US2553071A - Dispensing package - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1951 R. H. VAN SANT 2,553,071

DISPENSING PACKAGE ,Filed July 26, `19416 6 l ya Imfezz for 'o @f 15%@ Wj Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2,553,071 DIsPENsING PACKAGE Robert H. Van Sant, Alexandria, Va.

Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,597

(Cl. 20G-65) 1 claim. 1

This invention relates to holders and more particularly to those of a protective nature, the invention having for its object to provide a construction which is simple in parts, easy of manufacture, and less costly than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly covered by the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a holder made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevational View of a modication of the holder illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a holder similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2 but made in two halves provided with a hinge joint and a .locking means for securing the two halves together; and

Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive are top plan views of various modications of a single-cell type of holder.

There are many items on the market, and contemplated, which for one reason or another can be handled better if they are provided with a holder, and only by Way of example and not of limitation such items as capsules and/or ampules are mentioned particularly if and when they are made of frangible, gelatinous and/r plastic material. This invention contemplates a holder for either one or a plurality of capsule-like items, and the holder may be fashioned in the latter case to correspond with the particular geometrical arrangement of the capsules in the group; that is to say, and as particularly illustrated in Fig. 3, the arrangement of the plurality of capsules rnaT be in a straight line, but the capsules may be in other geometrical groupings or arrangements as found desirable. Generally speaking, the holder will be so fashioned that there will be a cell-like cavity therein for each of the capsules of the group.

Whereas most capsules are of circular transverse section, the cell of the holder of this invention may have various cross-sectional shapes as attempted to illustrate in the showings of Figs. 4 to 10. In the case of a capsule having, on its exterior surface, indentations or outstanding ribs or other conformations departing from the typical continuous circular surface, the holder may have a cell configuration as particularly il- 2 lustrated in Figs. 6, '7, and 8 to conform with such indentations, outstanding ribs or other departure from said typical continuous circular shape.

In any event, the internal shape and dimension of the cell of the holder will be such as to provide either entire or partial frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the contained capsule, so that said capsule will be gripped sulciently by the holder to make unnecessary the provision of capsule-securing means, though if desired this invention contemplates also the' provision of an adhesive medium interposed between the outer surface of the capsule and the inner surface of the cell of the holder, and/or it additionally contemplates the treatment of the substance of the capsule with liquid or heat in'order to cause adhesion of these surfaces without the necessity of an added adhesive medium.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, a holder generally identied by the numeral 2 is provided for a plurality or group of similar hermetically sealed liquid-containing capsules identied by the numeral 3, said capsules arranged in abutting re. lation with each other as indicated at Ll, each capsule being generally cylindrical and rounded at one end as shown at 5 but having its opposite end drawn or reduced in diameter in order to. provide a teat having a short tip portion 6 which may be readily severed, cut or otherwise sundered as at the area I to open the capsule and thus permit the escape of its liquid content as when the sundered area of the tip portion is moved over a body surface (skin) in contact therewith.

The holder in this ligure of illustration is m-ade in one piece with a plurality of cells, one for each capsule, an edge view of said holder being similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3 except that the holder of Fig. 3 is made in two halves. In the modication shown in Fig. 1, the capsules are inserted endwise into the holder 2 to be retained therein in the general relative positions illustrated.

Prefer-ably, though not of necessity, the walls of each cell of the holder 2 are slightly tapered, inwardly directed or reduced at one end, as indicated at l0, to conform with and serve as a stop for the rounded end portion 5 of the inserted capsule, or internal lugs or projections may be formed on the inner surface of the cell so that said capsule can be pushed into said cell a distance which is limited as when the rounded end of the capsule seats in the constricted or tapered portion of the holder. This restricted wall portion of the holder cell may be truncated as indicated in Fig. 1 tol 3 provide an opening permitting the extreme rounded end of the inserted capsule to protrude therethrough and thus be exposed, or this portion of the holder cell may be so formed that said rounded end will not protrude beyond the end of the cell thereby making possible a nat holder extremity that will serve as a base upon which the entire assemblage may be stood, particularly in order that a medicament of light viscosity may notesoape (leak) and y.be lost from the capsule after unsealing, as might occur when the assemblage was laid upon its side.

It is preferred, however, to have the truncated formation which provides an open end to the cell, for escape of air when the capsule is pressed into its cell because, as heretofore stated, Athe-'outer surface of each capsule may bein entire Ycontact with the inner surf ace of its cell in order that the capsule may be retainedby complete circumferential friction in the holder, and if the cell was closed `at its end-'there would `be an entrapment of airrtherein which would `.prevent'the full insertion of the capsule and result in a possible misalignment of the teat .ends of the capsules in thegroup.

It is also preferred that'the 'holder have a corrugated or undulating louter .surface so lthat the holder may be gripped v'better 4'by the fingers, and to this end `the 'undulations vof said surface are formed substantially '.fcoaxial withY the .cylindrical inner surfaces of' the cells of 'the holder. The extent of the holder longitudinally of the capsules ymay be made as desired, though it need be only `sufficient to establish'positive retention Vof the ycapsules lin the holder and to provide vsufiicient areaiforzgrasping by the fingers.

In the Ymodification illustrated in Fig. 2 :the extent of the holder '2,0 is made .greater than that of the holder 2, but `it "is otherwise similarly formed, and comprises afcorresponding truncated or otherwise reduced'end Acell portion .2| which, however, is formed to lseat the teat end of the inserted"capsule'instead ofthe completely rounded end 5. In other words,v with athis holder 2.6 the capsules are inserted in a' reverse manner to that indicatedin Fig. l, and the greater extent of this holder will of course result in vmore protection to the contained capsule.

rReferring vto Fig. 3,"the holder generally identied bythe numeral 3D iscmade in two halves V'as indicated at `3l! `and132said halves ,joinedv at one end by -a hinge-33 and provided at'their other ends Awith-any suitable clamping or locking means as indicated at 34 whereby the two halves aresecured together. vThis holder is otherwise A`formed similarly to the holders -illustrated *in* Figs. l and 2. Y

Figs. .4 .to l10 inclusive illustrate endelevations of unitary cells of holders'for single capsules having various cross-sectional shapes, though Ait will be understood that a holder Vfor a pluralityor group of 'capsules (as illustrated in Figs. 1,' 2 and 3) can"be`mod`ied in accordance with Ytheteachings of Figs. 4 to '110.Y According'to Fig; 4lthe holder Vis adapted to contain a capsule of triangular cross-sectional shape; according rto Fig. 9 Vthe holder-will "conformtoa'capsule Y'of rectangular 'shape either square AOrptherWise; Aaccordinglto Fig."10 'the holder'is for a capsuleof other polygonal yshape-(such as a hexagon); and

according to Figs. to8 the'holder is generally of circular cross-section to receive andretain 'a correspondingly,lshap'edcapsule In Fig. 6-the circular holderifhas 'its'. wall lprovided'wi-th -one'or more inwardlyldirectedzportions f(of longitudinal afstaan extent or otherwise) such as 4i! to conform with indentations formed on the outer surface of its contained capsule; in Fig. '7 the circular holder has its wall provided `with one or more outwardly directed portions (of longitudinal extent or otherwise) such as 50 to conform with ribs or projections on the outer surface of its contained capsule; and the intent of Fig. 8 is to illustrate a generally circular holder having departures in wall construction from those formations heretofore described, such departures comprising an interior attened area Gil and/or |an outwardly ldirected attened area l0, likewise conforming Withsimilar surface construction of the contained capsule. The specific constructions of all of these gures, with the exception of that shown in Fig. 5, will preventany rotation of a contained capsule about its longitudinal axis while in the holder.

y'Theintent of this invention is to provide a holder the inner surface of the cell wall of which will, through entire or partial perimetric or Acircumferential contact, frictionally retain a capsule regardless of the specific outer sur-fface'configuration of the capsule. 'For example, `it -is conceivable that a capsule having inwardly extending surface indentations would iit and befretained in thecompletely `circularcellofthe holder indicated in Fig. 5; and .a capsule Shaving :outwardly extending surface areas would also 'be retained Vin the holder of Fig. `5 if said :capsule were made slightly smaller than the internal :diameter of said holder, there being provided `sui-licient partialcircumferential frictional engagement-of the `contacting surface areas fto result in .thesecurement of the capsule in the holder.

Additionally, it is conceivablexthat the cell of =a holder ymay containtwo Sor more capsules Vof complemental cross-.sectional shapes, each capsule cotting `with another due tothe Seidl-complemental formation. For example, a .circular cell may contain two semi-circularly .shaped capsules, a rectangular cell may 'contain two triangularly 'shaped capsules or two or more smaller rectangular capsules,a 'polygonal cell may contain a plurality of triangularly shaped Icapsules or a, combination of rectangular land :triangular capsules, etc., or |a combination Vof variously formed capsules rmay `loe fitted within a fcell when they have external surfaces which 'are Wholly or in part complementa-1 withY respect to each other. In-other words,'it is' only required that ther-outer surface of a capsule engage the'inner surfaceof the holder 'cell at ,areas providing sufficient surface friction ".therebetween'to result 'in the retention'of kthe capsule or capsules int'he holder,` regardless of the otherwise specic zsurface conformatio-ns thereof.

There-fore,V in its broadestaspech this invention is directed -to the provisionofa holderwhich will `retain capsules of 'regulanor various 'eccentrici, shapes Ias rwell as a capsulejcf '-ashape which completely conforms perimetrically tothe shape ofV the holder. Additicnally, itis conceivablethat the holder may be sofformed as itself to contain the liquid, to the exclusion of the provision-cfa capsule or ampule, whereby the reduced .end-of the holder cell may be cut, severed orlotherwise sundere'd in order to'permite'scape ofits lcontained liquid.

'Theholder maybe formedof various materials such as metals, plastics,l gelatines, relatively stil fabrics, reticulate materials jsuch 'as screening orl other skeleton-like formations, glass, .ceramics etc.,- said holder "bei-ng imoldedf'stamp-ed, rolled, orotherwise formed, eithericiold or' under 'the inuence cf heat and pressure, and may be given coloration, ornamentation and/or other aesthetic appearance. In addition, the use of an adhesive tape, either singly or in combination with one of these holders, is contemplated as a means of securing a capsule in the cell of a holder, or in securing a plurality of capsules together as a group, it being considered unnecessary to particularly illustrate this means of securement. If desired, suitable adhesive media may be employed to provide greater adhesion between a capsule and its cell, such media comprising the application of glues, cements, welds, etc., as Well as the employment of methods, ways and means resulting in cohesion and/or adhesion brought about through application of partial solvents, heat, pressure, etc.

According to this invention, a capsule is placed in a cell of the holder, the tip portion of the capsule is then severed or otherwise sundered to unseal the capsule, and then the holder is manipulated so that the sundered area of the capsule is moved over a body surface (skin) in contact therewith, whereupon the liquid content of the capsule by virtue of capillary action, and/or attraction is caused to flow from the capsule onto the body surface, the said sundered area of the capsule concurrently rendering a massaging effect. If the liquid in the capsule has a relatively high viscosity, an easier ow thereof may be attained by creating an air Vent as by puncturing the opposite or rounded end of the capsule.

When the capsule or ampule is made of a Inaterial (such as glass or metal) which will create a harsh or sharp edge to the sundered area, such as to cut or otherwise harm the body surface when moved in contact thereover, the sundered capsule may forceably be slipped bodily in the holder such as illustrated in Fig. 2 to bring the sundered body-contacting area substantially into the plane of the outer end of the restricted end portion of the holder cell, whereby the sharpness of said area will be guarded by said outer end of the holder and cause no damage to the body surface.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention and therefore it is desired not to be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be required by the claim.

What is claimed is:

A package comprising a plurality of similarly formed capsules containing medicants, and a single holder for said capsules, each capsule having a reduced end simulating a teat provided with a frangible end portion, each capsule further having a longitudinal axis and a substantially rigid exterior surface the elements of which are arranged in substantial symmetry with respect to such axis, said holder comprising a unitary member having two opposed relatively xed wall portions, said wall portions having oppositely facing complementally formed inner surfaces providing together a series of pockets within which said capsules are disposed in frictional engagement with said surfaces and in substantially tangential relation with each other, the depth of each pocket being less than the longitudinal length of its contained capsule, whereby the rangible end portions of said capsules project frcm their pockets at all times and may be readily broken without removal of the capsules from said pockets, the breaking of said end portions of said capsules permitting release of the znedicants contained in said capsules.

ROBERT H. VAN SANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,435 Martin Apr. 10, 1917 1,383,270 Henning June 28, 1921 1,470,150 Davis Oct. 9, 1923 1,495,800 Recker May 27, 1924 2,086,300 Moria July 6, 1937 2,249,005 Karns July 15, 1941 2,467,678 Lockhart Apr. 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,554 Great Britain 1910 61,006 Norway June 19, 1939 346,166 Germany Dec. 24, 1921

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