once the cover breaks, the bending action becomes easier and the base can be bent enough to push the condom 112 through the break. The break results in a sudden release that allows rapid further bending action. The pop or sudden release constitutes a safety indication that the package has not been subject to tampering. 20

According to yet another embodiment of the invention the packages shown have the air flushed out with nitrogen or other neutral gases to protect the condoms from oxygen degradation.

According the another embodiment of th". invention, the package is vacuum packed, that i∑ under negative pressure. This prestresses the cover 110 and creates higher levels of stress as the package is opened. This makes the package easier to open. Moreover, sudden entry of gases upon the cover rupturing creates a louder pop than without vacuum packing and provides evidence that that the package has not been tampered with. Lack of a pop indicates tampering. A hole in the package allows entry of air and makes the package soft.

Figs. 40 and 41 illustrate a variation of the processes in Figs. 20 and 21 that utilize the aforementioned flushing step 302 and vacuum step 304. Gases other than nitrogen may be used. According to another embodiment, the flushing step is omitted.

Fig. 42 illustrates a thermoforming vacuum machine. Forming material 402 unwinds from a roll 404 and passes into a vacuum chamber 406 where cups or bases 410 are formed at station 414 and condoms inserted at station 418. Cover forming material 424 in the form of a web unwinds from a roll 426 and covers the condom and bases at a station 430 while the atmosphere is evacuated and replaced wholly or partially with an inert gas such as nitrogen or. 21

Filled sealed packages are ejected at station 434, A platform 438 supports the operation.

While embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will evident to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from its spirit and scope.

Claims

22What is claimed is:

1. A package for condoms, comprising:

a rigid base having edges;

a cover secured to the edges for covering the condom;

said base being sufficiently flexible along at least one line through the edges to bend in response to fingertip pressure; and

said cover being weak enough along the direction of the line to break when fingertip pressure bends said base along the axis.

2. A packaged condom, comprising:

a rigid base having edges;

a condom;

a cover secured to the edges for covering said condom;

said base being sufficiently flexible along at least one line through the edges to bend in response to fingertip pressure when said cover is secured to the edges; and

said cover being weak enough along the 23

direction of the line to break when fingertip pressure bends said base along the axis and when said condom is secured to said edges.

3. The method of packaging condoms which comprises:

forming a base having edges and defining a first line through the edges;

forming a cover having a second line; and

placing a condom between the cover and the base;

securing the cover to said edges so that the first and second lines are substantially parallel;

the step of forming the base including making the base flexible enough along at least the first line to bend, when the cover is secured to the edges, in response to fingertip pressure;

the step of forming the cover including making the cover weak enough along at least the second line to break in response to fingertip pressure bending the base when the cover is secured to the edges.

4. For a condom package having a base 24

with edges and a cover secured to the edges and covering a condom between the base and the cover, with the base being flexible enough along at least one line to bend in response to fingertip pressure and with the cover being weak enough along at least a second line aligned with the first line to break in response to fingertip pressure, the method of opening the package, which comprises:

placing a thumb on the base opposite the cover;

placing two fingers on the cover at locations astride the thumb and the second line;

moving the fingers toward the thumb in opposing directions to break the cover at least along the second line;

removing the condom through the break in the cover.