Abstract:
A method and apparatus for applying a cream, lotion, medicament, ointment, or other liquid from a disposable, single-use applicator that made be used with one hand. The assembly includes a flexible, low-rigidity container adapted to carry the agent therein. The assembly is formed with a container portion and an applicator tip, with the agent held inside by a perforated seal which is broken with a squeeze.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is related and claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/268,368, filed Jun. 11, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Technology 
         [0003]    This invention relates to the field of one-time use applicators for ointments, creams, treatments and any other liquid, gel, paint, or make-up. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    A ubiquitous and near-constant condition for any baby or child still in diapers is diaper rash. Many individuals are afflicted with skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, skin allergies, and many forms of rash-inducing conditions. There is a wide range of treatment agents for these conditions, such as steroid lotions and ointments or salves containing Vitamin E, aloe, and cortisone, among many others. These agents are most frequently packaged in tubes with caps, like a tube of toothpaste. The tube containers themselves may be constructed of a variety of materials from plastic to metals and with varying rigidity. There are multiple problems with such packaging. First, caps frequently become dirty and clogged with unused or excess agent. Not only is this wasteful, but it also makes the dispenser unsanitary to use. Second, many such dispenser tubes are large and/or cumbersome when attempting to use them one-handed, in tight quarters, or quickly and on the go. In many cases, one may find him or herself wishing for an extra hand. 
         [0006]    There are additional problems with the size of traditional packaging. First the tubes are often large and add to the bulk that individuals must carry with them on a daily basis. With specific regard for parents of diaper-aged children, these tubes are added weight and volume to already-full diaper bags. This problem is not limited to diaper-rash creams and overburdened parents, but modern life has led to more and more individuals carrying many medications, ointments, lotions, medicaments, and any number of other liquid items with them on a daily basis. Therefore, many agents in traditional packaging create extra weight and bulk in already-crowded bags. The current state air travel also limits the amount of luggage passengers carry. Fees for checking luggage result in more carry-on baggage, and lotions, liquids, and creams are required to be limited in volume and in the amount one person can carry. In addition to treatments and agents for diaper rash, other ointments, and make-up, which are used topically, items such as shoe polish, paint samples, and any number of other liquids and/or creams may come in cumbersome, bulky, or wasteful packaging. Many such items, an exhaustive list of which would be too lengthy to include, here, would benefit from a small, compact, single-use packaging alternative. 
         [0007]    There exists a need, therefore, for small, compact, and clean dispenser that may be used with one hand for lotions, ointments, creams, polishes, make-up, Armor-All®, and another substance for which such a dispenser would be convenient. There exists a need for such a package that is less cumbersome than traditional packaging and sized for the necessary dosage or application amount sufficient for a one-time use, depending on the substance or agent. Such a package would avoid waste and unsanitary caps. Such a package would have a built-in applicator, further avoiding a mess and the need for articles to apply the agent from the dispenser or to clean up following use. After the use, the dispenser and applicator may then simply be disposed of in a trash receptacle. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention is comprised of a one-time use dispenser for applying an agent comprised of a low-rigidity agent containment chamber; a pathway; a neck seal disposed within said pathway and adjacent to said low-rigidity containment chamber; and an applicator fixed to said pathway. 
         [0009]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a one-time use dispenser, wherein said neck seal is a perforated plastic film. 
         [0010]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a one-time use dispenser, further comprising a closure cap which engagably seals to said dispenser body. 
         [0011]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a one-time use dispenser, wherein said applicator is further comprised of an opening disposed on a surface through which said pathway may be inserted and attached to said applicator. 
         [0012]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a one-time use dispenser wherein said applicator is further comprised of slits disposed on a surface. 
         [0013]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent comprising providing a on-time use dispenser comprising: a low-rigidity agent containment chamber; a pathway; a neck seal disposed within said pathway and adjacent to said low-rigidity containment chamber; and an applicator fixed to said pathway. 
         [0014]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent, further comprising providing neck seal is a perforated plastic film. 
         [0015]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent, further comprising providing a closure cap which engagably seals to said dispenser body. 
         [0016]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent further comprising providing an opening disposed on a surface of an applicator through which said pathway may be inserted and attached to said applicator. 
         [0017]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent further providing an applicator further comprised of slits disposed on a surface. 
         [0018]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent further comprising squeezing said neck seal. 
         [0019]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method for applying an agent further comprising squeezing said containment chamber. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front, cut-away view of an embodiment of the invention having an applicator with a closure cap assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a prior art dispenser that is improved upon in an embodiment of the invention showing the agent pathway and tip to which an applicator attaches. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a prior art, top, cross-sectional view of an agent pathway and tip on which an applicator attaches, which is improved upon in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention showing an agent pathway and tip on which an applicator attaches with a foam applicator being attached to it. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of an embodiment of the invention showing a foam applicator, with a specific view of the bottom of the applicator where the agent pathway and tip is inserted for attachment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is an alternative embodiment of the dispenser of the invention showing an alternative dispenser neck and agent pathway and with the dispenser being open at its base so it may be filled. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is an alternative embodiment of the dispenser of the invention showing an alternative dispenser neck and agent pathway and with the dispenser being sealed at its base. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the alternative embodiment of the dispenser of the invention showing a perforated seal in the neck of the dispenser, which contains the liquid agent. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of the invention in use to treat diaper rash. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Turning now to the drawings, where like numbers represent like elements,  FIG. 1  is a front perspective, cut-away view of an embodiment of the invention  100  having an applicator  104  and a closure cap assembly  106 . For descriptive purposes, the dispenser tube will be made of a low-rigidity material that is easily compressed by the force of a person&#39;s fingers. Such a dispenser may be manufactured and produced by the James Alexander Corporation of Blairstown, N.J., which is the owner of prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,737. In its final configuration, the dispenser will consist substantially of a tube, such as for toothpaste or other creams or ointments, with an applicator attached, as shown in  FIG. 9 , below. Such a tube may also be manufactured by USA JDK, Inc., headquartered in Irving, Tex. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any such similar dispenser tube may be used and disclosure is for explanatory purposes, only. Further for descriptive and explanatory purposes only, and not for limitation, the embodiment of the invention described herein contains cream, ointment or other topical agent for the treatment of a skin condition such as diaper rash. The dispenser  100  of the embodiment of the invention contains the agent  102  up to the dispenser neck. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  also shows the foam applicator  104  attached to the packaging tube. The foam applicator is porous, latex-free and made with a Vitamin E, polyurethane hemophilic. The foam may also be manufactured by USA JDK, Inc., and cut into pieces of varying sizes and shapes as necessary and adaptable for the particular agent that it is used to apply. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the consistency, thickness, and chemical composition of the foam applicator may change depending on the thickness, viscosity, and texture type of substance being packaged. The foam applicator described herein is for purposes of explanation and description, only, and is not intended as a limitation. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  also shows a closure cap  106 , which fits over the applicator and prevents it from leaking Certain embodiments may not use a cap. Rather, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the applicator may be shrink-wrapped to prevent leaking, and as discussed below, the dispenser construction also prevents spillage and leaking Also shown is the agent pathway opening  108  in the neck of the dispenser, which holds the agent in the dispenser tube until ruptured. One type of construction by which the agent is held within the dispenser is described in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,737 to Ashe. Another type of seal at the neck of the dispenser  100  that holds in the agent is shown in  FIG. 8 , below. 
         [0032]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the dispenser  100  of an embodiment of the invention is shown without the applicator  104 , revealing the pathway  202  through which the agent moves to the applicator  104  when the dispenser is squeezed. No specific equipment is needed to operate the dispenser  100 . To use the dispenser  100 , the user squeezes the neck of the dispenser  100  just below the applicator, which ruptures the sealed opening  108  at the neck of the dispenser  100 . When the user squeezes the dispenser  100 , the agent moves along the pathway  202  and to the tip  204 , where the applicator  104  is attached to receive the agent.  FIG. 3  shows a top view of the pathway tip  204  and side supports  206 , on which an applicator  104  may lock when it is placed on this embodiment of the dispenser  100 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows the applicator  104  being placed on the pathway  202  and tip  204  of an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  is a close-up of an applicator  104  of this embodiment of the invention. The bottom  502  of the applicator  104  has an opening  504  through which the pathway  204  is placed. In line with the opening  504  are slits  506  that lock on to the side supports  206  for this embodiment. The opening  504  extends the full length of the applicator  104 . The applicator  104  is sized such that the pathway  204  substantially fills the length of the applicator through opening  504 , which stretches through the other end of the applicator  104 . The pathway  204  tip will be covered by the applicator  104 , and the agent will move out onto the applicator  104  with the user squeezes the dispenser  100 . The agent may then be applied. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is an alternative embodiment of the dispenser  600  of the invention without the applicator  104  attached showing an alternative dispenser pathway  602  and with the dispenser  600  being open at its base  604  so it may be filled with the agent. The foam applicator  104  is slid on via its opening  504  and attached to the dispenser neck  602  in this embodiment. The agent is filled to the neck  606  of the dispenser. Within the neck  606  is a perforated seal  608 . A user operates the dispenser  600  by compressing the neck  606 , which breaks the perforated seal  608 . When the dispenser  600  is squeezed, the agent moves through the pathway  602  and onto the applicator  104 , as it does with the prior-described embodiments. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is an alternative embodiment of the invention of the dispenser  600  without the applicator attached and showing an alternative agent pathway  602  and with the dispenser being sealed at its base  502 .  FIG. 8  is a top view of the perforated seal  608  holding the agent in the dispenser  600  until time for use. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of the invention in use on a baby. The user squeezes the dispenser  100  such that the cream fills the applicator  104  so that it may be then used on the diaper rash or other skin condition or ailment. 
         [0037]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention addresses the multiple needs for providing a one-time use applicator and dispenser for creams, lotions, ointments, other remedies and medicaments, and any other liquid. The exemplary embodiment of the invention is sanitary, small, light-weight, and easy to pack and carry. The exemplary embodiment may be used with one hand. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the above description is for example, only, and not meant as a limitation, and any dispenser and applicator of the types described above may be used and are included in this disclosure.