Medicinal fluid applicator

A medicinal fluid applicator is provided particularly for use with a compressible fluid-filled capsule. The medicinal fluid applicator comprises a frame defining a capsule recess for receiving the capsule. A pressure arm is hingedly attached to the frame for movement toward the capsule to apply pressure thereto. A cutting means depends from the pressure arm to sever the capsule when the arm is moved toward the capsule so fluid will squirt from the capsule upon application of pressure from the pressure arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to fluid applicators for 
administering fluids to animals, and more particularly, to an improved 
medicinal fluid applicator for use with a compressible capsule for 
administering fluids such as a medicine or food supplement into the mouth 
of an animal. 
The prior art discloses fluid applicators which can be used to deliver a 
premeasured dosage of fluid far into the mouth of an animal. Some of those 
applicators, however, do not extend far enough into the mouth of the 
animal and as a result some of the fluid may be expelled and not 
swallowed. Other applicators may extend far enough into the mouth, but 
they take too long to discharge the fluid and the animal may not receive 
all of the fluid if it will not stand still long enough to take it. 
Accordingly, there exists a need for an applicator that will reach far 
enough into the animal's mouth and discharge the fluid quickly enough to 
ensure that the animal receives it. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention resides in an improved medicinal fluid applicator for 
use with a fluid-filled capsule which can be used to quickly discharge a 
premeasured dosage of medicinal fluid or food supplement from the capsule 
into the mouth of an animal. 
In general, the invention comprises a frame to hold a compressible 
fluid-filled capsule. A pressure arm is hingedly connected to the frame 
for movement toward the capsule to apply pressure thereto. A cutting means 
is associated with the pressure arm such that, as the pressure arm moves 
toward the capsule, the cutting means can sever the capsule permitting 
fluid to be squirted therefrom. 
In operation, the applicator is inserted into an animal's mouth, and one 
quick continuous motion of the pressure arm will cause the cutting means 
to sever the capsule and then immediately compress it to squirt the fluid 
from the capsule deep into the mouth of the animal. 
Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent 
from the following detailed description thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention is embodied in 
a novel medicinal fluid applicator, designated generally by reference 
numeral 10. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 1, the preferred 
embodiment 10 comprises a substantially elongated frame 12 having a distal 
end 14 and a proximal end 16. The frame 12 provides walls 18 which define 
a capsule recess which extends longitudinally from the distal end 14 of 
the frame 12 for receiving a compressible fluid-filled capsule 20 holding 
a premeasured volume of fluid. The distal end 14 of the frame 12 also 
defines a tip opening 21 through which the tip 22 formed by the capsule 20 
can pass. The proximal end 16 of the frame 12 is provided with a hand grip 
24 which extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the frame 12. 
A substantially elongated pressure arm 26 having a distal end 27 and a 
proximal end 28 is attached near its proximal end 28 to the proximal end 
16 of the frame 12 and extends in a direction generally parallel to that 
of the frame 12. A pin 30, extends through aligned openings formed in the 
proximal end 16 of the frame 12 and the proximal end 28 of the pressure 
arm 26 to hingedly secure the pressure arm 26 to the frame 12 such that 
the pressure arm 26 can move toward and away from the capsule 20. 
A blade 32 depends from the distal end 27 of the pressure arm 26 such that, 
when the pressure arm 26 is moved toward the capsule 20, the blade 32 
moves along a path adjacent to a front face 34 formed by the frame 12 at 
the distal end 14 thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, the blade 32 has an opening 
36 which becomes aligned with the tip opening 21 when the pressure arm 12 
is moved into the capsule recess. 
A protruberance 38 depends from the pressure arm 26 adjacent to its distal 
end 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the protruberance 38 is of a sufficient depth 
so that it will fully compress a fluid-filled capsule 20 in the capsule 
recess when the pressure arm 26 is moved down into the frame. 
A hand lever 40 depends from the proximal end 28 of the pressure arm 26 in 
a direction generally perpendicular to the pressure arm 26 and at a slight 
angle to the hand grip 24 joined to the proximal end of the frame 12. The 
hand lever 40 passes through an opening in the frame 12 to accommodate the 
movement thereof. 
A portion of the front face 34 of the distal end 14 of the frame 12 
provides a guard surface 42 comprising an extension of the front face 34 
of the frame 12. The blade 32 fits in juxtaposition with the guard surface 
42 when the pressure arm 12 is moved down toward the capsule recess 19. 
The close proximity between the blade 32 and the guard surface 42 will 
prevent an animal from being cut or otherwise injured by the blade 32. 
In use, a compressible fluid-filled capsule 20 having a tip 22 depending 
therefrom is placed in the capsule recess such that a portion of the tip 
22 passes through the tip opening 21 and extends out beyond the front face 
34 of the frame 12. The hand grip 24 and hand lever 40 are then grasped 
and the distal end 14 of the frame 12 containing the capsule 20 is 
inserted into the mouth of an animal. Hand pressure is then exerted on the 
hand lever 40 causing it to move toward the hand grip 24, and causing the 
pressure arm 26 to move toward the capsule recess wherein the capsule 20 
is nestled. 
As the pressure arm 26 moves toward the capsule 20, the blade 32 moves 
along a path immediately adjacent to the front face 34 and severs the tip 
22 from the capsule 20. As the pressure arm 12 continues to move down, the 
capsule 20 becomes compressed by protruberance 38, and the fluid therein 
squirts out the severed tip 32 into the mouth of the animal. 
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention 
provides an improved medicinal fluid applicator 10 which can quickly 
provide a desired dosage of a medicinal fluid or food supplement to an 
animal. In a single motion, the medicinal fluid applicator 10 can sever 
the tip 22 from a fluid-filled capsule 20 and cause the fluid therein to 
quickly squirt from the capsule 20 deep into the mouth of the animal being 
treated. 
While one particular form of the invention has been illustrated and 
described, it will be apparent that various modifications and improvements 
thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited 
by the above description, except as set forth in the appended claims.