Contracepive device and methods and apparatus for assembling the same

A process for assembling a contraceptive device made up of a rolled tubular condom lying in a plane and having an open end and a closed end, said device also having a pair of strips having first ends rolled into the condom on opposite sides thereof, said strips each having an intermediate portion and a free second end, said device also having first and second packaging sheets positioned on opposite sides of said plane to sandwich the condom therebetween, said first packaging sheet having a side facing the open end of the condom, said second sheet having a side facing the closed end of the condom, comprising

• a. placing a surface tension agent on said device,
• b. moving the intermediate portions of the strips toward each other, said surface tension agent being placed on the device in a location to contact the intermediate portions of the strips when the strips are moved toward each other,
• c. positioning the second ends of the strips to extend away from said intermediate portions in opposite directions,
• d. bringing the packaging sheets into contact with each other on opposite sides of the condom, and
• e. sealing the packaging sheets to each other around the edges thereof.

A process for assembling a contraceptive device made up of a rolled tubular condom having a pair of strips having first ends rolled into the condom on opposite sides thereof and a pair of packaging sheets positioned to sandwich the condom therebetween, said sheets each being made up of inner and outer layers laminated together, said inner layers facing each other and being made of a thermoplastic material having a first melt heat input requirement, said strips being made of a thermoplastic material having a second melt heat input requirement, comprising

• a. positioning the condom between the packaging sheets with said inner layers in contact with each other around the periphery of the sheets and said strips extending away from each other toward opposite edges of the packaging sheets, and
• b. applying heat and pressure to a zone extending around the periphery of the sheets to seal said sheets to each other and to the strips, said zone comprising first and second subzones, said first subzone extending inwardly from the edges of the sheets and said second subzone extending inwardly from said first subzone, the amount of heat applied to the first subzone being sufficient to exceed both the first and second melt heat input requirements of said inner layers and said strips, the amount of heat applied to the second subzone being such that at a point in said second subzone the heat applied to the inner layers exceeds the first melt heat input requirement and the heat applied to the strips is less than said second melt heat input requirement.

Apparatus for assembling a contraceptive device made up of a pair of strips rolled into a tubular condom on opposite sides thereof and a pair of packaging sheets positioned to sandwich the condom therebetween, comprising

• a. a base,
• b. means on the base for supporting the condom in a working position with the strips extending from the condom in opposite directions,
• c. a pair of fingers positioned on opposite sides of the condom in said working position,
• d. means connected to the fingers for moving the fingers back and forth toward and away from each other, said fingers being so positioned that said fingers engage intermediate portions of the strips and move said intermediate portions into contact with the condom when the fingers are moved toward each other.

A process for assembling a contraceptive device made up of a condom having a pair of strips rolled into the condom on opposite sides thereof, said condom having an axis, a closed end, an open end and a ring extending around said open end, comprising

• a. placing the condom on an elongated form having a free end such that the free end of the form is in the closed end of the condom and the open end of the condom is spaced from the free end of the form,
• b. bringing free ends of a pair of strips into contact with the condom on opposite sides thereof adjacent to the ring on the open end of the condom,
• c. bringing an elongated rolling surface into contact with the ring on the condom, and
• d. moving the rolling surface along a path parallel to the axis of the form and in a direction toward the closed end of the condom to roll the condom and the strips.

Apparatus for assembling a contraceptive device made up of an elongated tubular condom having a pair of strips rolled into the condom on opposite sides thereof, said condom having an open end and a closed end with a ring encircling the open end, comprising

• a. a base,
• b. an elongated form having first and second ends, said first end being free and said second end being attached to the base, said form having an axis,
• c. a pair of rolling elements positioned on opposite sides of the form and each having thereon a rolling surface, said elements being moveable between first and second positions in such a manner that when said elements are moved from said second position to said first position the rolling surfaces are carried along paths generally parallel to the axis of the form, said elements being so positioned that when the rolling surfaces are moved from the second position to the first position the rolling surfaces contact the ring on the condom to roll the condom, and
• d. means on the base for moving the rolling elements.