Patent US5308180A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5308180A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid applicator with metering insert
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1992-12-04
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Granted: 1994-05-03
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Expires: 2012-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A liquid applicator is provided which is particularly useful in applying preoperative surgical scrubs or paints to skin. The article is provided with an inner layer of flexible porous material and an outer layer of open cell foam sponge material. The flexible, porous layer regulates the flow of liquid therethrough to provide acceptable wetting of the foam sponge while preventing dripping therefrom. The applicator includes a means of maintaining atmospheric pressure within the applicator while the liquid is being dispersed.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaveh Pournoor
- 👤 John D. Dell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:17
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D67/00; B01D67/0002; B01D67/0023; B01D67/0025; A; A45; A45D; A45D34/00; A45D34/04; A61; A61M; A61M35/00; A61M35/003; A61M35/006; B01D69/00; B01D69/02; B05; B05C; B05C17/00; B05C17/002; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0015; A45D2200/00; A45D2200/10; A45D2200/1009; A45D2200/1018; B01D2323/00; B01D2323/34; B01D2325/00; B01D2325/02; B01D2325/0283; B01D2325/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An article useful as a dispenser for the application of a liquid to a surface, comprising (a) a hollow elongate member having a first major orifice at one end thereof; (b) a flexible, porous layer disposed over said first major orifice having at least one array of pores extending therein, each array of pores having an average pore size of between about 1 and 100 microns and a distribution of pore sizes of less than about 30 percent of the average pore size; (c) a layer of sponge material disposed over the exterior surface of said porous layer; and (d) means of maintaining atmospheric pressure within said hollow elongate member while the liquid to be applied by said applicator is being dispensed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An article useful as a dispenser for the application of a liquid to a surface, comprising (a) a hollow elongate member having a first major orifice at one end thereof; (b) a flexible, porous layer disposed over said first major orifice having at least one array of pores extending therein, each array of pores having an average pore size of between about 1 and 100 microns and a distribution of pore sizes of less than about 30 percent of the average pore size; (c) a layer of sponge material disposed over the exterior surface of said porous layer; and (d) means of maintaining atmospheric pressure within said hollow elongate member while the liquid to be applied by said applicator is being dispensed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flexible porous layer is selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, knit fabric, nonwoven fabric, porous plastic film, porous plastic membrane, and porous metal foil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 2 wherein said porous layer is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyls, polyynes, polyenes, polydienes, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, polyethers, polycarbonates, polyacrylamides and polyacrylonitriles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flexible porous layer is capable of being wrapped around a 1 millimeter diameter mandrel without breaking.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the void volume fraction of said porous layer is between about 0.5 and 50 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flexible porous layer is capable of limiting liquid flow therethrough to between about 0.1 and 15 milliliters/second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flexible porous layer is a microstructured membrane comprising a sheet with at least one array of pores extending through said sheet, each array of pores having a pore size distribution of less than about 10 percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The article of claim 7 wherein said sheet comprises at least a second array of pores extending through said sheet, the pores in the second array having a pore size distribution of less than about 10 percent, and wherein at least one of said average pore size, said pore size distribution, or said shape of the pores of said second array is different from said pore size, said pore size distribution, or said shape of the pores of said first array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the pores in the layer are uniformly distributed throughout the porous layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article or claim 1 wherein the pores are distributed throughout the porous layer in a polka-dotted pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said porous layer is about 5 to 525 microns thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said means of maintaining atmospheric pressure comprises a cap with an air vent placed over a second major orifice in said hollow elongate member, said second major orifice being on the opposite end of the hollow elongate member from the first major orifice.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-02 | 1997-11-01 | 1998-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-02 | 2001-11-01 | 2002-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-02 | 2005-11-01 | 2006-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |