Single dose material and applicator package

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates in general to a package for holding a material and applicator, and more particularly to a single dose package making applying a material to a surface easy, precise, and convenient

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002In many applications and in particular medical procedures a relatively small quantity of material must be accurately and precisely placed to a surface being treated. It is often necessary that the material and applicator be maintained in a sterile or uncontaminated condition. It is convenient that only a single dose of material be provided so as to prevent cross contamination between patients during a medical procedure.

0003There are a large number of packaging systems for holding a material and applicator. One such packaging system is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US5660273A"><text>US patent 5,660,273 entitled "Single Patient Dose Medicament Dispenser with Applicator" issuing to John J. Discko, Jr. on August 26, 1997</text></patcit>. Therein disclosed is a tray having wells for holding the material and a portion of an applicator. The applicator extends out of the rear of the tray. A removable cover is placed on a top surface of the tray covering the material well and a portion of the applicator. While this package has many advantages the sterility and cleanliness of the applicator cannot be assured due to a portion of the applicator extending from the tray that is not covered. Additionally the tray is often difficult to hold while removing the cover from the material well. Also, the quantity of material placed on the applicator could not be precisely controlled potentially resulting in more material being applied than desired.

0004In packages that contain the entire applicator, is often difficult to remove the applicator from the package. Removal of the applicator is often complicated or difficult when gloves are used, such as in a medical procedure. This often results in the applicator not being securely held increasing the potential of dropping the applicator resulting in contamination making the applicator unsuitable for a medical procedure.

0005Accordingly, there is a need for a package that can hold a material and applicator that assures sterility or cleanliness to both the material and applicator and that is easy to hold so that the cover can be more easily be removed. There is also a need for a package containing an applicator and a material in which the quantity of the material placed on the applicator and delivered to a surface can be controlled.

0006Document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2010136499A1"><text>US 2010/136499 A1</text></patcit> relates to a device for storing and dispensing compositions and discloses all features in the preamble of claim 1. Document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5485917A"><text>US5485917A</text></patcit> discloses a quick release package for a surgical instrument like a trocar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007The present invention provides a single dose material and applicator package as set forth in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.

0008The present invention is a single dose material and applicator package that makes dispensing a material convenient and easy. A formed tray has a material well and an applicator well formed therein. Also formed in the tray is a finger depression and applicator support. The material well has a ramp formed therein. A removable cover covers a top surface of the tray securely sealing the material and applicator therein.

0009In one embodiment additional depressions are formed in the tray so as to hold and center the applicator within the applicator well.

0010It is an object of the present invention to provide a package making dispensing a material easy and convenient .

0011It is another object of the present invention to provide a package assuring that the material and applicator may be maintained in a sterile condition or free from contamination.

0012It is an advantage of the present invention that it is easily held and provides a secure grip for removing the cover.

0013It is another advantage of the present invention that the applicator is easily removed, even with gloved hands.

0014It is another advantage of the present invention that the amount or quantity of material contained on the applicator can be conveniently regulated or controlled.

0015It is a feature of the present invention that a finger depression is formed in the tray providing a secure grip on the package.

0016It is another feature of the present invention that an applicator support creates a fulcrum adjacent an end of the applicator well permitting the applicator to be easily pivoted or levered upward for easy removal from the tray.

0017It is another feature of the present invention that a ramp is formed in the material well permitting the quantity of material contained on the applicator to be regulated or controlled.

0018These and other objects, advantages, and features will become more readily apparent in view the following more detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0019<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention with the cover attached.</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed at a different angle.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 4</figref> is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention without the cover.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 5</figref> is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 7</figref> is a rear elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 8</figref> is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 9</figref> is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with an applicator and material placed therein.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 10</figref> is a partial cross section taken along line A-A in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 9</figref> illustrating the removal of the applicator.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 11</figref> is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed illustrating additional depressions for centering the applicator.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 12</figref> is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 13</figref> is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 14</figref> is a side elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 15</figref> is a rear elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 16</figref> is a front elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

0020<figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 1-10</figref> illustrate a first embodiment of the single dose material and applicator package 10 of the present invention. <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a perspective view illustrating a formed tray 14 with the removal cover 12. The removable cover 12 is removably attached to a surface of the tray 14. The formed tray 14 may be made of any suitable plastic material and preferably vacuum molded, but also may be injection molded. A portion of the cover 12 or a tab may overhang an edge of the tray facilitating removal of the cover. Alternatively, a small portion of the cover 12 may not be attached to the tray 14 facilitating removal. The cover preferably is made of a durable impermeable material, such as a plastic laminated foil. The cover may be adhesively fixed, heat sealed, ultrasonically welded, to the tray 14 or affixed by other equivalent sealing means.

0021<figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 2-10</figref> additionally illustrate the first embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed providing a better view of the features of the present invention. Formed within the tray 14 are several depressions that greatly facilitate the use and function of the single dose material and applicator package 10. Formed within the tray 14 are a flange 16, an applicator well 18, and a material well 20. The flange 16 forms a planar surface above the applicator well 18 and the material well 20. Formed within the material well 20 are a material well bottom 22 and a material well ramp 24. The material well ramp 24 forms an angular surface between the flange 16 and the material well bottom 22. Also formed within the tray 14 in the bottom 32 of the applicator well 18 is a finger depression 26 and a first applicator support depression 28. The applicator support depression 28 is adjacent a rear end 30 of the tray 14. The finger depression 26 forms a first applicator support protrusion on the inside of the applicator well 18. The applicator support depression 28 forms a second applicator support protrusion on the inside of the applicator well 18.

0022The finger depression 26 and the applicator support depression 28 extend into the applicator well 18. An applicator 34, illustrated in <figref idref="f0004">Figs 9-10</figref> rests on the surface of the finger depression 16 and the surface of the applicator support depression 28 on the inside of the applicator well 18.

0023The applicator 34, illustrated in <figref idref="f0004">Figs. 9 and 10</figref>, has an applicator handle 36 and an applicator brush 38. The applicator brush 38 may be any type of applicator brush that can hold the material, such as bristles, foam material, or flocking. The finger depression 26 supports a portion of the applicator 34 adjacent the applicator brush 38 and the applicator support depression 28 supports a portion of the applicator 34 adjacent a distal end of the handle 36. A material 40 is placed within the material well 20. The material 40 may be any type of material such as a paste, gel or liquid. Preferably the material 40 is a medicinal material and preferably a dental material. The dental material may be any material used in dentistry such as a cement, sealant, disinfectant, desensitizers, fluoride material, or any other material to be coated on a surface.

0024One of the advantages of the present invention is illustrated in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 10</figref>. As illustrated in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 10</figref>, the applicator 34 is easily removed from the applicator well 18 by pressing on the distal end of the applicator handle 36 with a finger. Arrow 42 presents downward pressure applied by a user's finger on the distal end of the applicator handle 36. A wider portion 41, illustrated in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 9</figref>, adjacent the rear end 30 of the applicator well 14 has an increased lateral dimension relative to the lateral dimension of a major longitudinal length of the applicator well 18. The wider portion 41 provides sufficient width or lateral dimension for insertion of a user's finger. The lateral dimension of the wider portion 41 should be sufficiently large to accommodate the width of a user's finger. As the user presses on the distal end of the applicator handle 36 of applicator 34 the applicator handle 36 pivots on the applicator support depression 28 acting like a fulcrum to lever upward the applicator handle 36 and the applicator brush 38 so that the applicator 34 may be easily grasped by the user. Therefore, the applicator 34 is easily removed from the applicator well 18 even when the width of the applicator 34 matches closely to the width of the applicator well 18. This reduces the amount of material used in the tray 14 and more securely holds the applicator 34 within the applicator well 18, and yet permits easy removal of the applicator 34 from the applicator well 18.

0025Once the applicator 34 is removed from the applicator well 18 and tray 14, the applicator brush 38 may be dipped within the material 40 and applied to a surface. To control the amount of material on the applicator brush 38 to be applied to a surface, the applicator brush 38 may be rubbed on the material well ramp 24 so as to remove a desired amount of material 40 therefrom. This provides a means for controlling the amount of material 40 applied to a surface by the applicator brush 38.

0026<figref idref="f0005 f0006">Figs. 11-16</figref> illustrate a second embodiment of a single dose material and applicator package 110 of the present invention. In this embodiment a front applicator channel 146 and a rear applicator channel 148 aid in centering and holding an applicator in the applicator well 118. The handle of an applicator, not shown, is held by the front and rear applicator channels 146 and 148.

0027In <figref idref="f0005 f0006">Figs. 11-16</figref>, a removable cover is not illustrated. However it should be appreciated that a removable cover similar to that illustrated in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is placed on the flange 116 in this second embodiment of a single dose material and applicator package 110.

0028As illustrated in <figref idref="f0005 f0006">Figs. 11-16</figref> the single dose material and applicator package 110 comprises a formed tray 114 having a flange 116. Also formed in the tray 114 are an applicator well 118 and a material well 120. The material well 120 has a material well ramp 124 formed therein. The applicator well 118 has a finger depression 126 and an applicator support depression 128 formed in the bottom thereof. The applicator well 118 has a rear end 130 formed therein. Between the rear end 130 and the applicator support depression 128 there is a wider portion 141 having a lateral dimension sufficient for the insertion of a finger of a user.

0029Formed in the finger depression 126 is a front applicator channel 146 and formed in the applicator support depression is a rear applicator channel 148. The front and rear applicator channels 146 and 148 aid in holding and centering and applicator when the applicator is placed within the applicator well 118. The front and rear applicator channels may extend slightly more than one-hundred and eighty degrees around a handle of an applicator so as to hold securely the applicator within the applicator well 118.

0030Additionally in this second embodiment, illustrated in <figref idref="f0005 f0006">Figs. 11-16</figref>, the material well ramp 124 extends from the material well bottom 122 to the flange 116. In this second embodiment the material well ramp 124 can be used as a means to control the amount of material on an applicator brush irrespective of the amount of material placed in the material well 120, as a portion of the material well ramp 124 will extend out of the material. The material well ramp 124 may be textured or ribbed to aid in removing a controlled amount of material from an applicator brush.

0031The present invention provides an improved single dose material and applicator package that can be more firmly and easily held so the removable cover may be more easily removed. Additionally the applicator support depression acts like a fulcrum so that the applicator may be raised above the flange of the tray for easy removal by only placing a finger adjacent the rear end of the tray .

0032While the present invention has been described with respect to several different embodiments, it will be obvious that various modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.