WO1997004683A2

WO1997004683A2 - Liquid applicator device

Info

Publication number: WO1997004683A2
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregg Hazelgrove; Debbie Foreman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-25
Filing date: 1996-07-25
Publication date: 1997-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1998-01-25
Also published as: GB9615674D0; AU6620096A; GB2303541A; WO1997004683A3

Abstract

A liquid applicator device is disclosed for applying liquid to a surface. The device comprises a support means (1) preferably in the form of a circular disc (4), having a handle (21) attached to it. The handle is preferably a collapsible handle. A reservoir (5) is provided on the circular disc (4) to receive liquid which is to be dispensed. A sponge (11) is mountable on the circular disc (4) with a valve (11A, 13) disposed between the circular disc and the sponge to control the release of liquid from the reservoir into the sponge (11) so that the sponge can be used for applying the liquid to a person's skin. Preferably, the applicator device is made of plastics materials and has a cover (26) for convering the device during storage. The collapsible handle (20) is preferably a telescopic handle extending centrally of the applicator device. In one alternative embodiment a side of sponge (11) is glued to sponge support (10). The sponge (11) has an indentation (11a) adjacent the sponge support (10) for receiving liquid therein for unified dispersion into the sponge.

Description

LIQUID APPLICATOR DEVICE

This invention relates to liquid applicator devices particularly, but not exclusively, for the self application of sun tan lotions to a persons back.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid applicator device for applying liquid to a surface, comprising support means having a handle attached thereto, a reservoir as the support means in which liquid to be dispensed is stored, means for releasing the liquid from the reservoir, and a sponge mountable on the support means for receiving the liquid released from the reservoir for wetting the sponge for application to a person's skin.

In one embodiment of a liquid applicator according to the present invention the support means comprises a plate having the reservoir mounted thereon. Conveniently the reservoir has an outlet controlled by a valve. The valve is preferably a circular valve plate located beneath the reservoir and has a radially extending lever for moving the valve between open and closed positions of the valve. Conveniently, the reservoir is a sealable container mounted constituting the support means, and includes a plurality of apertures in the base thereof through which fluid is emittable under the control of the circular valve plate.

Preferably, the sponge is attached, conveniently by gluing, to a sponge support which is releasably connectable with the reservoir of the applicator. Preferably, the sponge support has one or more apertures therein for allowing liquid in the reservoir to penetrate onto the sponge. The sponge may include a reservoir indentation in the region of the said one or more apertures of the sponge support for receiving liquid therein from the reservoir.

Preferably, the sponge support includes two lugs to interconnect the sponge support with the support means and a clip engageable with the lugs to lock/release the sponge support relative to the support means to change the sponge when soiled.

Conveniently, a vacuum seal is located over the support means on the side thereof containing the reservoir to seal the liquid in the reservoir.

In an alternative embodiment, a cover is provided for covering the support means, handle, reservoir and sponge when stored away.

The handle attached to the support means can be a collapsible handle for folding over the side of the support means remote from the side thereof arranged to receive the sponge. Alternatively, there may be provided an applicator device having a handle which collapses telescopically. Preferably, the handle is telescopically mounted in a spine passage along a top surface of the applicator device.

Preferably, a strap with a popper connection is provided to secure the handle and sponge compactly when the collapsed applicator device is covered by the plastic cover.

Conveniently, the reservoir is an annular groove located centrally of the support means.

In an alternative embodiment the support means comprising a container reservoir on which is a sponge support mounted on one of two opposed side faces of the sponge support means. The sponge support is a flat plate with a plurality of apertures therein which correspond to a similar plurality of apertures in the reservoir base to allow fluid in the reservoir to flow through the support means. Conveniently, the sponge is glued to the sponge support and has an indentation in the face of the sponge glued to the sponge support. The indentation acts as a secondary reservoir for disbursing fluid directly into the sponge. Preferably, the circular valve plate is located in the sponge indentation against the sponge support with a control lever of the valve plate projecting from a slot in the side of the sponge.

In a further alternative embodiment the sponge support is provided with a central domed area and the sponge face glued to the support means is a flat planar surface. A cavity formed between the sponge and the sponge support provides a secondary reservoir from which fluid is disbursed directly into the sponge. A correspondingly domed valve plate is located, preferably, contiguously between the domed sponge support and a further correspondingly domed bottom to the reservoir container. Apertures in the reservoir, valve plate and sponge support are controlled by the position of the valve plate so that when the apertures align fluid flows from the reservoir onto the sponge.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the top and one side of a main support in the applicator according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sponge support and sponge attachable to the main support of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a manually operable valve plate locatable between the main support and the sponge support;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of an assembled applicator device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of an alternative form of valve plate locatable between the main support and the sponge support;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of another alternative applicator device in accordance with the present invention in which the valve plate is located between the sponge support and sponge;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a further applicator device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a modified form of the applicator device in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a sponge support used with the embodiment of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a plan view of an alternative applicator device illustrating an outer face thereof including a centrally located spine passage;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the handle along line A-A of Figure 10; and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of yet a further form of applicator device according to the present invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings there is shown a liquid applicator device which comprises a main body 1, a sponge support 2 attachable to the main body 1 and a manually operable valve 3 which is located between the main support body and the sponge support 2.

The main support body l comprises a main body 4 being a circular plate having an annular groove 5 located centrally thereof. Flat central land 6 surrounded by the annular groove 5 is hollow as will be described below. Beneath the body 4, as shown in the Figure 1, there is shown an annular rim 7 extending outwardly perpendicularly from the body 4, and having an internal diameter sufficient to receive therein the sponge support 2.

Two alignment slots 8 are provided on the peripheral edge of the body 4 for receiving corresponding lugs 9 extending radially outwardly from the periphery of a circular sponge support 10 to the underside of which a sponge 11 is attached by gluing. The sponge support 10 of a plastics material is provided centrally with four apertures 13 spaced at equal radii about the centre of the sponge support 10. The apertures are arranged to be aligned with similarly spaced apertures 5a in the bottom of the groove 5 in the main sponge support body 4. In addition to lugs 9 a clip 9a is provided on support disc 10 substantially diametrically opposite to the lugs 9 to enable locking or release of the sponge support relative to the main body 4.

As shown represented in dotted lines in Figure 1 the rim 7 is provided with a slot 14 through which projects a lever 15 from the manually operable valve plate 3. The valve plate 3 is a small circular plate relative to the size of the main body 4 or sponge support 10 but is sufficiently large to have four equally spaced apertures 16 which are alignable with the apertures 5a and 13 of the discs 4 and body 10, respectively. At the centre of the valve plate 3 is an upstanding axle post 17 which engages within the hollow land 6 at the centre of the main body 4. The post 17 allows the valve plate 3 to rotate about an axis provided by axle post 17 and enables the lever to be moved backwards and forwards along the slot 14 to open and close the aligned apertures to allow liquid to pass from the reservoir 5 in the main body 4 into the sponge 11.

The side of the sponge 11 which is glued to the sponge support 10 is provided with a reservoir indentation Ila at the centre thereof. The indentation Ila is of a sufficient size to extend over the area in which the apertures 16 of the valve plate 3 are to be found. The indentation provides a secondary reservoir into which the liquid to be applied is first collected on the sponge 11 before diffusing into the sponge.

The applicator device is provided with a handle 20 which is divided into four portions 21 to 24 pivotally interconnected one with the next to allow pressure to be applied to a surface through the sponge 11 but which will collapse when pressure is applied in the opposite direction.

To enable the handle 20 to collapse neatly and to fold over the top of the main body 4 the first portion 21 is fixed to the main body 4 the next portion 22 is pivotally interconnected to the fixed portion 21 and the subsequent portions 23, 24 are pivotally interconnected to the portions 22 and 23 respectively. A hook 25 is located on the free end of portion 24 for storing the applicator device with the handle 20 in an extended position.

In addition to the joint between fixed portion 21 and portion 22 there is a rotatable interconnection allowing rotation through 180° so that when the applicator is to be stored away the outermost portion 24 is folded over the portion 23 and then these portions are folded over the portion 22 which is in turn folded over the portion 21 so that the portions 22, 23 and 24 overlie the main body 10.

Turning to Figure 4 there is shown a side elevational view of the applicator device described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3 together with a plastics cover 26 which is a cylindrical bag construction with a pivotal integral wall 27 and a lid 28 to cover the upper surface of the main body 4 and folded handle. A strap 29 is provided centrally around the cover 26 and is fixed with a popper connection 30 to secure the handle 20 and sponge 11 compactly and cleanly without allowing any surplus liquid in the applicator to be emitted from the applicator device.

Thereby in use, the applicator device is removed from the cover and the handle 20 unfolded and rotated through 180° the handle so that it will not collapse when the sponge is pressed against a person's skin.

Liquid is poured into the groove 5 and a cap seal 31 can be vacuum sealed over main body 4 and therefore the groove 5 to prevent the liquid being emitted from the groove. A tag 32 may also be provided on the main body 4 to pull off the vacuum seal 31 for easy cleaning. When ready to apply liquid to a person's back for example the lever 15 is moved along the slot 14 until the liquid flows out of the groove 5 through the apertures 16 in the valve 3 and aperture 13 in the sponge support 10 into the indented reservoir ila within the sponge 11. The liquid then diffuses into the sponge and such diffusion is aided by the pressure of the sponge against the skin. Once the liquid is dispensed from the groove 5 the valve 3 can be closed to prevent the liquid passing back through the apertures in the valve when the applicator is pressed against a person's skin.

Conveniently, other than the sponge 11 the applicator device may be produced from a plastic's material to provide an applicator which is light in weight and easy to clean. However, the applicator device may be made of metal such as aluminium or stainless steel which would, of course, result in a stronger but much heavier applicator devices.

Alternatively, the handle 20 rather than be pivoted at the interconnection between the portions 21 to 24 could be of a reduced diameter portion at one end to interlock with the next adjacent section and have a spring extending internally throughout the length of the handle to hold the handle in its assembled condition. When the handle 20 is to be collapsed the handle is pulled in a radially outward direction which causes the individual portions to separate whereupon they can be folded one over the other.

Whilst the main body 4 is described above as being circular it may also take other shapes such as oval, elongate, rectangular, square, triangular, elliptical etc.

The sponge support 10 and sponge may also be similarly shaped, as may be cover 26.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown an alternative form of an applicator device 1 in accordance with the present invention. The device l comprises a hollow main body 4 with a cavity therein to define a reservoir 5. Top 20 of the main body 4, relative to the orientation of the device shown in Figure 5, includes a screw filler cap 21 and a plan view may be similar in shape to the shape of the main body in Figure 10.

The main body 4 is mounted on an uppermost flat planar surface 12 of sponge support 10. A sponge 11 is attached to lowermost surface 13 of the sponge support 10 by gluing. A plurality of apertures 13 extend through the sponge support 10 and correspond with apertures 16 in valve plate 3 which is located between the main body 4 and the sponge support 10 in an appropriately shaped groove 22 in the base 23 of the main body/reservoir 4, 5. The groove 22 has a centrally located circular portion to accommodate the circular valve plate 3 and a radially outwardly extending fan-tailed shaped portion to accommodate movement of operating lever 15 of valve plate 3 between open and closed positions of the valve formed between the base of the reservoir 23, the sponge support 10 and the movable valve plate 3. To achieve this the base 23 of the reservoir 5 is similarly provided with apertures 24 to align with the apertures of valve plate 3 and sponge support 10, when allowing fluid flow to the sponge 11.

The sponge 11 in this embodiment has an indentation 25 in its surface which is glued to the support 10 for receiving the fluid therein and to allow the fluid to disburse into the sponge over a larger area than the area of the apertures. Rotational movement of valve plate 3 to the closed position where the apertures 16 thereof are displaced relative to the apertures 13 and 24 of the sponge support 10 and reservoir base 23, respectively, prevents fluid flow from the reservoir 5 to the sponge 11.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the applicator device which is constructed in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figure 5 but because of manufacturing costs in preshaping the base 23 the base is flat and mounted in sponge support 10. The sponge 11 is glued to the opposite side of the sponge support to that side on which the reservoir is mounted, and is provided with a groove 30 in its surface glued to the sponge support 10 in which valve plate 3 is located for rotation to open and close the valve via lever 15.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of an applicator device constructed similarly to the embodiment of Figure 6 but in this instance the reservoir base 23, the valve plate 3 and the sponge support 10 all have a domed or concave portion in the region of the valve to define a cavity 31 between the sponge support and sponge 11. Surface 32 of sponge 11 is flat and glued to the sponge support 10. The cavity 31 serves as a secondary reservoir into which fluid flows to achieve a more even distribution of fluid into the sponge 11.

In Figure 8, which discloses an embodiment substantially identical to that of Figure 7, the sponge 11 is attached by gluing to a flat planar sponge support 10 having a single central aperture, as shown in Figure 9, sufficiently large to be subtended by the domed area of the valve plate 3, thereby eliminating the domed area of the support 10. Otherwise the applicator device of Figure 8 operates in the same manner as the device of Figure 7.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention the applicator device is elliptical in shape as shown in the plan view of Fig. 10 and apart from its shape it is constructed in substantially the same manner as has been described with reference to the applicator device of Figures l to 4. Where appropriate the same reference numerals will be used in describing the embodiment of Fig. 10 has been used in describing the embodiments disclosed above. Therefore, as previously mentioned, the liquid applicator device l has a main body 4 which carries a sponge support 10 attachable to the main body and a manually operable valve plate 3 which is located between the main body 4 and the sponge 11. An arm 15 is shown in Fig. 10 for operating manually the operable valve plate 3.

However, the main difference between the previously described embodiments of Figures 1 to 4 and the remaining embodiments is that in the former the reservoir has a sealed peel-away cover to seal fluid in the reservoir, while in the alternative embodiments the reservoir has a fixed sealed cover with a removable cap for filling the reservoir.

Another difference between the alternative embodiments and the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 is that in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 the handle 40 is disclosed as being divided into four portions 41 to 44 pivotally interconnected one with the next to allow pressure to be applied in one direction to a skin surface through sponge 11 but which will collapse when pressure is applied in the opposite direction.

However, in the alternative embodiments as illustrated in Fig. 10, the handle 40 is also arranged in a number of handle portions 41 to 44 but the portions are arranged to be telescopically interconnected one with the next.

In addition to the handle portions 41 to 44 being arranged so that they telescope one within the other, the portion 42 closest to the body l is arranged to be telescopically slidable into a passageway 45 formed along a major axis 46 of the elliptically shaped body 1. The passageway 45 is of sufficient length to receive therein handle portion 42 of the handle 40. Portion 42 is arranged to contain, in the collapsed condition of the handle, the remaining sections 43, 44 of the handle. Once portion 42 is inserted into the passageway 45 the handle 40 projects outwardly by a small amount to allow outermost end 47 of the handle to be gripped by the user and pulled outwardly to expand the handle 40 to its full or an intermediate length.

Whilst the handle in this embodiment is disclosed as being able to telescope into the passageway 45 which extends along the central or major axis 41 of an elliptical shaped main body 4, the passageway can be located at any point across the body of the applicator although this alters the shape of the body so that it will be displaced to one side or the other from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 10. In such an embodiment the length of the passageway 45 must be maintained and accordingly the elliptically shaped body would need to be rearranged to accommodate the passageway, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 10 showing the handle extending from one side of the body 1.

The body may of course be of any shape as previously indicated with reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4.

In this alternative embodiment the tearaway seal of the reservoir of Figures 1 to 4, as mentioned above, is replaced by a solid cover 39 being part of the main body 4 which is shown in Fig. 10 in an elliptical form having a passageway 45 extending centrally of the cover along the length of the major axis 46 over substantially the whole length of the major axis but terminates at an open end wall 48 a short distance away from the edge 49 of the cover to define a land area 50 for reasons which will become apparent below.

The cover is provided with a 20mm screw cap 51 through which liquid can be poured directed into the reservoir 5 from a source of supply such as a bottle. Once the reservoir 5 is filled the screw cap 51 is screwed into its aperture in the cover to seal off the reservoir. The handle passageway 45 is separate from the reservoir and there is no fluid interconnection between the two although integrally formed with the reservoir cover.

The handle 40 is divided as disclosed above, into three individual hollow sections each, in the example illustrated, being of approximately 10.16cm (4 inches) in length. The length of the major axis of the cover is 11.43cm (4% inches) with the passageway being 10.16cm (4 inches) in length. The outermost handle end 47 is provided with a small hook (not shown) for hanging the sun sponge when it is not being used. The hook is defined by a recessed groove (not shown) at the end 47 of the handle 40 having an opening on the opposite side of the handle to that side of the handle disclosed in Fig. 10 so as to maintain the hook within the bounds of the cross-section 52 shown in Fig. 11 of the handle. This cross-section ensures the hook end 47 is non-rotatable relative to the reminder of the handle. It is preferred that the cross-sectional shape of the handle be octagonal as shown in Figure 11 to substantially provide the user with the feeling of a circular handle but providing sufficient surfaces to enable the handle to be firmly gripped in the hand. Other cross-sectional shapes can be utilised.

When the handle is collapsed the outermost handle portion 44 is collapsed into central handle portion 43 and the two together are collapsed into the innermost end portion 42 of the handle portions until the hook end 47 just projects outwardly from outer end 53 of the innermost handle portion 42 adjacent the applicator cover 39. Innermost end 54 of the handle 40 is located inside the passageway 45 and upon further pressure applied to the handle the handle will collapse into the passageway 45 until the handle is totally received therein, other than the hook end at the extreme outer end of the handle. Because the passageway extends for example only 10.16cm (4 inches) in length and the major axis of the elliptical cover is 11.43cm (4% inches) in length there is land 50 of the cover 1.27cm (% inch) in length over which the passageway 45 does not extend and in the fully collapsed condition of the handle the hook end 49 rests in this space and does not extend beyond the outer peripheral edge 45 of the reservoir cover.

Although the hook end 47 has been described as being fixed relative to the handle it is possible to provide a hook which projects radially outwardly of the handle 40 and to be rotatable about longitudinal axis 55 of the handle. In the collapsed position of the handle the hook is rotatable through 90° to lie on the land 50 adjacent the passageway end wall 48. When the handle 40 is to be extended the hook is rotatable through at least 90°, so that the hook is upstanding to a position in which the user can grip the hook and pull the handle outwardly by the hook.

In the alternative form of the applicator device shown in broken lines in Fig. 10 the cover is constructed so that the passageway 45 extends along one edge 60 of the cover with the handle 40 extending outwardly therefrom in the telescopic manner described.

Conveniently, the applicator device described herein with the present invention is of a plastics material and can be of any selected shape. Preferably, a cover is provided for all embodiments in a similar manner as described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

In one further alternative form of the applicator device according to the present invention, and disclosed in Figure 12, the sponge support 10 has a domed central portion as disclosed in Figure 7 for example and the correspondingly domed base 23 of the reservoir 5 sits directly on the domed portion of the sponge support. The manually operable valve plate is omitted.

The reservoir 5 is provided with a groove 120 around its external axially extending peripheral surface 121. The sponge support 10 has a raised annular flange 122 extending axially from the support 10 in an opposite axial direction to the direction in which the sponge 11 extends. An inwardly directed rim 124 is provided on a free outermost edge of the flange. The rim 123 is locatable in the peripheral groove 120 of the reservoir 5 so that in use the reservoir/sponge support are rotatable one relative to the other to control the passage of fluid from the reservoir 5 to the sponge 11. Conveniently, the annular rim 123 can be reduced to one or more prongs to achieve the same rotational effect. Conveniently, the sponge 11 includes a cavity indentation Ila for assisting disbursement of fluid into the sponge 11.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A liquid applicator device for applying liquid to a surface, comprising support means having a handle attached thereto, a reservoir on the support means in which fluid to be emitted is storable, means for releasing fluid from the reservoir, and a sponge mountable on the support means for receiving the fluid released from the reservoir for wetting the sponge for application of the fluid to a person's skin by contact of the sponge upon the skin.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for releasing fluid comprises alignable apertures on each of two mutually movable parts of the applicator device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for releasing fluid comprises aperture means on the reservoir being alignable with aperture means on a support for supporting the sponge.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, including interconnecting means for coupling the reservoir and sponge support for relative rotational movement therebetween.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the interconnecting means comprises a groove on the external peripheral surface thereof.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sponge support includes a flange and means extending inwardly from a free edge thereof to engage in the groove of the reservoir.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3, including an aperture valve plate rotatable relative to the reservoir and sponge support for controlling fluid flow from the reservoir.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve plate is located between the reservoir and sponge support.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sponge has a flat planar surface adjacent the support means for supporting the sponge.

10. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve plate is located between the sponge support means and sponge.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sponge includes an indentation in the region of the said valve plate to accommodate the valve plate therein and to define a secondary fluid reservoir therein.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the valve plate includes a lever extending radially outwards from the valve plate for rotating the valve plate to effect opening or closing of the valve to control the fluid flowing into the secondary fluid reservoir and subsequently into the sponge.

13. A device as claimed in claims 7, 8 and 9, wherein the valve plate is concave to define a secondary reservoir cavity above the sponge to aid dispersion of fluid into the sponge.

14. A claim as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reservoir and sponge support have concave portions corresponding to the valve plate.

15. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sponge support includes two lugs to interconnect the sponge support with the support means and a clip to lock/release the sponge support relative to the support means.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is divided into four portions.

17. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is a collapsible handle for folding over the side of the support means remote from the side thereof arranged to receive the sponge support and sponge.

18. A device as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the handle portions are constructed to telescope one into the next.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein one of the portions is on the support means and comprises a passageway for receiving the telescoped handle therein.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the passageway extends along a spine portion extending outwardly of the support means.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the spine portion extends centrally of the support means.

22. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the spine portion extends along one edge of the support means.

23. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a cover for covering the support means, handle, reservoir, and sponge when stored away.