COTTON SWAB STRIP
United States Patent 3648836
A series of cotton-tipped applicators or swabs are releasably held in a side-by-side arrangement by a swab retaining strip having a plurality of swab retaining notches which are shaped for snap-in retention of the sticks of the swabs. The retaining strip has a pair of marginal portions which flank and are hingedly connected to an intermediate portion, the marginal portions being held at right angles to the intermediate portion when the swab sticks are supported by the retaining strip.
US Patent References:
Means for dispensing cotton-tipped applicators
Castner - February 1966 - 3233729
Package for electrical components
Rocchi et al. - August 1962 - 3048268
Quiver assembly for bow attachment
Tingley - January 1964 - 3116730
Means for dispensing cotton-tipped applicators
Castner - February 1966 - 3233729
Package for electrical components
Rocchi et al. - August 1962 - 3048268
Quiver assembly for bow attachment
Tingley - January 1964 - 3116730
Application Number:
05/002887
Publication Date:
03/14/1972
Filing Date:
01/14/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
206/438, 211/70.100, 206/443
International Classes:
A61F13/38; A61F15/00; B65D73/00; B65D85/20
Field of Search:
206/65F,65R,56AC,79,59A 211/6R 221/74
Primary Examiner:
Dixson Jr., William T.
Claims:
What I claim is
1. A carded strip of swabs comprising:
2. A strip for holding swab sticks of predetermined cross-sectional dimension, comprising:
3. A strip for holding swabs as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongate strip comprises a pair of parallel perforations extending therealong defining said marginal and intermediate portions, said strip being foldable at said perforations to provide the right angle relationship between said portions.
1. A carded strip of swabs comprising:
2. A strip for holding swab sticks of predetermined cross-sectional dimension, comprising:
3. A strip for holding swabs as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongate strip comprises a pair of parallel perforations extending therealong defining said marginal and intermediate portions, said strip being foldable at said perforations to provide the right angle relationship between said portions.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to carded swabs and more particularly to swab retaining strips which receive swab sticks in a snap-in retention relationship.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The packaging of swabs has generally included the provision of a swab retaining card having a pair of marginal edge portions disposed at an angle to an intermediate base portion, wherein each of the marginal portions includes a plurality of aligned apertures for receiving the swab sticks by way of a corresponding plurality of slits which connect each of the apertures to the outer edge of the retaining strip. The swab sticks are forced through these slits to be seated and retained in the apertures. It is clearly evident that these techniques, however, require, a certain degree of accuracy in mass fabrication to properly align moving swab sticks with the slits of a moving retaining strip. In addition, it is also evident that the material of the retaining strip on either side of a slit undergoes a great amount of distortion when receiving swab sticks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a carded strip of swabs is provided in which the swab sticks are received by a swab retaining strip in a snap-in relationship, the sticks being received in shaped notches which guide and releasably engage the sticks in a resting position.
Each of the swab holding notches is formed by a pair of intersecting circular notches. The first of the circular notches is of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of a swab stick and provides the final resting position for the swab stick. The second circular notch is of a greater diameter than the swab stick and intersects both the first circular notch and the outer edge of the retaining strip at chordal dimensions of the second circular notch which are less than the diameter thereof, the chordal dimension at the intersection with the first circular notch being less than the diameter of a swab stick. The edges of the second circular notch therefore serve to guide the swab sticks toward the first circular notch and the material of the retaining strip adjacent the intersection of the notches provides the snap-in feature for releasable engagement of the swab sticks with the retaining strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an unfolded swab retaining strip constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of a carded strip of swabs according to the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the carded swab construction taken along the line III--III of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings there is illustrated a carded swab construction 10 including a pair of adjacent swab sticks 11 and 12 which carry fiber tips 13-15, preferably cotton. The swabs are supported by a swab retaining strip 16 having an intermediate or base portion 17 and a pair of upright or marginal portions 20 and 21 hingedly connected to the base portion 17 at respective perforations 18 and 19.
The marginal portions 20 and 21 have outer edges 22 and 23 respectively, the outer edges here being illustrated after the formation of swab holding notches therein.
Each of the swab holding notches is a compound notch provided by a pair of arcuately shaped edges 24 and a circularly shaped edge 26. The arcuate edges 24 are provided by means of a correspondingly shaped punch 25 having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the swab sticks. The punch 25 is positioned relative the retaining strips 16 such that it intersects the outer edges 22 and 23 at a chordal dimension of a punch that is less than the diameter of the punch to provide the arcuate edges 24 as smooth guiding paths for directing the swab sticks toward the circular notch or edge 26.
The circular notch 26 is provided by a punch 27 which is positioned with respect to the perforations 18 and 19 a sufficient distance such that the swab tips are held above any surface on which the base 17 may be supported. The punch 27 is further positioned relative the outer edges 22 and 23 so as to provide a minimum of swab stick travel before seating and relative the punch 25 so that the intersections of the arcuate edges 24 and the circular edge 26 are spaced a distance less than the diameter of a swab stick. The pointed portions 26a provide for a minimum distortion of material upon the passage of swab sticks therebetween. The material is preferably paperboard and has a certain amount of resiliency to provide the snap-in retention feature. Other materials with a plastic characteristic could, however, be employed with satisfactory results.
The double-headed arrow 28 illustrates the spacing between the base portion 17 and the swab sticks as provided by the spacing between the circular edges 26 and the respective perforations 18 and 19. This spacing, as previously mentioned, maintains the tips of the swabs above the base 17 and accordingly above any surface on which the base 17 may be supported.
The punches 25 and 27 have been shown in FIG. 1 as individual punches; however, it will be appreciated that these punches may be combined into a single punching structure with the attendant elimination of a punching operation.
Many changes and modifications may be made in the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is to be understood that I wish to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications which may reasonably be included within the scope of the appended claims.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to carded swabs and more particularly to swab retaining strips which receive swab sticks in a snap-in retention relationship.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The packaging of swabs has generally included the provision of a swab retaining card having a pair of marginal edge portions disposed at an angle to an intermediate base portion, wherein each of the marginal portions includes a plurality of aligned apertures for receiving the swab sticks by way of a corresponding plurality of slits which connect each of the apertures to the outer edge of the retaining strip. The swab sticks are forced through these slits to be seated and retained in the apertures. It is clearly evident that these techniques, however, require, a certain degree of accuracy in mass fabrication to properly align moving swab sticks with the slits of a moving retaining strip. In addition, it is also evident that the material of the retaining strip on either side of a slit undergoes a great amount of distortion when receiving swab sticks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a carded strip of swabs is provided in which the swab sticks are received by a swab retaining strip in a snap-in relationship, the sticks being received in shaped notches which guide and releasably engage the sticks in a resting position.
Each of the swab holding notches is formed by a pair of intersecting circular notches. The first of the circular notches is of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of a swab stick and provides the final resting position for the swab stick. The second circular notch is of a greater diameter than the swab stick and intersects both the first circular notch and the outer edge of the retaining strip at chordal dimensions of the second circular notch which are less than the diameter thereof, the chordal dimension at the intersection with the first circular notch being less than the diameter of a swab stick. The edges of the second circular notch therefore serve to guide the swab sticks toward the first circular notch and the material of the retaining strip adjacent the intersection of the notches provides the snap-in feature for releasable engagement of the swab sticks with the retaining strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an unfolded swab retaining strip constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of a carded strip of swabs according to the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the carded swab construction taken along the line III--III of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings there is illustrated a carded swab construction 10 including a pair of adjacent swab sticks 11 and 12 which carry fiber tips 13-15, preferably cotton. The swabs are supported by a swab retaining strip 16 having an intermediate or base portion 17 and a pair of upright or marginal portions 20 and 21 hingedly connected to the base portion 17 at respective perforations 18 and 19.
The marginal portions 20 and 21 have outer edges 22 and 23 respectively, the outer edges here being illustrated after the formation of swab holding notches therein.
Each of the swab holding notches is a compound notch provided by a pair of arcuately shaped edges 24 and a circularly shaped edge 26. The arcuate edges 24 are provided by means of a correspondingly shaped punch 25 having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the swab sticks. The punch 25 is positioned relative the retaining strips 16 such that it intersects the outer edges 22 and 23 at a chordal dimension of a punch that is less than the diameter of the punch to provide the arcuate edges 24 as smooth guiding paths for directing the swab sticks toward the circular notch or edge 26.
The circular notch 26 is provided by a punch 27 which is positioned with respect to the perforations 18 and 19 a sufficient distance such that the swab tips are held above any surface on which the base 17 may be supported. The punch 27 is further positioned relative the outer edges 22 and 23 so as to provide a minimum of swab stick travel before seating and relative the punch 25 so that the intersections of the arcuate edges 24 and the circular edge 26 are spaced a distance less than the diameter of a swab stick. The pointed portions 26a provide for a minimum distortion of material upon the passage of swab sticks therebetween. The material is preferably paperboard and has a certain amount of resiliency to provide the snap-in retention feature. Other materials with a plastic characteristic could, however, be employed with satisfactory results.
The double-headed arrow 28 illustrates the spacing between the base portion 17 and the swab sticks as provided by the spacing between the circular edges 26 and the respective perforations 18 and 19. This spacing, as previously mentioned, maintains the tips of the swabs above the base 17 and accordingly above any surface on which the base 17 may be supported.
The punches 25 and 27 have been shown in FIG. 1 as individual punches; however, it will be appreciated that these punches may be combined into a single punching structure with the attendant elimination of a punching operation.
Many changes and modifications may be made in the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is to be understood that I wish to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modifications which may reasonably be included within the scope of the appended claims.