Packages For Small Articles

Abstract

A flat disposable package for surgical supplies having front and rear panels firmly attached one to the other and having an internal pocket on one side edge to receive a side margin of the article or articles contained therein. The package also has pull tabs on one end to facilitate the sterile opening of the package.

Description

The invention relates to improvements in disposable packages for flat articles, such as surgical supplies.

Packages for sterile articles, such as gauze pads, dressings and the like, should be of such structure that they can be easily and quickly opened without contaminating the article therein, further, packages of this type must be neat and attractive in appearance and not expensive to manufacture.

In particular, the package of the present invention is sealed on all of its edges in such manner that it may be easily opened without contaminating the inner contents. To this end, the package includes an inner flap on one side margin that provides a pocket to receive a margin of the surgical pad, surgical dressing, or other flat article, so that when the package is opened the pad or dressing can be held in place without contamination. Opening is facilitated by providing pull tabs on the end edge of the package.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved disposable package which can be inexpensively manufactured and which is capable of being readily opened without contaminating its contents.

Another object is to provide a disposable package of the character referred to with pull tabs on one edge engageable by the fingers to open the package.

Another object is to provide a pocket along one of the longitudinal edges of the package and on its inside, to receive a margin of a pad or dressing for preventing it from becoming displaced during opening.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank used for producing the package, showing a surgical pad laid thereover.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing one side margin of the blank folded over to provide a pocket for the pad.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the completed package.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the completed package shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the completed package shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view, line FIG. 1, showing two surgical pads in place thereon.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a package formed from the FIG. 6 blank.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to the exemplary form of package 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, of the accompanying drawings, the blank 11 shown in FIG. 1 is formed from a single sheet of thin paper. This may be non-transparent or transparent, as may be desired. The formed package is suitable for various flat articles such as gauze pads special surgical dressings, paired surgical sponges (4 .times. 4's) and the like, and it may contain one or two such items.

The blank 11 is substantially rectangular in form and it is divided by a center crease 12 into a rear panel 13 and a front panel 14. With a single large surgical pad 15 arranged on the blank as shown, one of its longitudinal edge margins, as at 16, is folded over inwardly to overlie the related margins of the pad and it is adhesively or otherwise secured at its ends 17 to the body of the blank so as to define in effect, a side pocket. The front panel is then folded over along the central fold line 12 to overlie the rear panel and its matching side edges and end margins are adhesively secured one to the other by an adhesive 19,21. This adhesive may be any suitable glue not affected by sterilization, or a pressure sensitive tacky material such as latex non-setting adhesive that can withstand sterilization of the package. With certain materials heat sealing may be employed. The adhesive or seal should preferably be applied in continuous lines.

It should be noted that the adhesive 19 at the end margin of the package is spaced inwardly from the free edges thereof to provide pull tabs 22 which are engageable between the fingers to aid in pulling the two panels of the package apart and into its original lengthwise position. After the package is opened the contents may be removed.

In the assembly shown in FIGS. 6-8, the package 10 is formed as described above and like numerals identify corresponding parts. Here however, the package contains two surgical dressings 23, one lying on each panel 13-14.

A package such as described above allows the doctor to pull a pad out of its pocket, to shake it out or pick it up or allow it to remain sterilly on the inside sterile surface of the package until used.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as details of the structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

Claims

I claim:

1. A package comprising a rear panel of paper having top, bottom, and side edges, a front panel having top, bottom and side edges connected along its bottom edge to the bottom edge of the rear panel by a first fold line, flap means folded on a second fold line from one side edge inwardly into superimposed position on said rear and front panels, means securing the end margins of said flap means to the respective panels, a relatively flat unwrapped article loosely positioned on said panels and having one margin underlying the flap means, said front panel being folded on said first fold line into superimposed position on the rear panel enclosing the article therebetween, a pull tab extending beyond the free top edge of each panel, and means connecting the complemental edges of the rear and front panels together, said pull tabs being free of one another to provide finger grips for use in sterilly opening the package and for holding the open package during removal of the article, said flap means protecting the article from contamination both during and after opening of the package.

2. The package recited in claim 1, in which the flat article is comprised of two parts one overlying each panel.

3. The package recited in claim 1, in which the inturned flap means has its ends secured to the related panel.

4. The package recited in claim 1, in which a sterilizable adhesive connects the complemental edges of the panels together.