Adhesive bandage envelope

Abstract

The present invention incorporates ways to rapidly open an envelope in which an adhesive bandage is packaged in a sterile manner. Such bandages are commonly described as Band Aids™. The method consists of a modification of the tabs currently used on one end of nearly all such envelopes. The modification consists of the enlargement of the tabs and the use of an additional fold to make the tabs easily gripped because they project out from the envelope. An additional embodiment of the invention causes all the envelopes in a box to be anchored in the box by tabs which are extensions of one half of each envelope, so that by pulling on the tab of the other half of the envelope, the bandage is both pulled from the box and extended from the envelope. An additional enhancement of the invention has one of the release strips protecting the adhesive portions of the bandage to adhere to the envelope, making the bandage ready for application without the need to remove that release strip through a separate action. A variety of bandage sizes may be included in one box, each size being available by a separate opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. U.S. 60 / 646,959, filed on Jan. 24, 2005, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention described herein relates to adhesive bandage packaging, and ways to improve them, in particular with regard to the ease and speed with which they can be used. [0004] 2. Prior Art [0005] There are a number of patents which describe ways in which adhesive bandages of the Band-Aid variety (a trademark of Johnson and Johnson) are more rapidly and easily used. Oliveira in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,188 shows a bandage attached to a release liner in a way which makes it easier to grip. Dupont in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,092 shows a bandage envelope which can be pulled apart. Damikolas in U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,343 B1 shows a dispenser which strips away the envelope which encloses the bandages. Dotta in U.S. Pat. No. 6,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention incorporates ways to rapidly open an envelope in which an adhesive bandage is packaged in a sterile manner. The method consists of a modification of the tabs currently used on one of the ends of nearly all such envelopes. My modification consists of the enlargement of the tabs and the use of an additional fold to make the tabs easily gripped because they project out from the envelope. An additional embodiment of the invention causes all the envelopes in a

Problems solved by technology

Nonetheless, consumer annoyance with the difficulties of using “Band Aids”™ is commonplace and near-universal.

In practice, these narrow tabs can be gripped only by fingertips, and in the case of some bandage brands, they are difficult to separate, even though they are not glued together.

Other makers give the tabs no significant separation at the ends of the envelope, so that peeling the envelope open is extremely difficult.

If a user pulls off both release strips at once, however, the adhesive is now attached to the fingers of the user, and hence loses some of its adhesive grip.

However, in many cases, both release strips are removed at once, as previously described, with the possibility of the adhesive strips touching each other, or being folded on themselves, or at least sticking to the fingers of the user

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