AU2002301088B2 - Protective Cover for Vaccine Container - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): JOHN SANDERSON LLOYD JOHN SANDERSON LLOYD

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) PROTECTIVE COVER FOR VACCINE CONTAINER Australian Patent Application No. PR7841 filed 21 September 2001.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 PROTECTIVE COVER FOR VACCINE CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a protective cover for a vaccine container of the type commonly used in animal husbandry for vaccination in prevention of diseases in ruminants including cattle and sheep.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Multipurpose vaccines for ruminants are supplied in flexible plastic bags of the type commonly used for parenteral fluids. The vaccines are normally stored under refrigeration to ensure vaccine stability which is importantso that the vaccine retains immunogenicity. Administration involves in field oral or subcutaneous injection using a "gun" having a hose connected to the bag. While vaccines are normally transported to a site under some form of cooling in a cooling container or the like, during normal use an operator often strings a bag around the neck or hangs the bag on a support so that it may be properly used. Field use for vaccinating animals has peculiar problems. These include environmental conditions which may affectthe viability of the vaccine and the physical requirements and difficulties that are common for a person trying to administer the vaccine to animal and usually over a long period of time to many animals in any one vaccination period.

A vaccination period may take hours and consequently during normal use the vaccine inside the bag is exposed to environmental conditions including exposure to sunlight and adverse temperature conditions, and the effect of such exposures can be a reduction in vaccine immunogenicity which may render the vaccine ineffective.

3 The repercussions of exposing vaccines to adverse storage conditions can be significant. In the first place, vaccines are expensive to waste and so too is the significant time and labour required for vaccine administration. Most importantly, if the vaccine loses immunogenicity, then it is likely that animals will not be immunised effectively, thereby increasing the risk of disease outbreak, the resulting losses from which can be devastating.

Many arrangements have been devised using a plastics bag and an outer protective container. The wine cask is a well known example. Without the cardboard outer the plastics bladder would be exposed.

There are in the patent literature many examples of plastics bags held within protective holders each of which combine various features but as will be seen from the following description none possess the unique combination provided by the present invention which by comparison provides a very inexpensive, lightweight, easily transportable, rugged, compact and simple to use device that is particularly suited to the environmental and physical conditions of in field animal vaccination.

In US patent No. 5,911,709 (Hogan) describes the state of the art in respect of vaccine pack holders and delivery devices. Hogan teaches a vaccine pack for holding a bottle of vaccine. The pack is made from foam rubber with needle holders made from an elastic strap having spaced vertical sew lines to separate adjacent needle holders. The pack has a velcro® side wall opposite the needle holders so that a strap may be connected to the pack to hang the pack from a stand.

The velcro® side wall is also wide enough so that a syringe with co-operating velcro® fasteners may be automatically placed in a temporary storage position during vaccinations so a user has both hands free to position the next animal. This pack is designed for use with a stand and is therefore generally unsuitable for personal carriage, is relatively complex and while it could be adapted for use with plastics bags would still retain the complexity and inconvenience associated with its inherent structure.

US Patent 5,085,349 (Fawcett) describes a form of insulating back pack type pocket worn by a cyclist and holding a clear water bag that is passed through an opening in the top of the pocket. An exit tube extends from one end of the bag opposite the opening, along the bag, out through the opening and over the shoulder of the cyclist. A special mouth operated valve is used so water can be drawn from the bag through the exit tube into the mouth of the cyclist. The back pack type pocket has shoulder straps and the bag is designed to collapse inside the pocket as water is drawn out. US patent 5,601,221 describes the same arrangement of a pocket with over shoulder straps holding an inner beverage bag with an exit tube.

See also US patent 5,104,016 (Runkel).

US patent 4,420,097 (Motsenbocker) describes a portable liquid dispenser with an over shoulder or back pack carrying case for carrying a cooled refreshment.

The carrying case is in the form of a handbag with an exit tube passing through an opening in the bottom of one end wall of the handbag so that if the handbag is slung over a user's shoulder the contents will gravity feed through the exit tube. A tap at the end of the exit tube can be used to dispense liquid while the bag remains over the user's shoulder. See also US Patent 5,400,934 (Ducros) which describes a rucksack with liquid container and straw dispenser.

US Patent 4,948,023 (Tripp) describes a personal portable fluid dispenser as might be used by sportsmen and workers. There is also a review of the prior art demonstrating thatthere are many and varied arrangements employing a removable container within a carrier. In Tripp's case he uses two bags and two pockets and a strap arrangement so the bags are secured to the back and front of the user by a combination of over shoulder straps and waist straps to distribute load to the rib region.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for the bag that may be used to enhance the viability of the vaccine for longer periods during normal use and when compared to prior art protective covers, is inexpensive, lightweight, easily transportable, rugged, compact and simple to use and is particularly suited to the environmental and physical conditions of in field animal vaccination.

In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a protective cover for a vaccine bag containing vaccine for use during field administration of the vaccine to animals, the cover comprising a pouch having an outer comprising front and rear walls spanning and covering opposite sides of the vaccine bag, a top, a bottom and being arranged to hold the vaccine bag between the front and rear walls during use, the front and rear walls defining about their edges an outer periphery of the cover, the top having an opening so the vaccine bag may be inserted into the pouch, the bottom having a passage means for passage of an exit tube from the vaccine bag, a fastener to close the opening in the top prevents the vaccine bag being removed from the pouch, strap passage means for passage of straps from the vaccine bag, the cover and vaccine bag coacting with said fastened top to support and retain the cover around the vaccine bag and spanning and covering opposite sides of said vaccine bag and the fastener preventing sliding of the bag within the cover while being supported by vaccine bag straps passing through said strap passage means.

The bag may also have insulating properties. The bag may contain layers of coolant.

Any suitable material known in the art may be employed including material commonly used for its known properties relating to keeping objects cool. Types of materials used as beverage coolers would be suitable. Many other modern materials arising from developments in space research may also be used subject, of course, to the prevailing costs. The material typically has a reflective outer layer.

The fastener is typically a flap that is narrower than the opening in the top so that the strap passage means is defined by opposite sides of the opening that are not closed by the flap.

The cover is essentially strapless in the sense that it is primarily supported by straps emanating from the vaccine bag although the cover may include hooks, loops or eyelets or other similar accessories of a minor nature.

The cover is preferably a glove fit around the vaccine bag so the vaccine bag is fitted closely and slidably between the front and rear walls and causing the pouch to bulge medially and once the fastener is closed across the opening the vaccine bag and cover effectively become a single unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment and wherein:- Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing a protected vaccine bag ready for use and employing a protective cover according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a typical protective cover according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a section through 3-3 of Figure 1.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated an operator 10 having a vaccine bag shown in broken outline at 11 held within a protective cover 12 and retained within the cover by a Velcro'fastener flap 13. An opening 14 in the bottom of the bag enables an administration tube 15 to pass through the pouch and travel up to the hand-held administration gun 16.

The bag includes a neck sling 17 so that the bag may be used with the sling passing either side of the fastener 13. The pouch 12 is illustrated in Figure 2 and is adapted to provide a glove-like fit for the bag 11. In this case the front and rear surfaces 18 and 19 have a connecting gusset on each edge at 20 and 21 to enable expansion of the pouch so that the vaccine bag may be inserted through the opening 22 and then retained within the pouch usingthe Velcro'flap 13, effectively the bag is constrained within the pouch and against relative movement. It will however be appreciated that the flap 13 prevents the bag's sliding movement when supported by the neck sling thereby making sure the bag is covered. The flap may 8 be made wider so the neck sling contacts edges of the flap or there may be clips to secure the neck sling to the cover but the cover is still even in this case essentially strapless in construction.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims-

Claims (8)

1. A vaccine bag cover for a vaccine bag containing vaccine for use during field administration of the vaccine to animals, the cover comprising a pouch having an outer comprising front and rear walls spanning and covering opposite sides of the vaccine bag, a top, a bottom and being arranged to hold the vaccine bag between the front and rear walls during use, the front and rear walls defining about their edges an outer periphery of the cover, the top havingan opening so the vaccine bag may be inserted into the pouch, the bottom having a passage means for passage of an exit tube from the vaccine bag, a fastener to close the opening in the top prevents the vaccine bag being removed from the pouch, strap passage means for passage of straps emanating from the vaccine bag, the cover and vaccine bag coacting with said fastened top to support and retain the cover around the vaccine bag and spanning and covering opposite sides of said vaccine bag and the fastener preventing sliding of the bag within the cover while being supported by vaccine bag straps passing through said strap passage means.

2. A vaccine bag cover according to claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a flap that is narrower than the opening in the top and the strap passage means is defined by opposite sides of the opening that are not closed by the flap.

3. A vaccine bag cover according to claim 1 wherein the cover is essentially strapless in the sense that it is primarily supported by the straps emanating from the vaccine bag.

4. A vaccine bag cover according to claim 1 wherein the cover is a glove fit around the vaccine bag so the vaccine bag is fitted closely and slidably between the front and rear walls and causing the pouch to bulge medially as the vaccine bag is inserted and once the fastener is closed across the opening the vaccine bag and cover effectively become a single unit.

A vaccine bag cover according to claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a flap that is narrower than the opening in the top and the strap passage means is defined by opposite sides of the opening that are not closed by the flap and the cover is essentially strapless in the sense that it is primarily supported by the straps emanating from the vaccine bag.

6. A vaccine bag cover according to claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a flap that is narrower than the opening in the top and the strap passage means is defined by opposite sides of the opening that are not closed by the flap, the cover being a glove fit around the vaccine bag so the vaccine bag is fitted closely and slidably between the front and rear walls and causing the pouch to bulge medially as the vaccine bag is inserted and once the fastener is closed across the opening the vaccine bag and cover effectively become a single unit.

7. A vaccine bag cover according to claim 1 wherein the cover is essentially strapless in the sense that it is primarily supported by the straps emanating from the vaccine bag, the cover being a glove fit around the vaccine bag so the vaccine bag is fitted closely and sl idably between the front and rear walls and causing the pouch to bulge medially as the vaccine bag is inserted and once the fastener is closed across the opening the vaccine bag and cover effectively become a single unit.

8. A vaccine bag cover substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Twentieth day of September 2002 JOHN SANDERSON LLOYD By his Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO