US20060219585A1

US20060219585A1 - Swab holder

Info

Publication number: US20060219585A1
Application number: US11/385,092
Authority: US
Inventors: Young Cho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-21
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Also published as: KR20050033598A; CN2900408Y

Abstract

Disclosed is a swab holder, in which swabs can be neatly arranged in the holder such that they are gathered together at one side of the holder, and the swabs can be automatically taken out of the holder in response to an opening motion of a door, thus keeping the swabs in a clean state and allowing a user to easily and conveniently take the swabs out of the holder. The swab holder includes a swab storage container, with a plurality of partition plates provided in the container to divide the interior of the container into a plurality of swab storage chambers for storing swabs therein. A bottom surface of the container is downward sloping from a central position of the bottom surface to the outer periphery of the bottom surface. A cap is detachably attached to the upper end of the container, with a door provided on a predetermined position of the cap to close an opening through which the swabs can be taken out of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to holders and, more particularly, to a holder for swabs, which is configured such that a plurality of cotton swabs is automatically arranged in the holder in such a way that a user can easily and conveniently take a cotton swab out of the holder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, swabs, each comprising a bit of soft material, usually cotton, fixed to at least one end of a stick, have been preferably used for disinfecting or cleaning the openings of the ears or the nostrils or the affected parts of sick persons, or used for painting people's faces or removing cosmetics from their faces.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional swab holder known in the prior art which comprises a swab container 11 for storing swabs 10 therein that holds the swabs 10 standing up, with a cap 12 detachably attached to the top opening of the container 11 so as to close the container 11.
However, in the simple container of the above-mentioned conventional swab holder, a plurality of swabs is stored and arranged so as to simply stand on the bottom of the container. Thus, after a predetermined number of swabs has been gradually taken out of the container and consumed, the swabs remaining in the container lean at angles and may become tangled due to the space between the swabs. In the above state, it is not easy to take the swabs out of the container and, furthermore, as the number of remaining swabs is reduced, the orientation of the swabs become worse, causing a user difficulty when taking the swabs out of the container.
Furthermore, if the swabs in the container do not maintain their standing position, the fingers of a user may come into contact with neighboring swabs while the user takes a swab out of the container, thus undesirably contaminating the neighboring swabs and not keeping the swabs in a clean state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a swab holder, which is configured such that swabs are neatly arranged in the holder while they are gathered together at one side of the holder so that users can easily and conveniently take the swabs out of the holder.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a swab holder, which is configured such that the swabs can be automatically taken out of the holder in response to an opening motion of a door, thus keeping the swabs in a clean state and allowing a user to easily and conveniently use the swabs.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a swab holder, comprising: a swab storage container, with a plurality of partition plates provided in the container to divide the interior of the container into a plurality of swab storage chambers to store swabs therein, and a bottom surface of the container formed to slope downward from a central position to the outer periphery of the bottom surface; and a cap detachably attached to the upper end of the container, with a door provided at a predetermined position in the cap to close an opening, through which the swabs are taken out of the container.
The swab holder of the present invention is advantageous as follows. A plurality of partition plates is provided in a swab storage container to divide the interior of the container into several storage chambers, in which a plurality of swabs can be neatly held and arranged so as to stand up. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the container is downward sloping so that the swabs can be automatically gathered together at one side and maintain their arranged state. Thus, a user can easily and conveniently take the swabs out of the container. A plurality of swab catching rods is provided on the inner surface of the door of the cap to automatically catch the cotton swabs, so that the swabs can be more easily taken out of the container. A medicament storage chamber can be provided in the container, so that a user can conveniently apply oil medicaments or cream medicaments to the affected parts of sick persons using the swabs. Furthermore, an arranging plate can be provided in the container to elastically push the swabs to one side and arrange them while gathering them together at the side, so that a user can easily and conveniently take the swabs out of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional swab holder of the prior art;
FIGS. 2 through 5 are views illustrating a swab holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which:
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the swab holder according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the assembled state of the swab holder according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the swab holder according to the present invention shown with the cap removed; and
FIG. 5 is a partially broken isolated perspective view of a cap of the swab holder according to the present invention;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a swab holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which:
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the swab holder according to the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the use of the swab holder according to the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a swab holder according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
FIGS. 2 through 5 are views illustrating a cotton swab holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 being is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cotton swab holder according to the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the cotton swab holder of the present invention comprises a swab container 20, which is open at its upper end to store cotton swabs therein. The holder has a cap 30, which is formed to detachably attach to the container 20 and close the opening of the container 20. The cap 30 has a top wall 38 and a side wall 39 extending downward from the periphery of the top wall 38. Also, a convex lens 8 can form part of the top wall 38 as shown in FIG. 2.
The container 20 is provided therein with a plurality of radial partition plates 21 to divide the interior of the container 20 into several swab storage chambers, with a plurality of swabs 10 held standing up in each of the swab storage chambers defined by the partition plates 21.
The partition plates 21 may be integrally formed in the interior of the container 20. Alternatively, the partition plates 21 may be formed separately from the container 20 and, thereafter, may be integrated with the container 20 through fitting or bonding using an adhesive.
A cap locking part 22 is formed around the upper edge of the container 20 so that the cap 30 can be locked to the top opening of the container 20. A locking ring 23 is formed around the outer circumferential surface of the cap locking part 22, with a plurality of stop protrusions 24 formed on the locking ring 23 at positions corresponding to the partition plates 21.
The stop protrusions 24 project from the locking ring 23 outwards in radial directions, as shown in FIG. 3.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the container 20 has a bottom surface 25, which slopes downward from a central position of the bottom surface to the outer periphery. This downward slope allows the swabs 10 to be neatly arranged in the swab storage chambers while they are gathered together at one side of each of the swab storage chambers.
The cap 30, which is detachably attached to the cap locking part 22, is provided with an openable door 31. The openable door 31 is formed around a part of the sidewall 39 and extends over part of the top wall 38 of the cap 30 close an opening 32 formed on the cap 30. A grip part 31 a is formed at an end of the door 31 so that a user can easily grip and handle the door 31 with a finger while the user opens or closes the door 31.
In this embodiment, the door 31 is coupled to the cap 30 at the sidewall 39 thereof so that the door 31 can hingeably swing at the sidewall 39 to open and close the door 31. However, it should be understood that the structure of the door 31 is not limited to the above-mentioned structure, but may be freely designed, for example, such that the door 31 is coupled to the cap 30 at the top wall 38 to extend over part of the sidewall 39 and hingeably swing at the topwall to open and close the door 31.
As shown in FIG. 5, a locking groove 33 is formed around the inner circumferential surface of the sidewall of the cap 30 so that the locking groove 33 engages with the locking ring 23. Furthermore, a plurality of stop holes 34 is formed in the locking groove 33 at positions corresponding to the partition plates 21 so that the stop protrusions 24 engage with the respective stop holes 34 to fix the position of the cap 30 relative to the container 20.
When the stop protrusions 24 engage with the respective stop holes 34, the door 31 of the cap 30 is placed at the center of one of the swab storage chambers defined in the container 20 by the partition plates 21. Thus, when the door 31 in the above state is opened, it is easy to take a swab 10 out of the swab storage chamber of the container 20.
Furthermore, the downward sloping bottom surface 25 of the bottom of the container 20 enable the swabs 10 to be neatly arranged in the container 20 while they are gathered together at a position under the door 31.
The above-mentioned cotton swab holder according to the present invention is assembled as follows. First, a plurality of cotton swabs 10 is held standing up in the swab storage chambers defined in the container 20 by the partition plates 21. Thereafter, the cap 30 is locked to the top opening of the container 20 such that the locking ring 23 of the container 20 engages with the locking groove 33 of the cap 30. If the stop protrusions 24 of the container 20 engage with the respective stop holes 34 of the cap 30, the door 31 of the cap 30 is precisely placed at the center of one of the swab storage chambers defined in the container 20 by the partition plates 21.
Thereafter, when a user pulls the door 31 with a finger holding the grip part 31 a, the opening 32 is opened, thus allowing a swab 10 to be taken out of the container 20 through the opening 32 of the cap 30. In the above state, because the bottom surface 25 of the container 20 slopes downward, the swabs 10 are neatly arranged in the container 20 while they are gathered together at a position under the opening 32 of the cap 30.
Because the swabs 10 are always arranged in the container 20 such that they are gathered together at the position under the opening 32 of the cap 30, it is easy to take a swab 10 out of the container 20 through that opening 32.
After the swabs 10, stored in a storage chamber defined in the container 20 by the partition plates 21, have been completely taken out of the chamber and consumed, the cap 30 is rotated in one direction relative to the container 20, which is held in the hand of a user. In the above state, due to the movable engagement of the locking ring 23 with the locking groove 33, the cap 30 can rotate relative to the fixed container 20. When the cap 30 has been appropriately rotated relative to the container 20 at an angle of about 90 degrees, the stop protrusions 24, having been disengaged from existing stop holes 34, are subsequently inserted into other stop holes 34, so that the rotation of the cap 30 is stopped.
In the above state, the door 31 of the cap 30 is placed at the center of a subsequent storage chamber defined in the container 20 by the partition plates 21, so that the swabs 10 stored in the chamber can be easily taken out of the chamber.
In the present invention, because the interior of the container 20 is divided into several swab storage chambers by the partition plates 21, the swabs 10 can be grouped into several respective groups, each held standing up and neatly arranged in the chambers without leaning to one side or becoming tangled.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a cotton swab holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the first embodiment, the cotton swab holder according to the second embodiment comprises a medicament storage chamber 60, which is formed at the center of the radial partition plates 21 in the container 20 for storing medicaments, such as oil medicaments or cream medicaments, therein. An inside cap 61 is detachably attached to the top end of the medicament storage chamber 60.
A plurality of elastic catching rods 70 is provided on the inner surface of the door 31 at regular intervals in a manner capable of automatically and elastically catching some cotton swabs 10 and taking the caught swabs 10 out of the container 20 in response to an opening motion of the door 31. A locking ball 71 is preferably provided on the end of each catching rod 70 so that the locking balls 71 can prevent the caught swabs 10 from undesirably escaping from the catching rods 70.
Each of the locking balls 71 preferably has a diameter larger than that of the catching rod 70.
In this second embodiment having the above-mentioned construction, a bottom surface 25 of the container 20 is also formed to slope downward from a central position of the bottom surface to the outer periphery the inner surface of the bottom of the container 20. Thus, the cotton swabs 10 are neatly arranged in the container 20 and are gathered together at a position under the opening 32. When the door 31 is closed, some cotton swabs 10 are caught between the catching rods 70. When the door 31 in the above state is opened, the swabs 10 caught between the catching rods 70 are automatically taken out of the container 20 as shown in FIG. 7, so that a user can more easily and conveniently use the swabs 10.
Furthermore, because a locking ball 71 is provided on the end of each catching rod 70, the swabs 10 caught between the catching rods 70 can be prevented from undesirably escaping from the rods 70.
In addition, the cotton swab holder according to the second embodiment has the medicament storage chamber 60 in the container 20, so that a user can apply medicaments, such as oil medicaments or cream medicaments, to the affected parts of sick persons using the swabs 10, thus being convenient to users.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a cotton swab holder according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, an arranging plate 80, which is elastically biased by a spring 81, is provided in the container 20 such that the arranging plate 80 normally biases the cotton swabs 10 to one side.
In the present invention, the biasing means for the arranging plate 80 is not limited to a spring 81, but may be freely embodied as any member capable of elastically biasing the arranging plate 80 to one side. For example, in place of the spring 81, a porous material, such as a sponge, a plastic material, such as rubber, or a heavy weight may be used as the biasing means for the arranging plate 80.
Furthermore, the spring 81 preferably comprises two or more springs, which can evenly apply biasing force to the arranging plate 80. In addition, a convex mirror 98 or a concave mirror 99 is preferably installed on the outer surface of the container 20 so that a user can conveniently use them while painting his/her face.
In the third embodiment, although the cotton swabs 10 have been gradually taken out of the container 20 and consumed, the swabs 10 remaining in the container 20 can be pushed to one side by the spring-biased arranging plate 80 and be neatly arranged while being gathered together. Thus, a user can easily and conveniently take the cotton swabs 10 out of the container 20.
As apparent from the above description, the cotton swab holder according to the present invention provides the following advantages. A plurality of partition plates is provided in a swab storage container to divide the interior of the container into several storage chambers, in which a plurality of cotton swabs can be neatly held and arranged standing up. Furthermore, a downward sloping bottom surface of the container allows the swabs to be automatically gathered together at one side and maintain their arranged state. Thus, a user can easily and conveniently take the swabs out of the container. A plurality of swab catching rods is provided on the inner surface of the door of the cap to automatically catch the cotton swabs, so that the swabs can be more easily taken out of the container. A medicament storage chamber is provided in the container, so that a user can conveniently apply oil medicaments or cream medicaments to the affected parts of sick persons using the swabs. Furthermore, an arranging plate is provided in the container to elastically push the swabs to one side and arrange them so as to gather them together at the side, so that a user can easily and conveniently take the swabs out of the container.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A swab holder, comprising:

a container having a bottom surface and a side wall extending upward from an outer periphery of the bottom surface;

a plurality of partition plates provided in the container to divide an interior of the container into a plurality of chambers to store swabs therein;

said bottom surface being sloped downward from a central position to the outer periphery of the bottom surface;

a cap detachably attached to an upper end of the container;

said cap having an opening;

a door disposed on the cap adjacent said opening to close said opening.

2. The swab holder according to claim 1 wherein the container is cylindrical and each partition plate extends radially from a center of the container to the side wall.

3. The swab holder according to claim 1 further comprising:

a locking ring protruding around the upper end of the container;

said cap having a top wall and a side wall extending downward from around an outer periphery of the top wall, said side wall of said cap having an inner surface;

a locking groove formed around the inner surface of the side wall of the cap so that the locking groove engages with the locking ring to detachably lock said cap onto said container;

a stop protrusion protruding from the locking groove at each position corresponding to an end of a corresponding partition plate; and,

a stop hole formed in the locking groove at each position corresponding to a corresponding stop protrusion to fix the position of the cap relative to the container when said stop holes engage with said stop protrusions.

4. The swab holder according to claim 1 wherein a convex lens forms part of the top wall of the cap.

5. A swab holder, comprising:

a receptacle disposed in a center of said container;

a plurality of partition plates provided in the container extending from said receptacle to said side wall, said partition plates dividing an interior of the container into a plurality of chambers to store swabs therein;

said bottom surface being sloped downward from said receptacle to the outer periphery of the bottom surface;

a cap detachably attached to an upper end of the container;

said cap having an opening;

a door disposed on the cap adjacent said opening to close said opening.

6. The swab holder according to claim 5 wherein the container is cylindrical.

7. The swab holder according to claim 5, wherein the door has an inner surface; and,

a plurality of catching rods extend from the inner surface of the door,

said catching rods are formed to catch swabs which may be stored in said container.

8. The swab holder according to claim 1 wherein a convex lens forms part of the top wall of the cap.

9. A swab holder, comprising:

a cap detachably attached to an upper end of the container;

said cap having an opening;

a door disposed on the cap adjacent said opening to close said opening; and,

a spring-biased arranging plate disposed in the container formed to urge swabs held in the container toward a predetermined side in the container.

10. The cotton swab holder according to claim 9, further comprising:

a convex mirror provided on the container at a predetermined position.

11. The cotton swab holder according to claim 9, further comprising:

a concave mirror provided on the container at a predetermined position.