AU2021295369A1

AU2021295369A1 - Flowpack dispenser pack for disposable gloves, preparation method and device for associated packing and use

Info

Publication number: AU2021295369A1
Application number: AU2021295369A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pedro Miguel CARVALHO DA COSTA
Original assignee: Raclac SA
Current assignee: Arka Europe SA
Priority date: 2020-06-22
Filing date: 2021-06-21
Publication date: 2023-02-09
Also published as: JP2023532611A; WO2021262021A1; CA3184025A1; PT116516A

Abstract

The invention comprises a flowpack dispenser pack for at least one non-sterile disposable glove, comprising a wrapper (1) formed by a sheet of flexible material (2), in which the wrapper (1) is closed by a seal arranged along the longitudinal axis (3) and by a pair of seals arranged along the transverse axis (4a, 4b), positioned at opposite ends of the wrapper (1). The pack comprises an opening (5) for removing the gloves, and a sealing cover (6). The invention also includes a preparation method and a device for packing and use of the flowpack. The invention solves the problems of cross-contamination and direct contamination of the pack and gloves, in particular by microorganisms and particulates, encountered with cardboard packs, by means of packing the disposable gloves in an impermeable flowpack and through an appropriate method for preparing the flowpack.

Description

DESCRIPTION "FLOWPACK DISPENSER PACKAGING FOR DISPOSABLE GLOVES, METHOD OF PREPARATION AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE FOR STORAGE AND USE" TECHNICAL DOMAIN

The present invention refers to dispenser packaging for non

sterile disposable gloves and to the devices that enable the

storage and use of the referred dispenser packaging.

PRIOR ART

The non-sterile disposable gloves, namely non-sterile

examination gloves, are packaged in a production line in a

non-controlled environment as regards the presence of

microorganisms and particulate material. The packaging

processes for non-sterile gloves known to the state of the

art use conventional systems, most of which are carried out

by means of human resources and in a non-automatic manner.

The dispenser packaging for disposable gloves that are known

from the state of the art are typically cardboard packaging,

wherein the opening of the packaging is executed by means of

perforated openings, usually arranged at the top of the

packaging. In the packaging that are known from the state of

the art, the gloves are stored in a random manner and without

orientation in the interior of the packaging. In the Chinese

utility model CN201777458U of applicant Guilin Latex

Factory, published on March 30, 2011, it is disclosed a

dispenser packaging for disposable gloves, made from

cardboard, which presents in one of its faces a perforated

opening which allows access to the gloves contained inside the packaging.

PROBLEMS OF THE PRIOR ART

The methods for the preparation of packaging for disposable

non-sterile gloves known from the state of the art are

carried out in non-controlled environments, as regards the

environment surrounding the non-sterile disposable gloves,

i.e., in open production and packaging lines and not isolated

as to the environmental conditions. Consequently, the non

sterile disposable gloves contain several contaminations,

from diverse microorganisms to particles. It is important to

point out that the non-sterile disposable gloves constitute

Class I non-sterile medical devices conceived with the

purpose of preventing diseases, since, during the use

thereof, they protect the health professional, patients and

third parties from eventual contamination originating from

the contact with microorganisms and/or contaminated

biological fluids. In this manner, the disposable gloves in

question, although they are not sterile, must have the lowest

possible level of particles and microorganisms, since the

glove will come into contact with lesions and non-intact

skin, which is why it must constitute a vehicle for non

contamination, and not a contamination enhancer.

As regards the cardboard disposable packagings known from

the state of the art, these have a perforated opening,

usually at the top of the packaging, for removal of the

gloves, wherein the tops are non-airtight, i.e., either the

perforation or the tops of the packagings are not airtight

and allow the exit of air from inside the packaging and vice

versa, wherein all the air surrounding the packaging comes

into contact with the non-sterile disposable gloves, from the moment when the gloves are manufactured until the opening of the packaging by the user. It must be noted that this cumulative contamination cycle includes contaminations acquired during packaging, storage, in the secondary transport cardboard, in the container, during the sea/air transportation or other, and remaining contaminations originating from the storing in the distinct warehouses throughout the world, up to the moment when the packaging is opened by a user.

Additionally, since the referred perforation opening, which allows entry of contamination, is opened by means of the rupture of the perforation and this is maintained open until the last glove is removed from the packaging, the gloves contained inside the packaging are exposed to environmental contaminations, such as microorganisms and particulate materials.

Additionally, the dispenser packaging of the state of the art can also allow other contamination routes, related to the insertion itself of the hand of the user in the interior of the packaging to collect a glove. The gloves that are stored in cardboard are placed in a disorderly way inside the packaging, i.e., most of the gloves are all wrinkled inside the packaging, having the wrist on one side, other having the fingers towards another side, without any logic orientation in the interior and, when a user pulls the gloves to wear, may pull the glove by the fingers, by the palm or by the wrist, depending on the way the opening will allow, given that they are randomly arranged and the opening is in the center of the packaging. In this manner, the user can pull a glove by areas that are more sensitive to the presence of contaminants, such as the fingers of the gloves, since it is the zone of the fingers which comes into contact with the activity, namely, the non-intact skin, among others, in the scope of the activities of the professional. Therefore, due to the fact that the user takes the gloves from the packaging by the fingers, he will eventually be contaminating an area of the glove which should be inert for the activity in which the glove will be used, leading to cross-contamination.

Additionally, the user can end up by inadvertently

contaminating a sensitive part of the glove and eventually

will do the same to other gloves present in the packaging,

which have not been removed.

Other disadvantages of the cardboard dispenser packaging of

the state of the art are related to the possibility of

contamination by the environment surrounding the storage

place of the referred packaging, for example, by means of

atmospheric contamination, by air humidity or by undue flow

of water over the packaging, since the cardboard packaging

is not impermeable and it is sensitive to humidity, with

consequent contamination of the gloves that are inside. These

packagings that are known from the state of the art are

subject to a cumulative contamination factor, due to the

cross-contaminations, and may act as an intercontinental

migration vehicle for microorganisms, whereby they may

further impact the generation of multi-resistant strains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers, in a first aspect, to a

dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves,

wherein the dispenser packaging is a flowpack packaging,

comprising a wrapping (1) formed by a sheet of flexible

material (2) to store at least one disposable glove; and by the wrapping (1) being closed by a seal placed along the longitudinal axis (3) of the wrapping (1) and by a pair of seals placed along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) of the wrapping (1), wherein the seals placed along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) are positioned at opposite ends of the referred wrapping (1); and by the wrapping (1) comprising an opening (5) for removal of at least one non-sterile disposable glove, and a seal lid (6) of the referred opening (5), wherein the sealing is executed by the union between a peripheral zone of the opening (7) and a peripheral zone of the lid (8).

The present invention refers, in a second aspect, to a method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable glove, according to the first aspect of the invention.

The present invention refers, in a third aspect, to the use of the flowpack dispenser packaging, according to the first aspect, to store disposable gloves, namely examination gloves.

The present invention refers, in a fourth aspect, to a device for storage and use of a dispenser packaging for disposable gloves comprising a storage zone (11) for at least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable glove, according to the first aspect; and by

the referred storage zone (11) comprising an insertion opening (12) for insertion of at least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, a removal opening (13) for a user to have access to a dispenser packaging for disposable gloves and a guide (15); and by the referred storage zone (11) being adapted to store at least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable glove; and by the guide (15) being placed inside the referred device, wherein the referred guide (15) forms an inclined plane which projects from a first intersection (16), formed between the opening of the insertion (12) and a front face of the device (17), to a second converging intersection (18) formed between the removal opening (13) and a rear portion of the device; and by the guide (15) comprising at least one elastic means (19), which connects the guide (15) to the front face of the device (17); and by the storage zone (11) being limited by the insertion opening (12), by the guide (15), by the removal opening (13) and by the second converging intersection (18); and by the referred second converging intersection (18) being configured so that the opening (5) of a dispenser packaging for disposable gloves, introduced by the insertion opening (12) and displaced to the second converging intersection (18), is aligned with the removal opening (13), by means of the compression of the elastic means (19).

SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

The present invention solves the problems of the state of the art by means of the storage of the non-sterile disposable glove in an impermeable and impervious flowpack packaging and by a method especially adapted to the preparation of the flowpack packaging. The fact that the dispenser packaging is airtight and does not allow the exchange of air between the interior of the packaging and the exterior, allows maintaining inert and guaranteed the environmental characteristics surrounding the gloves in the interior, namely the controlled environment characteristics, whether microorganisms, whether particles originating from the manufacture and storage in a controlled environment, up to the moment when the user opens the packaging.

Additionally, due to the fact that the flowpack allows the

user to maintain the opening completely open during the use

of the packaging until the last glove (conventional method),

or that, by means of the opening and the lid, the user can

close the packaging upon each glove removal, allows the user,

by means of this packaging, to maintain the conditions inert

and of non-contamination inside the packaging, allowing to

contribute to the elimination of the cross cumulative

contamination until the gloves in the packaging are finished.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the

non-sterile disposable gloves are guided along the

longitudinal direction of the flowpack packaging and have an

opening for the removal of the gloves, wherein the wrists of

the gloves are always removed through the referred openings.

In this manner, and since the wrist is the zone having less

contact during an activity, the cross-contamination is

eliminated, that can originate from the user pulling/taking

the gloves by the fingers or palm (contaminating them) and

subsequently touching the activity where they will be used.

In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the method for preparation of a dispenser packaging for non sterile disposable gloves is carried out in a controlled environment in terms of the filtering of the air which flows to the preparation zone of the referred packagings.

Additionally, the present invention further contributes with a solution referring to a device for storage and use of a flowpack dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, wherein the device allows access by a user to the gloves contained inside the flowpack packaging in a more efficient and practical manner, with the access by the wrist in the preferred embodiments, eliminating the cross contamination and maintaining the same flowpack concept conceived. Additionally, it is possible that this device is part of a room for storing a dermo protective disinfectant solution, for use prior to putting on the gloves, allowing a procedure that is completely in conformity with the technical orientations which are applicable to the correct use of the non-sterile disposable gloves.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves according to the present invention is carried out in a fully automated production line, dismissing the presence of human employees, which contributes to a method for the preparation of dispenser packagings for non-sterile disposable gloves which significantly reduces the presence of microorganisms and particles on the gloves.

The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves according to the present invention is carried out in a controlled environment with means to control the microbial and particle contamination, wherein the quality control referring to contaminants is carried out completely remotely in the production line, with automatic rejection points, in case of detection of a non conformity in the gloves, before the packaging thereof.

Apart from the method of preparation, the dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves according to the present invention presents constructive characteristics which allows the stored gloves to remain more protected from contamination by microorganisms and particles, even when the referred packaging is opened. The packaging according to the present invention comprises an opening for removal of the gloves, which allows the adequate closing after removal of the non sterile disposable gloves, avoiding the remaining gloves in the packaging from being subjected to, for example, atmospheric contaminants.

The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves according to the present invention further comprises a completely disruptive level of airtightness in face of the cardboard packaging of the state of the art, namely regarding the contamination by the undue flow of liquids over the packaging or regarding the absorption of humidity, allowing maintaining the adequate and ideal conditions for the preservation of the non-sterile disposable gloves during all their lifespan and validity term. Additionally, the impermeability of the packaging of the present invention allows the packaging to be externally sanitized by sanitary and cleaning agents, including in liquid means, to eliminate contaminants which eventually are over the wrapping, without contaminating the content of the packaging, which practice is unfeasible in the cardboard packagings of the state of the art.

The non-sterile disposable gloves can also be organized in

an orderly manner inside the dispenser packaging for non

sterile disposable gloves according to the present

invention, namely, oriented inside the packaging with the

wrist towards the same side - the opening side. The non

sterile disposable gloves cannot be piled, so that the wrist

of the glove remain turned towards the opening of the

packaging, avoiding that the user touches portions of the

glove that are more sensitive to contamination, such as the

fingers and the palm of the non-sterile disposable gloves,

to which is added the logical fact that the user puts on his

gloves always by the wrist, in this manner, in a logical

manner, the user will have this process facilitated and

expedited, apart from the advantages of elimination of cross

contamination.

The packaging according to the present invention and the

method of preparation thereof enables the preservation of

acceptable levels related to the presence of microbiological

and particulate contaminants in non-sterile examination

gloves, which characteristic is particularly advantageous

during the use of the gloves by health professionals, who

need to be in contact with non-intact skin and lesions in

the patient, whereby the exposure of the patient to

contaminations and to the possibility of suffering

infections by microorganisms eventually present in the non

sterile disposable gloves must be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

With the purpose of providing an understanding of the

principles according to the embodiments of the present

invention, reference will be made to the embodiments

illustrated in the figures and to the terminology used to

describe them. In any case, it must be understood that there

is no intention of limiting the scope of the present

invention to the content of the figures. Any subsequent

alterations or modifications of the inventive characteristic

shown herein, as well as any additional applications of the

principles and embodiments of the invention shown, which

would occur normally to a person skilled in the art having

this description in hands, are considered as being within

the scope of the claimed invention.

Figure 1 - illustrates an embodiment of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves according to the

invention;

Figure 2 - illustrates a top view of an embodiment for a

dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves

according to the invention;

Figure 3 - illustrates an embodiment of a device for storage

and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable

gloves and of a dermo protective disinfectant solution

according to the invention, arranged vertically;

Figure 4 - illustrates another embodiment of a device for

storage and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile

disposable gloves according to the invention, arranged

horizontally;

Figure 5 - illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a device for storage and use of a dispenser packaging for non

sterile disposable gloves and of a dermo protective

disinfectant solution according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention refers to a dispenser packaging for

non-sterile disposable gloves, wherein the dispenser

packaging is a flowpack packaging, comprising a wrapping (1)

formed by a sheet of flexible material (2) to store at least

one disposable glove; and by

the wrapping (1) being closed by a seal placed along the

longitudinal axis (3) of the wrapping (1) and by a pair of

seals placed along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) of the

wrapping (1), wherein the seals placed along the transverse

axis (4a, 4b) are positioned at opposite ends of the referred

wrapping (1); and by

the wrapping (1) comprising an opening (5) for removal of at

least one non-sterile disposable glove, and a seal lid (6)

of the referred opening (5), wherein the sealing is executed

by the union between a peripheral zone of the opening (7)

and a peripheral zone of the lid (8).

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the

sheet of flexible material (2) is made from a material

selected from the group consisting of a polymeric sheet

comprising at least one polymeric layer, a composite sheet

comprising at least one layer of paper and a composite sheet

comprising at least one layer of paper and at least one polymeric layer.

When the flexible material sheet (2) is selected from a polymeric sheet comprising at least one polymeric layer any type of polymeric material known to the state of the art can be employed, that is capable of being used as a packaging material, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinylidene chloride and copolymers thereof. In order to provide a sheet of flexible material (2) having more noted imperviousness and impermeability characteristics against the passage of fluids through the flowpack material there can be used a polymeric material comprising more than one layer of polymeric material. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, there can be used for the preparation of a sheet of flexible material (2) biodegradable polymeric materials and/or recyclable polymeric materials known from the state of the art.

When the sheet of flexible material (2) is selected from a composite sheet comprising at least one layer of paper, there can be used any type of sheet in layers wherein the paper layers are linked with sheets of other polymeric or metallic materials, such as an aluminum foil sheet.

When the sheet of flexible material (2) is selected from a composite sheet comprising at least one layer of paper and at least one polymeric layer, there can be used any type of sheet in layers wherein the layer of paper is linked with sheets of the same polymeric materials capable of being used by themselves, such as referenced above.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the

sheet of flexible material (2) is impervious and impermeable

to external fluids of the flowpack packaging. The expression

external fluids corresponds to any fluids which typically or

by accident may come into contact with the outer surface of

the dispenser packaging according to the invention, for

example, the atmospheric air, water or other liquids which

may contact the material of the wrapping.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

sealing lid (6) of the opening (5) is made from a sheet of

flexible material (9) and the seal between the peripheral

zone of the opening (7) and the peripheral zone of the lid

(8) is made by means of an adhesive material, wherein the

sealing lid (6) is linked to the wrapping (1) by means of at

least one foldable connection point. As will be understood

by a person skilled in the art the sheet of flexible material

can be made from the same polymeric materials with which the

sheet of flexible material (2) can be made. In this

embodiment, the user accesses the gloves in the interior of

the packaging by opening the seal lid (6), which can once

again be closed due to the adhesive material which can be

arranged in the peripheral zone of the opening (7) and/or

the peripheral zone of the lid (8).

In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, the

seal lid (6) of the opening (5) is made from a sheet of rigid

material (10) and a seal between the peripheral zone of the

opening (7) and the peripheral zone of the lid (8) is made

by means of a male-female connection, wherein the seal lid

(6) is connected to the wrapping (1) by means of at least

one articulated connection point. The male and female

connection points can be arranged both in the peripheral zone of the lid (8), as in the peripheral zone of the opening (7). As will be understood by a person skilled in the art the rigid sheet of material (10) can be made from any polymeric material that is typically used in the industry of packaging materials. The seal lid (6) and the male-female connections can be prepared from conventional molding processes by injection of thermoplastic polymers.

Preferably, the non-sterile disposable gloves that are stored in the dispenser packaging of the invention are examination gloves. The disposable gloves can be made from a material selected from the group consisting of latex, nitrile rubber (also known as nitrile), vitrile, polyvinyl chloride (also known as vinyl), neoprene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, polyethylene and copolymers thereof.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the opening (5) is positioned in an adjacent manner to one of the seals arranged along the transverse axis (4a, 4b). As illustrated in figure 1, the opening (5) is positioned in a transverse end of the wrapping (1).

Figure 1 illustrates a dispenser packaging for disposable gloves, comprising a wrapping (1) formed by a sheet of flexible material (2), wherein the wrapping is closed by transverse seals (4a, 4b) and by a longitudinal seal (3), which is not represented in this figure. The opening (5) is positioned at one end of the referred wrapping, since, as will be detailed ahead, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention the gloves are stored in an orderly and piled manner, wherein the wrists of the gloves are turned towards the opening (5). In figure 1, the opening (5) is sealed by a sealing lid (6) wherein the sealing is carried out by the union between a peripheral zone of the opening (7) and a peripheral zone of the lid (8). In figure 2 there is illustrated the same embodiment of figure 1, whereby a seal is represented arranged along the longitudinal axis (3).

However, there is also comprised within the scope of the present invention the positioning of the opening (5) in any zone of the wrapping (1), i.e., in any face of the referred wrapping, for example the longitudinal upper face, the longitudinal lower face and the longitudinal lateral faces. In one embodiment of the invention, the opening (5) is positioned in a central part of one of the longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1). Alternatively, the opening (5) is positioned at a part of one of the longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1) arranged between a seal along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) and the transverse line which corresponds to half the longitudinal length of the wrapping (1).

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the disposable gloves are stored inside the wrapping (1) along the longitudinal axis of the wrapping (1), wherein the part referring to the wrists of the disposable gloves is positioned in the zone covered by the opening (5) . This particularly advantageous configuration enables the user to withdraw the gloves through the opening touching the less critical part of the glove in terms of contaminants, avoiding for example the fingers and the palm of the glove. In this manner, the user also avoids contaminating the remaining gloves that are stored in the packaging.

Preferably, the wrapping (1) stores from 2 to 500 disposable gloves, whereby dispenser packagings according to the invention can be prepared, containing any standardized quantities of gloves requested by the customers, for example,

, 100 and 200 gloves.

The present invention further refers to a method for the

preparation of a dispenser packaging for disposable gloves,

according to the present invention, comprising the following

steps:

i. Availability of a sheet of flexible material (2);

ii. Cutting an opening (5) in the flexible material sheet

(2);

iii. Fixing a seal lid (6) on the opening (5) in the sheet

of flexible material (2);

iv. Shaping a sheet of flexible material (2) in a channel

form;

v. Approaching and contacting the two longitudinal edges of

the sheet of flexible material (2) along the longitudinal

axis of the zone shaped in the form of a channel;

vi. Sealing the two longitudinal edges of the sheet of

flexible material (2), forming a seal arranged along the

longitudinal axis (3);

vii. Isolating the storing zone of the disposable gloves by

means of a transverse seal, forming a pair of seals arranged

along the transverse axis (4a,4b);

viii. Cutting the edges of the pair of seals arranged along the transverse axis (4a, 4b), forming a wrapping (1); and by a sub-step of storing of at least one non-sterile disposable glove being carried out according to an option selected from the group consisting of: a) storing the gloves in the zone shaped in the form of a channel subsequently to step v) and prior to step vi), b) storing the gloves through one of the transverse openings subsequently to step vi) and prior to step vii), c) storing the gloves through a second transverse opening subsequently to the first transverse being sealed in step vii); and by a sub-step of compressing the wrapping being carried out subsequently to the execution of the sub-step of storing of at least one disposable glove and prior to the conclusion of step vii) for the removal of the air contained inside the referred at least one glove.

In step i), the sheet of flexible material (2) can be made available from a roll of flexible material.

Step ii), referring to cutting of the opening (5) can be carried out from any cutting system for flexible materials known from the state of the art.

In the preferred embodiments, the step ii) of cutting of an opening (5) in the sheet of flexible material (2) is carried out in a way that the referred opening (5) is placed in a position selected from the group consisting of a position in the transverse end of the wrapping (1), a position in a central part of one of the longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1) and a position in a part of one of the longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1), arranged between a seal along the transverse axis (4a,4b) and the transverse line which corresponds to half the longitudinal length of the wrapping (1). More preferably, the opening (5) is arranged in a position situated at one end of the wrapping (1) as illustrated in figure 1.

Step iii), referring to the fixing of the seal lid (6), made from flexible material, to the opening (5) can be made by applying an adhesive material to the peripheral zone of the opening (7) and/or the peripheral zone of the lid (8). Alternatively, when the lid is made from a rigid material, a male-female connection element can be connected to the peripheral zone of the opening (7), by means of an adhesive or welding process, and next the rigid lid can be connected to the male-female element and to an articulate connection point of the rigid lid being connected to the wrapping by means of an adhesive or welding.

Steps iv) to viii) are carried out by means of the methods and systems known to the state of the art.

The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves can be carried out in a controlled environment with control means against contamination by external agents, such as microbial and particulate material contaminants.

Preferably, the sub-step of storing of at least one

disposable glove is made subsequently to step v) and prior

to step vi), i.e., the gloves are stored in the zone shaped

in the form of a channel.

In other preferred embodiments of the method according to

the invention, the non-sterile disposable gloves are stored

along the longitudinal axis of the wrapping (1), wherein the

part referring to the wrists of the disposable glove is

positioned in the opening zone (5) of the wrapping (1).

The present invention further refers to a device for storage

and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable

gloves comprising a storage zone (11) for at least one

dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves

according to the invention; and by

the referred storage zone (11) comprising an insertion

opening (12) for the insertion of at least one dispenser

packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, a removal

opening (13) for a user to have access to a dispenser

packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, and a guide

(15); and by

the referred storage zone (11) being adapted to store at

least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable

gloves; and by

a guide (15) being arranged inside the referred device,

wherein the referred guide (15) forms an inclined plane which

projects from a first intersection (16), formed between the insertion opening (12) and a front face of the device (17), up to a second converging intersection (18), formed between the removal opening (13) and a rear portion of the device; and by the guide (15) comprising at least one elastic means (19), which connects the guide (15) to the front face of the device

(17); and by

the storage zone (11) being limited by the insertion opening

(12), the guide (15), the removal opening (13) and by the

second converging intersection (18); and by

the referred second converging intersection (18) being

configured so that the opening (5) of the dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, introduced by the

insertion opening (12) and displaced up to the referred

second converging intersection (18), is aligned with the

removal opening (13), by means of the compression of the

elastic means (19).

In the preferred embodiments, the device for storage and use

of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves

comprises a seal lid (14) for the insertion opening (12).

In other preferred embodiments, the removal opening (13) is

adapted to allow access by the user to the seal lid (6) of

the opening (5) of the wrapping (1) of the dispenser

packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves which is

positioned in the lower portion of the storage zone (11),

namely, the referred second converging intersection (18).

Preferably, the device for storage and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, comprises a storage zone (11) limited by walls. Other embodiments of the referred device comprise at least two storage zones (11) arranged in an adjacent manner. Preferably, each one of the storage zones (11) is arranged vertically.

As illustrated in figure 3, the device for storage and use

of a dispenser packaging for disposable gloves comprises

three storage zones (11), wherein one seal lid (14) covers

each one of the insertion openings (12), arranged on an upper

face of the referred device. Each one of the removal openings

(13), arranged in a rear face of the device for storage and

use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable

gloves, and the respective storage zones (11) can be

configured to store respectively different sizes of

dispenser packagings for non-sterile disposable gloves,

wherein the referred size of the packagings is relative to

the size of the glove, for example, a large size, a medium

size and a small size.

As illustrated in figure 5, which represents a side view of

the device illustrated in figure 3, a guide (15) is arranged

inside the referred device, wherein the referred guide (15)

forms an inclined plane which projects to a first

intersection (15), formed between the insertion opening (12)

and a front face of the device (17), to a second converging

intersection (18), formed between the removal opening (13)

and a rear portion of the device. The second converging

intersection (18) comprises a converging part of the storage

zone (11), formed by the removal opening (13) arranged on a

front face of the device and by the guide (15), which

inclined plane intercepts a quota situated below the removal

opening (13) on the front face of the device. Alternatively, the second converging intersection (18) can comprise a converging portion of the storage zone (11), formed by the removal opening (13) placed on a front face of the device and by the guide (15), which plane intercepts a side face of the device. The guide (15) comprises at least one elastic means (19), which connects the guide (15) to the front face of the device (17), wherein the elastic means (19) can be, for example, a spring or an elastomeric material shaft.

Figure 4 presents an alternative embodiment of the device

for storage and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile

disposable gloves, wherein this is arranged horizontally.

As illustrated in figures 3 to 5, the storage zone (11) is

limited by the insertion opening (12), by the guide (15), by

the removal opening (13) and by the second converging

intersection (18). Additionally, the referred second

converging intersection (18) is configured so that the

opening (5) of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile

disposable gloves, introduced by the insertion opening (12)

and displaced to the referred second converging intersection

(18), is aligned with the removal opening (13), by means of

the compression of the elastic means (19). Therefore, a

dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves is

introduced by the insertion opening (12), wherein the face

of the wrapping (1) which comprises the opening (5) is turned

towards the rear portion of the device. Next, the referred

packaging is pressed in the direction of a second converging

intersection (18), to align the opening (5) of the packaging

with the removal opening (13) of the device. In the step of

accommodating the referred packaging in the second

converging intersection (18), the guide (15) can be

approximated to the front face of the device (17), by means of the compression of the elastic means (19), to enable the accommodation of packagings containing larger gloves or packagings containing a larger number of gloves. As the gloves are removed through the removal opening (13), which is aligned with the opening (5) of the packaging, there occurs the decompression of the elastic means (19) and the resulting distancing of the guide (15) as regards the front face of the device (17), so as to maintain the adequate alignment of the removal opening (13) with the opening (5) of the packaging.

As illustrated in figure 3, in the preferred embodiments of

the device for storage and use of a dispenser packaging for

non-sterile disposable gloves there is included a storage

zone for a dermo protective disinfectant solution (20),

wherein the referred storage zone (20) comprises an opening

for the insertion of a dermo protective disinfectant solution

(21), wherein a user activates the dispensation of a portion

of the dermo protective disinfectant solution for his

sanitization prior to putting on the non-sterile disposable

gloves. In these embodiments, the user has the option of

pressing a button which releases a portion of the dermo

protective disinfectant solution, with which to proceed with

the due cleansing of the hands, so that the subsequent access

to the dispenser packaging for disposable gloves is carried

out without resulting in contamination of the non-sterile

disposable gloves. In other embodiments of the device for

storage and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile

disposable gloves there is included a short distance movement

sensor for the automatic release of the dermo protective

disinfectant solution by the user, to avoid the referred

device from being touched by the user, wherein the part of

the body of the user, used for contact with the device, is eventually contaminated. In this sense, there can be used any short distance movement or presence sensors that are known to the state of the art.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, as will be

understood by a person skilled in the art, the embodiment of

the device for storage and use of a dispenser packaging for

non-sterile disposable gloves, wherein this is arranged

horizontally, can further include a zone for storage of a

dermo protective disinfectant solution (20), wherein the

referred storage zone (20) comprises an insertion opening

for the dermo protective disinfectant solution (21) and a

removal opening for the dermo protective disinfectant

solution (22). Optionally, and in an analogous manner, there

can further be included a short distance movement sensor,

close to the opening for removal of the dermo protective

disinfectant solution (22), for the automatic release of the

dermo protective disinfectant solution by the user. In the

preferred embodiments of the present invention, the storage

zone for the dermo protective disinfectant solution (20), is

arranged vertically. In other embodiments, the referred

storage zone for a dermo protective disinfectant solution

(20) can be arranged horizontally as regards the storage

zone (22), in a slightly inclined plane to allow the adequate

draining of the disinfectant solution in the direction of

the opening for removal of a dermo protective disinfectant

solution (22).

The subject matter described above is provided as

an illustration of the present invention and, therefore,

cannot be interpreted so as to limit it. The terminology

used herein with the purpose of describing preferred

embodiments of the present invention, must not be interpreted to limit the invention. As used in the specification, the definite and indefinite articles, in their singular form, aim at the interpretation of also including the plural forms, unless the context of the description indicates, explicitly, the contrary. It will be understood that the expressions

"comprise" and "include", when used in this description,

specify the presence of the characteristics, the elements,

the components, the steps and the related operations,

however, they do not exclude the possibility of other

characteristics, elements, components, steps and operations

also being contemplated.

All the alterations, providing that they do not

modify the essential characteristics of the claims that

follow, must be considered as being within the scope of

protection of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE INDICATIONS

1. A wrapping

2. A sheet of flexible material

3. A seal arranged along the longitudinal axis

4a,4b. A pair of seals arranged along the transverse axis

5. An opening

6. A seal lid

7. A peripheral opening zone

8. A peripheral zone of the lid

9. A flexible material sheet for the seal lid

10. A rigid material sheet for the seal lid

11. A storage zone

12. An insertion opening

13. A removal opening

14. A seal lid

15. A guide

16. A first intersection

17. A front face of the device

18. A second converging intersection

19. An elastic means

20. A storage zone for a dermo protective disinfectant

solution

21. An insertion zone for a dermo protective disinfectant

solution

22. A removal opening for the dermo protective disinfectant

solution

LIST OF CITATIONS

Follows the list of citations:

PATENT LITERATURE

Chinese Utility Model CN201777458U, published on March 30, 2011

NON-PATENT LITERATURE

Claims

1. A dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves,

characterized by the dispenser packaging being a flowpack

packaging comprising a wrapping (1) formed by a sheet of

flexible material (2) for storing at least one non-sterile

disposable glove; and by

the wrapping (1) being closed by a seal placed along the

longitudinal axis (3) of the wrapping (1) and by a pair of

seals placed along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) of the

wrapping (1), wherein the seals placed along the transverse

axis (4a, 4b) are positioned at opposite ends of the referred

wrapping (1); and by

the wrapping (1) comprising an opening (5) for removal of at

least one non-sterile disposable glove, and a seal lid (6)

of the referred opening (5), wherein the sealing is executed

by the union between a peripheral zone of the opening (7)

and a peripheral zone of the lid (8).

2. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable

gloves, according to claim 1, characterized by the sheet of

flexible material (2) being made from a material selected

from the group consisting of a polymeric sheet comprising at

least one polymeric layer, a composite sheet comprising at

least one layer of paper and a composite sheet comprising at

least one layer of paper and at least one polymeric layer.

3. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable

gloves, according to claim 2, characterized by the sheet of

flexible material (2) being impermeable and impervious to

fluids that are external to the flowpack packaging.

4. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the sealing lid (6) of the opening (5) being made from a sheet of flexible material (9) and the seal between the peripheral zone of the opening (7) and the peripheral zone of the lid (8) being made by means of an adhesive material, wherein the sealing lid (6) is linked to the wrapping (1) by means of at least one foldable connection point.

5. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the seal lid (6) of the opening (5) being made from a sheet of rigid material (10) and the seal between the peripheral zone of the opening (7) and the peripheral zone of the lid (8) being made by means of a male-female connection, wherein the seal lid (6) is connected to the wrapping (1) by means of at least one articulated connection point.

6. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the disposable gloves consisting of non sterile examination gloves.

7. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the disposable gloves being made from a material selected from the group consisting of latex, nitrile rubber, vitrile, polyvinyl chloride, neoprene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, polyethylene and copolymers thereof.

8. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the opening (5) being positioned in an adjacent manner to one of the sealings arranged along the transverse axis (4a, 4b).

9. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to the preceding claim, characterized by the opening (5) being positioned at a transverse end of the wrapping (1).

10. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the opening (5) being positioned at a central portion of one of the longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1).

11. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the opening (5) being positioned at a portion of one of the longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1) arranged between a seal along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) and the transverse line which corresponds to half the longitudinal length of the wrapping (1).

12. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the non-sterile disposable gloves being stored inside the wrapping (1) along the longitudinal axis of the wrapping (1), wherein the portion referring to the wrist of the disposable glove is positioned in the zone covered by the opening (5).

13. The dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the wrapping (1) storing from 2 to 500 non sterile disposable gloves.

14. A method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, as defined in any one of

claims 1 to 13, characterized by comprising the following

steps:

i. Availability of a sheet of flexible material (2);

ii. Cutting an opening (5) in the sheet of flexible material

(2);

iii. Fixing a seal lid (6) on the opening (5) in the sheet

of flexible material (2);

iv. Shaping a sheet of flexible material (2) in a channel

form;

v. Approaching and contacting the two longitudinal edges of

the sheet of flexible material (2) along the longitudinal

axis of the zone shaped in the form of a channel;

vi. Sealing the two longitudinal edges of the sheet of

flexible material (2), forming a seal arranged along the

longitudinal axis (3);

vii. Isolating the storing zone of the disposable gloves by

means of a transverse seal, forming a pair of seals arranged

along the transverse axis (4a,4b);

viii. Cutting the edges of the pair of seals arranged along

the transverse axis (4a, 4b), forming a wrapping (1); and by a sub-step of storing of at least one non-sterile disposable glove being carried out according to an option selected from the group consisting of: a) storing the gloves in the zone shaped in the form of a channel subsequently to step v) and prior to step vi), b) storing the gloves through one of the transverse openings subsequently to step vi) and prior to step vii), c) storing the gloves through a second transverse opening subsequently to the first transverse being sealed in step vii); and by a sub-step of compressing the wrapping being carried out subsequently to the execution of the sub-step of storing of at least one disposable glove and prior to the conclusion of step vii) for the removal of the air contained inside the referred at least one glove.

15. The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to the preceding claim, characterized by at least the steps ii) to vii) and the sub-steps for storing of at least one non sterile disposable glove and pressing of the wrapping being carried out in a controlled environment with means to control the microbial contamination and by particles, wherein the control means comprise the filtering of the air which flows to the preparation zone for the dispenser packaging for non sterile disposable gloves by means of HEPA filters.

16. The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of

claims 14 and 15, characterized by step ii) cutting an

opening (5) in the sheet of flexible material (2) being

carried out so that the referred opening (5) is arranged in

a position selected from the group consisting of a position

at one transverse end of the wrapping (1), a position at a

central portion of one of the longitudinal faces of the

wrapping (1) and a position at a portion of one of the

longitudinal faces of the wrapping (1) arranged between a

seal along the transverse axis (4a, 4b) and the transverse

line which corresponds to half the longitudinal length of

the wrapping (1).

17. The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of

claims 14 to 16, characterized by the non-sterile disposable

gloves being accommodated along the longitudinal axis of the

wrapping (1), wherein the portion referring to the wrist of

the non-sterile disposable gloves is positioned at the

opening zone (5) of the wrapping (1).

18. The method for the preparation of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to the preceding claim characterized by in the sub-step of

compressing the wrapping, the pressure being applied in the

direction from the fingers to the wrists of the gloves.

19. An use of the flowpack dispenser packaging, as defined

in any one of claims 1 to 13, for accommodating non-sterile disposable gloves, namely, examination gloves.

20. A device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, characterized by comprising at least one storing zone (11) for at least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 13; and by

the referred storage zone (11) comprising an insertion opening (12) for the insertion of at least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, a removal opening (13) for a user to have access to a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, and a guide (15); and by

the referred storage zone (11) being adapted to store at least one dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves; and by

a guide (15) being arranged inside the referred device, wherein the referred guide (15) forms an inclined plane which projects from a first intersection (16), formed between the insertion opening (12) and a front face of the device (17), up to a second converging intersection (18), formed between the removal opening (13) and a rear portion of the device; and by

the guide (15) comprising at least one elastic means (19), which connects the guide (15) to the front face of the device (17); and by

the storage zone (11) being limited by the insertion opening (12), the guide (15), the removal opening (13) and by the second converging intersection (18); and by the referred second converging intersection (18) being configured so that the opening (5) of the dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, introduced by the insertion opening (12) and displaced up to the referred second converging intersection (18), is aligned with the removal opening (13), by means of the compression of the elastic means (19).

21. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to the previous claim, characterized by comprising a sealing lid (14) of the insertion opening (12).

22. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 20 and 21, characterized by the removal opening (13) being adapted to allow access by the user to the seal lid (6) of the opening (5) of the wrapping (1) of the dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves.

23. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized by, the storing zone (11) being limited by walls.

24. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized by at least two storage zones (11) being arranged in an adjacent manner.

25. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized by the storage zone (11) being arranged vertically.

26. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of

claims 20 to 24, characterized by the storage zone (11) being

arranged horizontally.

27. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to any one of

claims 20 to 26, characterized by comprising a storage zone

for a dermo protective disinfectant solution (20), wherein

the referred storage zone (20) comprises an insertion opening

for the dermo protective disinfectant solution (21) and a

removal opening for the dermo protective disinfectant

solution (22), wherein a user activates the release of a

portion of dermo protective disinfectant solution for his

sanitization prior to putting on the non-sterile disposable

gloves.

28. The device for storing and use of a dispenser packaging

for non-sterile disposable gloves, according to the previous

claim, characterized by comprising a short distance movement

sensor for the automatic release of the dermo protective

disinfectant solution by the user.