United States Patent {191 [in Sirago et al. [451 Jan. 30, 1973 154] DISPOSABLE COMPARISON DETECTOR KIT [75] Inventors: James J. Sirago, 910 Enterprise, Inglewood, Calif. 90302; Edward B. [22] Filed: Walton, 3129 Yale Ave., Marina Del Rey, Calif. 90291 Dec. 7, 1970 3,713,779 3.446.596 3.476.515 5/1969 11/1969 Salivar et a1. ................... ..23/253 TP Johnson ct al ................. ..23/253 X 3.497.320 2/1970 Blackburn ct al. . . . . . 3,504,376 3/1970 Bednar et al. ........................ ..23/230 . . .. Primary Examiner—Morris O. Wolk Assistant Examiner-R. E. Serwin Attorney-Beehler & Arant [21] Appl. No.: 95,765 [57] ABSTRACT A sealed flexible plastic package contains ampuls of [52] U.S. Cl. ........... ..~....23/259, 23/230 B, 23/253 R, 23/253 TP, 206/47 A chemicals which are broken to release the contents [51] Int.Cl. ...................... ..G0ln 21/20, GOln 33/16 [58] Field of Search ..... ..23/230 B. 253 TP, 259, 292; 206/47 A [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,894 3.381.572 5/1962 5/1968 Forestiere ....................... ..23/253 TP Tuwiner .......................... ..23/253 TP and pass them through canals to a mixing pocket which contains a substance to be tested. The chemi cals create a mixture having a certain characteristic color in the presence of an ingredient for which the test is conducted. For more accurate detection a small quantity of the mixture is passed into a smaller pocket preferably having a light colored bottom surface, and a color patch is placed near the smaller pocket for visual comparison with the color of the mixture. 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I975 . 3.713.779 ?l I ll?lsr'tll'q I .7 - I . {9-7 I 91 - (12m; J. 5mm IIJI - Eon/x720 6. 71627470? 5 - /j (5423,713,779 1 2 plastic package generally indicated by the reference DISPOSABLE COMPARISON DETECTOR KIT character 10 consisting of a top sheet 11 and a bottom sheet 12. The top and bottom sheets are constructed Color comparison tests for detection of the presence from synthetic plastic resin material of inert character unaffected by the variety of chemicals sought to be handled. The package is adapted to accommodate a series of of certain chemical ingredients frequently have been ' made use of as an accurate dependable test in the case of sundry ingredients such as barbiturates, Heroin, marijuana, narcotics and other sundry substances such as blood and urine. For the test to be dependable, the ampuls 13, 14 and 15 substantially identical in physical vessels containing the ingredients must be sterile and provide packets, generally disposable in character, form, but each adapted to contain a liquid l6, l6’ and 16" of some speci?c nature. Such ampuls, commer cially available, are customarily made of relatively thin which contain a sufficient quantity of chemicals to make a single test of a selected sample sufficient for de glass having one relatively large cylindrical end 17, a relatively smaller tapered end 18 and an annular tection. Despite the workable character of some recessed intermediate portion 19 interconnecting the uncontaminated. Some attempt has been undertaken to packets, recesses for positioning the sealed frangible ampuls of chemicals have been inappropriately located, mixing pockets have not been connected to the supply in a manner permitting well-controlled in troduction of chemicals into the presence of the ?uid to be tested and quantities provided for have not been such that an accurate dependable visual comparison can be quickly made. It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved sealed ?exible plastic package capable of carrying necessary detector chemi two ends. The intermediate portion provides a weakened wall so that the ampul can be broken readily at the weakened portion to release the liquid contents. To accommodate the ampuls, the bottom sheet 12 is provided with three elongated recesses 20, 21 and 22 slightly larger than a one-half section of the respective ampul. Complementary recesses 23, 24 and 25 are pro vided in the top sheet 11 so that when the respective complementary recesses are brought together in the 25 manner shown the combined recessed chamber thus provided comfortably accommodates the ampul in cals for mixing to produce a mixture of characteristic color wherein passages capable of careful control are each instance. In the bottom sheet 12 at the location on one side of provided between the ampuls and the mixing pocket so‘ the individual recesses thus described is a mixing that a well-controlled mix is possible. 30 pocket 30. Interconnecting the combined recesses 20 Another object of the invention is to provide a new and 23, for example, and the mixing pocket 30 are and improved sealed ?exible plastic package capable of canals 31 and 32, one serving as an in?ow canal and the being used as a visual detector kit wherein there is pro other serving as a vent. vided a special comparison pocket into which a desired Of special signi?cance are the arcuate enlargements quantity of a mixture of chemicals and sample ?uid can 35 37, 38 and 39 surrounding the recesses 20, 21 and 22; be passed so as to provide a a quantity of the mixture and in line with the canals 31, 32 and 33. Enlargements - which can be accurately compared as to color charac 40, 41 and 42 surrounding the same recesses 20, 21 and teristics with a color patch. 22 are of comparable signi?cance. Presence of the en Still another object of the invention is to provide a largements assures that there will be no restriction to new and improved sealed ?exible plastic package com 40_ the free ?ow of liquid from the ampuls when broken, to pact in its design and also of such construction that it the mixing pocket and likewise no restriction to venting can readily accommodate one, two or more ampuls of air or gas from the mixing pocket back to the recesses. chemicals arranged in such fashion that the ampul Adjacent the mixing pocket 30 is a secondary rela remains sealed after being broken, the package being tively smaller pocket 50, likewise being formed in the 45 such that all of the operations can be manipulated by bottom sheet, and canals 51 and 52 interconnect the hand without prospect of any leakage, the package secondary pocket 50 with the mixing pocket 30, the being such that it is readily disposable after completion canals being formed entirely in the bottom sheet 12. of the test. The top and bottom sheets are sealed together With these and other objects in view, the invention throughout an area 53 throughout the perimeter, there 50 consists in the construction, arrangement, and com being additionally provided a sealing band 54 sur bination of the various parts of the device, whereby the rounding the rims of the pockets 30 and 50 and a objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set similar vsealing band 55 surrounding the combined forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illus recesses which contain the ampuls, the sealing bands trated in the accompanying drawings. 55 43 and 44 being joined together at the margins of the In the drawings: canals so that there is a double seal in effect surround FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical package partially ing all of the liquid containing spaces. broken away showing three frangible ampuls in posi When the packet is to be used to perform a test, a tion. sample of suspected material is insertedinto the mixing FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on the line 2-—2 of 60 pocket through ‘an opening 56 in the top sheet 11. After FIG. 1. this has been accomplished a sealing patch 57 provided FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3—3 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-—4 of FIG. 1. with a conventional pressure-sensitive seal is removed FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 of FIG. 1. ' FIG. 6 is a bottom view, on line 6—6 of FIG. 2. In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown a sealed ?exible 65 from its handy location and applied over the opening 56 to completely and effectively seal the opening. The package is then ?exed, ?rst to break one of the anpuls and then, successively, the other two. When an ampul is broken, the fracture takes place at the inter 3 3,713,779 4 deformable material and at least one ampul containing mediate portion 19 of reduced diameter, and the liquid 16, 16' and 16" as the case may be is then freed for passage through one or another of the lines of canals a liquid chemical of predetermined volume, said ampul having opposite end chambers and a frangible section into the mixing pocket 30 while air or gas in the pocket is vented through the other line of canals. When the liquid contents have thus been passed into the mixing pocket, the package can be shaken to thoroughly mix the chemicals with the sample until a desired uniform color characteristic has been attained. adjacent said recess, means laterially spaced from said intermediate said end chambers, one of said sheets hav ing therein a retention recess of shape and size accom modating said ampul, there being an area of said sheet recess forming a mixing pocket in said area having a port thereto from the exterior for introduction of sam ple_ material to be tested, a first canalmeans respective A quantity of the mix thus provided is then passed through either the canal 31 or 32 into the secondary pocket 50 and air from the pocket vented through the y interconnecting one portion of said recess with said pocket, said pocket having a volume in excess of the volume of the contents of said ampul, a secondary opposite canal. pocket smaller than the mixing pocket, a second canal At the side of the pocket 50 is a color comparison means interconnecting said mixing pocket and another patch 60, of a color designed to be matched by the portion of said secondary pocket, one of said canal color of the mixture provided that the substance for means comprising a supply conduit to the pocket and which the test is designed is the correct substance. If the other of said canal means comprising a vent conduit the color of the mixture matches‘the color patch under therefrom, and a color comparison patch on one of said the circumstances described, it is a reliable indication sheets adjacent said secondary pocket. that the substance for which the test is conducted is the 20 2. A detector kit as in claim 1 wherein there is a plu correct substance. Should the colors not match, then it rality of parallel laterally spaced recesses for a plurality can be concluded that the substance is not that sought of ampuls and continuations of said canal means inter and a packet containing different chemicals can be em connecting all of said recesses. ' ployed for a second test. Inasmuch as the package is 3.>A detector kit as in claim 2 wherein there are en sealed completely during all portions of the test, upon largements extending transversely around said recesses completion the entire packet can be disposed of in line respectively with each portion of I said canal withoutbeing broken. means. Also it is found advantageous to provide the bottom sheet 12 containing the pockets with a color coating, preferably white, either on the inside, the outside or 4. A detector kit according to claim 1 wherein said secondary pocket is spaced from said mixing pocket and there are separate portions of said canal means in terconnecting said pockets. having the entire bottom sheet impregnated, thus mak ing the handling and blending of the chemicals easier to 5. A detector kit according to claim 2 wherein said canal means comprises two lines of depressions in the Although the recesses have been described as being 35 sheet of material containing said recesses forming said see. canals, one of said lines being for supplying ?uid respectively to the mixing pocket and to the secondary pocket, the other of said lines of canals being for vent made partially in each of the top and bottom sheets, it will be understood that, if preferred, one only of the sheets can be depressed at the area of the recesses a sufficient amount to contain the entire circumference ing. 6. A detector kit according to claim 1 wherein there is a substantially opaque light colored surface at the of the ampul, thereby permitting the second sheet to be non-deformed. If preferred, the sheets can be otherwise formed so that not only are portions of the recesses bottom of said secondary pocket. 7. A detector kit according to claim 1 wherein there formed in both sheets, but portions of the pockets may are three recesses in laterally spaced parallel relation likewise be formed in both sheets. While the invention has herein been shown and 45 ship on one side only of the mixing pocket. 8. A detector kit according to claim 1 wherein por described in what is conceived to be a practical and ef tions of said kit forming said recesses are in both of said fective embodiment, it is recognized that departures sheets. may be made therefrom within the scope of the inven 9. A detector kit according to claim 1 wherein the tion, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims 50 ampul has an elongated body with an intermediate sec tion separating the ampul into opposite elongated end so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices. sections, said intermediate sections being smaller in Having described the invention, what is claimed as cross sectional area than the cross sectional areas of the new in support of Letters Patent is: end sections and wherein at least one of the sheets fol l. A detector kit for identification of the presence of chemicals in solution by visual color comparison com 55 lows the contour of the ampul throughout its length. prising, matching sheets of ?exible and initially * 65 ‘ll * * *