OPENING MEDIA ENCERRADOS
BACKGROUND-TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a sealed container with opening means enclosed within the container for releasing a liquid enclosed within the container.
BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
There is a variety of opening means for opening a container. Most of the opening means are in the form of a screw cap or a snap-fit lid. Some opening means are in the form of a frangible seal or a fluted line on the container that will allow the contents of the container to be released at the breaking of the frangible seal or the container on the brittle line. All of these opening means are attached to the container externally, such as the screw cap and the press fit cap, or are formed as part of the container, such as the brittle seal and the score line on the container. None of the opening means is designed to be enclosed within the container to seal a liquid in the container and still allow the release of liquids easily and reliably. The availability of effective and easy-to-use opening means is particularly lacking in a small elongated container with a small cross-sectional area. In the applicant's pending U.S. patent application, U.S. patent application serial number 10 / 670,961, the applicant described numerous enclosed opening means that are designed to be enclosed within the container for Seal a liquid in the container and allow liquid release easily and reliably. One of the design for the enclosed opening means comprises a cylinder with an outer diameter approximately that of the internal diameter of an elongate tubular housing defining a small liquid flow path from the open end of the elongated tubular housing to the liquid. The end near the liquid has an elongated projection that is smaller in diameter than the cylindrical body of the enclosed opening means and is detachable from the cylindrical body of the enclosed opening means. The elongate protrusion seals the small liquid flow path in the cylinder and prevents the liquid in the elongated tubular housing from being released through the enclosed opening means. When the elongate tubular housing is flexed near the junction between the elongated protrusion and the cylindrical body of the enclosed opening means, the elongated protrusion will be separated from the cylindrical body and the small liquid path is exposed so that the liquid is released from the cylindrical body. the tubular housing elongated through the opening means.
This particular design has several disadvantages. When the elongated tubular housing is compressed to force the liquid out of the elongate tubular housing, the elongated protrusion will interfere with the compression of the elongated tubular housing from being placed within the liquid where it is to be compressed. This will result in less effective extraction of the liquid since the elongated projection will limit the amount of compression that can be applied to the liquid. In addition, since the elongated protrusion remains within the liquid after being cut, the elongated protrusion may interfere with the flow path of the liquid when the liquid is forced out of the elongated tubular housing. The elongated cut projection can flow with the liquid and block the opening thereby completely restricting or cutting off the liquid flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an elongated sealed container with self-contained opening means completely enclosed within the container to release the sealed fluid within the container. The opening means are operated by bending the elongated sealed container at or near the enclosed opening means. Once the enclosed opening means are opened, the sealed fluid inside the elongated sealed container can be released for application. The present invention will not interfere with the compression of the elongated sealed container or with the fluid flow. When the elongate sealed container has a small cross section so that the fluid within it can not be released due to its surface tension, a guide member can be used to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid to release the fluid from the elongated sealed container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the enclosed opening means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY
Figures 1 and 2 show the preferred embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In the preferred embodiment, the enclosed opening means are used in an elongate tubular housing 1 with a sealed end 2 and an open end 3. An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a foam tip or a brush can be fixed to the open end 3 of the elongate tubular housing 1. A fluid 5 is enclosed within the elongate tubular housing 1 near the sealed end 2. The enclosed opening means 6 is placed inside the elongated tubular housing 1 by sealing the fluid 5 within the elongated tubular housing 1. The opening means 6 are operated by flexing the elongate tubular housing 1 at or near the enclosed opening means 6. The opening means 6 can be positioned at any location within the elongated tubular housing 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the opening means 6 can be placed near the open end 3 of the elongate tubular housing 1 in order to allow the the maximum amount of fluid 4 and allow the bending of the elongate tubular housing 1 by pressing the open end 3 on a surface to open the opening means 6. As shown in Figure 2, the opening means 6 can also be placed away from the open end 3 of the elongate tubular housing 1 and thus flexing of the elongated tubular housing 1 can be achieved without contact with the open end 3 of the elongate tubular housing 1 if an applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab is fixed to the open end 3. The enclosed opening means 6 comprises a cylinder with an open end 7 and a sealed end 8. A sealed diameter is provided around the cylinder which is approximately that of the internal diameter of the elongated tubular housing 1 and provides a seal to avoid the release of fluid from between the elongated tubular housing 1 and the opening means 6. The external diameter and the sealed end 8 is smaller than the internal diameter of the elongated tubular housing 1. A fracture line 9 is provided near the sealed end 8 of the cylinder at a location on the other side of the sealing diameter where the fluid 5 is located. The enclosed opening means 6 are inserted into the elongate tubular housing 1 with its open end 7 towards the fluid 5 thereby sealing the fluid 5 within the tubular housing 1. When the elongated tubular housing 1 is flexed at or near the fracture line 9 on the cylinder, the cylinder will be separated into two sections thus exposing a small fluid path from the fluid 5 through the enclosed opening means 6 to the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1 so that the 5 is released from the elongate tubular housing 1 through the opening means 6. As shown in Fig. 3, the elongated tubular housing 1 may be provided with a reduced opening at its open end 3 for capturing the fractured sealed end 8 of the enclosed opening means 6 in the event an applicator tip is not provided. The reduced opening is provided with a profile that will maintain a fluid flow path if the fractured sealed end 8 of the enclosed opening means 6 is received against it. This can be achieved by forming the reduced opening in an elliptical shape or in any other form that is different from the shape of the fractured sealed end 8 of the enclosed opening means 6. When the elongated tubular housing 1 has a small cross section that the fluid 5 inside can not be relieved reliably simply by opening the opening means 6 due to its surface tension, a guide member can be used to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid 5 for releasing the fluid 5 from the elongate tubular housing 1 as shown in Figure 3. The guide member 10 can be attached to the sealed end 2 of the elongate tubular housing 1 and extends up to near or slightly within the open end 7 of the means of opening If the guide member 10 is fixed to the sealed end 2 of the elongate tubular housing 1 and with its free end formed as an end tipped, it can be used as a toothpick after the fluid is exhausted 5. A fracture line 11 is provided near the sealed end 2 of the elongate tubular housing 1 so as to allow separation of the sealed end 2 with the guide member / stick 10 of the rest of the elongate tubular housing 1 and to expose the tip end of the guide / stick member 10 for use as a toothpick. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In this embodiment, the enclosed opening means 15 is formed as a closed end 14 of an elongate tubular housing 12 with two sealed ends 13, 14 enclosing a fluid 5. The end 14 of the elongate tubular housing 12 with the opening means enclosed 15 is inserted into a second elongate tubular housing 16 with two open ends 17, 18. An open end 17 of the second tubular housing 16 seals around the end 14 of the elongated tubular housing 12 with the enclosed opening means 15 in a passing location. the fracture line 19. An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a foam tip, or a brush can be fixed to the other open end 18 of the second tubular housing 16. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the opening means locked. In this embodiment, the sealed end 20 of the enclosed opening means 21 has a circumference that provides one or more fluid flow paths around the sealed end 20. The sealed end 20 can be formed into a geometric shape that is not a circle such as a triangle, a square, or a star shape so that when it is inserted into another tube 22 it will not seal the tube 22 but leave one or more fluid flow paths between the sealed end 20 and the tube 22. Encased opening means 21 are used in an elongate tubular housing 1 with a sealed end 2 and an open end 3. A fluid 5 is enclosed within the tubular housing 1 near the sealed end 2. The enclosed opening means 21 are placed inside the elongated tubular housing 1 sealing the fluid 5 inside the elongate tubular housing 1. Another tube 22 with two open ends is inserted into the open end 3 of the housing elongated tubing 1 with one end open towards the sealed end 20 of the enclosed opening means 21 which overlaps the sealed end 20 of the enclosed opening means 21 and the other open end projecting from the open end 3 of the elongate tubular housing 1 An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a foam tip or a brush can be fixed to the open end projecting from the tube 22. Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means. In this embodiment, the enclosed opening means 6 are used in an elongate tubular housing 1 with a sealed end 2 and an open end 3. A fluid 5 is enclosed within the elongated tubular housing 1 near the sealed end 2. The opening means 6 are enclosed within the elongated tubular housing 1 by sealing the fluid 5 within the elongated tubular housing 1. Another tube 23 with two open ends is inserted into the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1 with an open end positioned towards the sealed end 8 of the enclosed opening means 6 and the other open end projecting from the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1. An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a foam tip or a brush can be fixed to the projecting open end of the housing. tube 23. Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means comprising a tubular section 24 with two ext open oars 25, 26 and a seal 27 separating the two ends 25, 26 positioned within the tubular section 24 between the two open ends 25, 26. The outer diameter of the tubular section 24 near the seal 27 is smaller than the diameter outer of the tubular section 24 near the two open ends 25, 26. A fracture line 28 is formed on one side of the seal 27 placed in the section with the reduced external diameter. An opening 29 such as a hole is formed on the other side of the seal 27 placed in the section with the reduced outer diameter. The enclosed opening means 24 are inserted into an elongated tubular housing 1 with a sealed end 2 and an open end 3 enclosing a fluid 5 positioned near the sealed end 2. The enclosed opening means 24 are inserted in such a way that the open end 25 with the fracture line 28 is positioned towards the fluid 5 and the open end 26 with the opening 29 is positioned towards the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1. An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a tip of foam or a brush can be fixed to the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1. When the elongate tubular housing 1 is flexed at or near the fracture line 28 in the enclosed opening means 24 a fluid flow path is exposed leading from the fluid 5 to the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1. The fluid 5 will flow through the resulting opening from the fracture in the to fracture line 28 within the area between the reduced outer diameter of the enclosed opening means 24 and the inner wall of the elongated tubular housing 1 and then within the opening 29 on the other side of the seal 27 in the enclosed opening means 24 and outside the elongated tubular housing 1. Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means wherein a hollow tube 30 is inserted through the open end 3 of the elongated tubular housing 1 and into the open end 26 of the opening means enclosed 24 shown in Figure 7. An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a foam tip or a brush can be attached to the open end of the hollow tube 30 which is exposed outside the elongated tubular housing 1. In this embodiment, a stiffer hollow tube 30 can be used to increase the stiffness of the elongated tubular housing body 1 near the applicator tip 4. Figure 9 shows another embodiment of the enclosed opening means shown previously in Figure 7 comprising a tubular section 31 with two open ends 32, 33 and a seal 34 separating the two ends 32, 33 positioned within the tubular section between the two ends 32, 33. The outer diameter of the tubular section 31 near the seal 34 is smaller than the external diameter of the tubular section 31 near the two open ends 32, 33. A fracture line 35 is formed on one side of the seal 34 placed in the section with the reduced outer diameter. An opening 36 such as a hole is formed on the other side of the seal 34 placed in the section with the reduced outer diameter. The enclosed opening means 31 is inserted into an elongated tubular housing 1 with a sealed end 2 and an open end 3 enclosing a fluid 5 positioned near the sealed end 2. The enclosed opening means 31 are inserted in such a way that the open end 32 with the fracture line 35 is positioned towards the fluid 5 and the open end 33 with the opening 36 is positioned towards the open end 3 of the elongate tubular housing 1 where the open end 33 of the enclosed opening means 31 is extends outside the elongate tubular housing 1. An applicator tip 4 such as a cotton swab, a foam tip or a brush can be fixed to the open end 33 of the enclosed opening means 31. When the elongated tubular housing 1 is flexed in or near the fracture line 35 in the means of