# US 10,478,602 B2 · Antiseptic swab with activation button > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,602 B2 - Document ID: US10478602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/878,999 - Filed: 2018-01-24 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-24 - Assignees: iMed Technology, Inc. - Applicants: iMed Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Kyle S. Adams; Gordon E. Atkinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478602B2 ## CPC - A61M 35/006: {using sponges, foams, absorbent pads or swabs as spreading means} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A liquid dispensing device includes a handle having a hollow interior defining a fluid reservoir. A base member is affixed to the lower end of the handle and has a bottom surface, and a frangible cover is secured over the bottom surface and forms a seal across the opening of the fluid reservoir. A swab head comprising an absorbent sponge-like member and a button element is supported on the base member. The sponge-like member has opposing outer and inner sides wherein the inner side is affixed to the base member. The button element includes a foot portion at a first longitudinal end adjacent to the outer side of the sponge-like member and includes a penetration end at an opposing second longitudinal end of the button element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid dispensing device comprising: an elongated member defining a handle having a hollow interior, the hollow interior defining a fluid reservoir having an opening at a lower end of the elongated member; a base member affixed to the lower end of the elongated member and having a bottom surface; a frangible cover secured over the bottom surface and forming a seal across the opening of the fluid reservoir; a swab head comprising an absorbent sponge-like member and a button element, the sponge-like member having opposing outer and inner sides wherein the inner side is affixed to the base member; and the button element defining a longitudinal axis, the button element including a foot portion at a first longitudinal end of the button element adjacent to the outer side of the sponge-like member and a penetration end at an opposing second longitudinal end of the button element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the penetration end of the button element comprises a tapered end defining an angle with an apex at a point located at the second longitudinal end of the button element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the penetration end of the bottom element is conical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the button element includes a peripheral wall extending longitudinally from the first longitudinal end toward the second longitudinal end, and a plurality of longitudinally elongated grooves extend in from the peripheral wall toward the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the button element is generally circular about the longitudinal axis and the plurality of grooves are circumferentially spaced around the peripheral wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cavity is formed in the sponge-like member and the button element is located within the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, including wells extending from the second longitudinal end toward the first longitudinal end for receiving liquid and for transferring liquid from the wells to the sponge-like member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein each well includes an open end adjacent to the penetration end and a well floor adjacent to the first longitudinal end of the button element, the well floor restricting fluid from flowing through the first longitudinal end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sponge-like member has a compressed state and an uncompressed state, and the second longitudinal end of the button element is located between the inner and outer sides of the sponge-like member when the sponge-like member is in the uncompressed state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second longitudinal end of the button element is located extending through the frangible cover when the sponge-like member is in the compressed state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal end of the button element is exposed adjacent to the outer side of the sponge-like member. ### Claim 12 A liquid dispensing device comprising: an elongated member defining a handle having a hollow interior, the hollow interior defining a fluid reservoir having an opening at a lower end of the elongated member; a base member affixed to the lower end of the elongated member and having a bottom surface; a frangible cover secured over the bottom surface and forming a seal across the opening of the fluid reservoir; a swab head comprising an absorbent sponge-like member and a button element, the sponge-like member having opposing outer and inner sides wherein the inner side is affixed to the base member; a cavity formed in the sponge-like member extending between the outer and inner sides; the button element located within the cavity and defining a longitudinal axis, the button element including a foot portion at a first longitudinal end of the button element adjacent to the outer side of the sponge-like member and a penetration end at an opposing second longitudinal end of the button element; and a plurality of elongated fluid receiving grooves comprising wells extending longitudinally into the button element from the second longitudinal end toward the first longitudinal end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the penetration end of the button element comprises a tapered end defining an angle with an apex at a point located at the second longitudinal end of the button element, and the wells extend through at least a portion of the tapered end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the foot portion comprises a cylindrical peripheral wall extending from the first longitudinal end toward the second longitudinal end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the plurality of wells are circumferentially spaced around the peripheral wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the plurality of longitudinally elongated grooves extend in from the peripheral wall toward the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 12, wherein each well includes an open end adjacent to the penetration end and a well floor adjacent to the first longitudinal end of the button element, the well floor restricting fluid from flowing through the first longitudinal end. ### Claim 18 A liquid dispensing device comprising: an elongated member defining a handle having a hollow interior, the hollow interior defining a fluid reservoir having an opening at a lower end of the elongated member; a base member affixed to the lower end of the elongated member and having a bottom surface; a frangible cover secured over the bottom surface and forming a seal across the opening of the fluid reservoir; a solution contained within the fluid reservoir; a swab head comprising an absorbent sponge-like member and a button element, the sponge-like member having opposing outer and inner sides wherein the inner side is affixed to the base member; a cavity formed in the sponge-like member extending between the outer and inner sides; the button element located within the cavity and defining a longitudinal axis, the button element including a foot portion at a first longitudinal end of the button element adjacent to the outer side of the sponge-like member and a penetration end at an opposing second longitudinal end of the button element; and a plurality of elongated fluid receiving grooves comprising wells extending longitudinally into the button element from the second longitudinal end toward the first longitudinal end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 18, wherein the sponge-like member has a compressed state and an uncompressed state, and the first longitudinal end of the button element is located between the inner and outer sides of the sponge-like member when the sponge-like member is in the uncompressed state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The liquid dispensing device as set forth in claim 19, including a substantially rigid cover positioned over the sponge-like member preventing movement from the uncompressed state, the cover including an outer wall extending along an outer peripheral surface of the sponge-like member between the outer and inner sides and located for engagement with the base member.