Abstract:
A single-use applicator contains nail polish remover and an applicator element. A liquid conduit has one end fluidically connected to the applicator element and a point on another end. The nail polish remover is liquid and is contained in a container having a puncturable cover that is located adjacent to the point of the conduit. The applicator element is located in one unit and the liquid is located in a second unit. The two units are threadably connected and when screwed together, the point punctures the cover and fluidically connects the liquid nail polish remover to the applicator element. The applicator is used in the manner of a writing instrument to remove nail polish.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of toiletry devices, and to the particular field of nail devices with fluent material. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many women apply nail polish to their fingernails and to their toenails. This process is generally carried out using a nail polish applicator brush and a bottle containing the nail polish. There are many examples of such brush/bottle combinations in the art. 
     However, to remove nail polish, a person must apply a nail polish remover, such as acetone or the like, to the polished nail. This is often done by pouring the nail polish remover from a container onto a cotton pad and then using the soaked cotton pad to remove the nail polish by applying the soaked cotton pad to the polished nail. This can be messy, cumbersome, inefficient and onerous. The cotton pad can be dropped, or the liquid can spill from the container onto the user, or the liquid can be applied to the user&#39;s skin by an over-large cotton pad. It is not desirable to have nail polish remover applied to any surface except the nail polish to be removed. Certainly it is not desirable to have nail polish remover applied to a user&#39;s skin. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an applicator system for neatly and efficiently applying nail polish remover to nail polish. 
     Still further, most nail polish removers, including acetone, are quite volatile and will evaporate if the container is not securely closed between uses. Such evaporation is wasteful and the fumes associated with such evaporation may not be desirable. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that will make efficient use of the liquid nail polish remover and will conserve the liquid when the applicator is not in use. 
     Since cotton balls are generally manufactured for a multitude of uses, these items are often too large for efficient use to apply nail polish remover to a user&#39;s nails. Thus, nail polish remover is often wasted during the saturation of a cotton ball for use. The large cotton ball then may undesirably apply the nail polish remover to the user&#39;s skin in addition to applying the remover to the nail polish. While this is undesirable in any instance, it is especially undesirable if a person is a nail specialist and is applying the polish and polish remover to others, often many times a day. The repeated application of nail polish remover to such a person&#39;s skin is not desirable. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that will make efficient use of any applicator element and will locate and size the applicator element to make efficient use of the liquid nail polish remover and to help prevent the applicator element from contacting a user&#39;s skin. 
     Still further, many women wish to remove some or all of their nail polish while they are traveling or are otherwise away from home. These women must purchase the nail polish remover and then discard any unused portion of that remover after use. This may be expensive and inconvenient. However, carrying containers of liquid nail polish remover while traveling is often not convenient. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that can be conveniently stored and used while traveling. 
     Sometimes, while applying nail polish remover, a user will drop the container or the applicator element. This is not desirable since the nail polish remover liquid may damage a surface which is contacted. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that can be securely held while the nail polish remover is being applied. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide an applicator system for neatly and efficiently applying nail polish remover to nail polish. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that will make efficient use of the liquid nail polish remover and will conserve the liquid when the applicator is not in use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that will make efficient use of any applicator element and will locate and size the applicator element to make efficient use of the liquid nail polish remover and to help prevent the applicator element from contacting a user&#39;s skin. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that can be conveniently stored and used while traveling. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an applicator system for applying nail polish remover that can be securely held while the nail polish remover is being applied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by an applicator for applying nail polish remover which comprises a liquid container unit which includes a chamber containing liquid nail polish remover; a puncturable foil cover on the chamber; an applicator unit which includes an applicator element; a fluid conduit which has a pointed end located adjacent to the puncturable foil, and a dispensing end in fluid connection with the applicator element; and a screw thread connection between the liquid container unit and the applicator unit, the screw thread connection movably connecting the applicator unit to the liquid container unit so the applicator element moves between a stored position and a use position with respect to the liquid container unit, the fluid conduit moving from adjacent to the puncturable foil and puncturing the puncturable foil and moving into the chamber of the liquid container unit as the applicator unit is moved from the stored position into the use position, the fluid conduit fluidically connecting the nail polish remover in the chamber in the liquid container unit with the applicator element in the applicator unit when the applicator unit is in the use position. 
     The applicator system embodying the present invention thus will remain sealed until needed thereby conserving the liquid and protecting it from accidental spilling. The applicator system of the present invention also will apply nail polish remover in very precise amounts and in a very precise manner so very little, if any, nail polish remover is applied to any area other than directly to the nail polish being removed. This protects the skin of the user as well as conserves the nail polish remover. The applicator of the present invention is sealed when it is not in use and thus can be carried in a purse or any other handbag without danger of the liquid spilling. The amount of nail polish remover in a single applicator can be precisely metered to remove nail polish from a specific number of nails, for example, five to ten, whereby there will be no wasted liquid. This will be economical and conservative of the liquid. The container can be securely held so there is little, if any, danger of dropping the container and accidentally applying the liquid nail polish remover to a surface that may be damaged by that liquid. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an applicator system for applying nail polish remover embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational, partially cross-sectional view of the applicator system shown in FIG. 1 taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an applicator  10  for efficiently and precisely applying exact amounts of nail polish remover to a user&#39;s nails without contacting the user&#39;s skin. Applicator  10  comprises a liquid container unit  12  which includes a closed end  14 , an open end  16  having a rim  18 , and a longitudinal axis  20  which extends between the closed end  14  and the open end  16 . 
     A blind-ended bore  22  is defined between the open end  16  and the closed end  14 . 
     Unit  12  further includes an outer surface  24  and an inner surface  26  adjacent to the blind-ended bore  22 . An annular shoulder  30  is mounted on the inner surface  26  adjacent to the open end  16 , and includes a first rim  32  that is positioned to be located beyond the rim  18  of the open end  16  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  20  of the liquid container unit  12 , an outer surface  34  on the annular shoulder  30 , and a second rim  36  that is spaced apart from the first rim  32  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  20  of the liquid container unit  12 . The outer surface  34  of the annular shoulder  30  is located between the rim  18  of the open end  16  of the liquid container unit  12  and the second rim  36  of the annular shoulder  30 . 
     An external screw thread  40  is located on the outer surface  34  of the annular shoulder  30 . 
     A puncturable foil  42  is mounted on the first rim  32  of the annular shoulder  30  and extends across the open end  16  of the liquid container unit  12  to close the blind-ended bore  22  adjacent to the open end  16  of the liquid container unit  12 . 
     A chamber  46  is defined in the liquid container unit  12  by the inner surface  26  adjacent to the blind-ended bore  22  and the puncturable foil  42 . 
     Nail polish remover liquid  48 , such as acetone or the like, is contained in the chamber  46  when the liquid container unit  12  is in a stored condition, such as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     An applicator unit  60  is movably attached to the liquid container unit  12  and includes a first open end  62 , a second open end  64 , and a longitudinal axis  66  which extends between the first open end  62  of the applicator unit  60  and the second open end  64  of the applicator unit  60 . The longitudinal axis  66  of the applicator unit  60  is co-linear with the longitudinal axis  20  of the liquid container unit  12 . 
     A through bore  68  extends between the first open end  62  of the applicator unit  60  and the second open end  64  of the applicator unit  60 . Unit  60  includes an outer surface  70  and an inner surface  72  adjacent to the through bore  68 . 
     A screw thread  74  is located on the inner surface  72  of the applicator unit  60  adjacent to the first open end  62  of the applicator unit  60 . The screw thread  74  of the applicator unit  60  is sized and shaped to threadably engage the external screw thread  40  on the outer surface  34  of the annular shoulder  30  of the liquid container unit  12  and threadably attaches the applicator unit  60  to the liquid container unit  12 . The applicator unit  60  moves toward and away from the liquid container unit  12  as the applicator unit  60  is displaced to move the screw threads  74  of the applicator unit  60  with respect to the external screw thread  40  on the outer surface  34  of the annular shoulder  30  of the liquid container unit  12 . The applicator unit  60  moves between a stored position and a use position, with the use position being closer to the open end  16  of the liquid container unit  12  than the stored position. 
     A nail polish remover applicator element  80  is mounted on the applicator unit  60 . The nail polish remover applicator element  80  can be cotton and includes a body  82  that will absorb and wick nail polish remover liquid. Element  80  further includes a first end  84  that is located inside the through bore  68  of the applicator unit  60 , a second end  86  that is spaced apart from the second open end  64  of the applicator unit  60  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  66  of the applicator unit  60 , and a portion  88  that extends beyond the outer surface  70  of the applicator unit  60  adjacent to the second open end  64  of the applicator unit  60 . 
     A plurality of grooves  90  are defined in the outer surface  70  of the applicator unit  60  to provide a secure gripping surface for the applicator  10  during use. 
     A fluid conduit  100  is located in the through bore  68  of the applicator unit  60 . The fluid conduit  100  includes a pointed end  102  which is positioned to be in contact with the puncturable foil  42  mounted on the first rim  32  of the annular shoulder  30  of the liquid container unit  12  when the applicator unit  10  is in the stored position. The pointed end  102  punctures the puncturable foil  42  and moves into the chamber  46  in the liquid container unit  12  and into fluid contact with the nail polish remover liquid  48  contained in the chamber  46  when the applicator unit  60  is moved into the use position. A dispensing end  104  of the fluid conduit  100  is fluidically connected to the applicator element and is securely mounted on the applicator element so that the fluid conduit  100  will move with the applicator unit  60  between the stored position and the use position and will be mounted securely enough to puncture the puncturable foil  42 . 
     A through bore  106  extends between the pointed end  102  of the fluid conduit  100  and the dispensing end  104  of the fluid conduit  100  and fluidically connects the pointed end  102  of the fluid conduit  100  to the dispensing end  104  of the fluid conduit  100  to convey liquid nail polish remover  48  from the chamber  46  in the liquid container unit to the applicator element in the applicator unit when the applicator unit is in the use position. 
     Applicator  10  is used by simply screwing the applicator unit  60  towards the liquid container unit  12  until the fluid conduit  100  punctures the puncturable foil  42  and liquid nail polish remover  48  flows through the conduit  100  into the applicator element. As soon as the applicator element is sufficiently saturated with nail polish remover, applicator  10  can be used in the manner of a writing instrument, such as a pen or the like, to place the applicator element in contact with the nail polish to be removed. Applicator  10  is disposable and will contain enough nail polish remover to remove the polish from five to ten nails. It is noted that FIG. 2 shows the applicator unit in an intermediate position between the stored position and the use position as the pointed end  102  is moving through the puncturable foil  42 . Dotted line  102 ′ indicates the use position of the pointed end  102  and dotted line  103  indicated the stored position of the pointed end  102 . No cap is needed since there is no liquid in the applicator element until the applicator element is used. However, if desired, a cap, indicated in dotted lines by cap C, may be used if desired to ensure against accidental dispensing of the nail polish should the applicator be accidentally contacted in a manner that punctures the foil, and to protect against such accidental movement of the fluid conduit. The applicator can be sold on blister packages or in other packages so it can be conveniently stored. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.