Containers having a fracture recess for opening the containers

Abstract

A closed plastic container has a plastic elongated sleeve which has a hollow interior. An exterior fracture recess extends from an exterior surface of the sleeve inward to form a reduced wall thickness for opening the container. The container is opened by squeezing or bending the container at the exterior fracture recess. The closed container may have an applicator material inside or outside of the container. A substance contained within the container is dispensed and applied when the container is opened at the fracture recess. An inner closed container having an exterior fracture recess can be contained within an outer closed container also having an exterior fracture recess.

The invention is claimed as:  
     
         1 . A plastic container comprising: 
 a plastic elongated sleeve having a hollow interior, the elongated sleeve having a wall having a wall thickness; and    a fracture recess extending from an exterior surface of the wall inward into the wall, the wall having a reduced wall thickness at the fracture recess.    
     
     
         2 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sleeve is sealed closed.  
     
     
         3 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sleeve is a dip-molded sleeve having opposite closed ends.  
     
     
         4 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the fracture recess circumscribes the elongated sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sleeve has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an interior diameter of the elongated sleeve is substantially constant from a location above the fracture recess to a location below the fracture recess.  
     
     
         6 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the fracture recess has a V-shape.  
     
     
         7 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the fracture recess has a U-shape.  
     
     
         8 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the fracture recess has a wide U-shape.  
     
     
         9 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the wall of the elongated sleeve opposite the fracture recess has a smooth contour.  
     
     
         10 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the fracture recess is a score line cut into the wall.  
     
     
         11 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , further comprising an applicator material positioned at one of in the interior of the sleeve and on an exterior of the sleeve.  
     
     
         12 . A swab applicator comprising: 
 a closed package having a package handle connected to a swab head enclosure;    a swab contained within an interior of the closed package, the swab having a swab handle connected to the package handle and a swab head inside the swab head enclosure; and    a fracture recess extending inward from an exterior surface of the closed package.    
     
     
         13 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess circumscribes the closed package.  
     
     
         14 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess is located on the swab head enclosure.  
     
     
         15 . The swab applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the fracture recess circumscribes the closed package.  
     
     
         16 . The swab applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the swab head enclosure has a cylindrical shape, and an interior diameter of the swab head enclosure is substantially constant from a location above the fracture recess to a location below the fracture recess.  
     
     
         17 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess is located on the package handle.  
     
     
         18 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess has a V-shape.  
     
     
         19 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess has a U-shape.  
     
     
         20 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess has a wide U-shape.  
     
     
         21 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein an interior surface of the closed package opposite the fracture recess has a smooth contour.  
     
     
         22 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the swab head enclosure and the package handle have cylindrical shapes having different diameters, and further comprising a tapered section having a first end connected to the swab head enclosure and a second end connected to the package handle.  
     
     
         23 . The swab applicator of  claim 22 , wherein the fracture recess is spaced away from the connection between the first end of the tapered section and the swab head enclosure.  
     
     
         24 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the fracture recess is a score line cut into the closed package.  
     
     
         25 . The swab applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the closed package is a one-piece dip-molded package.  
     
     
         26 . A swab applicator comprising: 
 a first tubular portion having a first cross-sectional area perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the swab applicator;    a second tubular portion having a second cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal direction which is smaller than the first cross-sectional area of the first tubular portion;    a connection portion between and connected to the first and second tubular portions;    a closed interior defined at least by the first tubular portion, the connection portion, and the second tubular portion;    a swab contained within the closed interior, the swab having a handle connected to the second tubular portion and a head within the first tubular portion; and    a fracture recess extending inward from an exterior surface of at least one of the first tubular portion, the connection portion, and the second tubular portion.    
     
     
         27 . The swab applicator of  claim 26 , wherein the first tubular portion, the connection portion, and the second tubular portion are a one-piece dip-molded container.  
     
     
         28 . An applicator package comprising: 
 a closed package having an interior sealed from an exterior of the closed package, the closed package having a fracture recess on an exterior surface of the closed package; and    an applicator material positioned at one of in the interior of the closed package and on an exterior of the closed package.    
     
     
         29 . The applicator package of  claim 28 , wherein the applicator material comprises a swab contained within the interior of the closed package.  
     
     
         30 . The applicator package of  claim 28 , wherein the applicator material comprises a pad on the exterior of the closed package.  
     
     
         31 . The applicator package of  claim 30 , wherein the pad covers the fracture recess.  
     
     
         32 . The applicator package of  claim 28 , wherein the closed package has an elongated tubular shape and the fracture recess circumscribes at least a portion of the exterior surface of the closed package such that the interior is exposed for use when the closed package is opened along the fracture recess.  
     
     
         33 . The applicator package of  claim 28 , wherein the closed package is a dip-molded sleeve having opposite closed ends.  
     
     
         34 . A swab applicator comprising: 
 a dip-molded closed package having a cylindrical package handle connected to a cylindrical swab head enclosure by a tapered section having a first end connected to the swab head enclosure and a second end connected to the package handle;    a swab contained within an interior of the closed package, the swab having a swab handle connected to the package handle and a swab head inside the swab head enclosure; and    a fracture recess extending inward from an exterior surface of the closed package.    
     
     
         35 . The swab applicator of  claim 34 , wherein the fracture recess is an exterior score line that circumscribes the swab head enclosure.  
     
     
         36 . A method of making a swab applicator comprising the steps of: 
 dipping a dip mold in a reservoir of plastic material;    removing the dip mold from the reservoir with a coating of plastic material on the dip mold forming a swab container;    removing the swab container from the dip mold;    forming a fracture recess on an exterior of the swab container;    inserting a swab inside of the swab container; and    sealing the swab container closed.    
     
     
         37 . The method of making a swab applicator of  claim 36 , wherein the step of forming a fracture recess comprises forming the fracture recess circumscribing the swab container.  
     
     
         38 . The method of making a swab applicator of  claim 36 , wherein the step of forming a fracture recess comprises forming the fracture recess on the exterior of the swab container after the coating of plastic material has cooled.  
     
     
         39 . The method of making a swab applicator of  claim 38 , wherein the step of forming a fracture recess further comprises cutting a score line with a knife.  
     
     
         40 . A method of opening a swab applicator having a closed package having a package handle connected to a swab head enclosure, a swab contained within an interior of the closed package, the swab having a swab handle connected to the package handle and a swab head inside the swab head enclosure, and a fracture recess extending inward from an exterior surface of the closed package, comprising the steps of: 
 bending the closed package at the exterior fracture recess;    opening the closed package by fracturing the closed package at the exterior fracture recess; and    exposing the swab head.    
     
     
         41 . A method of opening a swab applicator having a closed package having a package handle connected to a swab head enclosure, a swab contained within an interior of the closed package, the swab having a swab handle connected to the package handle and a swab head inside the swab head enclosure, and a fracture recess extending inward from an exterior surface of the closed package, comprising the steps of: 
 squeezing the closed package at the exterior fracture recess;    opening the closed package by fracturing the closed package at the exterior fracture recess; and    exposing the swab head.    
     
     
         42 . A dispenser package comprising: 
 an outer closed package having a hollow interior, a portion of the outer closed package being openable; and    an inner closed package contained inside of the outer closed package and having a hollow interior, a portion of the inner closed package being openable such that the interior of the inner closed package is in communication with the interior of the outer closed package;    at least one of the openable portions of the outer and inner closed packages having an exterior fracture recess.    
     
     
         43 . The dispenser of  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer closed packages is a dip-molded plastic sleeve.  
     
     
         44 . The dispenser of  claim 42 , wherein the exterior fracture is a score line cut into the at least one of the openable portions of the outer and inner closed packages.