A SINGLE, PACKAGED MALE INCONTINENCE PROTECTOR

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaged single male incontinence protector of the kind which comprises a back piece (5) which has formed therein a cut-out (6) and which is intended to be brought beneath the scrotum and up to the root of the penis. According to the invention those parts of the protector which in its flat state lie on respective sides of the cut-out and extend substantially outwards thereof, are folded inwardly over the cut-out around fold lines (A-A, B-B) which are parallel with the longitudinal symmetry line of the cut-out, so that these parts overlap one another, and in that the said parts are secured together with an adhesive (10) such as to form a substantially rectangular package whose outer surfaces consist of liquid-permeable material. The invention provides a substantially rectangular hygienic package which has relatively small dimensions and which can be easily carried by the user.

Description: A SINGLE, PACKAGED MALE INCONTINENCE PROTECTOR. The present invention relates to a single, packaged male incontinence protector of the kind set forth in the preamble of Claim 1. The invention is intended to solve the problem of providing an hygienically packaged single incontinence protector of the kind described in published SE-B-8303663-2 without the use of separate bags and like receptacles. To this end a single, packaged male incontinence protector in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1 has the characteristic features set forth in the characterizing clause of said claim. Single incontinence protector packs of this kind can be carried discretely by a person suffering from incontinence in a quan¬ tity governed by the extent of that person's suffering and also by the length of time for which said person can expect to be absent from the place in which the protectors are kept in larger numbers. An exemplifying embodiment of the inventive incontinence protector pack will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates an incontinence protector of the afore¬ said kind in its flat configuration of manufacture with the back piece of the protector facing forwards; Figure 2 illustrates the protector of Figure 1 in its in-use configuration; and Figure 3 illustrates the incontinence protector of Figure 1 in its packet form. The incontinence protector illustrated in Figure 1 includes a liquid absorbent body 1 which is enclosed between an outer liquid-impermeable sheet of material 2, and an inner liquid- permeable sheet of material 3. The absorption body 1 extends from the upper edge of the front piece 4 and over substantial¬ ly the whole of the back piece 5. Those parts of the sheets 2 and 3 which extend beyond the absorbent body, said sheets being mutually joined in these regions, form side pieces 7, 8 which form the sides of the container configured by the incon- tinence protector in its in-use position as illustrated in Figure 2. In order to enable the back piece 5 to be inserted beneath the wearer's scrotum down to the root of the penis, so that the protector embraces both penis and scrotum, the back piece has provided therein a cut-out 6 of generally V-shape configuration while the absorbent body 1 has a cut-out of corresponding shape but of larger size, as shown in the figures Those parts of the mutually joined sheets 2 and 3 lying over the absorbent body 1 are folded inwards over the absorbent body, to form a peripheral band 9. Figure 3 illustrates a single-piece package in accordance with the invention. This package is the result of folding those parts of the incontinence protector which lie beyond the lines A-A and B-B indicated in Figure 1 over the cut-out 6 from both sides and fastening said parts together with the aid of adhe¬ sive tape 10. In this way there is formed a hygienic, essen¬ tially rectangular package, the outer surfaces of which con¬ sist solely of liquid-impermeable material and which has relatively small dimensions and can be easily carried. In one variant, not shown, those parts of the front piece of the incontinence protector which lie outwardly of the fold lines A-A, B-B are provided with an adhesive layer. In ad¬ dition to securing together the overlapping side parts of the protector 5, this adhesive layer is effective in securing the protector when in use, to the wearer's underpants, therewith further reducing the risk of maladjustment of the incontinence protector. A further advantage with this variant is that a used protector can be packeted without requiring the use of loose pieces of fastener tape and given a package configura¬ tion which is less likely to emit illsmelling odours than the configurations of Figures 1 and 2, and therewith more advan¬ tageous. It will be understood that the positions of the fold lines A-A, B-B shown in Figure 1 are only examples of possible positions. The only essential criterion in this regard is that the inwardly folded parts will overlap one another, whereas the extent of such overlap is unimportant. It is preferred, however, that edge of the outer, inwardly folded part will not lie flush with the package defining edge, since it is easier to apply the adhesive tape when these edges lie in mutually the same plane, particularly if the tape is applied mechanically.

Claims: -4- CLAIMS 1. A packaged single male incontinence protector which com¬ prises a back piece (5) which is intended to be brought between the scrotum and crotch of the wearer and which, to this end, has a cut-out (6) formed therein; a front piece (4) and side pieces (7, 8) which join the front and back pieces together such as to provide a container of downwardly tapering configuration, the protector in its entirely being soft and flexible so as to conform to the contours of the wearer's body and having an outer ' liquid-impermeable sheet (2), an inner liquid-permeable sheet (3) and an intermediate absorbent material (1), characterized in that those parts of the protec¬ tor which in its flat state lie on respective sides of the cut-out and extend substantially outwards thereof, i.e. when the front and back pieces lie against one another, are folded inwardly over the cut-out around fold lines (A-A, B-B) which are parallel with the longitudinal symmetry line of the cut¬ out, so that said parts overlap one another, and in that said parts are secured together with an adhesive (10) such as to form a substantially rectangular package whose outer surfaces consist , of liquid-impermeable material. 2. A package single protector according to Claim 1, charac- terized in that the overlapping parts are secured together with the aid of adhesive tape (10). 3. A packaged single protector according to Claim 1, charac¬ terized in that at least one of the mutually overlapping parts is provided with an adhesive layer.

Inventors: FROEIDH ARNE, FROEIDH, ARNE
Applicants: MOELNLYCKE AB
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61F5
IPC codes: A61F5, A61F13