Condom packaging system for dispensing condoms

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to boxes, containers, and dispensers for personal health care items, and more particularly pertains to a portable condom packaging system for the storage and dispensing of condoms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers, boxes, cartons and dispensers are a ubiquitous part of contemporary retail, commercial and industrial business and commerce. They comprise such materials as corrugated cardboard, molded plastics and glass, and can be opened and closed using lids and caps that slide, snap and screw on and off. After the lids or caps have been removed the items stored therein can be poured out or dumped out in no particularly order (as is the case most obviously with pill bottles), or the items stored therein can be removed in some type of sequential order (as is the case with tissues from a Kleenex box or paper towels from a paper towel dispenser). In many instances the items stored within the boxes, cartons, containers and dispensers are numbered in quantity and amount (bandages within a band-aid box, pills within a pill box, q-tips within a q-tip box, etc.) for purposes of pricing and consumer awareness and disclosure. Labels, slogans and catchwords are commonly affixed to the boxes, cartons, containers and dispensers for product recognition and marketability.

Some products are enhanced if they are stored in easy to open and easy to transport containers or cartons and include visually instructive, informational or educational indicia printed on the surfaces of the containers. Such a product is the condom that, due to the nature of the product and the circumstances of use, necessitates disposition in an easy to access container or carton that should also have appropriately instructive and highly visible slogans and statements printed thereon for promoting and encouraging safe and healthy sexual practices. Thus the prior art discloses a wide range of containers, boxes and dispensers for personal health items such as condoms.

For example, the Desmond patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,908) discloses a dispenser bin carton formed from a cut and scored blank and which includes a movable bin front portion.

The Berkhouse patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,158) discloses a dispenser carton that includes tear lines so that a portion of the carton can be disposed to a dispensing position.

The Davidson et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,292) discloses a dispenser carton wherein a portion of the top wall of the enclosure can be torn away to reveal the contents inside and a rigid flap projecting from a rear wall can be folded down to cover the top of the carton and a portion of the top wall that was torn away.

The Flower et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,044) discloses a dispenser box for sterile sutures that includes a front panel opening for sequentially removing the sutures and a side panel opening for viewing the number of sutures remaining in the box.

The Williams patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,253) discloses a condom dispenser that includes a box-like structure having an upper opening through which condoms are loaded and a bottom opening from which the condoms are dispensed.

The Farrugia patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,488) discloses a condom dispenser that is capable of releasable mounting to a support structure.

The Young patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,022) discloses a combination condom case and fragrance dispenser wherein a fragrance tube is slidably disposed within a first compartment of the dispenser and the sidewall adjacent the fragrance tube includes orifices that allow the fragrance smell to permeate the case and spread outside the case.

The Borrero patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,695 B1) discloses a sanitary napkin dispensing device that includes a biasing spring mounted to the interior of the top wall and which presses down upon the sanitary napkins so that they can be dispensed, one at a time, from a hinged door adjacent the bottom of the device.

Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a lightweight and portable condom packaging system that includes a closable and openable front panel in which the size of the opening corresponds to the amount of condoms in the dispenser box, and which also includes indicia printed on the dispenser box that visually promotes safe and healthy sexual practices and activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends a condom packaging system in several embodiments that provides for easy access to and removal of the condoms contained therein and in which the box holding the condoms is convertible to a dispenser for dispensing the condoms.

The condom packaging system includes two embodiments with the first embodiment including a box having a front wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, a back wall and a floor enclosing therein an interior cavity where the condom wrappers are placed. The upper end of the box includes a back flap having a centrally located slot and a front flap with the front flap having a protrusion that slides into the slot so that the front flap can be closed on the back flap. Visually attractive indicia printed on at least the front wall of the box include slogans or catchwords that promote safe and healthy sexual practices in a fun and catchy way.

A second embodiment for the condom packaging system includes a rectangular-shaped box that includes a back wall, a front wall, opposed side walls, a floor and a top wall that enclose and define an interior cavity where the condoms are stored. An upper front half wall portion that is adjoined to the sidewalls and the leading edge of the top wall further characterizes the front wall. The upper front half wall portion is permanently attached to the aforesaid parts of the box. In addition, the front wall includes a lower half wall portion that is releasably attachable to the vertical edges of the sidewalls and interfits to the upper half wall portion along a continuous detachment or score line for creating the front wall. The lower half wall portion includes a tongue that mates with a cut-out portion of the upper half wall portion, and projecting from the tongue is a peel strip that is grasped by the individual for incrementally peeling away the lower half wall portion from the upper half wall portion so that the condoms can be removed from the box. The front wall (both the upper half wall portion and the lower half wall portion) includes visually attractive indicia printed thereon in the form of catchy and fun slogans for promoting safe and healthy sexual practices.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a condom packaging system wherein the box holding the condoms is convertible into a dispenser for the condoms.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a condom packaging system wherein the box holding the condoms has indicia printed thereon that promotes and encourages safe and healthy sexual practices.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a condom packaging system that allows for easier access to the condoms by the individual.

It is still yet another objective of the present to provide a condom packaging system that allows for several different ways to access the condoms that are contained with the condom dispensing box.

Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a condom packaging system that is lightweight, portable and waterproof.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment for the condom packaging system illustrating the box in the closed disposition and visually appealing indicia printed on the front of the box;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system illustrating the box in the open disposition for dispensing condoms therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system illustrating the box having front opening features and visually appealing indicia printed on the front of the box;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system illustrating a lower front half wall portion of the box completely detached from the box for gaining access to the condoms;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system illustrating the lower front half wall portion of the box in an initial opening position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system illustrating the lower front half wall portion of the box in an intermediate opening position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system illustrating the lower front half wall portion of the box in a fully open position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a condom wrapper;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the condom wrapper illustrating visually appealing indicia printed on the wrapper for promoting safe and healthy sexual practices; and

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the condom wrapper illustrating visually appealing indicia printed on the rear of the wrapper for promoting safe and healthy sexual practices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 are several embodiments for a condom packaging system 10 wherein a box or box-like container structure converts to a dispenser for dispensing condoms from the dispenser that are enclosed within their respective condom wrappers 12. The condom packaging system 10 is a lightweight, portable and waterproof storage system and the system includes visually appealing and attractive indicia printed thereon in the form of fun and catchy slogans and catchwords for promoting and encouraging safe and healthy sexual practices. The condom wrappers 12 also include indicia 14 printed thereon that comprise fun and catchy slogans for promoting safe and healthy sexual practices.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment for the condom packaging system 10 includes a generally rectangular-shaped box 16 having a bottom wall or floor 18, opposed side walls 20, a back wall 22, and an opposite front wall 24. The box 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is further characterized by an upper end 26 for gaining access to the condom wrappers 12 and for removing the condom wrappers 12 from an interior cavity -28 defined by and enclosed within the back wall 22, front wall 24, side walls 20, and floor 18. Each side wall 20 also includes a respective side wall flap 30.

In addition, the upper end 26 of the box 16 further includes a back flap 32 pivotally secured to an upper long edge 34 of the rear wall 22 and a front flap 36 pivotally secured to an upper long front edge 38 of the front wall 24. The back flap 32 further includes a centrally located elongated u-shaped slot 40 and the front flap 36 includes a corresponding protrusion 42 also centrally located thereon for engagement and insertion through the u-shaped slot 40. The cooperating engagement of the u-shaped slot 40 and the protrusion 42 forms the closure means for the box 16. The box 16 is shown in FIG. 1 completely closed with the side wall flaps 30 folded inward and the back flap 32 folded down and toward the front wall 24 so that the protrusion 42 of the front flap 36 can engage the slot 40 on the rear flap 32 thereby completely closing the box 16. In order to convert the box 16 into a condom dispenser the protrusion 42 of the front flap 36 is disengaged from the slot 40 of the rear flap 32 thereby allowing the front flap 36, the rear flap 32 and the side flaps 30 to be pivoted upward and folded outward as shown in FIG. 2. Access and removal of the condom wrappers 12 can now occur and the condoms can be dispensed from the box 16 and used as needed.

In order to promote and encourage safe and healthy sexual practices indicia 44 can be printed on the various surfaces of the box 16, and thus indicia 44 are shown printed on the facing surface 46 of the front wall 24 of the box 16 as shown in FIG. 1. The indicia 44 should be in the form of visually appealing fun and catchy slogans and catchwords such as the representative slogan “Come Feel The Safer Side Of Sex,” as shown in FIG. 1. The conversion of the box 16 into the condom dispenser shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 provides a handy, portable way to dispense condoms while also promoting safe and healthy sexual practices.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3-7 is a second preferred embodiment of the condom packaging system 10 of the present invention. The condom packing system 10 of FIGS. 3-7 is a lightweight, portable, waterproof system that includes a rectangular-shaped box 48 having a back wall 50, a front wall 52, opposed side walls 54, a floor or bottom 56 and an opposite top wall 58; and the top wall 58 includes a leading front edge 60 and the side walls 54 include vertical side wall edges 62. All of the aforesaid structures define an interior cavity 64 wherein the condom wrappers are disposed.

More specifically, the front wall 52 is further defined by an upper front half wall portion 66 that is permanently affixed to the top wall 58 and the opposed side walls 54 along the leading edge 60 of the top wall 58 and the opposed vertical edges 62 of the side walls 54. Centrally located on the upper front half wall portion 66 is a cut out 68 that is coplanar with the upper front half wall portion 66 and extends up toward the leading edge 60 of the top wall 58. In addition, a lower front half wall portion 70 also further defines the front wall 52, the lower half wall portion 70 mates with the upper front half wall portion 66. The lower front half wall portion 70 includes a centrally-located tongue 72 that interfits with the cut out 68 on the upper front half wall portion 66 and a peel strip or tab 74 that projects from the tongue 72 and is manually graspable so that the individual is able to gradually and incrementally peel away and detach the lower front half wall portion 70 from the upper front half wall portion 66 so that the condoms can be dispensed from the box 48 that has been converted into a condom dispenser.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the permanently affixed upper front half wall portion 66 is interconnected and adjoined to the detachable lower half wall portion 70 along continuous detachment, separation or score lines 76, and this allows for the incremental detachment of the lower half wall portion 70 from the upper half wall portion 66 concomitant with the gradual removal and use of the condoms from the box 48. The detachment or score line 76 extends along the entire periphery or contour of the lower half wall portion 70 and the contour or periphery of the upper half wall portion 66 that engages with the lower half wall portion 70. Furthermore, the entire front edge 60 of the floor 56 and the vertical edges 62 of the side walls 54 also include and form part of the detachment or score lines 76.

Thus, FIG. 5 illustrates the initial detachment of the lower half wall portion 70 wherein the area adjacent the tongue 72 has been detached and peeled away so that the individual can access and retrieve condoms located toward the front of the box 48. In FIG. 6 a larger section of the lower front half wall portion 70 has been detached and peeled away to provide easier access to the condoms within the interior cavity 64 that are located in the middle or toward the back of the box 48. In FIG. 7 a majority of the lower front half wall portion 70 has been detached and peeled away from the upper half wall portion 66 with the interconnection of the two half wall portions 66 and 70 only being along the score lines 76 located at the front edge 60 of the floor 56 and the lowermost edge 78 of the lower half wall portion 70. This amount of detachment of the lower half wall portion 70 allows the individual full access to any remaining condoms located at the rear of the box 48. (It should be noted that FIG. 4 shows the complete detachment and removal of the lower half wall portion 70 from the upper half wall portion 66, and, by extension, from the box 48.) After being detached and peeled away a given amount or extent for condom dispensing as shown in FIGS. 5-7, the lower half wall portion 70 can be repositioned and closed back upon and contiguous with the upper half wall portion 66; and will remain in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, because of the tight, interfitting engagement of the lower half wall portion 70 to the upper half wall portion 66. However, the half wall portions 66 and 70 cannot be physically reattached once the detachment or score lines 76 on portions 66 and 70, and along edges 60 and 62 have been physically separated. The lower half wall portion 70 is of a flexible composition to allow for its being detached, bent and peeled away gradually and incrementally from the upper half wall portion 66 and for being repositioned in tight coplanar alignment with the upper half wall portion 66 after condom removal thereby, in effect, closing the dispenser box 48.

As shown in FIG. 3, the box 48 includes visually appealing and attractive indicia 80 printed on various surfaces of the box 48, such as the front wall 52, for promoting and encouraging safe and healthy sexual practices. The indicia 80 are in the form of a fun and catchy slogan such as the representative slogan “Come Feel The Safer Side Of Sex.”