초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a hand-held dispensing applicator comprising a source of fluid, a frangible applicator tip attached to the fluid source, and an absorbent member attached to the frangible applicator tip. When the frangible applicator tip is broken, fluid flows from the source to the

The present invention relates to a hand-held dispensing applicator comprising a source of fluid, a frangible applicator tip attached to the fluid source, and an absorbent member attached to the frangible applicator tip. When the frangible applicator tip is broken, fluid flows from the source to the absorbent member, whereby the fluid is applied and spread on a surface. Preferably, the frangible applicator tip comprises a support element permanently connected to the fluid source, a relatively rigid tongue element extending outwardly of the support element, and a frangible region therebetween. Preferably, the tongue element comprises ribs for reinforcing the tongue element to resist unintentional breaking of the frangible region. More preferably, the applicator tip comprises a semi-permeable or non-permeable cover disposed around the frangible region to control the speed and direction of the dispersion of the fluid in the absorbent member. Adaptive embodiments allow the generation of designs applicable to a particular medical purpose.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing applicator comprising a frangible applicator tip, said frangible applicator tip further comprising: (a) an attachment member permanently connected to a hand-held fluid source; (b) a substantially rigid tongue element extending outwardly from the attachment member

What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing applicator comprising a frangible applicator tip, said frangible applicator tip further comprising: (a) an attachment member permanently connected to a hand-held fluid source; (b) a substantially rigid tongue element extending outwardly from the attachment member into a fluid-absorbent member and wherein: (i) said rigid tongue element has side edges and a central portion and is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs located between said side edges and configured to resist deflection, at least two of said plurality of reinforcing ribs each being disposed along a respective one of the side edges and at least one additional rib being disposed along said center portion; (ii) said plurality of reinforcing ribs each being thicker than said rigid tongue element, said reinforcing ribs extending along said side edges each being thicker than the at least one reinforcing rib located next to said central portion (c) a frangible region between the support element and said substantially rigid tongue element whereby unintentional breaking of said frangible region is reduced by said plurality of reinforcing ribs while allowing partial fluid release proximate at least one aperture formed at a nexus with said frangible region. 2. The dispensing applicator of claim 1, wherein the rigid tongue element has side edges and is provided with the plurality of reinforcing ribs located between the side edges and configured to resist deflection, at least two of the plurality of reinforcing ribs each being disposed along a respective one of the side edges. 3. The dispensing applicator of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reinforcing ribs each is approximately 3 times thicker than the frangible region. 4. The dispensing applicator of claim 1, wherein the rigid tongue element has side edges and a central portion and is provided with the plurality of reinforcing ribs located between the side edges and configured to resist deflection, a pair of the plurality of reinforcing ribs each being disposed along a respective one of the side edges and at least additional two ribs flanking the central portion. 5. The dispensing applicator of claim 1, wherein the rigid tongue element has side edges and a central portion and is provided with the plurality of reinforcing ribs located between the side edges and configured to resist deflection, the plurality of ribs being non-uniformly dimensioned and having at least one pair of relatively long ribs each extending along a respective one of the side edges and at least one relatively short rib disposed along the central portion. 6. The dispensing applicator of claim 1, wherein the rigid tongue element has side edges and a central portion and is provided with the plurality of reinforcing ribs located between the side edges and configured to resist deflection, the plurality of ribs being non-uniformly dimensioned and having at least two relatively long ribs disposed along each side edge and at least one pair of relatively short ribs flanking the central portion. 7. The dispensing applicator of claim 1, further comprising a semi-permeable or non-permeable cover substantially surrounding the frangible region to control the speed and direction of dispersion of fluid into the fluid-absorbent member. 8. The dispensing applicator of claim 7, wherein the cover comprises a rearward edge attached to said attachment member and a forward free edge. 9. The dispensing applicator of claim 1, wherein the fluid-absorbent member further comprises a body defining a fluid conduit, an absorbent applicator member in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, and an absorbent swab member separate from the absorbent applicator member. 10. A dispensing applicator comprising: (a) a fluid absorbent member having a proximal end in a flow communication with a fluid source for containing a fluid and a distal end, said fluid-absorbent member being configured to deliver said fluid to an external surface to be treated through said distal end; and (b) a cover located within said fluid-absorbent member and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the fluid-absorbent member, the cover being configured to direct said fluid flowing from said distal to proximal ends of said fluid-absorbent member so as to minimize voluntary evacuation of said fluid through said proximal end of said fluid-absorbent member; (c) a substantially rigid tongue element extending outwardly through said fluid absorbent member towards said distal end thereof; and (d) a frangible region located between said distal end of said fluid-absorbent member and said rigid tongue element and operative to provide flow communication between said fluid source and said distal end of said absorbent member upon intentional breaking at a portion of said frangible region, and wherein said rigid tongue element being configured with a plurality of reinforcing ribs that resist deflection; whereby unintentional breaking of said frangible region is reduced by said plurality of reinforcing ribs. 11. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the cover is formed from fluid-resistant material consisting of a group selected from: natural rubbers; synthetic rubbers; thermoplastics; cellulosic materials or similar fibers; and, metallic materials. 12. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the cover is provided integrally with the fluid-absorbent member. 13. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the cover includes an insert coupled to and displacedly fixed to the fluid absorbent member. 14. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the fluid-absorbent member is provided with a generally triangular cross-section and has a base provided with an outlet port and defining the proximal end of and a top defining the distal end of the fluid-absorbent member. 15. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the cover has a bottom juxtaposed with the base of the fluid-absorbent member and a pair of flanks converging towards the distal end of the fluid absorbent member and having free ends, the free ends being spaced apart and terminating at a distance from the distal end so as to allow the fluid to propagate across the fluid absorbent member in a vicinity of the distal end of the fluid absorbent member. 16. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the bottom of the cover is configured so as to sealingly surround an outlet port. 17. The dispensing applicator of claim 10, wherein the cover has a generally cup-shaped cross section. 18. The dispensing applicator of claim 10 further comprising an attachment member in flow communication with the fluid source, and at least one capillary tube configured to provide flow communication between the fluid source and the frangible region, wherein the at least one capillary tube is shaped and dimensioned to minimize a rate at which the fluid is being delivered to the absorbent member. 19. The dispensing applicator of claim 10 further comprising a support member coupled to the absorbent member and in flow communication with the fluid source, the support member being configured with at least one capillary tube controllably traversed from fluid along a path from the fluid source towards the distal end of the absorbent member, wherein the at least one capillary tube is shaped and dimensioned to minimize a rate at which the fluid is being delivered to the absorbent member.