Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIQUID APPLICATOR WITH SLIDE RING ACTIVATOR TOOL
BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION
Field of the Inveatioa
This invention relates to an applicator of the tubular
type, which has a multi-layered cardboard tube, a
crushable liquid filled ampoule,. a uniquely designed foam
tip, and which is activated by an L-shaped slide ring
activator tool carried on the outside of the applicator.
DESCRIPTION OF TIil3 PRIOR ART
Applicators for dispensing liquids, which are of the
single use throwaway type are in widespread use.
Many of the applicators contain a glass or plastic
liquid filled crushable ampoule, which is encased in a
plastic tube that has a porous t:ip glued to the open end.
This inner assembly may also have to be further enclosed
in an external cardboard tube to prevent the glass shards
from penetrating the inner assembly and cutting the end
user when the total package is manually crushed. The
seal on the porous tip is critical and must be continuous
around the circumference of the tube to prevent the
liquid from bypassing the porous tip, and thus creating
excessive dripping or excessive' flow around the tip.
Conventional type applicators, therefore require both an
inner plastic tube with a sealed applicator tip and an
outer cardboard tube for shard protection.
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While the applicators are of many different types and
configurations, they must be inexpensive, easy and safe
to use, retain the liquid in the container until use,
protect the user from contact with the liquid and contact
with the broken glass shards generated upon breaking t'~e
glass ampoules.
These devices may utilize a lever carried on the
container which is rotated to cause the ampoule to break
and the liquid to be releasE~d for dispensing. As
discussed in my prior U.S. Pavtent No. 5509744, these
single lever activators can cause the glass shards to
penetrate the tube through the opposite side of the tube .
As mentioned above, some of these package devices must
rely on an inner and an outer tube to prevent the glass
shards from coming through the outer container, which
adds to the costs, and are necessary to provide an inner
"moisture proof and leak proof" environment for the
liquid causing it to exit only through the porous tip.
One example of a slide ring activator type dispenser is
ZO disclosed in my prior U.S. Patent No. 5,509,744, which,
while satisfactory, requires a molded two piece plastic
outer container which is more expensive to construct, and
assemble than the device of the current invention. In
addition, the slide ring applicator of my prior patent is
limited to one function, i.e., to~ easily crush the inner
ampoule, and it does not have a built in edge guide for
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guiding its travel while dispen.~ing the liquid.
The liquid applicator of the invention has an outer
cardboard tube with an impervious inner layer that is
made as part of the tube constrt:~ction (thus providing a
more cost effective solution to the need to provide a
separate inner plastic tube to "contain the liquids'
within the device after activation). The invention also
has a glass ampule therein, which is easily crushed by
the L-shaped level type slide acj~ivator tool, which tool
also acts as an edge guide for the applicator, and which
provides many additional advantages. For example, the
tool can be removed from the expended applicator after
use and reused on a new applicator, thus saving costs.
The applicator of the inventic>n also has a uniquely
configured porous foam tip. The: tip is designed with a
partially cut internal ridge that presents a very
torturous path for the dispensed liquid to pass, thus
preventing the liquid from "short circuiting" the
controlled flow of liquid throug'.h the porous tip and not
2Q going straight down the inside of the tube, which the
prior art straight porous tips would allow, causing non
uniform liquid application or even drips. This uniquely
designed tip could even be used without gluing the tip to
the tube, and still provide uniform liquid application if
so desired. Finally, the design of the porous tip can
easily be increased in diameter to provide for wider
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liquid application than can conventional ~~straight plug
type tips~~ without altering the tube diameter or adding
an expansion collar to allow for wider tip
reconfigurations. Thus, this invention is more easily
and less costly to modify to lay down liquid widths.
SUGARY OF T8E INVENTION
This invention relates to a liquid applicator device,
which has an outer multilayere:d cardboard tube with a
liquid filled glass ampoule therein. The package device
is t~sealed~~ with a specially cult and configured foam tip
at the open end of the tube. There is an L-shaped slide
ring activator tool carried on the outside of the tube
that is rotated to crush the ampoule to release the
liquid to be dispensed through the applicator tip. As in
my prior invention (US #5509744) the crushing action is
inwardly directed on two sides of the tube, preventing
shards from penetrating the single cardboard tube. The
inner wall of the cardboard tube has an impervious layer
of thin plastic film or other well known material to
prevent the liquid from leakin<fi out of the applicator
through the walls of the tube, and directed down toward
the porous tip. The tip is constructed with an inner
circular ring cut partially through the tip to allow the
open end of the tube to properly mate, thereby creating
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a torturous path for the liquid to follow and to not flow
around the tip. The activator tool has edge guide forks
adjacent the tip to guide the applicator in use.
The principal object of the invention is to provide a
liquid applicator which has an L-shaped slide ring
activator tool for one hand operation to crush a liquid
filled glass ampoule for liquid dispensing, which tool
includes guide forks which act as edge guides for the
device.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
liquid applicator which is simple and more inexpensive to
construct, which is recyclable, and which can be easily
modified with wider tips for various width liquid
applications, and eliminates the need for a separate inner
plastic tube.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
liquid applicator which is safe to use.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
liquid applicator which is useful to dispense a wide
variety of liquid materials.
In one aspect, the present invention resides in an
applicator for selectively dispensing liquids which
comprises a hollow tube having a closed end and an open
end, a crushable ampoule in said tube which contains a
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liquid to be dispensed, an applicator tip on said open end of
said tube to receive and to dispense liquid from said ampoule,
an L-shaped slide activator tool on said tube, said tool
having an interior opening to receive said tube, a pair of
side projections in said opening engaging said tube, an upper
and a lower projection in said opening engaging said tube, and
upon rotation of said tool about said side projections
crushing said tube and said ampoule to allow liquid to flow
thereout, and to said applicator tip for dispensing.
Other objects and advantageous features of the invention
will be apparent from the description and claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The nature and characteristic features of the invention
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will be more readily understc>od from the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming part hereof in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the liquid applicator
device of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of: the liquid applicator
device of Fig. 1 partially broken away to show the
interior of the device;
Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view o~f the device of Fig 2;
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional 'view taken approximately
on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken
approximately on the line 5-5 of: Fig. 2;
Fig. & is a front end view of the device of Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the porous tip of the device,
and
Fig. 8 is a top view of the tip illustrated in Fig. 7.
It should, of course, be understood that the
description and drawings herein are merely illustrative,
2 0 and that various modifications and changes can be made in
the structure disclosed without oLeparting from the spirit
of the invention.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the
several views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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When. referring to the preferred embodiment, certain
terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity.
Use of such terminology is intended to encompass not only
the described embodiment, but also technical equivalents
which operate and function in substantially the same way
to bring about the same result.
Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-6 of the
drawings, the liquid applicator device 10 of the
invention is therein illustrated, and in Fig. 1 is shown
adjacent to a surface 13 to which liquid is to be
applied.
The applicator device 10 includes an outer hollow tube
11, preferably constructed of cardboard, with an inner
layer 39 laminated thereto which layer is preferably of
polyethylene, which tube is closed at one end 12 and open
at end 14. An applicator tip 15 is provided on end l4,
which is of a cylindrical shape, with a circular slot 26
into which the tube 11 extends, with a portion 17 of the
tip extending into the tube 11. The applicator tip 15 is
preferably constructed of plastic foam of well known
type, and compatible with the liquid to be dispensed.
The tip l5 is secured to tube 11 by adhesive of well
known type.
A crushable ampoule 20 is provided within the tube 11,
which contains liquid 21 to be dispensed, and which is
preferably constructed of glass. The ampoule 20 can be
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constructed of other suitable material, such as crushable
plastic, the selected material being determined by the
characteristics of the liquid to be dispensed.
A slide ring activator tool 25 :is provided on the outer
surface 26 of tube 11, which too:L is of 90° L-shape with
an interior opening 27, with a pair of side projections
28 in contact with surface 26, and a pair of upper and
lower projections 29 and 30 also in contact with surface
26.
The interior opening 27 in tool 25 is greater than the
outer diameter of tube 11, and the side projections 28
act as pivots, to be described.
The tool 25 may be formed of any rigid material, nylon
being the preferred material.
The upper and lower projections. 29 and 30 are intended
to be used to crush the ampoule :20, to be described.
The tool 25 has an upper arm 35, which includes the
interior opening 27 described above, and has a pair of
forks 36 extending forwardly from the bottom end of arm
35 toward the applicator tip 15.
The mode of operation will now be described. The
device 10, with tool 25 thereon; is taken to the location
where liquid 21 is to be applied.
The applicator 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 is held in
the users hand, the tool 25 rotated by the users fingers
about tube 11. The projections 28 act as pivots, and the
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upper and lower projections 29 and 30 deflect the tube 11
and crush the inner ampoule 20,, causing liquid 21 to be
released and flow to applicator tip 15. The forces
exerted by the tool are always :inwardly directed thereby
avoiding glass shards from pushing outwardly through
the tube 11.
Because the porous tip 15 has a circular cut slot 16,
the liquid is forced down and around .the entire tip,
evenly saturating the total porous tip, and preventing
short circuiting of the liquid directly down between the
tube and the tip 15, which can happen when the surface
tension of the liquid to the ir.~ner wall of the tube is
such to cause the liquid to travel preferentially
straight down the edge of the tube.
The glass shards tnot shown) care retained in the tube
11 and do not penetrate the tube.. The liquid 21 does not
penetrate the tube 11 because of the non porous layer 39.
The tool 25 is preferably rotated with the forks 36
behind tip 15, and after rotat:i.on the tool 25 may be
slide forwardly until forks 3& <~re in contact with tip
15. The forks 36 can then be used to position and guide
the applicator 10 along the edge of the surface 13 to be
treated with the liquid through tip 15, with the result
that a continuous border of liquid is applied along the
edge of the surface 13. The tool 25 can be saved and
reused on other applicators.
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Upon finishing the job the ap~piicator device l0 can be
recycled and the components rec7_aimed for use as desired.
It will thus be seen that an applicator has been
provided with which the objects of the invention are
attained.
