Expandable Condom Container with Peel-Off Lid and Color Cues
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Condom packaging is difficult to open correctly in the dark, and the tear-open design is not reusable for sanitary disposal or aesthetically appealing, making it hard to apply and store condoms neatly.
Innovation Solution
A condom container with a longitudinally expandable cup and a peel-off lid that allows for easy application and resealing, along with a dispenser system for multiple containers, enabling quick and correct condom deployment without touching the condom and facilitating sanitary disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tear-open packaging is used, then the packaging can be easily opened, but it is difficult to identify the correct side of the condom in the dark and cannot be reused for sanitary disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to the condom packaging and condom surface to provide visual orientation cues. The packaging includes colored indicators and the condom has colored dots or patterns that help users identify the correct orientation even in dark conditions, directly addressing the information loss problem while maintaining ease of opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The condom is pre-positioned within the container with the correct orientation already established. The container design includes features that guide the condom into the proper position during packaging, so that when the user opens the container, the condom is already oriented correctly for application, eliminating the need for the user to figure out the correct side.
2Productivity
If traditional tear-open packaging is used, then the packaging can be opened quickly, but it cannot be resealed for sanitary disposal and is not aesthetically appealing
Solution Approach 1:
The container features a dynamic lid mechanism that can be opened for condom application and then resealed for sanitary disposal. The lid is designed to peel back or open easily for access, yet can be closed and sealed back up after use, providing both quick access and reusability for proper disposal of the used condom.
Solution Approach 2:
The container serves multiple functions: it acts as packaging for storage, an applicator for condom application, and a disposal container for used condoms. This multi-functionality is achieved through the reusable lid design that allows the same container to be used throughout the entire lifecycle of the condom, from storage to disposal.
3Device complexity
If the condom is applied without a specialized container, then the application process is simpler, but the user must touch the inside of the condom which may compromise sanitation
Solution Approach 1:
The container acts as an intermediary tool between the user's hand and the condom interior. Instead of the user directly touching and manipulating the condom, they manipulate the container which then applies the condom to the penis. This intermediary approach maintains sanitation by preventing direct contact with the condom's inner surface while still enabling easy application.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed to automatically apply the condom when activated by the user. Once the lid is opened, the user simply needs to place the container on the penis, and the container's expansion mechanism automatically unrolls and applies the condom without requiring the user to manually handle or touch the condom interior.
4Ease of operation
If the container expands to fully unroll the condom, then the condom can be applied without touching, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes flexible materials for its construction, particularly for the expandable walls and the condom itself. This flexibility allows the container to expand and contract smoothly during the application process without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms. The thin-film nature of the materials enables the expansion action to be simple and elegant rather than mechanically complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs a dynamic expansion mechanism where the walls flex outward to unroll the condom. This dynamic action is achieved through simple hinged or pleated structures that naturally expand when force is applied, rather than through complex motors or mechanical systems. The expansion is a natural consequence of the container's flexible结构设计, maintaining simplicity while achieving touch-free application.
Data Source
AI summary
A condom, container and applicator for a condom, in which the condom is provided in a longitudinally expandable cup having a peel-off lid. The cup is typically formed of plastic material. The side wall of the container is expandable, and can include accordion-like pleats to allow for longitudinal expansion of the cup. The condom is placed in the cup such that it can be directly applied to the penis while still in the cup, and the cup used as an applicator to unroll the condom over at least the head of the penis by expanding the side wall of the cup. The disclosure also relates to a dispenser for storing and dispensing the condom containers.