FR2720723A1 - Manual single use applicator for oxidisable or volatile liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

Manual applicator used to conserve volatile oxidisable or contaminatable liquids for one local application comprises a hollow chamber (1) of low vol. of semi-rigid material e.g. PVC, polyethylene or silicone with one end comprising a cotton or cellulose plug (7) and the other end closed. The chamber contains glass phials (8) contg. the liquids (3) in ml. quantities. The whole assembly is contained in a plastic case sealed with a screw top. The phial is broken by simple compression of the device.

Description

 The present invention relates to a manual applicator intended to store particularly volatile oxidizable and / or contaminated liquids, even sensitive to light, intended for punctual use. The device described in the invention makes it possible to maintain, under absolute conditions of finality, a particularly volatile liquid and / or sensitive to bacterial contamination and to any form of atmospheric oxidation.

 Liquids used are often found commercially, either as disinfectants, which are particularly sensitive to bacterial and / or light contamination, or volatile (alcohol, ether, stain remover, etc.). They are frequently sold in sealed bottles whose volume is greater than fifty cubic centimeters. From the first use the open bottle loses its tightness: this lack of tightness becomes a major factor to quickly cause bacterial contamination, oxidation, harmful evaporation. To solve this problem, it has been imagined to use a device which makes available to the consumer a volume of liquid sufficiently small to constitute a single dose used in a single time which can be discarded after use.

This single dose overcomes the disadvantages due to chemical or bacterial contamination or evaporation.

To maintain this single dose in its initial state, the use of a small sealed ampoule of one to three centimeters was used. In order to protect this bulb before its use, it is introduced into an enclosure a few centimeters long and whose internal volume is slightly greater than the volume of glass bulbs.

To break these bulbs from the outside by manual pressure, the enclosure is molded from a flexible plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, silicone, etc. which can be transparent or made opaque in order to protect the liquid against the photonic effect of light. It is also possible to use a semi-rigid enclosure in which a window covered with a flexible plastic membrane has been machined. The bulb or bulbs are broken by applying manual pressure through this window. The enclosure is closed at one of these orifices by a porous pad which is impermeable to broken glass and which is soaked with liquid to form a brush.

The other end of the tube is closed by a tight and rigid bottom. Several ampoules are used in the same mold when the liquids have to be mixed in situ. Finally, the device is also used with two ampoules, one containing the liquid, the other a powdery product which are mixed by stirring after having broken the two ampoules simultaneously.

 In this way any individual wishing to use a reduced dose of the liquid breaks the bulb by the compression of the flexible envelope of the enclosure; the liquid contained moistens the pad often made of cellulose wadding or cotton fabric, for example. The assembly, enclosure and buffer, forms an applicator delivering "in situ" the liquid or its mixture in its initial state.

 The present invention, called manual applicator intended to store volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local use, is characterized in that it consists of a plastic enclosure of a few cubic centimeters of different shapes, made of chloride, polyvinyl, polyethylene or silicone or other semi-rigid plastic, transparent or opaque, with or without window, provided at one end with a porous pad, the other end being sealed; this enclosure contains one or more glass ampoules containing a dose of a few milliliters of liquid, the enclosure-ampoule assembly being kept in a sealed plastic case.

 The invention thus defined uses materials which can undergo the different modes of sterilization for the purpose of using the applicator for disinfectant, antiseptic solutions, washing or rinsing solutions, solutions for drugs, antibiotics, products haemostatic, photosensitive products, requiring application on a limited and well-defined area. Mixtures of drug solutions that must be prepared at the time of application. The invention adapts perfectly to aseptic conditions sought in the pharmaceutical, cosmetological and dental industry.

 As an indication, let us quote eosine, chlororhexidine, iodine tincture, as regards disinfectants, benzoyl peroxide for other acne, ether, alcohol, essences for solvents.

 The present invention thus defined will be better understood from the appended drawings which are presented for information only and are not limiting.

 Figure 1 of the plate 1/3 shows in section the device as a whole placed under a protector consisting of a plastic film.

 Figure 2 of the board 1/3 shows a section of the entire device in its protective housing.

 Figure 3 of Plate 2/3 shows the device used for various liquids, especially those particularly sensitive to light or those used as stain removers and also the liquid substances used in the cosmetics and dental industry.

 Figure 4 of the board 2/3 shows a variant of the device with window.

 Figure 5 of plate 3/3 shows a variant of the device with two ampoules containing two products which are mixed at the time of application.

 Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of plate 1/2 of the patent we find the applicator seen in vertical section from the front and in profile. The hollow tube, flexible or semi-rigid plastic (1) translucent or opaque, consists of a bottom (6) rigid on which rests the glass bulb (3) containing the liquid to be applied. The diameter of the glass bulb (3) is slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube (1). This ampoule (3) contains a dose of liquid of a few milliliters and its reinforced lower part (10) rests on the bottom (6) of the tube. The upper part of the bulb is tapered at level (8) and has a point of weakness to facilitate breaking. The upper part of the hollow tube (1) is closed by means of a sponge pad (2) consisting for example of compressed hydrophilic cotton or of cellulose constituting a wick. To eliminate the risks of glass particles caused during the rupture of the bulb, the sponge pad is crimped at the upper level (7) of the tube (1) completely isolating the bulb from the outside.

The compression of the crimp does not eliminate the liquid permeability of the pad (2).

 The assembly thus formed is packaged in a translucent or opaque plastic envelope of polyethylene for example (4) (or blister) sometimes glued to a cardboard support (5) covered or not with an aluminum foil. This support will be used to identify the nature of the liquid contained in the bulb (3). To use the dose contained in the ampoule, simply open the plastic envelope (4) by tearing off and apply manual pressure to the outside of the tube (1) breaking the ampoule. The liquid contained in the latter will soak the tampon (2) and the tube (1) will be transformed into an applicator brush for the liquid used in the form of a fractionated donation. This device has the advantage of being packaged with a condition of perfect sterility, in particular as regards the contents of the ampoule. The application of the liquid on the skin can be limited to a specific area. Finally, the whole, after a simple use, is disposable, without causing a risk of pollution.

 There is shown in Figure 3 'of the board 2/3 in section a variant of the device used, in particular for preserving and applying particularly photosensitive liquids or using the device as a brush containing a solvent in order to detach a tissue.

The semi-rigid plastic hollow tube (1) and molded in an opaque plastic of the polyethylene or silicone type. The bottom of the tube (6) is rigid while the top of said tube is capped by a bouquet of cotton wick (9) which has been hot crimped at level (7): the crimping maintains the base of the bunch of wicks Sufficiently compressed so that no broken glass can escape through it, while allowing the liquid to penetrate into the pad by capillary action. The upper part of the body of the tube (1) is flexible while the lower part is rigid.
The inside of this tube contains a glass bulb (3) of a few milliliters of volatile solvent. For example, ether or trichlorethylene or gasoline.This bulb has a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tube, and its upper part (8) is tapered so as to be easily broken under manual compression applied to the upper level of the tube.

 The device is enclosed in a plastic packaging (4) (blister type) itself adhering to a carton (5) or other support on which the contents of the bulb are identified.

 FIG. 4 of board 2/3 shows a variant of the device intended more particularly either in the dental field or in cosmetology.

 Referring to this figure we find the hollow plastic tube (1) made of sufficiently thick materials to keep a semi-rigidity. Over the length of the tube, an oval opening or window (13) has been shaped, protected by a flexible plastic film (15). This plastic film, of silicone for example, (15) belongs to the case (11) which has been glued to the outer walls of the tube (1). The lower part (16) of this case has been welded or glued so as to seal the case (11) and tube (1) assembly.

 The film constitutes the case (11) based on silicone, for example, sufficiently flexible to allow a user to break the bulb contained in the tube (1) by applying manual pressure through the window (15). The diameter of the top of the tube (1) has been considerably reduced in order to receive a porous pad of cellulose or hydrophyll cotton, for example constituting a brush (17). This brush commonly useful for applications in the dental field (scaling) or in that of cosmetology requiring localization of the application.

 The interior of the tube (1) contains a glass bulb (3) nave spun at its upper part; the lower part (10) being made of thicker glass.

 The tube (1) is closed by means of a plug (12) threaded at level (14) on the said tube in order to be used a second time if the aseptic conditions are met or if no contamination is to be to fear.

 FIG. 5 of plate 3/3 shows a variant of the device. The tube is replaced by a small enclosure (19) made of polyvinyl chloride for example. The lower part of this bottle is molded by an extra thickness of plastic material (18).

The enclosure (19) or bottle can conform to all known geometric shapes and its upper part has received a porous pad based on hydrophilic cotton or cellulose. This porous pad (2) crimped on the upper part and closes the enclosure (19) sufficiently to make it impervious to solid elements (broken glass, powder, ...) while allowing the liquid to pass through it by capillarity. The bulbs (20) are in this example limited to two. They contain two liquids that must be mixed when applied or a liquid and a powder that are dissolved. These ampoules (20) are broken by the application of manual pressure on the bottle (19). The two liquids or the liquid of one ampoule and the solid product of the other ampoule are mixed by stirring. The small bottle (19) is inverted, the mixture soaks the tampon, transforming the device into a punctual applicator. The bottle or enclosure is wrapped in a plastic film, kept tight and glued to a support of paper, cardboard, etc. (5) with or without aluminum coating. These supports are used to identify the contents of the bulbs.

Claims (1)

CLAIM 1  Manual applicator intended to store volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminated liquids for local manual use, characterized in that it consists of a hollow enclosure, with or without window, semiridide, of small volume to contain a dose, made of polyvinyl chloride, polythene or silicone or other plastic, transparent or opaque, provided at one of its ends with a crimped pad based on cotton or cellulose, the other end being closed in a tight and rigid manner, this enclosure contains one or more glass ampoules containing a dose of liquid to be applied with a volume of a few milliliters, the whole being stored in a sealed plastic case, or provided with a screw cap. CLAIM 2  Manual applicator for preserving volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local manual use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for preserving in the initial state the volatile liquid, oxidizable or at risk of bacterial contamination is a vial glass (3) containing a dose of a few milliliters of said liquid, and which, placed in the hollow, semi-rigid tube (1) is broken at the time of use. CLAIM 3  Manual applicator for storing volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for locally applying the liquid from the broken ampoule (3) is a pad consisting of cotton (2) or cellulose wicks (9), compressed at their base at the level (7) of the semi-rigid tube (1) so that the liquid contained in the broken bulb (3) lets escape the liquid which soaks this pad without allowing broken glass to escape. CLAIM 4  Manual applicator for storing volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminated liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly, tube (1) bulb (3) and buffer (2), are kept free any contamination by means of a plastic coating (4) (or blister) glued to a paper, cardboard support with or without aluminum, used to identify the contents of the bulb. CLAIM 5  Manual applicator for preserving volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the conservation of the liquid degradable to light is obtained by means of a tube (1) made of plastic opaque containing the ampoule (3) containing the liquid. CLAIM 6  Manual applicator for storing volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for breaking the bulb and transforming the device into a punctual applicator, for cosmetic or dentistry, is a semi-rigid hollow plastic tube (1), provided with an oval window (13) the whole of said tube (1) is wrapped by a flexible case (11) glued, sealed at the low level (16) and closing an oval window (13); this flexible envelope allows manual pressure to be applied to the level (15) of the window (13) to break the bulb. CLAIM 7  Manual applicator intended to store volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for applying the liquid in a very localized manner either in cosmetology or in dentistry is a brush ( 17) made of cellulose crimped onto the tapered tube at level (7). CLAIM 8  Manual applicator for storing volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminated liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of using the applicator with a stain remover is a bouquet of wicks (9) crimped at the level (7) of the tube (1). CLAIM 9  Manual applicator for storing volatile, oxidizable and / or contaminable liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of protecting the brush (17) of the applicator is a plug (12) threaded to the level (14) of the hollow plastic tube (1). CLAIM 10  The manual applicator for preserving volatile, oxidizable or contaminable liquids for local use according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of using the device with a mixture is a flexible enclosure or bottle (19), of low volume, provided with a pad (2) made of cotton crimped at its upper part, said bottle containing two ampoules each containing a different liquid or a liquid and a solid or soluble substance in the liquid; these ampoules, after breaking by manual pressure, are mixed and applied in situ by means of the buffer (2).