Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
108'~134
Thls inventlon relates to a llquid appllcator.
More particularly, i' concerns a liquid appllcator that iB
e~peclally adaptad to apply a llquid to the axill~ o~ hu~Qns.
The pres~nt invention ha~ particular utility in applylng
5. liqllld antiperspirant or deodorant products to the human
axilla.
A large variety of liquid applicator3 have been
disclo~ed in the prior art. Perhaps one o~ the moæt widely
used applicators 1~ of the so-called ball roll on tgpe
10. applicator. These are exempli~led in U.S. Patent~ 2,749,566;
2,923,957 and 2,998S615 and rely on the fact that the b~ll
rotatlng in the llquid contained in a bottle picks up the
liquld as it dips lnto the contents of the container and
applles it to the body area on whlch the ball is rolled.
15. Although the~e applic~tors h~ve enJoyed wide u~,
they haYe prssented some problem~. Chie~ among these has
been the ~act that the liquid ~roduct tends ~o accumulate
on the ball and crystallize. This o~ten re3ults in unsightly
deposits on the ball. Moreover, the ball often becomes "frozen"
20. 80 that lt will not readily rotate when applied to the body
area.
It has al~o been ~ug6ested in the prior art to con-
struct h quid applicators whlch comprl~e a container for holding
the liquld to be dispensed and an ~ppllcator means positioned
25. on the open end of the container; the appllcator ~eans co~-
prlsing a dlstortable porou~ or microporous member. These
porous me~bers, ln gene~al, are ln communlcation wlth the
l~quld content~ o~ the container and thçy permit the ?iquld
~aterlal to flow through its ~ore~ However, the~e devices
30. ordinarlly require that the applicator mean~ be mechanic~lly
or otherwl~e squeezed to deli~-er the product. Ty~lcal devices
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1082134
of th s character are descrioed in U.S. Fatents 3,179,972
ard 3,482,920. Devices o- these types have the disadvantage
in that it is substantially impossible to deliver uniform
doses of the liquid contents of the cor.tairer. This is so
because the quantity of .~terial delivered to a su~startial
extent is dependent upon the pressure that is applied when
dispensing these .~terials. This pressure cannot readil~
be regulated from one applic~ion to another.
' In co-pending Canadian Patent Application No.
259,181 filed August 16, 1976 it was disclosed that the
above difficulties may be avoided and a highly effect-
ive and useful liquid applicator m~y be provided if the app31-
cator means is constructed as a shaped form ~ade from a
non-flexible, non-defor~able~ sintered porous synthe~ic
pl~stic resin structure having a sontrolled porosi~y and
having omni-directional interconnecting pores. It was also
disclosed therein that some of the liquid overflow problems
encountered in a liquid applicator of the aforesaid type can
be avoided by providing a liquid collecting channel ad~cent
; 20 said snaped applicator means as described in more detail bel~.
It has now been further fo~nd that over extended
periods of use of the applicators describea in th2 aforesaid
Application No. 259,181 certain difficulties are encountered.
Thus, as the contents of the container become depleted through use,
it becomes more and ~ore difficult to dispense the contenJs
of the contair.er through the sintered porous .~ember. lhen
an ef ort was ~ade to relieve this by prov ding an air ve-.t
into tne i~terior of the con~ainer, i~ was found that the
fi~J of liquid through the si~tered porous ~ember was too
ra~id and ~ot conirollable. H~Jever~ if in col~biratior ~ h
said vent, ~eans is also provided ~or restricting or i.~peding
the flow frcm the interior of said container to the un.der~ide
of said sintered porous .~e~ber t~t a very suitable disoe-ser
is ~btained.
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--- 108~134
It is ~ccordingly an oDjec~ of this invention ~o
provide an imDroved liquld applicator wh~ch avoids some of
the problems of the prior art devices of this charac~er.
It is also an ob~ect of this invention to provide
an improved liquid applicator adapted to deliver said
li~uid in convenient and e~ficient m~nner and in uniform doses.
It is a further ob~ect of this invention to provide
a liquid applic~tor that e~ploys as the liquid applicator
means shaped forms cons.ructed o~ a non-~lexible, non-deformable,
sintered, porous`synthetic plastic resin having a controlled
porosity~and.having o~ri-directional interconnecting pores.
It is stlll an additional ocje~t of' the present
ir.vention to provide a li3uid ap~licator of the alores2id
type having moans lor collecting the liquid overflow comir.g
through the pores of the appiicator means.
The invention in one aspect provides a
liquid applicator suitable for use in the
application of liquids to a surface of the human body comprising
- a container having a container body adapted for storing a
quantity of said liquid, said container having an opening at one
end thereof which is provided with an upper margin, step means
spaced below said upper margin of said opening and extending in-
wardly from the walls of said opening, said step means being
adapted to support a shaped applicator means; said shaped
applicator means being positioned in said opening and resting on
said step means; said shaped applicator means comprising a non-
flexible, non-deformable, sintered, porous synthetic plastic
resin structure having a controlled porosity and having omni-
directional interconnecting pores, said applicator including
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``` 108;:13~
venting means for venting the interior of said container to the
atmosphere and barrier means for restricting the flow of liquid
from within the interior of said container body to said shaped
applicator, said venting means comprising a continuous and
unobstructed path extending from the atmosphere to the interior of
said container.
Other and more detailed objects of thi3 invention
will be ~pparent from the ~ollowing description, claims
and drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view ol a device encomp~ss2d
: in this invention sh~ ng the cap in removed position;
.. Fig. 2 is an exploded a~d enlarged view partly in
section of the upper portion ol the device shown in Fig. 1
and including an overcap;
'
'~ . ; -''
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1082134
Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-sectiQnal
view o~ the device shown irl Fig. 2 with the shaped applicator
in positio~ ~nd with the screw cap partially screwed in~o
position;
5. Fig. ~ is an enlarged view similar to tnat shown
in Fig.- 3 w1~h t'ne screw cap screwed into sealing posi~ior.,
the container being inverted to show the relationship of t'ne
liquid ~o the applicator means,
F~g. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional
10. view-of the upper portion of another modification of this
invention sh~wing venting means in the neck o~ the container
and means below the applicator means for restricting the ~l~r
of l~quid to the undersurface of the applicator mea~s~
~ig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional
15. view of the upper portion of still another modi~ication OL
this invention showing venting means cut into the applicator
and means for restricting the flow of liquid to the under-
sur~ace o~ the applicator means~ and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view o~ the applicator means
20. shown in the applicator of Fig. 6 as it appears when it is
removed from its position in the applicator.
Re~erring now to the drawings in which like numerals
identiiy the same structure in the various views) a liquid
' applicator embodied in the present invention is shown at 1
25- in Fig. l. This comprises a container shown generally at 3
; consisting of a container bod~ section 5 and a container
neck section 7. i~ounted in neck 7 in a manner described
in more detail below is applicator 4. A screw cap 9 is
?rovided which is adapted to er.gage neck 7 as hereinafter
,0, described.
In ~he embodi~ent illustrated~ container bady has
an hour glass shape. This is fitted with a transparent
82~34
removable sleeve 2 that slips over body 5 from below. However,
it i3 obvious that container body 5 may have various shapes
without departing from this in~en ion.
~reck 7, on its external surface, is provided below
5. with external threads 11 and above with sealing ~lange I3.
On its internal surface, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3
neck 7 is provided with step 15 that serves to support ap~
cator 4. The internal surface of neck 7 that extends above
step 15 for a short distance is generally at right angles
10. to step 15 and then flares outwardly at 17. As best ~een in
Fig. 3, flare 17 serves to form collecting channel 19 when
applicator 4 is seated in position on step 15. The internal
diameter o~ neck 7, above and ad~acent step 15, is dimensioned
to be slightly smaller than the diameter of hemispherical
15. applicator 4. In this fashion, applicator 4 can be releasably
maintained in position in neck 7 by a friction ~it.
Screw cap 9 is provided on its inner surface below
; with internal threads 21 that are adapted to mesh with
external threads 11 of neck 7. Above and on its internal
20~ surface, screw cap 9 has a sealing surface 23 that is
designed to form a tight seal when the screw cap is screwed
down so that surface 23 abuts against the upper sur~ace of
flange 13.
In the modification of this invention illustrated in
25. ~ig. 5 the construction is the same as that shown in Fi~s.
1-4 with a few exceptions. Thus, in this modificat~on a
verticall~ extending vent 31 is cut in the inner wall of neck 7.
This is a narr~w vertical channel that extends from the base
of collecting channel 19 to a point below the undersurface 32
30. o~ applicator 4. This brings the space 33 underneath appli-
cator 4 into communication with the atmosphere when screw
cap 9 and overcap 8 are removsd.
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1082134
Fitted into neck 7 is a fluid restricting means 3!,.
This takes the ~orm in the modi~icatlon shcwn in Fig. 5
of a cylindricall,y shaped basket open at the top having an
annul r sha2ed wall 35 and a ~7 oor 36. Fluid restricting
5. means 34 is secured in neck 7 by means of a friction fit or
by any other suitable means.
` To permit a restricted flow of liquid from the
interior of the container to the underslde of applicator 4,
one or~more openings are provided in ~loor 36. In the modi-
10. fication shown in ~ig. 5 this takes the ~orm of a larger
circular opening 37 located at about the geometric center
o~ floor 36 and a smaller circular opening 38 located near
the circumference of floor 3~.
The modification of this invention illustrated in
15. Figs. 6 and 7 is similar to that sh~wn in Fi3. 5 excepting
for the venting means. In this case, a vertical venting
channel 40 is cut into the surface of applicator 4 as
best seen in Fig. 7. Applicator 4 is in all other respects
the same as applicator 4. When applicator 4 is seated in
20. place on step 15', the inner end 41 of venting c'hannel 40
is positioned inwardly of the inner surface of ~lall 35.
Inner end 41 thus provides an openlng into the space
- below applicator 4 which may communicate with the atmosphere
; "when screw cap 9 and overcap 8 are removed.
25. As mentioned above, the applicator element is shown
at 4 or 4 in the various views of the drawings. In the
embodiments illustrated applicators 4 and 4 take the form of
a shaped hemispherical structure. This form of the applicator
is especially suitable for the application o~ uids to the
30. axilla of humans.
The matarials used to fabricate the applicator 4
or 4 of this invention are highly important aspects thereof.
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108Z134
Thus, as pointed out above, the applicator -~ill be a shaped,
non-flexible, non-deformable, sintered porous synthetic
plastic resin having a controlled porosity and having
omni-directional interconnecting pores. They are formed as
5. interconnected aggregates of united particles of said
synthetic resin. Moreover, they CQnStitute a substantially
uni~orm cohesive reticular structure which extends ~rom
surface to sur~ace of the shaped applicator.
Through the use o~ such m~terials in making the
10. applicator element of 4 or-~ of the present invention, a
uniform and controlled rate of flow of the liquids from the
interior of the container is made possible. As a consequence,
any undue wetting of the area to which the applicator is
applied is avoided. This controlled flow of liquid is
1~. accomplished by the fact that the passage o~ the li~uid
through the applicator is largely by means of the capillary
a~tion of the pores that are present in the m~terials. This
capillary action can be regulated by regulating the size
of the pores.
20. Moreover, the use of these materials in constructing
the applicatcr element of 4 or 4 m~kes it possible to tailor
the applicator to the viscosity of the liquid to be dispensed
from the container. By selecting the appropriate pore size
relative to the viscosity of the liquid, a desired rate of
25. flow o~ product can be obtained.
A number of sintered synthetic plastic materials
are known in the prior art which m~y be used in fabricating
the applicator element 4 or ~ of the present invention.
Among these mention may be made of sintered resins of the
30. following type: high density polyethylene, low density
polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene,
polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride resins (fluorocarbons).
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~082134
Severai of tnese materials are a~ilable commercially under
7Lr ~ Jc n~a ~ ~
t~e tl-~de designation "Porex" porous plastic. These m~terials
are identified in the Table below together with some of
their characteristics:
5. ~ySICAL PROPE~TIES OF POL~RS
Coefficient Density at Average Pore
of Therm~l 40% Void Size in
Polymer_Expansion Volume ~licrons
Low Density10-20 x 10 5 .56 g/cc 70, 120
10. Polyethylene IN/I~T~'C
Up to 170F
High Density 11-13 x 10 5 .6 g/cc 10, 35, 7,
Polyethylene IN/IN/C 120
Up to 200F
15. Ultra high13 x 10 5 .58 g~cc 10, 20
molecularIN~IN/C
weight Up to 200F
polyetnylene
Polypropyl-5-10 x 10 5 .54 g/cc 125, 250, 300,
20. ene IN~IN/C 500
-( Up to 250F
Fluoro- 5 x 10 5 1.05 g~cc 25, 35, 49
carbon ~T~IN/C
(PVF2) Up to 300~F
25. (polyvinyl-
idene
fluoride)
Similar m~terials are also disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,055J297
and 3,778,495.
30. The pore size of applicator 4 or 4 m~y vary som~what
depending on the particular liquid that is to be dispensed.
Generally, the more viscous the product, the larger will be
the pore size. Ordinarily, however, for the most usual appli-
cations, this will be in the range o~ from about 10 to 500
35. microns and preferably from about 20 to 200 microns. For
solutions, the pare size is advantageously of the order of
from about 20 to 35 microns; whereas, for lotions, this will
be in the range of from about 150 to 200 microns.
The patent to Gazzani 3,403,961 discloses a device
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1082134
for distribution of liauids which includes a pad made of
porGus flexibly deformable m~terial tha~ is to serve as tne
application means. As an aside and in very general and
ambiguous term~, the patentee also suggests the applicator
5. means may be of a "porous and rigid nature". In furtner
describing this, the patentee also states that the applica-
tor mQy be "a cap of naturally porous material which is of
material made porous by a plurality of small holes". The
kind of m~terial the patentee has in mind is not specified
10. and is very vague. However, it is clear that this is no
teaching of the use of the sintered porous resins used in this
invention.
Any o~ a variety of materials m~y be used in
fabricating the container 3 and screw cap 9 of the present
15. invention. Ordinarily, these will be m~de of res l~ent
synthetic plastic resins such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
In use the container body 5 is filled with liquid
and then the applicator 4 or 4 is pushed into place so
that it rests on step 15. As pre~iously mentioned, the
20. diameter of the hemispheric applicator 4 or 4 is made
slightly larger than the internal diameter of neck 7 ~ust
ad~acent and above step 15. To apply the liquid m~terial~
the container is inverted as shown in Fig. 4. This brings
the liquid in contact with the bottom surface of applicator
25. 4 or 4 . In this position, under the influen^e of the capil-
lary action of the pores of applicator 4 or 4 , the liquid
enters the applicator and fl~ws through it at an even and
controlled rate. It reaches the surface relatively quickly
and is applied to the part of the body in contact with the
30. appl~cator 4 or 4 .
After use the container is turned upright and
stored. Ordinarily, the liauid will drain back into the
1~8Z13~
container through the pores. However, if an excess of liquid
accumulates on the sur~ace of applicator 4 or 4 , it r~s
down and collect,s in collecting channel 19. This prevents
excess liquid from flowing dcwn the outside surface of neck 7.
5, When the applicator is stored after use, collecting channel
19 serves as temporary reservoir. The liquid contained in
channel 19 will then drain back into container body 5 through
the pores of applicator 4 or 4 .
: . As an optional feature, the present liquid dis-
; 10. penser may also be provided with a flexible overcap 8. This
may be slipped over screw cap 9 and held in position by
engaging the lower m~rgin o:~ screw cap 9.
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