Unit dose assembly

• US 5,042,690 A
• Filed: 02/08/1990
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wheaton, Inc. (Alusuisse Lonza)
• Original Assignee: CP Packaging LLC (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Meara, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US07/476,689
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/107, 222/153, 222/215, 222/541, 222/545, 222/570, 222/187, 222/522, 215/6, 215/250, 215/257, 401/261, 401/267, 401/139, 401/134, 206/15.2
• US Class Current: 222/83
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/042 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/006 using sponges, foams, absorbent pads or swabs as spreading means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0015 of the 41-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0096 integral with the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/36 for applying contents to surfaces brushes combined or associated with tubular containers A46B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/222 the piercing or cutting means being integral with, or fixedly attached to, the outer closure
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/24 Hole-piercing devices

Abstract

A cap and tube assembly device including a tube with a nozzle mounted on one end of the tube and having a thin wall section puncturable to provide a discharge on the other end of the nozzle. Also provided is a cap having a first end with an inside cross section sized to engage the nozzle and having an axially centered puncture spike positioned in a first position spaced from the thin wall and movable to a second position to puncture the thin wall. The puncture spike has a chisel shaped edge for forming a hole in the wall and a central bore for providing access to the contents of the tube. The cap has a second enclosing an applicator for dispensing the contents of the tube, whereby the contents of the tube is transferred to the applicator through the bore of the puncture means.

Claims

1. A cap and tube assembly device comprising:

a tube for containing a product and having a nozzle mounted on one end of said tube, with a thin wall section puncturable to provide a discharge;

a cap having a first end with an inside cross section sized to engage said nozzle and having an axially centered sharp, pointed, hollow puncture means positioned in a first position spaced from said thin wall and movable to a second position to puncture said thin wall;

wherein the outside of said nozzle is provided with a surface of resistance and the inside of said first end of said cap has an interference surface, said surface of resistance and interference surface comprising a ring and groove whereby said surface of resistance and said interference surface cooperate to locate said puncture means in said first position;

said puncture means having a central bore for puncturing said thin wall to provide access to the contents and of said tube; and

said cap having a second end in communication with said first end via said bore and including means for fixedly enclosing and retaining an applicator for dispensing the contents of said tube, said applicator comprising a material capable of expanding when fluid is transferred from said tube to said applicator.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said assembly is sterilized.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said material is polyurethane foam.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said assembly is packaged.

5. The device of claim 3 which further includes a removable cover means on said second end to protect said applicator from contamination.