Spacer for an eye liquid applicator

Abstract

A spacer (1) for an eye liquid applicator (100), comprises a supporting wall (10), which includes a receiving opening (AA) in which a container (2) of the applicator (100) can be inserted, a first surface (10A), configured to abut the container (2), and a second surface (10B) opposite the first surface (10A). The spacer also comprises a spacing element (11) extending from the second surface (10B) of the support wall (10) along a spacing orientation (DD), which includes at least one component that is perpendicular to the second surface (10B), between a first end (11A), associated with the support wall (10), and a second end (11B), opposite the first end (11A). The spacer comprises a contact element (12), associated with the second end (11B) of the spacing element (11) and configured to come into contact with the user's skin, in a support zone surrounding the eye.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] SPACER FOR AN EYE LIQUID APPLICATOR

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This invention relates to a spacer for an eye liquid applicator and the liquid applicator itself.

[0005] Background art

[0006] This disclosure addresses the technical field of eye liquid applicators, hence the field of devices used in the sector of ophthalmology. Known in this field are small bottles comprising a reservoir, which contains the eye liquid, and a dispenser, connected to the reservoir to receive the liquid and to portion it (for example in drops) so that it can be dispensed in a controlled manner. Known applicators have some disadvantages, however. In particular, the main disadvantage with the devices known in the prior art lies in the difficulty of applying the liquid, especially in the case of people with some disabilities or no longer in their prime, (who are often the very people who need such treatments) because the dispenser needs to be positioned correctly relative to the eye, without help, otherwise the treatment is ineffective or, in the worst cases, the dispenser itself may injure the patient.

[0007] Known in this field are devices which facilitate dispensing the liquid, such as, for example, those described in documents KR200490570Y1 , US3934590A, CN202078540U and US2015088099A1 . These devices, however, although they facilitate dispensing, are cumbersome, expensive to manufacture and not versatile.

[0008] Aim of the invention

[0009] The aim of this disclosure is to provide a spacer for an eye liquid applicator and an eye liquid applicator to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0010] This aim is fully achieved by the spacer for an eye liquid applicator and the eye liquid applicator of this disclosure as characterized in the appended claims.

[0011] Disclosure of the invention

[0012] According to an aspect of this disclosure, this invention comprises a spacer for a liquid applicator for applying a liquid (preferably an eye liquid or eyewash). The spacer comprises a support wall.

[0013] The support wall includes a receiving opening in which the applicator is inserted. The support wall includes a first surface configured to abut the applicator. The support wall includes a second surface, opposite the first surface.

[0014] The spacer comprises a spacing element. The spacing element extends from the second surface of the support wall along a spacing orientation which includes at least one component that is perpendicular to the second surface. The spacing element extends along the spacing orientation between a first end, associated with the support wall, and a second end, opposite the first end.

[0015] The spacer comprises a contact element. The contact element is associated with the second end of the spacing element.

[0016] The contact element is configured to come into contact with the user's skin, in a support zone around the eye.

[0017] In an embodiment, the support wall, the spacing element and / or the contact element are formed as a single body.

[0018] This allows spacer production to be very efficient and inexpensive.

[0019] In an embodiment, the support wall, the spacing element and / or the contact element are formed as separate elements which can be assembled when used and disassembled for transportation purposes. The advantage of this, although it makes spacer production more complex, is that the spacer is more compact when not in use, and is thus easier to transport.

[0020] In an embodiment, the support wall and the spacing element meet at radiused edges, defining a curvature radius. In other embodiments, the support wall and the spacing element meet at sharp edges, defining an elevation angle.

[0021] In an embodiment, the contact element is basically defined by the second end of the spacer.

[0022] Preferably, the single body is made of plastic material.

[0023] Preferably, the spacing element is defined by a respective spacing bar. By spacing bar is meant an element which has a main direction of extension, a limited width relative to the length along the main direction of extension and a very reduced thickness, even smaller than the width of the spacing bar.

[0024] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the spacing element is defined by a plurality of spacing bars. Each spacing bar is connected to the support wall at a respective first end.

[0025] In this embodiment, the contact element comprises a contact bar. The contact bar connects the second end of a spacing bar to the second end of the adjacent spacing bar.

[0026] That way, the contact element has a larger surface area, which reduces the feeling of pressure on the user's skin.

[0027] In an embodiment, the contact bar comprises a contact surface having a curved, concave profile configured to receive the profile of a user's face. This further enhances the feeling of comfort for the patient.

[0028] Preferably, the plurality of spacing bars are angularly spaced about an axis through the receiving opening and parallel to the spacing orientation.

[0029] This makes the spacer more stable when it rests on the patient's skin.

[0030] In this regard, in a preferred embodiment, the contact element comprises a first contact bar which connects the second ends of a first pair of spacing bars, and a second contact bar, which connects the second ends of a second pair of spacing bars, opposite the first pair of spacing bars. That way, in use, the spacer combines the patient's comfort with high stability.

[0031] Preferably, the first pair of spacing bars and the second pair of spacing bars are inclined with respect to the support wall and convergent in a distancing direction, oriented from the first contact bar towards the support wall. This is very important because it means the spacer does not need to be too close to the eye but can contact the patient's face in more suitable zones, which are under the eye socket and above the brow ridge.

[0032] Preferably, the spacing element has a thickness greater than 0,5 mm in a radial direction away from an axis through the receiving opening and parallel to the spacing orientation. In other words, the spacing bar has a thickness greater than 0,5 mm, preferably greater than 1 mm, preferably between 1 .3 mm and 1 .7 mm.

[0033] In an embodiment, the receiving opening defines a circular shape between 0.5 cm and 3 cm in diameter. In an embodiment, the receiving opening defines a rectangular shape where each side is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm long.

[0034] In an embodiment, the contact element is spaced from the second surface by a distance of between 1 .5 cm and 5 cm, preferably between 2.5 cm and 4.5 cm. In effect, this range of distances is the one most suitable for preventing the risk of the applicator coming into contact with the eye (even in the case of applicators with very long dispensers) while keeping a distance such as to prevent excessive deformation of the spacing element which might, in use, lead to undesirable nearness of the applicator to the eye. Within this range of distances, the applicator remains at a correct distance and sufficiently rigid.

[0035] According to an aspect of this disclosure, this invention provides a liquid applicator for applying an eye liquid. The applicator comprises a reservoir, defining an internal liquid containing space that ends in a dispensing mouth. The applicator comprises a dispenser, associated with the dispensing mouth to receive the liquid from the reservoir and including a dispensing end.

[0036] The applicator comprises a spacer comprising one or more of the features described in this disclosure with reference to the spacer. The dispenser passes at least partly through the receiving opening of the spacer to be able to dispense the liquid through the receiving opening. Preferably, the reservoir and / or the dispenser comprise an attachment zone, where the support wall of the spacer is attached. The size of the attachment zone is greater than or equal to the size of a through section of the receiving opening. That means that at least at one position of the spacer, the receiving opening has a through section that is the same size as, or indeed smaller than the attachment zone so that the spacer has to be pressed onto the attachment zone. This ensures greater stability for the spacer thanks to the friction between the walls of the receiving opening and the walls of the attachment zone.

[0037] According to an aspect of this disclosure, this invention provides a method for making a spacer comprising one or more of the features described in this disclosure with reference to the spacer.

[0038] The method comprises a step of making a flat blank including a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides.

[0039] The method comprises a step of cutting the flat blank and making a receiving opening.

[0040] The method comprises a step of heating at least part of the flat blank to a bending temperature.

[0041] The method comprises a step of bending the flat blank about a bending axis to define a support wall in which the receiving opening is made, and a spacing element which is inclined with respect to the support wall.

[0042] The bending axis is interposed between the support wall and the spacing element.

[0043] Preferably, the blank comprises a first bending axis and a second bending axis, which define three panels: a first panel, which defines a first pair of spacing bars; a second panel, which defines a second pair of spacing bars; and a third panel, which defines the support wall. The first bending axis is included between the first and the third panel, while the second bending axis is included between the second and the third panel.

[0044] When the first panel and the second panel are bent relative to the third panel, they are bent so that the first pair of spacing bars and the second pair of spacing bars are inclined with respect to the support wall and convergent in a distancing direction, oriented from the first contact element towards the support wall.

[0045] Brief description of the drawings

[0046] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0047] - Figures 1A and 1 B respectively show an embodiment of a spacer according to this invention and of a liquid applicator including the spacer;

[0048] - Figures 2A and 2B respectively show a further embodiment of the spacer of Figure 1 A and of the liquid applicator including the spacer of Figure 1 A;

[0049] - Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show a first side view, a second side view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the spacer of Figure 1 A;

[0050] - Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show a first side view, a second side view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the spacer of Figure 1 A;

[0051] - Figures 5A, 5B and 5C show a first side view, a second side view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the spacer of Figure 1 A;

[0052] - Figures 6A, 6B and 6C show a first side view, a second side view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the spacer of Figure 1 A;

[0053] - Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show a first side view, a second side view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the spacer of Figure 1 A.

[0054] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0055] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 100 denotes a liquid applicator for applying a liquid (for example, an eyewash) to a human eye. The liquid may be a freshening liquid, a medicated liquid, a cleansing liquid.

[0056] The applicator 100 comprises a container 2. The container 2 comprises a reservoir 21 , configured to contain the liquid. The container 2 comprises a connecting zone 22. The container 2 comprises a dispenser 23, configured to receive the liquid from the reservoir 21 and to dispense it along a spacing orientation DD towards the human eye. The connecting zone 22 is a zone that is interposed, along the spacing orientation DD, between the reservoir 21 and the dispenser 23. For example, in an embodiment, the connecting zone 22 is defined by a neck of the dispenser 23, including an internal thread which connects to an external thread on a neck of the reservoir 21 .

[0057] The applicator 2 comprises a spacer 1 . It is specified that this disclosure is also intended to protect the spacer 1 alone, whether or not accompanied by the container 2, in that the spacer can also be flexibly positioned on different containers of different applicators.

[0058] The spacer 1 is associated with the container 2 at the connecting zone 22. Specifically, the spacer 1 comprises a support wall 10. The support wall 10 receives the connecting zone 22 of the container 2. In particular, the support wall 10 comprises a first surface 10A. The first surface 10A faces and abuts an abutment surface SS (at least partly perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD) of the connecting zone 22.

[0059] The support wall 10 comprises a second surface 10B. The second surface 10B is opposite the first surface 10A.

[0060] The support wall 10 comprises a receiving opening AA in which the dispenser 23 of the container 2 is inserted until the abutment surface SS abuts the first surface 10A of the support wall 10.

[0061] The receiving opening AA defines a through section, which is perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD and which may be prismatic, circular, square or rectangular.

[0062] The through section has at least one dimension along a direction perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD which is greater than or equal to (maximum 2 mm) a dimension along a direction perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD of the connecting zone. This ensures that there is at least one relative position between the container 2 and the spacer 1 where the connecting zone 22 fits into the receiving opening AA, preferably at least with a little interference (maximum 2 mm) which makes for a more stable fit. In some embodiments, the support wall 10 may be made at least partly (preferably the portion surrounding the receiving opening AA) from highly deformable plastic material, so as to allow completely enclosing the connecting zone 22 and applying an elastic force (due to the deformation) which stabilizes the applicator.

[0063] In an embodiment, the spacer 1 comprises a spacing element 1 1. The spacing element 1 1 extends from the support wall 10 between a first end 11 A, connected to (associated with) the support wall 10, and a second end 11 B, opposite the first end. The spacing element 1 1 extends from the support wall along an elevation direction which includes at least one component along the spacing orientation DD.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the spacing element 1 1 comprises a spacing bar 1 1 1 . Still more preferably, the spacing element 1 1 comprises the (first) spacing bar 1 11 and a second, a third and a fourth spacing bar 1 12, 113, 114.

[0065] The first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14 each extend from the support wall 10 between a first end 1 1 1 A, 112A, 113A, 1 14A connected to (associated with) the support wall 10 at a respective vertex of the support wall 10, and a second end 1 1 1 B, 1 12B, 1 13B. 1 14B opposite the first end 1 1 1 A, 1 12A, 113A, 114A. The first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14 each extend from the support wall 10 along a respective elevation direction which includes at least one component along the spacing orientation DD.

[0066] The elevation directions of the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 11 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 114 are convergent towards the support wall. In other words, the support wall 10 defines a bottom of a V-shaped body. Expressed in other terms, the mutual distance between the first ends 11 1 A, 1 12A, 113A, 1 14A of the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14 is less than the mutual distance between the second ends 1 1 1 B, 112B, 1 13B. 114B of the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 112, 1 13, 1 14. In an alternative embodiment, the spacing element 1 1 comprises a first spacing wall 1 15 and a second spacing wall 1 16, associated with opposite sides of the support wall, as illustrated in Figure 7C. The first spacing wall 115 and the second spacing wall 1 16 are convergent towards the support wall 10 along the spacing orientation DD.

[0067] In a further embodiment, the spacing element 1 1 comprises a third spacing wall 1 17 and a fourth spacing wall 1 18, associated with opposite sides of the support wall 10, as illustrated in Figure 8C. That way, the spacer 1 defines a hollow truncated pyramid.

[0068] In yet another embodiment, the spacing element is defined by a single, circular wall associated with the support wall 10 (which is preferably circular in shape) to define a spacer 1 having the shape of a hollow truncated cone. In an embodiment, the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14 are each connected as one piece to the support wall 10 where they meet at edges which may be radiused or sharp.

[0069] In another embodiment, on the other hand, illustrated in Figure 4C, for example, the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14 are each connected to the support wall 10 by respective male and female connecting elements, which are disposed on the support wall (for example, the female element) and on each first end 1 1 1 A, 1 12A, 113A, 1 14A of the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 11 , 1 12, 1 13, 114.

[0070] In an embodiment, the spacer 1 comprises a contact element 12, which is configured to come into contact with the user's skin while the drops are being dispensed.

[0071] The contact element 12 may be embodied in several ways, depending also on the embodiment of the spacing element 11 it is part of.

[0072] Specifically, in the embodiment where the spacing element 1 1 comprises the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 112, 1 13, 114, the contact element 12 may be embodied in at least two ways.

[0073] In a first embodiment of it, the contact element 12 is defined by the ends 1 11 B, 1 12B, 1 13B. 1 14B of the first, second, third and fourth spacing bars 1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 6C. In a second embodiment of it, the contact element 12 comprises a first contact bar 121 and a second contact bar 122. The first contact bar 121 is connected (as one piece or by removable joints) to the second end 1 1 1 B of the first spacing bar 1 11 and to the second end 1 12B of the second spacing bar 112. The second contact bar 122 is connected (as one piece or by removable joints) to the second end 1 13B of the third spacing bar 1 13 and to the second end 1 14B of the fourth spacing bar 1 14.

[0074] At this point, the first and the second contact bar 121 , 122 may also be embodied in different ways.

[0075] In a first embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3C, the first and the second contact bar 121 and 122 are straight bars perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD

[0076] In a second embodiment, illustrated in Figure 4C, the first and the second contact bar 121 and 122 are straight bars perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD but having a planar shape extending in a plane perpendicular to the spacing orientation DD, to define a first contact wall PC1 and a second contact wall PC2, respectively. This enhances the user's comfort because its larger surface area reduces the pressure applied on the skin.

[0077] In a second embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 A, 1 B and 5C, the first and the second contact bar 121 and 122 are curved bars. Looking in even more detail, the curved bars may be convex, that is to say, the bars protrude in a direction away from the support wall 10 (Figure 1 A). Alternatively, to improve contact with the spacer, the curved contact bars are concave, that is to say, the bars protrude towards the support wall 10 (Figure 5C).

[0078] Lastly, when the spacing element 11 is defined by the first and second spacing walls 1 15, 116 or also by the third and the fourth spacing wall 1 17, 118, the contact element 12 is defined by an edge of the first spacing wall 115, opposite the one connected to the support wall 10, and by an edge of the second spacing wall 1 16, opposite the one connected to the support wall 10.

[0079] In this case too, evidently, the edge of the first spacing wall 1 15 and the edge of the second spacing wall 1 16 may be straight, curved concave or curved convex.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, the support wall 10, the spacing element 1 1 and the contact element 12 are formed as a single body, made from a (hard) plastic material.

[0081] In an embodiment, the spacing element 11 has a thickness S1 greater than 0.5 mm (in a radial direction away from a spacing axis AD through the receiving opening AA and parallel to the spacing orientation DD).

[0082] In an embodiment in which the receiving opening AA defines a circular shape, the receiving opening AA is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm in diameter.

[0083] In an embodiment in which the receiving opening AA defines a rectangular shape, each side is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm long.

[0084] In an embodiment, the contact element 12 is spaced from the second surface 10B of the support wall 10 by a spacing distance D1 of between 1 .5 cm and 5 cm, preferably 4 cm.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A spacer (1 ) for an eye liquid applicator (100), comprising:- a support wall (10), including: a receiving opening (AA) in which a container (2) of the applicator (100) can be inserted, a first surface (10A), configured to abut the container (2), and a second surface (10B) opposite the first surface (10A);- a spacing element (1 1 ) extending from the second surface (10B) of the support wall (10) along a spacing orientation (DD), which includes at least one component that is perpendicular to the second surface (10B), between a first end (1 1 A), associated with the support wall (10), and a second end (1 1 B), opposite the first end (1 1 A);- a contact element (12), associated with the second end (11 B) of the spacing element (1 1 ) and configured to come into contact with the user's skin, in a support zone surrounding the eye.

2. The spacer (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support wall (10), the spacing element (1 1 ) and the contact element (12) are formed as a single body.

3. The spacer (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the single body is made from plastic material.

4. The spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing element (1 1 ) is defined by a respective spacing bar (1 11 ).

5. The spacer (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the spacing element (1 1 ) is defined by a plurality of spacing bars (1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14), each connected to the support wall (10) at a respective first end (11 1 A, 1 12A, 1 13A, 1 14A), and wherein the contact element (12) comprises a contact bar (121 ) which connects the second end (1 1 1 B) of a spacing bar (1 1 1 ) to the second end(1 12B) of the adjacent spacing bar (112).

6. The spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact element (12) comprises a contact bar (121 ) comprising a contact surface having a curved, concave profile configured to receive the profile of a user's face.

7. The spacer (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of spacing bars (1 1 1 , 1 12, 1 13, 1 14) are angularly spaced about a spacing axis (AD) through the receiving opening (AA) and parallel to the spacing orientation (DD).

8. The spacer (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein the contact element (12) comprises a first contact bar (121 ), which connects the second ends (1 1 1 B, 1 12B) of a first pair of spacing bars (11 1 , 1 12), and a second contact bar (122), which connects the second ends (1 13B, 1 14B) of a second pair of spacing bars (1 13, 1 14), opposite the first pair of spacing bars (1 12, 1 1 1 ), wherein the first pair of spacing bars (1 1 1 , 1 12) and the second pair of spacing bars (1 13, 1 14) are inclined with respect to the support wall (10) and convergent in a distancing direction, oriented from the first contact bar (121 ) to the support wall (10).

9. The spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing element (1 1 ) has a thickness (S1 ) greater than 0,5 mm in a radial direction away from a spacing axis (AD) through the receiving opening (AA) and parallel to the spacing orientation (DD).

10. The spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving opening (AA) defines a circular shape between 0.5 cm and 3 cm in diameter or a rectangular shape where each side is between 0.5 cm and 3 cm in length.

11. The spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact element (12) is spaced from the second surface by a spacing distance (D1 ) of between 1 .5 cm and 5 cm.

12. An eye liquid applicator (100), comprising:- a reservoir (21 ), defining an internal liquid containing space that ends in a dispensing mouth;- a dispenser (23), associated with the dispensing mouth to receive the liquid from the reservoir and including a dispensing end;- a spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser (23) passes at least partly through the receiving opening (AA) of the spacer (1 ) to be able to dispense the liquid through the receiving opening (AA).

13. The applicator (100) according to claim 12, comprising a connecting zone (22), interposed between the reservoir (21 ) and the dispenser (23), wherein the support wall (10) of the spacer (1 ) is engaged with the connecting zone (22), and wherein the connecting zone (22) is, in extension, greater than or equal to a through section of the receiving opening (AA).

14. A method for making a spacer (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps:- making a flat blank including a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides;- cutting the flat blank and making a receiving opening (AA);- heating at least part of the flat blank to a bending temperature;- bending the flat blank about a bending axis to define a support wall (10) in which the receiving opening (AA) is made, and a spacing element (1 1 ) which is inclined with respect to the support wall (10), the bending axis being interposed between the support wall (10) and the spacing element (1 1 ).

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