Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F17/00—First-aid kits

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a first-aid container.
• the present invention relates to a first-aid container which visually assists a user in determining if items in the first-aid container have been used.
• first-aid bags or kits typically have a variety of different medical items such as bandages, gloves, cold packs and the like, placed into the bag in a disorganised manner. This often renders it difficult for first-aid officers or a person who has the responsibility to maintain the kits to ensure that the kits include sufficient supplies, and conform with workplace health and safety regulations. It is often difficult to determine if an item has expired or if the kit requires re-stocking, without extensive time and effort. Thus for example, often kits are completely emptied out in order to audit the items therein for re stocking, which can take time. It can be appreciated that if first-aid kits/containers are not re-stocked appropriately, this can be detrimental to health and safety, particularly in a work-place environment.
• the present invention seeks to provide a first-aid container which may ameliorate the foregoing shortcomings and disadvantages or which will at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention
• a first-aid container comprising a pre-determined position associated with a first-aid item, wherein when in the first-aid container, the first-aid item is located or received at the pre-determined position.
• a first-aid container or apparatus comprising a pre-determined position for receiving at least one first-aid item, the position including a first indicia associated with the item, such that the indicia indicates positioning of the item within the first-aid container.
• a first-aid container comprising a pre-determined position for receiving at least one first- aid item, the position including a first indicia associated with the item, wherein when the item is located at the position, the item is substantially aligned with the first indicia.
• the item includes a second indicia such that when the item is located at the position, the first indicia corresponds to or is aligned with the second indicia.
• the container has a divider, the first indicia being disposed along at least a portion of the divider and the second indicia being disposed on a front-facing side of the item, such that when the item is placed near or next to the divider, the second indicia is near or next to the first indicia on the divider such that the first indicia and the second indicia are substantially aligned.
• the second indicia extends a width of the front facing side of the item, and such that a width of the first indicia and the second indicia are approximately equal.
• the container is configured to receive a plurality of first-aid items, the plurality of first-aid items being classified in accordance with an item type, the first indicia and second indicia being indicative of the item type.
• the second indicia is disposed on the packaging.
• classification in accordance with item type includes any one or a combination of: a colour classification system; and, a unique identifier.
• the first and second indicia can be used to indicate the item type, classification, expiry date, and/or positional information in the container.
• the packaging includes a tear-away section for indicating use of the item.
• the container is substantially rectangular in shape.
• the container is hard-shelled, whereas in another example, container is a soft bag.
• a first-aid item for a first- aid container having a pre-determined position for receiving the first-aid item, the position including a first indicia associated with the item, wherein when the item is located at the position, the item is substantially aligned with the first indicia.
• a first-aid container comprising a pre-determined position for receiving at least one first- aid item, such that when the item is located at the position, a front-facing side of the item is visible.
• Figure 1 is a front view of an example first-aid container, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• Figures 2 to 5 are photographic images of examples of a hard cover first-aid container, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
• Figures 6 to 10 are photographic images of examples of a soft cover first-aid container, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
• a first-aid container which comprises a pre-determined position associated with a first-aid item, wherein when in the first-aid container, the first-aid item is located or received at the pre-determined position.
• the container comprises a pre-determined position for receiving at least one first-aid item, the position including a first indicia associated with the item, such that the indicia indicates positioning of the item within the first-aid container.
• the first-aid item can be located at the position, such that the item is substantially aligned with the first indicia.
• the first- aid item can include a second indicia such that when the item is located at the position, the first indicia corresponds to or is aligned with the second indicia.
• the container can have a divider, such that the first indicia is disposed along at least a portion of the divider, or on the divider, and the second indicia is disposed on a front-facing side of the item, such that when the item is placed near, on, or next to the divider, the second indicia is near or next to the first indicia on the divider such that the first indicia and the second indicia are substantially aligned or matched.
• the second indicia can extend a width of the front facing side of the item, and such that a width of the first indicia and the second indicia are approximately equal.
• the plurality of first-aid items can be formed to be placed adjacent each other contiguously or sequentially in a pre-determined organisation, depending on their pre-determined positions.
• the plurality of first-aid items can be classified in accordance with a type of first-aid item, where the first indicia and second indicia are indicative of the type of first aid item.
• the one or more first-aid items can also comprise of packaging associated with or dependent on the item type. Accordingly, the second indicia can be disposed on the packaging.
• the one or more first aid-items can be classified in accordance with any one or a combination of: a colour classification system; and, a unique identifier system, typically depending on the type of first-aid item.
• the first and second indicia can indicate any one or a combination of first-aid item type; classification of the first-aid item; expiry date of the first and item; and, positional information of the first-aid item in the container.
• indicating or classifying the first-aid item type can include classifying in accordance with the use of the first-aid item, the type of injury, and/or or medical need.
• first and second indicia can include primary and secondary indicators, where the primary indicator determines a type or category of first-aid item, and the secondary indicator determines a sub-type or sub-category of first-aid item.
• the packaging can include a tear-away section for indicating use of the item, although it will be appreciated that other forms of indicia (such as a third indicia) can be used to indicate use of an item.
• the container is substantially rectangular in shape (or a rectangular prims or parallelepiped).
• packaged first-aid items can be placed contiguously in an order determined by their predetermined locations in the container.
• the container can be made of any material, in one example, the container can be hard-shelled or a soft bag.
• FIG. 1 More specific examples of a first-aid container or apparatus is shown in Figures 1 to 10.
• the first-aid container 5 includes a pre-determined position 25 for receiving at least one first-aid item 10.
• the position 25 includes a first indicia 20 associated with the item 10, such that when the item 10 is located at the position 25, the item 10 is substantially aligned or matched with or corresponds to the first indicia 20.
• placing the first aid item at the predetermined position can allow for a front-facing side 35 of the item 10 to be visible.
• the item 10 can include a second indicia 15 such that when the item 10 is located at the position 25, the first indicia 20 corresponds to or is aligned with the second indicia 15.
• the container also includes a divider 30.
• the first indicia 20 is typically disposed along at least a portion of the divider 30 and the second indicia 15 is disposed on a front-facing side 35 of the item 10, such that when the item 10 is placed near or next to the divider 30, the second indicia 15 is near or next to the first indicia 20 on the divider 30 so that the first indicia 20 and the second indicia 15 are substantially aligned or matched.
• the second indicia 20 can extend a width 40 of the front-facing side 35 of the item 10, such that a width of the first indicia 20 and the second indicia 15 are approximately equal.
• the container 5 can be configured to receive a plurality of first-aid items 10, where the items 10 are classified in accordance with an item type, and further can also be classified in accordance with an item sub-type.
• the first indicia 20 and second indicia 15 are typically indicative of the item type.
• Classifying the items 10 by type and/or sub-type can be in any suitable form, such as for example, any one or a combination of a colour classification system and/or a unique identifier system.
• the items 10 can be grouped/classified in accordance with the type of item (such as the particular first-aid item depending on what the item is used for) and an indicia may then be applied accordingly.
• the dividers 30 can be shelves or the like, which separate items 10.
• items are grouped by type - for example, in a medical or first-aid kit, dressings may all be the same colour, whereas bandages may be another colour.
• the colours of the packaging that the items/products 10 come in will then be the indicia which is then replicated on the divider 30 so that the products are placed in their specific pre-determined positions accordingly.
• the packaging of products can be colour-coded, where the colour-coding is associated with a grouping of the contents of the products, such that the grouping is associated with or relevant to particular use /injury (that is, an item type).
• Examples of colour-coding relation to particular item/product type can include green for plasters, purple for bandages, blue for eye-care, yellow for dressings, orange for antiseptics and wound-cleansing, grey for instruments and other miscellaneous items, red for burns, pink for tapes, and light blue for resuscitation.
• both colour-coding and unique identifiers can be used together.
• the indicia can have primary and secondary indicators where the primary indicator can identify a category or type of first-aid item, and the secondary indicator can identify a sub-category or sub-type.
• the colour-coding of items can be a primary indicator of the type of item, and a further unique-identifier (such as an alpha-numeric identifier) can be used as a secondary indicator of the sub-type or sub-category of the item.
• a further unique-identifier such as an alpha-numeric identifier
• At least some of the plurality of items 10 can include packaging associated with the item type, and the second indicia 15 can thus be disposed on the packaging.
• the height of the packaging for all products can be made to be uniform or equal. Accordingly, if there is an item missing, it can be easily identifiable.
• packaging size it will be appreciated that the packages described herein are not limited to a particular size, however, can be made available in any suitable form which allows the packages to be neatly packed within the container. As an example, the packages may be provided in three different sizes - 20mm, 40mm, and 60mm, for each type of medical item/product, as required.
• the packaging of the items 10 can include a tear-away section or portion 45 (shown in Figure 2).
• the tear-away section can indicate use of the item 10, so that users can be aware that the packaging has been opened and items therein have been used.
• the tear-away section can include perforations in the packaging that weaken the packaging in the particular tear-away section, and allow for that particular section to be torn away or opened. It will be appreciated that other forms of indicia (such as other forms of visual indicia) can be used on the packaging to indicate use of a first-aid item.
• the packaging of the first-aid items can be formed as a rectangular prim or the like, where when placed on a divider of the container, a side of the packaging faces towards the user and a base of the item is placed on the divider such that the indicia on the front-facing side is at or near the base of the item.
• the indicia on the packaging and the divider can also be substantially rectangular in shape such that when the item is placed on the divider, the first and second indicia are matched/correspond to each other accordingly.
• the divider can be a shelf, which can be used to divide first-aid items in accordance with their position and/or classification.
• first-aid items can be colour-coded by category and then further arranged by subcategories (sub-types), such that the items are placed contiguously on the shelf, in their pre-determined position.
• subcategories sub-types
• the dividers/shelving can be used to separate items or their pre-determined positions as required.
• the first-aid items are aligned such that they are substantially vertical, or aligned vertically with respect to each other. Further in this example, the first-aid items are aligned contiguously, parallel to each other. Additionally, they are typically of the same height which can provide a well-organised appearance as well as further adding to the visual need of a user being able to easily identify a missing item.
• the shapes of the packaging or indicia are not limited to rectangular or square-like shapes.
• the front-facing side can further include expiry date information in relation to the product/item within the packaging.
• the packaging may include expiry indicators such as coloured stickers which change colour over time, thus providing a visual indication of whether a product has expired or is close to expiry. It will be appreciated that supplying information on the front-facing side of the packaging can make it clearer and easier for users in managing the first-aid kit.
• the first indicia can be disposed at any location on the container and is not limited to a divider or the like.
• the first indicia can be located on a rear-wall of the container such that when the first-ait item is placed in its pre-determined position, a back-facing side of the first-aid item corresponds to the associated indicia.
• the container can include a look-up table or the like, which indicates the pre-determined location of a first-aid item in the container.
• the look-up table can be a reference for a user placing an item in the container so that the user can dispose the item in its pre-determined location, as indicated on the look-up table.
• the container 5 can be of any shape. According to one particular example, the container 5 is substantially rectangular in shape.
• the container 5 can be made of any material.
• the container 5 can be made of a hard-case, as shown in Figures 2 to 5. It will be appreciated that the hard-case container can be configured to be hung or provided on a wall, and can include a lid that can be readily opened such that the items therein can be accessed.
• the container 5 can be made of a soft material.
• the container can be a portable first-aid container, or one that is fixed to a specific location and accessed as required.
• the first-aid container/apparatus described herein can include a number of visual indicators to allow first-aid users to effectively and efficiently use the container/apparatus.
• These indicators can include indicia (such as positional indicia matched to a location for storing/holding first-aid items in the container), indication of use of the first-aid items (such as through a tear-away portion of the packaging), and pre-determined package size and pre-determined positioning or placement of the first-aid item whereby a user can easily visually identify if a particular item is missing in the first-aid container.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

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Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (12)

• 2019
  • 2019-12-20 AU AU2019101663A patent/AU2019101663A4/en active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-12-19 WO PCT/AU2020/000139 patent/WO2021119722A1/en unknown
  • 2020-12-19 EP EP20903453.7A patent/EP4076323A4/de active Pending
  • 2020-12-19 AU AU2020405624A patent/AU2020405624A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (12)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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