Method and apparatus for packaging sterile surgical masks
First Claim
1. A method of packaging surgical masks such that said masks can be dispensed one at a time without entangling the tie strings of the masks, the method comprising the steps of:
- stacking said surgical masks one upon the other;
gathering said tie strings into columns at each corner of the stack of said masks;
providing a container having a length that is long enough to permit the tie strings at one end of said stack of masks to be extended toward one end of said container, and a width that is wide enough to permit the tie strings at the other end of said stack to be extended along the sides of said stack toward said end of the container; and
inserting said surgical masks into said container such that said tie strings will trail loosely behind and at the sides of said stack of masks so as to permit each mask to be freely withdrawn from said container without entangling other masks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for packaging sterile surgical masks so that individual masks can be dispensed one at a time without disturbing the masks remaining in the dispenser. The method employs stacking surgical masks one upon another and aligning the tie strings so that they have essentially the same direction. The stack of sterile surgical masks with tie strings thus aligned is then inserted into a bag and the bag is tied at one end so as to enclose the masks therein. The bag and its contents are then sterilized and placed in a container. Both the bag and the container are long enough to permit the tie strings to trail loosely behind the stack of masks, and the bag and container are wide enough to permit the tie strings at the sides of the stack of masks to lie loosely and in a generally horizontally aligned fashion, thus permitting the masks to be serially removed without tangling the tie strings.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of packaging surgical masks such that said masks can be dispensed one at a time without entangling the tie strings of the masks, the method comprising the steps of:
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stacking said surgical masks one upon the other; gathering said tie strings into columns at each corner of the stack of said masks; providing a container having a length that is long enough to permit the tie strings at one end of said stack of masks to be extended toward one end of said container, and a width that is wide enough to permit the tie strings at the other end of said stack to be extended along the sides of said stack toward said end of the container; and inserting said surgical masks into said container such that said tie strings will trail loosely behind and at the sides of said stack of masks so as to permit each mask to be freely withdrawn from said container without entangling other masks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of packaging surgical masks such that said masks can be dispensed one at a time without entangling the tie strings of the masks, the method comprising the steps of:
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stacking said surgical masks one upon the other; gathering said tie strings into columns at each corner of the stack of said surgical masks; providing a container having a length that is long enough to permit the tie strings at one end of said stack of masks to be extended toward one end of said container, and a width that is wide enough to permit the tie strings at the other end of said stack to be extended along the sides of said stack toward said end of the container; inserting said stack of surgical masks into a gas permeable bag that generally corresponds in length and width to the length and width of said container, thereby permitting said tie strings to trail loosely behind and at the sides of said stack of masks; closing said bag so as to enclose said stack of masks therewithin; sterilizing said bag and its contents by gas treatment; placing said bag in said container; and enclosing said container.
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- 8. A stack of sterile surgical masks in a package, said masks further including tie strings at each ends, the package comprising a container having a length being long enough such that the tie strings at one end of said stack of masks extend free from entanglement toward one end of said container, said container further having a width being wide enough such that the tie strings at the other end of said stack extend free from entanglement along the sides of said stack toward said end of the container, said container further having opening means for acessing said stack of surgical masks to be dispensed one at a time without entangling the tie strings of the masks.
Specification