Abstract:
An applicator is provided with a flexible container, a discharge passage, a valve seat, and internal springs having first ends attached to one end of a rod that has a valve on its other end. The second ends of the leaf spring are secured to the container. The springs are in an arcuate configuration so as to press the valve into a closed position. Pressure on the flexible container presses on the arcuate shaped springs, straightening them to some degree. Due to the longitudinal increase in the length of the springs, the valve is lifted off of its seat, opening a passage for fluid flow from the container interior through the discharge passage of the applicator nib or pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A fluid applicator has a flexible fluid container enclosing resilient spring forming spider legs attached to a rod, one end of which acts as a valve. Pressure on the flexible container presses on the resilient spring legs to lift the valve off of its seat. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is common in the art to have containers with internal spring-loaded, valved rods. C. W. Howe (U.S. Pat. No. 950,483, issued Mar. 1, 1910) and P. A. Dinardo (U.S. Pat. No. 1,425,242, issued Aug. 8, 1922) and T. J. Stephens (U.S. Pat. No. 1,505,442, issued Aug. 19, 1924) and J. R. Hensley (U.S. Pat. No.1,540,838, issued Jun. 9, 1925) and W. J. J. Gordon et al (U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,299, issued May 22, 1962) are examples of such devices where pressing on the spring causes the valve to be lifted off of its seat. 
     Tamiya et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,340, issued Oct. 2, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,996, issued Dec. 22, 1992) and F. Lhuisset (U.S. Pat. No, 5,248,212, issued Sep. 28, 1993) are examples of an internal spring-loaded valves lifted off of their seat by pressure exerted against flexible container sides. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention simplifies and improves over the dispensers of the prior art. A fluid dispensing applicator has a resilient container body that is provided with an internally positioned spring biased valve. The spring is preferably in the shape of bent or curved leaf springs biased so as to close a valve that controls fluid flow from the container. The spring is held within the container in a central or upper location. Pressure on an intermediate portion of the container creates a pressure on the springs that causes the springs to extend or flatten out within the container. By flattening out, the springs move a lower or distal end of a valve rod away from the discharge upper or proximal end of the container. This moves an upper or proximal valve end of the rod away from a valve seat in the upper or proximal end of the container permitting fluid flow from the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an applicator of the invention in its at-rest position. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 1 in its fluid dispensing position. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially exploded cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention in its at rest position. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 3 in its fluid-dispensing position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The applicator of the present invention is shown in FIGS. I through  4 . A curved leaf-type spring is preferred. The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a concave spring with respect to the applicator container, while FIGS. 3 and 4 show a convex spring with respect to the applicator container. 
     In FIG. 1 the applicator  1  is shown with fluid F in a resilient container  10  having an upper  24 , middle  25  and lower  26  section with upper or proximal valved portion or end  15  with threads  16  used to attach an application nib, pad or brush. A fluid passage  14  in the valved end of the container communicates with the container interior  29  through a neck portion  17 . A valve seat  18  is positioned between the fluid passage  14  and the container interior  29 . At an intermediate location, a positioning means is provided. This positioning means is shown as integral ridges  19  on the interior of the container but could be a sleeve or other integral or separate positioning means. The container  10  is translucent or transparent to reveal the spring  21  and/or positioning means  19  and/or spring attachment ring  20 , to identify the place where valve opening pressure is to be applied. Alternatively, the container can be marked or provided with indicia  23  to identify the area pressure is to be applied to open the valve. 
     A valve shaft or rod  11  is shown within the container interior  29 . The valve rod  11  is provided at one proximal upper end with a valve  13  that can seat against the valve seat  18  of the container upper or proximal end  15 . The rod is provided at a second distal or lower end  12  with a surface or other means for attachment  22  to a spring means  21 . 
     The positioning or retaining means  19  hold the proximal upper ends or upper extent of the springs or spring attachment strap or ring  20 , at the outer extremes within the resilient container  10 . The spring means includes the spring attachment ring  20 , when used, and a plurality of resilient leaf springs or spider legs  21  that extend within the container  10  interior  29 . The resilient springs are essentially concavely bent leaf springs, with respect to the container walls, that may be independently positioned between the retaining means or ridges  19 , but preferably are attached to a resilient attachment ring  20  positioned between the ridges  19 . The configuration of the spring legs is not critical as long as pressure on the sides of the applicator causes a longitudinal extension of the legs within the container  10 . The leaf springs  21  of FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in a concave configuration with respect to the flexible container  10 . 
     The springs or spider legs  21  come together at the distal or lower end  12  of the rod  11  and are attached  22  to the rod at that point. The spider legs are resilient but not elastic, thus maintaining an essentially constant length. With the legs biased in an arcuate configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, they function similar to a leaf spring, pressing the shaft or rod  11  proximate or upper valve end  13  against the container  10  upper or proximate end  15  valve seat  18 . By applying pressure P against the resilient container  10 , the container is collapsed in the area of the retaining ridges  19 , effectively reducing the diameter of the container in that area. To compensate for the reduction in diameter, the spring legs  21  confined by the retaining ridges  19 , are forced to straighten out somewhat. The straightening of the resilient springs causes the lower or distal attached end  22  of the rod  11  to move away from the valve seat  18 , opening a passage to the container fluid passage  14  and allowing a flow of the fluid F from the container interior  29  when the container is inverted. Removing pressure P from the flexible container  10 , returns the resilient container to its original shape due to the container&#39;s own resilience and the resilience of the leaf springs or spider legs  21 . The return to original shape closes off the passage to fluid flow. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the applicator. Essentially the same basic concept is involved as in FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the substitution of convex leaf springs  51  for the concave leaf springs  21 . 
     The applicator  40  of FIGS. 3 and 4 has a flexible container  56  with a closure  47  secured  57  to the container  56 , having upper  61 , middle  62  and lower  63  section with upper or proximal end forming the fluid containing enclosure. The closure  47  accommodates a plug  49  that supports a coating means  42 . 
     While the plug  49  is shown supporting a pad  42 , any type writing or coating implement can be supported by the plug. The plug fits within an upper recess within the closure  47 . A passage  44  extends through the plug for conducting fluid F through the plug from an inner end forming a valve seat  48  to an outer end accessing the coating means  42 . 
     The closure  47  outer or proximal end  45  is provided with threads  46  along an outer surface for securing a cap over the coating means  42  and has an opening or recess along its inner surface for receiving the plug  49 . The lower or inner extent of the opening along the inner surface of the closure  47  can be provided with a stop  50  to position and/or prevent the plug from entering the container  56 . The lower or inner extent of the closure  47  widens out for attachment  57  to the flexible container  56  around its outer surface. The two can be secured together by heat, adhesive means, etc. A flange  41  extends inwardly along the closure  47  lowermost inner surface forming a pocket for securing one end of the leaf springs  51  or a leaf spring retaining ring  54 . The retaining ring can be an incomplete rigid or an incomplete or complete resilient ring. 
     The valve means is made up primarily of a rod  55  and leaf springs  51 . The upper end of the rod  53  forms a valve and the lower end of the rod  58  is attached  52  to the lowermost extent of the leaf springs  51 . The upper extent or upper ends of the leaf springs, or their retaining ring  54 , is secured from longitudinal movement in the flexible container, by placement within the pocket formed by the flange  41 . The convex springs extend outwardly and upwardly from their point of connection  52  with the rod  55  lower or inner end  58 . The leaf springs  51  extend outwardly to contact or almost contact the walls of the flexible container  56  at their outer extremes  64 . while pressing the valve end  53  of the rod  55  upwardly into contact with the valve seat  48  of the plug  49  positioned within the closure  47 . 
     The container  56  can be transparent or translucent and the leaf springs  51  can be conspicuously colored to indicate the area pressure must be applied to open the valve for fluid passage. Alternatively, the flexible container can be colored, printed or otherwise marked  60  to identify the location pressure must be applied for valve opening and fluid discharge. 
     The valve is opened by pressing P on the flexible container  56  and the leaf springs  51  along the outer extent or extreme  64  of the leaf springs within the container. Pressure on the leaf springs causes a longitudinal extension in the spring length within the container. The longitudinal distance between the upper spring ends  54  and the rod base  58  at  52  is increased. Because the upper spring ends  54  are secured in place and the lower ends  52  are free to move longitudinally within the container  56 , the rod  55  is moved inwardly causing the rod valve end  53  to move away from the valve seat  48  opening a passage between the container enclosure  59  and the applicator pad  42  through passage  44  for fluid F flow. 
     It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative only and that changes, variations, substitutions, modifications and equivalents will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and that such may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.