Eye Care Solution Container With Retention Device
An eye care solution container is described that can be conveniently carried without the risk of loss, leakage or misplacement. The eye care solution container has a retention device that allows it to be clipped to a pocket, an article of clothing or an accessory item. The eye care solution container may also be attached to a zipper pull, a key ring, or the like. The eye care solution container may be one of various sizes and shapes, including a unit dose container.
This application claims priority in part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/049,761 filed May 1, 2008 entitled “Container For Eyedrop Solution” by Thomas J. Contreras of Winfield, Ill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to dispensing containers, and more specifically to a dispensing container having a retention clip or ring for ease of carrying.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of eyedrops is a necessity for many individuals. Individuals with dry eye syndrome, environmentally irritated eyes, wearers of contact lenses, patients with eye diseases or other conditions which require the use of over-the-counter or prescription ophthalmic pharmaceutical preparations and others, oftentimes require convenient and frequent access to eyedrops or other eye care solutions. Containers for eyedrops can fall from pockets, be misplaced, tip or spill, or otherwise be inaccessible when needed. Women will often carry eyedrops in their purse. However, men do not have a convenient place to carry eyedrops other than their shirt or pants pockets. In addition, many women today do not wish to carry purses at all times. Eye care solution containers that are commonly sold today do not have a convenient way to be carried on one's person.
Thus, there exists an unmet need for an eye care solution container that can be conveniently carried without the risk of loss, leakage or misplacement. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an eye care solution container that will not fall from one's pocket. It is another object of the present invention to provide an eye care solution container that will be convenient and comfortable to carry. It is another object of the present invention to provide an eye care solution container that will not become inverted or tip and leak in one's pocket. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an eye care solution container that is aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically shaped.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, there is provided an eye care solution container with retention device comprising a generally hollow body for holding eye care solution, the body having a top and a bottom, a nozzle attached to the top of the body for dispensing the eye care solution, a cap that is removably attached to the body and that covers the nozzle, and a clip having a first end and a second end, the first end of the clip being attached to the cap, and the second end of the clip having a protrusion.
The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in this specification, drawings and claims.
The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:
The present invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification, drawings and claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSFor a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements.
The present invention and the various embodiments depicted, described and envisioned herein provide an improved container for holding and dispensing a liquid. The container includes a body for holding a liquid such as eyedrop solution or contact lens solution, and has a dispensing opening for dispensing the solution, and a cap with retention device for selectively exposing the dispensing opening for use. The retention device may be a clip or a ring, as further described herein. Additionally, there is a current trend toward utilizing plastic products that are biodegradable and otherwise more compatible with ecological processes once the application for their use has been completed. Currently there are no eye care solution containers made from compostable plastics or from a 100% renewable resource such as corn. In some embodiments of the present invention the eye care solution container, with a retention device, or without, is made from a compostable 100% renewable resource such as corn.
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It should be noted that the eye care solution container with retention device may be made from a plastic such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like, or the device may be made from a plant based plastic such as a plastic polylactide or polylactic acid resin. Such an environmentally friendly or “green” eye care solution container may gain widespread interest based on its compostable qualities, and because of manufacture from a 100% renewable resource. It is another embodiment of this invention to manufacture eye care solution containers, with or without, a retention device, from compostable 100% renewable resources such as corn based polylactic acid resin or from tapioca, for example, or other plant based sources of compostable plastics.
To use the present invention, the eye care solution container with retention device is inserted into a pocket such as a shirt pocket with the fabric of the shirt pocket placed between the cap and the clip. In this way, the eye care solution container with retention device is securely attached to a pocket, ready for use. To use the eye care solution container with retention device, the device is removed from one's pocket, the cap is unscrewed, and drops are placed in the eye by way of squeezing the body of the device while the device is tipped and the nozzle is placed above the eye. After drops are dispensed, the cap is reattached to the body by way of screwing the cap to the body.
In another embodiment of the present invention, and as depicted in the perspective view in
To use the cap and ring embodiment of the present invention, the eye care solution container with retention device is attached to a key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure by mechanically opening the ring and placing it through the key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure. In this way, the eye care solution container with retention device is securely attached to a key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure, and ready for use. To use the eye care solution container with retention device, the device is removed from the key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure by opening the ring and removing it, the cap is unscrewed, and drops are placed in the eye by way of squeezing the body of the device while the device is tipped and the nozzle is placed above the eye. After drops are dispensed, the cap is reattached to the body by way of screwing the cap to the body, and the device may then be reattached to the key ring, zipper pull, or other structure.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a cap and clip structure is disclosed that can be attached to an existing bottle of liquid such as a bottle of eye care solution or a unit dose package.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a cap and ring structure is disclosed that can be attached to an existing bottle of liquid such as a bottle of eye care solution or a unit dose package.
In another embodiment of the present invention, and as depicted in
To use the unit dose ring embodiment of the present invention, the device is attached to a key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure by mechanically opening the ring and placing it through the key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure. In this way, the eye care solution container with retention device is securely attached to a key ring, zipper pull, or similar structure, and ready for use. To use the eye care solution container with retention device, either the ring is removed from the key ring, zipper pull, or similar device, or the unit dose top is removed with the ring attached, and drops are placed in the eye by way of squeezing the unit dose body of the device while the device is tipped and the unit dose nozzle is placed above the eye.
In another embodiment of the present invention, and as depicted in
To use the unit dose clip embodiment of the present invention, the unit dose clip device is inserted into a pocket such as a shirt pocket with the fabric of the shirt pocket placed between the unit dose body/top and the clip. In this way, the device is securely attached to a pocket, ready for use. To use the unit dose clip device, the device is removed from one's pocket, the unit dose top is torn off or otherwise removed, and drops are placed in the eye by way of squeezing the body of the device while the device is tipped and the unit dose nozzle is placed above the eye. Once the eye care solution (in this case an eye drop) has been dispensed, the top can be replaced, and now with a retention device, it can be secured in a stable location until it is used again.
It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, an eye care solution container with retention device. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification, drawings, and claims.
Claims
1. An eye care solution container with retention device comprising a generally hollow body for holding eye care solution, the body having a top and a bottom, a nozzle attached to the top of the body for dispensing the eye care solution, a cap that is removably attached to the body and that covers the nozzle, and a clip having a first end and a second end, the first end of the clip being attached to the cap, and the second end of the clip having a protrusion.
2. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the body is generally flat.
3. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the body is rounded.
4. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, wherein the container is made from a plastic polylactide.
5. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, further comprising external threads located toward the top of the body and internal threads located within the cap.
6. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, wherein the clip is plastic molded with the cap.
7. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, further comprising a means for sealing the nozzle to the cap when the cap is placed over the nozzle.
8. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the clip extends along the body when said cap is attached to the body.
9. An eye care solution container with retention device comprising a generally hollow body for holding eye care solution, the body having a top and a bottom, a nozzle attached to the top of the body for dispensing the eye care solution, a cap that is removably attached to the body and that covers the nozzle, and a ring attached to the cap.
10. The eye care solution container of claim 9, wherein the ring is split.
11. The eye care solution container of claim 9, wherein the ring is plastic molded with the cap.
12. The eye care solution container of claim 9, wherein the ring is rotatable with respect to the cap.
13. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 9, wherein the container is made from a plastic polylactide.
14. A cap for an eye care solution container comprising a hollow shell, a clip having a first end and a second end, the first end of the clip being attached to the cap, and the second end of the clip having a protrusion, and an adhesive layer within the cap for attaching the cap to another eye care solution container cap that does not have a retention device.
15. The cap of claim 14, wherein the clip is rotatable with respect to the cap.
16. The cap of claim 14, wherein the cap is made from a plastic polylactide.
17. The cap of claim 14, wherein the clip is plastic molded with the cap.
18. A cap for an eye care solution container comprising a hollow shell, a ring attached to the hollow shell, and an adhesive layer within the cap for attaching the cap to another eye care solution container cap that does not have a retention device.
19. The cap of claim 18, wherein the ring is split.
20. The cap of claim 18, wherein the ring is plastic molded with the cap.
21. The cap of claim 18, wherein the ring is rotatable with respect to the cap.
22. The cap of claim 18, wherein the cap is made from a plastic polylactide.
23. An eye care solution container with retention device comprising a generally hollow body for holding a unit dose of eye care solution, a removable tear off end that when removed forms a nozzle in the hollow body for dispensing eye care solution, and a clip having a first end and a second end, the first end of the clip being attached to the removable tear off end, and the second end of the clip having a protrusion.
24. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 23, wherein the clip is plastic molded with the removable tear off end.
25. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 23, wherein the container is made from a plastic polylactide.
26. An eye care solution container with retention device comprising a generally hollow body for holding a unit dose of eye care solution, a removable tear off end that when removed forms a nozzle in the hollow body for dispensing eye care solution, and a ring attached to the removable tear off end.
27. The eye care solution container of claim 26, wherein the ring is split.
28. The eye care solution container of claim 26, wherein the ring is plastic molded with the removable tear off end.
29. The eye care solution container with retention device of claim 26, wherein the container is made from a plastic polylactide.
30. An eye care solution container comprising a generally hollow body made from a plastic polylactide for holding eye care solution, the body having a top and a bottom, a nozzle attached to the top of the body for dispensing the eye care solution, and a cap that is removably attached to the body and that covers the nozzle.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 30, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2009
Inventors: Thomas J. Contreras (Winfield, IL), David Maxwell Kleinman (Rochester, NY)
Application Number: 12/433,866
International Classification: B65D 35/38 (20060101); B65D 45/00 (20060101); B65D 47/18 (20060101);