GB2506446A

GB2506446A - Sachet and applicators for controlled delivery of cream or similar

Info

Publication number: GB2506446A
Application number: GB1217540.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony William Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-01
Filing date: 2012-10-01
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Also published as: GB201217540D0

Abstract

A sachet 10 for containing a cream, lotion, gel or fluid comprises a front surface and a rear surface sealed together at the edges, the front surface containing a number of holes 20 arranged over its surface through which the contents will pass, when a force is applied to one or both of the surfaces and a removable seal 30 covering the holes to prevent escape of the contents, the seal 30 being attached to the front surface of the sachet. The seal 30 may be glued or thermally sealed, may include a flap to be gripped 40 and may be resealable. The sachet 10 may include bristles 50 or the like and means to attach it to an applicator, means such as adhesive, hook and loop material, a sleeve or a loop. A first applicator 60 may comprise means for holding a sachet 10 and a pivotal joint 70. A second applicator (100 fig. 3) includes a integral pocket (90 fig. 3) for the sachet 10 and the applicator (100 fig. 3) may be in the form of a glove.

Description

SACHET FOR CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF CONTAINED PRODUCT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sachet for containing a cream, lotion, gel or fluid.

In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to a sachet for the controlled delivery of the cream, lotion, fluid or gel from a plurality of holes on the surface of the sachet.

BACKGROUND

It is known to use a sachet for the containment of a cream, lotion, gel, fluid and such like (hereafter for brevity we will refer just to cream but it is to be understood that we are referring to a cream, lotion, gel, fluid or other medium which could be contained in a sachet). Usually sachets contain a small notch or perforation at one of the edges of the sachet such that applying a force to the notch will cause the sachet to tear enabling the release of the cream through the opening caused by the tear.

This method of release of the cream from the sachet has the disadvantage that it requires the use of two hands or other means of gripping the sachet whilst tearing with one hand in order to create the tear. This disadvantage makes opening of such sachets difficult for elderly people who can find the notch difficult to tear open or in situations where the person applying the cream does not have two free hands such as in a medical situation where a healthcare worker is trying to apply a cream to the skin of patient with one hand whilst cleaning the skin or performing some other task with their other hand.

This method of release of the cream also suffers from the disadvantage that the cream is released in a localised area. This is a disadvantage in cleaning applications such as polishing a surface where it would be preferable for the cream to be released in a controlled manner evenly distributed over the surface of the cleaning cloth or medium in order to maximise the cleaning efficiency.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to at least partially mitigate the disadvantages of the cream delivery mechanism of sachets containing a notch or perforation that requires tearing as the means of releasing the cream from the sachet.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sachet for containing a cream, lotion, gel or fluid comprising; a front surface and a rear surface sealed together at the edges, the front surface containing a number of holes arranged over its surface through which the contained cream, lotion, gel or fluid will pass, when a force is applied to one or both of the surfaces, a removable seal covering the holes to prevent escape of the cream, lotion, gel or fluid, the seal being attached to the front surface of the sachet.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cream, lotion, gel or fluid applicator device comprising; a means of holding a sachet as described in any of the proceeding claims against a pivotal joint, such that movement of the applicator devices causes the pivotal joint to apply a force between the joint and the surface to which the applicator device is being applied, this force causing the cream, lotion, gel or fluid to be squeezed from the sachet in a controlled manner.

Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that they provide a means for the sachet to be easily opened using just one hand.

Embodiments of the invention have the additional advantage that they enable the controlled and even delivery of the cream from the front surface of the sachet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the sachet.

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of a cream applicator device.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a cream applicator device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention Fig.1 shows a plan drawing of a sachet (10).

The sachet (10) contains a plurality of holes (20) arranged over its surface through which the contained cream, lotion, gel or fluid will pass, when a force is applied to one or both of the surfaces, The sachet (10) contains a removable seal (30), which is preferably glued around its edges and surface to the front surface of the sachet (10).

Alternatively the removable seal (30) is bonded by means of a thermal sealing process to the front surface of the sachet (10).

In a preferred embodiment the removable seal (30) contains a flap or protrusion (40) in order to enable it to be easily gripped and to be peeled away from the front surface of the sachet (10).

Preferably the removable seal (30) is re-sealable, such that the sachet (10) can be re-used with the remaining cream, lotion, gel or fluid left over from the previous application.

Preferably the front and rear surfaces of the sachet (10) are made from a thin polymer material. Alternatively the sachet (10) may be made from a metal foil film. Making the sachet (10) from an impregnated or waxed paper or cardboard is also useful.

In a preferred embodiment the material surfaces of the sachet (10) are heat sealed at the edges in order to contain the cream, lotion, gel or fluid that has been deposited inside the open sachet by means of a vertical form filling process. Other methods of filling and sealing the sachet (10) can be used.

In a preferred embodiment there are a plurality of bristles (50) protruding from the sachet (10) front in order to channel the cream such that when it is squeezed from the sachet (10) it is delivered in a controlled manner contained within the region on the sachet surface defined by the bristles (50). Other methods of channelling the cream when squeezed from the sachet (10) such as but not limited to sponge, foam, plastic and cloth are also useful.

In a preferred embodiment the sachet (10) has an adhesive label attached to its rear surface such that when the label is removed an adhesive layer is exposed on the rear surface of the sachet (10) enabling the sachet (10) to be attached to an applicator device (60).

Other means of attaching the sachet (10) to an applicator device (60) can be used such the use of velcro or double sided adhesive tape. Alternatively the sachet could have a sleeve on its rear surface such that it could slide onto the head of an applicator device.

In a second embodiment of the present invention Fig. 2 shows a cross section of an applicator device (60) for applying the cream contained within the sachet (10).

In a preferred embodiment the applicator device (60) contains a pivotal joint (70) and a handle (80).

The sachet (10) is attached to the applicator device (60) and the movement of the applicator device (60) against the surface to which the cream is being applied causes the pivotal joint (70) to apply a force between the pivotal joint (70) and the surface to which the applicator device is being applied, this force causing the cream to be squeezed from the sachet (10) in a controlled manner.

In the preferred embodiment the pivotal joint (70) is a ball joint, however other means of applying a force to the sachet (10) by movement of the handle (80) are useful.

In an alternative embodiment the sachet device (10) could be an integral pocket (90) on the applicator device. Fig. 3 shows this embodiment where the pocket (90) could be positioned on the palm of a wearable glove shaped applicator device (100) such that when the removable seal is removed, the application of pressure from the palm of the glove shaped applicator (100) will cause the cream/gel/lotion to emerge from the holes in the sachet (10). The advantage of such an applicator devices is that it would be possible to apply a cream/gel/lotion by hand without the hand becoming in contact with the cream/gel/fluid.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A sachet for containing a cream, lotion, gel or fluid comprising; a front surface and a rear surface sealed together at the edges, the front surface containing a plurality of holes arranged over its surface through which the contained cream, lotion, gel or fluid will pass, when a force is applied to one or both of the surfaces, a removable seal covering the holes to prevent escape of the cream, lotion, gel or fluid, the seal being attached to the front surface of the sachet.
2. A sachet as in claim 1, wherein; the removable seal is glued around its edges and surface to the front surface of the sachet.
3. A sachet as in claim 1, wherein; the removable seal is bonded by means of a thermal sealing process to the front surface of the sachet.
4. A sachet as in any preceding claim, wherein; the removable seal contains a flap or protrusion in order to enable it to be easily gripped to be peeled away from the front surface.
5. A sachet as in any preceding claim, wherein; the removable seal is re-sealable, such that the sachet can be re-used with the remaining cream, lotion, gel or fluid left over from the previous application.
6. A sachet as in any preceding claim, wherein; the front and rear surfaces are made from a thin polymer material or metal foil film, which has been heat sealed at the edges in order to contain the cream, lotion, gel or fluid which has been deposited inside the open sachet.
7. A sachet as in any preceding claim, wherein; protruding from the sachet front surface there are a plurality of bristles or other means of channelling the cream, lotion, gel or fluid such that the cream, lotion, gel or fluid when squeezed from the sachet it is delivered in a controlled manner contained within the region on the sachet surface defined by the bristles or other channelling means.
8. A sachet as in any preceding claim, wherein; the rear surface contains an adhesive label, double sided sticky tape, piece of velcro or other means of attaching it to an applicator device.
9. A sachet as in any preceding claim, wherein; the rear surface contains a sleeve or loop, as a means of attaching it to an applicator device.
10. A cream, lotion, gel or fluid applicator device comprising; a means of holding a sachet as described in any of the proceeding claims against a pivotal joint, such that movement of the applicator device causes the pivotal joint to apply a force between the joint and the surface to which the applicator device is being applied, this force causing the cream, lotion, gel or fluid to be squeezed from the sachet in a controlled manner.
11. A cream, lotion, gel or fluid applicator device as in claim 10, wherein; the pivotal joint is a ball joint.
12. A cream, lotion, gel or fluid applicator device comprising; a pocket into which the sachet is inserted, the pocket having an open face enabling the cream/lotionlgel to be squeezed out of the applicator device through the pocket opening and onto the application surface, by the application of pressure to rear side of the sachet.
13. A cream, lotion, gel or fluid applicator device as in claim 12, wherein the applicator device is made in the shape of a glove.
14. A sachet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A cream, lotion, gel or fluid applicator device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.