CONTAINER FOR LIQUID

Abstract

A credit card shaped container for a liquid, such as eye drops, saline solution, or a sanitizer. The container has a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid. A conduit supplies liquid in the chamber to a dispensing orifice at an end portion of the body. A cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice prevents the liquid from being dispensed until the cap is removed and pressure applied to the flexible plastic body. The cap may be hingedly attached to the body, or completely detachable from the body. The cap typically snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed. The container may further comprise an integral contact lens case.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/604,043, filed Feb. 28, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a credit card shaped container capable of carrying and dispensing a liquid, such as eye drops, saline solution, a sanitizer, a wetting agent, or the like. As used herein, the term “liquid” includes a flowable gel, such as a hand sanitizer. The invention also relates to a method of making such a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional containers for liquids include flexible plastic bottles that can be squeezed to force the liquid out of a dispensing orifice. While such containers come in various sizes and shapes, they generally are not convenient to carry and use while traveling or outside the home.

Various small or single-use containers for liquids, including containers that have a size and shape like a credit card, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,173, UK Patent Application 2,475,500 A, U.S. Patent Publication 2003/0071076 A1, and U.S. Patent Publication 2010/0096413 A1 disclose various credit card size containers having mechanisms to dispense or spray liquids, including cosmetic liquids and perfumes.

While the containers disclosed in these references may be useful for their intended purposes, there is a continuing need for a simple and inexpensive, credit card size container for liquid, such as eye drops, saline solution, or a sanitizer, that has a water-tight resealable cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container for a liquid, comprising: a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid, a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice provided at an end portion of the body; and a cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body; said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm. The container has the shape of a credit card and can be easily carried in a wallet, billfold, pocket, handbag, briefcase, and so on, without bulking the carrying item. While the container can be used to carry and dispense various liquids, the container is particularly useful for a liquid such as eye drops, saline solution, or a sanitizer.

The invention also relates to a container for a liquid, comprising: a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid; a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice located within a cone-shaped end corner portion of the body, said conduit being narrower at the inner chamber than at the dispensing orifice; and a cap hingedly attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body; said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm.

The invention also relates to a method of making a container for a liquid, comprising: (a) providing a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an open edge providing access to inner chamber capable of storing the liquid, a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice provided at an end portion of the body, and a cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body, said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm; (b) filling the container with the liquid through the open edge of the body; and (c) heat sealing the open edge of the body to enclose the liquid in the inner chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention and advantages thereof will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front side view of the container shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the container shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the center of the container shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the center of the container shown in FIG. 2 with the cap open;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the cone-shaped corner portion of the container shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the cap open;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 8 taken along line 9-9;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the cap of the container shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another container of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another container of the invention comprising a contact lens storage case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference numbers designate the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is an example of a container of the present invention for storing and dispensing the liquid. In FIG. 1, container 10 has a generally flat, substantially rectangular, flexible plastic body 12 having a size substantially like that of a credit card or bank card. The container may be made of any suitable flexible plastic material. Container body 12 has a top portion 14, a bottom portion 15 (shown in FIGS. 3-4), left and right sides 16 and 17, and front and rear sides 18 and 19.

The length and the width of container 10 are substantially the same as a credit card, but the thickness is somewhat larger. The container has a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, typically from about 83 to about 88 mm, and a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, typically from about 52 to about 56 mm. The container has a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm, typically from about 0.3 to about 3 mm, more typically from about 0.5 to about 2.5 mm, and even more typically from about 1.0 to about 2.0 mm. In one example, the dimensions of the container are similar to ID-1 defined by international standard ISO/IEC 7810, with a length of about 85.60 mm and a width of about 53.98 mm. The container can be stored and carried in a manner similar to a credit card, cash card or bank card. In one embodiment, the container has at least two adjacent tapered edges that enable the user to more easily insert the container into a wallet pocket or similar sleeve, divider or holder for a card. For example, rear side 19 and right side 17 of container 10 have tapered edges 22 and 23. At their thinnest point, the tapered edges may have a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 2 mm, typically from about 0.2 to about 1 mm.

The container body 12 has an inner chamber 30 capable of storing the liquid, and a flume or conduit, such as conduit 32 shown in FIGS. 5-10, for supplying the liquid in chamber 30 to dispensing orifice 36 provided at an end portion 20 of the body. The capacity of chamber 30 is from about 0.005 to about 0.45 fluid ounces, typically from about 0.02 to about 0.40 fluid ounces, more typically from about 0.05 to about 0.30 fluid ounces. The conduit typically is narrower at its proximal end near chamber 30 than at its distal end near dispensing orifice 36 in order to prevent gushing of a water-like liquid in the container. For example, when the conduit is cylindrical in shape, the diameter of the conduit is smaller at the entrance to chamber 30 than at dispensing orifice 36. The container typically is designed to dispense one drop of the liquid at a time. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 (also shown in FIGS. 7 and 9), the conduit contains a thin diaphragm 38 that helps prevent leakage of the liquid prior to the first use of the container. When the user applies pressure to the top or bottom portion of the container, the liquid flows through the proximal end of the conduit and ruptures the diaphragm before flowing through the distal end of the conduit and out the dispensing orifice.

The container also comprises a cap 40 detachably attached to a cap-fitting portion 42 of the body that surrounds and covers the dispensing orifice at an outer peripheral portion of the body. The cap prevents liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body to force the liquid in the chamber through the conduit and out the orifice. The water tight resealable cap is capable of withstanding pressure when a person stores the credit card shaped container in a wallet and then sits on the wallet. The cap may contain a sealing member or gasket that fits over the dispensing orifice, or a plug or pin that fits inside the dispensing orifice to improve the water tight seal. In other containers of the invention, the dispensing orifice and the cap-fitting portion of the body may be at other locations, including at other corners or sides of the container body.

When container 10 is ready for use, cap 40 is removed from cap-fitting portion 42 of container body 12. The container is placed in a downward direction, and pressure is applied to the top or bottom portion of the flexible plastic body to force liquid in chamber 30 through conduit 32 and out orifice 36 to the desired surface. After use, container 10 is placed in an upward direction, and the cap is placed back on the cap-fitting portion of the container body. In one embodiment, the cap-fitting portion and the orifice are located within a cone-shaped corner portion of the body. The cap snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed.

In the container shown in FIGS. 1-10, cap 40 is hingedly attached or connected to container body 12. As shown in FIG. 8, hinge 50 has upper and lower hinge elements 52 and 53 that hingedly attach or connect to an upwardly protruding pivot button 54 shown in FIG. 11 and a matching downwardly protruding pivot button (not shown) on the lower surface of cap 40. The cap may be detachable from the container body, for example, by removing or detaching one or more hinge elements. Alternatively, the cap may be more permanently attached to the container body, such as by using a flexible or “living” hinge. Other hinge elements known in the art may be used to attach the cap to the container body.

The container of the invention may be made by any suitable injection molding process. The inner chamber of the container can be filled with liquid through an open edge of the body that is heat sealed to enclose the liquid in the chamber. In another embodiment, the inner chamber of the container is filled through a neck at the dispensing orifice. A wider hole in the neck may be provided to make it easier to fill the container. A pin may be inserted into the neck after filling to seal the orifice and prevent leakage of the liquid. Such a pin may also increase the neck's rigidity and improve the strength of the cap-to-container body seal. The filling and sealing of the container is typically done under conditions meeting FDA sterility standards.

FIG. 12 shows another container of the invention. In FIG. 12, the construction and function of container 110 is similar to that of container 10 except that cap 140 is not hingedly connected to container body 112 but slidably fits onto and is completely removable from cap-fitting portion 142 of container body 112.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 11, cap 40 has a recessed portion 44 to receive cap-fitting portion 42 of container body 12. Cap-fitting portion 42 has protruding ridges 48 and 49 on its upper and lower surfaces that engage, for example snap-fit into, matching recessed channels on the inner surfaces of recessed portion 44 and seal the cap closed over cap-fitting portion 42. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10-12, caps 40 and 140 have recessed channels 46 and 146 on at least one outer surface to aid in gripping the caps and removing them from the cap-fitting portions of the container body.

In another embodiment, the container is configured for contact lens users and features a slim storage case with a resealable water tight snap/seal designed to hold contact lens solution and one pair of contact lens. FIG. 13 illustrates one example of such a container having an integral contact lens case. Container 210 has a generally flat, substantially rectangular, flexible plastic body 212, contact lens holding portion 214, and lid portions 216 and 218 shown in an open position. Container 210 has a size substantially like that of a credit card or bank card, and is otherwise similar to container 10 shown in FIGS. 1-11. In one embodiment, container 210 is injection molded as a one piece unit and filled with solution. When ready for use, the contact lens holding portion 214 is separated from the container body 212, for example by tearing along a perforation line, score line or other line of weakness. The cap is removed from the cap-fitting portion of the container body and the contact lens solution is dispensed as described above through the conduit and out orifice to the contact lens holding portion 214. The lid portions 216 and 218 can be opened and closed as needed to access and store the contact lens. The upper and/or lower surfaces of the contact lens holding portion may be made of an expandable material or design to accommodate the contact lens. Other designs, sizes and shapes for the container and contact lens case may be used.

The present invention thus provides one or more of the following advantages over other containers known in the art. Due to its small size and shape like that of a cash card or credit card, the container of the invention can be easily carried without causing a problem of bulking a pocket, wallet, case, bag or the like. A liquid, such as eye drops, saline solution, or a sanitizer, can easily be applied by the user simply by squeezing or otherwise applying pressure to the container body. The container is thus convenient to carry and use while travelling or outside the home. The construction of the container is simple and inexpensive, making it disposable and suitable for frequent use as needed.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A container for a liquid, comprising:

a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid;

a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice provided at an end portion of the body; and

a cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body; said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is narrower at the inner chamber than at the dispensing orifice.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is filled with the liquid through an open edge of the body that is then heat sealed to enclose the liquid in the inner chamber.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is filled through a neck at the dispensing orifice.

5. The container according to claim 4, further comprising a pin inserted into the neck after filling the container.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the orifice is located within a cone-shaped corner portion of the body.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cap snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cap is hingedly attached to the body.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container dispenses one drop of the liquid at a time.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of eye drops, saline solution, and a sanitizer.

11. The container according to claim 1, further comprising at least two adjacent tapered edges.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the capacity of the container is from about 0.005 to about 0.45 fluid ounces.

13. The container according to claim 1, further comprising an integral contact lens case.

14. A container for a liquid, comprising:

a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an inner chamber capable of storing the liquid;

a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice located within a cone-shaped end corner portion of the body, said conduit being narrower at the inner chamber than at the dispensing orifice; and

a cap hingedly attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body; said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein the cap snaps over the orifice and seals the conduit closed.

16. The container according to claim 15, further comprising two adjacent tapered edges opposite the corner of the body where the cap is located.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of eye drops, saline solution, and a sanitizer.

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the capacity of the container is from about 0.005 to about 0.45 fluid ounces.

19. The container according to claim 18, further comprising an integral contact lens case.

20. A method for making a container for a liquid, comprising:

(a) providing a generally flat, rectangular, flexible plastic body having an open edge providing access to inner chamber capable of storing the liquid, a conduit for supplying the liquid in the inner chamber to a dispensing orifice provided at an end portion of the body, and a cap attached to the body and covering the dispensing orifice that prevents the liquid from being dispensed from the orifice until the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the flexible plastic body, said container having a length of from about 80 to about 90 mm, a width of from about 50 to about 60 mm, and a thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.1 mm;

(b) filling the container with the liquid through the open edge of the body; and

(c) heat sealing the open edge of the body to enclose the liquid in the inner chamber.