WO1999044671A1

WO1999044671A1 - A lubricant applicator

Info

Publication number: WO1999044671A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Van Croonenborg; Wolfgang Kohler
Original assignee: Roger Van Croonenborg; Wolfgang Kohler
Priority date: 1998-03-06
Filing date: 1999-03-03
Publication date: 1999-09-10
Also published as: AUPP219098A0

Abstract

An applicator (21) having a pouch with an outer covering (35), a substance (24) to be applied contained within the outer covering (35) and a seal (38) normally closing the pouch whereby the seal (38) may be opened to either allow an object to which the substance (24) is to be applied to be inserted into the pouch or the seal (38) may be opened and the pouch may be inverted to allow the pouch to be grasped to expose the interior of the pouch so that the substance (24) may be applied by contacting the interior of the pouch against an object to which the substance (24) is to be applied.

Description

TITLE A LUBRICANT APPLICATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to an applicator for applying liquids, gels, lotions, ointments, pastes, lubricants or other substances to an object. In particular, the invention concerns an applicator which may be used for applying substances without the need for the substance to contact the hands of the user. BACKGROUND ART

There are numerous situations where the application of a substance to parts of a person's body or to inanimate objects is necessary or desirable. In most cases, the substance is applied first to the person's hand and then applied to the object or to the appropriate part of the person's body. In other instances, the substance is transferred from a container to an applicator such as a brush or swab or other article and then applied to the target area or object. A problem with application of a substance in one of these ways is the difficulty in estimating the required amount of the substance and residue remains on the person's hands. Semi-permanent stains may remain on the hands and the residue may leave an unpleasant feeling on the hands.

In medical fields, it is important that substances being applied to a person's body remain sterile until application and this generally is not possible if the substance is applied by hand or with the aid of an intermediate applicator such as a brush or swab.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an applicator which at least minimises the disadvantages referred to above.

According to one aspect, the invention provides an applicator having a pouch with an outer covering, a substance to be applied contained within the outer covering and a seal normally closing the pouch whereby the seal may be opened and the substance may be applied by contacting the interior of the pouch against an object to which the substance is to be applied. In one form of the invention, when the seal is opened, an object to which the substance is to be applied may be inserted into the pouch.

In another form of the invention, when the seal is opened, the pouch may be inverted to allow the pouch to be grasped to expose the interior of the pouch.

In a further form of the invention, when the seal is opened, at least part of the outer covering may be removed to expose the interior of the panel.

The applicator may be reusable or intended for a single use and disposed or discarded after that single use .

The pouch may be tubular in shape and made of a flexible material. Preferable, the applicator is closed at one end and the removable seal may be spaced from the closed end. The portion of the outer covering of the pouch about the closed end may be folded inwardly. In use, the folded portion may be unfolded. The portion may be unfolded as a result of insertion of an object into the pouch. In a preferred applicator, the folded portion defines a cavity which is open to the exterior of the applicator. The applicator may include a tab having one end secured to the closed end and a free end which typically extends from the cavity. The tab may be pulled to unfold the folded end of the pouch. The seal may be constructed so as to be tamper evident and thus readily indicate whether or not the applicator has been opened or used.

The substance to be applied may simply be contained within the applicator. If desired, foam or other suitable carrier material may be present within the pouch and be impregnated with the substance . Any suitable open cell foam material may be used for this purpose . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an applicator according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the applicator of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the applicator of Figure 1 shown in an inverted position;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the applicator of Figure 3 returned to its storage position;

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of an alternative applicator shown in its storage position; and Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the applicator of Figure 5 shown partially opened.

BEST MODE

Figures 1 to 4 show an applicator 21 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The applicator 21 consists of a tube or pouch having a closed end 22 and an open able end 25 spaced from end 22. In this embodiment, end 25 has a frangible band 28 extending between and normally connected to body 30 and a cap 30a.

A tab 29 extends from the band 28 and the tab 29 may be grasped to sever the band from the body to open end 25.

The interior of the applicator contains a substance 24 and, if desired, an open cell foam material 34 may be contained within the applicator and the substance 24 may be carried by this material 34. A tab 32 is secured to the closed end 22 and has an opposite end located outside the applicator 21.

The applicator 21 may be used once and discarded or may be used multiple times before being discarded. The applicator 21 can be used in one of two ways. First tab 29 is grasped and band 28 is removed to allow the cap 30a to be removed from the remainder of the applicator. Tab 32 may be pulled in the direction of arrow A until the configuration shown in Figure 4 is achieved.

An object or body part to which the substance 24 is to be applied may be inserted into the applicator. By pressing the mouth 26 of the applicator in the directions of arrows B, the opening may be enlarged to assist application of the substance. If desired, the cap 30a may be repositioned over the mouth 26 of the applicator or the applicator may be discarded. The applicator 21 may also be used in the configuration shown in Figure 3. Once again, the tab 29 is grasped and the band 28 removed to separate the cap 30a from the remainder of the applicator. The user then inserts his fingers into the cavity 31 (see Figure 2) to invert or turn the applicator inside out until the position shown in Figure 3 is reached. The substance 24 is then exposed and may be applied to the desired surface of an object or body part. After application the tab 32 may be grasped and pulled until the configuration shown in Figure 4 is reached. The applicator may then be resealed or discarded.

Regardless of which configuration is adopted for using the applicator, the user's hand need never touch the substance 24 contained within the applicator. Where the applicator is used for a single application only and then discarded, the applicator is particularly suitable for applying sterile substances.

Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative applicator according to an embodiment of the invention. The applicator in these figures is in the form of a rectangular pouch having an outer covering 35 made of flexible material impervious to the substance 36 contained within the applicator. The substance may simply be placed within the pouch or be carried by a pad of suitable open cell foam material 37. A sleeve 42 is attached to the covering 35 along three sides leaving an opening 43 for the user's fingers. A detachable seal or covering 38 is attached to the perimeter 39 of the outer covering 35. Tabs 40 and 44 are located at opposite ends of the applicator and are used to remove the seal or covering 38. A flexible spine 41 extends across the applicator and the seal 38 is attached to it. The spine 41 is attached to each side of the applicator and may assist in separation of the covering 35 and seal or covering 38. This may be desirable when there is a tendency for the covering 35 and seal or covering 38 to stick together. If desired, an openable seal of any suitable configuration may be present to seal the applicator at tab 40.

The applicator of Figures 5 and 6 may be inverted as shown in Figure 6 by removing the seal 38 around the perimeter of the applicator. Once inverted, the applicator may be used and discarded.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An applicator having a pouch with an outer covering, a substance to be applied contained within the covering and a seal normally closing the pouch, whereby the seal may be opened and the substance may be applied by contacting the interior of the pouch against an object to which the substance is to be applied.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein when the seal is opened, an object to which the substance is to be applied may be inserted into the pouch.

3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein when the seal is opened, the pouch may be inverted to allow the pouch to be grasped to expose the interior of the pouch so that the substance may be applied by contacting the interior of the pouch against an object to which the substance may be applied.

4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein when the seal is opened, at least part of the outer covering may be removed to expose the interior of the pouch so that the substance may be applied by contacting the interior of the pouch against an object to which the substance may be applied.

5. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the pouch has a closed end spaced from the seal and a portion of the outer covering about the closed end is folded inwardly and in use the folded portion is able to be unfolded.

6. The applicator of claim 5, wherein the portion which is folded inwardly defines a cavity which is open to the exterior of the pouch and the applicator includes a tab having a first end which is secured to the closed end and a second free end which may be pulled to unfold the folded portion.

7. The applicator of claim 3, wherein the pouch has a closed end spaced from the seal and a portion of the outer covering about the closed end is folded inwardly so as to define a cavity which is open to the exterior of the applicator, the cavity being sized so as 7

to be able to receive at least one finger of a user.

8. The applicator of claim 7, which includes a tab having a first end secured to the closed end and a free end, and when the pouch has been inverted and the interior is exposed, the free end of the tab may be pulled so as to reinvert the pouch is that the interior is not exposed.

9. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the pouch is also able to be inverted to allow the pouch to be grasped to expose the interior of the pouch so that the substance may be applied by contacting the interior of the pouch against an object to which the substance may be applied.

10. The applicator of claim 4, which includes a sleeve located on the outer covering which may receive one or more fingers of a user.

11. The applicator of claim 1, which includes a material within the pouch and the substance is carried by the material .

12. The applicator of claim 10, which includes a flexible spine extending across the applicator.