U.S. patent application number 12/083013 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for male incontinence product and package therefor.
Invention is credited to Henrik Bork Bjerregaard.
Application Number | 20100016821 12/083013 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36011001 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100016821 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bjerregaard; Henrik Bork |
January 21, 2010 |
Male Incontinence Product and Package Therefor
Abstract
In a combination of a male incontinence product (100) and a
package (200; 600; 700; 800; 900; 1000) accommodating the
incontinence product, the incontinence product comprises a penile
sheath, which is rolled-up to form a collar portion (110). The
incontinence product, external catheter or uridom, also includes a
drainage tube for connecting it to a urine collecting bag. In the
package, the incontinence product is collapsed. To provide a
compact package, the combination comprises at least one retention
element (204; 206; 246; 604; 704; 804; 904; 1004) retaining the
incontinence product in the collapsed state when the package is
closed. A method for manufacturing the combination may include
forming the package as one single piece by injection moulding.
Inventors: |
Bjerregaard; Henrik Bork;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLOPLAST A/S;Attention: Corporate Patents
Holtedam 1
DK-3050 Humlebaek
DK
|
Family ID: |
36011001 |
Appl. No.: |
12/083013 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 3, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2005/054976 |
371 Date: |
September 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/349 ;
206/216; 29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/453 20130101;
A61M 25/002 20130101; Y10T 29/49826 20150115; A61F 6/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/349 ;
206/216; 29/428 |
International
Class: |
A61F 5/44 20060101
A61F005/44; B65D 77/00 20060101 B65D077/00; B23P 11/00 20060101
B23P011/00 |
Claims
1. A combination of a male incontinence product and a package
accommodating the incontinence product in a rolled-up configuration
thereof, the incontinence product comprising: a penile sheath,
which during use is unrolled to define a cavity for a length of the
user's penis, and which, in the rolled-up configuration of the
incontinence product, is rolled up to form a proximal collar
portion of the incontinence product; and a drainage portion for
connecting the cavity of the sheath to a urine-collecting device;
whereby at least one of the penile sheath and the drainage portion
is sufficiently flexible to allow collapsing of the incontinence
product when in its rolled-up configuration; the combination
further comprising at least one retention element, which retains
the rolled-up incontinence product in a collapsed state when the
package is closed.
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extent of the
incontinence product is smaller in said collapsed state than in a
non-collapsed state.
3. The combination of claim 2, wherein, in the collapsed state, an
axis defined by the drainage portion extends in a direction
different from a centre axis of the sheath.
4. The combination of claim 1, wherein a transverse extent of the
incontinence product is smaller in said collapsed state than in a
non-collapsed state.
5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the retention element is
integral with a wall of the package.
6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the retention element
comprises a strip, which is tied around the incontinence product in
the collapsed configuration.
7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the drainage portion is
folded in the collapsed state of the rolled-up incontinence
product.
8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the collar portion is folded
in the collapsed state of the rolled-up incontinence product.
9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the package comprises an
upper and a lower substantially rigid package portion.
10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the upper and lower package
portions are hinged at a hinge element provided at an edge portion
of the package.
11. The combination of claim 9, wherein the package comprises a
protrusion engaging the collar portion, so as to retain the
incontinence product relative to the package.
12. The combination of claim 10, wherein the incontinence product
biases one of the package portions away from the other, and wherein
the package comprises a closing element for retaining the upper and
lower package portions in a closed configuration.
13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the closure element
comprises a jaw element, which is hinged to one of the lower and
upper package portions, and which is arranged to releasably engage
the other one of the package portions.
14. The combination of claim 13, wherein, at least in a closed
configuration of the package, a first portion of the jaw element
forms a continuation of that one of the package portions, to which
it is hinged.
15. The combination of claim 13, wherein a second portion of the
jaw element overlaps at least a portion of said other package
portion.
16. The combination of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is integral
with the hinge element.
17. The combination of claim 9, wherein the upper and lower package
portions are interconnected by means of a sliding connection.
18. The combination of claim 9, wherein the upper and lower package
portions define an open and a closed configuration of the package,
and wherein, in the closed configuration of the package, a height
of the package is at most 1/3 of a width of the package, and
wherein said width is at most 80 mm.
19. The combination of claim 9, wherein at least one of the upper
and lower package portions has a thickened portion.
20. The combination of claim 10, wherein the hinge element is
hinged to the lower package portion at a bottom surface of the
lower package portion, and wherein the hinge element is hinged to
the upper package portion at a top surface of the upper package
portion, whereby, in a closed configuration of the package, the
hinge element forms part of an end wall of the package.
21. The combination of claim 20, wherein at least one of the upper
and lower package portions defines an upright edge wall, and
wherein the at least one of said edge walls and said hinge element
comprises a protrusion allowing the edge wall and the hinge element
to enter into a mutual engagement.
22. The combination of claim 1, wherein the package is provided as
one single injection moulded element.
23. A method for manufacturing a combination of male incontinence
product and a package therefor, wherein the male incontinence
product comprises: a penile sheath, which is rolled up to form a
proximal collar portion of the incontinence product, and a drainage
portion for connecting a cavity of the sheath to a urine-collecting
bag, whereby at least one of the penile sheath and the drainage
portion is sufficiently flexible to allow collapsing of the
incontinence product when in its rolled-up configuration; the
method comprising the steps of: providing the package in an open
state thereof; placing the incontinence product in the package;
collapsing the incontinence product; and closing the package in
such a way that the incontinence product is retained in its
collapsed state in the closed package.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the steps of collapsing and
closing occur essentially simultaneously.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the package comprises an upper
and a lower substantially rigid package portion, and a hinge
element which is hinged to the lower package portion at a bottom
surface of the lower package portion, and which is hinged to the
upper package portion at a top surface of the upper package
portion, wherein, at said step of providing the package, the hinge
element essentially coextends with said bottom surface and said top
surface, the method comprising the further step of: entering the
hinge element into engagement with an upright edge wall defined by
one of the upper and lower package portions, the step of entering
occurring subsequent to the step of placing the incontinence
product in the package.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of providing the
package comprises casting at least a portion of the package by
injection moulding.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the upper and lower package
portions and the hinge element are provided as one single,
injection moulded element.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a male incontinence product
and a package therefor. The incontinence product comprises a penile
sheath which is rolled up to form a collar portion, when the
product is in the package. The incontinence product further
comprises a drainage portion for connecting a cavity of the sheath
to a urine-collecting bag. In literature, male incontinence
products of the present type may also be referred to as external
catheters, uridoms or urisheaths.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] WO 91/17728 discloses a male incontinence product of the
above-mentioned type. The incontinence product comprises a penile
sheath, or "body portion", which is delivered to the user in a
rolled-up configuration, in which the penile sheath is rolled-up to
form a proximal collar portion. During use, the sheath forms a
tight fit around the user's penis. Optionally, an adhesive is
provided on an inner surface of the sheath. The cavity formed by
the sheath communicates with a distal drainage portion, or
"drainage tube", of the incontinence product to allow urine to flow
into a urine collecting bag. Compared to the penile sheath, at
least a distal tubular part of the drainage portion has a
relatively large wall thickness, so as to enable connection thereof
to the urine collecting bag. The drainage portion may comprise a
funnel-like part forming a transition between the sheath and the
distal tubular part of the drainage portion. The urine collecting
bag does not normally form an integral part of the incontinence
product and is usually provided as a separate entity to the user.
During use, the urine collecting bag may conveniently be fastened
to one of the user's legs.
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a male incontinence product 100 of the
above type, arranged in a prior art package 102. The package
comprises two foils of a plastics material, which are torn apart at
one of two end zones 104 when the package is to be opened. In the
package, the incontinence product is stored in a ready-to-use
configuration with a distal tubular end portion 106 coextending
with a bellow-shaped connecting portion 108 and with the penile
sheath rolled up to form a proximal collar portion 110. It will
hence be understood that the drainage portion comprises the distal
tubular portion 106 and the bellow-shaped connecting portion 108.
The package may be generally opaque, as illustrated in FIG. 1, with
a transparent window 112, through which the incontinence product
100 is visible from the outside. The dimensions of the package of
FIG. 1 may vary with the specific dimensions of the product
accommodated in the package. Generally, the package measures 8-10
cm by 10-15 cm and has a thickness of 3-5 cm.
[0004] The prior art package of FIG. 1 is rather space consuming,
as the incontinence product, unlike a contraceptive, features the
above-mentioned longitudinally extending drainage portion.
Additionally, the package has a tendency to crackle when handled or
even when simply accommodated in a user's pocket. For these
reasons, the package of FIG. 1 is not as discrete as sometimes
desirable. It is therefore an object of embodiments of the present
invention to provide a combination of a male incontinence product
and a package therefor which is discrete, and which occupies less
space than prior art packages. It is a further object of
embodiments of the present invention to provide such a combination,
which is convenient in use, and which may be manufactured at
reasonable costs. It is a still further object of embodiments of
the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a
combination of a male incontinence product and a package therefor,
which method allows for automated and cost-efficient packaging, and
which results in a combination of an incontinence product and a
package overcoming at least some of the disadvantages of prior art
packages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In a first aspect, the invention provides a combination of a
male incontinence product and a package accommodating the
incontinence product in a rolled-up configuration thereof, the
incontinence product comprising:
[0006] a penile sheath, which during use is unrolled to define a
cavity for a length of the user's penis, and which, in the
rolled-up configuration of the incontinence product, is rolled up
to form a proximal collar portion of the incontinence product;
and
[0007] a drainage portion for connecting the cavity of the sheath
to a urine-collecting device, e.g. a urine collecting bag;
whereby at least one of the penile sheath and the drainage portion
is sufficiently flexible to allow collapsing of the incontinence
product when in its rolled-up configuration; the combination
further comprising at least one retention element, which retains
the rolled-up incontinence product in a collapsed state.
[0008] It will be appreciated that the present combination allows
for compact storage of the incontinence product, as the retention
element ensures that the product is retained in its collapsed state
in the package, typically when the package is closed. In one
embodiment, the incontinence product may be collapsed by simple
compression or flattening of the collar portion to reduce the
transverse extent of the incontinence product, i.e. pressing the
collar sides against each other. In other embodiments, the drainage
portion may alternatively or additionally be bent away from its
initial position, i.e. such that a centre axis of the drainage
portion, or a centre axis of a part of the drainage portion, does
not co-extended with a centre axis of the rolled-up sheath. Thereby
the longitudinal extent of the incontinence product is reduced. For
example, a funnel-like proximal part of the drainage portion may be
bent or folded in the collapsed state, or the drainage portion may
be bent at a transition between a distal tubular part of the
drainage portion and the funnel-like proximal part. The funnel-like
part may e.g. be bellow-shaped to achieve mechanical stability and
improved bending capabilities. In this case the collapsed state may
be achieved by folding-up of the bellow-shaped interconnecting
portion, whereby the longitudinal extent of the incontinence
product is reduced without bending the distal tubular part of the
drainage portion away from its initial position. It is also
contemplated that the distal tubular part itself may be
bellow-shaped or capable of being rolled up to allow an even more
compact collapsed configuration.
[0009] The penile sheath and the drainage portion may be made from
a latex material as elaborated in WO 91/17728. Typically the
material of the sheath and the drainage portion is chosen from the
groups of cross-linked elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers.
Cross-linked elastomers can for example be latex and silicones, and
thermoplastic elastomers can for example be SEBS
(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene). Thus, in other embodiments,
the sheath and drainage portion are made from a silicone material
or alternatively a SEBS material, which has the advantage over
latex that essentially no permanent deformation of the material
occurs, even if the incontinence product has been stored in the
collapsed state for a long period of time, such as e.g. one
year.
[0010] In embodiments of the present invention, the retention
element may be integral with a wall of the package, such that when
the package is opened and/or when the incontinence product is
removed from the package, the product undergoes a transformation
from its collapsed state to its ready-to-use, non-collapsed state.
For example, the retention element may be constituted by a portion
of the package. Alternatively, the retention element may be tied
around the incontinence product in the collapsed configuration and
the retention element may for example comprise a flexible element,
rubber band or a strip. In the latter embodiment, the package may,
in addition to the strip, comprise a bag or pouch made from e.g. a
plastics foil to prevent contamination of the incontinence product.
The strip may be connected to the bag or pouch, or it may be a
separate entity connected only to the incontinence product. The
retention element may furthermore be provided with two grips, for
example formed as a part of the strip. When the grips are pulled
apart the strip is torn or otherwise opened allowing the
incontinence product to enter its non-collapsed state.
[0011] The package may comprise an upper and a lower substantially
rigid package portion manufactured e.g. by injection moulding of a
plastics material. In the present context, "substantially rigid" is
intended to mean that the package portions feature sufficient
rigidity to prevent the incontinence product from unfolding when it
is accommodated in the package. Preferably the shape and dimensions
of each package portion are substantially non-transformable by
hand. In one embodiment, the upper package portion may form a screw
cap for the lower package portion. Alternatively, the upper and
lower package portions may be secured by a frictional
interconnection, by a snap interconnection or by a strip. In yet
another alternative, only the lower package portion is rigid,
whereas the upper package portion comprises a foil to be peeled off
the lower package portion. A still further alternative is to
provide a sliding interconnection, i.e. to provide the upper
package portion in the form of a sliding lid. Finally, as described
in further detail below, the upper and lower package portions may
be hinged at a hinge element provided at an edge portion of the
package. Conveniently, a protrusion for engaging the collar portion
as described in more detail below may be integral with the hinge
element.
[0012] In order to at least partially retain the incontinence
product relative to the package, a protrusion may be provided in
the package, which engages the collar portion. The protrusion may
e.g. extend from the hinge element or from a side wall of one of
the package portions. As an alternative or further measure, there
may be provided one or more protrusions extending centrally with
respect to the collar portion and/or the drainage portion, either
at an inside thereof or at an outer surface thereof.
[0013] Handling of the present combination may be facilitated if
the incontinence product biases one of the package portions away
from the other. In such embodiments, the package may comprise a
closing element retaining the upper and lower package portions in a
closed configuration. Thus, when the closing element is released to
open the package, the incontinence product assists in opening the
package. Preferably, the package allows the incontinence product to
unfold to its non-collapsed, ready-to-use configuration upon
opening of the package without any need for handling of the
incontinence product. Thus, user-handling of the incontinence
product is limited to removal of the product from the package and
subsequent application. The closure element retaining the upper and
lower package portions in the closed package configuration may
comprise a jaw element, which is hinged to one of the lower and
upper package portions, and which is arranged to releasably engage
the other one of the package portions. Such releasable engagement
may e.g. be achieved by a notch-protrusion interconnection. The
required releasability may conveniently be achieved by the
elasticity of the material(s) from which the package portion
concerned and the jaw element is/are made. In order to provide a
secure grip for the user, the jaw element may extend the entire
width or length of the package, and an end portion of the jaw may
form a gripping edge. It has been found that the package may be
held securely in its closed configuration if a first portion of the
jaw element forms a continuation of that one of the package
portions, to which it is hinged. For example, if the jaw element is
hinged to the lower package portion, the first portion of the jaw
element may form an extension of, or part of, a lower surface of
the package, rather than simply being hinged to a far end edge of
the lower surface. Likewise, a second portion of the jaw element
may overlap at least a portion of that other package portion, to
which the first jaw portion is not hinged. For example, the second
portion of the jaw element may overlap the upper package portion
when the package is closed. Conveniently, the jaw element is
provided at an edge of the package, which is opposite to that edge,
at which the hinge element interconnects the upper and lower
package portions.
[0014] It will be appreciated that storage of the incontinence
product in the collapsed state in the package confers the
possibility of a compact package design. In embodiments of the
present invention, the package is relatively flat when closed, i.e.
such that a height of the package is at most 1/3 of a width or
diameter of the package, such as at most 1/4 or 1/5 of the width or
diameter. The width or diameter of the package is typically in the
range of 30-80 mm, such as 30-70 mm, such as 30-60 mm, such as
35-60 mm. In the present context, the term "width or diameter" is
to be understood as the largest cross-sectional dimension of the
package in a plane projection. The height of the package is
typically in the range of 5-20 mm, such as 5-15 mm, such as 7-13
mm, such as 8-12 mm. The height need not be constant throughout the
entire width of the package. If, for example, the drainage portion
of the incontinence product is bent or folded away from is initial
position in the collapsed state, the drainage portion will normally
extend beyond the periphery of the collar portion. If a distal end
of the drainage portion may be compressed to a height smaller than
the height of remaining portions of the collapsed incontinence
product, then that portion of the package, which accommodates the
distal end of the drainage portion, may likewise have a smaller
height than remaining portions of the package. It is preferable
that a lower surface of the package is essentially planar to
achieve a stable support on a planar surface, e.g. a desk.
[0015] At least one of the upper and lower package portions may
have a thickened portion. The thickened portion may e.g. be
provided for purposes of reinforcement. However, the thickened
portion may also be provided in order to optimize manufacture of
the package, e.g. by injection moulding. If, for example, the
package is manufactured by injection moulding as one single
element, transport of liquefied plastics material from an inlet of
a mould to remote zones of the mould is aided by the presence of a
groove or trail in the mould, which results in the aforementioned
thickened portion in the package. By optimising the manufacture as
described a lightweight package can furthermore be provided as the
remaining material can be formed relatively thin compared to the
thickened portion.
[0016] As previously discussed, the package may comprise upper and
lower package portions, which are mutually hinged by a hinge
element. In one embodiment, the hinge element may be hinged to the
lower package portion at a bottom surface of the lower package
portion, and likewise it may be hinged to the upper package portion
at a top surface of the upper package portion. Thus, in a closed
configuration of the package, the hinge element forms part of an
end wall of the package, whereby a height of the hinge element is
essentially equal to the height of the package. At least one of the
upper and lower package portions, and preferably both package
portions, may define an upright edge wall to keep the package
portions at a controlled mutual distance when the package is closed
and to prevent contaminants from entering the package. The edge
walls and the hinge element may be arranged such that at least one
of the edge walls and the hinge element comprises a protrusion
allowing the edge wall and the hinge element to enter (or "click")
into mutual engagement. In one embodiment, each of the free ends of
the hinge element comprises such a protrusion, which may releasably
click the hinge element into engagement with the edge wall of the
lower package portion. The edge walls of the upper and lower
package portions may be shaped to constitute mutual guides to
ensure proper alignment of the package portions when the package is
being closed and to contribute to mechanical stability of the
package.
[0017] In a second aspect the present invention provides method for
manufacturing a combination of a male incontinence product and a
package therefor, wherein the male incontinence product
comprises:
[0018] a penile sheath, which is rolled up to form a proximal
collar portion of the incontinence product, and a drainage portion
for connecting a cavity of the sheath to a urine-collecting bag,
whereby at least one of the penile sheath and the drainage portion
is sufficiently flexible to allow collapsing of the incontinence
product when in its rolled-up configuration;
the method comprising the steps of:
[0019] providing the package in an open state thereof;
[0020] placing the incontinence product in the package;
[0021] collapsing the incontinence product; and
[0022] closing the package in such a way that the incontinence
product is retained in its collapsed state in the closed
package.
[0023] Accordingly, a combination of an incontinence product and a
package featuring the benefits and advantages described above in
connection with the first aspect of the invention may be
manufactured by embodiments of the present method. It will be
appreciated that the method may be performed in an automated manner
at low cost. It should be noticed that the steps not necessarily
occur in the order mentioned, for example in one presently
preferred embodiment, the steps of collapsing and closing occur
essentially simultaneously.
[0024] One embodiment of the present method is for the manufacture
of a combination, of which the package comprises an upper and a
lower substantially rigid package portion, and a hinge element
which is hinged to the lower package portion at a bottom surface of
the lower package portion, and which is hinged to the upper package
portion to a top surface of the upper package portion. Thus, the
package may initially be provided in a configuration, in which the
hinge element essentially coextends with the aforementioned bottom
and top surfaces. In this configuration, the incontinence product
may be placed at the bottom surface of the lower package portion,
and subsequently the hinge element may be entered into engagement
with an upright edge wall defined by one of the upper and lower
package portions. Such engagement may be achieved by protrusions at
the hinge element as discussed in above in connection with the
first aspect of the invention. This design of the package and the
assembling process made possible thereby confer further advantages
with respect to achieving a cost-efficient, automated method of
assembling.
[0025] The step of providing the package may comprise casting at
least a portion of the package by injection moulding. Preferably,
the entire package is injection moulded in one single piece.
[0026] The package can be made of many different types of
materials. Typically plastics, such as polypropylene, are used.
Alternatively, as the package is usually disposed after the
incontinence product has been used, the product can advantageously
be made of a biodegradable material, such a paper mixed with a
soluble starch or a biodegradable plastic.
[0027] The method of the second aspect of the invention may further
comprise appropriate steps for arriving at those features and
characteristics of the combination of the first aspect of the
invention, which are described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Embodiments of the present combination of a male
incontinence product and package therefor as well as of the present
method will hereinafter be described with reference to the
drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art combination of a male
incontinence product and package;
[0030] FIGS. 2-5 illustrate a first embodiment of the combination
of the present invention;
[0031] FIGS. 6-10 illustrate further embodiments of the combination
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The prior art package of FIG. 1 is described in connection
with the background of the invention above.
[0033] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5, the package 200 is shown in
its closed configuration in FIG. 2, accommodating a male
incontinence product. The package includes a lower package portion
202 and an upper package portion 204, which are permanently
interconnected by means of a hinge as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
A closure element is provided in the form of a jaw element 206
formed integrally with the lower package portion 202 via a hinge
connection allowing the jaw element to pivot away from its position
of FIG. 2, in which it engages the upper package portion 204 to
keep the package closed, to the position of FIGS. 3-5, in which it
does not engage the upper package portion. The jaw element 206 has
a first, lower portion 208, which in the closed configuration of
FIG. 2 coextends with and forms an extension of a lower surface of
the lower package portion 202. A second portion 210 of the jaw
element 206 overlaps and engages and end section of the upper
package portion 204. To facilitate the user's handling of the jaw
element 206 to open the package, a gripping section 214 is formed
at the jaw element, and a step 212 is formed at the upper package
portion 204 to provide space for one or more of the user's finger
tips. The user may conveniently open the package by placing his
thumb parallel with the gripping section 214 and by then engaging
the gripping section with his thumb.
[0034] Once the package has been manufactured, preferably by
injection moulding thereof, the package is initially provided in
the configuration of FIG. 3, in which a hinge element 216
interconnecting the upper and lower package portions essentially
coextends with a bottom surface of the lower package portion 202
and with a top surface of the upper package portion 204, which in
the configuration of FIG. 3 faces downwardly. In this
configuration, an incontinence product 100 (cf. FIG. 4) is placed
in the package with its collar portion 110 supported by the lower
package portion 202. Subsequently, the upper package portion 204 is
pivoted towards the lower package portion 202 around the hinge
element 216, the hinge element being connected to the upper and
lower package portions along hinge lines 218 and 220 of reduced
wall thickness. During the transition from the configuration of
FIG. 3 to the configuration of FIG. 4, protrusions 222 and 224 of
the hinge element 216 click into engagement with upright edge walls
226 and 228 of the lower package portion, whereby the hinge element
is no longer free to pivot around hinge line 218. Only the upper
package portion may now pivot around hinge line 220.
[0035] FIG. 3 further illustrates upright edge walls 230 and 232 of
the upper package portion. The edge walls 230 and 232 are arranged
such that they, upon closing of the package, engage the edge walls
226 and 228 of the lower package portion. The edge walls 226 and
228 form guides 234 and 236 for mating guides or rails 238 and 240
of the upper edge walls 230 and 232. The jaw element 206 forms side
walls 242 and 244 which in the closed configuration of FIG. 2
coextend with the upright edge walls 226, 228, 230 and 232.
Additionally, to reduce the risk of contamination of the
incontinence product in the package, a free end portion of the
upper package portion 204 is provided with a wall element 246.
[0036] The hinge element 216 includes a further protrusion 248,
which in the configuration of FIG. 4 faces inwardly, i.e. towards
the incontinence product in the package. The protrusion 248
overlaps and engages the collar portion 110 of the incontinence
product, so as to retain it relative to the lower package portion.
Preferably, the upright distance between the protrusion 248 in the
configuration of FIG. 4 is slightly smaller than the height of the
collar portion 110, e.g. 0.5 mm smaller to provide a firm, but yet
easily releasable grip on the collar portion.
[0037] FIG. 3 further illustrates a thickened portion 250 in a
bottom surface of the lower package portion 202, formed by a groove
in a mould of an injection moulding machine, in which the package
is preferably formed in one single piece. The groove in the mould
and thus the thickened portion 250 extend from the hinge element
216, at which an injection inlet may be provided, so as to aid
liquefied plastics material to distribute evenly in the lower
package portion. FIG. 3 additionally shows a hinge line 252, at
which the jaw element 206 is pivotally connected to the lower
package portion 202.
[0038] Following placement of the incontinence product in the lower
package portion and transition of the upper package portion to the
configuration of FIG. 4, the upper package portion is moved further
towards the lower package portion by pivoting around hinge line
220. Thereby an inwardly facing portion of the wall element 246
(cf. FIG. 3) engages a tip of a distal tubular part 106 of the
drainage portion of the incontinence product. As the upper package
portion is pivoted further towards the lower package portion, the
upper package portion causes the drainage portion 206 to kink at a
transition between the distal tubular part 106 of the drainage
portion and a bellow-shaped proximal part 108 of the drainage
section. At the same time, a distal portion of the bellow-shaped
part 108 bends with the distal tubular part 106, whereas the
remainder of the bellow-shaped part 108 is being compressed as the
upper package portion moves closer to the lower package portion.
FIG. 5 shows an intermediate configuration of the package
accommodating the incontinence product immediately prior to the
totally closed configuration of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows that a
protrusion 254 is provided at the upper package portion 204. In the
closed configuration of FIG. 2, the protrusion 254 engages a mating
notch in a downwardly facing surface of the second portion 210 of
the jaw element 206 (cf. FIG. 2). This notch-protrusion connection
provides a secure, releasable and re-closable fit between the jaw
element 206 and the upper package portion to keep the package
closed. The fit should be strong enough to counteract that force,
which the collapsed incontinence product in the package provides,
as it is biased towards its initial non-collapsed state of FIG. 4.
It has been found that stability of the jaw closure mechanism is
improved by letting the first portion 208 of the jaw element form
an extension of the lower surface of the lower package portion.
Likewise, the overlap of the upper portion 210 of the jaw element
improves stability of the package.
[0039] When the package is to be opened, the jaw element 206 is
released from the upper package portion, and the biasing force of
the incontinence product causes the upper package portion to pivot
around hinge line 220 (cf. FIG. 4) to the position of FIG. 4. The
user can then place the package on a surface, such as on a sink,
where it will rest with minimal risk of contamination while he
cleans himself. The user may then remove the incontinence product
from the package and apply it.
[0040] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the package 600 comprises a
lower package portion 602 and an upper package portion in the form
of a screw cap 604. FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment, in
which the package 700 includes a lower package portion 702 and a
lid 704 with a downwardly facing rim portion intended to
frictionally engage a cylindrical wall of the lower package portion
702. A strip 706 interconnecting the lid and the lower package
portion is provided to prevent the lid from being lost. FIG. 8
illustrates a yet further embodiment of a package 800, in which the
incontinence product is accommodated in a lower package portion 802
closed by a peelable foil 804. In the package 900 of FIG. 9, the
upper and lower package portions 902 and 904 have a rectangular
shape allowing the upper package portion to slide relative to the
lower package portion as indicated by arrow 908. A depression 906
is provided in the upper package portion for facilitating opening
of the package. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the package 1000
comprises a lower package portion 1002 accommodating at least a
portion of the incontinence product. A strip 1004 is tied around
the lower package portion 1002 and the incontinence product to
retain the incontinence product in its collapsed state. The package
1000 may further include a pouch or bag (not shown) to protect the
incontinence product from contamination. In an alternative
embodiment (not shown) resembling that of FIG. 10 the lower package
portion 1002 is not provided and only the strip 1004 retain the
incontinence product in its collapsed state.
[0041] In the above embodiments of FIGS. 2-9, the retention
element, which retains the rolled-up incontinence product in its
collapsed state when the package is closed, generally comprises the
respective upper package portions and their interconnections to the
respective lower package portions. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS.
2-5, the retention element comprises the upper package portion 204
and the jaw element 206. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the retention
element comprises the screw cap 604 with it inner threads as well
as the outer threads provided at the lower package portion 602. In
the embodiment of FIG. 7, the retention element includes the lid
704 with its peripheral rim, which frictionally engages the lower
package portion 702. In FIG. 8, the retention element includes the
peelable lid 804 and its adhering connection to the lower package
portion 802. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the retention element
includes the slidable lid 904 and its engagement with the lower
package portion 902. Finally, in FIG. 10, the retention element
comprises the strip 1004 and its interconnection with the lower
package portion 1002.
[0042] In all of the above embodiments, a seal may be provided
which is irreversibly broken when the package is opened for the
first time. Accordingly, the user may verify that the package has
not been opened previously.
[0043] The dimensions of the packages of FIGS. 2-10 may vary with
the dimensions of the specific incontinence products accommodated
thereby. Generally, the dimensions of the packages are about 4-6 cm
by 5-7 cm, and the height of the packages when closed is about 8-12
mm.
[0044] Using the packaging disclosed it is furthermore possible to
save considerable space during transport of the incontinence
product. For example a box packed with thirty pieces of
incontinence products packed in the packaging illustrated in FIGS.
2-5 have a volume of 1500 cm.sup.3. Compared to a box packed with
thirty pieces of incontinence products packed in the prior art
package as shown in FIG. 1, which has a volume of 6800 cm.sup.3, a
box packed with the packages illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 takes up less
than one fourth the space. Such a reduction in space not only
provides for cheaper transport and storage costs, but also creates
more freedom for the user as he can carry a larger number of
products or alternatively store a few products more discreetly than
before.
* * * * *