Abstract:
An applicator ( 1 ) for applying a liquid stored in a container ( 10 ) to a work surface, said applicator comprising: an applicator portion ( 2 ); a catchment cup ( 3 ) connected to and fluidly communicating with the applicator portion ( 2 ); and a connector portion ( 4 ) connectable to and fluidly communicating with the container ( 10 ) and the catchment cup ( 3 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to liquid applicators and, in particular, to liquid applicators connected to a bottle for applying a liquid contained in the bottle to a work surface.  
           [0002]    The invention has been developed primarily for applying PVC priming fluid or PVC glue to PVC pipes and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular use.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0003]    It is a well-known fact that large proportions of modem domestic plumbing systems use PVC (polyvinylchloride) pipes. A major advantage of PVC pipes over pipes constructed of other materials such as metal, is that PVC pipes are essentially corrosion resistant, inexpensive and relatively easy to work with. With regard to this last advantage, in order to interconnect pipes constructed of metal, a technique such as welding or soldering must be used. In contrast, appropriate glues can readily and reliably interconnect PVC pipes. It can be appreciated that, in most cases, gluing pipes together is simpler, less time consuming and less expensive than previous methods.  
           [0004]    Current techniques for joining PVC pipes utilise a joining portion (also constructed of PVC) that connects an end of a first pipe to an end of a second pipe, in combination with PVC glue. The PVC glue has the effect of both hermetically sealing the joint and fixing the joining portion in position. However, before the PVC glue can be applied, the surfaces to which it is to be applied must be cleaned in order to achieve maximum adhesion between the glue and the surfaces to be glued. The cleaning process usually involves applying PVC priming fluid to the different surfaces.  
           [0005]    Both PVC priming fluid and glue can be purchased in containers having a screw-top lid with an applicator brush attached thereto. The applicator brush is usually connected to the inner part of the lid so that the brush resides inside the bottle when the lid is attached to the bottle.  
           [0006]    To apply the PVC priming fluid or glue, all that is required is to unscrew the lid and use the brush connected to the lid to apply the priming fluid or glue to the pipe surfaces in much the same manner as a painter would use a paint brush. Although such brush applicators are considered to be convenient and easy to use, they suffer from some deficiencies.  
           [0007]    One such deficiency is that upon removing the lid and, hence, the brush from the bottle, it can be appreciated that if the bottle was to be knocked over in this state, the contents of the bottle are likely to spill out. Apart from causing annoyance, such an occurrence can be expensive not only because the contents of the bottle have been lost but also because the surface onto which the liquid spills may be irreparably damaged.  
           [0008]    Another disadvantage of the prior art applicator is that the brush is usually completely submerged in the liquid. Thus, when the brush is removed from the bottle, it is necessary to wipe the excess liquid off the brush and onto the inner side of the bottle opening. More often than not, this results in some of the excess liquid spilling onto the outside of the bottle. If the person using the bottle does not wipe down the exterior of the bottle to remove such spillages, the spilled fluid will usually contact the skin of the person&#39;s hand when the person handles the bottle. This, of course, is an undesirable situation because PVC priming fluid and glue are toxic chemicals.  
           [0009]    It is therefore desirable for an alternative means for applying PVC glue and priming fluid to be devised.  
           [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art.  
         OBJECT OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art.  
           [0012]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an applicator for applying a liquid stored in a container to a work surface, said applicator comprising:  
           [0013]    an applicator portion;  
           [0014]    a catchment cup connected to and fluidly communicating with the applicator portion; and  
           [0015]    a connector portion connectable to and fluidly communicating with the container and the catchment cup.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the applicator includes an adjustable flow control valve interposed between the catchment cup and the connector portion for regulating the flow of liquid between the container and the applicator.  
           [0017]    The applicator portion can be constructed of a foam material or, alternatively, it can be a brush.  
           [0018]    The connector portion can attach to the container in a manner similar to a traditional screw top. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an applicator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an applicator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an applicator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an applicator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 illustrates the valve of the applicator of FIG. 4 in the open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    The general structure of an applicator  1  according to a first embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1. The applicator  1  comprises a threaded connector portion  4  that is screwed onto a bottle  10 . The connector  4  fluidly communicates with a catchment cup  3  via a neck portion  6 . In turn, the catchment cup  3  fluidly communicates with a nozzle  7  having a plurality of nozzle holes  8 . Attached to the nozzle  7  is an applicator portion in the form of a sponge  2 .  
         [0026]    The connector  4  comprises a cylindrical portion  11  that is partially closed at a first end  4 A and open at a second end  4 B. The inside of cylindrical portion  11  has a thread (not shown) that engages with a receiving thread (not shown) situated on the neck  12  of bottle  10 . A hermetic seal results when connector  4  is attached to neck  12  of bottle  10 .  
         [0027]    Neck portion  6  comprises a hollow cylinder that has a first end integrally connected to connector  4 . A hollow portion  13 B of neck portion  6  communicates with a hollow portion  13 A of connector  4  which, in turn, fluidly communicates with the interior of bottle  10  when connector  4  is attached to neck  12 .  
         [0028]    Catchment cup  3  is integrally connected to a second end of neck portion  6 . The catchment cup  3  is cylindrical in shape and has a first end  3 B that is completely closed except for a hollow portion  13 C which fluidly communicates with hollow portion  13 B. The end  3 A of catchment cup  3  is open and defines a recess.  
         [0029]    Nozzle  7  is cylindrical in shape and has a first end integrally connected to catchment cup  3 . Nozzle  7  includes a hollow portion  13 D that communicates with hollow portion  13 C. Hollow portion  13 D fluidly communicates with nozzle holes  8  located on the exterior of nozzle  7 .  
         [0030]    A cylindrical sponge  2  having a diameter greater than the diameter of nozzle  7  but less than the diameter of catchment cup  3  is attached to nozzle  7  via a hollow portion  9 A having the same shape as nozzle  7  and which extends part way through the sponge  2 . The sponge  2  is retained on nozzle  7  by interference fit between the hollow portion  9 A and the exterior of the nozzle  7 .  
         [0031]    In order to control the flow of liquid between bottle  10  and nozzle  7 , a flow control valve  5  connected to neck portion  6  is interposed between connector  4  and catchment cup  3 . The flow control valve  5  enables the hollow portion  13 B to be opened or closed. When in the open position, the flow control valve  5  allows liquid to travel between hollow portions  13 A and  13 C. When the flow control valve  5  is closed, liquid is prevented from flowing between hollow portions  13 A and  13 C. The flow control valve  5  can comprise any one of a number of sealable flow control valve types that are well known in the art.  
         [0032]    A cap  9  having a first end engageable with connector  4  or bottle  10  is used to cover the applicator  1  when not in use.  
         [0033]    The applicator  1  as previously described can be used to apply PVC glue or priming fluid contained in the bottle  10  by attaching the connector  4  of applicator  1  to the neck  12  of bottle  10  such that a hermetic seal is formed between connector  4  and the neck  12  of bottle  10 .  
         [0034]    The PVC glue or priming fluid contained in bottle  10  is applied to the sponge  2  of applicator  1  by squeezing the sides of bottle  10  (if bottle  10  is constructed of a flexible material) or upending the bottle  10  so that the glue or priming fluid flows towards the applicator  1 . After the glue or priming fluid reaches the applicator  1  it flows into the hollow portions  13 A,  13 B,  13 C and  13 D. After reaching the nozzle  7 , the glue or priming fluid is ejected out of nozzle holes  8 . In this manner, the sponge  2  can be impregnated with the glue or priming fluid.  
         [0035]    Upon sufficient glue or priming fluid being applied to the sponge  2  the user can cease squeezing the bottle or return the bottle from its upended position in order to stop the flow of glue or priming fluid between the bottle  10  and the sponge  2 . The glue or priming fluid can then be applied to a work surface, such as a PVC pipe, by wiping the sponge on the surface of the pipe.  
         [0036]    Note that in order for the glue or priming fluid to enter the nozzle  7  from the bottle  10 , the flow control valve  5  must be in an open position.  
         [0037]    As the PVC glue or priming fluid contained in the sponge  2  is transferred to the work surface, additional glue or priming fluid can be applied to the sponge  2  by again squeezing or upending the bottle  10 . In this manner, the flow of glue or priming fluid to the sponge  2  can be easily regulated.  
         [0038]    Excess glue or priming fluid contained in the sponge  2  flows down through the sponge  2  and into the recess  3 A of catchment cup  3  when the bottle is placed in an upright position. The glue or priming fluid contained in the recess  3 A then flows back into the bottle  10  (if the flow control valve  5  is in the open position) via a lowermost nozzle hole  8 A in nozzle  7  and the hollow portions  13 D,  13 C,  13 B and  13 A. In this manner, undesirable spillage or wastage of priming fluid or glue is avoided.  
         [0039]    When the applicator  1  is not in use, the flow control valve  5  can be closed so that glue or priming fluid cannot freely flow between the connector  4  and the nozzle  7 . Also, the cap  9  can be placed on the applicator  1  in order to prevent the sponge  2 , nozzle holes  8  or hollow portions  13 A to  13 D becoming clogged with dry priming fluid or glue.  
         [0040]    In the event that the applicator  1  does become clogged with dry priming fluid or glue, the user can replace the applicator  1  by unscrewing it from the bottle  10  and replacing it with a new applicator  1 . Alternatively, the user can remove the applicator  1  from the bottle  10  and clean the applicator  1  before re-attaching it to the bottle  10 .  
         [0041]    A second embodiment of the applicator  1  is illustrated in FIG. 2. The second embodiment of the applicator  1  is identical to the first embodiment previously described except that the sponge  2  of the first embodiment has been replaced by a brush  14  whose bristles are connected to the catchment cup  3 . Also, the second embodiment does not have a nozzle  7  as liquid contained in the bottle  10  can be applied to the brush  14  by hollow portion  13 C which communicates with the interior of bottle  10  by hollow portions  13 B and  13 A.  
         [0042]    The operation of this second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment.  
         [0043]    A third embodiment of the applicator  1  is illustrated in  3 . In this embodiment, the flow control valve  5  consists of a stopper  21 , collar  20  and an integrally formed nozzle/catchment cup  22 .  
         [0044]    The stopper  21  (which may for example be formed from plastic or rubber) consists of two concentric cylinders that are attached to each other so as to define an annular hollow through which fluid may pass. The outermost cylinder (not specifically indicated) has flanges (not specifically indicated) at both ends, and the inner cylinder (not specifically indicated) protrudes from one end of the outer cylinder. The stopper  21  is attached to the connector  4  by interference fit so as to form a seal between the stopper  21  and the connector  4 . When the stopper  21  is attached to the connector  4 , one of the flanges of the outermost cylinder abuts against an inner surface of the connector  4 .  
         [0045]    The collar  20  also consists of two concentric cylinders (not specifically indicated). The cylinders are integrally formed with each other and a web (not specifically indicated) interconnects one end of each cylinder. The inner cylinder is formed so that it can be attached to the stopper  21  by interference fit to form a seal between the inner cylinder of the collar  20  and the stopper  21 . When mounted on the stopper  5 , the collar  20  is oriented so that the web is adjacent the end of the stopper  5  that is furthest from the connector  4 . Also, the collar  20  can slide up and down the stopper  21 . Complementary flanges on both the inner surface of the inner cylinder of the collar  20  and the outer surface of the stopper  21  also provide a buffer function to prevent the collar  20  from being easily removed from the stopper  21 .  
         [0046]    The nozzle/catchment cup  22  has a similar configuration to the nozzle  7  and catchment cup  3  of the applicator illustrated in FIG. 1. However, a lower portion of the nozzle (not specifically indicated) of the nozzle/catchment cup  22  illustrated in FIG. 3 protrudes through the bottom of the catchment cup (not-specifically indicated). This lower portion is formed so that the nozzle/catchment cup  22  can be attached to the collar  20  by interference fit so as to form a seal. The lower portion also seals the annular hollow in the stopper  21  when the collar  20  abuts against the connector  4 . The protruding portion of the inner cylinder of the stopper  21  functions as a centreing mechanism so that the lower portion of the nozzle is correctly aligned with the annular hollow in the stopper  21 .  
         [0047]    Bristles  14  are also attached to the catchment cup portion of the nozzle/catchment cup  22 .  
         [0048]    A cap  9  having a first end engageable with the collar  20  is used to cover the applicator  1  when the applicator  1  is not in use.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the applicator  1 . In this embodiment the flow control valve consists of a stopper  21  and a collar  20  in a similar manner to the applicator  1  illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the nozzle  7  is not integrally formed with a catchment cup. The nozzle  7  is attached directly to the collar  20  in a similar manner to that previously explained in relation to FIG. 3. With reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the web portion of the collar  20  that interconnects the inner and outer cylinders of the collar  20  slopes inwardly so as to form a catchment cup.  
         [0050]    Similarly to the applicator  1  illustrated in FIG. 1, the applicator  1  illustrated in FIG. 4 has a cylindrical sponge  2  that is attached to the nozzle  7 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the valve  5  of the applicator  1  illustrated in FIG. 4. It can be seen that sliding the collar  20  away from the connector  4  results in the annular hollow in the stopper  21  being opened so that fluid can travel through the stopper  21  and into the nozzle  7 .  
         [0052]    In order to prevent the collar  20  from being unintentionally removed from engagement with the stopper  21 , the end of the stopper  21  that is furthest from the connector  4  has a flange around its periphery. Also, the inner cylinder of the collar  20  has a flange around the inner periphery of the end closest to the connector  4 . Thus, if the collar  20  is moved away from the connector  4  so that the previously mentioned flanges of both the stopper  21  and collar  20  engage, this will impede the separation of the collar  20  from the connector  4 .  
         [0053]    The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without department from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0054]    It is to be understood that the term “comprising” as used herein is to be understood in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including” and not in the exclusive sense “consisting essentially of”.