GB2518349A - Wristband container - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser wristband for carrying a consumable product comprising an elongate container portion 12 and a strap portion 2,4 being detachable from the container, both portions forming part of the circumferential extent of the wristband. The consumable product is preferably glucose gel, to be consumed by a diabetic patient in the case of hypoglycaemia. The wristband preferably comprises fastener means such as a buckle 6. The strap portion may comprise two parts, which are secured to the container portion by resilient connecting parts, such as a shoulder portion 24 engaging with an expandable resilient band 36; or a tongue engaging with a resilient groove. The tongue may be secured in position by a locking sleeve 18. The container preferably is in the form of a flat flexible ribbed cuboid, with a nozzle 14 closed by a sealed cap 40 and attached to the container by a lanyard (37, fig.3b.)

Description

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WRISTBAND CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a wristband container for dispensing liquids or gels, particularly but not exclusively intended for diabetic users in which case it can store a quantity of glucose or a similar sugary product and allow rapid access to the product in the event of the onset of a Hypot or hypoglycemic symptoms.

Diabetes currently affects approximately 1.8 million people in the UK, equivalent to three percent of the UK population, and it is estimated that this percentage will continue to increase due to an aging population and increased prevalence of obesity.

Diabetics often experience hypog'ycemia, commonly referred to as a Hypo, where their blood glucose level falls too low. Hypos are often caused by stress, delayed meals, insufficient carbohydrate intake or periods of extended exercise, and can occur unexpectedly and quickly, coming on within minutes. Common symptoms indude sweating, ravenous hunger, trembling, headaches, behavioural changes, rapid heart beat, weakness, drowsiness and confusion, and if left untreated can lead to unconsciousness.

As such, Hypos can be extremely problematic for diabetics. Treatment of a Hypo requires the diabetic to stop what they are doing and take some sugars, which will be absorbed quickly, in order to raise their blood glucose level. Typically, a diabetic might take a sugary sports drink upon the onset of symptoms of a Hypo. However, the speed at which the symptoms subside is dependant on how quickly these sugars can be absorbed. More recently, tubes of glucose gel have been marketed for the treatment of 1-lypos. These gds offer a considerable advantage over more conventional foods and drinks as they provide a glucose dense medium that can be absorbed extremely quickly.

The widespread availability of sugar rich foods and drinks, as well as Hypo specific glucose gels, has greafly improved how diabetics deal with Flypos during their everyday lives. That said, there is still a necessity for diabetics to have suitable foods or drinks readily available throughout the day. Whilst this may not be difficult for a person, for example, to keep a pack of sweets in their desk drawer at work, it can cause problems during other activities. For example, a diabetic performing sporting or other physical activities, and particularly outdoor activities such as water sports, running or skiing, may find it difficult or inconvenient to store sugar rich foods. A further example would be an older person with diabetes whose mobility may be impaired or a diabetic who suffers particularly intense symptoms. The onset of a Hypo may be traumatic for such a

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person as they may find it very difficult to get to or open the packaging to a sugar rich food or drink.

Our previous patent GB2434355 (also published as W02007083 135 and US20102371 15) discloses a wristband including a container for glucose gel or the like, allowing a diabetic to carry and have easy and immediate access to the contents upon the onset of symptoms of a Flypo.

The present invention is intended to provide an improved wristband container of this general type. One aspect is as claimed in claim 1. Preferred aspects and embodiments are in the subclaims with advantages which will be apparent hereafter.

The present invention, using a concentrated source such as, very preferaNy, glucose gel, can be both lightweight and small in size since only around 20-25 grams (at minimum, 15g) of gel are required. Thus, the dispenser can be worn at any or all times, making it suitable as an emergency self-administration device. The wristband may also be used by others who require access to glucose or, more generally, liquids or gels.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is an isometric perspective view of a preferred embodiment from above; with the sheath removed; Figure 2a is an exploded top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 2b is a corresponding side elevation.

Figure 3a is a side elevation of a container forming part of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3b is a corresponding top plan view; Figure 3c is a corresponding end elevation from the cap end; Figure 4a is a top plan view of a first strap part forming part of the embodiment of Figure Figure 4b is a corresponding side elevation (the other side corresponding); Figure 4c is a corresponding end elevation from the inward end; Figure 5a is a top plan view of a second strap part forming part of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure Sb is a corresponding side elevation (the other side corresponding); Figure Sc is a corresponding end elevation from the inward end; and Figure Sd is a corresponding bottom plan view.

Referring to Figure 1, a wristband container according to the preferred embodiment comprises a first strap part 2, a second strap part 4 and a liquid container 12 between the two. The first strap part 2 carries a metal buckle 6 at its outer end. A loop 8 runs loose around the strap part 2.

The second strap part 4 carries a row of holes I Ga. I Oh, to engage the buckle 6. running inwards from its outer end. In the prefelTed embodiment the buckle 6 has two prongs and the second strap part has two rows of h&es 10. The parts thus far described are similar to those used in wristwatches or other wrist-mounted devices.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the container part 12 is a flattened generally cuboidal tank of plastics material containing glucose gel. The side walls of the tank are semicircular in profile.

The body of the tank carries a series of circumferential ribs providing a concertina-shape. The ribs keep the top and bottom walls of the tank spaced apart to maintain its volume, whilst allowing it to flex to wrap around the wrist. The container part 12 is resistant to compression for resisting pressure being placed on the contents. Such internal pressure could otherwise effectively force the consumable product to breach the seal, and unduly leak out.

Over a first end (shown in Figure 1) is a flared plastics sleeve 18 locking a first end of the container 12 on the first strap part 2. At the second end of the container 12 is a nozzle 14, closed and sealed by a cap 16, which is attached by a lanyard 37 to the body of the container 12. A sheath or cap 40 snap-fits over the nozzle, engaging with rings at the base of the nozzle. The tank, nozzle, lanyard and cap are a single plastics moulding.

After manufacture, the tank is filled through the nozzle with glucose gel, and the cap is sealed on via a frangible seal which can be broken by the teeth of the user. The sheath 40 is then snapped on over the nozzle to maintain it in a sterile condition.

Also at the second end, the container part 12 comprises a shoulder region 24 of greater thickness than the tank. Inward of the shoulder region is a thinner region 26 which is narrower in both transverse dimensions than the shoulder region 24.

At the first end, the container part 12 carries an extension terminating in a transverse cylindrical 1-.22 U ai Referring to Figures 4a-c, the first strap part 2 comprises an elongate plastics strap 30 which has a transverse hole 32 at its outer end to receive the pin of the buckle 6 (not shown). At its inner end it has a transverse slot 28, the fiexiNe edges of which curve inwards to provide a cylindrical hole shaped to receive the bar 22. These parts are made as a single plastics moulding.

To assemble the first strap part 2 to the container part 12, the bar 22 is inserted into the slot 22 so that the edges of the slot curve round the bar 22, and the flared plastics sleeve 18 is slid inwards along the strap part, over the end of the container part 12, retaining the edges of the slot around the bar 22 and locking the two pails together.

Referring to Figures Sa-d, the second strap part 4 comprises an elongate plastics strap 34 which has a tongue at its outer end to engage the buckle 6. At its inner end is a ring 36 formed integrally with the strap 34, and dimensioned to fIt snugly over the thinner portion 26. It is smaller in circumference than the shoulder region 24 but flexible, and with Umited elasticity. To assemble the second strap part 2 to the container part 12, the ring 36 is pushed inwards over and past the shoulder region 24 at which point it contracts around the thinner region 22, retaining the container on the strap.

When assembled, the sheath 40 is received through a hole 38 in the second strap part. Preferably as shown the strap sits above the nozz'e. more or less flush with the upper surface of the container part 12. When the strap 34 is curved around to the buckle 6, the nozzle 14 protrudes through the hole 38. In this way, the extent to which the sheath and nozzle protrude from the profile of the band is Umited, thereby avoiding it catching on clothing and other items.

In use, the two ends of the straps are attached together around a user's wrist or arm. In this way, the dispenser band may be fastened to the user's wrist at the desired tightness and in the desired position. Its overall shape generally conforms to the shape of the wrist or arm such that the band presents a low profile on the user's wrist or arm. In this way, the dispenser band can be worn comfortably, in much the same way as a wrist watch or bracelet.

The receptacles 2 contain a consumable product and preferably a sugary substance, for example a glucose gel or liquid. The advantage of a highly dense glucose source, such as a glucose gel, is that relatively small amounts are required for the treatment of a hypo. For example. the dispenser band may only need to contain 20 to 25g of glucose gel (at least l5g) for the treatment of a hypo, allowing the overall size and weight of the dispenser band to be minimised so that the band is thin and light, needn't be cumbersome or heavy, and may be a similar size and weight to a wrist watch. A further advantage of using a gel or viscous liquid is that such a substance is less likely to leak or spill during use.

When the user feels that they are having, or are about to have, a hypo they can bring the dispenser band secured on their wrist or arm to their mouth easily, even if they have collapsed.

After removal of the sheath, they can then bite off the cap to break the seal. The lanyard prevents swallowing of the cap. The opened nozzle 14 allows a user to consume the consumable product contained in the receptacle container 12 by sucking it out. The sucking action is required in order to enable passage of the consumable product through the nozzle, thereby preventing unwanted leakage of the product. Accordingly, the present invention allows a user easy and immediate access to a consumaNe product for treating their symptoms of a hypo reaction throughout the day.

Having used the contents, the user can dispose of the container part 12. The strap parts 2, 4 can however be retained and used with a replacement container part 12. Thus, the cost of replacement can be minimised, and the contents are retained in a sterile condition by avoiding refilling.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the container part itself foirns part of the wnstband. By allowing the container part to fulfil this role, rather than mounting it on a separate wristband, and by providing that the container is a flattened tank, the thickness of the wristband can be kept down whilst still containing sufficient glucose gel to be of use. Accommodating the sheath in the recess or hole 38 further keeps down the maximum thickness.

Since the dispenser band is relatively small and can conveniently be worn at all times under dothes and without catching, it is particulady advantageous in that it allows a diabetic easy access a source of g'ucose as and when it is required, even when playing sport or outdoors.

Moreover, since the dispenser band retains the substance in a sealed receptacle, participants in water sports, such as swimmers or surfers, could wear the band, even whilst in the water.

The band can be made of a clear transparent plastics material. Since the &ucose gel stored within the container 12 can also be clear, the overall appearance of the dispenser band is substantially transparent, thereby further concealing the dispenser band and allowing it to be worn discretely without drawing undue attention to the user. Alternatively, the band could be made of another colour material. For example, a black colour band may be provided to give a purposeful look, similar to a diver's wrist watch. Whilst such a colour may not conceal the band, it does not look out of place on a user's wrist. A further example would be different brightly coloured bands, such as red or blue, intended for children.

The illustrated embodiments described herein show an application of the invention only for the purposes of illustration. The invention may be applied to many different configurations. For example, the consumable product could take the form of a medicine for use treating disease or alleviating pain, or an antihistamine for dealing with exeme allergic reactions. It would also be possible to permanently secure one of the two strap parts (e.g. the second) to the container part 12, or to make the two as an integral whole, merely retaining the other (e.g. the first). The male and female parts of the vanous connections could be interchanged (for example providing the slot 28 on the container part i2 and the bar 22 on the strap part 4).

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMSI. A dispenser wristband wearable on the wrist or arm and for carrying a consumable product, the dispenser bracelet comprising an elongate container portion and a strap portion, in which the container portion is made separately from, and is attachable to and detachable from, the strap portion; and in which the container portion and the strap portion each form part of the circumferential extent of the wnstband.
2. 2. A dispenser wristband according to claim 1, wherein said consumaNe product comprises glucose gel.
3. 3. A dispenser wristband according to any preceding claim, further comprising fastener means for securing the wristband body on the user's wrist or anm
4. 4. A dispenser wristband according to claim 3, in which the fastener means is a buckle.
5. 5. A dispenser wristband according to any preceding claim, in which the strap portion comprises first and second strap parts.
6. 6. A dispenser wristband according to any preceding claim, in which the container portion is secured to the strap portion by resilient interengaging connecting parts.
7. 7. A dispenser wristband according to claim 6, in which the connecting parts comprise a shoulder region engaging with a resilient band which can expand, slide over the shoulder part and engage behind it.
8. 8. A dispenser wristband according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which the connecting parts comprise a tongue carrying an enlarged end, engaging with a resilient groove the lips of which can expand. sfide over the enlarged end and engage behind it.
9. 9. A dispenser wristband according to claim 8, further comprising a locking sleeve which can be slid along the strap part to prevent the tongue being withdrawn from the groove.
10. 10. A dispenser wristband according to any preceding claim, in which the container portion is approximately in the form of a flat cuboid of a flexible material, reinforced by ribs.
11. 11. A dispenser wristband according to any preceding claim, in which the container portion includes a nozzle closed by a sealed cap, the cap being attached to the container portion by a bnyard.
12. 12. A dispenser wristband according to any preceding claim, in which the container portion includes a nozzle and the strap portion has a hole through which the nozzle can pass when the strap is closed.
13. 13. A dispenser wristband according to claim 12 in which the strap portion joins the container portion at a point outward, in use, of at east the inner part of the nozzle.
14. 14. A dispenser wristband substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.