Reusable packaging and storage

A reusable packaging and storage article for an elastic constriction ring is described wherein the article comprises a top member and a bottom member configured to releasably engage with each other, wherein the bottom member comprises: a cavity of substantially circular shape having a perimeter lip with an inner and outer surface to house, in use, a portion of the elastic constriction ring; and an at least partially pillar extending from a substantially central portion of the cavity; and wherein a summit of the pillar has a diameter less than the diameter of a central aperture of the elastic constriction ring, and a lower portion of the pillar has a diameter greater than the diameter of a central aperture of the elastic constriction ring; and wherein the top member comprises: a cavity of substantially circular shape having a perimeter lip with an inner and outer surface to house, in use, a portion of the elastic constriction ring, wherein the diameter of an inner surface of the perimeter is the same or greater than the diameter of the outer surface of the perimeter lip of the bottom member. A consumer product is also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a reusable packaging and storage article and particularly, but not exclusively, a reusable packaging and storage article for the packaging and storage of an elastic constriction ring.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that providing a constriction at the base of a penis helps to maintain a longer and firmer erection and, to this end, elastic constriction rings are commonly used to facilitate such a constriction. Elastic constriction rings are typically intended to be reused and therefore they can be problematic to clean and keep clean after their first use until subsequent re-use.

The reusable packaging and storage article is intended to address such drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a reusable packaging and storage article for an elastic constriction ring comprising a top member and a bottom member configured to releasably engage with each other,

wherein the bottom member comprises: a cavity of substantially circular shape having a perimeter lip with an inner and outer surface to house, in use, a portion of the elastic constriction ring; and a pillar extending from a substantially central portion of the cavity; and wherein a summit of the pillar has a diameter less than the diameter of a central aperture of the elastic constriction ring, and a lower portion of the pillar has a diameter greater than the diameter of a central aperture of the elastic constriction ring; and

wherein the top member comprises: a cavity of substantially circular shape having a perimeter lip with an inner and outer surface to house, in use, a portion of the elastic constriction ring, wherein the diameter of an inner surface of the perimeter is the same or greater than the diameter of the outer surface of the perimeter lip of the bottom member.

The point at which the pillar is provided with a diameter equal to the diameter of the of the central aperture of the elastic constriction ring is hereinafter termed the impingement point and is the point at which, in use, an inner surface of the aperture in the elastic constriction ring makes contact with the pillar to secure the ring in frictional engagement with the pillar. Preferably the pillar is configured with the impingement point being located on the pillar such that, in use, a bottom surface of the elastic constriction ring is suspended above an upper surface of the cavity of the bottom member. This arrangement may be advantageous as it can promote airflow around a portion of the ring to permit effective drying thereof post-cleaning.

The pillar may be conical or pyramidal in shape. Preferably the pillar is frusto-conical in shape. Preferably the pillar is widest at its base adjacent the cavity from which it extends.

The cavity in the bottom portion preferably defines a tubular shape which corresponds to the tubular shape of the elastic constriction ring.

The perimeter lip of the bottom member is preferably at the same height or closer to the base of the cavity than the impingement point. This arrangement may be advantageous as, in use, when the top member and bottom member are disengaged from each other, the article is in the open position, the ring is held on the pillar by frictional force at the impingement point and the low height of the perimeter lip of the bottom member presents a large surface area of the ring thus making it easier user for a user to grab the ring and remove same from the pillar.

Preferably the perimeter lip of the top member is provided with a height that is substantially the same as the height of the perimeter lip of the bottom member such that when the top member and bottom member are engaged with each other, when the article is in the closed position, the perimeter lip of the bottom member can be secured within and adjacent to the perimeter lip of the top member.

Most preferably the perimeter lips of both the bottom member and the top member are sized to form frictional contact with each other when the top member and the bottom member are engaged with each other and the article is in the closed position, and particularly preferably said frictional contact between the perimeter lips is sufficient to provide a closure mechanism to releasably retain said members engaged with each other until a user applies a separating force to overcome said frictional contact and disengage said members and expose the cavities of the members.

Alternatively or additionally a separate closure mechanism may be provided to retain the top member and the bottom member in an engaged relationship.

The top member and/or bottom member may be provided with one or more vent holes. The vent holes may be advantageous to allow moisture to drain away from the ring post-cleaning.

Preferably the article is made as a single piece, preferably from a plastics material that may be injection-moulded or thermoformed. When made as a single piece the top member and bottom member may be provided in a clamshell arrangement.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a consumer product comprising a reusable packaging and storage article and an elastic constriction ring;

wherein the article comprises a top member and a bottom member configured to releasably engage with each other,

wherein the bottom member comprises: a cavity of substantially circular shape having a perimeter lip with an inner and outer surface to house, in use, a portion of the elastic constriction ring; and a pillar extending from a substantially central portion of the cavity; and wherein a summit of the pillar has a diameter less than the diameter of a central aperture of the elastic constriction ring, and a lower portion of the pillar has a diameter greater than the diameter of a central aperture of the elastic constriction ring; and

wherein the top member comprises: a cavity of substantially circular shape having a perimeter lip with an inner and outer surface to house, in use, a portion of the elastic constriction ring, wherein the diameter of an inner surface of the perimeter is the same or greater than the diameter of the outer surface of the perimeter lip of the bottom member; and

wherein the elastic constriction ring comprises a tubular ring of resilient elastic material.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1&2illustrate a reusable packaging and storage article1suitable for packaging and storing an elastic constriction ring14. The article1is made in one-piece having a top member2and a bottom member3. The bottom member3has a cavity4of substantially tubular circular shape. At the perimeter of the cavity4is a perimeter lip5which has a flat outer surface6. From a substantially central portion of the cavity extends a pillar7. The pillar7is at least partially conical and is shown as frusto-conical with the widest part of the pillar7being adjacent a base of the cavity4and culminating in a flat summit8. As can be seen inFIG. 2the summit8has a greater height than the height of the perimeter wall5.

The top member2is provided with a cavity9having a circular shape which is configured to accommodate a proportion of the elastic constriction ring14and pillar7. The cavity9is provided with a perimeter lip10having a flat inner surface. The diameter of the flat inner surface of perimeter lip10is the same or fractionally greater than the diameter of the flat outer surface of the perimeter lip6of the bottom member3. Such proximity of diameters permits the lips6,10to form frictional contact with each other when the top member2is brought into engagement with the bottom member3in the closed position, as shown inFIG. 5. The frictional contact between the perimeter lips6,10is sufficient to provide a closure mechanism to releasably retain said members2,3engaged with each other until a user applies a separating force to overcome said frictional contact and disengage said members2,3. The bottom member3is provided with a tab11which, when the article1is in the closed position as shown inFIG. 5, corresponds with a recessed portion12in the perimeter lip10to improve the ability for a user to form a firm grip of each member2,3to separate them to place the article in the open position as shown inFIGS. 1-4.

As can be seen inFIGS. 3-5, the ring14does not touch the base of the cavity4, instead the ring is suspended above said base. As the summit8of the pillar7has a diameter less than the diameter of a central aperture15of the elastic constriction ring1and a lower portion of the pillar7has a diameter greater than the diameter of a central aperture15of the elastic constriction ring14, there is an impingement point16between the pillar7and the central aperture15of the ring which is configured to ensure that the ring14is suspended above the base of the cavity4when mounted by frictional engagement on the pillar7at the impingement point16. This arrangement can promote airflow around a portion of the ring to permit effective drying thereof post-cleaning.