Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing liquid for applying on the skin includes a housing, a generator provided in the housing for generating pressurized air, and an applicator in fluid communication with the generator for holding the liquid to be applied on the skin. A nozzle assembly is provided in the applicator for operatively nebulizing the liquid in the applicator in cooperation with the generator. The nebulized liquid flows out of the applicator and is applied on the skin.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to liquid delivery devices and methods, and in particular, to delivery of nebulized liquid for applying on the skin.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many devices for delivering liquid media such as, for example, hand lotion, shaving lotion, hair gel or spray, etc., to the skin or hair are known. Some hair care products, for example, are dispensed through aerosol cans and sprayed directly on the user&#39;s hair. In other known liquid delivery devices, an applicator pad is fashioned over the top of an aerosol can, and the product is first absorbed by the applicator pad before being applied on the skin.  
         [0003]     For delivery of products such as skin care lotion or suntan/sunblock lotion, plastic bottle type dispensers with or without a manual pump are often employed. When using these types of dispensers, a small amount of lotion is dispensed on the palm or the finger of the user, and then applied by rubbing the lotion on the skin by hand. Applying lotion in this manner only covers the very top surface of the skin, but not necessarily the deeper layer of the skin, where the lotion is required to thoroughly moisturize or protect the skin. Rubbing lotion on the skin by hand also does not result in even application of the lotion. Consequently, some areas of the skin may not have received sufficient amount of lotion to obtain the benefit of the lotion, while other areas might have been applied with too much lotion, which may block the pores in the skin and contribute to skin problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for dispensing liquid for applying on the skin. The apparatus includes a housing, a generator provided in the housing for generating pressurized air, and an applicator in fluid communication with the generator for holding the liquid to be applied on the skin. A nozzle assembly is provided in the applicator for operatively nebulizing the liquid in the applicator in cooperation with the generator. The nebulized liquid flows out of the applicator and is applied on the skin. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a liquid delivery apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the liquid delivery apparatus of  FIG. 1 , shown with an applicator stored in a storage compartment;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a nozzle assembly provided inside the applicator shown in  FIG. 1  for nebulizing liquid; and  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the nozzle assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0009]     The invention is directed to a device and a method for delivering liquid, particularly in the form of a lotion, for applying on the skin. The liquid is nebulized, i.e., or converted to fine spray, using pressurized air, and then applied on the skin. In this manner, the liquid is readily absorbed in the skin without the user having to rub it in by hand.  
         [0010]     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a liquid delivery apparatus  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  12  having a storage compartment  14 . An applicator  16  is configured and adapted to be stored in the storage compartment  14  (best show in  FIG. 2 ). A hinged door  18  is attached to the edge of one side of the storage compartment  14 , so that is opens (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and closes (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to allow access to the applicator  16  stored in the storage compartment  14 .  
         [0011]     The applicator  16  includes an inlet opening  20  (best shown in  FIG. 3 ), which is connected to one end of a flexible and coiled hose  22 . When in its coiled state, the hose  22  is configured to be retracted into a generally cylindrical sleeve  24 , which projects from the floor of the storage compartment  14 . An applicator stand  26  also projects from the floor of the storage compartment  14  inside the sleeve  24 , so that it is generally concentric and spaced from the cylindrical sleeve  24  to define an annular chamber  27  between the stand and the sleeve. The applicator stand  26  also includes a generally circular hole  28  at the top thereof to allow a user to place the applicator  16  in the hole in an upright or generally vertical position, so that the user is able to set the applicator down. A slit  29  is formed on the side of the stand  26  and connects with the hole  28  to allow the hose  22  near the inlet opening  20  of the applicator  16  to extend inside the stand  26  and remain connected to the applicator  16 . When the applicator  16  is placed in the stand  26 , the hose  22  fits into annular chamber  27  in the coiled form.  
         [0012]     When the applicator  16  is placed in the stand  26 , the storage compartment door  18  is adapted to be left open, as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the storage compartment  14  also has a space  30  surrounding the sleeve  24  where the applicator  16  may be stored so that the compartment door  18  can be closed. When stored in this manner, with the storage compartment door  18  closed, the hose  22  is also stored in the sleeve chamber  27 . The sleeve  24  also has a slit  31  which enables the portion of the hose  22  near the applicator  16  to come out of the chamber  27  on the side (and not from the top), so as to provide a more neat appearance. The sleeve  24  and the stand  26  are made of light weight substantially rigid plastic to retain their form and to provide support for the applicator  16  and the hose  22 .  
         [0013]     As shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 2 , the liquid delivery apparatus  10  also includes a compressor  32  provided inside the housing  12  for generating pressurized air. It should be understood that pressurized air can be supplied by other suitable sources such as, for example, an air pump or a compressed air cartridge or canister. The compressor  32  is connected to the hose  22  at the opposite end (not shown) from the end that is connected to the applicator  16 , and is electrically connected to a switch  34  for switching the compressor  32  ON and OFF. Accordingly, the compressor  32  is connected to an AC or DC power source (not shown). A handle  36  is provided at the top of the housing  12  at the opposite end from where the compressor  32  is provided.  
         [0014]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the liquid applicator  16  includes a reservoir  38  where the liquid such as in the form of lotion  39  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to be applied to the skin is held. The applicator  16  also includes a generally tubular passageway  40 , which at its bottom end is configured to be removably attached to the reservoir  38 . On the opposite end of the passageway  40 , a directional outlet  42  is removable attached to the passageway  40 . The directional outlet  42  has an opening which is at some angle relative to the longitudinal length of the passageway  40 , not quite 90 degrees, so that the outlet can be exposed to the skin more comfortably by the user, without having to hold the applicator  16  vertically against the skin surface. It should be understood that the directional outlet  42  need not be at an angle, nor be a separate piece from the passageway  40 . Rather, the directional outlet  42  may be an extended portion of the passageway  40 .  
         [0015]     The storage compartment door  18  in one embodiment is translucent. However, it may be made from any relatively rigid lightweight plastic material. The hose  22  is formed from a relatively hard and clear or translucent plastic, which is molded to retain its coiled shape when the lotion applicator  16  is placed on the applicator stand  26  or in the storage compartment  14 . The hose is stretched to an extended coil shape when the applicator  16  is pulled out of the storage compartment  14  and being used.  
         [0016]     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a nozzle assembly  44  is shown inside the reservoir  38  of the applicator  16 . The nozzle assembly  44  includes a stationary inner tube  46  and a removable outer tube  48 . The inner tube  46  includes an air passage  50  that extends from the inlet opening  20  at the bottom of the reservoir  38  to an air outlet  52  at the opposite end of the air passage. The inner tube  46  fits concentrically into a passageway  54  of the outer tube  48 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer tube  48  is somewhat shorter than the inner tube  46  so that when the outer tube is placed over the inner tube, the outer tube does not extend all the way to the bottom of the reservoir  38 .  
         [0017]     When the outer tube  48  is placed over the inner tube  46 , an intermediate passage  56  is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube. The intermediate passage  56  serves to convey liquid from the bottom of the reservoir  38  to four ejection holes  58  provided at the top of the inner tube  46  (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). The inner tube  46  includes two windows  60  generally on the opposite sides of the tube which are open to the intermediate passage  56  to enable fluid communication between the intermediate passage and the ejection ports  58 .  
         [0018]     The nozzle assembly  44  further includes a stopper  62  which has two ends that are attached to the opposite sides of the top of the outer tube  48 . When the outer tube  48  is placed over the inner tube  46 , the stopper  62  is positioned substantially directly over the air outlet  52  of the inner tube  46 . The nozzle assembly  44  further includes an annular deflector  64  which is attached to the two ends of the stopper  62 , and extends downwardly at an angle away from the outer tube  48  to approximately half way between the outer tube and the outer wall  66  of the reservoir  38 . The deflector  64  serves to impede large droplets of liquid  39  that might form and carried out of the reservoir  38 .  
         [0019]     In operation, liquid  39  is filled to a desired level in the reservoir  38  of the applicator  16 , and the passageway  40  is attached to the reservoir. When the passageway  40  is attached to the reservoir  38 , the stopper  62  is positioned directly over and spaced slightly from the air outlet  52  of the inner tube  46 . In this manner, when pressurized air is supplied through the inner tube  46  from the compressor  32 , via the air hose  22 , gas is expelled out the air outlet  52  and diverted by the stopper  62  away from the air outlet  52  and deflected downwardly by the deflector  64 . This creates a negative pressure over the ejection ports  58 , thereby drawing the liquid  39  in the bottom of the reservoir  38  through the intermediate passage  56  and then out the ejection ports. The liquid  39  at this point is entrained into the escaping gas and is nebulized, i.e., converted into a fine spray or vapor. The nebulized liquid then flows through the passageway  40  of the applicator  16  and out the directional outlet  42 , which is held over the skin. The nebulized liquid exiting the applicator  16  is then absorbed through the surface of the skin. The present invention is particularly adopted to be used in applying skin care lotion on the skin.  
         [0020]     While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims.  
         [0021]     Various features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.