U.S. patent application number 10/287032 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for container for syringe.
Invention is credited to Mazur, David P..
Application Number | 20030132128 10/287032 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26964214 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030132128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mazur, David P. |
July 17, 2003 |
Container for syringe
Abstract
A container for a syringe is provided which comprises a
container top secured to a container body wherein either the top or
the body is secured to a ring. The ring is sized so that a
conventional key chain or key ring can be passed through the
ring.
Inventors: |
Mazur, David P.; (York,
ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul J. Cook
94 Central Street
Topsfield
MA
01983
US
|
Family ID: |
26964214 |
Appl. No.: |
10/287032 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60347121 |
Jan 11, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/364 ;
206/37.1; 206/38.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2011/007 20130101;
A61M 5/002 20130101; A45C 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/364 ;
206/38.1; 206/37.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 083/10 |
Claims
1. A container for a syringe which comprises: a hollow tube sized
to house a syringe, said hollow tube having a first open end with a
first connection means, a hollow top having a second open end with
a second connection means, said first connection means and said
second connection means adapted to connect and disconnect from each
other, and a ring positioned on either said hollow tube or said
hollow top, said ring being sized to connect to a key ring.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein said ring is pivotally mounted
on either said hollow tube or said hollow top.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein said ring is fixedly mounted on
either said hollow tube or said hollow top.
4. The container of claim 2 wherein said ring is mounted on said
hollow top.
5. The container of claim 3 wherein said ring is mounted on said
hollow top.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube includes a
thermal insulating layer.
7. The container of claim 2 wherein said hollow tube includes a
thermal insulating layer.
8. The container of claim 3 wherein said hollow tube includes a
thermal insulating layer.
9. The container of claim 4 wherein said hollow tube includes a
thermal insulating layer.
10. The container of claim 5 wherein said hollow tube includes a
thermal insulating layer.
11. The container of claim 1 wherein said first connection means
and said second connection means are mating screw threads.
12. The container of claim 2 wherein said first connection means
and said second connection means are mating screw threads.
13. The container of claim 1 wherein said first connection means is
a key and said second connection means is a keyway.
14. The container of claim 1 wherein said first connection means is
a keyway and said second connection means is a key.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a portable protective container
for a syringe. More particularly,, this invention relates to a
portable protective container for a syringe that can be housed on a
key carrier such as a chain or ring.
[0002] At the present time syringes containing a drug, such as
epinephrine for treating a patient for an allergic reaction are
available in a flexible protective housing. The syringe
conventionally is an auto-injector providing an epinephrine
injection for emergency intramuscular use. The syringe provides an
emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions (Type I) to
insect stings or bites, food, drugs and other allergies.
Epinephrine, when given subcutaneously or intramuscularly has a
rapid onset. The strong vasoconstrictor action of epinephrine
through its effect on alpha adrenergic receptors acts quickly to
counter vasodilation and increased vascular permeability which can
lead to a loss of intravascular fluid volume and hypotension during
anaphylactic reactions.
[0003] It is necessary that the epinephrine be readily available in
a temperature controlled environment and that the syringe provides
protection against breakage. Currently users of the syringe
conventionally store and transport them in handbags, backpacks,
fanny packs, automobile glove compartments or the like. Since these
storage choices position the syringe out of sight of the potential
users, their position can be forgotten by the potential user or
they can be placed in a temperature environment which degrades the
drug. For example, makers of epinephrine-containing syringes
recommend a storage temperature between about 15.degree. C. and
30.degree. C. These events of losing the syringe or placing it in a
degrading temperature environment such as in an automobile at
freezing or extremely high temperatures, can create a life
threatening situation for those that depend upon the drug being
viable in emergency situations.
[0004] Once a syringe has been issued from a physician, the user or
guardian of the user must determine a location for the syringe that
is easily accessible for the user. Unfortunately, as the user
relocates from home, school, work, restaurants, etc., the syringe
sometimes is forgotten and left behind. If the user has an
anaphylactic reaction due to an allergy, fatality can occur as
quickly as 1-2 minutes, if the drug is not administered.
[0005] Accordingly, it will be desirable to provide a means for
storing a syringe containing a drug which is readily accessible,
which is storable in a desired temperature environment and which is
positioned so that its position can be readily sensed by sight or
by touch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a storage container for a
syringe which is formed of a rigid material, which can be opened by
hand and which can be stored on a carrier for a key such as a key
chain or a key ring. The container also can include a thermal
insulating layer positioned either on the outside surface or on the
inside surface of the container. A ring is positioned on an outside
surface of the container. The ring is sized to accommodate a
carrier for a key such as a ring or chain. The ring permits the
container to be carried on the key carrier so that it can be
positioned in a pocket or in a lock for a key positioned on the key
carrier. Thus, the container is either within the sight of a
potential user of the syringe or it touches the potential user
while in the potential user's pocket. In either position, the
syringe is readily available to the potential user and it is safe
in a temperature environment that is controlled by the potential
user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of the container of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative container of this
invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a partial view of a path or a container top sized
to accommodate a key or a container body.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of a ring that can be positioned on
the container of this invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of an alternative wall
construction for the container of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The container of this invention comprises a container body,
a removable top that can be secured to the container body and a
ring that is secured to or formed integrally with the body or top.
The ring is sized to accommodate a conventional key carrier such as
a chain or ring. The top is secured to the body in a manner which
prevents premature detachment of the top form the container body
such as with a screw connection or a key and key guide connection.
In one embodiment, a second ring can be slideably mounted on the
ring connected directly to the container. The second ring permits
freedom of movement of the container while avoiding stress forces
on the ring directly connected to the container.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, the container of this invention 10
comprises a container body 12, a removable top 14 and a ring 16.
The ring 16 includes an opening (hole) 18 sized to permit passage
therethrough of a conventional key carrier such as a chain, ring or
the like. The ring 16 can be fixed to the top 14 or pivotally
mounted, such as on hinges, on the top 14. An alternative container
of this invention is shown in FIG. 2 which includes a container
body 20, a top 22 and a ring 24 fixedly mounted on the top 22. The
ring 24 has an opening 26 through which a key chain or key ring can
be passed. The ring 18 or ring 24 also can be positioned on the
bottom surface 13 or 15 of container body 12 or 20.
[0014] The body of the container is formed of a rigid material such
as a metal including aluminum or steel or a rigid polymeric
material such as high density polyethylene.
[0015] The top 14 or 22 can be screwed onto the body 12 or 22 with
a conventional screw connection. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3,
a key and key path connection can be utilized to connect the
container top and container body. The key can be positioned either
on the container top or the container body while the key path 28
can be positioned on the opposing top or body. The key path
includes a path portion 30 that permits vertical movement of the
key as depicted by arrow 32 and a rotational movement in path
portion 34 as depicted by arrow 36. The screw connection or the key
path connection prevents removal of the top from the body by a
pulling force on the top as depicted by arrow 40 (FIG. 2.).
[0016] Referring to FIG. 4, a second ring is shown comprising a
conventional key ring 41 which includes three layers 42, 44 and 46.
The layers 46 and 44 can be separated by hand from the layer 42 so
that a hole in a key such as holes 18 or 26 can be positioned about
layer 46 or 44 while the ring 41 is moved so that all three layers
42, 44 and 46 are positioned within hole 18 or hole 26. This ring
41 permits movement of the container 10 on the ring 41 while
eliminating stress force on ring 16 or ring 24.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the body wall can be a composite wall
comprising a rigid substrate 48 such as a metal and a thermally
insulating layer 50 such as polystyrene foam. The insulating layer
50 can be positioned either on an inside surface or outside surface
of rigid substrate 48.
[0018] Because the container of this invention is designed to
attach to a key ring, the user has their keys readily available in
a location that is at room temperature. The body used to
manufacture the container is durable enough to withstand most
punctures or damages. Also, it will protect the syringe from
extreme temperatures from outdoor use.
[0019] Typically, the container of this invention is sized to be
approximately 61/4 inches high and 1 inch in diameter. This allows
the user to easily fit the syringe in the housing for easy
insertion and release.
[0020] Thus, in one aspect of this invention, there is provided a
combination of the container described above and a syringe
positioned within the container wherein the syringe includes a drug
to be delivered by the syringe by injection.
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