Patent Publication Number: US-2006011660-A1

Title: Portable dispensing apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a portable dispensing apparatus and more particularly a portable dispensing apparatus for storing and dispensing a variety of fluid materials and solid materials.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In every day life, there exists a need for storing and dispensing a variety of materials which may be fluid or solid. Materials such as toiletries or personal hygiene materials are one example of such materials. These may include water, perfume, mouthwash, suntan lotion or oil, cleansers, cleaners, cotton pads, deodorant, lipstick, soap, breath mints, pads impregnated with other materials and the like. Thus, in order to store and dispense these materials, a variety of containers are needed. Due to the large number of containers required, a large quantity of waste is likewise generated. For some materials which are related by function or use, it may be desirable to conveniently access those materials at the same time, thus minimizing the time required for use and maximizing an efficient use of time.  
      An example of related use or function is the injection of fluids into the human body using hypodermic needles. This requires that the region of the skin to be punctured be prepared for the injection. Typically, an individually wrapped disposable swab is used which is usually pre-saturated with a disinfectant material or sterilizing liquid such as isopropyl alcohol. To prevent cross contamination between patients, the swab used for the preparation process must be discarded after a single use. In an environment where numerous injections are given such as a hospital, for example, a large number of swabs and a large quantity of the disinfectant material or sterilizing liquid must always be available.  
      The swabs typically are individually wrapped in packaging which is as voluminous as the swab itself, thus creating a high degree of packaging waste. Further, the person administering the injection must carry a large number of swabs or arrange to have the swabs stored in or near each point of use. A further disadvantage is the swabs have a tendency to dry out fairly quickly due to the volatility of the sterilizing liquid, at times requiring the use of more than one swab on a single patient. Thus, even a small hospital or medical facility will use hundreds of swabs on a typical day, generating a large amount of waste and expense. The present invention addresses these problems by providing dry swabs and a user determined amount of a topical treatment agent that is applied at the point of use, embodied as a unitary portable unit.  
      It would be desirable to produce a portable dispensing apparatus wherein waste is minimized and user efficiency is maximized.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Consistent and consonant with the present invention, a portable dispensing apparatus wherein waste is minimized and user efficiency is maximized, has surprisingly been discovered.  
      In one embodiment, the portable dispensing apparatus comprises a unitary hollow main body having a first end and a second end, the main body including a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber formed therein, the first storage chamber adapted to store a fluid therein, the second storage chamber adapted to store a solid material therein and having an open end; a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the first storage chamber to dispense the fluid material from the first storage chamber; and an urging mechanism disposed in the second storage chamber to urge the solid material towards the open end of the second storage chamber.  
      In another embodiment, the portable dispensing apparatus comprises a unitary hollow main body having a first end and a second end, the main body including a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber formed therein, the second storage chamber adapted to store a solid material therein and having an open end; a storage container disposed in the first storage chamber, the storage container adapted to store a fluid material therein; a dispensing nozzle connected to the storage container and in fluid communication with the fluid material disposed therein to dispense the fluid material from the storage container; and an urging mechanism disposed in the second storage chamber to urge the solid material towards the open end of the second storage chamber.  
      The invention also provides methods of preparing an external surface region of a skin of a patient.  
      One method according to the invention comprises the steps of providing a portable dispensing apparatus comprising a unitary hollow main body with a first end and a second end, the main body including a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber formed therein, the first storage chamber adapted to store a topical treatment agent therein, the second storage chamber adapted to store a plurality of pads therein and having an open end; a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the first storage chamber to dispense the topical treatment agent from the first storage chamber; and an urging mechanism disposed in the second storage chamber to urge the pads towards the open end of the second storage chamber for selective removal through the open end of the second storage chamber as desired; operating the dispensing nozzle to draw the topical treatment agent from the first storage chamber and dispense the topical treatment agent onto the external surface region of the skin of the patient; removing one of the pads from the second storage chamber; and dispersing the topical treatment agent with the one of the pads on the external surface region of the skin of the patient. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view partially in section of a portable dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing a first cap in an open position;  
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing a second cap in an open position; and  
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a portable dispensing apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,987 B1 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a portable dispensing apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The portable dispensing apparatus  10  includes a hollow main body  12 , formed of any conventional durable material such as a plastic material, for example. The main body  12  has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and includes a first storage chamber  14  and a second storage chamber  16  formed therein. The triangular shape of the main body  12  facilitates a manual gripping of the main body  12  by a user and provides stability when the portable dispensing apparatus  10  is place on a flat surface.  
      The first storage chamber  14  has an opening or open end  18  formed adjacent a first end  20  of the main body  12 . A lid or cap  22  is provided to cover the opening  18 . In the embodiment shown, the cap  22  is hingedly attached to the main body  12  by a living hinge  24 , as clearly shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . It is understood that the cap  22  may be connected to the main body  12  by any conventional means or releasably attached by any conventional means such as threads or press fit, for example. The first storage chamber  14  is adapted to receive a storage container or spray bottle  26  therein. A spray pump or dispensing nozzle  28  is provided with the spray bottle  26  and extends through the opening  18  to be housed in the cap  22 . The spray pump  28  can also be sealingly disposed in the opening  18  to be in direct fluid communication with the first storage chamber  14 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . For clarity, repeated structure in  FIG. 5  is shown with the same reference numeral and a prime symbol. The spray pump  28 ′ can be connected to the main body  12 ′ by any conventional means such as a threaded connection or press fitting, for example. The remaining discussion of the structure disclosed in  FIGS. 1-4  and the use and operation thereof also applies to the structure disclosed in  FIG. 5 .  
      A threaded collar  30  is provided on the spray pump  28  and is threadingly engaged with the spray bottle  26  to facilitate removal of the spray pump  28  from the spray bottle  26  for refilling of the contents thereof. In the embodiment shown, the spray bottle  26  contains a topical treatment agent which may include an antiseptic, disinfectant, or sterilizer. The topical treatment agent may be isopropyl alcohol, for example. It is understood that other fluid materials could be used such as water, perfume, mouthwash, suntan lotion or oil, cleansers, and cleaners, for example, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
      The second storage chamber  16  has an opening or open end  32  formed adjacent a second end  34  of the main body  12 . A lid or cap  36  is provided to cover the opening  32 . In the embodiment shown, the cap  36  is hingedly attached to the main body  12  by a living hinge  38 , as clearly shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . It is understood that the cap  36  may be connected to the main body  12  by any conventional means or releasably attached by any conventional means such as threads or press fit, for example. A spring or urging mechanism  40  is provided at the end of the second storage chamber  16  opposite the opening  32 . In the embodiment shown, a coil spring is used. It is understood that other spring or spring mechanism types can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is also understood that other urging mechanisms may be used such as a threaded or helically actuated pressure plate whereby a twisting or turning of the structure causes the pressure plate to advance towards the second end  34  of the main body  12 , for example. The threaded or helically actuated pressure plate structures are commonly used in lipstick containers and deodorant containers and are well known in the art.  
      One end of the spring  40  abuts a wall  42  formed between the first storage chamber  14  and the second storage chamber  16 . The wall  42  can be a solid structure as shown or can have at least one aperture formed therein to provide communication between the first storage chamber  14  and the second storage chamber  16 . It is understood that a lip providing a seating surface or shoulder for the spring  40  can also be used as desired. The other end of the spring  40  abuts a push block  44  slidingly disposed in the second storage chamber  16 . In the embodiment shown, a plurality of sterile pads  46  is stacked in the second storage chamber  16  and abuts the push block  44 . It is understood that other solid materials such as cleansers, cleaners, deodorant, lipstick, soap, breath mints, pads impregnated with other materials and the like, for example, can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. A pad blocker or retainer  48  is disposed at the opening  32  to abut the pads  46  and militate against the pads  46  exiting the second storage chamber  16  and facilitate selective removal thereof. As more clearly shown in  FIG. 4 , the pad blocker  48  has an arcuate outer edge  50  to facilitate manual removal of the pads  46  from the second storage chamber  16  by the user. A threaded fastener  52  releasably holds the pad blocker  48  in the desired position. Removal of the threaded fastener  52 , and thus the pad blocker  48  facilitates a refilling of the pads  46  in the second storage chamber  16 . It is understood that other fastening means can be used as desired to releasably attach the pad blocker  48  to the main body  12 . It is also understood that the pad blocker  48  can be formed as part of the main body  12 . Where deodorant, lipstick, soap, and like materials stored and dispensed from the portable dispensing apparatus, the pad blocker may not be necessary and can be removed.  
      A hanger clip  54  is formed on an outer surface of the main body  12 . The hanger clip  54  facilitates storage of the portable dispensing apparatus  10  in the pocket of the user.  
      An exemplary use of the portable dispensing apparatus  10  is by medical care providers as a tool when giving injections to a patient. When preparing to give an injection of medication or other material into the body of the patient, the external surface region of the skin where the injection is to be given must be prepared to militate against the introduction of undesirable contaminants into the body of the patient. The steps presented herein are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order is not necessary or critical. To prepare the external surface region of the skin, the cap  22  is removed to expose the spray pump  28 . The medical care provider then manually operates the spray pump  28  to draw the fluid material or topical treatment agent from the spray bottle  26  and spray the topical treatment agent onto the external surface region of the skin. The cap  36  is removed to expose the pads  46 . One of the pads  46  is selectively removed from the second storage chamber  16 . The pad  46  is then used to disperse the topical treatment agent and remove the excess from the external surface region of the skin. The pad  46  is disposed of to prevent cross-contamination between patients or other external surface regions of the skin. The process can be repeated as desired to ensure that the external surface region of the skin has been satisfactorily prepared. The external surface region of the skin is now ready for the injection. The caps  22 ,  36  can be replaced and the portable dispensing apparatus  10  is ready for re-use as desired on another patient or to prepare another external surface region of the skin.  
      When the supply of the topical treatment agent in the spray bottle  26  has been used, the spray bottle  26  can be refilled with the topical treatment agent by removing the collar  30  and spray pump  28 . Alternatively, the spray bottle  26  can be replaced with a new spray bottle  26  including the topical treatment agent. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the spray pump  28 ′ is removed and the first storage chamber  14 ′ is refilled with the topical treatment agent.  
      As pads  46  are removed from the second storage chamber  16 , the spring  40  urges the push block  44  and the pads  46  towards the opening  32 . Once the supply of the pads  46  stored in the second storage chamber  16  has been exhausted, the pad blocker  48  can be removed and a new supply of pads  46  added. The pad blocker  48  is then reinstalled and the portable dispensing apparatus  10  is again ready for use. The second storage chamber  16  cooperates with the cap  36  to store the pads  46  in a clean manner.  
      Since the main body  12  is a unitary structure not having separate components, loss of those separate components is militated against. The spray bottle  26  and the pads  46  can be easily replaced within the first storage chamber  14  and the second storage chamber  16  as desired. Additionally, the unitary structure of the main body  12  is easily and inexpensively formed, thus providing a structure capable of conveniently storing and dispensing both fluids and solids that can be used when traveling and disposable if desired.  
      From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.