Applicator with protective barrier

Abstract

An applicator for dispensing compositions includes a crushable ampoule covered with a barrier material that serves as a protective barrier. The applicator can also include a body made of a flexible material that holds at least one crushable ampoule. The protective barrier protects the user's fingers from puncture by shards created during breakage of the crushable ampoule.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An applicator comprising: 
 at least one crushable ampoule having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a central portion, the crushable ampoule being crushable upon application of a force applied by a user's fingers,    a flexible applicator body having a hollow lumen, said at least one crushable ampoule being located entirely within said hollow lumen of said applicator body, and    a polymeric barrier film disposed between an interior surface of said flexible applicator body and said at least one crushable ampoule to cover at least the central portion of the at least one crushable ampoule where the predetermined force is applied and provide a physical barrier to penetration by shards created by crushing of the ampoule.    
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric film is polyester.  
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric film is transparent.  
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric film is a tape or label.  
     
     
         5 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric film is sized to extend slightly larger than the at least one ampoule.  
     
     
         6 . A method of making an applicator, comprising: 
 providing at least one crushable ampoule having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the crushable ampoule being crushable upon application of a force applied by a user's fingers,    providing a flexible applicator body having an open end, a closed end, and a hollow lumen of a predetermined diameter,    inserting a rolled polymeric barrier film into said hollow lumen of said flexible applicator body and allowing the barrier film to spring outward against an interior surface of the applicator body, and    inserting the at least one crushable ampoule into said hollow lumen so that said polymeric film is provided between the at least one crushable ampoule and the interior surface of said flexible applicator body and covers at least a central portion of the ampoule to protect against penetration of shards created during crushing of said at least one crushable ampoule.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric barrier film is a polyester film.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric barrier film is transparent.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric barrier film includes labeling indicia.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric barrier film comprises a tape.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric barrier film is in sheet form and initially rolled to a diameter smaller than the predetermined diameter of the hollow lumen.  
     
     
         12 . An applicator comprising: 
 at least one crushable ampoule having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a central portion,    a flexible applicator body having a hollow lumen, with said at least one crushable ampoule being located entirely within said hollow lumen of said applicator body, and    a clear polymeric barrier material disposed within said hollow lumen between the at least one crushable ampoule and an interior surface of said hollow lumen to cover at least the central portion of the ampoule where a force is applied by a user's fingers to break or crush the ampoule to protect the user's fingers from glass shards created during the break.    
     
     
         13 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein said polymeric barrier material is a polyester film.  
     
     
         14 . The applicator according to  claim 12 , wherein said polymeric barrier material forms a label.  
     
     
         15 . The applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the label includes indicia.