Sterile adhesive bandage wrapper construction

A bandage has first and second adhesive areas on corresponding end portions of the bandage for adhering the bandage to the skin of a user, and a wound dressing pad between the two adhesive areas. Portions of first and second cover strips are disposed to protect corresponding adhesive areas on the bandage. A bandage wrapper envelopes the bandage including the cover strips, and the cover strips themselves are bonded by an adhesive to a confronting surface of the wrapper. Thus, when a user pulls the ends of the wrapper apart to open the wrapper and remove the bandage, each cover strip is peeled away from the bandage by a part of the wrapper to which the cover strip is bonded. The dressing pad on the bandage is then exposed to be applied on a wound without having to come in contact with the user's hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to wrappers containing sterile bandages used for covering wounds or for other purposes.

2. Discussion of the Known Art

Sterile adhesive bandages are commonly used for covering skin wounds. The bandages are usually packaged in paper wrappers that are opened by separating portions of the wrapper which overlie both major sides of the bandage after tabs at the ends of the wrapper are removed, and/or by pulling a tear string. An embodiment of such a bandage wrapper is shown inFIG. 1of the present drawing. A bandage10is withdrawn from its wrapper12by removing end tabs14a,14b, and peeling away cover strips16a,16bon the bandage10to expose a wound dressing pad18and pressure sensitive adhesive areas20a,20bof the bandage. The removal and preparation of the bandage10for application to a wound thus requires the user to have both (a) visual acuity to locate the end tabs14a,14band/or tear string on the wrapper, and (b) manual dexterity to grasp and remove the tabs and to pull a tear string if also provided.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,371 (Sep. 22, 2009) discloses an adhesive bandage envelope having two covers of approximately the same length disposed over adhesive areas of the bandage, wherein one of the covers is folded. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,297 (Mar. 14, 1995) discloses a bandage package including covers whose lengths are intentionally different, i.e., a “short strip” and a “long strip” placed over adhesive areas of the bandage. See also UK Pat. Appl'n Pub. No. GB 2,131,299 (Jun. 20, 1984).

Notwithstanding the known art, there is a need for a compact bandage wrapper that can be opened easily and quickly to remove the bandage for use, while avoiding direct contact between a wound pad on the bandage and the user's hands, and otherwise maintaining a sterile environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, an adhesive bandage wrapper construction includes a wrapper with a longitudinal edge between opposite ends of the wrapper, and a bandage inside the wrapper and having a first adhesive area on a first end portion of the bandage, a second adhesive area on a second end portion of the bandage, and a wound dressing pad between the first and the second adhesive areas. A first cover strip and a second cover strip of substantially the same length each has a protective portion disposed to protect a corresponding adhesive area on the bandage.

The wrapper envelopes the bandage including the first and the second cover strips, and the cover strips are bonded to the wrapper so that when the first and the second ends of the wrapper are pulled apart to open the wrapper and remove the bandage, each cover strip is peeled from the bandage by a part of the wrapper to which the strip is bonded. Thus, the wound dressing pad is exposed for application on a wound while direct contact between the pad and the user's hands is avoided.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 2 to 6illustrate a bandage wrapper30that has a visible mark or other indicia32on the wrapper30, which mark is located approximately centrally along one longitudinal edge34of the wrapper30. The mark32indicates a position where a user is to make a short tear by hand in preparation for opening the wrapper30. The bandage wrapper30may also include a second longitudinal edge36with a first end and a second end, a third edge38connecting a first end of the first longitudinal edge34and the first end of the second longitudinal edge36, and a fourth edge40connecting the second end of the first longitudinal edge34and the second end of the second longitudinal edge36. Each edge34,36,38, and40may be continuous and straight along its entire length. In addition, the bandage wrapper30may be formed by a top covering portion having the edges34,36,38, and40, and a bottom covering portion having the same edges34,36,38, and40, wherein the edges34,36,38, and40of the top covering portion are joined with the edges34,36,38, and40of the bottom covering portion allowing for no, or substantially no, separation between the common edges34,36,38, and40of the top and the bottom portions of the wrapper30. The bandage wrapper30may therefore omit end peels or pull apart tabs such as are provided on existing bandage wrappers and which are usually about 3-5 millimeters wide.

As shown inFIGS. 3-4, after a user makes a tear at the mark32, the bandage wrapper30is grasped at opposite ends of the long edge34and pulled apart. As shown inFIG. 4, the user may grasp the bandage wrapper30beyond the areas covering the bandage10in order to avoid pinching the bandage10while tension is applied to the wrapper30. Once the wrapper30is fully separated in two, as shown inFIGS. 5-6, a portion of the bandage10is exposed and the rest of the bandage can be removed from the separated wrapper30. As shown inFIGS. 7-8, cover strips16a,16bare peeled away to expose the wound dressing pad18and the pressure sensitive adhesive areas20a,20bof the bandage10.

It has been discovered that after making a short tear by hand at the mark32, the tension needed to pull the bandage wrapper30apart enough to remove the bandage10is significantly and unexpectedly less than that required if a slit or notch is pre-cut in the vicinity of the mark32. The wrapper30ofFIG. 2can be manufactured in a manner the same or similar to that used to make the wrapper ofFIG. 1, with an additional step of providing the mark32on the wrapper30to show the user where he or she should tear and then pull the wrapper apart in order to remove the bandage10. As mentioned, the end tabs14a,14bprovided on the existing wrappers12may be eliminated saving both material and manufacturing costs.

FIGS. 9 to 17illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. A bandage wrapper130includes some elements that may be the same or similar to elements of the wrapper30shown inFIGS. 2 to 8. As shown inFIGS. 9-11, the wrapper130includes a longitudinal edge134with a first end and a second end, the longitudinal edge134being continuous and straight from the first end to the second end. The wrapper130enables the cover strips116a,116bto be removed automatically when the wrapper130is separated from the bandage110after the user makes an initial tear at the mark132and pulls the wrapper apart. Adhesive bonding areas202,204are provided on outwardly facing surfaces of the cover strips116a,116bso that the strips will also adhere to the confronting, inwardly facing surface of the wrapper130. The bonding areas202,204should be spaced from one another enough to ensure that the wrapper130will tear and separate in the region between the bonding areas, and that both cover strips116a,116bwill peel away from the bandage110as the separated portions of the wrapper130are removed. The bonding areas202,204may, e.g., be thin and rectangular shaped. In addition, the bonding areas202,204may extend in a transverse direction, i.e., across the width of each cover strip116a,116b.

FIG. 10is a plan view of the bandage wrapper130, andFIGS. 11 to 17show a progression of removing the bandage110from the wrapper130and applying the bandage110to the skin. According to one aspect of this embodiment as shown inFIG. 13, after a user makes the initial tear, the opposite ends of the wrapper130are pulled apart to separate the wrapper130into left and right halves. Then, only one half, (e.g., the right half inFIG. 13), is pulled off of the bandage110so as to peel the cover strip116baway from the pressure sensitive part of the right side of the bandage110. As shown inFIG. 15, with the pressure sensitive adhesive at the right side of the bandage110exposed, the user applies the exposed right side of the bandage110adjacent to the wound. Then, inFIG. 16, the left half of the wrapper130is pulled off of the bandage110so as to peel the cover strip116aaway from the pressure sensitive part of the left side of the bandage. As shown inFIG. 17, with the pressure sensitive adhesive at the left side of the bandage110exposed, the user applies the wound dressing pad on the wound, and the exposed left side of the bandage110is applied adjacent the wound opposite the right side of the bandage. It will be appreciated that with this embodiment, direct contact with the wound by the user is easily avoided over the entire process of removing and applying the bandage, thus providing for a more sterile application of the bandage.

FIGS. 18 to 26illustrate another embodiment of the invention, wherein a bandage wrapper230includes some elements that may be the same or similar to elements of the wrapper30shown inFIGS. 2 to 8. As seen inFIGS. 18 and 19, the wrapper230includes a longitudinal edge234with a first end and a second end, the longitudinal edge234being continuous and straight from the first end to the second end. The wrapper230also features automatic removal or peeling away of protective cover strips216a,216bas the wrapper is separated from the bandage210. Each cover strip216a,216bhas an overlapping folded portion217a,217b, and an adhesive bonding area302,304is applied on each of the folded portions217a,217b.

In addition to the overlapping folded portions217a,217b, and the adhesive bonding areas302,304, each cover strip216a,216bmay also include a fold219a,219band a cover portion220a,220b, the cover portion220a,220bcovering the adhesive of the bandage210and a portion of the pad218of the bandage210. In addition, the overlapping folded portion217a,217bis sandwiched between the wrapper230and the cover portion220a,220b.

Accordingly, less force would be needed to separate the left and the right halves of the wrapper230after making the initial tear and removing the cover strips216a,216b, than the force needed to separate the wrapper130and remove the cover strips116a,116bin the embodiment ofFIGS. 9 to 17. As in the embodiment ofFIGS. 9 to 17, there should be enough space between the bonding areas302,304to ensure the wrapper230will tear fully between the bonding areas, and that both cover strips216a,216bwill peel away as each half of the wrapper230is separated and withdrawn from the bandage210. The bonding areas302,304may be thin and rectangular shaped, and extend in a transverse direction, i.e., across the width of each cover strip216a,216bas shown. The adhesive bonding areas302,304are preferably located at the free ends of each folded portion217a,217b, and on the upper side of each folded portion217a,217bas shown in the drawing.

The upper side of each folded portion217a,217bof the cover strips216a,216b, is approximately one-half the length of the underside portion of the corresponding strip216a,216b. In addition, the folded portions217a,217bmay slightly overlap with one another in the vicinity of their respective folds219a,219b.

It is known in the manufacturing art of some bandages to attach protective cover strips to the adhesive portions of the bandages, and then to cut out individual bandages with associated cover strips simultaneously using the same cutting die. The embodiments described above will allow the bandages110,210and their associated cover strips116a,116b, and216a,216b, to be cut by the same die simultaneously thus helping to save material and manufacturing costs.

FIGS. 20 to 26show a progression of opening the wrapper230, and removing and applying the bandage210. As seen inFIGS. 21-23, after the wrapper230is fully torn, the right half of the wrapper230is withdrawn and the protective cover strip216bat the right side of the bandage210is peeled away to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive on the bandage. As shown inFIG. 24, this allows the user to apply the exposed (right) side of the bandage210adjacent to the wound. Then, inFIGS. 25-26, the left half of the wrapper230is withdrawn from the bandage210causing the cover strip216aat the left side of the bandage to be peeled away, and allowing the user to apply the bandage dressing pad218over the wound and the exposed pressure sensitive adhesive of the bandage next to the wound. It will be appreciated that this avoids any direct contact by the user with the wound dressing pad during the entire process of opening the wrapper230, and removing and applying the bandage210, thereby providing for a more sterile application of the bandage.

FIGS. 27 to 35illustrate another embodiment, wherein a bandage wrapper330includes elements that may be the same or similar to elements of the wrapper30shown inFIGS. 2 to 8. InFIGS. 27 to 28, the wrapper330includes a longitudinal edge334with a first end and a second end, the longitudinal edge334being continuous and straight from the first end to the second end. The wrapper330also features automatic removal of protective cover strips316a,316bfrom the pressure sensitive adhesive areas of the bandage310when the wrapper330is removed. The cover strips316a,316bhave folded portions317a,317b, each folded portion having an end which extends beyond the opposite ends of the adhesive portions of the bandage310. As the left and the right halves of the wrapper330are grasped and separated after making the initial tear, the extended ends of the cover strip portions317a,317bare pinched between the top and the bottom sides of the wrapper330. As the halves of the wrapper330are separated from the bandage310, the cover strips316a,316bare then peeled away from the bandage310.

FIGS. 29 to 35show a progression of opening the wrapper330, and removing and applying the bandage310. InFIGS. 30-33, as the right half of the wrapper330is withdrawn, the right protective strip316bautomatically peels away to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive on the right side of the bandage. It will be appreciated that this allows the user at once to apply the exposed right side of the bandage adjacent to the wound area. Then, inFIGS. 34 and 35, the left half of the wrapper is withdrawn, thus allowing the user to apply the wound dressing pad over the wound, and to apply the exposed adhesive area at the left side of the bandage next to the wound area. It will be appreciated that during this process, the user also avoids direct contact with the wound dressing pad for a more sterile application of the bandage.

Instead of requiring the user to make an initial tear at a pre-printed tear mark or other indicia on the bandage wrapper, the wrapper may be produced with a pre-cut slit or notch in the same region of the wrapper. While this would eliminate the need for the user to make the initial tear by hand, it would require an additional manufacturing step to cut the slit or notch, and a sufficient area of the wrapper must extend beyond the perimeter of the bandage to ensure that the bandage is properly sealed before use. The slitting or notching step may be incorporated with existing bandage wrapper slitting operations, wherein it is common for bandages to be produced from large sheets which are slit apart to form individual bandages or strips of bandages. For example,FIGS. 36 to 46show various embodiments of slit and notch arrangements according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 36 to 38illustrate embodiments of a slit and notch arrangement. As shown inFIG. 36, a first slit may be located in a central location of the bandage wrapper and extend in a downward transverse direction from a top edge across a portion of the width of the bandage wrapper. And as seen inFIGS. 37 and 38, the bandage wrapper may include a second slit located opposite the first slit. The second slit may extend in an upward transverse direction from a bottom edge, i.e., across a portion of the width of the bandage wrapper.

FIGS. 39 and 40illustrate further embodiments of slit and notch arrangements. As shown, the slit or notch may include a triangular protrusion at a top edge of the bandage wrapper and a triangular notch located at the bottom edge of the bandage wrapper.

FIGS. 41 and 42illustrate other embodiments of slit and notch arrangements wherein the slit or notch may include an inwardly protruding triangular shaped notch at a top edge of the bandage wrapper, and an inwardly protruding triangular shaped notch located at the bottom edge of the bandage wrapper.

FIGS. 43 to 45illustrate further embodiments of slit and notch arrangements wherein the slit or notch may include an inwardly protruding half diamond shaped notch, including two straight sides, at a top edge of the bandage wrapper and an inwardly protruding half diamond shaped notch, including two straight sides, located at the bottom edge of the bandage wrapper.

FIG. 46illustrates another embodiment of a slit and notch arrangement wherein the slit or notch may include an inwardly protruding notch, with folded tabs, at a top edge of the bandage wrapper and an inwardly protruding notch, including folded tabs, located at the bottom edge of the bandage wrapper.

Simple graphics are typically printed on bandage wrappers or packaging to illustrate how the wrappers are to be removed. In the embodiments of the present invention, various graphics can also be printed or displayed on the bandage wrappers in order to convey corresponding instructions for opening the wrappers. For example, as shown inFIG. 11, a “tear” graphic may be printed at the location on the wrapper where the user makes an initial tear by hand.

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention may be produced using the same or similar methods as currently used in the manufacture of wrapped sterile bandages. That is, no major modifications or replacements of existing manufacturing equipment is required. Having the user make the initial tear in the wrapper allows the wrapper to remain the same size as existing bandage wrappers, so that no additional wrapper material needs to be consumed beyond that used in the production of the existing bandage wrappers.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the following advantages are also obtained by having the user make the initial tear by hand, rather than providing the wrapper with a pre-cut tear or notch.

1. Less outer wrapper material is required for the hand tear wrapper. Since the perimeter of the wrapper must be sealed to maintain sterility of the bandage, more wrapper material would be needed if the width of the sealed region is to be maintained.

2. A precise cut would be needed in production so that the cut does not encroach into the sealed region of the wrapper, and the cut penetrates the wrapper material enough to allow the user to start to separate the wrapper.

3. It has been discovered that the wrapper can be opened and separated using significantly less force when making the initial tear by hand, when compared to the force needed to separate and open a wrapper having a cut (see the data in Tables 1, 2 and 3, below). This allows a larger population to use the inventive wrappers and the bandages contained therein successfully.

In addition, according to various embodiments of the present invention, the bandage wrapper does not require use of peel-apart tabs and, consequently, there will be a savings of material resulting from the elimination of the tabs. This includes the wrapper paper, adhesive, and ink. The savings resulting from elimination of the tabs is significant and can range between 5 and 18% depending on the bandage.

Furthermore, for some currently available bandage wrappers, the peel tabs are made by folding over the end of the wrapper strip. According to various embodiments of the present invention, this folding operation would also be eliminated.

Also, reducing the amount of materials used benefits the environment by requiring less energy to make the raw materials and reduction of inherent by-products of the manufacturing processes.

In addition, there is a potential savings for the adhesive that is used to attach the wrapper halves. Since the adhesive does not need to be pulled apart, a less expensive adhesive may be suitable.

Also, some current arrangements of bandages and wrappers require tearing the wrapper on one side or the other of the gauze pad, instead of near the center of the bandage. If not torn at the pad region near the center of the bandage, some current bandages are susceptible to tearing of the adhesive coated flexible portion of the bandage that is intended to adhere to the skin.

Wrapped bandages from three major manufacturers (Band-aid, Nexcare, and Royal) were tested to determine the force required to shear the wrappers apart in order to expose the wrapped bandages. The opposite ends of each wrapper were gripped by elastomer discs to simulate grasping by a user's fingers.FIG. 47shows the location of the grips, representing the preferred grasping locations.

The tests evaluated the separation forces needed for bandage wrappers having a clean cut versus a hand tear to start the wrapper separation. The cuts and the tears were located at the center of one long edge of the bandage wrapper. The cut lengths were ⅛ inch and 3/16 inch long, starting at the wrapper edge toward the center of the bandage. The hand tear was made from the wrapper edge and extended to and sometimes slightly past the bandage. As shown inFIG. 48, tearing to the edge of the bandage is a very natural motion.

It is important to note that there is a tradeoff in determining the length of the cut. The cut needs to be long enough to function as a point of stress concentration. Generally, based on additional testing, the longer the cut the easier it is to shear the wrapper. There is also a desire to minimize the length of the cut, however, because the wrapper must increase in width by an amount equal to the length of the cut in order to maintain a sterile seal around the perimeter of the bandage.

The overall weighted average for Band-Aid bandages with Tear/Cut ⅛″=49.5%. The overall weighted average for Band-Aid bandages with Tear/Cut 3/16″=56%. These percentages illustrate the weighted average of the amount of force required for a user to pull apart a tear vs. the amount of force required for a user to pull apart a cut.

The average for Nexcare bandages of Tear/Cut 3/32″=63%. The overall weighted average for Nexcare bandages of Tear/Cut ⅛″=48%. These percentages illustrate the weighted average of the amount of force required for a user to pull apart a tear vs. the amount of force required for a user to pull apart a cut.

The average for Royal bandages with Tear/Cut ⅛″=0.65%. The Tear/Cut ratios below each table show that there is a significant advantage to using a hand tear to start the wrapper separation compared to a cut. This percentage illustrates the weighted average of the amount of force required for a user to pull apart a tear vs. the amount of force required for a user to pull apart a cut.

As disclosed herein, the inventive bandage wrapper can be opened, and the bandage contained therein removed and applied to a wound in a sterile manner and in significantly less time compared with existing wrappers.

While the foregoing represents preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, while the adhesive bandages are shown herein in a particular form intended to cover skin wounds, the bandages may also be, but are not limited to, strip bandages, winged bandages, fingertip bandages, butterfly bandages, knuckle bandages, triangular bandages, tube bandages, compression bandages, elastic bandages, gauze bandages, donut bandages, pressure bandages, steristrips, eye bandages, sterile burn sheets, and adhesive tape.

Further, the wrappers described herein may also be used to package other strip-like products, including, for example, strips for relieving nasal congestion or skin irritation, or for treating various other ailments by applying the products to the skin. Accordingly, the invention includes all such changes, modifications, and additions that are within the scope of the following claims.