SPOON FOR DISPENSING MEDICINE

Abstract: Medicine spoon for dispensing liquid medicine, which spoon comprises a spoon blade (1) and a handle (6). The handle (6) contains a receptacle (9) the volume of which is variable and which is in communication with the spoon blade (1) through a bore (3). The volume of the receptacle (9) is variable due to which fact medicine can be sucked up into the receptacle for dispensing small volumes into the spoon blade. Alternatively the handle may be comprised by a medicine package from which the medicine may be feeded out into the spoon blade.

Description: Spoon for dispensing medicine The Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for dispensing medicine and more closely to a medicine spoon in which the medicine can be feeded out into the spoon blade from a receptacle within the handle. Background Art At present there are two different dispensing devices for medicine in general use. One thereof comprises a substantially conventional spoon .having a handle, the spoon blade being provided with volume marks in order to facilitate the measuring of the right amount of medicine in the spoon blade. The other thereof comprises a small cup which also is provided with marks for facilitating the measuring of the desired or prescribed amount of medicine. No one of said dispensing devices is easy to handle. The spoon is difficult to handle and the filled medicine is easily spilled, especially if the medicine is to be given to a child unwilling to take it. The cup is in general difficult to empty due to its shape which is unsuitable for the intended use. When it comes to giving children medicine there are often problems. Children are of the opinion that the medicine tests badly and accordingly, do not whant to take the same. If one then tries to force the child to take the medicine the child shakes its head and swings the arms about and generally, the result is that the medicine is spilled, at least partially, am it is a very indefinite amount which possibly might have been forced into the child. The object of the present invention is to remove the above mentioned problems. This object is reached by a medicine spoon of the type referred to in the claims from which also the especially characterizing features of the invention are clear. Description of drawings The invention is closer described in the following in connection with the attached drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one embodiment of a medicine spoon in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned elivational view of the spoon of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a fourth embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a fifth embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention. Disclosure of Invention The medicine spoon in accordance with the present invention can be either of disposable type or of a type for repeated use. The disposable type embodiment includes preferably a medicine package corrresponding to a prescribed dose. The embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the inventione shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a spoon blade 1 of substantially conventional shape and a size suitable for normal dosage. In the spoon blade there are preferably marks for e.g. 5 and 10 millilitres. From the spoon blade 1 there extends a short neck 2 and this is angled obliquly upwards from the spoon blade i to a slightly greater extent than what the case is in connection with normal spoons. From the bottom of the spoon blade 1 there is a bore 3 through the neck 2. From the short end of the neck 2 there extend two tongues 4 which are resilient in such a way that they may be forced towards each other and after release return to the original position due to the resiliency. A cot 5 of elastic material such as rubber is threaded over said tongues 4 and the open end of the cot 5 is threaded a distance over the neck 2. Said cot 5 constitutes together with the tongues 4 and the neck 2 the handle 6 of the spoon. Around its open end the cot 5 is provided with a bead 7 sealing against the neck 2 and in order to avoid that the cot 5 is slipped from the neck 2, the neck is provided with a circumferential rib 8 over which the bead 7 is arranged. Hence, said cot 5 constitutes a receptacle 9 which by the bore 3 is in communication with the spoon blade 1. By forcing the tongues 4 towards each other the volume of the receptacle 9 is reduced. When thereafter releasing the pressure against the tongues these return to the original position and the receptacle 9 returns to its original volume. In connection with this "pumping movement" liquid medicine in the spoon blade 1 is sucked up thourgh the bore 3 and into the receptacle 9. Next time the cot 5 is compressed the medicine is forced back out into the spoon blade 1, whereby by compressing the cot several times to only a small extent a careful dispensing of the medicine in small amounts can be obtained. The embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention shown in Fig.3 comprises a spoon blade 1, a neck 2 and a bore 3 from the spoon blade 1 through the neck 2 corresponding to the embodiment in accordance with Figs.1 and 2, as well as a handle 6a having a receptacle 9a. The handle 9a is of a resilient material such as PVC. From the beginning the handle 9a constitutes a separate unit containing a medicine dose and being sealed by a seal at the opening. When the medicine is to be taken the neck 2 of the spoon blade 1 is forced into the opening and simultaneously as the spoon blade 1 is locked to the handle 6a the seal is broken through. By compressing the handle 6a thereafter in the way previously mentioned, the medicine is forced out into the spoon blade 1. Having taken the medicine the medicine spoon can be regarded as disposed. However, alternatively the spoon blade may be of a type for repeated use and hance, having been cleaned it can be used again. In Fig. 4 there is shown a further embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention. It is of substantially the same structure as the ones previously described and comprises a spoon blade 1 having a neck 2b and a bore 3 through the neck. A loose cot 5b of resilient material such as rubber is threaded over the neck 2b and by extending ribs 8b surrounding the periphery of the neck 2b the cot 5b is removably but safely attached to the neck 2b. This embodiment of the medicine spoon is intended to be repeatedly used although it, naturally, may be of disposable type like every embodiment described herein. The embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention shown in Fig. 5 comprises a spoon blade 1 having a neck 2c and a bore 3 through the neck 2c. The neck 2c is of conical shape and is intended to be threaded into a tubular handle portion 6c of stiff material. In the handle portion 6c there is a ball 10 which can roll therein. The ball 10 is located above the medicine and prevents it from being sucked into the cot 5c by sealing at the opening from the handle portion 6c into the cot 5c. The cot 5c is of substantially the same type as the one in Fig. 4 and is detachably attached to the handle portion 6c. The handle portion 6c may either contain a medicine dosage and then, is of a disposable type, while the spoon blade 1 and the cot 5c are repeatedly usable. The embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention shown in Fig. 6 comprises a spoon blade 1 and a neck 2d which directly merge into a handle portion 6d in the shape of a syringe cylinder. As the case is in the other embodiments there is a bore 3 between the spoon blade 1 and the interior of the handle portion 6d. This embodiment of the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention acts, accordingly, as a syringe and in the handle portion 6d there is a piston element 11 attached to a stem 12 in turn extending out of the free end of the handle portion 6d. The stem 12 ends with a button 13. The outer end of the handle portion 6d comprises a bushing 14 attached thereto. The medicine spoon in accordance with the present invention is primarily intended to be used for giving liquid medicine to children. As mentioned in the introductory portion this can be a troubleful task. In order to facilitate such giving of medicine the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention is used in the following way: Medicine is supplied into the handle by suction of a measured amount in the spoon blade or a handle portion containing medicine is mounted. Thereafter the spoon is used for feeding the child in normal way whereby each time the spoon is brought into the mouth of the child a portion of the medicine in the handle is supplied which medicine is swallowed by the child together with the food. Having given the medicine the medicine spoon is disassembled into parts and these are carefully cleaned if the spoon is to be used again. Otherwise the spoon is disposed or destroyed in some other way so that repeated use is prohibited. By the present invention the cfoject set forth in the introductory portion has been reached. It is an easy task for a man skilled in the art further to modifiy the medicine spoon in accordance with the invention with regard to the basic principles referred to herein. However, such modifications are intended to be covered by the attached claims.

Claims: Claims 1. Device for dispensing liquid materials, preferably medicine, and comprising a spoon blade (1 ) and a handle (6, 6a, 6c, 6d, 2b) in communiction with the spoon blade, characterized by a receptacle (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) enclosed in the handle (6, 6a, 6c, 6d, 2b), the volume of the recepatacle being variable, and a bore (3) between the spoon blade (1) and said receptacle. 2. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the receptacle (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) has a resilient wall (5, 5b, 5c) which is easily compressable and which tends to return to its original shape. 3. Device in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact that the receptacle (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) comprises a resilient cot (5) which is threaded over a pair of tongues (4) which are substantially parallel and which extend from a neck portion (2) of the spoon blade (1 ) , and that the cot (5) seals against said neck portion (2) , the tongues (4) acting to return the cot (5 ) after compression to its original shape. 4. Device in accordance with claim 1, charactrized by the fact that the receptacle comprises a cylinder (9d) containing a piston (11) operable by the aid of stem (12) extending from the handle (6d) . 5. Device in accordance with any a preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the spoon blade (1) and the handle (6, 6a, 6c, 6d, 2b) comprise at least two separate portions intended to be connected.

Inventors: FLYGT P
Applicants: FLYGT HANDEL, FLYGT P, HANDELSBOLAGET FLYGT
Application year: 1980
Main classification: G01F19
IPC codes: A61J7, G01F19