Medicated button

April 26, 1938.

W. M. SCHOLL

MEDICATED BUTTON

Filed May 11, 1936

2,115,237

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W/ί,ί,ΜΜ Λ7. SCHOLL.

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Patented Apr. 26, 1938

2,115,237

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,115,237 ' MEDICATED BUTTON William M. Scholl, Chicago, Dl Application May 11, 1936, Serial No. 79,005

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a medicated button or pad for attachment directly to the body of a user, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with the treatment 5 of corns, calli, and similar afflictions, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, in the treating of corns, calli and the like, it has been customary to apply a pad 10 of non-medicated cushioning material around the particular affliction, the pad usually having a ^reces® ⁱⁿ which a small button or piece of cloth carrying medicament thereon might be placed. Such buttons were not as efficient as may be de15 sired in all cases, due to the fact that they did not cover all of the afflicted area. This was mainly because of the shape of the button, namely, a relatively thin piece of cloth carrying a relatively thin flat layer of medicament on the under face 20 thereof, usually resulting in a round flat button. Therefore, in the treatment of a corn, for example, while the treatment may be successful insofar as a part of the corn is concerned, the treatment frequently was unsuccessful in removing 25 the entire hard, horny layers of skin from the surrounding healthy skin tissue. Frequently, also, it was difficult to place a medicated button properly over an affliction because there was not sufficient room around the affliction for the place30 ment of a cushioning pad or the like to keep the button in position. Further, many occasions arose where it would be much simpler merely to place a medicated button in position rather than resort to a pad or some other element to hold the 35 button in position.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicated button in which the medicament is so shaped as to be readily applicable over the entire surface of an 40 affliction, such as a corn, callus or a surface affliction of somewhat similar nature.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a medicated button for attachment to the body directly over an affliction, the button carry45 ing medicament thereon of such shape as to readily adapt itself to the contour of the particular affliction so as to cover intimately all of the afflicted area.

Another object of this invention is to provide 50 a medicated button shaped for attachment to the body of a user, so as to intimately cover the entire afflicted area, and which button may be properly attached to the area by itself, without the aid of any other holding means.

>5 A further object of this invention is the pro(Cl. 128—153) vision of a medicated button attachable to the body of a user either in conjunction with a recessed pad, adhesive tape or the like, or by · itself.

Still another object of this invention is the'5 provision of a medicated application for attachment to the body of a user, incorporating a medicament having the ability to follow intimately the irregular surface lines of various afflictions, such as corns, calli and similar surface afflictions. TO

A. further feature of this invention is the provision of a medicated button consisting of a-backing and a plastic mass of medicament of such consistency as to be adhesive in character and adaptable to follow the irregular surface lines of as an affliction.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, *,_ηtaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a medicated button embodying features of the present invention, illustrating a type of button desirable for 0application over a corn or callus, very greatly enlarged;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the structure of Figure 1, taken substantially as indicated by the line II—II of Figure 1, looking o_nin the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a corn and surrounding skin, illustrating the application of the structure shown in Figures 1 and2. 35

As shown on the drawing:

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a button comprising a backing 5 of cloth or equivalent material. This backing carries a plastic mass 6 of medicament ₄θ which may consist of gutta percha, resin, lanoline, petrolatum, beeswax, phenol derivatives, salicylic acid, or other necessary medicaments, depending upon the particular disorder to be treated by the button. This medicament is further pref- 45 erably plastic so that it will follow the irregular surface lines of corn or callus growths and other surface afflictions. At the same time, the medicant is possessed of adhesive properties so that it will firmly adhere to the body of a user. 50

Before application, the medicament mass 6, in this instance, is of a shape to define a central recess 7 surrounded and defined by an annular hump 8 of arcuate cross section so that the central portion of the hump is the thickest part of 55

2,115,23“ the mass. The hump, as illustrated in Figure 2, preferably increases along an arcuate line from the edge of the backing radially inwardly, and then decreases to form the recess 7. While in 5 the present instance, the button is illustrated as being circular in shape, the button may be of other and various shapes and of different sizes, one of the important features in the shaping of the medicament mass 6 being the provision of 10 an inner recess with a hump substantially defining the same. . . - .

In Figure 3, I have shown the application of the button to an affliction in the nature of a corn. For illustrative purposes, I have selected ₁₅ a hard corn 9 of the character usually found on the dorsum of the foot, numeral 10 indicating, the epidermis and numeral f I, the derma, greatly enlarged. As is usual With corns of this character, the corn 9 projects above the skin surface 20 and has an irregular contour !2. When the button is placed over the corn; with the recess 7 substantially over the central part of the corn and the button is pressed, into tight contact with the skin, the plastic mass 6 readily adapts itself , to 25 the irregular contour of the corn and intimately contacts the entire surface of the corn. As stated above, the plastic, mass is also adhesive in character sufficiently to hold the button firmly upon, the body of a user so that no other struc30 ture is necessary to maintain the button in position, the backing 5 of the button serving to protect the wearer’s hose or other articles of apparel. As indicated at-13, it will be seen that the plastic mass will fill a crevice between the corn « and surrounding healthy skin, so that the medication reaches all points of the hardened skin or corn tissue. : .

If so desired, a covering may be placed over the button, either in the nature of a recessed corn pad or in the nature of a strip of adhesive ‘ 14 which may be of any suitable type, such as the commonly known zinc oxide adhesive tape. Such added covering may be deemed desirable for the relieving of pressure over a greater area . or for other purposes, but such extra Covering is not necessary to maintain the button in position on the body.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a medicated button desirable for the treatment of surface afflictions of the body, which is self-adhering and capable of self-adaptation to the irregular contours of the affliction, so that all 5 of the afflicted area is intimately covered by the medication. Further, it will be seen that the button is simple in use, may be simply carried, may be easily and quickly attached, and may be manufactured very economically. 10

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent 15 granted hereon otherwise than is necessitated by the prior art.