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Title: "Alcohol Wipe and Methods"
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to fluid
applying devices and methods and methods of manufacturing such devices.
The invention will be described in detail below as relating to an
alcohol wipe device, which is a device that contains alcohol or like fluid
intended for sterilizing, cleaning or like purposes. However, it will be
understood that the invention encompasses use of fluids other than alcohol
or containing alcohol and other materials for sterilizing, cleaning or other
purposes; these may include, for example, iodine, perfume, bug repellant,
stain remover, insect sting antiseptic, etc.
BACKGROUND OF PRIOR ART
Alcohol preparation devices or alcohol wipes have been known
and used in the medical profession for a number of yearsO Such devices
include alcohol absorbing material, such as a gauze or gauze-like material
which cbntains alcohol, and a fluid-tight protective package that is sealed to
define therein a chamber in which the absorbent alcohol containing material
is contained. An example of one type of absorbent material is disclosed in
U.S. Patent No. 3,542,634; such material is used in the Webcol alcohol prep
device sold by the Kendall Company9 Boston, Mass~ichusetts, for example,
for the purpose of applying sterilizing isopropal alcohol to the skin of a
patient. Another example of such absorbent material and a package for
containing the same is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,057~467; the absorbent
material is a folded towelette containing a particular fluid for cleansing and
refreshing a user and the package material is, for example, an aluminum foil
with a thermoplastic liner. Such package material is impervious to the fluid
contained therein, including both the liquid and vapor or gas forms thereof.
Such material also is impervious to air and other materials that might
otherwise contaminate the fluid and absorbent material contained in the
package. The '467 patent discloses polyethylene, pol~vinyl resin or cellulose
ncetate as suitable thermoplastic materials for providing a protective
coating on the foil and for providing the impervious vapor-proof barrier
desired; such materials also are readily heat sealable to seal closed the
package. Other materials of which the package disclosed in the '467 patent
may be made are celluloic materials lined with a thermoplastic film or
various synthetic or plastic IT aterials. The device in the '467 patent is
manufactured by forming a three part sandwich of two sheets of package
material and the folded fluid impregnated towelette therebetween, and the
edges of the package material sheets are heat sealed to each other about
the entire perimeter of the package.
Several disadvantages inure to the prior fluid applying devices,
such as the prior alcohol prep devices, towelette devices, etc. One
disadvantage is that the package material must be torn to open the same in
order to remove the absorbent material. Upon tearing of the package, the
absorbent material may be torn, which may reduce usefulness thereof. Also,
when the packsge is torn it may result in one and possibly two pieces ~nd
must be discarded, depending upon whether the tear fully severs one part
from the other; and eventually the absorbent material also must be
discarded separately. The separate discarding steps may waste time and
may result in one or more pieces not reaching a proper waste container, e.g.
a piece may drop on the floor and create a safety hazard. A further
disadvantage particularly with respect to prior alcohol prep devices is that
the user, such QS a medical technician, nurse or physician, must physically
touch surfaces of the absorbent material; this increases the potential hazard
of contamination of the sterile condition of the absorbent material and
frequent touching of that material oftens tends substantially to dry the skin
of such user. Moreover, frequent flexing of the heat sealed package may
result in loss of the seal integrity.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE: INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, the invention has as an objective
overcoming of one or more of the above disadvantages of fluid applying
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devices, and especially those of the type known as alcohol preparation
devices.
~ ccording to one aspect of the invention, a combined fluid
storage and application device includes a sheet-like fluid impermeable
m aterial having generally sym m etrical halves positioned in generally flat
parallel overlying relation to each other, a pair of respective edges of said
material halves being securely joined along an effective fold line as an
effectively single integral sheet of said material halves, a temporary seal
sealing said halves to each other along a temporary seal line which begins
and ends at the fold line, a fluid retaining cavity having substantially flat
parallel opposed wall surfaces formed by said halves, said fold line and said
temporary se~l line cooperating to define the periphery of said fluid
retaining cavity, a fluid retaining pad disposed in said cavity and adhered to
said sheet, and a separation mechanism for simultaneously applying sepa-
rating force substantially symmetric~lly to both said halves of said sheet
and to said temporary seal line without tearing said sheet, said separation
mechanism including at least a portion thereof for applying simultaneously
continuous separating force in multiple directions to open said sheet from
folded condition fully e~posing said cavity and said pad while the integrity
of said sheet is maintained.
According to another aspect, the invention includes a combined
fluid storage container and applicator device for relatively inviscid fluids
such as alcohols and iodine, said device including a sheet-like fluid imper-
meable material having generaUy symmetrical halves positioned in generally
flat parallel overlying relation to eaeh other, a pair of respective edges of
said material h~lves being securely joined along an effective fold line as an
effectively single integral sheet of said material halves, a temporary seal
means sealing said halves to each other along a temporary seal line
beginning and ending at said fold line forming a cavity enclosing fluid
between said halves and within said temporary seal line and said fold line, a
gener~lly non-gaseous fluid or fluid-like m aterial in said cavity, and a
separation mechanism for simultaneously applying separating force substan-
tially symmetrically to both said halves of said sheet and to said temporary
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seal without tearing said sheet, said separation mechanism including at least
a portion thereof for applying simultaneously continuous separating force to
open said temporary seal along the entire length of said seal line to form a
flat surface covered with the fluid while the integrity of said sheet is
maintained.
According to yet another aspect, a method of using a fluid
applying device in which containment means for containing fluid material is
attached to a fluid impermeable means that is sealed to form a fluid tight
chamber for such fluid contained by the containment means comprises
manipulating the fluid impermeable means to open the chamber and to
expose the containment means without separating the device into multiple
parts and applying such fluid from the containment means.
According to yet another additional aspect, a method of making
a fluid applying device comprises attaching a fluid containment means and a
fluid impermeable material and sealing the fluid impermeable material $o
retain the fluid containment means therein.
Another aspect of such methods of making a fluid application or
wiping device, whether it be of integral type (one-piece) or not9 relates to
securement of the pad to the material. Such method includes adhering an
absorbent pad to the essentially flat surface of a layer of an impermeable
and adherable material by affixing a sufficient central area of pad and/or
sufficient peripheral areas, e.g. edges or corners, of the pad to secure and
stabilize the pad in a defined location on the impermeable material
preventing any significant movement of the pad relative to the impermeable
material during opening or use of the fluid storage and application devices,
with such process not involving f orm ation of any recessed or otherwise
molded areas in the impermeable material to help align and fix the pad and
produce a more even (flush) surface for covering by a separate second layer
or folded over layer of impermeable material. Preferably such method is
carried out in an automated or continuous in-line process using essentially
available equipment for rnanufacturing a fluid application device. Such
method allows for use of thinner and cheaper component materials and
faster automated equipment compared with the prior art pad fastening
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devices, wh;ch require a relatively thicker grade of foil material and
therefore are more expensive and slower than the present invention.
According to an additional aspect, a method of applying a liquid
to an external surface includes opening the seal of a chamber formed by
flexible materi~l having interior, non-porous, fluid impermeable wall sur-
faces that ordinarily exclusively bound the chamber and on which liquid
from the chamber is coated, and wiping such surfaces to apply the liquid to
such exterrlal surface.
An important aspect of the invention is that the device is so
constructed that during use of the alcohol wipe, etc. there is no ordinarily
intended separating of the device into a use portion and a throw-away
portion. Rather the fluid impermeable material, and a fluid absorbing pad,
if used, attached thereto, is intended to remain as a single integr~l structure
both during storage, during opening, i.e. preparation for use, and during
actual use; after such use the sti~l sin~ular structure device may be
discarded. It will be appreciated that this integrity can be accomplished
whether the fluid impermeable materi~l actua y is a single sheet, for
example, or a plurality of sheets that are bonded, fastened, secured or
otherwise held together to act as a single sheet when the device is closed or
is opened for use. Therefore, as used herein single sheet and integral sheet
of such fluid impermeable material means such a sheet comprised of one
piece only or of plural pieces secured to remain ordinarily as one piece.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in the
specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following
description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustra-
tive embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but
several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be
employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D_~WINGS
In the annexed drawings:
Figs. lA and lB are plan views of a prior art fluid applying device
of the alcohol preparation type or alcohol wipe type;
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Fig. 2A is a plan view of an integral alcohol preparation device
in accordance with the present invention in sealed or closed condition;
Fig. 2B is a section view of the alcohol preparation device
looking generally in the direction of the arrows 2B-2B of Fig. 2A;
Fig. 2C is a plan view of the alcohol preparation device of Fig.
2A open and ready for use;
Fig. 2D is an enlarged fragmentary section view of a portion of
the device of Fig. 2C;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of an alternate in tegral lluid applying
device shown open and ready for use;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of another alternate fluid applying device
open and ready for use, such device employing an alternate form o
attachment means;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an integral fluid
applying device using another form OI attachment means;
Figs. 6A and 6B are plan views in the sealed and open conditions
of a triangular/diamond integral fluid applying device;
Figs. 7A and 7B are plan views in the sealed and open conditions
of a semi-circular/circular integral fluid applying device;
Figs. 8A, 8B and gC are open plan, side elevation and closed plan
views of a rectangular integr 1 fluid applying device with a user gl'QSp tab or
handle;
Fig. 9 is a plan view of an alternate integral fluid applying
device in the open condition and in which the fluid containment material is
on only one-half of the fluid impermeable/package material;
Fig. 10 is an isometric view of an integral fluid applying device
similar to that shown in Fig. g but in which one half of the fluid
impermeable/package material is intended to be folded back or torn off
relative to the other portion to which the fluid containing material is
attached;
Fig. Il is an enl~rged fragmentary section view of a direct
connection mechanism for an integral fluid applying device in accordance
with the invention;
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Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged fragmentary section views of
additional attachment mechanisms for attaching the fluid containment
material to the fluid imperrneable/package material in accordance with the
invention;
Figs. 14 and 15 are schematic plan views of respective integral
fluid applying devices showing a manner of use in which the two portions of
fluid impermeable/package material are reverse folded;
Fig. 16 is an isometric view of a towelette type of integral fluid
applying device;
Figs. 17A and 17B are side elevation and section views, respec-
tively, of a two part integral fluid applying device shown in open and closed
conditions, respectively;
Figs. 18A and 18B are, respectively, exploded isometric and side
section views of a sandwich construction of integral fluid applying device
employing a frame holder for holding the fluid containment material to the
fluid impermeable/package material;
Fig. 19 is an isometric view, partly broken away in section, of a
folded over frame/sandwich construction of integral fluid applying device;
Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away in
section, of an alternate type of integral fluid applying device having a
breakable vessicle within fluid permeable materi~l;
Fig. 21 is a plan view of an integral fluid applying device of the
type shown in l~ig. 20 contained within a protective package;
Fig. 22 is a plan view, partly broken away in section, of a one
piece fluid applying device in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 23 is a section view of the device of Fig. 22 looking
generally in the direction of the arrows 23-23;
Fig. 24 is a plan view of the device of Fig~ 22 with the flexible
material thereof being fully open to expose the liquid coating the same for
application to an external surface;
Fig. 25 is a section view of a modified one piece fluid applying
device in which the flexible material is comprised of a paraffin or wax
material;
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~ ig. 26 is a further modified device in which a surface of the
flexible material that forms boundary w~?lls for the fluid chamber is
roughened to facilitate holding fluid material thereon; and
Figs. 27 and 28 are end elevation and top views of a modified
device according to the invention.
BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF PRIOR ART FLUID APPI.YIN~ I)EVICES
Referring briefly to Figs. lA and lB, a prior art alcohol prepara-
tion device or alcohol wipe of the type mentioned above with reference to
the Webcol device and the '634 and 467 patents is shown at 1. The device 1
includes a pad 2 of absorbent material for containing alcohol, such as, for
example, a 70~6 isopropyl alcohol liquid. The pad 2 is contained in a
chamber 3 formed in a package 4. The package 4 typically is formed of a
metal foil that is coated or lined with thermoplastic materi~l, for example,
as is disclosed in the '467 patent. The lining material faces the chamber 3
so as to provide a fluid impermeable barrier to prevent escape of the alcohol
by leakage, evaporation, or the like. The metal foil also provides a fluid
impermeable barrier not only for the alcohol but also to prevent contamina-
tion of the materials in the chamber 3 from outside the package 4. The foil
also provides additional support strength for the device 1. The package 4 is
formed of two sheets 4a, 4b of such lined foil material, and the sheets are
heat and/or pressure sealed to each other at respectively adjacent over-
lapping edges thereof around the perimeter of the device 1. The seal is
indicated at 5 in Figs. lA and lB.
A dashed line 6 in Fig. lA is the tear line separating the main
body 7 of the package 4 and a tear strip portion 8 thereof. During use of the
device 1 a user tears the same approximately along the tear line 6 to
separate the tear strip 8 in the manner shown in ~ig. lB exposing the
chamber 3 and the pad 2 therein. Usually the tear strip 8 is totally
separated from the body 7 and is discarded. After the pad 2 has been
removed from the body ~, the latter also is discarded and the pad may be
grasped manually by a user to apply alcohol to the surface, for example, the
skin of a patient. The pad 2 subsequently may be discarded.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As distinguished from the intentiooally separable parts of the
prior art device 1, the integr~l fluid applying device in accordance with the
present invention does not have intentionally separable parts and can in fact
be stored and used without destroying the attached or structural integrity of
the several parts.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate like parts in the severPl figures, and initially to Figs. 2A
through 2D, an integral fluid applying device in accordance with the
preferred embodiment and best mode of the present invention is shown at 10.
The device 10 includes a pad 11 attached to the fluid impermeable material
12, which may be closed in the manner shown in Figs. 2A and 2B to form a
fluid-tight chamber that may be opened in the manner shown in Fig. 2C to
expose the pad 11 for use to apply fluid contained therein. The pad 11 is
circular shape and the package 12 is oval shape, as is seen in Fig. 2C. Such
shapes cooperate so that when the device 10 is folded (Figs. 2A and 2B) along
the fold line 14, the seal 15 may be a serni-circular annulus providing a
minimum size for the chamber 13, on the one hand, while permitting the
outlying portions 16 of the material 12 to form generally overlapping, but
unsealed, tabs or flanges 17 which may be used to open the device 10 from its
closed condition breaching the integrity of the seal 15.
The pad 11 may be formed of natural or synthetic material or a
combination thereof. An example of the material of which the pad may be
formed is conventional gauze material, material disclosed in the '634 patent,
material of the type used in the Webcol device, foldable material of the
type disclosed in the '467 patent, and the like. It is intended that the pad 11
be a fluid containment means, and, therefore, such pad preferably is of a
type of material that is absorbent of and permeable to the particular fluid it
is intended to contain. Preferably such fluid is one containing alcohol, such
as a 70% isopropyl alcohol mixture with water. Another fluid may be iodine,
betadyne preparations, and other antiseptic solutions. Another example of a
fluid that may be contained in the pad 11 is that disclosed in the '467 patent
as a cleansing and refreshing agent. Other $ypes of fluids, e.g. as mentioned
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above, and preferably inviscid fluids, also may be contained in the pad 11,
such fluids most preferably ordinarily taking a liquid form with the sealing
of the chamber 13 preventing the loss by leakage or evaporation until the
device 10 is intended for use.
The fluid may be applied to the pad 11 by soaking or by an
injection technique. The dimensions of the pad 11 preferably are smaller
than those of the material of which the package 12 is formed to facilitate
sealing of the package to form the chamber 13 and, additionally, to
facilitate opening the package, for example by use of the flanges 17. The
pad may be of fixed size or may be capable of unfolding (Fig. 16), and it may
be on one side of the material of which the package 12 is formed, e.g. see
Figs. 9,10,15,18A and 19, or it may be on both sides of the package, e.g. see
Figs. 2C, 3, 4, 7B7 8A, 8B, 14,16,17A and 17B. The material of which the pad
11 is formed should not be affected by the fluid it is intended to contain.
Moreover, the pad 11 may be of a selected texture; for exarnple, a rougher,
more porous fibrous material may facilitate adhesion to the package
material 12 and may provide some measure of abrasion when applying fluid
to the skin of a patient, whereas a less textured material may retain larger
quantities of fluid.
The material of which the package 12 is formed preferably is a
metal foil 20 (Fig. 2D), such as aluminum foil and a thermoplastic liner 21,
such as a polyethylene material, a polyvinyl resin, or a cellulose acetate.
Alternatively, the foil 20 may comprise a cellulosic material lined with a
thermoplastic film or other synthetic or plastic materials. Such materials
are of the type disclosed in the '467 patent. Another example of material 12
is a foil-lined paper, which is relatively inéxpensive.
The package materi~l 12 should be relatively strong to resist
unwanted penetration and it should be impermeable to ordinary external
contaminants, such as air, dust, bacteria, etc., and irnpermeable to the fluid
contained in the pad 11. Moreover, the material 12 should be unaffected by
such fluid. The material 12 should be relatively flexible to permit ordinary
manipulation and flexing that may occur during packaging, storage, and
preparation for use, and it should be capable of being folded9 for example,
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along the fold line 14, while msintaining the mechanical integrity of the
material so that the zone in which the fold occurs remains as a fluid tight
boundary for the chamber 13. The materi~l 12 also should be attachable to
the pad 11 by various means and techniques that will be described in greater
detail below in order to form an integral device that during ordinary use is
not intended to encounter separation of the pad 11 from the m~terial 12.
~urther, the material 12 should be capable of being sealed at the seal zone
22 by thermal, mechanical, or other means. The material 12 should have
adequate strength so that the force applied to the flanges or tabs 17 may be
transmitted to the seal zone 22 in order to provide a relatively facile
selective controlled opening of the device 10 while breaching the integrity of
the seal 15 without damaging the integrity of other portions of the device 10.
The material 12 should be a single or integral piece of material
or should function as such. For example the material 12 may be a single
sheet. Alternatively and equivalently, the material 12 may be formed by
two sheets securely joined, for example, at or at what will become the fold
line 14 or area thereof. Such a joining or juncture of multiple sheets may be
effected before folding at the fold line or may be effected during manufac-
turing of the de~rice, e.g. whereby two such sheets are placed with overlying
perimeter edges and one edge is securely bonded while the other(s) are
sealed to form the breakable seal 15.
When it is very undesirable to get fluid from pad 11 on the fingers
of a user of the device 10, e.g. when the fluid stains as does iodine, the
radial dimension of the seal zone or the radial spacing of the seal zone
inward from the periphery of the device 10 should be relatively large so the
user will not get fluid on his fingers during use of the opened device 10.
Such perimeter zone may be grasped by such user during such use. Such
recessing of the seal also is useflll to help avoid contamination.
The device 10 is oval in shape (Fig. 2C) and half-oval in shape
when folded (Fig. 2A). . The cooperative relation between the shape of the
material 12 and that of the pad 11 is such that preferably the pad has smaller
dimensions than the package material 12 to assure that the pad will be fully
contained within the sealed chamber 13.
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The oval shape or other curved shape, such as the circular form
of Fig. 7A, 7B is very advalltageo-ls relative to a triangular/diamond shape
(~igs. 6A, 6B) or rectangular shape (Figs. 8A-8C) because there are no sharp
corners protr~ding that possibly could cause an injury or discomfort to a
user~ to avoid the possibility of a sharp corner getting caught in a crevice
such that removal therefrom would cause the device to open, and to
minimize tearing of the package 12. The oval configuration provides the
relatively large flanges 17 while requiring a relatively minimum quantity of
material 12. The curved form, as well as the triangle/diamond form (Figs.
6~, 6E~) facilitate opening of the integral fluid applying device without
tearing of the same by controlled application and a distribution of forces in
a gradual and spreading manner to the seal zone 22; such forces also are
applied such that more of the force is of a tensile type both at the outset of
breaching the seal integrity and as the two portions 12a, 12b, for example, of
the package 12 continue to be separated. In contrast, in a rectangular shape
device the sheer component of force applied to the seal zone would be
greater, would require greater force overall to open the device, and,
addition~lly, would be more likely to effect a tearing of the material 12
itself. If desired, one of the flanges 17 may be longer than the other in order
to facilitate separating them and opening of the device 10. In any event, it
is desirable that the device be so designed that a substantially balanced
force can be applied simultaneously along two edges3 edge areas, or even the
same edge during opening of the seal 15.
Seal 15 is a heat seal or pressure seal or a combination thereof.
Specifically, it may be formed by applying heat in the seal zone 22 in order
to cause a bonding of the thermoplastic liner 21 on opposite portions 12a, 12b
of the package material 12. Pressure may be applied to assure good bonding
characteristics in order to maintain a highly integral seal achieving substan-
tially complete isolation of the chamber 13 from the environment external
of the device 10. The seal may be formed in a variety of conventional
manners, such as that disclosed in the '467 patent. If desired, crimping,
additional adhesive material, bonding material, or various liquid, semi-solid
or solid materials may be applied at the seal æone 22 to respond to
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temperature, pressure, or other means for effecting a desired s0al 15.
Furthermore, the seal 15 preferably is capable of being broken to breach the
integrity thereof when a force is applied to the tabs 17 in order to separate
the portions 12a, 12b making the pad 11 accessible, to break generally
uniformly during application of a balanced force thereto, and to avoid
substantial tearing of the material 12.
Preferably the seal 15 is formed between opposed portions 12a,
12b about the periphery or perimeter of the device 10 where there is no fold
14. However, the fold 14 completes the sealed integrity of the chamber 13.
On the other hand, if the portions 12a, 12b were totally separate pieces, the
seal provided by the fold 14 would be provided by the material and/or means
similar to those described above with respect to the remainder of the seal
14, for example, but would be so secure that the same would not break
during ordinary use of the device 10. The material of which the seal is made
should be unaffected by the fluid contained in the pad 11 and the seal should
have adequate strength for relatively long term storage of the pad 11 without
loss of the fluid from the chamber 13. The seal should be capable of being
broken, as was noted earlier, with suitable force that will not damage the
physical integrity of the remainder of the package materi~l 12.
Very importantly the pad 11 is attached to the package material
12. As is illustrated in Fig. 2D, such attachment is effected by an interface
material 23 between the pad surface 24 and the plastic liner 21. The inter-
face material 23 preferably is a material known as PARA~ILM a trademark of
and sold by the American Can Company, Dixie/Marathon of Greenwich, Ct.
Such interface material may be interposed between the pad 11 and plastic liner
21 and heat may be applied to one or both sides, for example, to the foil 20
and/or through the pad 11 causing the interface material 23 to tend to bond
with the surface 24 and with the plastic liner 21. The shape of the interface
23 may be identical to the circular shape of the pad 11; alternatively the
interface material may be larger or smaller in plan dimensions than the pad
11 or it may be in several pieces spaced at different places between the pad
11 and plastic liner 21, as may be desired to achieve the desired holding
strength while minimizing the amount of interface material required for
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retention. The interface material 23 also should be unaffected by the fluidin the pad 11 and should be non-reactive chemically with any of the materials
with which it comes in contact or proximity.
Other types of techniques may be used to attach the pad 11 to the
package material 12. For example, glue (Fig. 4), tape (Fig. 5), a direct heat
seal (Fig. Il), an interposed plastic or plastic-like material (Fig. 12), a solvent
(Fig. 13), or a frame-like cover (Figs. 18~,18B and 19) may be used for the
purpose of holding the pad to the package material.
The pad may be attached to the package material either pricr or
subsequent to application of fluid to the pad; however, preferably, the
attachment is effected prior to delivery of the fluid to the pad. In
particular, when a solvent or other curable adhesive, such as glue, is used to
perform the attaching function, or when heat is necessary to effect
attachment, it is desirable to permit solvents to evaporate or to permit the
pad to cool before the fluid, such as alcohol, is applied to the pad. The
interface material 23 also may be of a fluid irrlpermeable type so as to
cooperate further with the plastic liner 21 (or the liner 21 may be eliminated
when a suitable interface material is used that will provide the fluid
impermeability and suitable adherence to the foil or other material of which
the outer layer of the package 12 is formed). Thus, the interface material
23 may enhance the integrity cf the seal 15. Moreover, the interface
material 23 may be used to provide such seal function; for example,
PARAFILM may be sealed in response to application of thermal energy in
the same way that the plastic liner 21 (if used) may be sealed to maintain
the fluid tight integrity of the chamber 13. The strength of attachment of
the pad 11 to the package material should be adequate so that the two
materials do not separate during ordinary usage of the device 10. The
attachment of the pad 11 to the package material 12, then, should have
suitable sheer strength due to the usual rubbing action that the device 10
will undergo when applying fluid to a surface; whereas the tensile strength
of the connection between the pad and pflclcage material is not quite as
critical. The attaching material or technique also should be non-toxic for
the device 10 often is used with humans, and, accordingly, the preferred
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PARAFILM quite clearly is non-toxic. Other than PARAFILM, other types
of wax, saturated hydrocarbons, paraffin, or like materials also may be used
for attaching the pad 11 to the package materi~l 12. Such materials tend to
provide an excellent bond, are unsticky when solidified, clearly are non
toxic, do not contain organic solvents, and would not hinder opening of the
seal 15. Gelatin also may be used for attaching the pad to the pQckage
material; but gelatin ordinarily is more difficult to work with than the
preferred wax material.
Summarizing, then, a device 10 in accordance with the present
invention includes a means (the pad 11) for absorbing and containing fluid, a
means (the package material 12) that provides an impermeable barrier to the
fluid while also permitting mechanical flexibility of the device, attachment
of the foregoing m eans to make the device integral, and an externally
applied, e.g. by force, heat, or the like, seal 15.
A device 10 in accordance with the present invention may be
manufactured, for example, by the following steps. The package material 12
is cut to the desired shape. For example, such package material may
include foil already coated with a plastic liner. A fold or crimp may be
applied (Figs. 8A-8C) if a handle is to be provided on the device. The
interface material 23 is placed into engagement with or applied to the
package material, and then the pad 11 is applied by placing the same into
engagement with the interface material. Heat is applied to cause the
interface materiAl to bond with the pad 11 and package material 12. ~If the
heat were to c~use a disruption of the plastic liner 21, the interface material
23 may provide compensation therefor.) Alcohol or other ~luid is applied to
the pad 11, and the device then is folded, for example to the configuration
shown in Figs. 2A and 2B. The seal is formed by applying heat and/or force
to the perimeter of the device defining the area of the chamber 13 while
preferably not bonding the flanges 1~ together, which should remain
separable for f~cile manual grasping Qnd opening of the device 10.
An slternative rnethod includes the step of bonding or otherwise
securing, e.g. by crimping, heat sealing~ adhesive, etc., two sheets 12a, 12b
(Fig. 2B) to form a single integral sheet 12. Such bonding, etc., may be
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carried out before folding or it may be carried out in lieu of folding,
specifically whereby the two sheets of material 12a, 12b are placed in
overlying position with the pad 11 sandwiched therebetween, and the bond
and seal 15 then may be formed.
The methods or obviously modified versions thereof may be
carried out to make the several embodiments of wiping devices disclosed
herein.
~ nother aspect of such methods of making a fluid application or
wiping device, whether it be of integral type ~one-piece) or not, relates to
seeurement of the pad 11 to the material 12. Such method includes adhering,
e.g. heat sealing, an absorbent pad to the essentiaLly flat surface of a layer
of an impermeable and adherable, e.g. heat sealable, material 12 by affixing,
e.g. heat sealing, a sufficient central area of the pad and/or sufficient
peripheral areas, e.g. edges or corners, of the pad to secure and stabilize the
pad in a defined location on the impermeable material preventing any
significant movement of the pad relative to impermeable material during
opening or use of the fluid storage and application devices, with such
process not involving formation of any recessed or otherwise molded areas
in impermeable materi~l to help align and fix the pad and produce a more
even (flush) surface for covering by a separate second layer or folded over
layer of impermeable material. Preferably such method is carried out in an
automated or continuous in-line process using essentially available equip-
ment for manufacturing a fluid application device~ Such method allows for
use of thinner and cheaper component materials and faster automated
equipment compared with the prior art pad fastening devices, which require
a relatively thicker grade of foil material 12 and therefore are more
expensive and slower than the present invention.
To use the device 10, the same may be held by a user and
manipulated to open the device exposing pad 11. More specifically, the
flanges 17 may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger, for example,
of both hands of the user and force tending to separate the flanges may be
applied. Such force should be adequate to break the seal 15 allowing the
device 10 to be opened along the semi-circular seal zone in response to a
~, ...
-17--
bAlanced force application thereto. When the device is fully open, where-
upon the fold 14 or bonded area is stra;ghtened so that the device is
substantially flat in the manner shown in Fig. 2C, the user may grasp one of
the flanges 17 between thumb and forefinger while using the fingers of the
same hand against the package materi~l 12 behind the area in which the pad
11 is located to provide a backing therefor; and the pad may be rubbed
against a surface, such as the skin of a patient, to apply fluid from the pad
to the surface, e.g. for sterilizing, cleansing or like purposes. Importantly
no part of the device 10 is intended to be torn away from another and
discarded before or during use.
Referring now to Fig. 3, a modified device 30 is shown there.
The device 30 includes an oval shape pad 31 and oval shape package material
32, which are similar to the pad and package materials 11, 12 described
above. The pad 31 and package material 32 may be secured together by the
various techniques disclosed herein. An advantage to the configurational
device 30 is that the oval pad 31 may have a larger surface area exposure
relative to the size of the package material 32 than does the circular pad 11
of Fig. 2C, for example. However, a disadvantage to the device 30 relative
to the device 10 is that the seal zone 33 will take on a half-oval shape that
reduces the effective free area of the respective tabs 34, thus reducing the
exposed area thereof available to be grasped by a user to open the device
30. Although the device 30 is shown in its open position, it will be
appreciated that such device may be folded over and sealed in the manner
described above with reference to the device 10.
Turning now to Fig. 4, the integral fluid appl~ing device 40
includes an oval pad 41 attached to oval package material 42 of the types
described above with reference to the device 10. However, in the device 4D
glue ~3 or like adhesive is used to effect attachment of the pQd 41 to the
liner, for example, of the package material 42. The device 40 is shown in
open condition, although the sefll zone 44 is shown, and such zone ordinarily
would provide a complete seal for the device 40 in the manner described
above with referenGe to the seal 15.
Various types of solvent or solvent base materials may be used
. ~ . .
--18-
for the glue or adhesive 43. Preferably the fluid intended to be applied to
the pad 41 is not applied thereto until such solvents would evaporate. A
preferred adhesive, which has been found ordinarily to be non-toxic and
highly effective, is Ross Rubber Cement sold by Ross Chemical Co.,
Detroit, Michigan. The various glues 43 may be applied by dabbing, rollers,
swabbing, spraying, and the like.
In Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a teehnique for attachîng a
pad 51 to a package material 52, which includes a foil material 53 and a
thermoplastic liner 54. Such technique employs tape 55 which may be a
type of tape having adhesive material on both the sides thereof.
Jumping to Pig. 11, another attachment technique for attaching a
pad 61 to package material 62 of an integral fluid applying device is
illustrated. Such package material 62 includes, for example, a foil material
63 and a thermoplastic liner 64. Such thermoplastic liner 64 preferably has
suitable thickness and is adequately responsive to application of thermal
energy thereto in order to maintain the fluid tight integrit~r of the chamber
formed in the fluid applying device, such as the chamber 13 described above,
while also in response to the applied thermal energy forming a bond with the
pad 61. It is noted here that since the bond ordinarily should be relatively
strong to shear forces, the small degree of melting of the plastic liner 64
and interfacing of the surface thereof with a relatively rough surface of the
pad 61 will provide a good measure of shear force retention~ On the other
hand, although the penetration of the plastic material of the liner 64
ordinarily would not be very deep into the pad 61, the same is not essential
since it usually will not be necessary for the bond therebetween to be
resistive to high levels of tensile force.
The fragmentary view of Fig. 12 is another example of a
technique for attaching a pad 71 to package material 72, which includes a
foil 73 and a thermoplastic material 74, for example. Such technique
employs the use of a plastic interface material 75, such as plastic wrap, for
example the type sold under the trademark Saran.
In Fig. 13 the pad 81 is attached to the package material 82 by a
solvent represented at 83. The package material 82 again may be of a foil
., .
--19-
84 having a plastic liner 85. The solvent 83 preferably affects both that
portion of the pad 81 and that portion of the liner 85 with which it comes in
contact so s to effect a bond between those respective portions. A
synthetic sponge would be an example of a suitable solvent responsive
material as the pad 81.
Various techni~ues described above for attaching a fluid absor~
ent pad, such as pad ll ~o fluid impermeable material, such as the package
material 12 of the device 10, may be employed in the various embodiments of
the integral fluid applying devices of the invention disclosed herein and
equivalents thereof.
Briefly referring to devices 90, 100 in Figs. 18A, 18E3 and 19,
respective sandwich type fastening techniques for securing respective pads
91, 101 to package material sheets 92, 102 are illustrated. In the integral
fluid applying device 93 of Figs. 18A and 18B, a picture frame type of sheet
94 of rectangular angular configuration having a central opening 95 is
secured to the sheet 92, which may be of foil having a plastic liner9 such
that perimeter edges of the annulus adjacent the opening 95, for example as
is shown at 96, overlap a portion of the pad 91 to hold the same in
engagement with the package material sheet 92. A cover sheet 97, also, for
example7 of foil with an inner plastic liner is attached to the sheet 94 to
close an internal chamber 98. Various seal techniques may be used for the
device 93 to maintain the fluid tight integrity of the chamber 98. For
example, the several sheets 92, 94 and 97 may be sealed about the perimeter
99 using thermal sealing techniques, pressure sealing techniques, or the like.
Also, if desired, flanges 92a, 97a or other means to facilitate removal of the
sheet 97 from the combination of pad 91, sheet 92 and frame 94 may be
provided either to permit full removal of the sheet 97 or, alternatively,
partial removal thereof while still remaining attached to the remainder of
the device 93 as the pad 91 still is exposed for use.
In the integral fluid applying device 103 of Fig. 19 the edges 104
of the sheet 102 are folded up and over the pad 101 to retain the same within
a fram~like holder formed by the package material lD2, which may be foil
lined with a plastic liner, as was described above. A cover sheet 105 may be
~Z~Z~3~
--20-
sealed in position shown in Fig. 19 using the various seal techniques
described above. Also~ the cover sheet 105 may be removed from the sheet
102 by using a flange (not shown) that may facilitate grasping of the sheet
105 to peel the same partly or wholly off the sheet 102.
The fastening, enclosing and sealing techniques disclosed in Figs.
18A, 18E~ and 19 slso may be utilized in the various other embodiments of the
invention, as may be desired.
Referring back to Fis. 6A and 6B, a triangle/diamond shape
integral fluid applying device 200 is illustrated. Such device includes a
diamond shape pad 201 and a diamond shape package material 202, for
example of the type described above with reference to the pad and package
material 11, 12. The seal zone 203 also is illustrated, and when the device
200 is in closed condition the fluid-tight chamber 204 is provided by the seal
203 and fold 205. In the closed condition of the device 2û0 pointed tabs 206
are conveniently available for separation and grasping by a user to facilitate
opening the device to use the same in the manner described above.
A circular/semi-circular integral fluid applying device 210 is
illustrated in Figs. 7A and 7B in which the pad 211 and package material 212,
for exarnple of the type described above with reference to Figs. 2A-2D are
of generally circular shape and fold along the fold line 213 to semi~circular
shape. The se~1 zone 214 also is of annular circular or semi-circular shape,
as is illustrated. Moreover, tabs 215 in the package material 212 may be
grasped manually by a user to facilitate opening the device from the closed
condition shown in Fig. 7A to the open condition of Fig. 7B for use.
A rectangular integral fluid applying device 220 in Figs. 8A, 8B
and 8C includes a rectangular pad 221 of the same shape as the pacl<age
material 222 of the type described above, for example with reference to
Figs. 2A-2D. The seal zone 223 for the device 220 extends in generally
rectangular angular manner from the area 224 which ordinarily would be the
fold line, for example at 14 in Fig. 2D, leaving available unsealed flanges 225
which may be grasped to open the device 220. Importantly, the device 220
includes a user grasp tab or handle portion 226. Such hflndle portion 226 is
formed by folding or crimping the package materi~l 222 in the manner
~2~
-21-
shown in Fig. 2B prior to attaching the pad 221 to the surface 227. The two
sides 226A, 226B of the package material which form the handle 226 may be
heat sealed together so that the junction 228 is in effect one side of the seal
zone 223. Alternatively, the seal zone 223 may extend in the manner shown
in Fig. 8C into the handle 226 so that the boundary 229 of the handle at
which there is a clear fold, analogous to the fold 14 of the device 10,
provides a closing side or leg of the seal for the internal chamber of the
device 220.
In using the device 220 a user may grasp the flanges 225 and may
apply a force to open the seal 223 exposing the pad 221 without actu~ly
touching the same or any fluid contained therein. With the device 220 open
to the condition shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, then, the user rr ay grasp the
handle 226 and use the latter to rub the device 220 and particularly the pad
221 against a surface to which fluid is to be applied~ for example, the skin of
a patient. After such use, the device 220 may be discarded. The handle 226
may be employed as part of the several integral fluid applying devices
disclosed herein especially to facilitate use without the user having to touch
the fluid contained in the pad.
The several embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may
be modified to include such a handle 226. Moreover, if desired, the portions
of the material 227 respectively above and below the handle and ~lso
forming respective parts of the handle 226 may be separate pieces of
material and may be securely joined or bonded at the handle ~rea to form
the handle during manufacturing of the device 220 or modified devices as
mentioned above.
In Fig. 9 an integral fluid applying device 230 is substantially
identical to the device 220 except that the pad 231 extends only on one half
portion of the package material 232, particularly that portion identi-fied as
232a. The por~ion 232b of the package material is used primarily for a
cover. The seal zone in the device 230 is not shown, but it would be, for
example, of the type shown in Fig. 8C. Moreover, the dashed lines
approximately across the middle of the device 230 represent a handle 233
for the device 230 of the type shown at 226 in Fig. 8B.
--22--
An integral fluid applying device 240 illustrated in Fig. 10 also
includes a pad 241 attached only on one-half portion 242a of the package
material 242. The other half 242b of the package material may proYide
simply a cover for the pad and, if desired, may be removed by tearing the
same along the tear line 243. Alternatively, the portion 242b may be folded
back or reverse folded to remove any non-sterile surface from exposure to
the pad 241 in the manner shown in Fig. 15. When so foldd back in the
manner shown in Fig. 15, the portions 242a, 242b are positioned back to back
or foil to foil and the flanges 244 are positioned as shown in such figure.
The device may be grasped by a user, then, and used to apply fluid to a
surface.
In addition to the reverse folded form for use of the device 240
in the manner shown in Fig. 15, various other devices, such as devices 10, 30,
40, 200, 210, and the like, may be used in the reverse folded form of Fig. 14.
Thus, for example, the device 10 used in the reverse folded form of Fig. 14
would have the flanges 17 near the top, the package material portions 12a,
12b back to back, and the pad 11 fully exposed for wiping against a surface.
The user, such as a technician, need not touch that pad portion which is
intended to be placed in engagement with the skin of a patient, for example,
in either usage technique of Figs. 14 or lS.
An integral fluid applying device 250 in Fig. 16 includes a
towelette 251 attached to package material 252. The package material 252
may be of the type described above. The towelette 251 is formed o~
absorbent material, such as that disclosed in the 'A67 patent. The towelette
251 may be folded to a relatively small size to fit within a chamber formed
by a sealed package 252. The towelette 251 contains, for example, a
cleaning and refreshing fluid, such as that disclosed in the '467 patent, or
other fluid material, as may be desired. When the seal on the device 250 is
broken and the device is opened9 the towelette 251 may be unfolded in the
manner shown in Fig. 16 for use to wipe a surface, such as the skin of a
person.
It is noted here that although the towelette 251 and the other
absorbent rnaterials disclosed herein are most preferably intended ordinarily
2~
~23-
to contain a fluid to be applied to another surface, for example, when the
device is opened, equivalently such abso~bent materials may be employed
for the purpose of wiping or absorbing materials from an external surface.
In such case, the package, such as the package 252 of the device 250, or any
of the other packages disclosed herein, may be used for the purpose of
maintaining the absorbent material clean or sterile.
Choice of the preferred plastic lined foil material, such as that
described above as material 12 in the preferred embodiment of Figs. 2A-2D,
currently is founded on the fact that such material ordinarily is used in
conventional ,qlcohol preparation devices, such as the Webcol device men
tioned above, is available commercially, and is known to be satisfactory for
conventional alcohol preparation and towelette devices. However, the
package material may be of other types, as also vvas mentioned above. An
example of another type of package material may be simply a plastic or
plastic type of material to which the absorbent material may be directly,
e.g. as was described above with reference to Fig. 11, or indirectly, e.g. as
was described in-connection with Figs. 2A-2D7 connected; a foil; cellulosic
materials; and/or various combinations thereof.
Another form of package materi~l may be a wax or paraffin type
of material, and this case is illustrated in the device 260 of Figs. 17A and
17B. In the device 260 the pad 261 is formed of absorbent material of the
type described above, such as with respect to the pad 11 of Figs. 2A-2D, but
the package material 262 is the above mentioned wax, paraffin or like
material, and most preferably the aforementioned PARAFILM. Such
PARAFILM is adequately flexible so that it can be folded at 263 to form a
ch~mber 264 that is sealed about the remaining perimeter of the folded
device 260 of Fig. 17B at the seal 265. Flanges 266 are available to be held
by a user for applying pressure to breach the seal integrity opening the
device 260 to the form illustrated in Fig. 17A for use in the various manners
described above.
Alternate forms of the invention are shown in Figs. 20 and 21. In
those embodiments there are devices 270, 280 which are comprised of fluid
absorbent or permeable material 271, 281, respectively, and a breakable
~2~ Z~
--24-
vessicle 272, 282 contained within respective chambers 273, 283 formed by
the absorbent material. The vessicles 272, 2~2 contain liquid 274, 284 and
ordinarily prevent loss, e.g. by leakage or evaporation, or contamination of
such liquid during storage. A user may apply pressure to the respective
devices 270, 280 in a manner such that the pressure is transferred to the
respective vessicles 272, 282 to break the same allowing the liquid 274, 284
to permeate the material 271, 281 while the material itself confines or
restricts the vessicle and any pieces thereof to the chamber 2739 283. The
liquid in the material 271, 281, then, may be applied in a manner similar to
that described above, for example by wiping the device 270, 280 on the skin
of a patient, or the like. An example of a satisfactory vessicle 272, 282 may
be a gelatin capsule type of structure that may crack upon application of
pressure thereto but which will not produce multiple pieces upon cracking.
The device 270 may be contained in a box, dispenser, or other
structure that wi31 maintain the device ~70 satisfactorily clean or sterile, as
may be desired, prior to use thereof. ~:)n the other hand, the device 280
preferably is contained within an impermeable package 285. Such package
285 may be formed of metal Eoil, plastic lined metal foil, wax, paraffin, or
the various other materials described above for use as package materials.
The package material 285 may be opened in the manner disclosed in Fig. lB,
i.e. according to the prior art technique, or the package material 285 may
be, and most preferably is, attached to the absorbent material 281 to form
an integral device therewith and may be capable of opening in one of the
manners described above that does not destroy the integrity of the connec-
tion between the absorbent material 281 and package material 285.
As distinguished from the intentionally separable parts of the
prior art device 1, the fluid applying device 310 in accordance with the
present invention shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24 is formed by a single sheet of
material for containing liquid in isolation in a chamber and for applying that
liquid upon opening the device to use a surface of the sheet to apply the
liquid. The device does not h~ve intentionally separable parts and can in
fact be stored and used without destroying the attached or structural
integrity thereof. The principal difference between the device 310 and the
., .
~2~
--25--
earlier described device 10, for example, is that the device 310 does not
require a separate fibrous or other material absorbent pad 11, for example.
Referring now to Figs. 22-24, the one p;ece fluid applying device
310 in accordance with the present invention is formed of a single piece of
flexible material 311. The material 311 may be of the types disclosed in the
'467 patent or of the type used in the Webcol device; an example of such
material includes a metal foil 312 having an inner thermoplastic liner 313.
However, in the preferred embodiment and best mode of the present
invention, the material 311 is formed of a plastic, paraffin or wax material,
such as that sold under the trademark PARAFILM by the American Can
Company. Such PARAFILM material is illustrated at 315 in Fig. 25.
The material 311, 315 or any other material of which a one piece
fluid applying device in accordance with the invention is formed should be
relatively flexible, should be unaffected by the liquid, or other fluid, 316
contained in the chamber 317 formed by the material, and should be capable
of being sealed, for example, by the seal represented at 318 in Fig. 23 and
319 in Fig. 25. The flexible material should be adequately strong to resist
undesired penetration. The seal should have suitable longevity to avoid
leakage or evaporation of liquid therefrom. The liquid 316 may be of the
type that cleanses, sterilizes, refreshes, or the like.
The material 311 provides a plurality of functions. Such material
has a fold 320 that provides part of the sealing function for the chamber 31~
along a continuous linear edge thereof. The seal 318, on the other hand,
provides a fluid tight seal for the chamber 317 in the seal zone 321 that
extends approximately along or nearly parallel to a perimeter of the device
310 at or near the edge 322 thereof. Most preferably the shape of the
material 311 is oval when open9 as is seen in Fig. 24, and is of semi-oval
configuration when folded in the manner illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23. On
the other hand, preferably the seal zone 321 is approximately a semi-circular
annulus when the device is folded and would appear generally circular when
the device 310 is open in the manner shown in Fig. 24. As a result of such
oval/circular or semi-oval/semi-circular relationships, portions, tabs~ or
extensions 323, 324 of the flexible material 3~1 are relatively accessible and
. .
--26-
are unsealed so that they may be grasped manually by a user. Such a user
may apply force to such portions 323, 324 tending to separate them in order
to breach the inte~rity of the seal 318 opening the folded device to its open
form shown in Fig. 24. Upon such opening the liquid 316 becomes accessible.
Accordingly, further functions of the material 311 are to provide
the tab portions 323, 324 to facilitate opening of the device 310 and, very
importantly, to provide the wall surface area 325 (Pig. 2~), which previously
provided the boundary walls for the chamber 317, for applying the liquid 316
to another surface, object or the like.
A user may use the device 310 after separating the tab portions
323, 324 to open the device in the manner shown in Fig. 24, by grasping one
of the tab areas 323, for example, between the thumb and a finger; and
using other fingers of the same hand behind the surface 325 to provide
support thereby, may wipe the surface area 325 against an external surface
or device intended to have the liquid 16 applied thereto.
An advantage of using the thermoplastic lined material 311 is
that the seal 318 may be formed by applying heat to the seal zone 21,
whereupon the plastic material of opposed material portions when the
device is folded will heat seal to each other. Alternatively and/or
additionally mechanical pressure may be applied to the seal zone 321 to form
the seal 31~. As a further alternative, fluid, semi-solid or solid means may
be applied at the seal zone 321 to form or to help form the seal 318. An
advantage of using the fold 320 as part of the seal for the chamber 317 is
that such fold area will provide a rather strong seal integrity thereat, thus
reducing portions of any seal that ordinarily might encounter a flaw.
It is desirable that the surface area 325 have a relatively high
surface energy so that the liquid 316 will substantially uniformly coat the
surface. Accordingly, the liquid should have a satisfactorily low surface
tension in order to maintain such coating uniformity or, at the least,
complete coating of the surface 32~. On the other hand, the liquid should
have an adequately high surface tension to facilitate containment thereof in
the chamber 317 and sealing of such chamber. Examples of such liquid may
be an alcohol or alcohol-containing solution, such as a 70% isopropyl alcohol
:~2Z:~ZV~3
-27--
in solution with water. The alcohol also may be a methyl alcohol or an ethyl
alcohol. Examples of alcohol that may be used are as follows: polyoxy-
ethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate,
polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-
oleate. Another example is a material sold under the name Nonidet P-40,
which is an octyl phenol ethylene oxide condensate containing an average of
9 moles ethylene oxide per molecule. Moreover, if desired, to assure good
coatlng of the liquid over the surface 325, a wetting agent may be used in
solution with the liquid 316. An example of such a wetting agent is Wetting
Agent EI, Q trademark of and sold by J. T. Baker Diagnostics Chemical Co.,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Briefly referring to Fig. 25, the preferred embodiment and best
mode of the present invention is embodied in the device lOa. Such device is
substantially the same as that described above with reference to Figs. 22-
24, but as was mentioned earlier, the material 315 of which the device is
formed is comprised of a plastic, paraffin or wax material~ Such material
315 has a good flexibility characteristic and a good integrity characteristic.
Moreover, such material is relatively light weight and inexpensive. Addi-
tionally, such materiai 315 is directly responsive to application of heat to
form the seal 319. The shape of the device lOa would be preferably the same
as the shape illustrated in Figs. 22-24, n~mely, an oval shape having a
circular seal zone when the device is open; and a semi-oval shape with a
semi-circular seal zone when the device is folded in the manner illustrated
in Fig. 25~
Either of the devices 310, 310a also may be formed in shapes
other than oval ones. For example, as is shown in Fig. 28, such devices may
be rectangular, or they may be diamond shape when open or any other shape,
as may be desired. An advantage to a diamond shape configuration, which is
not shown herein, is the availability of the free apexes, i.e., those that do
not join a fold, of the triangles that are formed when the device is folded to
form a chamber, such as the chamber 317, for use to facilitate manual
grasping of the device to open the same, etc., as was described above.
As is seen in Fig. 26, a one piece fluid applying device 310b in
~z~z~
-28-
accordance with the invention is formed of a rectangular flexible material
330 having a rectangular seal zone 331. The device 310b is illustrated in
open position ready for use to apply fluid contained in the area 332 to an
external surface. The surface 332, moreover, has been roughened or knurled
or otherwise pretreated or prepared so as to increase the quantity of liquid
that can be contained by or adhered to the surface. Roughening of the
surface 332 not only will increase the quantity of fluid that can be adhered
thereto but also may be used to effect some abrasion of a surface to which
the liquid is to be applied thereby to assist in effective application of the
liquid to such externsl surface.
Further to assure the effective coating of the external surface
with such liquid, it is important that the liquid contained by the surface 325
or 332 of the present invention not undergo covalent bonding with the liquid.
Briefly referring to Figs. 27 and 28, a triangular (when folded) or
diamond shape ~when unfolded) device 410 according to the invention is
shown. The device 410 is comprised of two separate sheets of fluid
impermeable material 412a, 412b, and these are securely joined or bonded at
a junction 413 of two downwardly turned tabs 413a, 413b ~downwardly means
out of the major planar extent of the material 412a, 412b but need not
actu~lly be facing down). Such junction 413 may be formed by heat sealing,
crimping, îorce application, adhesive or other material, etc, in order to
secure effectively as an integral or single piece the two pieces 412a, 412b. A
pad 414a, 414b is adhered on each piece of material 412a, 412b (or if desired
on~ on one piece, or the pads may be replaced by a single pad adhered to
one or to both of the pieces 412a, 412b), and fluid is contained or is placed
for containmen~ in the pad. The pieces 412a, 412b may be folded over into
overlying relation and the sea] area 415 may be sealed, as above, to close the
internal chamber of the device 410.
To use the device 410 a user would apply force to the apex of the
triaslgular folded and sealed device at the opening points 416a, 416b,
whereupon the shape of the device 410 helps bal~nce application of the force
along both seal lines from the points 416a, 416b to the secure junction 413
and handle 417 formed thereat by the tabs 413a, 413b. With the pad(s) thus
exposed, the deviee 410 may be used to wipe fluid in the pad onto a surface.
~2~
--29--
STATE~IENT 01~ INDUSTRIAL API'LICATION
~ 'ith the foregoing in mind, it will be appreciated that the fluid
applying devices in accordance with the present invention may be used to
maintain relatively clean or sterile conditions of a fluid applying device and
to keep the fluid ready for use, e.g. preventing evaporation or leakage
thereof. The fluid may be a cleansing, refreshing, sterilizing, or like fluid.
The inver,tion also relates to methods of making the integral fluid applying
devices and of USiDg the same for cleaning, refreshing, sterilizing or like
fluid applying purposes.
