Syringe and plunger clip for bottles and method
10898411 ยท 2021-01-26
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65D23/12
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
A61J7/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
One embodiment of a mechanism for attaching a syringe and separated plunger to a bottle and of the type having an attachment member (110) from which restraints (114) extend. In being fastened to the bottle, the restraints enable convenient drying and storage of the syringe and the separated plunger. Other embodiments are described and shown.
Claims
1. A drying and storage assembly to releasably secure a separated syringe and plunger to a liquid medicine bottle, said assembly comprising: a c-shaped member of sufficient size to accommodate attachment a neck of the bottle; a plurality of restraints for releasably receiving said syringe and said plunger respectively, wherein each of said plurality of restraints comprises a ring, wherein said c-shaped member is attached to said plurality of restraints by a plurality of arms connected to opposing sides of said c-shaped member; a restraint lower bases on which said syringe and said plunger can rest and be drained, and a perpendicular stem joining said ring and said restraint lower base parallelly, so as to restrain said syringe and said plunger in a holster-like mechanism, the lower restraint base having appendages extending in diverging directions from a lower end of said perpendicular stem, terminating in a plurality of end caps, and having a circular support structure connected to the lower restraint base; thus said assembly serves to lift said syringe and said plunger above a lower surface upon which said medicine bottle rests; and wherein said plurality of arms being coupled to and extending away from said member in diverging directions for joining said restraints to said member contiguously.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of arms comprises a plurality of interlocking arms, each of which joins a respective one of said restraints contiguously to said member.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said interlocking arms, each of which further comprises: an interlocking receptacle and an interlocking protrusion wherein said interlocking receptacle extends contiguously from said member or from respective one of said restraints, and said interlocking protrusion extends contiguously from said member or from respective one of said restraints, thereby providing a secure, but detachable horizontal coupling between said member and each of said restraints.
4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said interlocking receptacle further comprises: a back vertical portion, a top horizontal portion extending outwardly from said back vertical portion with a further vertical lip extending down in a top front vertical portion, a bottom horizontal portion extending outwardly from the back vertical portion with a further vertical lip extending up in a bottom front vertical portion, and wherein said top front vertical portion and said bottom front vertical portion do not connect, but rather create a catching mechanism for the interlocking protrusion.
5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said interlocking protrusion further comprises: an outwardly horizontal portion a vertical perpendicular portion extended from said outwardly horizontal portion.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is comprised of plastic.
7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said neck of the bottle comprises a first diameter and extends to a second larger diameter of the body of the bottle and said c-shaped member rests on said second larger diameter of the body of the bottle, thus said c-shaped member and entire said assembly putting its weight on said second larger diameter of the body of the bottle.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is comprised of metal.
9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is comprised of silicone.
10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly is comprised of rubber.
11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of arms extend a sufficient distance from said c-shaped member to facilitate said plurality of restraints being separated from the body of said liquid medicine bottle.
12. A method for attaching a separated syringe and plunger to a liquid medicine bottle for convenient and hygienic drying and storage comprising: providing an assembly comprising: a c-shaped member of sufficient size to accommodate attachment to a neck of the bottle; a plurality of restraints for releasably receiving said syringe and said plunger respectively, wherein each of said plurality of restraints comprises a ring, wherein said c-shaped member is attached to said plurality of restraints by a plurality of arms connected to opposing sides of said c-shaped member; a restraint lower base on which said syringe and said plunger can rest and be drained, and a perpendicular stem joining said ring and said restraint lower base parallelly, so as to restrain said syringe and said plunger in a holster-like mechanism, the lower restraint base having appendages extending in diverging directions from a lower end of said perpendicular stem, terminating in a plurality of end caps, and having a circular support structure connected to the lower restraint base; thus the combination of said c-shaped member, said plurality of arms, and said plurality of restraints serving to lift said syringe and said plunger above a lower surface upon which said medicine bottle rests; attaching said assembly to the neck of a bottle by pressing said c-shaped member onto said neck of the bottle and installing said syringe into one of said plurality of restraints and said plunger into one of said plurality of restraints.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number, but different alphabetic suffixes.
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(33) The bottle, syringe, and plunger in the included figures are for illustrative purposes only and do not form part of the claimed design.
(34) TABLE-US-00002 Drawings - Reference Numerals 110 Cutout Ring Attachment Member 110a Cutout Opening of Attachment Member 110b Gripping Points of Attachment Member 110c Hole in Attachment Member 112 Solid Arm 114 Cutout Ring Restraint 114a Cutout Section of Ring Restraint 114b Gripping Points of Ring Restraint 114c Hole in Restraint 117 Fully-enclosed Ring Attachment Member 118 Openable Ring Attachment Member 120 Interlocking Arm 122 Interlocking Arm Protrusion 124 Interlocking Arm Receptacle 208 Holster Restraint 210 Restraint Upper Ring 212 Stem 214 Restraint Lower Base 214a Appendages 214b Circular Support Structure 214c Endcap 310 Open Band AttachmentMember 312 Band Enclosure 314 Band Arm 316 Fully-enclosed Band Attachment Member 612 Direct Attachment Arms
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(35) Thus, some embodiments provide a clip that attaches a syringe and separated plunger to a bottle thereby enabling hygienic and convenient drying and storage unlike prior-art mechanisms. Some embodiments provide a mechanism that enables attachment to differently-sized bottles and for differently-sized syringes and separated plungers unlike prior-art mechanisms. These benefits and others of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
DescriptionFirst Embodiment (FIGS. 1-1A)
(36) One embodiment of the clip is illustrated in
OperationFirst Embodiment (FIGS. 1-1A)
(37) To use the clip, hold it so that the plane of the clip is generally perpendicular to the axis of the bottle and cutout opening 110a is adjacent to the bottle's neck. Press the cutout opening of the attachment member onto the bottle's neck until it is forced past gripping points 110b and into the hole, securing the clip to the bottle's neck. Press the barrel of the syringe into the cutout of one of the restraints perpendicularly, past the restraint's gripping points 114b and into the hole. Press the barrel of the separated plunger into the cutout of another of the restraints perpendicularly, past the restraint's gripping points and into the hole. These steps can be performed in any order. The clip will now hold the syringe and the separated plunger attached to the bottle, allowing them to dry and providing convenient storage.
(38) To remove the syringe and the separated plunger from the clip, pull them from the clip through the restraint's cutout, past the gripping points and out of the hole with sufficient force to release them. To remove the clip from the bottle, exert sufficient force on the clip in the opposite direction of its cutout while also restraining the bottle.
(39) The clip can be used repeatedly. It can be detached from one bottle once empty and attached to a new bottle. The syringe and plunger stay attached to the bottle for convenient storage and are clean and dry for the next use. No additional waste or mess is created.
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 2, 2A-D)
(40)
(41) Restraint lower base 214, in this embodiment, comprises a plurality of appendages 214a extending in diverging directions from the lower end of stem 212 and terminating in a plurality of endcaps 214c, with a circular support structure 214b intersecting the plurality of appendages. Other restraint lower bases of various shapes and designs that restrain the syringe and the separated plunger substantially and facilitate adequate drying would be suitable.
(42) The aforementioned components in this embodiment are joined intrinsically as a result of 3D printing or injection molding. However, these components may also be formed separately and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 2, 2A-D)
(43) To use the clip, hold the clip so that its upper plane is generally perpendicular to the axis of the bottle and cutout opening is adjacent to the bottle's neck. Press the cutout of the attachment member onto the bottle's neck until it is forced past gripping points on the attachment member and into the hole, securing the clip to the bottle. Insert the syringe and the separated plunger into the restraints respectively in one of two ways: 1) lower the syringe and the separated plunger through the restraint upper ring to rest on the restraint lower base, or 2) angle and lift the syringe and the separated plunger up into the void in the restraint upper ring, then lower to rest on the restraint lower base. These steps can be performed in any order individually for the syringe and the separated plunger.
(44) To remove, lift the syringe and the separated plunger farther into the restraint upper ring off the restraint lower base, angle the syringe and the separated plunger out away from the back of the embodiment, and lower the syringe and the separated plunger out of the restraint upper ring. To remove the embodiment from the bottle, exert sufficient force on the embodiment in the opposite direction of its cutout while also restraining the bottle.
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 3, 3A-C)
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(46) The aforementioned components in this embodiment are joined intrinsically as a result of 3D printing or injection molding. However, these components may also be formed separately and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 3, 3A-C)
(47) To use the clip, slide the void of open band 310 down over or up under the bottle to attach to the bottle's body. Press the barrel of the syringe into the cutout opening of one of the restraints perpendicularly, past the restraint's gripping points and into the hole. Then, press the barrel of the separated plunger into the cutout of another one of the restraints perpendicularly, past the restraint's gripping points and into the hole. Thus, the syringe and the separated plunger are secured to the open band and, therefore, to the bottle. These steps can be performed in any order.
(48) To remove the syringe and the separated plunger from the embodiment, pull them from the restraints on the open band, past the gripping points and out of the hole with sufficient force to release them. To remove the embodiment from the bottle, slide the embodiment off the bottle's body by raising or lowering it off the bottle.
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIG. 3D)
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(50) The aforementioned components in this embodiment are joined intrinsically as a result of 3D printing or injection molding. However, these components may also be formed separately and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (FIG. 3D)
(51) To use the embodiment, slide the void of the band down over or up under the bottle to attach to the bottle's body. Press the barrel of the syringe into the cutout of one of the restraints perpendicularly, past the restraint's gripping points and into the hole. Press the barrel of the separated plunger into the cutout of another one of the restraints perpendicularly, past the restraint's gripping points and into the hole. Thus, the syringe and the separated plunger are secured to the band and, therefore, to the bottle. These steps can be performed in any order.
(52) To remove the syringe and the separated plunger from the embodiment, pull them from the restraints on the band, past the gripping points and out of the hole with sufficient force to release them. To remove the embodiment from the bottle, slide the embodiment off the bottle's body by raising or lowering it off the bottle.
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 1C-D)
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(54) The fully-enclosed ring attachment member is comprised of a fully-enclosed ring.
(55) The openable ring attachment member is comprised of a ring with an openable, an adjustable, or an openable and adjustable enclosure. The openable ring attachment member may include a ring openable with a hinge, a ring with a belt structure, a ring with a ratcheting enclosure apparatus, a clamp, or any suitable enclosure.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (1C-D)
(56) To use the embodiment in
(57) To remove the embodiment in
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 1D-F)
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(59) The aforementioned components in this embodiment are joined intrinsically as a result of 3D printing or injection molding. However, these components may also be formed separately and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method. Interlocking receptacle 124 and interlocking protrusion 122 may also be formed separately from attachment member 110 and restraint 114, and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method.
(60) Another possible coupling mechanism of the embodiment may be complementary male and female threading devices or another suitable means included in the structures of attachment member 110 and restraints 114.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 1D-F)
(61) To use the embodiment, the user holds one of the restraints and the attachment member with the interlocking receptacle and the interlocking protrusion adjacent. Then, slide the interlocking receptacle and the interlocking protrusion together, engaging the complimentary shapes to fit together, securing the attachment member to one of the restraints fixedly.
(62) The interlocking receptacle and interlocking protrusion may also be switched to be fixed onto the restraints and the attachment member respectively; the substantial matter is that components of the interlocking arms be arranged to enable modular attachment and detachment of the restraints to and from the attachment member for greater user functionality.
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 4A-C)
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(64) Attachment member 110 and interlocking receptacle 124, and holster restraints 208 and interlocking protrusion 122 are joined intrinsically as a result of 3D printing or injection molding in one embodiment. However, these components may also be formed separately and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method. The interlocking receptacle and the interlocking protrusion may also be formed separately from the attachment member and the restraints, and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method.
(65) Another possible coupling mechanism of the embodiment may be complementary male and female threading devices or another suitable means included in the structures of attachment member 110 and holster restraints 208.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 4A-C)
(66) To use the embodiment, hold one of the holster restraints and the attachment member with the interlocking receptacle and the interlocking protrusion adjacent. Then, slide the interlocking receptacle and the interlocking protrusion together, engaging the complimentary shapes to fit together, securing the attachment member to one of the restraints fixedly.
(67) The interlocking receptacle and interlocking protrusion may also be switched to be fixed onto the holster restraints and the attachment member respectively; the substantial matter is that components of interlocking arms 120 be arranged to enable modular attachment and detachment of holster restraints 208 to and from attachment member 110 for greater user functionality.
DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIGS. 5A-R)
(68) Additional embodiments are shown in
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DescriptionAdditional Embodiment (FIG. 6)
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(71) Means for joining to the bottle may include adhesive. Additionally, the size of the restraints may allow for the elimination of the attachment arms and thus, the restraints would be joined directly to the bottle.
OperationAdditional Embodiment (FIG. 6)
(72) The means for joining the restraints to the bottle is applied to the bottle, then the restraints are applied to the the means for joining. These steps can be done in any order.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
(73) Thus, the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the syringe and plunger clip provides a more hygienic and convenient, yet economical device that can be used by persons of almost any age and for any kind of liquid medicine recipient: infants, the disabled, the elderly, and animals, to name a few. Alternatively, some embodiments could be utilized for non-medicine purposes such as crafting, mechanics, woodworking, or other fields where it is desirable to secure multiple cylindrical items to another item.
(74) While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. Any material such as plastic, silicone, rubber, wood, or metal would be suitable. The elements may be intrinsically joined together or formed separately and joined with adhesive, hardware connections such as screws or nails, welding or soldering metal components, or another suitable method. Additionally, the entire clip could be much larger or smaller in size to accommodate bottles, syringes, and separated plungers of various sizes. The attachment mechanism, the restraints, and the joining arms could be various shapes. For example, the restraints could be comprised of bucket-shapes for the syringe and separated plunger to rest in, the arms could be triangles, and/or the restraints could be squares or hexagons. The restraint lower base could present with any number of sufficient draining designs. The device could be tagged or written on or may be partially made of dry erase material, thus enabling explicit identification of the correct medicine recipient. The clip could have any of the arm and/or attachment ring embodiments in any permutation. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.