Abstract
The device relate to liquid dropper that will enable an individual to precisely instill a liquid medium onto a surface in many orientations. The device will preferably hold a specified volume droplet on the end and present it to be taken up to desired application by adhesion forces. Employed in the device is a non-mechanical valve to keep contents from refluxing back into the parent medium. This may be device may be employed in many different applications but will be adapted to an eye dropper below. The function of this device is to form a droplet on the end of said dispensing device while using a non-mechanical valve to separate the desired droplet from parent medium. Hydrophobic forces along with vent valves are utilized to accomplish “droplet splitting off” preserving the parent medium. Further disclosed are alternate tips of eye drop bottles or attachments to bottles that can be utilized with or without vented delivery tubes.
Claims
1. An eye drop dispenser, said dispenser comprising: a reservoir, said reservoir configured to retain an eye drop liquid; a dispenser tube in fluid connection with said reservoir a first end of said dispenser tube, wherein said dispenser tube is configured to transfer a drop of said eye drop liquid from said reservoir to a second end of said dispenser tube; and a tip, wherein said tip is positioned at said second end of said dispenser tube, wherein said tip is configured to suspend said drop such that a user is able to touch the user's eye to the suspended drop.
2. An attachment for an eye drop bottle, said attachment comprising: a first attachment end and a second attachment end separated by an elongate tube section, wherein said elongate tube section defining a lumen configured for the flow of liquid from the eye drop bottle through said first attachment end through said lumen to said second end when a user squeezes the eye drop bottle to release an eye drop, wherein said first end is configured to attach to an eye drop bottle, wherein said second end is configured in a general dish like shape; at least one vent positioned in a side of said elongate tube between said first attachment end and said second attachment end and configured to vent said lumen to atmosphere, wherein said vent is configured such that when a user releases depression on said eye drop bottle said vent allows ambient air to enter said lumen and preventing any liquid that has traveled beyond said vent to return via said lumen to said eye drop bottle; wherein said general dish like shaped second attachment end is configured such that the liquid that the liquid forms a bead on said dish, wherein said dish is configured such that a user can hold an eye drop bottle and attached attachment in a generally vertical position with a bead of liquid from the eye drop bottle positioned on said dish and lower the user's face and eye toward the bead such that contact between the user's eye and the bead of liquid causes the liquid to travel onto the user's eye due to the surface tension of the liquid.
3. The attachment for an eye drop bottle of claim 2, wherein said at least one vent comprises an elongate slot.
4. The attachment for an eye drop bottle of claim 2, wherein said at least one vent comprises a cylindrical vent.
5. The attachment for an eye drop bottle of claim 2, wherein said lumen comprises a plurality of elongate channels of varying cross section extending lengthwise in said lumen and configured to
6. The attachment for an eye drop bottle of claim 2 wherein said lumen is configured in sections, wherein each section is configured with a hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity such that said lumen is configured to facilitate the separation of individual eye drops from said eye drop bottle.
7. The attachment for an eye drop bottle of claim 2 wherein said first attachment end is configured for attachment over the tip of an eyedrop bottle.
8. The attachment for an eye drop bottle of claim 2 wherein said first attachment end is configured for insertion and retention into an eye drop bottle so as to replace a pre-existing tip on the eye drop bottle.
9. An eye drop bottle, said bottle comprising a liquid storage body and an improved dispenser, said improved dispenser comprising: a first end and a second end separated by an elongate tube section, wherein said elongate tube section defining a lumen configured for the flow of liquid from the eye drop bottle through said first end of said dispense through said lumen to said second end of said dispenser when a user squeezes the eye drop bottle to release an eye drop, wherein said second end is configured in a general dish like shape; at least one vent positioned in a side of said elongate tube between said first end and said second end and configured to vent said lumen to atmosphere, wherein said vent is configured such that when a user releases depression on said eye drop bottle said vent allows ambient air to enter said lumen and preventing any liquid that has traveled beyond said vent to return via said lumen to said eye drop bottle; wherein said general dish like shaped second attachment end is configured such that the liquid that the liquid forms a bead on said dish, wherein said dish is configured such that a user can hold an eye drop bottle and attached attachment in a generally vertical position with a bead of liquid from the eye drop bottle positioned on said dish and lower the user's face and eye toward the bead such that contact between the user's eye and the bead of liquid causes the liquid to travel onto the user's eye due to the surface tension of the liquid.
10. The eye drop bottle of claim 9, wherein said dispenser is configured to be detached from said body.
11. The eye drop bottle of claim 9, wherein said at least one vent comprises an elongate slot.
12. The eye drop bottle of claim 9, wherein said at least one vent comprises a cylindrical vent.
13. The eye drop bottle of claim 9, wherein said lumen comprises a plurality of elongate channels of varying cross section extending lengthwise in said lumen and configured to facilitate the separation of individual eye drops from said eye drop bottle.
14. The eye drop bottle of claim 9 wherein said lumen is configured in sections, wherein each section is configured with a hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity such that said lumen is configured to facilitate the separation of individual eye drops from said eye drop bottle.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a partial section view of an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment attached to an eye dropper bottle.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a lumen of an eye dropper attachment.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment to a bottle.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a cup for the end of an eye dropper attachment.
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a section view of an attachment mechanism of an eye dropper attachment to an eye dropper bottle.
[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a section view of an eye dropper attachment.
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates an attachment mechanism for an eye dropper attachment to an eye dropper bottle.
[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment configured for attaching to an eye dropper bottle.
[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of the eye dropper attachment of FIG. 8.
[0031] FIG. 10 illustrates a section view of the eye dropper attachment of FIG. 9 along section line B.
[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of the eye dropper attachment of FIGS. 8-9.
[0033] FIG. 12 illustrates an isometric view of the eye dropper attachment of FIGS. 8-11 showing internal components.
[0034] FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an eye dropper attachment.
[0035] FIG. 14 illustrates a section view along section line A of FIG. 13.
[0036] FIG. 15 illustrates an isometric view of the eye dropper attachment of FIGS. 13-14.
[0037] FIG. 16 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an eye dropper attachment having a basket for retaining an eye drop that has formed in the cup of the attachment.
[0038] FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an eye drop attachment having a scoop or cup formed at the end in which the eye drop forms.
[0039] FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of the eye dropper attachment of FIG. 17.
[0040] FIG. 19 illustrates an isometric view showing internal components of the eye dropper attachment.
[0041] FIG. 21 illustrates a side isometric view of the attachment of FIG. 17.
[0042] FIG. 22 illustrates a section view along section line C of FIG. 21.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0043] While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined herein.
[0044] In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “e.g.,” “etc,” and “or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted.
[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates an eye drop bottle attachment 2 attached to an eye drop bottle 4. Eye drop bottle attachment has a first attachment end 4 and a second attachment end. The eye drop bottle attachment has a tube 8 that extends between the first end and second end of the eye drop attachment. The first end of the eye drop attachment is configured to attach to an eye drop bottle such that fluid disbursed from the eye drop bottle from the orifice 10 is configured to travel down the lumen 12 of the eye drop bottle attachment. The second end of the eye drop bottle attachment is configured in a generally cup like shape 14 such that any liquid that is disbursed from the eye drop bottle travels down the eye drop bottle attachment lumen and forms a bead 16 at the second end of the eye drop bottle attachment. While a cup like shape is thought to be preferred, an alternate shape can be utilized such as a ball shape or other shape that will allow the liquid to bead on the end of the cup. The tube has one or more vents 18 that are configured to vent the lumen to atmosphere. The vents are configured such that when the user depresses the eye drop bottle and a bead forms at the second end of the eye drop bottle attachment, when the user releases squeezing the eye drop bottle, the vents allow air from the atmosphere the return into the lumen thus preventing the bead of liquid from returning down the lumen to the bottle. This will help prevent contamination of the liquid material in the eye drop bottle. In a preferred embodiment the eye drop bottle attachment has an outer wall 20 that encircles the eye drop bottle tube 8. In a preferred embodiment the outer wall is configured to threadingly engage with the threads 22 of an eye drop bottle. Alternatively the attachment can be constructed without the outer wall and with only the tube 8 with the first end of the tube configured to attach to the eye drop bottle. The length of the tube can vary depending on application, but a preferred length range is thought to be from 1.5 cm to 6.5 cm from attachment to the dispenser nipple to the end of the applicator.
[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional perspective view of an embodiment of the lumen. The depicted lumen has a series of length wise channels formed by projections 26, 28, 30, 36, 34, 36, 38 have varying shape and size. These channels are shown with differing cross sections to provide differing effects on the travel of liquid through the lumen. Preferably these tubes can be made of different hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity to facility the breakage of separate drops from the eye dropper and keeping these drops separate. Alternatively the lumen wall can be smooth, or have uniform channeling and projection shape and size, depending on the intended characteristics of the lumen. Preferably the lumen is tapered to facilitate transfer of liquid from the body of the eye drop bottle to the tip of the applicator. The device, including the lumen and cup, are designed structurally so that a drop formed and applied repeatedly will not compromise the integrity of the liquid in the bottle. This provides in essence a one-wav conveyer of liquid that does not allow mixing of liquid in the bottle or reservoir with liquid that has been exposed to foreign contaminants in the process. The device produces a liquid droplet in the cup in a manner that cannot contaminate the liquid in the bottle.
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates an attachment tip in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein. This attachment 40 snaps into an end of the eye drop bottle 42. This forms a removable piece on top of the bottle dropper. This construction allows for a disposable unit, for example for a physician to utilize with a patient and discard.
[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of a second end of an eye drop bottle attachment having a cup 14. The depicted cup 14 is shown with rings 44 of varying hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity to facilitate the beading of the liquid from the eye drop bottle on the end cup. Preferably the cup will utilize one or more fine hydrophilic rings that will hold the droplets to the cup but will minimize the amount of residue of liquid on the cup following dispensing of the eye drop. Alternatively, or additionally, hydrophobic or hydrophilic coatings may be used with an arrangement to promote formation and dispensing of the drop with minimal residue left behind on the cup. The coatings and/or design utilizing coatings and materials of varying hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity is thought to further assist in reducing potential contamination and microbial growth by minimizing any potential liquid available for microbes to grow in. The wall 8 of the tube are shown with two cylindrical vents 46, 48. The vents allow for venting of the atmosphere to the lumen 12 when squeezing pressure on the eye drop bottle is released. The liquid travels from the eye drop bottle through the lumen 12 out of the orifice 50 where it beads into the cup 14.
[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mechanism for attaching the eye drop bottle attachment to an end of the eye drop bottle. The attachment utilizes an outer wall 52 for this configured to threadingly engage at a first end 54 with the threads 56 of the dispensing end of the eye drop bottle 58 the lumen 12 is in contact with the orifice in the dispensing end of the eye drop bottle. The fluid travels through the lumen defined by the wall 8 to the second end of the attachment and the cup (not shown). Preferably the tubes 8 are forms of silicon or similar materials such that a seal can be formed between the tubes and the dispensing end of the eye drop bottle.
[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of the attachment depicting the travel of fluid in the lumen 12. A series of vents are shown including an elongate vent 58 in the outer wall 8 of the attachment. When the eye drop bottle is squeezed, the fluid travels down 60 the lumen to the end of the eye drop bottle attachment where it beads up in the cup. The depicted cup has a series of raised concentric ridges 62 to facilitate the beading of the liquid in the cup. The cup can be formed with a variety of refracting material such that when liquid is formed in a bead in the cup, light refracted through the liquid and the cup causes the cup to form a different color. The wall 8 of the tube further includes cylindrical vents 18 when a user releases the squeeze on the eye drop bottle fluid that has not reached the cup is drawn back 64 down the lumen with the vents allowing air from atmosphere to disrupt the separate droplets, allowing droplets that have not reached the cup to return to the eye drop bottle.
[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative attachment mechanism for the first end of the eye drop bottle attachment to connect to a dispensing end of an eye drop bottle. In the depicted embodiment the eye drop bottle attachment 2 utilizes an outer wall 20 and a tube having inner wall 8. A clamp mechanism 66 is positioned and configured to threadingly engage with the threads 68 of the dispensing end of the eye drop bottle the outer wall 20 serves to impart force inwardly on the clamp mechanism 66 such that as the attachment is threaded onto the end of the eye drop bottle, the clamp mechanism asserts a clamping mechanism on the lower ceiling end 70 of the tube wall 8 of the attachment. This serves to facilitate a liquid tight attachment between the eye drop bottle attachment and the dispensing end 58 of the eye drop bottle.
[0052] FIGS. 8-12 illustrate an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment configured to be inserted into an eye drop bottle over the original tip (alternatively called a nipple or nozzle) has been removed. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment. The eye dropper attachment 60 is formed with a neck 62 extending between a first end 64 of the eye dropper attachment. The first end of the depicted eye dropper attachment is configured with a ring 65 to retain the attachment over the tip of the eye dropper.
[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of the nozzle of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 illustrates a section view of the nozzle shown along line B of FIG. 9. The eye dropper attachment has an air vent 72 configured to allow for air from atmosphere to enter the eye dropper attachment such that when pressure on the dropper bottle is released, air is allowed into the pore 72 and breaks the drop that is in the cup 68 away from the liquid remaining in the lumen 70 of the eye dropper attachment. FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view showing the pore on the outer surface of the attachment. FIG. 12 illustrates an isometric view showing with dotted lines the internal components.
[0054] FIGS. 13-15 illustrate an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment for an eye dropper bottle that is configured for insertion into an eye dropper bottle after the original nipple or nozzle has been removed. The embodiment utilizes a stem 74 that is configured for positioning into an opening of the eye dropper bottle. Tabs 76, 78 circumferentially extend outward from the attachment. The tabs are configured to allow users thumbs and fingers to attach the device to an eye dropper bottle.
[0055] FIGS. 16-23 illustrate varying tips for eyedrop bottles and/or attachments to bottles. These tips can be used with or without vents in the lumen leading to the tips. FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of an eye dropper attachment having a configuration to retain an eye drop in the cup of the attachment. The end of the attachment as a cup 82. Two opposing arms 84, 86 extend away from the cup with an umbrella or inverse basket 80 positioned such that an eye drop forms in the cup and is retained in position by the finger 88 of the umbrella shape.
[0056] FIG. 17-22 illustrate an alternate embodiment of an end configuration for retaining an eye drop formed in the cup at the end of the eye dropper attachment. The end 90 is formed in a cup-like shape having a cup 92 formed in the appearance of a scoop. The eye drop is admitted from an opening 94 and forms in the scoop. The eye drop is maintained such that a user can raise the attachment and/or lower the users head toward the eye drop, such that the eye contacts the eye drop utilizing capillary action, the eye drop flows to the users eye.
[0057] The eye drop applicator and/or attachment can further include a removable cap intended to protect the device and to reduce contamination potential. Silicone insert would fit directly over the nipple of an eye dropper bottle. Alternatively, it could be bonded to a plastic component and have threads that would directly replace the “lid” of the original dropper and a larger cap would fit over the insert so it would not have to be replaced with each use.
[0058] Still other features and advantages of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the inventive concept(s), simply by way of illustration of the embodiments contemplated by carrying out the inventive concept(s). As will be realized, the inventive concept(s) is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the inventive concept(s). Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.
[0059] While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the Figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of this disclosure. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined herein.
