Abstract:
An elongated sealed container with a self-contained opening means fully enclosed within the container to release a fluid sealed within the container when the container is bent at or near the enclosed opening means. Once the enclosed opening means is opened, the fluid sealed within the elongated sealed container may be released for application.

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a sealed container with an opening means enclosed within the container for releasing a liquid enclosed within the container.  
       BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     A variety of opening means exists for opening a container. Most opening means are in the form of a screw-on cap or a snap-on cap. Some opening means are in the form of a frangible seal or a score line on the container that will allow the contents of the container to be released upon fracturing of the frangible seal or the container at the score line. All of these opening means are either attached to the container externally, such as the screw-on cap and the snap-on cap, or are formed as part of the container, such as the frangible seal and the score line on the container. None of the opening means are designed to be enclosed within the container to seal a liquid in the container and yet still allow the release of the liquids easily and reliably. The availability of an effective and easy to use opening means is particularly lacking for a small elongated container with a small cross-sectional area.  
         [0003]     In applicant&#39;s pending U.S. patent application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, applicant disclosed numerous enclosed opening means that are designed to be enclosed within the container to seal a liquid in the container and to allow the release of the liquid easily and reliably. One of the design for the enclosed opening means comprises of a cylinder with an outside diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of an elongated tubular housing defining a small liquid flow path from the open end of the elongated tubular housing to the liquid. The end near the liquid has an elongated protrusion that is smaller in diameter than the cylindrical body of the enclosed opening means and is separable from the cylindrical body of the enclosed opening means. The elongated protrusion seals the small liquid flow path in the cylinder and prevents the liquid in the elongated tubular housing from being released through the enclosed opening means. When the elongated tubular housing is bent near the junction between the elongated protrusion and the cylindrical body of the enclosed opening means, the elongated protrusion will be separated from the cylindrical body and the small liquid path is exposed for the liquid to be released from the elongated tubular housing through the opening means.  
         [0004]     This particular design has several drawbacks. When the elongated tubular housing is squeezed to force the liquid out of the elongated tubular housing, the elongated protrusion will interfere with the compression of the elongated tubular housing since it is disposed within the liquid where it is being squeezed. This will result in less effective extraction of the liquid since the elongated protrusion will limit the amount of squeezing that can be applied to the liquid. Furthermore, since the elongated protrusion remains within the liquid after being severed, the elongated protrusion may interfere with the liquid flow path when the liquid is being forced out of the elongated tubular housing. The severed elongated protrusion may flow with the liquid and plug the opening thereby restricting or completely cut-off the liquid flow.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is an elongated sealed container with a self-contained opening means fully enclosed within the container to release the fluid sealed within the container. The enclosed opening means is operated by bending the elongated sealed container at or near the enclosed opening means. Once the enclosed opening means is opened, the fluid sealed within the elongated sealed container may be released for application. The present invention will not interfere with the squeezing of the elongated sealed container or the fluid flow. When the elongated sealed container has a small cross-section such that the fluid within it cannot be released due to its surface tension, a guiding member may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid to release the fluid from the elongated sealed container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the preferred embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In the preferred embodiment, the enclosed opening means is used in an elongated tubular housing  1  with a sealed end  2  and an open end  3 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1 . A fluid  5  is enclosed within the elongated tubular housing  1  near the sealed end  2 . An enclosed opening means  6  is disposed inside the elongated tubular housing  1  sealing the fluid  5  within the elongated tubular housing  1 . The opening means  6  is operated by bending the elongated tubular housing  1  at or near the enclosed opening means  6 . The opening means  6  may be disposed at any location within the elongated tubular housing  1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the opening means  6  may be positioned near the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  to allow the maximum amount of fluid  4  and to allow bending of the elongated tubular housing  1  by pressing the open end  3  on a surface to open the opening means  6 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening means  6  may also be positioned away from the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  thereby the bending of the elongated tubular housing  1  may be accomplished without contact with the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  if an applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab is affixed to the open end  3 .  
         [0016]     The enclosed opening means  6  comprises of a cylinder with an open end  7  and a sealed end  8 . A sealing diameter is provided around the cylinder that is approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated tubular housing  1  and provides a seal to prevent the release of the fluid  5  from between the elongated tubular housing  1  and the opening means  6 . The outside diameter at the sealed end  8  is smaller than the inside diameter of the elongated tubular housing  1 . A fracture line  9  is provided near the sealed end  8  of the cylinder at a location on the other side of the sealing diameter where the fluid  5  is disposed. The enclosed opening means  6  is inserted into the elongated tubular housing  1  with its open end  7  towards the fluid  5  thereby sealing the fluid  5  within the elongated tubular housing  1 . When the elongated tubular housing  1  is bent at or near the fracture line  9  on the cylinder, the cylinder will be separated into two sections thereby exposing a small fluid path from the fluid  5  through the enclosed opening means  6  to the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  for the fluid  5  to be released from the elongated tubular housing  1  through the opening means  6 .  
         [0017]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the elongated tubular housing  1  may be provided with a reduced opening at its open end  3  to capture the fractured sealed end  8  of the enclosed opening means  6  if an applicator tip is not provided. The reduced opening is provided with a profile that will maintain a fluid flow path even if the fractured sealed end  8  of the enclosed opening means  6  is lodged against it. This may be accomplished by forming the reduced opening in an elliptical shape or in any other shape that is different than the shape of the fractured sealed end  8  of the enclosed opening means  6 .  
         [0018]     When the elongated tubular housing  1  has a small cross-section such that the fluid  5  within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the opening means  6  due to its surface tension, a guiding member  10  may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid  5  to release the fluid  5  from the elongated tubular housing  1  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The guiding member  10  may be affixed to the sealed end  2  of the elongated tubular housing  1  and extends to near or slightly inside the open end  7  of the opening means  6 .  
         [0019]     If the guiding member  10  is affixed to the sealed end  2  of the elongated tubular housing  1  and with its free end formed as a pointed end, it may be used as a toothpick after the fluid  5  is depleted. A fracture line  11  is provided near the sealed end  2  of the elongated tubular housing  1  to allow separating the sealed end  2  with the guiding member/toothpick  10  from the remainder of the elongated tubular housing  1  and to expose the pointed end of the guiding member/toothpick  10  for use as a toothpick.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In this embodiment, the enclosed opening means  15  is formed as a sealed end  14  of an elongated tubular housing  12  with two sealed ends  13 ,  14  enclosing a fluid  5 . The end  14  of the elongated tubular housing  12  with the enclosed opening means  15  is inserted into a second tubular housing  16  with two open ends  17 ,  18 . One open end  17  of the second tubular housing  16  seals around the end  14  of the elongated tubular housing  12  with the enclosed opening means  15  at a location past the fracture line  19 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the other open end  18  of the second tubular housing  16 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In this embodiment, the sealed end  20  of the enclosed opening means  21  has a circumference that provides one or more fluid flow path around the sealed end  20 . The sealed end  20  may be formed in the shape of a geometric shape that is not a circle such as a triangle, a square, or a star shape such that when it is inserted into another tube  22  it will not seal off the tube  22  but would leave one or more fluid flow path between the sealed end  20  and the tube  22 . The enclosed opening means  21  is used in an elongated tubular housing  1  with a sealed end  2  and an open end  3 . A fluid  5  is enclosed within the elongated tubular housing  1  near the sealed end  2 . The enclosed opening means  21  is disposed inside the elongated tubular housing  1  sealing the fluid  5  within the elongated tubular housing  1 . Another tube  22  with two open ends is inserted into the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  with one open end toward the sealed end  20  of the enclosed opening means  21  overlapping the sealed end  20  of the enclosed opening means  21  and the other open end protruding from the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the protruding open end of the tube  22 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In this embodiment, the enclosed opening means  6  is used in an elongated tubular housing  1  with a sealed end  2  and an open end  3 . A fluid  5  is enclosed within the elongated tubular housing  1  near the sealed end  2 . An enclosed opening means  6  is disposed inside the elongated tubular housing  1  sealing the fluid  5  within the elongated tubular housing  1 . Another tube  23  with two open ends is inserted into the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  with one open end disposed toward the sealed end  8  of the enclosed opening means  6  and the other open end protruding from the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the protruding open end of the tube  23 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means comprising a tubular section  24  with two open ends  25 ,  26  and a seal  27  separating the two open ends  25 ,  26  disposed within the tubular section  24  between the two open ends  25 ,  26 . The outside diameter of the tubular section  24  near the seal  27  is smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular section  24  near the two open ends  25 ,  26 . A fracture line  28  is formed on one side of the seal  27  disposed at the section with the reduced outside diameter. An opening  29  such as a hole is formed on the other side of the seal  27  disposed at the section with the reduced outside diameter. The enclosed opening means  24  is inserted into an elongated tubular housing  1  with a sealed end  2  and an open end  3  enclosing a fluid  5  disposed near the sealed end  2 . The enclosed opening means  24  is inserted such that the open end  25  with the fracture line  28  is disposed towards the fluid  5  and the open end  26  with the opening  29  is disposed toward the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1 . When the elongated tubular housing  1  is bent at or near the fracture line  28  on the enclosed opening means  24  a fluid flow path is exposed leading from the fluid  5  to the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1 . The fluid  5  will flow through the resulting opening from the fracture of the fracture line  28  into the area between the reduced outside diameter of the enclosed opening means  24  and the inside wall of the elongated tubular housing  1  and then into the opening  29  on the other side of the seal  27  in the enclosed opening means  24  and out of the elongated tubular housing  1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means wherein a hollow tube  30  is inserted through the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  and into the open end  26  of the enclosed opening means  24  shown in  FIG. 7 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the open end of the hollow tube  30  that is exposed outside of the elongated tubular housing  1 . In this embodiment, a more rigid hollow tube  30  may be used to increase the rigidity of the body of the elongated tubular housing  1  near the applicator tip  4 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means previously shown in  FIG. 7  comprising a tubular section  31  with two open ends  32 ,  33  and a seal  34  separating the two open ends  32 ,  33  disposed within the tubular section  31  between the two open ends  32 ,  33 . The outside diameter of the tubular section  31  near the seal  34  is smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular section  31  near the two open ends  32 ,  33 . A fracture line  35  is formed on one side of the seal  34  disposed at the section with the reduced outside diameter. An opening  36  such as a hole is formed on the other side of the seal  34  disposed at the section with the reduced outside diameter. The enclosed opening means  31  is inserted into an elongated tubular housing  1  with a sealed end  2  and an open end  3  enclosing a fluid  5  disposed near the sealed end  2 . The enclosed opening means  31  is inserted such that the open end  32  with the fracture line  35  is disposed towards the fluid  5  and the open end  33  with the opening  36  is disposed toward the open end  3  of the elongated tubular housing  1  wherein the open end  33  of the enclosed opening means  31  extends out of the elongated tubular housing  1 . An applicator tip  4  such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush may be affixed to the open end  33  of the enclosed opening means  31 . When the elongated tubular housing  1  is bent at or near the fracture line  35  on the enclosed opening means  31  a fluid flow path is exposed leading from the fluid  5  to the open end  33  of the enclosed opening means  31 . The fluid  5  will flow through the resulting opening from the fracture of the fracture line  35  into the area between the reduced outside diameter of the enclosed opening means  31  and the inside wall of the elongated tubular housing  1  and then into the opening  36  on the other side of the seal  34  in the enclosed opening means  31  and out of the elongated tubular housing  3 .  
         [0026]     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.