US20040040989A1 - Dispensing method utilizing disposable coverings that prevents spread of disease through cross-contamination - Google Patents
Dispensing method utilizing disposable coverings that prevents spread of disease through cross-contamination Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20040040989A1 US20040040989A1 US10/229,683 US22968302A US2004040989A1 US 20040040989 A1 US20040040989 A1 US 20040040989A1 US 22968302 A US22968302 A US 22968302A US 2004040989 A1 US2004040989 A1 US 2004040989A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- package
- disposable
- opening
- coverings
- covering
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D35/00—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor
- B65D35/24—Pliable tubular containers adapted to be permanently or temporarily deformed to expel contents, e.g. collapsible tubes for toothpaste or other plastic or semi-liquid material; Holders therefor with auxiliary devices
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F9/0008—Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D25/38—Devices for discharging contents
- B65D25/40—Nozzles or spouts
- B65D25/48—Separable nozzles or spouts
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates generally to the field of packaging and, more particularly, to medical and consumer packaging which uses disposable coverings placed over fixed applicators for enhancing the effectiveness of dispensing medicines and other substances, improving cleanliness, and preventing cross contamination.
- In the treatment of a number of problems such as infections and cuts of the skin, along with more serious maladies such as infections of the ear and nose, various delivery methods are employed. Depending upon the medical effectiveness, sprays, viscous substances, and some tube dispensable fluids are employed as treatments. Since medical substances are usually packaged with considerably more than one dose within a container, repeated use of the medicine raises the possibility that infection can be transferred from one dispensing site to another. Additionally, the proliferation of diseases such as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and other infectious diseases has incited fear and anxiety in the public, and causes a reluctance within the public to share or otherwise contact appliances or substances which may have been casually contacted by others. Another example is the sharing of toothpaste between several people who are both ill and healthy. The sharing of the toothpaste could enhance the transfer of disease from the ill individuals to the healthy ones.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,122 addresses some of the above concerns by disclosing a disposable nozzle for intranasal spray containers. This indeed takes a step in addressing the problem of cross-contamination and public fear, but does so at a significant cost. Precision nozzles must be discarded after each use of a medicine, adding to the increasing costs involved with health care.
- Therefore, a need exists for a novel and cost-effective method to dispense substances among a population of patients with a low cost and simple method to prevent the transfer of disease and the elimination of undue anxiety.
- The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, the invention resides in a package containing contents for dispensing, the package includes (a) a body having an outlet for permitting the contents to be dispensed; (b) a dispensing mechanism having a first opening aligned with the outlet for permitting the dispensed contents to pass therethrough; and (c) a disposable covering having a second opening in alignment with both the outlet and the first opening, wherein the disposable covering covers the dispensing mechanism and is discarded after use.
- These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
- The present invention has the advantage of preventing diseases from being transferred by providing disposable coverings, which prevents the contact of the infection from one site or individual to the medicine dispenser, and thus prevents contaminating another dispensing site or individual.
- FIG. 1 is a drawing detailing the dispensing of medicine into an eye;
- FIG. 1a is a drawing detailing the dispensing of a consumer product such as toothpaste;
- FIG. 2 is a drawing detailing a covering showing the manual puncturing of the covering;
- FIG. 2a is a drawing detailing that the tip of the covering having pre-punctured openings;
- FIG. 2b is a drawing where the disposable covering has a chamfered tip;
- FIG. 2c is a drawing of a covering whose opening is made by pre-scoring the tip of the covering, and removing the tip to produce an opening in the covering;
- FIG. 3 is a drawing detailing a package where coverings are stored upon a dispensing mechanism;
- FIG. 3a is a drawing detailing a package where,coverings are stored upon a dispensing mechanism, the mechanism being moveable for efficient placement;
- FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the coverings being supplied in strips where the strips are attached to the dispensing mechanism;
- FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the coverings being supplied as a stack of strips that are stacked in registration;
- FIG. 6 is a drawing that has a plurality of stacked strips attached to a storage appendage;
- FIG. 6a is a drawing where the stacked strips are housed within a separate container;
- FIG. 6b is a drawing where the stacked strips are stored upon the dispenser body;
- FIG. 7 is a drawing showing where the stacked strips and the dispenser are stored within the same package; and
- FIG. 8 is a drawing showing where the strips and body are packaged separately.
- Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a drawing of a
medical package application 10 of the present invention. Thedispenser body 15 has anintegral tip 20 with an opening 25 that allows thecontent 40, which is eye medication, to be dispensed. Thedispenser body 15 is aligned with the disposable covering 30 which itself has an integratedopening 35 that lay in direct alignment with the opening 25 ofintegral tip 20. When the disposable covering 30 is applied over theintegral tip 20 ofdispenser body 15, the opening 25 and the integratedopening 35 exist in direct alignment thus permitting the dispensing ofcontent 40 intoeye 45. If more than one infected area needs to be medicated,disposable coverings 30 used after each application prevent cross-contamination. That is, after each application, the used disposable covering 30 is disposed of and a newdisposable covering 30 is used. - Referring now to FIG. 1a, there is shown a drawing of a
consumer package application 50 of the present invention. Thedispenser body 15 has anintegral tip 20 with an opening 25 that allows thecontent 40, which is toothpaste, to be dispensed. Thedispenser body 15 is aligned with the disposable covering 30 which itself has an integratedopening 35 that lay in direct alignment with the opening 25 ofintegral tip 20. When the disposable covering 30 is applied over theintegral tip 20 ofdispenser body 15, the opening 25 and the integratedopening 35 exist in direct alignment thus permitting the dispensing ofcontent 40 ontotoothbrush 55. - In a typical household where medications and consumer items such as toothpaste are used interchangeably with multiple members of a household, serious cross-contamination issues are present. As disclosed previously, if disposable coverings are used to isolate germs from multiple individuals, transfer of disease is harder to occur and a much higher level of household hygiene is achieved.
- Referring now to FIGS.2-2 c, there are shown four different embodiments detailing how the
disposable coverings 30, can have several different tip configurations. Referring to FIG. 2, disposable covering 30 can have an opening 60 manually punctured 65 by puncturingtool 70. Referring next to FIG. 2a, disposable covering 30 can have a pre-puncturedopening 75. Referring next to FIG. 2b, disposable covering 30 can have atip 80 weakened by achamfer 85, that facilitates removal oftip 80 that, when removed, will create an opening such as pre-puncturedopening 75 from FIG. 2a. Referring next to FIG. 2c,disposable covering 30 includes apre-scored portion 90 that facilitates the removal oftip 95 that, when removed, will also create an opening such aspre-punctured opening 75 from FIG. 2a. - Referring now to FIG. 3,
dispenser body 15 has a fixedstorage appendage 100 integral withdispenser body 15 for storage ofdisposable coverings 30. - Referring next to FIG. 3a,
dispenser body 15 has a bendable ormovable storage appendage 105 integral withdispenser body 15 for storage ofdisposable coverings 30, and may be bent in a plurality of directions for facilitating storage. - Referring now to FIG.4,
dispenser body 15 includes astrip 110 containing a plurality ofdisposable coverings 30. Thisstrip 110 is placed upondispenser body 15 by any suitable means for efficient removal ofdisposable coverings 30. - Referring next to FIG. 5, a stack of
strips 110 includes a plurality ofdisposable coverings 30, shown in stackedregistration 115, as a method for providing multiples ofdisposable coverings 30. - Referring now to FIG. 6, there are shown two views of a flattened
storage appendage 120 for use withstrips 110 of eithersingle disposition 121 or instacked registration 115, for storage and disposition ofdisposable coverings 30. - Referring next to FIG. 6a, there is shown a
dispenser body 15, withdisposable coverings 30 instacked registration 115 shown being stored in a separatesingle storage container 125. - Referring next to FIG. 6b, there is shown a
dispenser body 15 withdisposable coverings 30 shown in stackedregistration 115, and attached directly todispenser body 15. - Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an embodiment where
dispenser body 15 and astrip 110 of disposable coverings 30 (disposed in stacked registration 115) are packaged together indual storage container 130. - Referring last to FIG. 8, there is shown an embodiment where the
dispenser body 15 and thestrip 110 of disposal coverings 30 (disposed in stacked registration 115) are packaged separately insingle storage containers 125. - The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
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Claims (12)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/229,683 US20040040989A1 (en) | 2002-08-28 | 2002-08-28 | Dispensing method utilizing disposable coverings that prevents spread of disease through cross-contamination |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/229,683 US20040040989A1 (en) | 2002-08-28 | 2002-08-28 | Dispensing method utilizing disposable coverings that prevents spread of disease through cross-contamination |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20040040989A1 true US20040040989A1 (en) | 2004-03-04 |
Family
ID=31976291
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/229,683 Abandoned US20040040989A1 (en) | 2002-08-28 | 2002-08-28 | Dispensing method utilizing disposable coverings that prevents spread of disease through cross-contamination |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US20040040989A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
RU2638167C2 (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2017-12-12 | Ифп Энержи Нувелль | Method of producing light gasoline with low sulfur content |
Citations (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2484290A (en) * | 1945-07-20 | 1949-10-11 | Stanley T Handel | Device for feminine hygiene |
US2949215A (en) * | 1958-03-17 | 1960-08-16 | Will M Mudge | Dispensing caps for collapsible containers |
US3174659A (en) * | 1962-06-29 | 1965-03-23 | Schering Corp | Material dispensing package |
US3506164A (en) * | 1968-05-31 | 1970-04-14 | Sherwood Medical Ind Inc | Automatic pipette |
US3841537A (en) * | 1973-08-24 | 1974-10-15 | C Marg | Calking cartridge nozzles |
US5024354A (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1991-06-18 | William Ledewitz | Collapsible dispensing container |
US5062830A (en) * | 1990-04-04 | 1991-11-05 | Derata Corporation | Dry disposable nozzle assembly for medical jet injector |
US5064122A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1991-11-12 | Toko Yakuhin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Disposable nozzle adapter for intranasal spray containers |
US5273086A (en) * | 1991-04-17 | 1993-12-28 | Corinne Estibal | Closed cup provided with a lip capable of being taken in the mouth by a user and combined cupboard for its handling |
US5419459A (en) * | 1992-01-31 | 1995-05-30 | Cp Packaging, Inc. | Child resistant medicament dispenser |
US6123454A (en) * | 1999-06-11 | 2000-09-26 | Trutek, Inc. | Tympanic thermometer disposable probe cover with further stretching prevention structure |
US6129243A (en) * | 1995-10-16 | 2000-10-10 | Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Dual tube dispenser and adaptor |
US6153238A (en) * | 1999-04-22 | 2000-11-28 | Schreiber Foods, Inc. | Packaged decorator cheese product with cap |
US6179165B1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2001-01-30 | David Knight | Pastry bag construction |
-
2002
- 2002-08-28 US US10/229,683 patent/US20040040989A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2484290A (en) * | 1945-07-20 | 1949-10-11 | Stanley T Handel | Device for feminine hygiene |
US2949215A (en) * | 1958-03-17 | 1960-08-16 | Will M Mudge | Dispensing caps for collapsible containers |
US3174659A (en) * | 1962-06-29 | 1965-03-23 | Schering Corp | Material dispensing package |
US3506164A (en) * | 1968-05-31 | 1970-04-14 | Sherwood Medical Ind Inc | Automatic pipette |
US3841537A (en) * | 1973-08-24 | 1974-10-15 | C Marg | Calking cartridge nozzles |
US5024354A (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1991-06-18 | William Ledewitz | Collapsible dispensing container |
US5064122A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1991-11-12 | Toko Yakuhin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Disposable nozzle adapter for intranasal spray containers |
US5062830A (en) * | 1990-04-04 | 1991-11-05 | Derata Corporation | Dry disposable nozzle assembly for medical jet injector |
US5273086A (en) * | 1991-04-17 | 1993-12-28 | Corinne Estibal | Closed cup provided with a lip capable of being taken in the mouth by a user and combined cupboard for its handling |
US5419459A (en) * | 1992-01-31 | 1995-05-30 | Cp Packaging, Inc. | Child resistant medicament dispenser |
US6129243A (en) * | 1995-10-16 | 2000-10-10 | Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Dual tube dispenser and adaptor |
US6153238A (en) * | 1999-04-22 | 2000-11-28 | Schreiber Foods, Inc. | Packaged decorator cheese product with cap |
US6123454A (en) * | 1999-06-11 | 2000-09-26 | Trutek, Inc. | Tympanic thermometer disposable probe cover with further stretching prevention structure |
US6179165B1 (en) * | 1999-06-23 | 2001-01-30 | David Knight | Pastry bag construction |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
RU2638167C2 (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2017-12-12 | Ифп Энержи Нувелль | Method of producing light gasoline with low sulfur content |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HERDZIK, JAN A.;STEPHANY, THOMAS M.;KERBS, ROBERT E.;REEL/FRAME:013256/0520 Effective date: 20020828 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
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Owner name: SILICON VALLEY BANK, CALIFORNIA Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SOUNDHOUND, INC.;REEL/FRAME:055807/0539 Effective date: 20210331 |
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Owner name: SOUNDHOUND, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:OCEAN II PLO LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063380/0625 Effective date: 20230414 |
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Owner name: SOUNDHOUND, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY, AS AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063411/0396 Effective date: 20230417 |