Swab holder

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a swab holder. This invention uses a conventional blister package holding cotton swabs therein. The holder is a container having a receptacle and a back plate attached to the receptacle. An aperture is formed on the receptacle to form an outlet for swabs to be discharged therethrough. A discharge unit is mounted to the inner wall or outlet wall of the receptacle in a position to cover the aperture of the receptacle. The discharge unit has a door which is in direct access with the aperture of the receptacle. The door is hingeably placed on the discharge unit to cover and uncover the aperture of the receptacle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a swab holder and, more particularly, to a container for hygienically and conveniently holding swabs therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a plurality of cotton swabs, which are disposable items, is compactly held in a holder. The cotton swabs, consumed in great quantity, are held in an inexpensive blister package or in a plastic container of a higher quality than the blister package. However, after being initially opened, a large portion of the blister package or the plastic container remains exposed to the outside, so that the blister package or the plastic container is unhygienic and wastes cotton swabs. As an improved container, a holder for holding cotton swabs that have been packaged individually has been proposed. However, this holder is disadvantageous in that great expense is incurred in individually packaging individual cotton swabs, and it is inconvenient to unwrap the cotton swabs individually. Furthermore, a conventional holder, having a swab discharge unit as an opening structure, has been proposed. However, two parts of the swab discharge unit must be assembled with each other, so that it is uneconomical. Further, the swab discharge unit is installed in a blister package, so that it is difficult to manufacture and use. The height of the swab discharge unit must vary, according to the storage capacity of the blister package, so that the swab discharge units of various sizes are required, thereby it is economically inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior ark and an object of the present invention is to provide a hygienic and convenient swab holder, which is constructed so that a simple opening structure, namely, a discharge unit, is mounted to the outer wall of a blister package or a plastic receptacle, thus allowing swabs to be more hygienically and safely stored, while maintaining an existing appearance and an economical production system. The discharge unit comprises a single molding structure. Such a structure achieves economical production and management. Further, the single structure is light in weight, thus providing a good appearance and allowing easy assembly.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a swab holder, which is constructed so that an aperture serving as an outlet is provided on one side of the outer wall of a thin and transparent blister package that holds swabs therein and is manufactured through plastic molding, and a discharge unit, which is the characteristic element of this invention, is mounted to the blister package. Thus, when a user desires to use the swabs, the swabs are taken out of the holder by opening a door which is integrally provided on the discharge unit. After use, the door is closed using a handle. Thus, it is easy to take the swabs out of the holder. Further, the contamination of the swabs is minimized, unlike the conventional opening structure which is always open, thus storing the swabs hygienically and preventing waste of the swabs. Preferably, a packing film is used to firmly mount the discharge unit to the blister package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swab holder, according to the present invention shown without the layer of predetermined material;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the swab holder, in which swabs are packed together with the discharge unit;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the swab holder, in which the discharge unit is closed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the discharge unit showing the discharge unit in the opened state;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the swab holder shown without the layer of predetermined material; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the swab holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for holding swabs, according, to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container for holding swabs therein. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state where the discharge unit has been assembled, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state wherein the discharge unit is open, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

The most common conventional container for holding swabs is a container having a receptacle 150 having an open back side and a backboard 100 attached to the back side of the receptacle 150 to cover the open back side of the receptacle 150. The container 10 of the present invention improves upon this conventional container. According to the present invention, a discharge unit 230 is mounted to the outer surface of the receptacle 150 as shown in FIG. 1. In the alternative as shown in FIG. 5, the discharge unit 230 can be mounted to the inner surface of the receptacle 150. The receptacle 150 has a pair of opposed side walls 151. The discharge unit 230 can be made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) or another suitable similar material. The receptacle 150 can be of the type known in the art as a blister package. Furthermore, a layer of predetermined material 110 is wrapped around the discharge unit 230 and container, which includes the receptacle 150 and backboard 100. The predetermined material can be of the type known in the art which is suitable to serve as a packing film. The discharge unit 230 of this invention has a simple construction without the necessity of assembly. That is, the discharge unit 230 can be manufactured through injection molding to be integrated with a hingeably mounted door 259 equipped with a handle 180. A hinge line 240 is provided on the discharge unit 230, so that it is possible to open or close the door 259 along the hinge line 240. The door 259 covers and uncovers an opening 269 formed through the discharge unit 230. Furthermore, when the door 259 is closed, a button 245 of the door 259 is inserted into a button hole 220 of the discharge unit 230, thus keeping the discharge unit 230 closed. Furthermore, a handle folding line 241 is provided along a junction between the door 259 and the handle 180, so that the handle 180 is operated along the handle folding line 241. Support brackets 210 are provided on a lower end of the discharge unit, and support both corners of the receptacle 150, thus maintaining the appearance of the receptacle 150. Additionally, the discharge unit 230 is provided with a pair of opposed side panels 260 to further secure the engagement of the discharge unit 230 onto the receptacle 150. Meanwhile, a perforation 111 is provided on the layer of predetermined material 110 around the outline of the door 259. Also, a finger hole 103 is provided at an upper end of the perforation 111, thus allowing a user to easily reach the handle 180. The perforation 111 is formed to allow only the portion of the layer of predetermined material 110 covering the door 259 to be removed while the remaining portion of the layer of predetermined material 110 stays secure on the container.

The receptacle 150 can be made of an existing plastic resin material which is thin, transparent, and light, and this plastic resin material is currently used in the art for the blister package. Such a material allows a desired shape to be easily formed. Thus, after cotton swabs 200, which are light in weight but are large in volume, are put into the receptacle 150, the receptacle 150 is adhered to the backboard 100 through thermal treatment. A portion of the receptacle 150 is cut out to form an aperture 159 corresponding to the opening 269 of the discharge unit 230. Both sides of the receptacle 150 contacting the side panels 260, acting as a support means, are carved corresponding to the thickness of each side panel 260. Such a construction allows the discharge unit 230 to be firmly secured to the receptacle 150, in addition to allowing the layer of predetermined material 110 to be in close contact with the receptacle 150.

The discharge unit 230 is an opening structure which can be integrally formed through injection molding. Thus, the discharge unit 230 can be made of a thin soft plastic. The discharge unit 230 is mounted over the aperture 159 of the receptacle 150. The support brackets 210 are disposed at a lower surface of the outer wall of the receptacle 150, thus protecting the thin outer wall of the receptacle 150. In order to protect the backboard 100 from repeated use of a certain portion of the container, rear parts 113 of the layer of predetermined material 110 are attached to the backboard 100 such that the rear parts 113 surround both the back surface and the front surface of the backboard 100. Thereby, the discharge unit 230 is firmly held on the receptacle 150. In addition, the hinge line 240 has a collapsible structure, thus allowing the door 259 to be smoothly opened or closed. According to this invention, it is possible to adapt one kind of discharge unit 230 to blister packages having various sizes and volumes, thus allowing the cotton swabs 200 to be hygienically dispensed.

The hinge line 240, having the collapsible structure, serves as a hinge shaft. The side panels 260, which support both sides of an upper end 235 acting as the support means, are provided inside the folding line 240, while the door 259 acting as the opening means is provided outside the folding line 240. Further, the opening 269 is provided at a junction between the support means and the opening means. Due to the elasticity and tension of the hinge line 240 when the discharge unit 230 is made of a soft plastic, the hinge line 240 may be repeatedly elastically deformed and restored to an original state, so that it couples the support means to the opening means. Meanwhile, the hinge line 240 may be hardened by the weather or the like. In order to overcome this problem, an auxiliary means, that is, an adhesive sticker made of a soft PVC resin, may be attached to a surface of the hinge line 240.

The layer of predetermined material 110 can be made of a thin material including, but not limited to a shrink film or an adhesive sticker. By pulling the layer of predetermined material 110 using the finger hole 103, the layer of predetermined material 110 is torn along the perforation 111 to uncover the door 259. When the layer of predetermined material 110 is made of a shrink film, the upper end 235 of the support means of the discharge unit 230 is attached to the receptacle 150 using an adhesive applied to an attachment part 112 of the layer of predetermined material 110. Meanwhile, when a strong adhesive packing method is implemented using a sticker or the like, the side panels 260 acting as the support means may be omitted. Further, an advertisement or a notice may be printed on the layer of predetermined material 110, so that it is possible to efficiently utilize the area of the layer of predetermined material 110. The discharge unit 230 may be attached to the surface of the receptacle 150 using an adhesive in both embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5.

Preferably, the handle 180 is integrally provided on the discharge unit 230. The handle folding line 241, collaterally serving as a locking step, has a collapsible structure, so that the handle 180 pivots upwards and downwards about the folding line 241, thus allowing a user to easily grasp the handle 180. According to this invention, when the layer of predetermined material 110 is covered on the discharge unit 230, the handle 180 is not exposed to the outside of the layer of predetermined material 110 but is placed inside the layer of predetermined material 110, so that it is advantageous to carry the container 10. By pulling the handle 180 through the finger hole 103 which is bored on the upper portion of the layer of predetermined material 110, the layer of predetermined material 110 is torn along the perforation 111, so that the discharge unit 230 is exposed to the outside. Afterwards, by unfastening the button 245 from the button hole 220, the door 259 is opened, so that a user may take the cotton swabs 200 out of the container 10. When the discharge unit 230 is made of a plastic material having elasticity, as the user closes the door 259, the discharge unit 230 is compressed against the receptacle 150 which is flexible in it shape when made of a thin plastic resin. Thereby, the button 245 is smoothly and precisely fastened to the button hole 220.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, the container has a receptacle 150 having an open back side and a backboard 100 attached to the back side of the receptacle 150 to cover the open back side of the receptacle 150. An aperture 159 is formed through the receptacle to form an outlet which is of a size to sufficiently pass a swab therethrough. A door 359 is placed on the receptacle 150 adjacent the aperture 159 to cover and uncover the aperture 159. The receptacle 150 further has a plurality of tabs 320 disposed on the receptacle 150 along the aperture 159, and a plurality of tabs 345 is also placed along the edge of the door 359. The tabs 345 on the door and tabs 320 on the receptacle are each positioned and of a sufficient size to allow the door 359 to removably lock onto the receptacle 150 when the door 359 covers the aperture 159.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. In a container for holding swabs therein, said container having a receptacle with an open back side, a backboard attached to the back side of the receptacle to completely cover the open back side of the receptacle, said receptacle having a pair of side walls, with the improvement comprising:

an aperture formed through the receptacle, said aperture sized to sufficiently pass a swab therethrough;

a discharge unit disposed on an outer surface of said receptacle over said aperture of said receptacle, said discharge unit having an opening formed therethrough;

a door disposed on said discharge unit for covering and uncovering said opening of said discharge unit; and,

said discharge unit positioned so that said opening of said discharge unit is in direct access with said aperture of said receptacle when said door is uncovering said opening of said discharge unit.

2. The container as described in claim 1 wherein said discharge unit has a pair of opposed side panels, each side panel disposed on a corresponding side wall of the receptacle.

3. The container as described in claim 1 further comprising a layer of predetermined material wrapped over at least a portion of the discharge unit, receptacle, and backboard.

4. The container as described in claim 3 wherein the layer of predetermined material covers the door of the discharge unit, and wherein said layer of predetermined material has a perforation extending around the outline of said door, said perforation formed to allow a portion of the layer of material to be ripped away along the perforation to uncover said door while leaving the remaining portion of the layer of material wrapped on the container.

5. In a container for holding swabs therein, said container having a receptacle with an open back side, a backboard attached to the back side of the receptacle to completely cover the open back side of the receptacle, said receptacle having a pair of side walls, with the improvement comprising:

an aperture formed through the receptacle, said aperture sized to sufficiently pass a swab therethrough;

a discharge unit disposed on an outer surface of said receptacle over said aperture of said receptacle, said discharge unit having an opening formed therethrough,

a door disposed on said discharge unit for covering and uncovering said opening of said discharge unit;

said discharge unit positioned so that said opening of said discharge unit is in direct access with said aperture of said receptacle when said door is uncovering said opening of said discharge unit; and,

a layer of predetermined material wrapped over at least a portion of the discharge unit, receptacle, and backboard.

6. The container as described in claim 5 wherein said discharge unit has a pair of opposed side panels, each side panel disposed on a corresponding side wall of the receptacle.

7. The container as described in claim 5 wherein the layer of predetermined material covers the door of the discharge unit, and wherein said layer of predetermined material has a perforation extending around the outline of said door, said perforation formed to allow a portion of the layer of material to be ripped away along the perforation to uncover said door while leaving the remaining portion of the layer of material wrapped on the container.

8. In a container for holding swabs therein, said container having a receptacle with an open back side, a backboard attached to the back side of the receptacle to completely cover the open back side of the receptacle, said receptacle having a pair of side walls, with the improvement comprising:

an aperture formed through the receptacle, said aperture sized to sufficiently pass a swab therethrough;

a discharge unit disposed inside said receptacle against an inner surface of said receptacle over said aperture of said receptacle, said discharge unit having an opening formed therethrough;

a door disposed on said discharge unit for covering and uncovering said opening of said discharge unit; and,

said discharge unit positioned so that said opening of said discharge unit is in direct access with said aperture of said receptacle when said door is uncovering said opening of said discharge unit.

9. The container as described in claim 8 wherein said discharge unit has a pair of opposed side panels, each side panel disposed on a corresponding side wall of the receptacle.

10. The container as described in claim 8 further comprising a layer of predetermined material wrapped over at least a portion of the receptacle and backboard.

11. The container as described in claim 10 wherein the layer of predetermined material covers the opening of the receptacle, and wherein said layer of predetermined material has a perforation extending around the outline of said door, said perforation formed to allow a portion of the layer of material to be ripped away along the perforation to uncover said door while leaving the remaining portion of the layer of material wrapped on the container.

12. A container for holding swabs therein, said container comprising:

a receptacle with an open back side;

a backboard attached to the back side of the receptacle to completely cover the open back side of the receptacle;

an aperture formed through the receptacle, said aperture sized to sufficiently pass a swab therethrough;

a door disposed on said receptacle adjacent said aperture for covering and uncovering said aperture.

13. The container as described in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of tabs disposed on the receptacle along the aperture and a plurality of tabs disposed along the edge of the door.