WO1988001479A1

WO1988001479A1 - Device for applying substances to surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO1988001479A1
Application number: PCT/AU1987/000304
Authority: WO
Inventors: Albert James Willmot
Original assignee: Albert James Willmot
Priority date: 1986-09-05
Filing date: 1987-09-04
Publication date: 1988-03-10
Also published as: EP0323966A1; EP0323966A4

Abstract

An openable sealed capsule, preferably formed of two flat strips of material (A, B) sealed together along the peripheries of the flat surfaces (E) by hot welding. Prior to sealing, decorative, cosmetic, medicinal or other substances are applied to the inner surfaces of the flat strips.

Description

CEVICE FOR APPLYING SUBSTANCES TO SURFACES

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This invention relates to a device for applying decorative and medicinal substances to parts of the human body in particular to the lips of the mouth.

Decorative substances such as that commonly and 5 commercially known as lipstick are usually applied as solid gels, waxes or greases by direct application or by means of brushes or an extension from tubes or cylinders. Other cosmetics or medicinal substances such as powders and ointments are applied similarly. These methods of 10 application and storage create a number of difficulties.

These include problems of storage of more material than can be used at any one time thus creating a situation of potential waste, they are bulky to carry, difficult to apply, often leak and melt and are undesirable in the hands 15 of children. Unsightly contaraination of other parts of the body is often also a result. This invention overcomes all of these difficulties.

This invention consists of an openable, sealed capsule in the form of a flat rectangular, elliptical, circular or 20 other shaped strip. The said capsule is formed from two flat pieces of material, made from polymer plastic or paper with a polymer plastic film adhering to its surface. The inner surface of the said capsule must be composed of a material which provides less adhesion to cosmetic or 25 medicinal substances than does human skin or other tissue. These two said flat pieces of material are sealed together at the peripheries of the flat surfaces by hot welding or other suitable means. The two said flat pieces of material so joined then form a sealed capsule. Prior to forming the 30 said capsule, cosmetic, medicinal or other substances is coated onto the inner surfaces of the said flat pieces of material. When the said capsule is then sealed the said cosmetic, medicinal or other substance is sealed inside the said capsule. 35 To use the device the said capsule is opened by parting the welded edges of the said flat pieces of material so that

SUBSTITUTE SHEET one edge is left unruptured. This said one unruptured edge is then used as a hinge against which the two said flat pieces of material are turned until their outer flat surfaces come into contact. The above described operation exposes the said cosmetic, medicinal or other substance contained in the said capsule. Once used the said capsule is usually discarded.

In a preferred form, the said capsule is formed from two flat rectangular pieces of material made from paper with adhered surfaces including a weldable polymer plastic.

These two said pieces of material are then partly coated with a cosmetic substance and then welded together along the peripheries of the said flat pieces of material such that one end of the capsule has a recurved joint created by the fabrication and welding process. The said capsule is opened from the opposite end to that of the recurved joint. When the two said flat pieces of material are separated in the operation of opening the said capsule, the said recurved joint acts as a hinge line and becomes a clean place whereby that end of the opened said capsule may be held conveniently. Application is carried out in the above described preferred form by bringing the lips of the human mouth into contact with the said cosmetic substance exposed on the inner surfaces of the said flat pieces of material of the opened said capsule. The above preferred form is shown in perspective and orthographic drawings in figures 1, 2 and 3 in sheet 1. A and B indicate the said flat rectangular pieces of material. C indicates the said recurved joint. D indicates the cosmetic substance and E indicates the welded joints. Figure 1 illustrates the said capsule before it is sealed by welding. Figure 2 provides a cutaway view of the said capsule after it has been sealed and the welded joints are shown under label E. Figure 3 illustrates the said capsule after it has been opened. A second preferred form of the invention consists of two of the said capsules mounted on each side of a single piece of the said flat material. A said capsule is then

SUBSTITUTE SHEET formed on each side of the said piece of flat material, by the use of two other pieces of said flat material. This preferred form avoids the need for the recurved joint of the earlier preferred form described herein. This invention may be constructed in a variety of forms and shapes for different applications. The diagrams and preferred forms described herein are meant only to provide examples of specific forms and in no way are to detract from the generality of the invention. In another aspect this invention provides a device for applying decorative, cosmetic, medicinal or other substance to surfaces such as animal skin and in particular to the human body. It is also intended to be used as a means of applying existing manufactured products to any desired surface. It is also intended for use in the application of scientific investigation and evaluation by being used to apply and contain substances which from time to time may need to be observed, studied and recorded in-situ without disturbing the process under investigation. This invention relates to a device for applying decorative, cosmetic, medicinal or other substance to surfaces such as animal skin and in particular to the human body.

It is also intended to be used as a means of applying existing manufactured products to any desired surface. It is also intended for use in the application of scientific investigation and evaluation by being used to apply and contain substances which from time to time may need to be observed, studied and recorded in-situ without disturbing the process under investigation.

Decorative substances such as that commonly and commercially known as lipstick are usually applied as solid gels, waxes or greases by direct application or by means of brushes or an extension from tubes or cylinders. Other cosmetic or medicinal substances such as powders and ointments are applied similarly. These methods of application and storage create a number of difficulties.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET These include problems of storage of more material than can be used at any one time, thus creating a situation of potential waste, they are bulky to carry, difficult to apply, often leak and melt and are undesirable in the hands of children. Unsightly contamination of other parts of the body is often the result. This invention overcomes all of these difficulties.

The basic device consists of an openable sealed capsule in the form of a preferably flat rectangular, elliptical, circular or other shaped strip. Desirably the said capsule is formed from two flat pieces of material, made from polymer plastic, metal foil or paper with a polymer plastic film adhering to its surface. In this aspect the inner surface of the said capsule must be composed of a material which provides less adhesion to the substance or article to be applied to a surface than does the tissue or surface to which it is to be applied, when it is applied. These two said flat pieces of material are sealed together along the peripheries of the flat surface by hot welding or other suitable means. The two said flat pieces of material so joined then form a sealed capsule. Prior to forming the said capsule, decorative, cosmetic, medicinal or other substance or article is applied to the inner surface of the said flat pieces of material. When the said capsule is then sealed, the said decorative, cosmetic, medicinal or other substance or article is sealed inside the said capsule.

To use the device the said capsule is opened by parting the welded edges of the preferably flat pieces of material by peeling back one of the said flat pieces leaving one edge unruptured. The said one unruptured edge can then be used, if desired, as a hinge against which the two said flat pieces of material may be turned over until their outer surfaces come in contact or until the other said flat piece of material is pulled free of the said adhering substance or article. The above described operation exposes the said decorative, cosmetic, medicinal or other substance or article contained in the said capsule. Once the said

SUBSTITUTE SHEET substance has been applied the capsule is usually discarded. In a preferred form the said capsule is formed from two flat rectangular pieces of material made from paper with adhered surfaces including a weldable polymer plastic. One end of each said piece of material is welded to the other to produce a hinge line, or alternatively one piece of said flat material is folded to produce the desired two piece effect. These two said pieces of material are partly coated with a cosmetic substance and then welded together along the peripheries of the said flat pieces of material such that one end of the capsule has a recurved joint created by the fabrication and welding process. When the two said flat pieces of material are separated in the operation of opening the said capsule, the said recurved joint acts as a hinge line and constitutes a clean place whereby that end of the opened said capsule may be held conveniently.

Application is carried out in the above described preferred form by bringing the lips of the human mouth in contact with the cosmetic substance exposed on the inner surfaces of the said flat pieces of material of the opened said capsule. The above preferred form is shown in perspective and orthographic drawings in figures 1A, 2A, and 3A. A and B indicate the said flat rectangular pieces of material. C indicates the said recurved joint. D indicates the cosmetic substance and E indicates the welded joints. Figure 1A illustrates the said capsule before it is sealed by welding. Figure 2A provides a cutaway view of the said capsule after it has been sealed and the welded joints are shown under label E. Figure 3A illustrates the said capsule after it has been opened.

A second preferred form of the invention consists of two of the said capsules mounted on each side of a single piece of the said flat material. A said capsule is then formed on each side of the said piece of flat material, by the use of two other pieces of said flat material. This preferred form avoids the need for the recurved joint of the earlier preferred form described herein.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET This invention may be constructed in a variety of forms and shapes for different applications. The diagrams and preferred forms described herein are meant only to provide examples of specific forms and in no way are to detract from the generality of the invention.

A preferred form of the said capsule is used for applying an already existing article in use such as a "Band- Aid" type medical dressing strip. The problems associated with this type of strip are caused by the method of removal of the protective pieces covering the adhesive areas of the strips. To remove these covering pieces the operator usually has to hold the strip either by an exposed adhesive area or by the centre dressing pad. The adhesive ends of the "Band-Aid" type strip often become rolled over upon themselves rendering the article useless. It is also very difficult to apply medicinal substances to the pad. When used in conjunction with the said applicator capsule the problems cease to exist. The "Band-Aid" type strip is adhered to an inner surface of one of the said pieces of material of the said capsule so that the said strip then has its adhesive areas and dressing pad exposed. This piece of the said capsule will now be referred to as the base piece of the said capsule.

The dressing pad can then be impregnated with any suitable medicinal substance and the other said piece of material of the said capsule now referred to as the cover piece of the said capsule, is brought over the exposed side of the said "Band-Aid" type strip completely covering it and adhering to the adhesive areas of the said "Band-Aid" strip. Both the base piece of the said capsule and the cover piece are made conveniently larger than the attached said strip to enable the heat welding and sealing process as previously described to be carried out.

To use the applicator in this form, the cover piece of the said capsule is removed to expose the said strip which is then applied to the surface or tissue desired, pressed down to ensure adhesion and the base piece of the said

SUBSTITUTESHEET capsule is then peeled back to leave the strip in place. A preferred form of the said capsule is designed to allow the application of certain medicinal substances such as antibiotic ointment and powders, slow release drugs such as insulin, antihistamine, serums, stimulants and the treatment of bruised, inflammed muscle and bone indications by the use of penetrating substances. This same preferred form of the said capsule in its transparent form can be used to study the effects of a desired treatment while in-situ. The base piece of the said capsule is manufactured from a transparent polymer plastic such as Polyvinyl-chloride or other chemically and medicinally inert selected material and has a depression or blister moulded into the central region of the said piece. An adhesive of a pressure sensitive type such as is currently in use for the attachment of articles to human skin, is then applied to the base piece of the said capsule so as to surround the blister area. The medicinal or other substance to be used or studied is then introduced into the blister. A sealing membrane of permeable, dissolvable or perforable material is then applied to cover the medicinal or other substance. The cover piece of the said capsule is then applied to cover the whole area of the base piece and sealed as in previously described manner.

To use the said capsule in this form, the cover piece of the said capsule is peeled back to expose the adhesive areas and the sealing membrane of the blister area of the said capsule. The back piece of the said capsule is then applied to the required area or tissue and the cover piece removed by tearing along a perforated line leaving part of the said capsule intact and adhering to the desired place. The said transparent blister then allows a person a window or view through which to study the contents of the said blister. An advantage of this type of application of the said capsule is that additional substance under study in the blister may be added at any time (without removal of the capsule) by the use of a hyperdermic syringe to inject such substance through the wall of the blister.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET A preferred form of the said capsule consists of the previously described basic capsule in which absorbtive pads such as an inert polymer plastic foam are attached to the said inner surfaces covering part of these surfaces. The purpose of these absorbtive pads is to enable the use of liquid substances in the said capsule which will be held within the pad matetial and released when pressure is applied to the pads such as by the lips or hand.

^ny of the described preferred forms of the said capsule may have two parallel lines scored or cut along one of the said flat pieces of the capsule extending in size so as to form a strip which may be lifted from the said piece when bent and under which one or more of the fingers of the user may be placed. This process then allows a convenient method of holding the invention while a specific application of the said capsule is carried out.

In its medical scientific application the device can be left in position, for example over a closed wound and the progress of the healing process under a certain medication can be studied without the need to remove a sterile dressing thus minimising the spread of further infection.

In many other applications of existing articles such as medicinal dressing strips of the "Band-Aid" type the invention allows for a clean, simple application of the strip eliminating the problem of curling edges and the application of medicinals to the dressing pad of the strip. In the field of technology, a double-sided version of the device is used where difficult glueing situations arise and cleanliness is important. In this application the invention can supply precise amounts of two part adhesives eliminating all waste and guess-work. In this application the invention remains in-situ and becomes part of the glued joint.

The use of this invention opens up a whole new area for the development of new chemicals and products as its use eliminates the existing requirements and restrictions of many of the currently used packaging and application devices.

SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims

1. A device for applying decorative, cosmetic medicinal or like substances to surfaces such as the human body said device comprising an openable sealed capsule preferably formed from two flat pieces of material such as plastics, metal foil, paper or the like with a polymer plastic film adhering to its surfaces.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said capsule is composed of a material which provides less adhesion to the surface of the substance to be applied than to the surface to which it is applied.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the openable sealed capsule effectively constitutes a powder-puff capable of dispensing powder or rouge.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 used for dispensing perfume, pharmaceuticals powder and chemicals.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device constitutes two or more capsules, containing reactive substances, which capsules are frangible whereupon the contents of adjacent capsules may be intermingled and thereby react.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET