Abstract:
An applicator device, particularly suited for mascara, may deliver high or low viscosity liquids or semi-liquids, and contains a valve controlling flow between a product reservoir, an intermediate pooling area, and a product dispensing chamber. The arrangement prevents backflow to the product reservoir, precluding contamination of the product supply. Product delivery from the product dispensing chamber is from one of several methods. In one method, a plurality of prongs each comprise a conduit to the product dispensing chamber and thereby allow for dispersed product delivery from the prong tips. Alternatively, there may be one or more openings on the applicator head being interconnected to the dispensing chamber, which permits product to extrude between the rows of prongs and thereby be applied to a receiving surface. A third embodiment combines the two methods along with alternating height prongs to more effectively apply mascara onto all sides of a user&#39;s lashes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/279,008, filed on Oct. 14, 2009 having the title, “Applicator Device with Dispersive Product Delivery,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus used for the application of liquids, creams, gels and the like, and more particularly to apparatus which comprise a valved dual reservoir system, and are capable of providing a careful delivery system of products, particularly for mascara. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are many instances today, both in ordinary home use as well as in commercial or industrial environments, where there is a need to have a means of applying liquids, creams, ointments, lotions, gels, oils, paste, and the like, to a surface. Where such applications may be made in generous quantities across a large surface area, there is little need for a delivery system that provides careful control of the product being dispensed. Conversely, where the product needs to be dispensed with care due to the delicacy of the receiving surface, or where product needs to be applied only in specific locations while excluding adjacent surfaces, or where the high cost of product dictates the minimization of waste, the means and method of application acquire increasing importance. 
         [0004]    Examples of the instances where such diligence is required in the application of a product are diverse, and may include the following: application of off-the-shelf skin creams or moisturizing lotions; ointments for treatment of dermatological conditions, burn treatment medicines, anti-bacterial treatment for cuts; scalp treatments; hair coloring; painting; applications of wood stain; dispensing glue; applying of shoe polish; decorating a cake; or applying mascara or other make-up. 
         [0005]    Common methods of applying a liquid-like product unusually involve either use of a sponge or a brush that is used in combination with a storage container. One example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,268 to Sereg. The Sereg patent describes a handle component that “is first filled with the liquid composition and then inverted and squeezed to force the liquid into the sponge component,” and that “as the sponge surface is wiped over the surface and the liquid retained therein becomes depleted, the handle is periodically squeezed to dispense more of the liquid as it is needed.” But the sponge of the Sereg patent does not lend itself very well to either careful control of the amounts of fluid dispensed to the sponge, above that which is achievable by a hand squeeze, or lend itself to the diligent application of product only to specific areas. 
         [0006]    Another example is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,185 to Thorpe, which discloses a pen-type applicator, where a handle may be twisted so that a mechanical means causes a piston to translate and force material contained in a storage space to extrude out of an opening. The opening may provide material flow onto either a smooth applicator surface or one containing bristles that form a toothbrush. Although the Thorpe device offers a means of relative control over the quantity of product being delivered, it nonetheless provides a very course means of delivering the product to specific areas. As seen in  FIG. 8 , the device requires extrusion of product quantities sufficient to overhang the immediate bristles, but then relies on the generous quantity and subsequent contact with the receiving surface to achieve distribution to bristles on the periphery. The device is not tailored to independently direct the product with any precision to a specified surface, which may not be necessary for brushing ones teeth, but may be necessary for many other applications. The Thorpe device is also not adapted to accommodate the flow of materials having lower viscosities. 
         [0007]    The applicator of U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,479 to Iizuka exhibits qualities more conducive to precise delivery of a specified quantity of product. The Iizuka device similarly has an opening through which the product is delivered, but the opening is at the end of an axial tube which forms the core of a cosmetic applicator brush. The applicator brush of Iizuka is not described in any detail, but similarly appears in each of the Figures as a pointed brush resembling an artist&#39;s script-type brush. The arrangement would permit pinpoint application of product, and the seemingly dense aggregation of bristles surrounding the axial tube could accommodate lower viscosity products better than the Thorpe device. However, the Iizuka applicator is limited to such pinpoint applications or linework, and would be very inefficient for covering larger surface areas. 
         [0008]    The invention shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,737 to Kageyama discloses a similar arrangement. Kageyama has a twist-type handle that translates a piston for delivery of product from an opening, but has for its delivery means a flat-tipped brush, which would be an improvement for delivery to areas other than those resembling simple linework. However, increasing the size of the brush merely provides for a proportional increase in potential coverage for a given stroke, but does not afford the fidelity that may be achieved with the script-type brush of Iizuka. Moreover, the pen arrangements of both Iizuka and Kageyama particularly lend themselves to application of product by a user while grasping and manipulating the device as if it were a writing implement. 
         [0009]    The invention disclosed herein solves all of these problems found in the prior art using a valve system in a special applicator head, which creates a dual reservoir system, with its functionality being particularly well adapted for use in cosmetics as a mascara applicator. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide a means for delivering liquids, creams, gels and the like. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the invention to provide a means for carefully controlling quantities of liquid or viscous semi-solid products dispensed onto a receiving surface. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a means of delivering measured quantities of liquid or viscous semi-solid product onto discrete surfaces of an object. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the invention to provide a means that is adaptable to delivering liquid or viscous semi-solid product onto discrete surfaces encompassing either a small of large surface area. 
         [0014]    It is also an object of the invention to a means that is adaptable to effectively delivering either a low viscosity or high viscosity product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    An applicator device is comprised of an applicator head and a body. The invention disclosed herein provides for various embodiments of the applicator head, which may snap into the body and provide for dispensing of measured amounts of product to be delivered onto discrete surfaces of an object. Although the applicator device may find use in various different applications, its functionality is particularly well suited for use in the cosmetics industry as a mascara applicator. Its advantageous nature therein arises because typical mascara applicators use a brush disposed on the end of a wiper, which is successively inserted into the mascara bottle to load up product, and consequently causes contamination of the entire bottled product. 
         [0016]    The body may generally be comprised of a handle coupled to a piston rod which mates with a piston that is disposed within a cylinder. Installation of the applicator head into an end of the cylinder creates a chamber to serve as a product reservoir. The applicator head may be snapped into the cylinder of the body, which may be accommodated by having one or more annular protrusions on the tubular extension of the applicator head, and corresponding annular indentations on the cylinder&#39;s mating internal surface. 
         [0017]    The cylinder head may contain a valve arrangement to permit flow of product into a product delivery chamber, but prevent backflow which could cause contamination of the product supply. The product delivery chamber may have a conduit through the flat face of the applicator head by one of two possible means. The flat face may contain a plurality of prongs, each of which has a conduit that connects to the product delivery chamber, so that twisting of the handle forces product through each prong for direct application to the receiving surface. Alternatively, there may be a single conduit between the product delivery chamber and only the flat face of the head, wherein twisting of the handle delivers product to the flat face in a sufficient quantity that it may then be applied by using the prongs like bristles of a brush. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the applicator and cap of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the applicator and cap of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  is the view of  FIG. 1A  enlarged to show details of the wipe and cap threading. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1C  is an alternate embodiment of the head and cap of  FIG. 1B . 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0024]      FIG. 2B  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the first embodiment of the applicator of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the applicator head and body of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a front view of one embodiment of the applicator head of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the applicator head. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the applicator head of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the alternate embodiment in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate nozzle embodiment of the applicator head of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7 , being enlarged to show the valve portion details. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve cylinder of the first embodiment of the applicator head of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cylinder member of the first embodiment of the applicator head of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a front view of a second embodiment of the applicator head of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the applicator head of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the base portion of a first embodiment of the applicator of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the adjustment portion of the base of a first embodiment of the applicator of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the cap of the first embodiment of the applicator of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  is side view of the applicator of the present invention shown dispensing droplets of product from the nozzles. 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  is side view of the applicator of the present invention shown dispensing a stream of product from the nozzles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the present invention, which includes an applicator device  10  with a cap  11 . Assembly of the applicator device  10  is shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 , and further broken down into its component parts—a body  17  and an applicator head  14 —as seen in  FIG. 4 . The invention disclosed herein provides for various embodiments of the applicator head which may assemble into the body  17  in one of several ways to provide for careful dispensing of amounts of product to be delivered onto discrete surfaces of an object. 
         [0043]    The body  17  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) may generally be comprised of cylinder  60  that receives a handle  70  so that the handle is free to rotate relative to the cylinder. As seen in  FIG. 3 , a cylindrical portion of the handle  70  may be received within cylinder  60  and thereby be able to rotate, and may be retained therein by use of an annular protrusion  71  on the handle  70  being received by an annular recess  63  on the cylinder  60 . The handle  70  may be threadably coupled to a piston rod  80  so that rotation of the handle causes the piston rod to advance within the cylinder  60 . The piston rod  80  may engage and drive a piston  90 , which may be slidably disposed within the cylinder, to advance the piston therein. Installation of applicator head  14  into body  17  forms a product reservoir  101 , between the piston  90  and generally the end or bottom of the head  40 , and advancement of the piston may cause the enclosed volume of the reservoir to decrease, forcing product to be pumped therefrom. 
         [0044]    The applicator head  14  may be installed into the body  17  through one of several different mechanical means, including a simple friction fit. In one embodiment, the applicator head  14  may be installed into, and retained within, body  17  by use of a friction fit. In another embodiment, the applicator head  14  may be threadably installed into body  17  by use of internal threading on the cylinder&#39;s upper internal surface  61 , and use of external threading on the tubular extension  31  of the applicator head  14 . In another embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the applicator head  14  may be snapped into cylinder  60  of the body  17 . The snap-in arrangement may be accommodated by having one or more annular protrusions  32  on the tubular extension  31  of the applicator head  14 , and corresponding annular indentations or recesses on the cylinder&#39;s upper internal surface  61 . Alternatively, the indentations may be formed on the applicator head  14 , while the annular protrusions are formed on the cylinder&#39;s upper internal surface  61 . Any of these installation means for the applicator head  14  may be adapted to permit removal of the head and allow interchangeability of one applicator head in favor of another, possibly wider head. Alternatively, the applicator head  14  may be securely and permanently attached to the body  17 , which may serve to preserve the integrity of the product contained therein, and reduce or eliminate the possibility of contamination. 
         [0045]    The applicator head  14  of the current invention may comprise a tubular extension  31  originating from an annular pedestal  30  ( FIG. 8 ). The pedestal  30  may overhang the tubular extension  31  so as to form a shoulder  33 . Installation of the applicator head  14  may occur with the tubular extension  31  being mated with the cylinder&#39;s upper internal surface  61  ( FIG. 4 ) until shoulder  33  of the applicator head  14  reaches the end wall  62  of cylinder  60 . An o-ring seal may be accommodated at the meeting of shoulder  33  and end wall  62  of cylinder  60 , or may be accommodated where tubular extension  31  mates with the cylinder&#39;s upper internal surface  61 . 
         [0046]    Extending upward from pedestal  30  may be a V-shaped neck  34 . The V-shaped neck  34  and tubular extension  31  may be formed as a single housing, or may be separately formed and then be mated together using male and female connectors  18  and  19  on respective parts ( FIG. 8 ). Pedestal  30  may be integral to either the V-shaped neck  34  or tubular extension  31 . The tubular extension  31  may include a cylindrical opening  38  beginning on the bottom surface  40 —a first end of the housing—and may interconnect with an opening at a second end of the housing to form a conduit. Where the cylindrical opening  38  begins on surface  40 , there may also be a counter-sunk opening  37  to transition between the cylindrical opening  38  and the flat surface  40 . 
         [0047]    Inserted into cylindrical opening  38  to occupy at least a portion of the conduit may be a valve cylinder  41 . The portion of the conduit beyond the valve cylinder may comprise a product dispensing chamber  102 . Where the cylindrical opening  38  transitions into the product dispensing chamber  102 , within the V-shaped neck  34 , a lip  39  may be formed to retain the valve cylinder. Valve cylinder  41  being installed therein may generally comprise a cylindrical outer wall  43  having a first end  44  and a second end  47  ( FIG. 9 ). The first end  44  may have a tapered surface  45  between the cylindrical outer wall  43  and the first end  44 . The first end may also have an opening  46  into an inner wall  49 , which may be parallel to the outer wall  43  and taper  45 . The inner wall  49  may transition to a second inner wall  49 A having a greater diameter than inner wall  49 , and create a first lip  42 . An opening  48  in the second end  47  may create a second lip  50  at the second end  47  of the valve cylinder  41 . 
         [0048]    The valve cylinder  41  may be inserted into the cylindrical opening  38  of tubular extension  31  as seen in  FIG. 8 , which may interconnect to at least one opening at a second end of the housing to form a conduit. The first end  48  of the valve cylinder  41  may be flush with the end  39  of cylindrical opening  38 . The external diameter of outer wall  43  and the internal diameter of cylindrical opening  38  may be sized so as to be engaged in an interference fit (friction fit) rather than a clearance fit, whereby the valve cylinder  41  may be inserted through either a press-fit installation process or a cryogenic installation process. The interference fit would serve to positively retain the valve cylinder  41  within the cylindrical opening  38 . 
         [0049]    Within the valve cylinder  41  may be cylindrical member  54 , having a first end  55 , a second end  56 , an outer wall  57 , and an inner wall  58 . The cylindrical member  54  may be positioned within the valve cylinder  41  between the first lip  42  and second lip  50 . A spherical valve ball  51  may be disposed within the valve cylinder  41 , as seen in  FIG. 8 , and be biased by a coil spring  52  to normally block the opening  46  of the valve cylinder  41 . The spring  52  may also bias a plug  53 , which may be partially disposed within the first opening  55  of the cylindrical member  54 , creating a valve cylinder product pool  103 . The ball  51  and plug  53  may selectively block or close off the flow of product through the valve cylinder  41 , so that valve cylinder product pool  103  may operate as an intermediate pooling area, to serve in maintaining product integrity within the reservoir  101 . This may be accomplished by providing separation between the product reservoir  101  and the product dispensing chamber  102 , which may be necessary because the application process, as discussed hereinafter, may cause contamination to enter the product dispensing chamber during application of product onto a receiving surface, which could propagate back towards the product reservoir. The valve cylinder product pool  103 , in conjunction with the selective blocking of the valve cylinder, serves to reduce or eliminate the possibility of such contamination. 
         [0050]    By twisting the handle  70 , the mechanical connection with the piston rod  80  drives the piston  90 , which in turn forces product contained within the product reservoir  101  through the spherical ball valve  51  and into the valve cylinder product pool  103 , whereby movement of the plug permits product contained within the valve cylinder product pool  103  to flow into the product dispensing chamber  102  within the V-shaped neck  34 . The valve arrangement serves to isolate the product within the product reservoir  101  and maintain its integrity, so there can be no back-flow of product which could cause contamination by matter acquired from the receiving surface. Moreover, the valve arrangement, also serves as a barrier to keep air from entering the chamber, and thus serves to maintain product moisture and consistency, and eliminate air-borne contamination in the form of dust, pet dander, mold, pollen, bacteria, etc. 
         [0051]    The V-shaped neck  34  may have a flat face  36  (a second end of the housing) that terminates in a tip  35 . Protruding from the flat face  36  may be a plurality of prongs  20 . In a first embodiment, the prongs may comprise a conical outer surface  21  which, as seen in  FIG. 7 , may protrude outward from the flat face  36  to end in a curved tip  24 . The prongs  20  may each have a conduit  23  having one end interconnected to the product dispensing chamber  102  through an inlet  25 . Product may thus flow from the product dispensing chamber  102  through inlet  25  of the prong  20 , and out the exit orifice  22  at the curved tip  24  for delivery onto a surface. The conduit  23  may be sized in accordance with the viscosity of the product being delivered to accommodate a suitable flow rate. With the plurality of prongs  20  thus arranged, product may be dispensed to a broad area but with precision. 
         [0052]    The prongs may be manufactured from any suitable material. Material selection may be dictated by the particular application. Where the applicator may be used to dispense make-up products such as mascara, the nozzle may be made from materials including, but not limited to a thermo plastic elastomer (TPE). With the prongs so constructed, product may be dispensed with a careful turn of the handle  70  to merely bead product on the tip  24  of the nozzle for careful application, as in  FIG. 16 , or with a greater rotation of the handle  70 , product may squirt from the prongs as in  FIG. 17 . The threading on the handle  70  and on the piston rod  80  may be of such a pitch to produce the appropriate degree of either coarse or fine movement of the piston, to result in a corresponding amount of product delivery. 
         [0053]    In a second embodiment, the conical prongs  20  may not be formed with conduit  23  and could therefore be solid. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 11 , the conical prongs  20  may surround a single elongated opening  29  in the flat face  36 , or alternatively, the prongs may surround multiple openings, such as the openings  29 A,  29 B,  29 C, and  29 D seen in  FIG. 5A  for head  14 A. The elongated opening  29  or openings  29 A- 29 D may directly interconnect to the dispensing chamber  102 . The length of each of the one or more openings  29  and the total number of prongs may vary, and may be adjusted for a particular application. The density of prongs for a given area on the flat face  36  may also vary for a particular application, as seen in the applicator head  15  in  FIG. 11 . The width of the elongated opening  29  or openings  29 A- 29 D may be greater or less than that shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 11  to accommodate products having greater or lesser viscosities. 
         [0054]    As seen in  FIGS. 1-2 , a cap  11  may be snapped onto the applicator head to protect product contained within the product dispensing chamber applicator against contamination. The snapping of the cap may be using any of the mechanical attachment means discussed previously-receiving the cap onto the head in a friction fit; or snapping the cap onto the head using an annular protrusion being received in an annular recess. Additionally, as seen in  FIGS. 1A-2A , a cap  11 A may be threadably receiving onto said applicator head, to provide an air-tight seal. Also, the caps  11  or  11 A may comprise an insert, where the insert serves to wipe the prongs during placement and/or removal of the cap from said applicator head. 
         [0055]    In yet another embodiment, seen in  FIG. 1C , a plug  53  is not utilized, and a cylindrical member  54 A may be open so that Product Dispensing Chamber  102  and Valve Cylinder Product Pool  103  merge to form single reservoir, which is nonetheless still separated from the Product Reservoir  101  by the spring loading of a spherical ball valve. In this embodiment, a critical difference is in the conical prongs used to apply the mascara. There may preferably be an alternating series of longer and shorter prongs,  20 L and  20 S, that extend away from the flat face  36 , and which serve to aid a user in applying the mascara, by permitting the longer prongs to initially contact and possibly deflect a portion of the user&#39;s lashes, while the adjacent shorter prongs  20 S follow and serve to better apply mascara to the inside surfaces of the exposed lashes, which may be a difficult to reach portion of the lash. In this embodiment, there may also be conduits  23  through the prongs permitting an additional flow of mascara product from the exit orifice  22  of the prongs, which advantageously serves to better apply mascara to the top and bottom of lashes—a very difficult to reach area with conventional mascara brush applicators. The difference in height of the prongs may preferably be at least 0.030 inches to permit the longer prongs to contact one or more lashes and cause deflection before the shorter prongs contact the un-deflected lashes. The height difference may preferably be not much more than 0.060 inches, otherwise the amount of displacement of the longer prongs  20 L may be such that some of the deflected lashes may spring back to their initial position. There may be at least a single row of the alternating series of prongs disposed about each side of a plurality of openings  29 A- 29 E (in the case of five openings, as seen in  FIG. 1C ), or there may be, as seen in  FIG. 5A , two or more rows of prongs disposed about each side of the plurality of openings. A long prong  20 L may also be disposed between openings  29 A and  29 B, between  29 B and  29 C, and between openings  29 C and  29 D. The prongs may preferably be made of a thermoplastic elastomeric material. Where both conduits  23  in the prongs are used along with openings  29 A . . . , the size of the openings (e.g.,  29 A- 29 E) may need to be smaller and be calibrated with the size of the conduits to ensure a proper amount of flow from each. If the openings  29 A- 29 E were too large, this may result in insufficient pressure within the Product Dispensing Chamber  102  to force mascara product from the orifices  22  of the prongs  20 . Also in this embodiment, a screw-on cap may also be used, and which contains an insert  12  that may be made of a flexible material that has a flange  13  that extends at least part-way across the opening of the cap, and thereby serves to wipe the prongs during placement on and/or removal of the cap from, the applicator head. This prevents agglomeration and drying of mascara product upon the prongs, which would degrade the fidelity with which the applicator may be used to apply mascara onto a person&#39;s lashes. While any excess product transferred to the insert may agglomerate thereon, such agglomeration would not serve to degrade application of product onto the user. 
         [0056]    The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention as described in the following claims.