US3439674A - Liquid eyewash dispensing device including eyelid engaging means - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1969 J. LELICOFF 3,

LIQUID EYEWASH DISPENSING DEVICE INCLUDING EYELID ENGAGING MEANS Filed Feb. 18, 1966 r---fi FIG,.2

IIWAI HIHVAII ."1 Ki III A inn aim-m INVENTOR. Jim/v l 4 GOF'F United States Patent US. Cl. 128-233 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An eyewash liquid dispensing device including a container on which an eyelid-engaging assembly is movably supported that may be used to hold an eyelid in an open position when a liquid is being applied to an eye.

As is well known, the human eye is extremely sensitive to dust, small foreign objects and the like, and when such materials come into contact with the eyes, they quickly become irritated. One commonly accepted method of alleviating this condition is to apply a mild liquid medicant to the eyes, frequently referred to as an eyewash, which is normally applied by use of a dropper. However, a particularly annoying problem or difficulty in so applying an eyewash or other liquid to the eyes, is to maintain the eyelids in an open position during application thereof.

A major object of the present invention is to provide an eyewash liquid dispensing device that more easily serves this function in that it provides means for maintaining the eyelid in an open position during application of eyewash liquid to the eyes.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide an eyewash dispensing device of compact, simple mechanical structure which can be fabricated from standard, commercially available materials, is inexpensive to produce, and due to the convenience provided thereby in maintaining the eyelids in an open position as a liquid wash or other medicament is applied to the eye, should enjoy widespread acceptance.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a number of forms thereof, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating these forms, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first form of eyewash dispensing device having means associated therewith for maintaining the eyelid of a user in an open position during application of the medicament;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a second form of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a combined side elevational and vertical cross-sectional view of a third form of the device;

FIGURE 5 is a combined side elevational and vertical cross-sectional view of a fourth form of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a second side elevational view of the fourth form of the device, taken at an angle of approximately 90 relative to the view shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view of the fourth form of the device, taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the first form of the invention when in use, which is also the manner in which the second, third and fourth forms thereof are used.

The first form A of the eyewash dispensing device of the present invention, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, includes a container B preferably formed from a polymerized resin material such as polyethylene, or the like. The

container B is defined by two generally trapezoidal side walls 10, two elongate rectangular end walls 12, a bottom 14 and a top 16. The container B also has a neck 18 projecting upwardly from top 16. Threads 20 are formed 'on the neck 18, as shown in FIGURE 8.

An upwardly extending guide 22 (FIGURE 1) of channel-shaped transverse cross section is mounted on one of the end walls 12, or if desired, may be formed as an integral part thereof. A protuberance 24 (FIGURE 2) extends inwardly into an upwardly extending confined space 25, which is cooperatively defined by the guide 22 and the end wall 12 most adjacent thereto.

An elongate rigid strip 26 is slidably disposed in space 25, and a number of longitudinally spaced openings 28 are formed in this strip, any one of which can be removably engaged by the protuberance 24. An elongate eyelid-engaging member 30 is rigidly secured by conventional means to that end of the strip 26 most remote from the container B.

Operation of the first form A of the invention is most simple. The cap 32 (FIGURE I) mounted on neck 18 is removed, and the rigid strip 26 is manually adjusted in the confined space 25 whereby the member 30 may lightly engage the eyelid 34 of the user in the manner shown in FIGURE 8 when the container B is at a generally inverted position. When the container B is in the position shown in FIGURE 8, the liquid, whether it be an eyewash or other medicament, can be discharged through a restricted portion 18a forming a part of the neck 18 onto the eye 36 of the user. The strip 26 is removably and adjustably held at the desired extended position relative to the container B by the protuberance 24 which engages one of the openings 28, as shown in FIGURE 2. After form A of the device has been used (FIGURE 8), the rigid strip 26 and member 30 can be moved downwardly in space 25 to a position where the member 30 is disposed adjacent the cap 32 to minimize the storage space required for the device.

A second form C of the invention is shown in FIGURE 3, that includes a container 38 defined by a cylindrical side wall 40, a top 42, and a bottom 44. A neck 46 of the same general structure as neck 18 projects upwardly from the top 42 and is engaged by a cap 48. An eyelid-engaging member 50 of generally the same structure as member 30 is affixed to the upper end of a rigid strip 52. A number of pairs of arcuate claws 54 (FIGURE 3) extend outwardly from strip 52 and slidably and frictionally engage the exterior surface of the side wall 40.

T 0 use the second form C of the invention the integrally formed rigid strip 52 and eyelid-engaging member 50 are adjusted to a desired position relative to the container 38 and the cap 48 removed from the neck 46, whereby liquid medicament may be discharged from the device in the same manner shown in FIGURE 8. As in the case of the first form of the invention, the member 50 can be depressed to conserve storage space.

A third form D of the invention is shown in FIGURE 4, which includes a container 56 defined by a continuous side wall 58 of any desired configuration, a bottom 60 and a top 62 which provide a confined space 64 in which an eyewash or other liquid medicament 66 is contained. A tubular neck 68 projects upwardly from top 62, and a cap 70 is pivotally supported on this neck by a pin 72. A vertically extending channel-shaped member 74 is formed as a part of container 56, which member together with the side wall 58, cooperatively defines a vertically extending space 76.

A rigid strip 78 is slidably disposed in space 76, and the upper end of this strip (FIGURE 4) supports an eyelidengaging member 80 of the same structure as the member 30. A link 82 is connected by a first pin 84 to cap 70, and by a second pin 86 to the rigid strip 78. When the strip 78 is moved upwardly in space 76, the link 82 pivots the cap into an open position to permit discharge of liquid 66 through the neck 68. When the cap 70 is so positioned, the eyelid-engaging member is placed in light pressure contact with the eyelid in the manner shown in FIGURE 8, and liquid 66 is dispensed onto the eye 36 through the neck 68.

A fourth form E of the dispenser is shown in FIG- URtES 5 and 6 which includes a container 88 preferably defined by a cylindrical side wall 90 having a bottom 92, with the side wall terminating at the top in a short tubular neck 94. A circumferentially extending recess 96 is formed on the exterior of the neck 94.

A tubular liquid dispenser 98 is provided that is formed from a resilient polymerized resin such as polyethylene, on the lower end of which a bead 100 is formed which removably engages recess 96. The dispenser 98 is roughly L-slraped in longitudinal cross section, as best shown in FIGURE 5, in which a relatively small opening 102 is formed through which liquid in container 88 can be dispensed when the opening 102 is held adjacent the eye 36 and when the container is in a generally inverted position.

A channel-shaped member 104 extends vertically along one side of container 88, and is preferably formed as an integral part of the container. The member 104 and side wall 90 cooperatively define a vertically extending space 106 in which a rigid strip 108 is slidably disposed. The upper end of strip 108 supports an eyelid-engaging member 110 that is of the same general structure as the member 30, and is used in the same manner.

A light helical spring 114 is disposed in space 106, and the upper end of this spring is connected to a small loop 116 that extends outwardly from rigid strip 108. The lower end of spring 114 is connected by conventional means 118 to the channel-shaped member 104.

A second opening 120 is formed in tubular liquid dispenser 98 in which a closure 122 is slidably mounted, which under normal conditions, rests on the upper extremity of the neck 94. By means of a first pin 124 the closure 122 is connected to a link 126, which link is in turn pivotally connected to the rigid strip 108 by a second pin 128.

The spring 114 serves to maintain the strip 108, eyelidengaging member 110 and closure 122 in the positions shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. However, when the fourth form E of the invention is inverted, with the opening 102 in close proximity to the eye 36 and the member 110 engaging the eyelid 34, the closure 122 assumes an open position when pressure is exerted on the rigid strip 108 to move it further into the confines of space 106.

A sealing member extends upwardly from closure 122 (FIGURE 5) that obstructs the second opening 120 to prevent inadvertent discharge of liquid from the container 88 therethrough when the device is in an inverted position. When pressure is removed from the member 55 110, the helical spring 114 contracts and moves the strip 108 and closure 122 into the positions shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6 where the interior of the container 88 is sealed from contact with the ambient atmosphere.

Operation of the four forms of the invention have previously been described in detail, and further description thereof is not required.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the detai's of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing eyewash liquid, including:

(a) a container for said liquid;

(b) first means for discharging liquid from said container when said container is in a generally inverted position;

(0) an eyelid-engaging member; and

((1) second means for so holding said engaging member relative to said container that said engaging member removably contacts the eyelid of a user when said container is in said inverted position to hold said eyelid open to permit discharge of said liquid from said container to be discharged from said first means, which second means further includes:

(1) a rigid strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings formed therein, with said strip supporting said member on that end thereof most remote from said container;

(2) a channel-shaped guide supported from said container in which said strip is slidably mounted; and

(3) a resilient protuberance on said guide that can selectively engage any one of said openings to adjustably support said strip and first means at a desired relationship relative to said container at which said first means can engage said eyelid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,482,431 9/1949 Okawa 12s 233 3,279,466 10/1966 Mings 1128-233 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,852 1/1952 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

J. D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. c1. X.R.

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