Patent ID: 6406451
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: A45D,A61M

Abstract:
A sealed openable swap applicator comprising:a swab; an elongate small diameter stick attached to said swab, said stick defining a stick axis; a thin walled sleeve assembly for encapsulating said swab and stick constructed of a relatively rigid plastic material that is manually compressible and severable at a desired region, said sleeve assembly including a handle portion, a receptacle portion and a transition portion therebetween; said handle portion engaging said stick, and extending and encompassing a substantial part of the length of said stick; said receptacle portion substantially enveloping said swab and being of a substantially greater cross section than said handle portion, said receptacle portion also including a compression region adjacent to said transition portion wherein compression of said compression region causes said receptacle portion to sever from said transition portion; said transition portion outwardly projecting from said handle portion to said receptacle portion to connect said handle portion to said receptacle portion, said transition portion including an engagement section which engages said receptacle portion substantially adjacent to said compression region; said transition portion including said engagement section not deforming substantially when said compression region is compressed so that a significant level of shear stress is imparted upon said sleeve assembly between said compression region of said receptacle portion and said engagement section of said transition portion when said compression region is compressed, the compression of said compression region causing said receptacle portion including said compression region to sever from said transition portion leaving said transition portion including said engagement section attached to said stick.