STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure relate to medicated patch applicators and, more particularly, to a manually operated, handheld device which enables an individual to easily apply an adhesive-backed, medicated patch to any area of his or her back. Ideal for consumers suffering back pain and living alone, the medicated patch applicator would permit its users to gain relief from pain, and do so without any assistance to apply the medicated patch.

Prior Art

At one time or another, approximately 80 percent of the populace—four out of every five consumers—will suffer a back injury, or a bout of back pain. And for many who suffer back pain, an over-the-counter, adhesive-backed patch—IcyHot® and Salonpas® being two of the most familiar brands—will bring relief: If, that is, they can get the patch onto the area of their back where it's needed. For those with a spouse, child, or parent in the household, the essential assistance may be close at hand—but for those living alone with back pain, applying the adhesive patch is practically impossible, meaning that the relief it would bring, for all intents and purposes, stays in the box. The invention to be presented and explored in the course of this report would correct this unfortunate situation, and permit the back-pain sufferer to apply the medicated patch to his or her own back.

Most back patches, however effective at alleviating pain or reducing swelling, are practically impossible to apply to one's own back; and to be able to do so, without exacerbating the back pain that made the patch necessary in the first place, would be a major improvement in the lives of people who experience back pain.

Accordingly, a need remains for a medicated patch applicator in order to overcome at least one aforementioned shortcoming. The exemplary embodiment(s) satisfy such a need by providing a manually operated, handheld device that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, versatile in its applications, and designed for an individual to easily apply an adhesive-backed, medicated patch to any area of his or her back. Ideal for consumers suffering back pain and living alone, the medicated patch applicator would permit its users to gain relief from pain, and do so without any assistance to apply the medicated patch.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF NON-LIMITING EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) to provide a medicated patch applicator for easily applying an adhesive-backed, medicated patch to any area of a user back. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) are provided by a medicated patch applicator includes a handle having a centrally registered longitudinal axis, a frame statically connected to the handle and configured to maintain a fixed spatial relationship therewith, and a generally L-shaped implement coupled to the frame and disposed subjacent to the handle. Advantageously, such an implement is located adjacent to a juncture of the frame and the handle. Advantageously, the implement arcuately protrudes forwardly from posterior of the handle, traverses the centrally registered longitudinal axis, and terminates anterior of the handle. Advantageously, the implement is capable of removing an existing back liner of an existing medicated patch during an application process of placing the existing medicated patch onto a skin of a user. Such a structural configuration provides the new, useful, and unexpected result of enabling an individual to easily apply an adhesive-backed, medicated patch to any area of his or her back.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the frame includes a posterior section and an anterior section connected thereto, wherein the posterior section is oriented perpendicular to the anterior section. The frame further includes a plurality of support arms attached to opposed lateral sides of the anterior section, respectively, and a plurality of springs operably attached to the support arms, respectively. A door is operably coupled to the springs and positioned along the anterior section. Advantageously, the door is pivoted between a closed equilibrium position rested on the anterior section and an open tensioned position spaced above the anterior section. Such a structural configuration provides the new, useful, and unexpected result of enabling a user to easily remove the medicated patch back liner during use.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the frame further includes a roller having axially offset opposed ends rotatably engaged with a distal end of the anterior section.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the door has a first portion directly attached to the springs and a second portion rested on the anterior section. Such a door further has a handle statically affixed to a distal edge of the second portion adjacent to the roller.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the posterior section has a substantially Y-shaped configuration.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the anterior section has a substantially planar top surface.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the handle includes a first tubular section directly coupled to the frame, a second tubular section telescopically engaged with the first tubular section, an elbow section statically mated to the second tubular section, and a detent operably engaged with the first tubular section and the second tubular section.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the implement includes a flexible tether anchored to the posterior section of the frame and angled forwardly above the anterior section, and a fastener mated to a distal end of the tether. Advantageously, the tether is disposed above the door when the door is at the closed equilibrium position. Such a structural configuration provides the new, useful, and unexpected result of enabling a user to easily remove the medicated patch back liner during use.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the fastener is a clip.

The present disclosure further includes a method of utilizing a medicated patch applicator for easily applying an adhesive-backed, medicated patch to any area of a user back. Such a method includes the steps of: providing a handle has a centrally registered longitudinal axis; providing and statically connecting a frame to the handle; the frame maintaining a fixed spatial relationship with the handle; providing and coupling a generally L-shaped implement to the frame; disposing the implement subjacent to the handle; and locating the implement adjacent to a juncture of the frame and the handle. Advantageously, the implement arcuately protrudes forwardly from posterior of the handle, traverses the centrally registered longitudinal axis, and terminates anterior of the handle. Advantageously, the implement is capable of removing an existing back liner of an existing medicated patch during an application process of placing the existing medicated patch onto a skin of a user.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure so that the following detailed description may be better understood, and that the present contribution to the relevant art(s) may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the non-limiting exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

