Solution applicator

• US 6,533,484 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CareFusion 2200 Inc (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Allegiance Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newbrough, Jerry, Osei, Johnson
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak; David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/952,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20030049069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 401/205,196,132,133,261,263,265 222/631,476,541.1,541.6,541.7,541.8
• US Class Current: 401/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/003 Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/006 using sponges, foams, absorbent pads or swabs as spreading means

Abstract

A solution applicator comprising a solution container having a frangible twist-off member that enables solution in the solution container to flow out of the solution container when the twist-off member is twisted. The solution applicator also comprises an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the applicator head being engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, the applicator head having an aperture and applicating material at the distal end, and the applicator end having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when the applicator is rotated relative to the solution container to thereby open the solution container at the twist-off member to enable fluid to flow from the solution container to the applicating material. The solution applicator of the present invention is novel in that it includes a twist-off member that retains solution in the solution container until the solution container and the applicator head are rotated relative to each other to thereby cause the twist-off member to be twisted to allow solution to be applied.

Claims

1. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container at the twist-off member to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head, wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.

2. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said solution container has a channel formed around its circumference and said applicator head has a lip formed along the inside of its proximate end, said lip mating with said channel to rotatingly couple said applicator head and said solution container together.

3. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said twist-off member of said solution container includes a retainer mechanism that cooperates with said receiving member of said applicator head to couple said applicator head and said solution container together.

4. The solution applicator of claim 3 wherein said retainer mechanism is V-shaped with a spring force such that the legs of the V squeeze together when said retainer mechanism and twist-off member start to be inserted into said receiving member and then the legs of the V spring apart when said retainer mechanism is fully inserted into said receiving member to thereby hold said applicator head and said solution container together.

5. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said frangible web is formed of a thinner material than the rest of said solution container so that the frangible web tears to form an opening in said solution container when said receiving member engages the twist-off member and said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container.

6. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said solution container comprises a container portion connected to a cap to form a sealed reservoir of solution inside of said solution container, said cap having the twist-off member.

7. The solution applicator of claim 6 wherein said twist-off member of said solution container includes a retainer mechanism that cooperates with said receiving member of said applicator head to couple said applicator head and said solution container together.

8. The solution applicator of claim 6 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the cap of said solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and the cap.

9. The solution applicator of claim 8 wherein said frangible web is formed of a thinner material than the rest of the cap so that the frangible web tears to form an opening in the cap when said receiving member engages the twist-off member and said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container.

10. The solution applicator of claim 6 wherein said solution container and said applicator head each have indicia thereon, said indicia are positioned so that when they line up upon rotation of said applicator head relative to said solution container, the twist-off member has been torn to create an opening in said solution container.

11. The solution applicator of claim 6 wherein said applicator head includes applicating material.

12. The solution applicator of claim 6 wherein the cap has a locating pin that protrudes outwardly from the cap, and said applicator head has a slot near its proximal end that is engaged by the locating pin to ensure proper orientation of said applicator head as it is coupled to said solution container.

13. The solution applicator of claim 6 wherein said container portion is connected to said cap by mating threads.

14. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said solution container and said applicator head each have indicia thereon, said indicia are positioned so that when they line up upon rotation of said applicator head relative to said solution container, the twist-off member has been torn to create an opening in said solution container.

15. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said applicator head includes applicating material.

16. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said solution container has a locating pin that protrudes outwardly from said solution container, and said applicator head has a slot near its proximal end that is engaged by the locating pin to ensure proper orientation of said applicator head as it is coupled to said solution container.

17. The solution applicator of claim 1 wherein said solution container has a ring thereon that will contact said applicator head near its proximal end so that solution will not flow out of said solution applicator between said applicator head and said solution container.

18. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted, wherein said solution container comprises a container portion connected to a cap to form a sealed reservoir of solution inside of said solution container, wherein said container portion is connected to said cap by mating threads, said cap having the twist-off member; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head.

19. The solution applicator of claim 18 wherein said solution container has a channel formed around its circumference and said applicator head has a lip formed along the inside of its proximate end, said lip mating with said channel to rotatingly couple said applicator head and said solution container together.

20. The solution applicator of claim 18 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.

21. The solution applicator of claim 20 wherein said frangible web is formed of a thinner material than the rest of said solution container so that the frangible web tears to form an opening in said solution container when said receiving member engages the twist-off member and said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container.

22. The solution applicator of claim 18 wherein said solution container has a locating pin that protrudes outwardly from said solution container, and said applicator head has a slot near its proximal end that is engaged by the locating pin to ensure proper orientation of said applicator head as it is coupled to said solution container.

23. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted, wherein said twist-off member of said solution container includes a retainer mechanism that cooperates with said receiving member of said applicator head to couple said applicator head and said solution container together, wherein said retainer mechanism is V-shaped with a spring force such that the legs of the V squeeze together when said retainer mechanism and twist-off member start to be inserted into said receiving member and then the legs of the V spring apart when said retainer mechanism is fully inserted into said receiving member to thereby hold said applicator head and said solution container together; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head.

24. The solution applicator of claim 23 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.

25. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head;

wherein said solution container and said applicator head each have indicia thereon, said indicia are positioned so that when they line up upon rotation of said applicator head relative to said solution container, the twist-off member has been torn to create an opening in said solution container.

26. The solution applicator of claim 25 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.

27. The solution applicator of claim 26 wherein said frangible web is formed of a thinner material than the rest of said solution container so that the frangible web tears to form an opening in said solution container when said receiving member engages the twist-off member and said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container.

28. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head;

wherein said solution container has a locating pin that protrudes outwardly from said solution container, and said applicator head has a slot near its proximal end that is engaged by the locating pin to ensure proper orientation of said applicator head as it is coupled to said solution container.

29. The solution applicator of claim 28 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.

30. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted, wherein said solution container comprises a container portion connected to a cap to form a sealed reservoir of solution inside of said solution container, said cap having the twist-off member, wherein said twist-off member is connected to the cap of said solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and the cap; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container at the twist-off member to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head.

31. The solution applicator of claim 30 wherein said frangible web is formed of a thinner material than the rest of said solution container so that the frangible web tears to form an opening in said solution container when said receiving member engages the twist-off member and said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container.

32. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted, wherein said solution container comprises a container portion connected to a cap to form a sealed reservoir of solution inside of said solution container, said cap having the twist-off member, wherein said solution container and said applicator head each have indicia thereon, said indicia are positioned so that when they line up upon rotation of said applicator head relative to said solution container, the twist-off member has been torn to create an opening in said solution container; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container at the twist-off member to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head.

33. The solution applicator of claim 32 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.

34. A solution applicator comprising:

a solution container having a twist-off member that enables solution in said solution container to flow out of the solution container when said twist-off member is twisted, wherein said solution container comprises a container portion connected to a cap to form a sealed reservoir of solution inside of said solution container, said cap having the twist-off member, wherein the cap has a locating pin that protrudes outwardly from the cap, and said applicator head has a slot near its proximal end that is engaged by the locating pin to ensure proper orientation of said applicator head as it is coupled to said solution container; and

an applicator head having a proximal end and a distal end and a solution pathway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, said applicator head engaged with said solution container at the proximal end, said applicator head having an aperture at the distal end, and said applicator head having a receiving member that the twist-off member engages when said applicator head is rotated relative to said solution container to thereby open said solution container to enable fluid to flow from said solution container through the solution pathway and through the aperture in said applicator head.

35. The solution applicator of claim 34 wherein said twist-off member is connected to the solution container by a frangible web unitary with the twist-off member and said solution container.