Separable package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673733-B2
Application number	US-202016915383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	Jul 12, 2019
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure provides packages that are configured for containing a prophylactic device and a quantity of lubricant material. The package can include a first portion defining a first chamber containing a prophylactic device; and a second portion defining a second chamber containing a quantity of lubricant composition; wherein the first chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion are arranged to separably engage one another about external surfaces of the first portion and the second portion so as to form a unitary package. The present disclosure further provides methods for providing a lubricated prophylactic device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A package comprising:
a first portion defining a first chamber containing a prophylactic device; and
a second portion defining a second chamber containing a quantity of lubricant composition;
wherein the first chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion are arranged to separably engage one another about external surfaces of the first portion and the second portion so as to form a unitary package; and
wherein the external surface of the first portion defines a depression formed by an annular ring that separably and directly engages a protrusion defined by the external surface of the second portion so as to form the unitary package, the external surface of the protrusion of the second portion being received by and directly contacting the external surface of the depression of the first portion.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises a backing layer defining the external surface thereof and a sealing layer engaging the backing layer so as to form the first chamber and the second chamber respectively.

3. The package of claim 2 , wherein the sealing layer comprises a foil sealing layer or a plastic sealing layer.

4. The package of claim 2 , wherein the sealing layer is a peel-off layer or a frangible layer.

5. The package of claim 2 , wherein the sealing layer is removable and re-sealable to the backing layer of one or both of the first portion and the second portion.

6. The package of claim 2 , wherein the first portion containing the prophylactic device includes a first backing layer and a first sealing layer engaging the first backing layer so as to define the first chamber and contain the prophylactic device within, the prophylactic device being dispensable from the first chamber upon at least partial removal of the first sealing layer from the first backing layer, and
wherein the second portion containing the quantity of lubricant composition includes a second backing layer and a second sealing layer engaging the second backing layer so as to define the second chamber and contain the quantity of lubricant composition within, at least a portion of the quantity of lubricant composition being dispensable from the second chamber upon compression of the second chamber about the external surface of the second portion such that the engagement of the second sealing layer with the second backing layer is at least partially broken.

7. The package of claim 6 , wherein the second chamber includes a dispensing zone in fluid communication with the second chamber and through which at least a portion of the quantity of lubricant composition is dispensable in response to compression of the second chamber about the external surface of the second portion such that the engagement of the second sealing layer with the second backing layer is at least partially broken about the dispensing zone.

8. The package of claim 1 , wherein the external surface of the first portion defines the depression formed as an annular ring or congruent shape that separably engages the protrusion defined by the external surface of the second portion.

9. The package of claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic device comprises a condom or a pre-lubricated condom.

10. The package of claim 1 , wherein the unitary package is separable into the first portion and the second portion upon disengagement of the external surfaces of the first portion and the second portion.

11. A method of providing a lubricated prophylactic device comprising:
containing a prophylactic device within a first chamber of a first portion;
containing a quantity of lubricant composition within a second chamber of a second portion; and
separably engaging the first chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion about external surfaces of the first portion and the second portion so as to form a unitary package;
wherein separably engaging the first chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion comprises separably and directly engaging a depression formed by an annular ring and defined by the external surface of the first portion with a protrusion defined by the external surface of the second portion so as to form the unitary package, the external surface of the protrusion of the second portion being received by and directly contacting the external surface of the depression of the first portion.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein containing the prophylactic device within the first chamber comprises engaging a first backing layer defining the external surface of the first portion with a first sealing layer so as to form the first chamber with the prophylactic device contained within, and/or
wherein containing the quantity of lubricant composition within the second chamber comprises engaging a second backing layer defining the external surface of the second portion with a second sealing layer so as to form the second chamber with the quantity of lubricant composition contained within.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein engaging the first backing layer with the first sealing layer comprises engaging a removable and re-sealable sealing layer with the first backing layer, and/or
engaging the second backing layer with the second sealing layer comprises engaging a removable and re-sealable sealing layer with the second backing layer.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein engaging the first backing layer with the first sealing layer comprises engaging a foil sealing layer or a plastic sealing layer with the first backing layer, and/or
engaging the second backing layer with the second sealing layer comprises engaging a foil sealing layer or a plastic sealing layer with the second backing layer.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein engaging the first backing layer with the first sealing layer comprises engaging a peel-off layer or a frangible layer with the first backing layer, and/or
engaging the second backing layer with the second sealing layer comprises engaging a peel-off layer or a frangible layer with the second backing layer.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
at least partially removing the first sealing layer from the first backing layer so as to dispense the elastomeric material from the first chamber; and/or
compressing the second chamber about the external surface of the second portion such that the engagement of the second sealing layer with the second backing layer is at least partially broken about a dispensing zone in fluid communication with the second chamber and so as to dispense at least a portion of the quantity of lubricant composition from the dispensing zone.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disengaging the external surfaces of the first portion and the second portion of the unitary package to separate the unitary package into the first portion and the second portion.

Assignees

• Church & Dwight Co Inc

Inventors

• Platt William D
• Oryniak Caryn Culleton
• Gilbert Richard James Elliott
• Wharton Jonathan Andrew
• Huy Gerhart P
• Pinchiaroli Michael T
• Ranjan Rajesh
• Scoyoc Velissa Van
• Schweitzer David
• Taylor Jacob Daniel

Classifications

• B65D35/10

  made by uniting or interconnecting two or more components · CPC title

• B65D2575/3281

  Tear lines dividing the package into a plurality of packages · CPC title

• B65D2221/00

  Small packaging specially adapted for product samples, single-use packages or échantillons · CPC title

• A61F6/04

  Condoms, sheaths or the like {, e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion} · CPC title

• B65D2517/0013

  pull-out tear panel, e.g. by means of a tear-tab · CPC title