Abstract A swab-type applicator for a treatment liquid, such as a medicament or antiseptic solution, includes an elongated tubular member of relatively small diameter fabricated of a transversely flexible, preferably transparent, synthetic plastic material chemically inert to the solution, as encapsulated in said member. The latter is provided at both ends with a rupturable sealing element in the form of a thin closure disc or membrane; this confines within the applicator tube a charge of the liquid treatment medium or solution until manual squeezing pressure on the tube between the temporarily sealed ends causes the medium to rupture one or both of the sealing elements. The tube ends are completely embedded axially in cotton or equivalent applicator swabs which are saturated upon rupture of the tube end seals. Two versions of the device are disclosed, in one of which the rupturable seal elements alone confine the charge of solution in a full tube bore length between its ends, and in another of which a small separating and sealing plug is permanently seated within the wall of the tube at its mid-point. This permits a selective squeezing and end-rupturing compression of the tube at sublengths at either side of said separator element, temporarily leaving intact the rupturable sealing element for the opposite tube sub-length.
An applicator comprising a length of tubular material of relatively small diameter which is readily compressible by squeezing transversely in a diametral plane, said length containing a charge of treating liquid and having rupturable elements at opposite ends thereof displaced by an internal pressure in said tubular material and confining and temporarily sealing said charge within said length, and a pair of absorbent swab members in each of which one end of said length and the sealing element of that end are wholly embedded, constituting a dispensing means when a rupture of an end element under pressure on the liquid charge, as attending a transverse compression of said length between said ends, results in a saturating discharge of said treating liquid to and within the swab member encasing the ruptured element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An applicator comprising a length of tubular material of relatively small diameter which is readily compressible by squeezing transversely in a diametral plane, said length containing a charge of treating liquid and having rupturable elements at opposite ends thereof displaced by an internal pressure in said tubular material and confining and temporarily sealing said charge within said length, and a pair of absorbent swab members in each of which one end of said length and the sealing element of that end are wholly embedded, constituting a dispensing means when a rupture of an end element under pressure on the liquid charge, as attending a transverse compression of said length between said ends, results in a saturating discharge of said treating liquid to and within the swab member encasing the ruptured element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The applicator of claim 1, in which said rupturable elements alone confine between them said treating liquid until rupture of one thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The applicator of claim 1, in which said rupturable elements alone confine between them said treating liquid until rupture of both thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The applicator of claim 1, and further comprising a sealing member fixed within said tubular length between said rupturable elements, said member subdividing the length into portions containing relatively small liquid charges end-confined respectively by said rupturable elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The applicator of claim 4, in which said charges contained in the respective portions of the length are of the same treating liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The applicator of claim 4, in which said charges contained in the respective pOrtions of the length are of different treating liquids.