CN219524870U - Independent package of condom - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model relates to individual packaging of condoms. The present utility model aims to improve the identification characteristics of the front face of the package. For this purpose, an interaction enhancement effect between two factors of visual perception and surface roughness is used. The individual packages of the present utility model are packages having a front surface and a back surface. The two surfaces of the package are made up of three layers: the middle layer is made of aluminum foil; the top layer (outer layer) is made of PET (or Rauvt mulberry polyester fiber); and the third layer (inner layer) is made of polyethylene. The front surface of the package differs from the back surface in that the front surface includes an identification mark: visual symbols in the form of drawings applied on the inner surface of the PET film using organic soluble paint and tactile signs made by applying varnish on top of the outer layer of the PET film.

Description

Independent package of condom

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to condom packaging.

Background

Special requirements are imposed on pharmaceutical packaging. The condoms should be packaged in a separate sealed overwrap according to GOST ISO 4074-10-93 rubber condoms, packages and condoms in labels and consumer packaging. The overwrap should be opaque, resistant to mold and not attract insects. The separate overwrap should ensure that the condom is not physically damaged when opened. The individual overwrap is thus made of aluminum foil and is generally rectangular in shape. This over-packing shape allows the latex rubber product to be packaged and stored without damage or deformation. In addition, the foil prevents deterioration of the material during long-term storage and protects the latex from light.

For operational requirements, the individual packages should also be easy to open. To meet these requirements, manufacturers ensure that the overwrap covers the condom on one side of the condom from the other.

A known example is a condom overpack comprising two sheets of flexible material, the edges of which are joined together to provide a container for a rolled condom, the container comprising a ring and a storage tip. The front side of the outer package is provided with an annular line of weakness. The area of the sheet material where the line of weakness is formed is provided with a tab on the edge of the line to enable the overwrap to be gripped and opened. When opened, the overwrap provides access to the condom with the storage tip facing outwardly, which allows the tip to be properly gripped and the condom ready for use (RU 2562052, publication date: 2015/09/10, B65D 75/58; hereinafter "D1"). To open the package and use the condom, it is necessary to know on which side the tab is located. A disadvantage of this solution is that it is not equipped with any ergonomic parts that can help to identify the front side of the overwrap by touching.

To solve this problem, the inventors of patent US2015060311 (2015-03-05, A61F6/00; hereinafter referred to as "D2") suggested an image using fluorescent or phosphorescent material on the front side and bumps. These remarkable features make the product fully functional in dark or low light environments by using fluorescent or phosphorescent lighting and make it suitable for blind or partially blind people by using tactile perception. According to the disclosure, the bumps are made of plastic or silicon material, which adheres to the surface of the package as well as to the luminescent material. The bumps on the surface of the package and the fluorescent or phosphorescent material are secured with a transparent thin adhesive sheet. Obviously, the adhesive coating may reduce the tactile perception and fluorescent or phosphorescent illumination. If the overwrap is not exposed to light, fluorescent or phosphorescent illumination is not functional. In addition, mass production of these overwraps is not cost-effective due to the huge expense of material-to-manufacture.

Another known example is an overwrap (CN 107963331, 2018-04-27, B65D77/00; hereinafter "DZ") comprising an indication of where it should be opened, which is considered to be the closest prior art. The essence of this solution is that the side of the outer package covering the condom opening is marked with plastic or rubber to achieve a tactile sensation. These indicia allow the user to identify the front side by touching and open the package if necessary. The haptic area is about 1 square centimeter and may be square or circular in shape (5 shown in fig. 1). The tactile portion adheres to the package surface.

As outlined above, many manufacturers use tactile and/or visual symbols to package, which allows one side of the outer package to be distinguished from the other, thereby allowing the user to identify the front side of the package ("front side" refers to the side that covers the condom opening). The tactile signs used in the prior art are relief patterns formed by adhering small pieces of plastic, rubber or silicon material.

From the consumer's perspective, these solutions are ergonomically superior to outer packaging materials that are not equipped with similar logos; however, there are still unresolved problems in providing improved identification properties for the front side of the overpack. This is related to the need to maintain the physical integrity of the product: undamaged, clean and maximally effective to ensure safety during intercourse to reduce the likelihood of sexually transmitted infections or accidental pregnancy. In addition, mass production of these products should be cost effective and technically efficient.

Disclosure of Invention

Processing these problems ensures the achievement of technical results, namely providing the front side of the individual overwrap with improved identification properties without compromising its manufacturability. Technical results are based on synergistic effects of two factors: visual perception and tactile perception. The individual overwrap is a sheet of overwrap having a front side and a rear side, as described herein. Each side has three layers, the middle layer being made of aluminum foil, the upper layer (outer layer) being made of PET, and the third layer (inner layer) being made of polyethylene. The front side of the outer package differs from the rear side in that the former contains identifying indicia: (i) A visual symbol in the form of an image in a solvent-borne paint on the inner surface of the PET coating and (ii) a tactile marking in the form of a varnish on the outer surface of the PET coating.

The paint and varnish are applied by gravure printing.

The visual symbols and tactile signs may be horizontal stripes, vertical stripes or diagonal stripes, geometric shapes, and other patterns, brands or advertising images. The visual symbol may have one or more colors. The visual symbol and the tactile mark can be placed on the same point; in this case, the varnish for the tactile marker is applied to the outer surface of the PET coating at the same location as the visual symbol. Another option is to apply the varnish to places other than the image, i.e. places other than the visual symbols. The tactile markings may have a thickness of less than 1 micron to 10 microns.

Drawings

The essence of the claimed utility model is shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an outer package;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the outer package;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an outer package;

fig. 4 is a schematic view of the front side of the overwrap, with the varnish covering its entire surface;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the front side of an overwrap, with a varnish covering a portion of its surface and overlying a visual symbol;

fig. 6 is a schematic view of the front side of the overwrap, with the varnish covering a portion of its surface and being disposed beyond the visual symbol.

Detailed Description

The individual condom overwrap is a sheet of package 1 having a front side 2 and a rear side 3. The front side 2 is the side covering the opening of the condom 4. Thus, the opposite side is the rear side 3.

All edges 5 of the outer package are firmly joined together to provide an airtight seal. The side edges 5a are flat and the top and bottom edges 5b are notched to facilitate opening.

The front side 2 and the rear side 3 of the individual outer package each have three layers: the upper layer (outer layer) 6 is a PET coating; the intermediate layer 7 is an aluminum foil, preferably 7±2 microns thick; the third (inner) layer 8 is polyethylene. The three layers are laminated structures, i.e. they are bonded together using known lamination techniques. The new feature of the proposed overwrap is that two types of identification marks are placed on both surfaces of the upper (outer) layer 6 of the front side 2: visual signs of paint 9 on the bottom surface and tactile signs of varnish 10 on the top surface.

Examples (fig. 1 to 4) show diagonal strips of paint 9, but the visual symbols may have different patterns: horizontal stripes, vertical stripes, geometric patterns, branding or advertising images. Paint 9 is applied to the inner surface of the PET coating by gravure printing. A distinctive feature of intaglio printing is that the thickness of the paint coating on the same impression can vary from tens of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers. Thus, the thickness of the paint coating may be less than 1 micron to 10 microns or more. Gravure printing uses solvent-borne paint in any color palette, including colorless paint. The image serves as a visual symbol.

The effect is enhanced by applying a matt translucent varnish 10 to the top surface of the upper layer 6 of the wrapper. The finished overwrap has a smooth rear side 3 and a textured front side 2, i.e., with a painted texture. The varnish coating serves as a tactile marker. The varnish is applied by gravure printing. In this case, alternating painted and unpainted surfaces can produce a tactile sensation.

The utility model is illustrated in the figures (figures 1 to 4).

The individual overwrap is a one-piece package. The front side is identified by diagonal, parallel, evenly spaced blue stripes. The strip is applied by gravure printing onto the inner surface of the upper layer (outer layer) (PET coating). A clear varnish is applied to the top surface (upper surface) of the front side. The varnish is placed on the strip (visual symbol). The alternating painted and unpainted surfaces create tactile indicia so that the upper side of the condom opening of the overpack can be identified by touch.

Thus, the use of visual symbols and tactile markings as identifying indicia allows the open side of the overwrap in the barrier-covering contraceptive to be readily identified, and the textured surface of the front side of the overwrap allows tactile perception in a dark environment, making the product suitable for the blind, enhancing its identifying properties. In fact, the application of paints and varnishes to intaglio printing ensures high efficiency. Another advantage over the prior art is that the components of the identification mark do not fall out or separate.

Claims (6)

1. A separate package for condoms, designed as a front portion and a rear portion, one of which has a logo on the surface, characterized in that the front portion has at least one PET film layer, the upper surface of which is covered with varnish and the lower surface of which contains a visual symbol using paint.

2. The individual package of condoms of claim 1, wherein the tactile indicia is applied using a solvent-borne varnish.

3. The individual package of condoms of claim 1, wherein the paint is applied by gravure printing.

4. The individual package of condoms of claim 2, wherein the tactile indicia has a thickness of at least 1 micron.

5. The individual package of condoms of claim 1, wherein the varnish is applied by gravure printing.

6. The individual package of condoms of claim 1, wherein the front portions are each varnished or varnished capable of being applied over a section or in a stripe of the front portion.