1. A dispenser for use as a part of a skin formulation applicator assembly, comprising:
a dispenser housing;
a reservoir positioned within the housing containing a skin formulation for treatment of a skin condition;
an outlet nozzle assembly through which a skin formulation from the reservoir exits for delivery;
a valve pump assembly connecting the reservoir to the nozzle; and
an actuator member by which the user can move a skin formulation present in the reservoir through the nozzle, wherein the diameter of an outlet port of the nozzle has a value which permits the skin formulation to be conveniently moved, without undue effort, by user action on the actuator, while limiting evaporation of the fluid sufficiently to maintain effectiveness of the formulation, wherein the outlet port opening is within the range of 0.035 inches to 0.05 inches.
2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the outlet port opening is approximately 0.04 inches.
3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the outlet port opening to the length of the outlet port portion of the nozzle is within the range of 1:3 to 1:6.
4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the ratio is 1:4.8.
5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle has an outlet end with an outside diameter within the range of 0.05 to 0.20 inches.
6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the diameter is approximately 0.125 inches.
7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle has an extending portion which protrudes from the housing, and wherein the length of the extending portion is within the range of 0.30 inches to 0.475 inches.
8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the length of the extending portion is approximately 0.435 inches.
9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an end member having a cavity therein to receive a tip member portion of an infuser portion of the applicator assembly.
10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes an interior surface portion between the end member and an adjacent end of the dispenser which mates tightly with an upper edge portion of an infuser portion of the applicator assembly, aligning the disperser with the infuser portion, so that magnetic attraction elements on the dispenser and the infuser portion can tend to prevent the dispenser from separating from the infuser portion.
11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the nozzle is configured to just fit within an opening in the upper surface of an infuser portion of the applicator assembly, providing a reliable mating between the dispenser portion and the infuser portion and an indication that the dispensing portion is an authorized part of the applicator assembly.
12. A dispenser for use as part of a skin formulation applicator assembly, comprising:
a dispenser housing which includes a lower end member which is positioned slightly inboard of a lower edge of the dispenser housing;
a reservoir positioned within the housing containing a skin formulation; and
a delivery assembly, including a nozzle, for delivering the skin formulation from the reservoir to the nozzle portion by a user operating an actuating mechanism, wherein the nozzle includes a portion which extends beyond the end member, the extending portion configured to just fit into a mating opening in an infuser portion of the applicator assembly, providing an assurance that the dispenser is authorized for use in the applicator assembly.
13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the lower end member further includes a cavity to receive a tip member part of the infuser portion when the dispenser is mated with the infuser.
14. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein an interior surface of the dispenser inboard of the lower edge thereof is configured to mate tightly with an upper edge portion of the infuser, aligning the dispenser with the infuser portion, so that magnetic attraction members on the dispenser and the infuser portion can tend to prevent the dispenser and the infuser portion from separating.
15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the lower edge of the dispenser has a wavy configuration which mates with a corresponding wavy configuration of the upper edge of the infuser.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An orthopedic support comprising:
a sheet of flexible material configured to extend about and conform to a portion of a wearer’s anatomy;
at least one strap attached to the sheet of material;
at least one fastener tab secured to a free end of a respective strap; and
a fastening material attached to a respective fastener tab and configured to attach to at least one of the strap and sheet of material so as to secure the sheet of material about the portion of the wearer’s anatomy,
wherein a portion of the at least one fastener tab and associated fastening material overlap one another and a remaining portion of the fastener tab and associated fastening material attach to opposite surfaces of the free end of the at least one strap.
2. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of flexible material is configured to at least partially enclose an arm of the wearer so that the sheet of material extends around a wrist of the wearer.
3. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, further comprising at least one integral strap extending laterally from a lateral edge and a distal edge of the sheet of material, and at least one integral strap extending laterally from an opposite lateral edge and a proximal edge of the sheet of material, wherein each integral strap is configured to extend over an opposite lateral edge.
4. The orthopedic support according to claim 3, wherein each integral strap comprises a fastener tab attached to fastening material that is configured to attach to the sheet of material.
5. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, further comprising a longitudinal strap attached to the sheet of material and configured to extend over a lateral edge and circumferentially about a portion of the wearer’s anatomy.
6. The orthopedic support according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal strap comprises a fastener tab attached to fastening material that is configured to attach to an outer surface of the longitudinal strap.
7. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, further comprising at least one strap guide secured to an outer surface of the sheet of material, wherein the strap guide is configured to slidably receive the at least one strap therein and guide the strap about the sheet of material.
8. The orthopedic support according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of strap guides injection molded to the outer surface of the sheet of material.
9. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pass attached within the sheet of material, wherein the pass is configured to slidably receive the at least one strap and guide the strap through the sheet of material.
10. The orthopedic support according to claim 9, wherein the at least one pass is injection molded about its outer periphery through a thickness of the sheet of material.
11. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, further comprising at least one strap ring attached to a lateral edge of the sheet of material and configured to slidably receive the at least one strap therein, wherein the at least one strap extending through the strap ring is configured to loop back over itself to tension the strap.
12. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener tab comprises a polymeric material.
13. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener tab comprises a prong extending therefrom that is configured to engage the free end of the at least one strap.
14. The orthopedic support according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener tab and fastening element comprise an outwardly flaring base, and wherein each base is configured to attach to opposite surfaces of the free end of a respective strap.
15. A method for assembling an orthopedic support comprising:
providing a sheet of flexible material comprising at least one strap configured to be positioned about a portion of a wearer’s anatomy;
attaching at least one fastener tab to a fastening material such that a portion of the fastener tab and fastening material overlap with one another; and
attaching a remaining portion of the at least one fastener tab and associated fastening material to opposite surfaces of a free end of a respective strap, wherein the fastening material is configured to attach to at least one of the strap and sheet of material to secure the sheet of material about the portion of the wearer’s anatomy.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein attaching comprises attaching the at least one fastener tab and associated fastening material to a respective strap with at least one of radiofrequency welding, injection molding, and adhesives.
17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising attaching at least one strap guide to an outer surface of the sheet of material, wherein the strap guide is configured to slidably receive the at least one strap therein and guide the strap about the sheet of material.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein attaching the at least one strap guide to the sheet of material comprises injection molding a pair of strap guides to the outer surface of the sheet of material.
19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising attaching at least one pass within the sheet of material, wherein the pass is configured to slidably receive the at least one strap and guide the strap through the sheet of material.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein attaching the at least one pass comprises injection molding the pass about its outer periphery through a thickness of the sheet of material.
21. The method according to claim 15, further comprising attaching at least one strap ring to a lateral edge of the sheet of material, wherein the strap ring is configured to slidably receive the at least one strap therein.
22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising forming the at least one fastener tab with a polymeric material.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein forming the at least one fastener tab comprises forming the at least one fastener tab with an injection molding process.
24. The method according to claim 22, wherein forming the at least one fastener tab comprises integrally forming at least one prong with a respective fastener tab.
25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising engaging the free end of the at least one strap with the at least one prong.