AU2017100795A4 - Condom packaging, condom kit and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

CONDOM PACKAGING, CONDOM KIT AND METHOD THEREOF Abstract There is disclosed a condom packaging (10), comprising: first and second opposing flexible walls (14, 16), the walls (14, 16) being sealed together to form a chamber (26) for storing a condom (28) and an elongate edge portion (18) closing the chamber (26), the edge portion (18) being adapted to be torn to open the chamber (26); a resealing mechanism disposed in the chamber (26) and adjacent the edge portion (18), the resealing mechanism comprising first and second opposing sealing elements (34, 36), the first sealing element (34) being attached to the first wall (14) and the second sealing element (36) being attached to the second wall (16), the first sealing element (34) being adapted to releasably engage the second sealing element (36) to close the chamber (26); and a lubricant disposed in the chamber (26) for reducing friction between the condom (28) and the walls (14, 16). Fg4 Fig. 3

Description

ι 2017100795 20 Jun2017

CONDOM PACKAGING, CONDOM KIT AND METHOD THEREOF

Field [0001] The present invention relates to a condom packaging, a condom kit, and a method thereof.

Background [0002] Condoms are generally used as a contraceptive, and distributed in individual sealed packages. These packages are designed to be tom open to access the condom stored inside.

[0003] Typically, after use of a condom (e.g., sexual intercourse), the used condom contains seminal and/or other bodily fluids and therefore must be discarded in a hygienic manner. In a known method, the used condom is tied off to prevent the contained fluid from spilling, wrapped in tissue paper and discarded in the garbage. However, this known method is time consuming and does not effectively contain the fluids. Further, this known method requires a user to extensively touch and manipulate the used condom which can increase the risk of spreading diseases. In an alternative known method, the used condom is simply flushed in the toilet. However, this alternative known method often causes the toilet to clog and is not environmentally friendly as most condoms are non-biodegradable.

Object of Invention [0004] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or provide a useful alternative.

Summary of Invention [0005] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a condom packaging, comprising: first and second opposing flexible walls, the walls being sealed together to form a chamber for storing a condom and an elongate edge portion closing the chamber, the edge portion being adapted to be torn to open the chamber; 2 2017100795 20 Jun2017 a resealing mechanism disposed in the chamber and adjacent the edge portion, the resealing mechanism comprising first and second opposing sealing elements, the first sealing element being attached to the first wall and the second sealing element being attached to the second wall, the first sealing element being adapted to releasably engage the second sealing element to close the chamber; and a lubricant disposed in the chamber for reducing friction between the condom and the walls.

[0006] The first sealing element may comprise an elongate ridge extending parallel to the edge portion, and wherein the second sealing element may comprise an elongate member extending parallel to the edge portion, the elongate member having a longitudinal recess in which the ridge is releasably received to close the chamber.

[0007] The edge portion may have a recessed notch to facilitate the tearing of the edge portion.

[0008] The lubricant may comprise a water-based lubricant. The water-based lubricant may comprise glycerin.

[0009] Alternatively, the lubricant may comprise a silicone-based lubricant.

[00010] The lubricant may comprise a spermicide. The spermicide may comprise nonooxynol-9.

[00011] Each of the first and second walls may be formed from an aluminium foil.

[00012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a condom kit, comprising: first and second opposing flexible walls, the walls being sealed together to form a chamber and an elongate edge portion closing the chamber, the edge portion being adapted to be tom to open the chamber; a condom stored in the chamber; a resealing mechanism disposed in the chamber and adjacent the edge portion, the resealing mechanism comprising first and second opposing sealing elements, the first sealing element being attached to the first wall and the second sealing element being attached to the second wall, the first sealing element being adapted to releasably engage the second sealing element to close the chamber; and

AH25(13152115 1):JJH 3 2017100795 20 Jun2017 a lubricant disposed in the chamber for reducing friction between the condom and the walls.

[00013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a condom kit as described above, the method comprising: tearing the elongate edge portion to open the chamber; removing the condom stored in the chamber; placing the condom into the chamber; and closing the chamber by releasably engaging the first sealing element to the second sealing element.

Brief Description of Drawings [00014] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [00015] Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a condom packaging; [00016] Fig. 2 is a front view of the condom packaging of Fig. 1 with an upper edge portion removed and a condom being removed from the condom packaging; and [00017] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the condom packaging of Fig. 1 with an upper edge portion removed.

Description of Embodiments [00018] Figs. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a condom packaging 10 which comprises a front flexible wall 14 and a rear flexible wall 16. Each of the walls 14, 16 is rectangular in shape and made from an aluminium foil. The walls 14, 16 are sealed together to form an elongate upper edge portion 18, an elongate lower edge portion 20, opposing elongate side edge portions 22, 24 and a chamber 26 sealingly closed by the edge portions 18, 20, 22, 24. A latex condom 28 is stored in the chamber 26. It will be appreciated that, when manufacturing the condom packaging 10, the walls 14, 16 will be sealed together with the condom 28 positioned in between such that the condom 28 is stored in the chamber 26 once formed.

AH25( 13152115 1 ):JJH 4 2017100795 20 Jun2017 [00019] The upper edge portion 18 is able to be completely tom off and removed to open the chamber 26 and provide access to the condom 28 as best seen Figs. 2 and 3. It will be appreciated that the upper edge portion 18 may be only partially tom (i.e., still connected to other parts of the condom packaging 10) to open the chamber 26 and provide access to the condom 28. In the depicted embodiment, the upper edge portion 18 has a pair of recessed notches 30, 32. The notch 30 is located adjacent the side edge portion 22 and the notch 32 is located adjacent the side edge portion 24. The notches 30, 32 facilitate the tearing of the upper edge portion 18 from either side and also provide an indication for a user that the upper edge portion 18 is to be tom.

[00020] The condom packaging 10 further comprises a resealing mechanism disposed in the chamber 26 and adjacent the upper edge portion 18. The resealing mechanism comprises first and second opposing sealing elements. The first sealing element is in the form of an elongate ridge 34 which is attached to the front wall 14, and extends parallel to the upper edge portion 18 from the side edge portion 22 to the side edge portion 24. The second sealing element is in the form of an elongate member 36 which is attached to the rear wall 16, and extends parallel to the upper edge portion 18 from the side edge portion 22 to the side edge portion 24. The elongate member 36 has a longitudinal recess (not shown) which extends along its length. The elongate ridge 34 is adapted to releasably engage the elongate member 36 to close the chamber 26 after the chamber 26 is opened as the upper edge portion 18 is torn off. This engagement occurs by the ridge 34 being releasably received in the longitudinal recess of the elongate member 36 as the user presses the walls 14, 16 together. It will be appreciated that this engagement will close and hermetically reseal the chamber 26.

[00021] The condom packaging 10 further comprises a lubricant (not shown) which is disposed in the chamber 26 to reduce friction between the walls 14, 16 and the condom 26 as it is stored in the chamber 26. This minimises the risk of the condom 26 tearing and/or breaking as it is stored in the chamber 26. The lubricant is water-based and comprises glycerin. In the depicted embodiment, the lubricant also comprises nonooxynol-9 which acts as a spermicide. It will be appreciated, in other embodiments, the lubricant may be silicone based and/or may comprise another type of spermicide.

[00022] An exemplary use of the condom packaging 10 with the condom 28 stored in the chamber 26 will be described below.

AH25(13152115_1 ):JJH 5 2017100795 20 Jun2017 [00023] When the condom 28 is required, the upper edge portion 18 of the condom packaging 10 is completely torn off by a user. This opens the chamber 26 such that the condom 28 is accessible. The condom 28 is then removed from the chamber 26 and used as a contraceptive.

[00024] After the condom 28 is used as a contraceptive and therefore contains seminal and/or other bodily fluids, the condom 28 is placed back into the chamber 26. As best seen in Fig. 3, it will be appreciated that the user is able to squeeze the side edge portions 22, 24 to enlarge the opening to the chamber 26 and allow for sufficient room for the condom 28 to pass through. The chamber 26 is then closed and resealed by the user pressing the walls 14, 16 together such that the ridge 34 is received in the longitudinal recess of the elongate member 36.

[00025] According to the above described embodiment, the condom packaging 10 allows for a used condom to be hygienically discarded in a simple and convenient manner. As the used condom can be easily placed in the chamber 26, the used condom does not have to be extensively touched and/or manipulated. Further, as the used condom can be sealed in the chamber 26, there is a reduced risk of the seminal and/or other bodily fluids contained in the used condom from spilling out of the condom packaging 10. Still further, as the lubricant disposed in the chamber 26 comprises nonooxynol-9, any seminal fluid released from the used condom while in the chamber 26 will be substantially deactivated (i.e., the semen in the seminal fluid will be killed). Still further, after completely tearing off the upper edge portion 18, the upper edge portion 18 can be placed in the chamber 26 with the used condom for disposal thereof.

[00026] Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated be a person skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

AH25(13152115 1):JJH

Claims (5)

1. A condom packaging, comprising: first and second opposing flexible walls, the walls being sealed together to form a chamber for storing a condom and an elongate edge portion closing the chamber, the edge portion being adapted to be torn to open the chamber; a resealing mechanism disposed in the chamber and adjacent the edge portion, the resealing mechanism comprising first and second opposing sealing elements, the first sealing element being attached to the first wall and the second sealing element being attached to the second wall, the first sealing element being adapted to releasably engage the second sealing element to close the chamber; and a lubricant disposed in the chamber for reducing friction between the condom and the walls.

2. The condom packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing element comprises an elongate ridge extending parallel to the edge portion, and wherein the second sealing element comprises an elongate member extending parallel to the edge portion, the elongate member having a longitudinal recess in which the ridge is releasably received to close the chamber.

3. The condom packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge portion has a recessed notch to facilitate the tearing of the edge portion.

4. The condom packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant comprises a water-based lubricant.

5. The condom packaging according to claim 4, wherein the water-based lubricant comprises glycerin.