SOLUBLE PACKAGE OR CONTAINER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
T:he present invention is directed to pre-formed, sealed package containing a predetermined quantity of a composition i:or constitution into a solution of known concentration.
More particularhr, the present invention i:~ directed to a soluble package or container which contains a predetermined quantity of a soluble composition such that the entire package can be reconstituted into a solution of known concentration by placing the package containing the composition into a suitable solvent such as water.
One of the more tedious arid time consuming tasks found in laboratories and other locations where solutions of known concentration must be prepared is the actual preparation of the solution. Typically, this has evolved the measuring or weighing out of a specific quantity of a composition or mixture of compositions which are then dissolved in a specific quantity of solvent typically water. Besides the wastc: of time and inconvenience, these procedures inherently can lead to errors in the measuring out of the soluble material and/or the solvent as well as the hazard of material being spilled or coming into contact with the individuals involved in preparing the solutions.
It would, accordingly, be advantageous to provide a simple, fast way of preparing solutions of know concentration in which the tedious procedures of measuring out the soluble material and transferring it from a container to the solvent could be avoided.
Such a system would also avoicL much of the need for storing and maintaining large containers of soluble materials from which portions are removed for making up the required solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a unitary package of soluble material that sub:;tantially obviates one or more of the problems, limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the description or may be learned by practice of the imrention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by tha system particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as in embodied and broadly described the invention comprises a unitary package of soluble materials for constituting a solution of known composition. Wherein, a predetermined quantity of a soluble composition is disposed within a soluble container such that both the composition and the container when placed in a specified quantity of solvent, dissolves to produce the solution of known composition.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed descripti~~n are exemplary and explanatory and intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanied drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed, soluble package containing a soluble, solid composition in accordance with the invention.
F:,gure 2 is a side view of a soluble capsule containing a soluble material in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a unitary package of soluble material is provided for constituting a solution of known composition in which a predetermined quantity of one or more soluble components is disposed within a soluble sealed container such that both the composition and the container when placed in a quantity of suitable solvent dissolved to produce the solution of known composition.
Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of whi~~h are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
As embodied herein and illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, a soluble bag-like container 1 is shown containing a soluble.. solid material 3 and sealed at one end 2 to provide a closed container. The quantity of the soluble, solid material 3 is known having been weighed in advance. Typically, for example, this material could be a water soluble salt from which it is desired to prepared an aqueous solution o:f the salt. Typical of the water soluble components which might be c;mployed in accordance with the invention are ascorbic acid, various indicators such as litmus or methyl orange and various inorganic salts such as calcium chloride or barium chloride and magnesium chloride, sulfates of copper magnesium or iron, nitrate of potassium, zinc, calcium, silver, barium, chromium, magnesium, sodium phosphate, potassium chromate, sodium carbonatf; and sodium chloride, to name only a few. The actual quantity of the soluble material placed in the sealed package will be determined by the quantity of the solvent such as water, in which the package is to be placed as well as the desired ultimate concentration.
Typically, for ex~nnple, a gram molecular weight of a particular compound might be included in a sealed water soluble package for placement in one liter of water in order to constitute a one mole solution. Clearly, multiples of this amount could also be packaged for constitution into either a greater volume of solution or a solution of greater or lesser concentration. Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the water soluble composition is placed in water soluble, two part capsule 4. The capsule consists of a body portion 5 having a cap 6 which slides over the body portion 5 to form a closed unitary container holding the water soluble composition 7. 'The structure of the capsule in accordance with the invention is the s;alne as found in ordinary gelatin capsules used for encapsulating medicinal materials. The particular soluble components placed in the capsule and the quantities of these components will be essentially the same as heretofore described with respect to package or envelope of Figw-e 1 of the drawings. While the particular water soluble package employed to enclose the predetermined quantity of soluble composition in accordance with the invention can be any suitable m~.aterial which is soluble in the solvent being employed, typical materials for use in constituting aqueous solutions are polyvinyl alcohol for the envelope and gelatin for the capsule. Important considerations in selecting the material from which the package itself is to be constituted will be the solvent into which i:he package is to be placed as well as the compatibility of the dissolved package with the soluble composition. Clearly, when the soluble composition is dissolved, it should not undergo any chemical reaction or undesirable bonding with the dissolved package, particularly if this would have an affect upon the ultimate concentration or composition of the solution. It will also be important that the packaging material not react with the solid component placed within it.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications in variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent.