US2621784A - Medicament or cosmetic applicator package - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1952 s, VAN BOYTHAM 2,621,784

MEDICAMENT OR COSMETIC APPLICTOR PACKAGE Filed DGO. 6, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l /3 Hipp/5, 760% fonf #mep/5 Dec. 16, i1952 s. VAN BOYTHAM MEDICAMENT OR COSMETIC APPLICATOB PACKAGE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1948 MIA/2f" atenteci Dec. 16, 1.95.2

MEDICAMENT OR COSMETIC APPLICATOR PACKAGE Stephan van Boytham, Hollywood, Calif., as-

signor of ten per cent to Annette Caldwell, Hollywood, Calif., and twenty per cent jointly to Hans Klehmet and Virginia Klehmet, both of Malibu, Calif.

Application December 6, 1948, Serial No. 63,708

12 claims.

AThis invention relates generally to packages and particularly to an improved package for containing medicaments, cosmetic materials, polishes, and other substances and for applying such substances.

Certain medicaments, such as skin-treating lotions, salves and liquids are commonly applied to the skin through the use of a Wad or pad of absorbent material which is iirst saturated with the medicament by pouring the latter onto the applicator pad from a bottle, jar or other container. As is well known, such a procedure is subject to several disadvantages, one of which is that the liquid is quite apt to spill onto the floor or onto the apparel of the user ofthe medicament and, in addition, often stains the hands of the user. A major disadvantage resides in the fact that ythe applicatorV pad and the mouth of the bottle may not be sterile and, for this reason, the aeoted areas of the skin to which the medicament is applied may become contaminated and infection of these areas may ensue. When a liquid cleaning or polishing agent is to be applied to a surface, the liquid ispoured onto a cloth or pad and is subject to spilling and, in some cases, may stain or injure the hands of the user. In the case of powder or liquid cosmetic materials, the supply of material is usually stored in a vanity case or other container and dispensed therefrom onto a pad or puff as needed and this often results in loss of some of the material. In all the cases referred to above, it is necessary that the substance to be applied be contained in a bottle, jar or case and dispensed onto an applicator1 pad or cloth as required, and for this reason the container must be carried on the person so as to be kreadily available when needed. Moreover, when Vcontainers holding certain substances are opened, the substances are apt to deteriorate or lose theirV potency. Y

In an effort to alleviate the difculties discussed above, it has been proposed to provide a package in which an applicator pad or bandage, to which a medicament has been added, is 'enclosed in an envelope. In such packages, the envelope is usually made from paper which is torn and removed to gain access to the pad orbandage, the latter then being applied to the skin. It is thus seen that due to the fact that the pad is applied to the skin` by the fingers of the users hand, the once sterile surface of the pad may be touched by and rendered unsterile by the fingers so that infection of the area to be treated by the medicament may result.A In prior applicator packages of which I am aware, the medicament is applied to the applicator pad in a liquid state and allowed to dry thereon Ybefore or while the pad is enclosed in an envelope so that there is no danger of leakage of the liquid from the package. However, in treating certain skin disorders, fortifying the skin against the suns rays, etc., liquid medicaments and lotions must be used and no satisfactory means have been heretofore proposed for packaging discardable applicator Wads or pads containing a liquid treating agent. The present invention is 'directed to a package in which an absorbent or adsorbent applicatorV pad is enclosed in or forms the inner surface or lamination of a leakproof envelope.

One object of my invention is to provide' an applicator package which embodies a pad of saturable material disposed Within an inside surface of an envelope or other relatively flat container, the container being made from material which is impervious to liquid medicaments and other substances and being hermetically sealed so as to prevent contamination of the saturated pad therein and leaking of the liquid from the package. In another embodiment, the pad may be formed as a saturable inner lamina of the envelope and containing the substance to be applied.V f

Another object is to provide an applicator package of the character referred to in whichV the envelope consists of a sheet of liquid impervious, fusible material folded upon itself with its contiguous edges sealed, preferably by applying heat and pressure thereto, the envelope being readily opened by unsealing one edge and thereafter unfolding the envelope by applying a force in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the envelope so as to effect a peeling action tending to unseal and separate the sides of the envelope, to unfold the envelope and expose the saturated pad.

Another object is to provide an applicator package of the type indicated in which the applicator pad or. sheet is axed to the inner surface of at least one of the folded sides of the envelope so that when the envelope is unfolded, the pad is exposed and can be applied against the skin of the user by holding the opened envelope flat in the palm of the hand so that the pad, which may be sterile when disposed within the folded envelope, remains untouched and uncontaminated by the hands. .A related object is to provide a package of the type referred to in which the applicator pad or sheet is aixed to both of the folded sides of the envelope and folded therebetween so that unfolding of the envelope causes unfolding of the applicator sheet.

Another object is to provide a package in which cakes, pills or other substantially solid bodies of various substances can be held and applied to use when the package is opened.

Another object is to provide an applicator package in which the envelope is provided at one side with a pocket for receiving ngers of the user so that the package can be held during the unfolding thereof and the package opened onto the fingers or onto the fingers and the palm of the hand, depending upon the size of the package, the exposed pad then being in position to be patted or wiped against the skin of the user and untouched by either hand during the opening of the package. Another object in this respect is to provide an enclosure or envelope which consists of a single sheet of the liquid impervious material, the sheet being folded in one direction to provide the envelope, and one end being folded in the reverse direction to provide the finger pocket, the several contiguous edges being sealed to complete the package.

Another object is to provide a package which has an inner surface or lamina capable of absorbing various liquids and retaining semi-liquids, such as oils, creams and lotions, and serving as an applicator pad for applying the substance.

Another object is to provide an applicator package, of the character referred to, which is extremely simple in construction, and one which is especially adapted for economical manufacture by mass production methods so that the applicator packages can be sold at a very low retail price and discarded following use.

Another object is to provide an applicator package which is susceptible of various modifications, both as regards the shape of the package and its enclosed pad or applicator sheet and the material from which the envelope and the pad are made, it being obvious that these characteristics of the package depend largely upon the particular use to which the applicator pad is to be put and the substance to be applied.

A further object of *the invention is to provide a method of producing the applicator package, the method consisting of a minimum number of simple steps which can be carried out either manually or in machines designed for the purpose.

Further objects will appear from the following specification and from the drawings, which are intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of an applicator package made in accordance with the present invention, the package being shown in open or extended position and supported on the palm of the users hand, as when the applicator pad is applied to use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the improved applicator package as viewed from one side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the opposite side of the package;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken cn line eI-- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which the package is unfolded;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an applicator package of modiiied shape; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective View showing another modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5 of vthe drawings in detail, my improved applicator package comprises a relatively flat container or enevelope I0 which encloses an applicator pad or sheet II. The envelope II), in its simplest form, may consist of a rectangular sheet of material which is folded or doubled back upon itself to provide opposite sides I2 and I3, the contiguous edges of the sides being suitably bonded together, as indicated at I4, I5 and I6, to form a completely closed, leakproof envelope. The envelope I can be made from various flexible materials such as transparent or opaque plastics, paper, fiber, etc., depending upon the nature of the substance to be applied. In the case of liquid medicaments, lotions, cleaning or polishing agents of liquid or semi-liquid nature, I have found that plastic materials, such as polyethylene, vinyl, or rubber hydrochloride are especially suitable since they are transparent, flexible, light in weight, strong and durable, and impervious to liquids, besides being hygienic and sanitary. Such materials are preferably of a heat-sealing nature so that by applying heat and pressure to the contiguous edges, as indicated by the multiple shortI line areas Ill, I5 and IG, the material can be melted and fused together to provide a positive leak-proof seal which prevents escape of liquid from the envelope along the edge portions thereof. When non-fusible materials, such as paper, are employed, their contiguous edges may be bonded together by means of any suitable adhesive.

In cutting the material from which the envelope IQ is formed, an extension Il is provided at the end of the side I3, this extension providing a ap which can be readily gripped between the thumb and foreiinger of the person using the applicator and drawn toward the body of the envelope to break the seal line I5, whereupon the sides I2 and I3 of the envelope can be separated to permit unfolding of the envelope by drawing the flap I'I toward the fold line I8 of the envelope with a peeling action (Fig. 6), the seal lines I4 and I6 at the contiguous edges of the envelope being broken by this movement to allow complete opening of the envelope. When the shape of the envelope is generally rectangular, the peeling of the side I3 from the side I2 is aided by grasping the flap Il adjacent an end thereof and pulling the side I3 in a diagonalV direction, such an angular pull facilitating separation of the edge portions along the seal lines I4, I5 and I5.

The applicator pad II may take various forms and be made from any suitable absorbent or adsorbent material. I have found that a relatively inexpensive material such as iiannelette is especially suitable for the purpose since it is highly absorbent, light in weight and less bulky than other materials, besides being capable of mass yproduction by a die cutting step. When a package of the form shown in Figs. l to 6 is desired, the annelette is cut to substantially rectangular shape and of a size which is slightly smaller than the dimensions of the envelope when the latter is in the open positionillustrated in Fig. l. By this provision, a border of the envelope material surrounds the pad or sheet II, this border constituting those portions of the envelope which are to be bonded together to provide the seals I 4, I5 and I6.

As an important feature of my invention, the sheet or pad II is suitably affixed to the inner surface of the envelope IQ. This may be accomplished in many ways, for example, by cementing the -pad to the envelope. When the envelope I is made from a fusible plastic material, the pad can be conveniently secured in place by merely applying heat and pressure to the envelope, prefyto be folded upon itself during the folding of the sides of the envelope, and to be opened out or extended automatically as the envelope is unfolded.

The applicator pad or sheet II is adapted to contain various substances for application to the skin of a person or to miscellaneous objects. For

example, the pad may contain cosmetic powder or other dry material or it may be saturated with aliquid or semi-liquid medicament, such as skin treating and fortifying agents. Typical examples of such agents are: cold cream, cleansing cream and other skin treating substances, sun tan lotion and various medicaments. In other instances, the pad may contain shoe polish, metal polish, eyeglass cleaner, or sundry liquid or semi-liquid substances which are ordinarily storedin bottles, jars, cans or other containers.

It is within the concept of this invention to make the envelope from a laminated material having its inner lamina of an absorbent substance capable of retaining liquids and semi-liquids and applying the same when the package is opened.

When the pad is to contain powder material, the latter may be sprinkled thereon prior to sealing the sides and end of the package. When the pad II is to be saturated with a liquid, however, the envelope and pad are rst folded and the lateral edges of the envelope are sealed as indicated at I4 and I6, after which the liquid is introduced into the partly sealed envelope through 4the open end thereof to saturate the pad. While the liquid can be inserted in various Ways, I have found it preferable to inject it into the envelope in measured quantities by means of a tube or injection needle (not shown) which can be readily inserted into the envelope through the open end thereof., By injecting the liquid in this manner, the possibility of spilling some of the liquid and wetting the contiguous sides of the opening is entirely avoided. After a predetermined amount of the liquid has been introduced into the envelope IU and absorbed by the pad II, the sides of the opening are sealed as indicated at I5 so as to completely enclose the saturated pad and positively seal the liquid within the envelope to prevent leakage thereof.

Applicator envelopes containing the saturated pads may be packed and sold in packages from which the purchaser can withdraw the envelopes as needed. Since the improved packages are thin and flexible and leak-proof, they can be conveniently carried on the person or in a handbag and used as needed. To apply the saturated pad II to use, the envelope Il] is opened in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6 so as to unfold and expose the pad. It is to be noted that since the envelope is opened by merely peeling a side thereofV down toward the fold line I8, it is unnecessary to touch the pad with the fingers so that the pad, if originally sterile, is sterile when the package is iirst opened. Consequently, the improved applicator package is particularly suitable for applying medicaments to sores, cuts, burns and other affected areas of the body. Preferably, the affected area isv treated by holding the openpackage in the palm of the hand as shownI in Fig. 1v and patting or wiping the area with the pad to cause the medicamentl to be deposited thereon. After the pad II` has served its useful purpose, the entire'package I0, II may be discarded.

It is an important object to provide means for facilitating the opening of the envelope and for retaining the same on thel hand of the user. This means consists of apocket 20 formed at the bottom or rear Vside of the envelope I0 and into which at least some of the ngers 2| of the users hand 22 can be inserted as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The pocket 20 can be formed by securing three edges of a rectangular piece of the plastic material to the back or under side of the envelope but I prefer to form the pocket by means of an extension 23 of the material from Which the envelope is made, the extension 23 forming a continuation of the side I2 of the envelope and being folded along a transverse line 24. By this construction, a single strip or sheet of the plastic material is folded to provide the end portion or upper side I3, the intermediate portion or lower side I2 and the opposite end portion or extension 23 and thus the cost of producing the package is maintained at a low gure. The lateral edges of the extension 23 and that portion which is disposed adjacent the fold line 2d are secured to the corresponding portions of the envelope proper by the sealing lines III, I5 and It, it being noted that along the lateral edges ofthe envelope the three plies I2, I3 and 23 are fused together by heat and pressure.

When it is desired to use the applicator pad, lingers of the user are first inserted into the pocket 20 as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 Whereafter the envelope I0 is opened by grasping the flap I1 and stripping the side I3 down toward the fold line I8 in the manner previously explained. During this movement, the package is retained on the fingers of the user and the applied stripping force is counteracted by a force exerted by the fingers. Since the package is retained by the fingers, the result of the stripping or peeling action is to cause the sidev I3 to lie flat against the palm of the hand so as to fully extend and prepare the pad II for application to the skin.

It has been stated that the applicator package may assume various shapes and sizes. In Fig. 7 there is illustrated a package which is triangular in form, the envelope 25 being made from a diamond-shaped piece of plastic or other flexible material andfolded on a line extending transversely of the diamond. Preferably, one side 26 of the triangle is formed with an extended point which provides a tab 2'I by means of which the two sides 26 and 28 can be readily unfolded by a stripping action, such a procedure breaking the seal,which is indicated at 29, to expose the pad 3B. By this construction, a pulling force exerted on the flap or tab 21 is transmitted equally to the inclined seal lines 29 to separate the sides of the envelope with little effort on the part of the user.

While the packages shown in Figs. 1 to '7 are described as sealed by fusing the plastic material together, or through the use of a suitable cement or other bonding agent, it is within the concept of this invention to provide sealing means which is readily broken by a cutting string or strip indicated at 35 in Fig. 8. The string or strip 35 may be disposed just inwardly of the sealed edges 36 of the envelope 31 and provided with a loose end 38 which may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger and pulled to cut the plastic ma- `terialwhereloy to openthe envelope and permit unfolding of itssides. Invother respects, the envelope 31 is `similar to that illustrated in Figs.

herein disclosed as embodied-in one preferred form and various alternatives, it is apparent that it is susceptible Yof other -modifications within the scope of theappended claims.

I` claim as my invention:

1. Aneapplicator package, comprising: an envelopeconsisting of aA single sheet of foldabla fusibleimaterial doubled upon itself with portionsv of `the material adjacent vthe contiguous edges of the opposite sides of the envelope separably fused together; and a foldable applicator pad of absorbent material doubled upon itself within said envelope Withl its sides contiguous and fused to the inner surfaces of the correspondingv sides of said envelope, at least one of said sides of said envelope having a tab projecting beyond a said fused portion and by which saidy fused portions can be separated in response to opposite forces applied to said tab and-the other side of said envelope in the plane of'said envelope to effect simultaneousv unfolding of said envelope and said applicator pad.

2. An applicator device including: an envelope consisting of a single sheet of flexible, fusible material doubled upon itself, portions lof themavterial adjacentthe contiguous edges of the opposite sides of the envelope being separably fused together; and a flexible applicator pad of absorbent material doubled upon itself Within said envelope with its folded portions fused to l the inner surfaces of the corresponding sides of said envelope, said envelope sides having engageable portions by which the fusedv edge portions thereofY can be separatedV in response to opposite forces applied in the plane of said envelope to effect simultaneous unfolding Vof said envelope and said applicator pad.

3. An applicatorpackage, comprising: an envelope consisting of a single sheet of' foldable, transparent, fiuid impervious, fusible material having a first end portion folded back to overlie one side of an intermediate-portion of said sheet, said sheet also having a second end portion foldedback to overlie the other side of( said intermediate Vportion of Ysaid sheet, the edgesof said first end portion being fused to and'in' sealing engagement withr contiguous areas. of said intermediate portion., said rst end portion and said intermediate portion together defining said envelope, the lateral edges of said second end portion being fused to contiguous areas ofk said intermediate portion and providinga pocket for receiving the fingers of a. user-of the applicator package; and an applicator sheet folded within said envelopeA with its folded sides respectively fused to the inner surfaces of said first end portion and said intermediateportion, the seal between said first end'portion and said intermediate portion being readily breakablein response to forces applied to said first endportion and said intermediate portionV in opposite directions'in the general plane Ofsaid-intermediate portion so as to-permit simultaneous unfolding of the sides of said envelope and said applicator sheet onto the palm ofthe users hand.

4. An applicator package as iii-claim 3 Wherein said firstend portionis provided with a projecting tab adapted to be grasped for-unfolding said envelope.

5.` An applicator package, comprising: an envelope consisting ofl a single sheet of fluid impervious, foldable, flexible, fusible material doubled upon itself with the portions of the material adjacent the contiguous edges of the opposite sides of the envelope fused in sealing engagement, one of said sides having an engageable portion and the other of said sides having means dening a pocket for receiving the fingers of a user of the applicator package; and a foldable, flexible, applicator sheet doubled upon itself Within said envelope with its sides contiguous and fused to theinner surfaces of the corresponding sides of said envelope, the seal between said sidesfof said envelope being readily breakable in response to forces applied to said engageable portion and said other of said sides in opposite directions in the general plane of said envelope so asto allow simultaneous unfolding 0f the sides of said envelope and said applicator sheet onto the palm of the users'hand.

6. An article of manufacture, comprising: an envelope of fluid impervious, folded, fusible Inaterial, said envelope consisting of a single sheet doubled back upon itself with its contiguous edge portions fused together in sealing engagement; and a sheet of absorbent material disposed Within said envelopeand bonded to the inner surface of at lea-st one side of said envelope and adapted to be exposed upon breaking of said seal and un- Jfolding of said envelope', said sheet of absorbent material being f-olded Within said envelope and being` fused to the inner surfaceof both sides thereof.

7. An article of manufacture, comprising: an envelope of fluid impervious, foldable, fusible material, said envelope consisting of a single sheet doubled back upon itself with the contiguous edge portions of its sides fused-together in sealing engagement, one of saidA sides having graspable means at one of'Y its edges and the other of said sides having an extension folded thereagainst with the contiguous edges of said otherside and said extension fused together and defining a pocket; and a sheetk of absorbent-material disposed within said envelope and fused along its edges tothe inner surface of at leastl one of said sides, breaking of said seal and unfolding ofA said envelope causing exposure of said absorbent sheet.

8. A method of producing an applicator package, consisting in: cutting a blank from a sheet of fluid impervious material, said blank' having a tab projecting from an end-thereof, bonding a sheet of absorbent material to aside of said blank, folding said blank upon itself,y andbonding the contiguous edge portions of the folded` blank in face-to-face sealing engagement'to enclose said absorbent sheet Withsaid tab projecting from an end ofthe package.

9. A methodof producing anapplicator package, consisting in: cutting ablank from a sheet of uid'impervious, fusible material, bonding a sheet of absorbent material to a side of said blank, iultaneously folding Asaid-blank and said sheet upon themselves, .and'fusing the contiguous faces of the edgel portions of the folded blank-in faceto-face sealing engagement to enclose-said absorbent sheet.

10. A method of producing an applicator'package, consisting in: cutting ablankfrom-a sheet of fluid impervious plastic material capable of being fused under the applicationof heat; said blank having a tab projecting from an end-thereof, placing'y ay sheet of absorbent material upon said blank, applying heat to said blank to cause the same to adhere to said sheet, simultaneously folding said blank and said sheet upon themselves, and applying heat to the contiguous edge portions of the folded blank to fuse the same in face-to-face sealing engagement so as to enclose said sheet, said tab projecting from a said fused edge portion.

11. A method of producing an applicator package, consisting in: cutting a blank from a sheet of fluid impervious plastic material capable of being fused under the application of heat and pressure, said blank having a tab projecting from an end thereof, placing a sheet of absorbent material upon said blank, applying heat and pressure to said blank to cause the same to adhere to said sheeet, simultaneously folding said blank and said sheet upon themselves, and applying heat and pressure to the contiguous edge portions of the folded blank to fuse the same in face-toface sealing engagement so as to enclose said sheet, said tab projecting from a said fused edge portion.

12. A method of producing an applicator device, including the steps of: bonding a sheet of absorbent material to one side of a sheet of fluidimpervious materials; folding said sheet of fluidimpervious material and said bonded sheet of absorbent material to bring portions of said absorbent material and edge portions of said fluidimpervious material into face-to-face relationship; and bonding together the contiguous edge portions of said folded sheet of fluid-impervious material to enclose said absorbent sheet.

STEPHAN VAN BOYTHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,143,609 Bryner June 22, 1915 1,343,466 Mork June 15, 1920 1,654,161 Diaz Dec. 27, 1927 1,994,425 Weller Mar. 12, 1935 2,057,500 OConnor Oct. 13, 1936 2,102,858 Schlumbohm Dec. 21, 1937 2,176,308 Larkin Oct. 17, 1939 2,220,231 Gilillan Nov. 5, 1940 2,232,783 Hausheer Feb. 25, 1941 2,263,191 Saladin et al. Nov. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 231,487 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1925 396,299 Great Britain Aug. 3, 1933 634,317 France Nov. 18, 1927 679,341 France Jan. 6, 1930

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