Topical Medicament Kit With Interlocking Components

Abstract

A kit for topically applying substances which are unstable when diluted, such as lyophilized vaccines, to domestic fowl to combat or prevent sundry harmful viruses. The kit includes a small vial with a substance in a powdered state such as a vaccine, a larger resilient plastic bottle with a diluent for the powdered substance, and an applicator for dispensing the unstable concentrated substance in drop-like form after thorough mixing with the diluent. Interlocking means are defined between the vial and the bottle so that the vial can be held thereon in "piggyback" fashion during the mixing operation. Similar interlocking means are defined between the applicator and the bottle so that the applicator can function effectively. The unique, three component kit is more sanitary and more efficient in use under field conditions and conventional kits.

Parent Case Text

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my previously filed co-pending application, Ser. No. 211,953, filed Dec. 27, 1971, now abandoned, and bearing the same title.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates generally to topical medicament kits with interlocking components.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The method presently employed for mixing vaccine and diluent involves the steps of (1) removing the stoppers from a large bottle holding the diluent and from a smaller vial holding the vaccine, (2) carefully pouring a small portion of the diluent through the narrow neck of the vial, (3) and then pouring the contents of the vial back into the larger bottle. Steps (2) and (3) are repeated several times until the vaccine is dissolved and the vial is clean. Then (4) the stopper is again positioned atop the diluent bottle and (5) the bottle is shaken vigorously. Lastly, (6) the stopper is removed and a dropper tip is placed on the bottle for dispensing the vaccine.

The above described technique is messy, for spillage frequently occurs during the repeated pourings of diluent and vaccine between the vial and the bottle. Furthermore, since the vaccine is usually mixed under adverse conditions in the barnyard, coop, or similar environment, the stoppers may be lost or misplaced and the person mixing the vaccine may substitute his finger for the stopper. Consequently, the opportunity for contamination of the vaccine is significantly increased and the efficacy of the vaccine will be reduced accordingly. Also, even when the stoppers are properly utilized, the conventional mixing technique is time consuming and the possibility of vaccine contamination is increased due to prolonged exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, with the deficiencies of conventional vaccine application kits enumerated above clearly in mind, the instant invention contemplates a topical medicament kit characterized by interlocking components. Such kit which comprises a small vial, a larger resilient plastic bottle, and an applicator, enables the vial containing the vaccine and the bottle containing the diluent to be interlocked so that the vial is held atop the bottle in "piggyback" fashion for rapid, efficient, sanitary and spillage-free mixture of the vaccine and diluent without contamination and/or exposure of the vaccine. Such kit also enables the applicator and the bottle to be interlocked so that the applicator can dispense the vaccine in drop-like fashion.

Additionally, the unique kit design employs a vial smaller than those used in conventional vaccine application kits. Thus, in addition to fabricating a more compact kit, the instant invention contemplates a kit that reduces the costs of materials and the costs of production since more vials can be placed in an oven for freeze-drying at one time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a topical applicator kit constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention, such kit including a small vial, a larger bottle, and an applicator;

FIG. 2 shows the vial being inserted into the larger bottle;

FIG. 3 shows the vial and bottle in interlocking engagement;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show successive steps for intermixing the contents of the vial and the bottle;

FIG. 6 shows an applicator in interlocking engagement with the bottle for dispensing the contents thereof;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the means for interlocking the vial and the bottle, such view being taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the means for interlocking the applicator and the bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical components, FIG. 1 depicts the three components that comprise an interlocking topical medicament kit constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention. The first component is a small glass vial 10 containing a concentrated, unstable medicament, and the second component is a larger resilient plastic bottle 12 containing a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent for the unstable medicament. The third component, which is also visible in FIGS. 6 and 8, is a topical applicator 14 which is used to dispense the contents of bottle 12.

The open upper end of vial 10, which contains a fowl vaccine in lyophilized condition, is sealed by a tear-off aluminum seal 16 that overlays a small, T-shaped rubber stopper 18. The broader upper end of stopper 18 is seated upon collar 20 of vial 10, and depends therebelow through a neck 22 of reduced diameter. The lower end of stopper 18 is indicated by a horizontally extending dotted line in FIG. 1.

Larger bottle 12, the second component of the kit, contains a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent for the vaccine contained in vial 10. The open upper end of bottle 12 is also sealed by a tear-off aluminum seal 24 that overlays a T-shaped rubber stopper 26. The broader upper end of stopper 26 is seated upon collar 28 of bottle 12, and depends therebelow through a neck 30 of reduced diameter. The lower end of stopper 26 is indicated by a horizontally extending dotted line in FIG. 1 passing across neck 30. An annular ridge 32 encircles the exterior of neck 30.

Applicator 14, the third member of the kit, comprises a nozzle 34 at its upper end, a slightly inwardly tapered skirt 36 at its lower end, and a collar 38 intermediate its upper and lower ends. Collar 38 is larger in diameter than nozzle 34 and skirt 36.

FIGS. 2-6 show the successive steps in the process for mixing and dispensing through applicator 14 the constituents contained in vial 10 and bottle 12. First, seal 16 and stopper 18 are removed from vial 10 and seal 24 and stopper 26 are removed from bottle 12. Secondly, with bottle 12 braced against a supporting surface, the lower leading edge of vial 10 is positioned within or inside collar 28 on bottle 12, as shown in FIG. 2. Thirdly, vial 10 is quickly rotated, and simultaneously forced downwardly into bottle 12, until a seal is formed by the interlocking, force fit defined between the vial and the bottle. As shown in FIG. 3, vial 10 sits atop bottle 12 in "piggyback" fashion.

Fourthly, the interlocked vial and bottle are then lifted as a unit by the thumb and forefingers of one hand. Fifthly, after lifting, the vial and bottle are inverted, or rotated through an arc of 180.degree., as shown in FIG. 4, so that a mixing action is obtained. Sixthly, the interlocked vial and bottle are rotated through an arc of 180.degree. several times, as shown in FIG. 5, until complete mixing of the vaccine and diluent is achieved as indicated by the absence of vaccine in vial 10. Seventhly, vial 10 is removed from its "piggyback" position, and applicator 14 is seated instead atop bottle 12 in "piggyback" position. Lastly, the vaccine is dispensed from nozzle 34 of applicator 14 in drop-like fashion by squeezing same. The vaccine may be topically applied in accordance with the eye, nasal or vent route methods of vaccinating domestic fowl.

FIG. 7 shows the details of the interlocking means defined between exterior surface of collar 20 on vial 10 and the interior surface of neck 30 on bottle 12. Undercut groove 28a in collar 28 assists the entry of collar 20 into bottle 12.

The axially directed downward movement of collar 20 continues until collar 20 is snugly engaged with the interior surface of neck 30 on bottle 12, thus creating a force fit between these two components.

FIG. 8 shows the details of the interlocking means defined between the exterior surface of skirt 36 on applicator 14 and the interior surface of neck 30 on bottle 12. Skirt 36 has a slight, inwardly sloping taper that facilitates its entry into bottle 12. The axially directed downward movement of applicator 14 continues until collar 38 is seated atop the upper edge of collar 28 of the bottle, and tapered skirt 36 is snugly engaged with the interior surface of neck 30 on bottle 12, thus creating a force fit between these two components. Alternatively, skirt 36 may be formed slightly larger than neck 30 on bottle 12, so that applicator 14 can be force fitted upon the exterior surface of the neck.

Vial 10 is executed in glass in order to withstand the lyophilization of the vaccine after its introduction into the vial; bottle 12 and applicator 14 are not subjected to such treatment and are thus executed in resilient plastic.

Since bottle 12 is executed in resilient plastic, when the bottle and vial are interlocked in "piggyback" fashion, manual pressure can be applied to the bottle by squeezing same. Such manual pressure is translated into hydraulic pressure when the bottle is inverted atop the vial and the diluent is forced to flow more readily into the vaccine in the vial. Conversely, when the vial is inverted atop the bottle and manual pressure is applied to, and then released from, the resilient plastic bottle, the return of the bottle to its normal, unstressed condition creates a partial vacuum which sucks the solution of vaccine and diluent into the bottle. The assistance to the intermixing process provided by the application of manual pressure is particularly desirable when the solution is viscous in nature, e.g., as in cold climates.

A displaceable stopper, such as a cylindrical plug or a diaphragm, may be substituted for the T-shaped, or flanged, rubber stopper 18 utilized with vial 10 without impairing the sterility of the contents of the vial. Such displaceable stopper could be unseated by the application of manual pressure to the resilient plastic bottle 12 when the vial is interlocked therewith in "piggyback" fashion. When hydraulic pressure is supplied due to the squeezing of bottle 12, the displaceable stopper is driven to the bottom of the vial and the diluent flows, with the assistance of the hydraulic pressure, into vial 10. When a partial vacuum is created by the release of manual pressure on bottle 12 and its return to its normal unstressed condition, the stopper moves toward the neck of vial 10, but will not completely block same. Thus, the intermixing operation can be continued until complete mixing of the vaccine and diluent is achieved as indicated by the absence of vaccine in vial 10.

While the foregoing description refers particularly to vaccines, it will be appreciated that other substances which are unstable when diluted could be intermixed with equal facility. Examples of other substances include any unstable concentrated substance, be it in powder, liquid or crystalline form and be it a vaccine antibiotic, synthetic medicinal or the like. Furthermore, the kit might be utilized with comparable favorable results in mixing chemical reagents or in reconstituting penicillin in preparation for an injection, just to mention a few more applications. Obviously, numerous other applications will be apparent to the skilled artisan.

Manifestly, various other modifications to the kit are contemplated by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. Accordingly, the description set forth above should be considered as illustrative in nature, and not in a limiting sense, and the claims should be construed in a manner commensurate with the advances in the useful arts and sciences realized by the instant invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A kit for the sanitary preparation of a solution of predetermined concentration of a substance unstable in said solution comprising:

a. a small sealed glass vial having an annular collar and a neck of reduced diameter at its open upper end;

b. said vial containing a measured amount of said substance in concentrated form; and

c. a larger sealed resilient plastic bottle having an annular collar and a neck of reduced diameter at its open upper end;

d. said bottle containing a measured amount of a diluent for said concentrated substance;

e. the diameter of the annular collar of said glass vial being slightly different than the diameter of the annular collar of said plastic bottle so that the annular collar of said glass vial can be engaged with the neck of said plastic bottle in piggyback arrangement so that the contents of the vial and bottle can be shaken without spillage; and

f. the pressure within the piggyback arrangement can be altered by manual compression of the walls of said resilient plastic bottle, to accelerate the formation of said solution of predetermined concentration.

2. The kit as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of the annular collar of said glass vial is slightly less than the diameter of the annular collar of said plastic bottle.

3. The kit as defined in claim 1 further comprising an applicator having a nozzle at its upper end and an annular skirt at its lower end, the diameter of the annular skirt of said applicator being slightly less than the annular collar of said bottle so that said applicator can be interlocked with said bottle in piggyback arrangement to dispense the solution of predetermined concentration.

4. A method of utilizing a kit for the sanitary preparation of a solution of predetermined concentration of a substance unstable in solution, such kit comprising (1) a small sealed vial having an annular collar and a neck of reduced diameter at its upper end and containing a concentrated substance, and (2) a larger sealed resilient plastic bottle having an annular collar and a neck of reduced diameter at its upper end and containing a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent for dissolving the concentrated substance, the method comprising the steps of:

a. removing the seals on said vial and said bottle;

b. inverting the vial and then inserting the collar of the vial into a force fit relationship with the neck of the bottle so that the vial is retained atop the bottle in piggyback relationship;

c. repeatedly rotating the interlocked vial and bottle until the contents of the vial are completely dissolved in the diluent in the bottle; and

d. applying manual pressure to the walls of the resilient plastic bottle, as necessary, to accelerate the dissolving of the contents of the vial in the diluent in the bottle.

5. A method of utilizing a kit for the topical application of a medicament which is unstable when diluted, such kit comprising (1) a small sealed vial having an annular collar and a neck of reduced diameter at its upper end and containing a concentrated substance, (2) a larger sealed resilient plastic bottle having an annular collar and a neck of reduced diameter at its upper end and containing a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent for dissolving the concentrated substance, and (3) an applicator including a nozzle at the one end thereof and an annular skirt at the opposite end thereof for dispensing the dissolved concentrated substance, the method comprising the steps of:

a. removing the seals on said vial and said bottle;

b. inverting the vial and then inserting the collar of the vial into a force fit relationship with the neck of the bottle so that the vial is retained atop the bottle in piggyback relationship;

c. repeatedly rotating the interlocked vial and bottle until the contents of the vial are completely dissolved in the diluent in the bottle;

d. removing the vial from atop the bottle;

e. inserting the skirt of the applicator into a force fit relationship with the neck of the bottle so that the applicator is retained atop the bottle; and

f. squeezing the bottle to dispense the dissolved concentrated substance through the nozzle in drop-like fashion.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of manually compressing the walls of the resilient bottle while the bottle and vial are interlocked to alter the pressure therewithin and accelerate the formation of the dissolved concentrated substance.