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US5713843A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sponge applicator with fluid ball

Assignee: Allegiance Corp
•
Filing: 1996-08-13
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2016-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract An applicator for delivering liquids or gels to solid surfaces. It comprises a liquid or gel filled hollow flexible bulb having a top and bottom. There is an opening in the bottom of the bulb containing a rupturable seal. A spike is fitted within the hollow bulb. This spike is positioned vertically above the rupturable seal and is capable of rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb. There is also present a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom which are connected by a channel. The top of the channel engages the opening in the bottom of the bulb. The bottom of the channel is in fluid communication with a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate. The applicator is particularly useful for delivering gelled antimicrobial products to localized areas of the body.

Inventors

  • 👤 Todd S. Vangsness

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 05:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M35/00; A61M35/003; A61M35/006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 139 words
An applicator for delivering liquids or gels to solid surfaces comprising: (a) a liquid or gel filled hollow flexible ball shaped bulb having a top and bottom; (b) an opening in the bottom of the bulb containing a rupturable seal; (c) a spike within the hollow bulb positioned vertically above the rupturable seal and being capable of contacting and rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb; (d) a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom connected by a channel with the top of the channel engaging the opening in the bottom of the bulb and bottom of the channel being in fluid communication with; (e) a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate which sponge is of larger dimension than the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 139 words
An applicator for delivering liquids or gels to solid surfaces comprising: (a) a liquid or gel filled hollow flexible ball shaped bulb having a top and bottom; (b) an opening in the bottom of the bulb containing a rupturable seal; (c) a spike within the hollow bulb positioned vertically above the rupturable seal and being capable of contacting and rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb; (d) a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom connected by a channel with the top of the channel engaging the opening in the bottom of the bulb and bottom of the channel being in fluid communication with; (e) a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate which sponge is of larger dimension than the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein the opening in the bottom of the bulb includes a collar adapted to mate in liquid sealing relationship with a sleeve fitted to the top of the channel of the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein the channel in the sponge attachment plate and the spike are tapered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The applicator of claim 2 wherein the rupturable seal is attached to the collar on the bottom of the bulb.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The applicator of claim 1 wherein the top of the bulb is flat and contains attached to the interior thereof a horizontal plate attached to the top of the spike.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 137 words
An applicator for delivering iodine gels to localized areas of the body comprising: (a) an iodine gel filled hollow flexible ball having a top and bottom; (b) an opening in the bottom of the ball containing a collar fitted with a rupturable seal; (c) a spike within the hollow bulb positioned vertically above the rupturable seal which is capable of rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb; (d) a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom connected by a channel with the top of the channel containing a sleeve for engaging in liquid sealing relationship the collar in the bottom of the bulb and bottom of the channel being in fluid communication with; (e) a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 137 words
An applicator for delivering iodine gels to localized areas of the body comprising: (a) an iodine gel filled hollow flexible ball having a top and bottom; (b) an opening in the bottom of the ball containing a collar fitted with a rupturable seal; (c) a spike within the hollow bulb positioned vertically above the rupturable seal which is capable of rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb; (d) a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom connected by a channel with the top of the channel containing a sleeve for engaging in liquid sealing relationship the collar in the bottom of the bulb and bottom of the channel being in fluid communication with; (e) a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The applicator of claim 6 wherein the channel in the sponge applicator plate and the spike are tapered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The applicator of claim 6 wherein the top of the ball is flat and contains attached to the interior thereof a horizontal plate attached to the top of the spike.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 227 words
An applicator for delivering liquids or gels to solid surfaces comprising: (a) a liquid or gel filled hollow flexible bulb having a top and bottom; (b) an opening in the bottom of the bulb on which is mounted a unitary spike assembly which comprises: (1) a sealing ring having top and bottom faces; (2) a rupturable seal on the bottom of the sealing ring; (3) means attaching the sealing ring to the bottom of the opening of the bulb; (4) a sleeve mounted on the top face of the sealing ring which sleeve has an outside which slidably fits into the opening in the bottom of the bulb; (5) flexible arms attached to the inside of the sleeve and near the bottom of a spike for centering the spike vertically above the rupturable seal which spike contains at its top a flange which is positioned beneath the top of the bulb; (6) which spike assembly is capable of rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb; (c) a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom connected by a channel with the top of the channel engaging the opening in the bottom of the bulb and bottom of the channel being in fluid communication with; (d) a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 227 words
An applicator for delivering liquids or gels to solid surfaces comprising: (a) a liquid or gel filled hollow flexible bulb having a top and bottom; (b) an opening in the bottom of the bulb on which is mounted a unitary spike assembly which comprises: (1) a sealing ring having top and bottom faces; (2) a rupturable seal on the bottom of the sealing ring; (3) means attaching the sealing ring to the bottom of the opening of the bulb; (4) a sleeve mounted on the top face of the sealing ring which sleeve has an outside which slidably fits into the opening in the bottom of the bulb; (5) flexible arms attached to the inside of the sleeve and near the bottom of a spike for centering the spike vertically above the rupturable seal which spike contains at its top a flange which is positioned beneath the top of the bulb; (6) which spike assembly is capable of rupturing the seal in response to the application of downward pressure on the top of the bulb; (c) a sponge attachment plate having a top and a bottom connected by a channel with the top of the channel engaging the opening in the bottom of the bulb and bottom of the channel being in fluid communication with; (d) a sponge secured to the bottom of the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 11 words
The applicator of claim 9 wherein the bulb is ball shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
The applicator of claim 9 wherein the opening in the bottom of the bulb contains a collar adapted to mate in liquid sealing relationship with a sleeve fitted to the top of the channel of the sponge attachment plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The applicator of claim 9 wherein the channel in the sponge applicator plate and the spike are tapered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
The applicator of claim 9 wherein the arms comprise a plurality of shoulders and legs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
The applicator of claim 13 wherein the legs are attached to slots positioned within the sleeve.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4206843A Cited
US4578055A Cited
US4507111A Cited
US4747719A Cited
US4854760A Cited
US5266266A Cited
US5265620A Cited
US4995344A Cited
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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) 2001-02-02 2001-08-04 2002-02-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-02-02 2005-08-04 2006-02-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-02-02 2009-08-04 2010-02-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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