WO1995002379A1

WO1995002379A1 - Condom packaging

Info

Publication number: WO1995002379A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/001524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey Andrews; Mark Mcglothlin
Original assignee: Lrc Products Limited
Priority date: 1993-07-14
Filing date: 1994-07-14
Publication date: 1995-01-26
Also published as: GB9314606D0

Abstract

A condom package comprises a first sealed compartment containing a condom (1) and a second sealed compartment e.g. in the form of a self-contained sachet (47) filled with a fluent substance, such as a lubricant and/or spermicide. The housing of the package is formed of two parts (50, 51) connected together by a living hinge (42) and, initially along a continuous line of weakness (46). The package is opened by bending the parts (50, 51) about the hinge so as to snap the package along the line (46). At the same time, the tension applied to the sachet wall causes it to rupture to discharge its contents onto the condom.

Description

Condom Packaging

This invention is concerned with packaging and packages. It has particular relevance to the packaging of condoms.

In accordance with a first aspect the invention provides a package comprising a first sealed compartment housing a condom and a second sealed compartment containing a fluent substance, the said package being adapted to be opened in a predetermined manner to release the condom when it is required for use, wherein the second compartment has a rupturable wall arranged to be ruptured in the act of opening the package to release the substance into contact with the condom.

The substance contained in the second compart¬ ment, which can be formed by a sachet, a capsule, a sub- chamber of the packet or the like, may be a spermicide, a lubricant or any other substance which is flowable and which is to be applied to the condom before use. It can consist of a liquid, a gel or possibly even a powder.

It has become common to coat condoms with a spermicidal lubricant, and it has been the usual practice of manufacturers to apply this coating at the time of packaging the condoms into individual sealed foil wrappers. Spermicidal lubricants which are used for this purpose can in the medium to long term have a deleterious effect on the material of the condom thereby limiting the shelf life. The invention as set out above provides a convenient and effective solution by allowing the spermicidal lubricant to be effectively applied to the condom immediately prior to being used. It will be understood the spermicidal lubricant will be kept separate from the condom until the outer packet is opened to give access to the enclosed condom, when the lubricant is dispersed onto the condom. Thus, with a package embodying the invention, it is ensured that the material of the condom is not at risk of being affected by long term contact with the spermicidal lubricant and the satisfactory condition of the condom can be assured even after relatively long storage times.

The package may take a variety of different structural forms, the principal requisites being that it should be adapted to be opened in a particular pre¬ determined manner, and that opening it in this manner will rupture the rupturable wall. In order to facilitate rupture of the rupturable wall it can be provided with lines of weakness, such as score lines. Conveniently the package comprises a substantially rigid part defining a container. Several forms of such packages embodying the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described below.

The invention also provides a package for first and second products stored separately in the package, the package comprising a sealed housing formed of two parts connected by a hinge, the housing being divided internally into two compartments containing the first and second products, and wherein the second compartment spans the said hinge and has a portion adapted to be broken open to release the product contained therein by the act of opening the package by hinging open the two housing parts.

With a package of this form it can easily be ensured that the housing can only be opened quickly and conveniently by hinging open the two parts, and thus it is assured with reasonable degree of certainty that the second compartment will be broken open to release its contents, e.g. a fluent substance before the product accommodated in the first compartment has been extracted from the pack. It will be appreciated the pack as defined is especially suited for packaging a condom, e.g. with a fluent substance such as a lubricant as discussed above, but it can also be used to advantage for other products, such as a sponge which is to be impregnated with liquid immediately before use by the consumer.

In each of the embodiments described below, the second compartment is defined either by a self-contained sachet located within the package, or by a membrane in combination with a wall of the package to which the membrane is sealed. The second compartment, however formed, is completely filled with the fluent substance and the condom is located within the main space remaining within the package. The membrane or a portion of the sachet wall constitute the rupturable wall, which is preferably provided with one or more lines of weakness at which the wall will rupture when the second compartment is subject to pressure in the act of opening the package.

A specific form of package provided according to the invention and especially suitable for a substantially flat article such as a rolled condom, comprises an hermetically sealed plastics casing with opposed main walls connected by side walls, a first main wall including a portion of reduced thickness defining an integral hinge extending across the first main wall from one side edge to the opposite side edge thereof, the second main wall and side walls having portions of reduced thickness defining a rupturable seal extending continuously across the second main wall parallel to the hinge and across the side walls to join with the ends of the hinge, whereby the rupturable seal and hinge axis lie substantially in a common plane and the seal is rupturable to open the casing with a snap action by bending the first main wall at said hinge.

Most conveniently the hinge and the rupturable seal- are defined by external grooves. The casing can be assembled by fixing together two moulded casing parts which provide the respective main walls.

A full understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows schematically in cross-section a package in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is an axial section through another package embodying the invention;

Figure 4 is a cross section through a further package according to the invention;

Figure 5A illustrates yet another package according to the invention;

Figure 5B is a transverse cross-section through the package of Figure 5A;

Figure 6A is a plan view of a particular package embodying all the basic principles of the invention in all its aspects;

Figure 6B is a longitudinal cross-section through the package of Figure 6A; and

Figure 6C is a longitudinal cross-section through the package of Figure 6A in an opened condition.

All the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described below comprise a condom 1 which is rolled-up in conventional manner and enclosed in a sealed housing within which it is stored from the time of packaging shortly after manufacture until just before use.

In Figure 1, the housing consists of a substantially rigid, cylindrical base 2 with a small external flange 3 extending around the top edge of its side wall, and a lid 4 e.g. a metal and/or plastics foil connected and sealed to the flange 3, such as by a heat seal. On the bottom wall of the base is a concave seat 5 for carrying and positioning centrally within the packet a sachet or frangible capsule 6 containing a spermicide/ lubricant. There is only one simple and obvious way to open the hermetically sealed packet, which is to press the lid downwardly towards the bottom wall of the base, e.g. by squeezing the packet between the thumb and forefinger. This pressure causes the lid to break away from the flange, or rupture adjacent the flange, and also the capsule 6 to rupture so that its contents are dispersed onto the condom which is subsequently removed for use. In this case it is the wall of the sachet which defines the second compartment and the sachet wall is preferably formed with score lines, or other lines of weakness to predetermine how it will rupture. The base 2 could be made of transparent or translucent plastics material and may be used for disposal of the condom after use. Also, the base may be defined by a tray providing a number of integral bases for respective condoms and covered by a common foil providing the lids to the respective bases.

The package of Figure 2 is essentially the same as that of Figure 1, except that the separate compartment containing the spermicide/lubricant is defined by a thin membrane 8 and the bottom wall of the base member 2. The membrane may again be weakened locally to help ensure rupture and correct discharge of the contents when the package is opened by applying pressure as described in connection with Figure 1.

The package of Figure 3 comprises a substantially rigid outer container 10 or box of configuration and having one end open, and an open-topped tray or drawer 11 slidably accommodated in the outer box. Secured against the top wall of the box is a rupturable sachet 12 containing a spermicide/lubricant. The one easy and obvious way to gain access to the condom is by sliding the tray 11 out of the box 10. The action of pulling the tray out of the box causes the sachet 12 to rupture and its contents to be dispersed onto the condom. The sachet may be weakened to ensure rupture at a predetermined location to help ensure the contents are applied evenly onto the condom.

The package depicted in Figure 4 comprises a container with an open-topped cylindrical base member 20 and a cylindrical lid 21 with a peripheral skirt 22 adapted to fit inside the cylindrical side wall of the base member. The base member and lid are provided with interfitting formations 23 defining a bayonet-type locking connection, or the like, whereby to release the lid the lid must first be pressed into the base member and then twisted relative to it. A rigid disc 25 is located in the base member and confines with it a chamber 24 filled with spermicide/lubricant. The condom 1 is housed in the container above the disc 25. At its centre the disc has a weakened section 26 which can easily be ruptured. Alternatively, the disc could have one or more holes covered by a film which will rupture under pressure. When opening the packet, the initial downward movement of the lid causes the skirt 23 to bear against and force down the disc 25 so that the contents of the chamber 24 are pressurised and rupture the weakened control portion 26, and continued downward movement pumps the chamber contents out of the chamber and onto the condom. Subsequent rotation of the lid with respect to the base member releases the lid allowing it to be detached to reveal the condom.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment in which the condom 1 is disposed in a first compartment 30 defined between upper and lower foils sealed together around the first compartment and around a second compartment 31 in which a sachet 32 holding the spermicide/lubricant is contained. The foils and the products contained therein are located in a rigid outer container 33 with a portion of the lower foil protruding through a slot 34 in the container to provide a pull tab 35 for opening the packet. The upper foil (not shown) is secured to the inside of the container so that when the lower foil is withdrawn by pulling on the tab, the upper foil is peeled away and remains in the container. In addition, only a weak seal 36 is defined between the foils in the area separating the first and second compartments 30,31, so that pulling on the tab, as well as rupturing the sachet, causes this seal to be broken and the spermicide/lubricant to pass into the first compartment to coat the condom 1. It will be appreciated that the condom is withdrawn from the container 33 with the lower foil, the trailing end of which may remain attached to the container. It is also possible to arrange a sachet or pouch holding the spermicide/lubricant to be positioned alongside the condom with the container slot being configured to facilitate unhindered removal of the condom while also ensuring maximum delivery of spermicide/ lubricant onto the condom.

The package shown in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C comprises an hermetically sealed substantially rigid plastics housing 40 of generally rectangular configuration and assembled by fixing, e.g. by ultrasonic welding together of two moulded parts. The first part defines a bottom wall 41 and is substantially planar with an external groove defining a portion of reduced thickness extending continuously across the full width of the bottom wall and constituting a living hinge 42. The second part of the case forms the top, end and side walls. The continuous free edge defined by the side and end walls is welded to the periphery of the bottom in the closed package, e.g. by welding together the cooperating mitred faces shown at 45. Moulded in the second part is a V- section external groove 46 which extends continuously across the top wall and down both side walls, this groove being in a common plane with the axis of the hinge 42. The groove acts as a score line defining a frangible seal. A previously prepared and filled sachet 47, e.g. made from flexible plastics foil and containing lubricant or other fluent material, is fastened in the plastic case to span the hinge. The sachet can conveniently have its opposite ends securely attached to the bottom wall 41 on opposite sides of the hinge 42 by heat sealing or welding the material of the sachet to this wall, e.g. at the weld points 48. The sachet can be provided with one or more lines of weakness, e.g. by score lines 49 or the like provided on the upper side of the sachet to define a predetermined area of weakness at which the sachet will rupture to release its contents when pressurised. Preferably, the score lines are disposed parallel to the hinge 42. The sachet may be made of PVDC foil, which tends to fail at low elongation to ensure that it ruptures when the housing is snapped open. Laminates of PVDC and other polymers are also possible, e.g. if the score lines cut through the other materials but not the PVDC.

It will be appreciated that sachets can be attached to the first or bottom part of the casing as a preliminary stage in the assembly of the package. A rolled condom 1 is placed over the sachet and is then covered by the second or upper casing part which is permanently fastened to the lower part as described above. There is thus obtained an hermetically sealed pack containing the condom and the lubricant which is stored in a separate compartment formed by the sachet, out of contact with the condom. When the condom is required for use, the casing is snapped open by breaking the frangible seal formed by the V-groove 46. This is achieved by bending inwardly the lower wall at the hinge 42 which subsequently holds together the separated parts 50,51 of the opened package, as shown in Figure 6C. The force required to obtain the snap action results in the casing parts being moved rapidly to the opened position, and during this opening movement the deformation of the sachet causes it to burst open and dispense its contents onto the condom. As may be seen in Figure 6C, when the package is opened, a portion of the condom is presented through the opening to facilitate its removal from the casing. Discharge of the contents of the sachet is promoted by the roll of the condom pressing against and progressively flattening the sachet as the condom is withdrawn. To assist reliable rupture of the sachet the bottom wall may be provided with means, e.g. projections which in the illustrated embodiment consist of parallel transverse ribs 52, to generate a greater pressure in the sachet when the bottom wall bends at the hinge 42. The casing provides a novel form of hermetically sealed container having the advantage of being clearly tamper evident. When the casing has been snapped open it cannot be reclosed and it is not suitable for re-use although it might be used for subsequent disposal of the condom.

In order to facilitate the rupture of the sachet or other rupturable capsule in any of the above described embodiments, and/or to accelerate the ejection of the contents thereof upon being ruptured, the contents may be pre-pressurised. For this purpose a gas, such as air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide may be included in the sachet at the time of its manufacture, for example by injecting the gas at a convenient stage during production. Use of carbon dioxide for this purpose is particularly favourable because it will have high solubility in the liquid contained in the sachet and may itself be added in solid form which has advantages in manufacture. To further enhance the effectiveness of the gas in accelerating ejection of the sachet contents to coat the condom, nucleation means may be provided within the sachet to encourage, upon rupture of the sachet, rapid formation of a multitude of gas bubbles. This bubble formation will cause a volumetric expansion of the sachet contents resulting in the contents being very quickly discharged, possibly in the form of a foam. The nucleation means may take various specific forms. For example, a strip of appropriate plastics material may be provided within the sachet and could be attached to the sachet walls, such as by heat sealing, to prevent it becoming discharged with the contents. Alternatively, pellets or granules, e.g. of silica or alumina, could be loaded into the sachet to create a large surface area available for gas bubble formation. In order that these pellets or granules will not escape from the sachet as the fluid contents are discharged, it is preferable that they be retained by a porous retaining sheet. The pellets or granules could for example be enclosed in a porous bag which is attached to the inside of the sachet. In another alternative, the nucleation means could be provided by a wall of the sachet.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A package comprising a first sealed compartment housing a condom (1) and a second sealed compartment (6) containing a fluent substance, the said package being adapted to be opened in a predetermined manner to release the condom when it is required for use, and wherein the second compartment has a rupturable wall (6; 8; 12; 25; 47) arranged to be ruptured in the act of opening the package to release the fluent substance into contact with the condom.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the package comprises a substantially rigid or semi-rigid housing (2; 10; 20; 21; 33; 40) within which the two compartments are located, the rupturable wall of the second compartment being disposed adjacent the said condom (1) and serving to separate the two compartments.

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing comprises an hermetically sealed plastics casing (40) with opposed main walls connected together at their peripheries by side walls, one main wall (41) including a portion of reduced thickness defining an integral hinge (42) extending across the main wall, and the other main wall having a line of weakness (46) parallel with and opposite the hinge (42), whereby the housing can be opened by bending it inwardly at the hinge, and wherein the rupturable wall (47) of the second compartment spans the hinge (42) so as to be ruptured on bending of the housing.

4. A package according to claim 3, wherein the side walls have lines of weakness interconnecting the integral hinge and the line of weakness in said other main wall.

5. A package according to claim 4, wherein the housing is assembled from two parts, the first part defining said one main wall (41) including the integral hinge, and the second part defining the other main wall, said side walls and end walls of the housing.

6. A package according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the second compartment comprises a sachet (47) secured to the inside of the said one wall (41) and initially disposed substantially within the roll of the condom (1), such that withdrawal of the condom from the opened housing causes the sachet to be squeezed and progressively flattened by the roll to promote discharge of the substance onto the condom.

7. A package according to claim 6, wherein the said one wall (41) is provided, adjacent the hinge (42), with internal projections (52) bearing against the sachet (47) to promote rupture on opening of the housing by increasing the pressure on the sachet as the housing is opened.

8. A package according to claim 2, wherein the package has an outer, deformable main wall (4) sealed to the perihpery of the housing (2), in such a manner that the package can be opened by digital pressure to deform the said main wall, causing it to be released from the housing, and to pressurise the second compartment to rupture its rupturable wall (8).

9. A package according to claim 2, wherein the said condom is located in an open topped tray (11) inserted through an open end of an otherwise closed housing (10), the tray being removable through the open end to open the package and to rupture the said wall (12) of the second compartment.

10. A package according to claim 2, wherein the package comprises a cup-like base member (20) and a lid (21) initially sealed to the base member, the lid and base member having mutually interlocking formations (23) which require the base member and lid (20, 21) to be telescoped together before they can be disengaged to open the package and wherein the act of telescoping the base member and lid together pressurises the second compartment to rupture its rupturable wall (25).

11. A package according to claim 1, comprising a pair of superposed foils sealed.together about their peripheries and transversely to define the said compartments (30, 31), the second compartment receiving a rupturable sachet (32) containing the said substance, and an outer rigid housing (33) having a main wall to which the said foil is secured, the other foil having an integral extension (35) which projects out through a slot in an end wall of the housing (33) and which can be pulled to open the housing an in the same action to rupture the sachet and the transverse seal (36) to release the said substance.

12. A package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rupturable wall (6; 8; 12; 25; 47) has one or more lines of weakness (49) to facilitate rupture thereof.

13. A package for first and second products stored separately in the package, the package comprising a sealed housing formed of two parts connected by a hinge (42), the housing being divided internally into two compartments containing first and second products, and wherein the second compartment spans the said hinge and has a portion adapted to be broken open to release the product contained therein by the act of opening the package by hinging open the two housing parts.

14. A package according to claim 13, wherein the housing has a frangible wall portion, the compartments are separated by a rupturable wall spanning the hinge, and the second compartment contains a fluent material to be released to contact the first product upon rupture of the rupturable wall caused by bending the package at the hinge to break the frangible wall portion.

15. A package, especially for a condom, comprising an hermetically sealed plastics casing with opposed main walls connected by side walls, a first main wall (41) including a portion of reduced thickness defining an integral hinge (42) extending across the first main wall from one side edge to the opposite side edge thereof, the second main wall and side walls having portions (46) of reduced thickness defining a rupturable seal extending continuously across the second main wall parallel to the hinge and across the side walls to join with the ends of the hinge, whereby the rupturable seal and hinge axis lie substantially in a common plane and the seal is rupturable to open the casing with a snap action by bending the first main wall (41) at the said hinge (42).

16. A package according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second compartment contains a pressurised liquid.

17. A package according to claim 16, wherein the liquid is pressurised by a gas.

18. A package according to claim 17, wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.

19. A package according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the second compartment includes nucleation means for encouraging gas bubble formation when the pressure is released.