US3744448A

US3744448A - Means to dispense sterile sheet-like components

Info

Publication number: US3744448A
Application number: US00238578A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Boone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-10-27
Filing date: 1972-03-27
Publication date: 1973-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-10

Abstract

Treated sheets or pads are each encased in a hertically sealed sheath and stacked within a housing. At least one packet is aligned with a restricted dispensing opening of the housing. A tab is operatively associated with a weakened portion of said aligned packet and adapted to be drawn through said opening whereby said weakened portion is ruptured and continued pulling on said tab effects withdrawal of one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall defining the restricted opening retains the other one of said sheath or treated element.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Boone 11 3,744,448 14 1 July 10, 1973 MEANS T0 DISPENSE STERILE SHEET-LIKE COMPONENTS [76] Inventor: Philip Boone, 15 Fenwick Road,

Winchester, Mass.

22 Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 211 App]. No.: 238,578 I Related its. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-pa'rt of Ser. No.- 678,600, Oct. 27,

1967, abandoned, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 715,768, March 25, 1968, Pat. No. 3,652,174.

[52] US. CL. 118/37, 118/506, 206/56 AC, I 206/56. C, 221/69, 401/132 [51] Int. Cl. B43k 5/14 ['58] FieldlofSearch... ..22l/3032,

- 22 1/22-2 6,45,46', 63,69 12,91,75, 102; 206 56 AC, 56 A, 56 R, 56 AA, 56 c, 56

AB; 118/506, 400, 4043; 96/76 R, 76 c;

[56] Y References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,877 12/1918 Graham 206/56 AA UX 3/1922 Balogh 206/56 AA UX 2,087,236 7/1937 Andersm. 206/56 AA ux 2,118,849 5/1938 Lindsey, 221/32 2,335,159 11 1943 Salfisberg 229/53 2,554,889 9/1951 -.w61fr;-. 96/76 R x 2,840,086 6/1968 Clark 128/296 3,113,496 12/1963 Eburn, Jr. et 61-. 96/76 R x 3,309,201 3/1967 Friedman 61 a1. 96/76 c 3,357,331 12/1967 Erikson 96 76 R x 3,370,747 2/1968 221/26 Desmond Primary Exriminer-M0rr1s Kaplan 1 71 ABSTRACT restricted opening retains the other one of said sheath or treated element.

19 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENIw JUL omn filed Oct. 27, I967, now abandoned, for Apparatus For Providing Wetted And Unwetted Materials For Cleansing And Related'Uses, and Ser. No. 7l5,768'filed Mar.

25, 1968, now Pat. No. 3,652,174, for Hermetically sealed Products And Related Method For Cleansing And Other Uses.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject invention is concerned with making available, rapidly and conveniently as a one-handed operation, one or more treated sheets, flat pads or sponges, bandages, swabs or the like for cleansing, sanitation, medical or other purposes. The invention makes it unnecessary to use both hands or fumble in attempttant factor. In so doing it may perform one duty of the so-called unsterile nurse.

The device comprises a housing component including means cooperating with means of a plurality of sealed containers mounted therein, each carrying a treatedsheet-like element, to effect opening of the containers and removal of each sheet-like element ready for use. Each of the sheet-like elements includes a draw-tab permitting easy and rapid withdrawal.

A basic liquid carried in the container and by the sheet-like material for purposes of the present invention may, for example, be largely distilled sterile water, water and alcohol, or water, alcohol and an emollient such as lanolin. Where serving primarily as a refreshant, a so-called fragrance may be included. Other possible ingredients include a humectant, e.g., glycerine or propylene glycol, an appropriateantiseptic or germicidal substance, or a bacteriostat such as hexachlorophene, a mineral oil and emulsifying agent, and a stabilizing agent. While a liquid as, for example, a liquid having a sterilizing property may have a wider application as a treating agent and may be stated herein, it is to be understood that the substance may be in the form of a powder, a salve or the like.

The housing component is preferably composed of a relatively inexpensive plastic material such as polystyrene, methyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, etc. formed by molding and adapted to be thrown away when its contents is exhausted. It may, therefore, be mounted in a more permanent mounting bracket as a disposable cartridge. The bracket, in turn, may be attached to a supporting surface such as a wall or to a fixture such as a toilet-tissue dispenser, means for the purpose being provided. i

The housing component, as previously intimated, embodies means cooperating with those of the container components for opening the latter. Among these instrumentalities are means for shearing marginal portions of the container; means for stripping a cover sheet; means for selectively holding container parts against withdrawal, etc. The containers, in turn, include such cooperating means as prede terminedly frangible and strippable areas; pull-string severing means effecting separation of container'areas from one another; means for spacing the sheet-like elements from housing parts to prevent contamination; means for making a single draw-tab available for use at any given moment, etc.

In addition to the aforementionedsuitability of the device for use in a bathroom, a hospital area or the like it is contemplated that it may serve a useful function elsewhere as, for example, when mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile, train, airplane or boat, as a convenience or first-aid item. The housing may also be of a compact portable form adapted to carrying in a bag.

In accordance with the foregoing considerations, objects of the invention are to provide a device comprising housing means for mounting a plurality of sealed containers each carrying a treated sheet-like element and embodying cooperating means of the housing and containers for opening the latter and facilitating withdrawal of the sheet-like element as a single-handed operation; to provide a device as characterized wherein the the housing component is of an inexpensive dispo'sable type; to provide a device as set forth in which the sheet-like element is maintained in a sterile condition both in the container and during withdrawal; to provide draw-tabs for the sheet-like elements which cooperate with means of the housing component to insure but one draw-tab being visible and available for use at any time.

Other objects of the inventionwill in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE- DRAWING The novel features which are considered to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, however,

both as to its organization and its method of operation FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b are diagrammatic views of a modified container component; 1

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a housing component in which are mounted the containers of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing and container components of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of modified container and hous-' ing means of the invention;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are fragmentary side views of container and draw-tab arrangements;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the containers of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the housing component shown in part in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of clamping means for releasably attaching the housing component or a mounting bracket therefor to a supporting surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the device 10 of the invention comprising the container or envelope 12 within which is carried a sheet or pad 14 bonded to an inner surface of one or both of the

container walls

16 and 18 the sheet being treated with a substance such asa liquid. The container is formed, for example, of a flexible liquid-, air-, and gasimpermeable material such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Or it may be composed of a multi-layered sheet comprising the sheet 14, a paper 20, a metallic foil 22 and a plastic coating 24, as shown in FIG. la.

The

container walls

16 and 18 are frangibly sealed together at one end and along two sides as by heat sealing by the

binding strips

26, 28 and 30. The binding strips, also formed of a similarly impermeable material, have a lower tear strength than that of the

walls

16 and 18. At its other end the container walls terminate in unsealed portions formed by a draw-tab 34 and the shorter tab 32. lnwardly of the tabs, the container is provided with an airand vapor-tight seal at 36.

The container 12 is mounted in a housing component 38 having a substantially open front at each transverse extremity of which are positioned the shearing blades 40 and 42. The housing and parts shown are to be assumed as being enlarged and duplicated to accomodate a plurality of the containers. When the draw-tab 34 is pulled manually the blades 40 and 42 enter the V formed by the tabs and contact the side strips 28 and 30. Continued pulling of tab 34 draws the container 12 from the housing 38 while the side strips 28 and 30 are severed throughout their length. Where complete sterility of the sheet 14 is not essential a wedge-like bar 44 maybe included to extend between the blades 40 and 42. This element serves to break the seal 36 whereby, in conjunctionwith severing of the side strips 28 and 30, the container iscompletely opened. Where sterility of the sheet 14 is essential, a small bar of a length equal to a transverse measurement including the blades 40 and 42 may be sealed within the area 36. This bar, not shown, will serve to break the seal when in contact with the blades as provided by pulling the draw-tab 34.

When the container has been opened, as above described, the treated and sterile applicator sheet or pad 14 affixed to inner surfaces of the

container walls

16 and 18 and folded upon itself at the extremity 26 is available for use.

The container component 46 of FIG. 2 includes a rectangular receptacle 48 formed, for example, of a plastic material such as polystyrene and having an open face at 50. A resilient pad 52 composed, for instance, of organic or synthetic fibers, is compressed into the receptacle 48 by a liquidand gas-impermeable cover sheet 54 having a leader or draw-tab 56, the cover sheetbeing releasably bonded to marginal and end portions of the container at 54a, 54b and 54c, as by a heat seal. The pad is treated with a liquid or other substance within the receptacle as described hereinbefore. When the cover sheet 54 is stripped from the receptacle, either of two forms of treated pad is provided as shown in FIGS. 20 and 2b. Additionally, treated sheet 54 is provided as shown in FIG. 2a. The sheet 54 may have a soft inner liningsuch as a suitable paper, not shown. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment a of the device comprisinga housing component 58 for mounting a plurality of the container components 46 in contiguous relation and for supplying individually and conveniently, as a single-handed operation, the pad or sheet elements of FIGS. 2a and 2b by pulling the drawtab 56. The housing component 58 includes the rear wall 60, two narrow front wall portions 62 having slots 64 formed therein and a pair of side walls 66 together forming a chamber68. Within the chamber 68 the container components 46 are stacked and adapted to forward, e.g., downward movement as urgedby gravity or supplementary biasing means such as a pressure plate,

not shown. The foremost or leading container 46 is held fixed by the shoulder 70 extending inwardly from the rear wall 60 and by the front wall slots 64'. The

housing component 58, as shown in FIG. 4, may be considered as of a disposable type such as a throw-away cartridge and as releasably mounted in a bracket orfixture 72 Also shown in part is a receptacle 74 for receiving the sheath 48 after separation of the cover sheet 54 therefrom.

The housing component 58 or the bracket 72 may be mounted on a supporting surface such as a wall 76 (FIG. 7) or the like, fastened to a surface 78 by a clamp 80 having tensioning means 81 (FIG. 8), or, for example, on the stub shafts of a conventional toilet-tissue dispenser by a pair of engaging members of the type of 82 and 84 which extend from either the

walls

66 or 72. The pair of members 82 would be employed to suspend the device downwardly from the stub shafts while a pair 84 would permit an overhead mounting thereof.

The constructions of FIGS. 5 and 6, A and B, illustrate another embodiment 10b of the invention and include the hermetically sealed containers or

capsules

86 and 88, each comprising a sheath formed of a pair of superimposed gasand vapor-impermeable sheets or

sections

90 and 92 sealed'along contiguous marginal portions at 94. The sheath could be formed of a single folded sheet alternatively. The sheet-like element or

pad

96 or 98 treated with a substance such as a liquid and, optionally, having a fibrous filling material 100 contiguous therewith is enclosed in a sterile condition in the sheath. It will be noted, by way of example, that the sheet 96 is a single stirred sheet (FIG. 6) while the sheet 98 is folded on itself.

In the example of FIGS. 5 and 6 A, a pull-cord 102 attached to the sheet-like element 96 passes releasably around guide means 104, through 8 sealed perforation 106 at the sealed margin at 94 8nd is attached to the draw-tab 108, an end of which may be releasably attached to an outer surface of the sheath as by a separable seal. When the draw-tab is pulled, it pulls the pullcord which breaks the sealed marginal portions 94, thus separating the upper and lower areas of the sheath from one another permitting withdrawal of the sheetlike element.

. sheet-like element substantially dry, means for the purexteriorly of the housing, When a draw-tab is pulled,

- the treated sheet, 96 or 98, is drawn from the sheath and through the slit 126 and is ready for use.

In FIG. Sathere is illustrated means for insuring the sterility of either the

sheet

96 or 98 while it is being drawn from the housing through the aperture 126. While in FIG. 5 A and B the aperture is shown as of a width which provides an adequate spacing between the treated sheet surface and the wall portion 128 to avoid contact between the two under normal circumstances, the means of FIG. 5a present an additional safeguard. An extension 132 of the container sheath is positioned within the aperture 126 so as to completely enclose the portions of the draw-

tab

108 or 110 within this area. The extended sheath portion 132 is bonded releasably to the draw-tab by a seal at the transverse portion 134, only. When this seal is broken by pulling the draw-tab, both the draw-tab and attached sheet-like element slide through the opened extension 132 and are shielded from contact with the front panel portions 128.

FIG. 5b illustrates means for providing that but on draw-tab is available for use at any given time. In this example, the draw-tab 110 protrudes from the front of the housing and is ready to be pulled. The other drawtabs are wrapped around the front wall portions 128' and are held at this position by their natural resiliency and contact with the next or contiguous draw-tab. each draw-tab includes a transverse flange 136. When the protruding draw-tab is pulled, the flange 136 thereof draws the tip of the next draw-tab out of the slit 126. This procedure is repeated for allof the draw-tabs.

It will be understood that the subject invention may bepracticed or embodied in other ways without departing from the spirit or character thereof. The preferred embodiment described herein is .to be regarded, therefore, as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope thereof being indicated by the appended claims and all variations which come within the meaning of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A device for making available rapidly as a singlehanded facile operation a plurality of sheet-like elements, each element having at least an exposed surface area treated with a substance of given characteristics, said device comprising:

an elongated housing including means contributing to separation of hermetically sealed sheath means which enclose and seal each of said treated elements;

said housing having at least one opening, of a restricted dimension, in the front wall thereof which comprises both said separating means and means to retain, one of said sheath or treated element while allowing passage of the other one therethrough;

a plurality of said sealed sheath means stacked in said housing and at least one of said sheath means in operative alignment with said opening; I a draw-tab operatively associated with each sheath and treated element combined therewith; v the draw-tab of a said aligned sheath extending through said opening; and each sheath including a weakened area operatively connected with said draw-tab;

whereby when a mechanical stress is applied by a pulling force exerted on the tab extending through the opening, the sheath separates at said weakened area and continued pulling withdraws said one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall structure defining said restricted opening retainssaidother one within the housing.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said'sheetlike element is in the form of a pad. I I

' 3. A device, as defined in claim I, wherein said hous ing is composed ofan' in expensive material such as-a plastic com'position'and is adapted to be thrown away when all of the stack mounted therein have been exhausted.

4. The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is adapted to be releasably mounted in a more permanent mounting bracket. 7

5. A device, as-defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to be fastened to a supporting surface.

6. A device, as defined in claim 5, wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to be releasably attached to a dispenser of toilet tissue.

7. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein a unitary extension of said sheath extends through said opening to prevent contact of said treated suraace of said sheetlike element with an adjacent wall portion.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is operatively connected'to the treated element and extends through said weakened area of the sealed sheath whereby said pulling force effects withdrawal of said treated element from the sheath and housing while the ruptured sheath is retained within the housing.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating said tab with the treated element is a tear string.

10. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating the tab with the treated element is the tab extended to attachment with said element.

11. A device as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an aligned plurality of said at least one opening and each of said stacked sheath means and tab associated therewith is in operative alignment with a respective one of said openings.

12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the free end of each tab, excepting the lead tab, is frictionally retained within an adjacent one of said openings.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein each tab includes a boss portion adapted to abut the free end of the succeeding, frictionally retained tab whereby upon exertion of said pulling force an the lead tab, the boss portion removes the succeeding tab from its frictionally retained position.

14. A device as in claim 1 wherein said opening is of a sufficient width to avoid housing wall contact with the said one of the sheath or element withdrawn therethrough.

15. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is directly connected only to said sheath and the sheath is treated by said substance due to sheath contact with the elements exposed surface whereby said pulling force effects the sheath separation at said weakened area and withdrawal of the treated sheath from said housing while the element is retained within said housing 16. A device as in claim 2 wherein said pad is received in areceptacle.

17. A device as in claim 2 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeeding packet, which comprise a sheath and treated element, provides a seal means for the adjacent, prior treated element.

18. A device as in claim 16 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeeding packet, which comprises a sheath and treated element, provides a seal means for the adjacent, prior receptacle and treated element therein.

19. A device as in claim 1 wherein saidhousing bottorn comprises a disposal bin in communication with 5 hQusmg the stacking area and adapted to receive said other one

Claims

1. A device for making available rapidly as a single-handed facile operation a plurality of sheet-like elements, each element having at least an exposed surface area treated with a substance of given characteristics, said device comprising: an elongated housing including means contributing to separation of hermetically sealed sheath means which enclose and seal each of said treated elements; said housing having at least one opening, of a restricted dimension, in the front wall thereof which comprises both said separating means and means to retain, one of said sheath or treated element while allowing passage of the other one therethrough; a plurality of said sealed sheath means stacked in said housing and at least one of said sheath means in operative alignment with said opening; a draw-tab operatively associated with each sheath and treated element combined therewith; the draw-tab of a said aligned sheath extending through said opening; and each sheath including a weakened area operatively connected with said draw-tab; whereby when a mechanical stress is applied by a pulling force exerted on the tab extending through the opening, the sheath separates at said weakened area and continued pulling withdraws said one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall structure defining said restricted opening retains said other one within the housing.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet-like element is in the form of a pad.

3. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is composed of an inexpensive material such as a plastic composition and is adapted to be thrown away when all of the stack mounted therein have been exhausted.

4. The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is adapted to be releasably mounted in a more permanent mounting bracket.

5. A device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to be fastened to a supporting surface.

7. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein a unitary extension of said sheath extends through said opening to prevent contact of said treated suraace of said sheet-like element with an adjacent wall portion.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is operatively connected to the treated element and extends through said weakened area of the sealed sheath whereby said pulling force effects withdrawal of said treated element from the sheath and housing while the ruptured sheath is retained within the hOusing.

15. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is directly connected only to said sheath and the sheath is treated by said substance due to sheath contact with the elements exposed surface whereby said pulling force effects the sheath separation at said weakened area and withdrawal of the treated sheath from said housing while the element is retained within said housing.

16. A device as in claim 2 wherein said pad is received in a receptacle.

19. A device as in claim 1 wherein said housing bottom comprises a disposal bin in communication with the stacking area and adapted to receive said other one of the sheath or treated element which is retained by the housing and which falls into the bin when the said one of said sheath or element is withdrawn from the housing.