US2577321A - Nose drop dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1951 J. B. FILGER 2,577,321

NosE DROP DISPENSER Filed oct. 29, 1949 2 sHEETssHEET 1 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 4, 1951 J. B. FILGER NosE DROP DISPENSER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed 031'.. 29, 1949 IN VEN TOR. .a T4. douz/l @l MV' 4414.

Patented Dec. 4, i951 UNITED STATE-s PATENT "orifice .....szzzzfzzi;z;;;;::......

s claims..I (ci. 12s-17s) dispenser concerned with a bottle formed from polyethylene,l vinyl polymer or the like combined with aspirating mechanism to permit the dispensation of conventional nose and throat medications` directly from the bottle.

It has been proposed in the past to construct small bottles from polyethylene or similar materialsfor the dispensation of certain types of liquids, particularly deodorants. Bottles formed from this type of material are quite advantageous for this purpose because the elastic properties of polyethylene permit a. bottle so formed to be squeezed for the ejection of the liquid placed therein. Since polyethylene will not readily crack or break, is chemically inert, is transparent, and can readily be supplied in a variety of colors, bottles formed from it have a considerable customer appeal and in addition possess denite advantages not found in bottles lformed from rubber and other types of materials. The art of forming bottles from polyethylene and like materials is, however, comparatively -undeveloped at the present time and thereare certain limitations to the manufacturing technique which present definite problemsto supplying a completed unit of the type here under consideration. Polyethylene bottles are blown in a manner somewhat similar to certain types of glass bottles. However, at the present timeI the development of the art does not permit the formation of a polyethylene bottle to absolutely exact tolerances, such as would ybe necessary to provide the narrow tubing and small apertures required for aspirating liquids such as nose drops. For'this reason, it is practicallyessential that the outlet` aperture be provided in an element made. from somedifferent material. It may be advantageous also to use a diierent material for the elements which combine to form the aspirating mechanism as close tolerances are required hereA also.

There is also a problem in conilgurating the upper surface of the bottle element both alone and in combination with the aspirating elements toprovide a structure which can be inserted smoothly and eiectively into a nostril to exactly* thedesired degree. A further problem exists in connection with the provision of a cap for a bottle formed from polyethylene to provide a seal when the bottle is not in use. Polyethylene cannot readily be congurated to form screw threads and accordingly this invention utilizes the natural elastic; properties of the material.- to provide. a

2 cap which can effectively be snapped in position to seal the bottle against loss of the medication and to permit removal when desired.

Having in mind the solution of the diillculties mentioned as well as others which are particular-- ly involved in providing a polyethylene bottle for the aspiration and discharge of nose drops, this invention provides in various different forms a construction which attains the desired result. particularly effectively and with a minimum of parts and assembly dilculties.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention and several modifications thereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a completed bottle unit particularly well adapted to the purpose intended. v

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the samevunit.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a sectional view alongthe line 4-4. Figure 3.

Figure 5 isan enlarged view of the upper portion of Figure 4, illustrating particularly the aspirating mechanism and its assembly with the bottle proper.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6. Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 1 1, Figure 5. j 'z' f Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention in which the entire nostril insertion portion is a separate unit which is interlocked with the bottle proper in the manner illustrated.

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line 9 9-, Figille. f

Figuren) is a sectional view illustrating. a second modification somewhat similar to theone shown in Figure 8 except that the nostril insertion portion is secured to the bottle in a different mannerand the aspirating tube is formed in two separate elements.

Figure l1 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the structure shown in Figure 10.V

Figure l2 is a perspective view illustrating thev preferred type of cap positioned on the upper end of the bottle.

Figure 14 is a sectional view of a portion o! the lariy to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-7, the bottle proper has been designated generally as I0. As illustrated, the contours are preferably rounded and the sides fiattened to permit easy insertion in a pocket or purse. The base may be flattened as at I I to permit the bottle to seat on a flat surface. The neck is preferably narrowed as at I2 and a laterally extending peripheral flange I3 is provided along the upper edge of the neck. This flange has the dual function of preventing insertion of the end of the bottle in the nostril beyond the flange and constituting a seat for engagement with the inner surface of the cap as particularly illustrated in Figure 14. 'I'he portion of the bottle neck above the flange which has been designated Il is rounded and tapered upwardly to correspond generally with the inner contours of the nostril. The extreme upper end I5 is preferably flattened slightly as illustrated.

The elements which accomplish the aspiration of the medication are best illustrated in Figures 4. 5 and 6 in which the numeral I6 designates generally the assembly of the tube I1 and the plug I3. The tube I1 is preferably formed from polyethylene, vinyl polymer or some like material having a substantial degree of flexibility to permit bending of the tube inside of the bottle when the walls of the bottle are squeezed for the ejection of huid. The plug on the other hand is formed preferably from an acrylic resin, or some like material having a substantial degree of hard-l ness permitting working of the material to close tolerances, either by molding or machining. The upper end of the tube is press-fitted into a bore I3 in the lower surface of the plug as is best illustrated in Figure 6.

The tube I1 may be of relatively small external diameter, such as, for example, .l0 to .l2 inch. The inner diameter is preferably from .020 to .035 inch. The tube should be of a length to extend from approximately the upper edge of the bottle element I0 to a point closely adjacent the base as illustrated particularly in Figure 4. This enables the user to exhaust or practically to exhaust the medication in the container.

'I'he plug I3 is preferably of cylindrical conguration and is adapted to have its outer side walls 2I| press-fitted into engagement with the inner side edges 2| of the upper wall 22 yof the bottle member III. It will be noted particularly that the upper end wall of the bottle member is substantially thicker than the side walls or base in order to provide as large as possible a bearing surface against the outer walls of the plug I3.

A channel 23 of inverted U confiuration is provided in the plug adjacent its point of engagement with the side walls of the tube. This channel has its lower ends 24 opening into the bottle cavity and is interconnected'with a second channel 25 which extends to the outlet aperture 28 in the plus.

In the operation of the device illustrated in Figures 1-7, as the bottle is squeezed, air from the interior of the bottle is forced into the channel 23 through the openings 2l and because of the Bernoulli effect created. the medication rises in the tube until at the point 21 it is contacted by the upwardly moving air stream, aspirated, and ejected through the aperture 26 as a fine mist.

One of the particular advantages of the structure illustrated in Figures 1-7 is its simplicity and ease of assembly. There are actually only three elements, the bottle |3, the tube I1 Vand the plus I3. As previously described, the tube and plug are press-fitted into the relationship shown,

but preferably are not inserted into the bottle.

the combination. While the invention particularly contemplates a bottle which is disposable after one use, it will be readily seen that it would be quite practical to re-use the bottle if desired.

Since the polyethylene from which the bottle walls are formed is elastic, a particularly tight engagement can be obtained between the edges 2| and the sides of the plug I8 and to assist in this result, the plug may be of slightly larger diameter than the opening in the bottle. It is also preferable that the upper surface of the plug be somewhat smaller than the upper surface of the bottle as this permits a more completev rounding of the surfaces to be inserted in the nostril. Similarly a very tight fit can be accomplished between the sides of the tube I1 and the sides of the bore I3 because one material is preferably elastic and the other preferably hard surfaced. Here again if desired the diameter of the tube may be slightly greater than the diameter of the bore.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 8, the bottle portion 23 is similar in configuration to that shown in Figures 1-'7, except that `the neck 29 terminates at the upper edge of the voi? this member for ejection of the liquid. The

tube I1 is identical with the tube illustrated in connection with the form shown in Figures l7 and its upper edge is inserted and fitted in a bore in the member 3| in the same manner as the tube I1 is inserted in the bore I3 in the plug in the first form. The operation of the device is identical with that of the preferred form.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 10, the nasal insertion portion 3B is a separable element somewhat similar in contours to that shown in'Figures 8 'and 9. The upper surfaces 31 are curved and tapered in a similar manner and the outlet aperture 33 is also simi-` lar. However, the mode of attachment to the bottle element is quite different. In Figure l0. the bottle element, here designated 33, has an upstanding peripheral flange 40 extending around the outlet aperture 4|. The inner surfaces of this flange are adapted to engage with the surfaces 42 on Vthe nasal insertion portion which are narrowedto form a neck. The attache ment may be accomplished by pressf1tting,'al.

is another difference in that a disk44 having a central aperture 45 therein is provided for the tube here designated as 46. The disk preferably has an outside diameter the same as that of the tube. The purpose of this construction is to permit the use of a tube of greater diameter in the event that this should prove desirable because of the difficulty of obtaining tubes from the desired material which have a sufciently small and sufficiently uniform internal bore. The assembly involves only one additional step and the cost of the structure is little if any more than the other forms shown.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the attachment of a protective cap 48 to a completed assembly of any of the types herein described. As shown particularly in Figure 14, this cap is simply snapped over the spray head and is held in position -by the engagement of the peripheral groove 52, provided in the interior surface of the cap,

the upper end surface of the receptacle, said plug having an outlet aperture therein and air channels interconnected to said outlet aperture and to the interior of the receptacle, and a tube formed from a compressible material fitted into the under side of the plug and depending into the body of the receptacle.

2. A dispenser for nose drops or the like comprising an open ended hollow receptacle formed from polyethylene, said receptacle having a body portion and a neck extending upwardly therefrom, said neck having a peripheral flange thereon, the upper surfaces of said neck above the peripheral flange being rounded and tapered to form a nasal insertion portion, the upper wall of the receptacle adjacent the open end being substantially thicker than the side and base walls with the peripheral flange here designated 5|.

This operation can be readily accomplished because of the elastic nature of polyethylene. Since the inner contours of the cap coincide very closely with those of the spray head, a sufficiently tight seal can readily be provided permitting the container to be transported in a pocket or a purse without leakage. In order to facilitate disengagement of the cap, the outer surfaces are preferably knurled as at 49 and a plurality of flat surfaces 50 are preferably provided to facilitate manipulation.

From the above, it will be apparent that the invention contemplates in various forms a simple yet effective combination unit for the purposes intended and one in which the manufacturing and assembly problems are greatly simplified from those of similar structures. While the invention has been disclosed particularly with reference to a bottle formed from polyethylene, it may be that there are now or will be in the future materials which are the full equivalent of this material for the purpose intended. 'I'he same applies to the materials from which the aspirating elements and plug or nasal insertion portions are formed.

Having fully disclosed the invention, I desire to be limited only by the ensuing claims.

1. A compressible dispenser for nose drops or the like comprising an open ended hollow receptacle formed from polyethylene or the like. said receptacle having a body portion and a neck extending upwardly therefrom, said neck having a peripheral flange thereon, the upper surfaces of said neck above theperipheral flange being rounded and tapered to form a nasal insertion portion, a plug formed from a hard surfaced material fitted in the open end of the receptacle,

said plug being generally cylindrical in conguof the receptacle, a plug formed from a hard surfaced material press-fltted in the open end of the receptacle and supported by the upper wall thereof and a tube formed from a compressible material fitted into the under side of the plug and depending into the body of the receptacle,

3. A plastic dispenser for nose drops or the like comprising an open ended receptacle formed from a flexible material such as polyethylene, a plug formed from a -hard surfaced material such as an acrylic resin tted into said open end, said plug having an outlet aperture therein and a flexible tube formed from polyethylene fitted iny a bore in the under side of said plug and inter` connected to said outlet aperture, said tube having its lower end extending into the cavity of the receptacle to a. point adjacent the base thereof.

JOSEPH B. FILGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 482.407 Magee Sept. 13, 1892 772,802 Hawley I Oct. 18, 1904 905,250 Truman Dec. 1,l 1908 1,140,301 De Vilbiss May 18, 1915 2,040,630 Silten May 12, 1936 2,115,959 Lewis May 3. 1938 2,449,734 Wunsch Sept. 21, 1948 2,564,400 Hall Aug. 14, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 392,433 Great Britain May 18, 1933 632,883 Germany July 15, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES Pages 54 and '70 of Fieser and Fieser, Organic Chemistry, published in 1944 by D. C. Heath and Co., Boston, Massachusetts.

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