Patent Abstract:
A multi-fluid applicator with one or more fluids sealed separately within it with opening device enclosed within the applicator to allow the commingling and releasing of the fluids enclosed within the applicator. The enclosed opening device may be operated by either squeezing or bending the applicator at or near the enclosed opening device. Once the enclosed opening device is opened, the fluids sealed within the elongated sealed container will commingle with each other and be released for application or may be released directly for application. There are no loose parts that may be lost and the fluids are completely sealed within the applicator.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to an applicator with fluids sealed within it. More specifically, the present invention relates to an applicator with one or more fluids sealed separately within it with opening means enclosed within the applicator to allow the commingling and releasing of the fluids enclosed within the applicator. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Applicators such as cotton swabs are generally used to apply medication, anesthetic, alcohol, and various other liquids. Swab applicator generally comprises of a tubular handle with a formed absorbent tip at one or both ends of the tubular handle. The absorbent tip may be made of cotton or a foam absorbent material. The tip may also be a brush. The tubular handle may be made of wood, paper, or plastic and it may be solid or hollow. 
   Generally the applicator tip of a dry swab applicator is first placed in contact with the liquid to be applied for the applicator tip to absorb the liquid. Subsequently, the moisturized applicator tip is placed in contact with the surface to apply the absorbed liquid to the surface. Swab applicators may also be pre-moistened with the desired liquid and sealed in a container for subsequent use. Generally the pre-moistened swab applicators are packaged individually so that opening the packaging to retrieve one swab applicator will not affect the remaining swab applicators. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a multi-fluid applicator with one or more fluids sealed separately within it with opening means enclosed within the applicator to allow the commingling and releasing of the fluids enclosed within the applicator. The enclosed opening means may be operated by bending the applicator at or near the enclosed opening means. Once the enclosed opening means is opened, the fluids sealed within the elongated sealed container will commingle with each other and be released for application or may be released directly for application. There are no loose parts that may be lost and the fluids are completely sealed within the applicator. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. 
       FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator. In the preferred embodiment, the multi-fluid applicator comprises of a first elongated tubular housing  1  with a sealed end  2  and an open end  3 . A first fluid  4  is enclosed within the first elongated tubular housing  1 . 
   A second elongated tubular housing  5  with a sealed end  6  and an open end  7  and with approximately the same outside diameter at a location near its sealed end  6  as the open end  3  of the first elongated tubular housing  1  is inserted with its sealed end  6  inside the open end  3  of the first elongated tubular housing  1  sealing the first fluid  4  within the first elongated tubular housing  1 . A second fluid  8  is enclosed within the second elongated tubular housing  5 . The second fluid  8  may be the same as or different than the first fluid  4 . An opening means  9  in the form of a fracture line is located near the sealed end  6  of the second elongated tubular housing  5  and positioned within the first elongated tubular housing  1  such that the sealed end  6  of the second elongated tubular housing  5  will sever from the remainder of the second elongated tubular housing  5  when the elongated tubular housings  1 ,  5  are bent near the fracture line to allow the first fluid  4  in the first elongated tubular housing  1  to commingle with the second fluid  8  in the second elongated tubular housing  5 . 
   A viscous substance  10  such as silicone may be disposed near the open end  7  of the second elongated tubular housing  5  to seal the second fluid  8  within the second elongated tubular housing  5  and to prevent evaporation of the second fluid  8 . After the opening means  9  is opened, the first fluid  4  will commingle with the second fluid  8  and the two fluids  4 ,  8  may be ejected from the applicator by squeezing the first elongated tubular housing  1  for application. An applicator tip  11  such as a cotton or foam swab or a brush may be affixed to the open end  7  of the second elongated tubular housing  5  to apply the ejected fluids  4 ,  8 . 
   The open end  7  of the second elongated tubular housing  5  may also be sealed and provided with a second opening means such as a fracture line to allow complete sealing of the second fluid in the second elongated tubular housing  5 . After the opening means  9  is opened, the first fluid  4  will commingle with the second fluid  8  and the two fluids  4 ,  8  may be ejected from the applicator by opening the second opening means and then squeezing the first elongated tubular housing  1  for application. 
   The first fluid  4  may also be omitted with the first elongated tubular housing  1  simply filled with a gas, such as air. The fluid sealed in the second elongated tubular housing  5  may be controllably released by first opening the opening means and then squeezing the first elongated tubular housing  1 . The rate and amount of the fluid extracted may be controlled by the pressure applied to the first elongated tubular housing  1 . 
   Furthermore, one of the fluids, such as the first fluid  4 , may also be replaced with a powder substance wherein when the opening means  9  is opened the fluid in the applicator will mix with the powder substance and subsequently be ejected for application. This is particularly suitable when the application requires that a powder substance be kept dry until application, at which time the dry powder must be mixed with a fluid such as an activating agent. 
   Another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the multi-fluid applicator comprises of an elongated tubular housing  21  with a sealed end  22  and an open end  23 . A restriction  24  is disposed between the sealed end  22  and the open end  23  generally separating the elongated tubular housing  21  into two sections. A first fluid  25  is enclosed within the first section near the sealed end  22  of the elongated tubular housing  21 . A second fluid  26  is enclosed within the second section near the open end  23  of the elongated tubular housing  21 . The second fluid  26  may be the same as or different than the first fluid  25 . 
   A first opening means in the form of a first elongated tube  27  with a sealed end  29  and an open end  30  and with approximately the same outside diameter as the restriction  24  of the elongated tubular housing  21  is inserted with its sealed end  29  inside the restriction  24  in the elongated tubular housing  21  sealing the first fluid  25  within the elongated tubular housing  21 . A fracture line  28  is located near the sealed end  29  of the first elongated tube  27  such that the sealed end  29  of the first elongated tube  27  will sever from the remainder of the first elongated tube  27  when the elongated tubular housing  21  and the first elongated tube  27  are bent near the fracture line  28 . 
   A second opening means in the form of a second elongated tube  31  with a sealed end  32  and an open end  33  and with approximately the same outside diameter at a location near its sealed end  32  as the open end  23  of the elongated tubular housing  21  is inserted with its sealed end  32  inside the open end  23  of the elongated tubular housing  21  sealing the second fluid  26  within the second section of the elongated tubular housing  21 . A fracture line  34  is located near the sealed end  32  of the second elongated tube  31  such that the sealed end  32  of the second elongated tube  31  will sever from the remainder of the second elongated tube  31  when the elongated tubular housing  21  and the second elongated tube  31  are bent near the fracture line  34 . 
   After the first opening means is opened, the first fluid  25  will commingle with the second fluid  26 . The second opening means may subsequently be opened to allow extraction of the fluids  25 ,  26  from the applicator by squeezing the elongated tubular housing  21  for application. An applicator tip  35  such as a cotton or foam swab or a brush may be affixed to the open end  33  of the second elongated tube  31  to apply the extracted fluids  25 ,  26 . 
   One of the fluids, such as the first fluid  25 , may be replaced with a powder substance wherein when the first opening means is opened the fluid in the applicator will mix with the powder substance and subsequently be ejected for application. This is particularly suitable when the application requires that a powder substance be kept dry until application, at which time the dry powder must be mixed with a fluid such as an activating agent. 
   Yet another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator is shown in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the multi-fluid applicator comprises of an elongated tubular housing  40  with a sealed end  41  and an open end  42 . A restriction  43  is disposed between the sealed end  41  and the open end  42  generally separating the elongated tubular housing  40  into two sections. A first fluid  44  is enclosed within the first section near the sealed end  41  of the elongated tubular housing  40 . A second fluid  45  is enclosed within the second section near the open end  42  of the elongated tubular housing  40 . The second fluid  45  may be the same as or different than the first fluid  44 . 
   An opening means in the form of an elongated tube  46  with a sealed end  47  and an open end  48  is inserted with its sealed end  47  inside the restriction  43  in the elongated tubular housing  40  sealing the first fluid  44  and the second fluid  45  within the elongated tubular housing  40  and with approximately the same outside diameters located near the restriction  43  and the open end  42  as the restriction  43  and the open end  42  of the elongated tubular housing  40 . A first fracture line  49  is located near the sealed end  47  disposed within the first section and a second fracture line  50  is located near the open end  42  of the elongated tubular housing  40  such that the elongated tube  46  will break open when the elongated tubular housing  40  and the elongated tube  46  are bent near the fracture lines  49 ,  50 . 
   The opening means may be selectively opened to allow the first fluid  44 , the second fluid  45 , or both fluids  44 ,  45  to be released from the applicator by squeezing the elongated tubular housing  40  for application. An applicator tip  51  such as a cotton or foam swab or a brush may be affixed to the open end  48  of the elongated tube  46  to apply the extracted fluids  44 ,  45 . 
   Yet another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the multi-fluid applicator comprises of an elongated tubular housing  60  with a sealed end  61  and an open end  62 . A restriction  63  is disposed between the sealed end  61  and the open end  62  generally separating the elongated tubular housing  60  into two sections. A first fluid  64  is enclosed within the first section near the sealed end  61  of the elongated tubular housing  60 . A second fluid  65  is enclosed within the second section near the open end  62  of the elongated tubular housing  60 . The second fluid  65  may be the same as or different than the first fluid  64 . 
   An opening means in the form of an elongated tube  66  with a sealed, end  67  and an open end  68  is inserted with its sealed end  67  inside the restriction  63  in the elongated tubular housing  60  sealing the first fluid  64  and the second fluid  65  within the elongated tubular housing  60  and with approximately the same outside diameters located near the restriction  63  and the open end  62  as the restriction  63  and the open end  62  of the elongated tubular housing  60 . A first fracture line  69  is located near the sealed end  61  and positioned such that when the elongated tube  66  is inserted inside the restriction  63  the first fracture line  69  will be inside the first section. A second fracture line  70  is located near the first fracture line  69  opposite the restriction  63 . A third fracture line  71  is separated from the first  69  and second  70  fracture lines by a sealed-off section  72  of the elongated tube  66  located near the open end  62  of the elongated tubular housing  60 . A third fluid  73  is enclosed by the sealed-off section  72  of the elongated tube  66 . The third fluid  73  may be the same as or different than the other two fluids  64 ,  65 . The elongated tube  66  will break open when the elongated tubular housing  60  and the elongated tube  66  are bent near the fracture lines  63 ,  70 ,  71 . 
   The opening means may be opened to allow the three fluids  64 ,  65 ,  73  to be commingled and released from the applicator by squeezing the elongated tubular housing  60  for application. When the first fracture line  69  is broken, the first fluid  64  will commingle with the third fluid  73 . When the second fracture line  70  is broken, the commingled first  64  and third  73  fluids will commingle with the second fluid  65 . When the third fracture line  71  is broken, the commingled fluids  64 ,  65 ,  73  will be released from the applicator. An applicator tip  74  such as a cotton or foam swab or a brush may be affixed to the open end  68  of the elongated tube  66  to apply the extracted fluids  64 ,  65 ,  73 . 
   One of the fluids, such as the first fluid  64 , may be replaced with a powder substance wherein when the opening means are opened the fluid in the applicator will mix with the powder substance and subsequently be ejected for application. This is particularly suitable when the application requires that a powder substance be kept dry until application, at which time the dry powder must be mixed with a fluid such as an activating agent. 
   Yet another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, the multi-fluid applicator comprises of an elongated tubular housing  80  with a sealed end  81  and an open end  82 . Multiple restrictions  83  are disposed between the sealed end  81  and the open end  82  generally separating the elongated tubular housing  80  into multiple sections. A fluid  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  is enclosed within each of the sections of the elongated tubular housing  80 . The fluids  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  may all be the same fluid or different fluids may be used in each section. 
   An opening means in the form of an elongated tube  88  with a sealed end  89  and an open end  90  is inserted with its sealed end  89  through all the restrictions  83  in the elongated tubular housing  80  sealing each of the fluids  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  in the respective sections in the elongated tubular housing  80  and with approximately the same outside diameters located near each of the restrictions  83  and the open end  82  as the restrictions  83  and the open end  82  of the elongated tubular housing  80 . A fracture line  91  is located near each of the restrictions  83  disposed within each section such that the fluid  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  within a section will be released when the fracture line  91  in that section is broken open when the elongated tubular housing  80  and the elongated tube  88  are bent near the fracture line  91 . 
   The opening means may be selectively opened to allow the desired fluid to be released from the applicator by squeezing the section of the elongated tubular housing  80  with the fluid. An applicator tip  92  such as a cotton or foam swab or a brush may be affixed to the open end  90  of the elongated tube  88  to apply the extracted fluid. 
   Yet another embodiment of the multi-fluid applicator is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the multi-fluid applicator comprises of an elongated tubular housing  100  with a sealed end  101  and an open end  102 . Multiple restrictions  103  are disposed between the sealed end  101  and the open end  102  generally separating the elongated tubular housing  100  into multiple sections. A fluid  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107  is enclosed within each of the sections of the elongated tubular housing  100 . The fluids  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107  may all be the same fluid or different fluids may be used in each section. 
   An opening means in the form of an elongated tube  108  with a sealed end  109  affixed to the sealed end  101  of the elongated tubular housing  100  and an open end  110  that extends through all the restrictions  103  in the elongated tubular housing  100  sealing each of the fluids  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107  in the respective sections in the elongated tubular housing  100  and with approximately the same outside diameters located near each of the restrictions  103  and the open end  102  as the restrictions  103  and the open end  102  of the elongated tubular housing  100 . A fracture line  111  is located near each of the restrictions  103  disposed within each section such that the fluid  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107  within a section will be released when the fracture line  111  in that section is broken open when the elongated tubular housing  100  and the elongated tube  108  are bent near the fracture line  111 . 
   The opening means may be selectively opened to allow the desired fluid to be released from the applicator by squeezing the section of the elongated tubular housing  100  with the fluid. An applicator tip  112  such as a cotton or foam swab or a brush may be affixed to the open end  110  of the elongated tube  108  to apply the extracted fluid. 
   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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0