Male Incontinence Product and Package Therefor

Abstract

In a combination of a male incontinence product ( 100 ) and a package ( 200; 600; 700; 800; 900; 1000 ) accommodating the incontinence product, the incontinence product comprises a penile sheath, which is rolled-up to form a collar portion ( 110 ). The incontinence product, external catheter or uridom, also includes a drainage tube for connecting it to a urine collecting bag. In the package, the incontinence product is collapsed. To provide a compact package, the combination comprises at least one retention element ( 204; 206; 246; 604; 704; 804; 904; 1004 ) retaining the incontinence product in the collapsed state when the package is closed. A method for manufacturing the combination may include forming the package as one single piece by injection moulding.

1 . A combination of a male incontinence product and a package accommodating the incontinence product in a rolled-up configuration thereof, the incontinence product comprising:
 a penile sheath, which during use is unrolled to define a cavity for a length of the user's penis, and which, in the rolled-up configuration of the incontinence product, is rolled up to form a proximal collar portion of the incontinence product; and   a drainage portion for connecting the cavity of the sheath to a urine-collecting device;   
     whereby at least one of the penile sheath and the drainage portion is sufficiently flexible to allow collapsing of the incontinence product when in its rolled-up configuration; 
     the combination further comprising at least one retention element, which retains the rolled-up incontinence product in a collapsed state when the package is closed. 
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal extent of the incontinence product is smaller in said collapsed state than in a non-collapsed state. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein, in the collapsed state, an axis defined by the drainage portion extends in a direction different from a centre axis of the sheath. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein a transverse extent of the incontinence product is smaller in said collapsed state than in a non-collapsed state. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the retention element is integral with a wall of the package. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a strip, which is tied around the incontinence product in the collapsed configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage portion is folded in the collapsed state of the rolled-up incontinence product. 
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the collar portion is folded in the collapsed state of the rolled-up incontinence product. 
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises an upper and a lower substantially rigid package portion. 
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower package portions are hinged at a hinge element provided at an edge portion of the package. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the package comprises a protrusion engaging the collar portion, so as to retain the incontinence product relative to the package. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the incontinence product biases one of the package portions away from the other, and wherein the package comprises a closing element for retaining the upper and lower package portions in a closed configuration. 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the closure element comprises a jaw element, which is hinged to one of the lower and upper package portions, and which is arranged to releasably engage the other one of the package portions. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein, at least in a closed configuration of the package, a first portion of the jaw element forms a continuation of that one of the package portions, to which it is hinged. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein a second portion of the jaw element overlaps at least a portion of said other package portion. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion is integral with the hinge element. 
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower package portions are interconnected by means of a sliding connection. 
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower package portions define an open and a closed configuration of the package, and wherein, in the closed configuration of the package, a height of the package is at most ⅓ of a width of the package, and wherein said width is at most 80 mm. 
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the upper and lower package portions has a thickened portion. 
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge element is hinged to the lower package portion at a bottom surface of the lower package portion, and wherein the hinge element is hinged to the upper package portion at a top surface of the upper package portion, whereby, in a closed configuration of the package, the hinge element forms part of an end wall of the package. 
   
   
       21 . The combination of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the upper and lower package portions defines an upright edge wall, and wherein the at least one of said edge walls and said hinge element comprises a protrusion allowing the edge wall and the hinge element to enter into a mutual engagement. 
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the package is provided as one single injection moulded element. 
   
   
       23 . A method for manufacturing a combination of male incontinence product and a package therefor, wherein the male incontinence product comprises:
 a penile sheath, which is rolled up to form a proximal collar portion of the incontinence product, and a drainage portion for connecting a cavity of the sheath to a urine-collecting bag, whereby at least one of the penile sheath and the drainage portion is sufficiently flexible to allow collapsing of the incontinence product when in its rolled-up configuration;   
     the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the package in an open state thereof; 
 placing the incontinence product in the package; 
 collapsing the incontinence product; and 
 closing the package in such a way that the incontinence product is retained in its collapsed state in the closed package. 
 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the steps of collapsing and closing occur essentially simultaneously. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the package comprises an upper and a lower substantially rigid package portion, and a hinge element which is hinged to the lower package portion at a bottom surface of the lower package portion, and which is hinged to the upper package portion at a top surface of the upper package portion, wherein, at said step of providing the package, the hinge element essentially coextends with said bottom surface and said top surface, the method comprising the further step of:
 entering the hinge element into engagement with an upright edge wall defined by one of the upper and lower package portions, the step of entering occurring subsequent to the step of placing the incontinence product in the package.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of providing the package comprises casting at least a portion of the package by injection moulding. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the upper and lower package portions and the hinge element are provided as one single, injection moulded element.