Patent Publication Number: US-2006008313-A1

Title: Lotion stick applicator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to an elongated lotion applicating device. More particularly, the present invention teaches an elongated lotion stick applicator combining the features of an attachable, fluid holding reservoir handle, a proximally located pump actuator, an elongated and communicating stem and a pad applicator element secured to an extending end of the stem and which is rotatable between fluid conveying and fluid shut-off positions.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      The prior art is well documented with various examples of lotion applicating devices. The typical objective of such devices is to facilitate self-application of lotions or creams, such as to locations as a user&#39;s own back or other areas which are typically inaccessible to self-application.  
      DeForest, U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,339, teaches a body lotion applicator including an extended applicator head for reaching the back and other portions of the body that are difficult to reach. As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a bottle of lotion is attached to a base of a handle and is communicated through the elongated neck and to the applicator head. The head preferably includes a face plate and porous sponge affixed by a retaining ring. The sponge further typically includes an outer layer of a small cell, open-cell foam and an inner body of a large cell, open-cell foam. The sponge is detachable from the head and is replaceable with a coarse-celled exfoliative sponge or similar sponge assembly.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,865, to Moser, teaches a liquid applicator which includes an applicator member for receiving a liquid to be applied, an elongated delivery member therefor, a cover including a removable scraping member and an entry part for engaging a container having the liquid to be applied. As with DeForest, an existing container of fluid is attached to the elongated hollow and tubular delivery member.  
      Byrne, U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,707, teaches a back lotion applicator for dispensing a substance upon a body and including a reservoir for the substance presented at one end of a hollow member. A piston is disposed within the hollow member for communicating with the reservoir and for dispensing the substance from the reservoir to the body. Additionally, structure is presented at another end of the hollow member for activating the piston.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,591, issued to McCracken, teaches a lotion applicator device for applying lotion to the skin, and in particular to the back and legs of a user. An elongated handle and head portion with an enlarged base having an annular rim surrounds a mouth and a neck extending from the base and terminating at an open end. The elongated handle is attachable to the open end of the neck and includes a removable cap to facilitate filling of lotion within an interior reservoir.  
      A lotion dispensing assembly on the head portion includes a pair of overlaying plate members covering the open mouth, the plate members being movable relative to one another to position corresponding apertures formed through each plate member in either an offset relation or an aligned relation, thereby defining closed and open positions to selectively control flow of lotion through the plate members and to an exterior application surface. A cover is removably attached to the head portion, in covering relation to the plate members, to protect the applicator surface from sand, dirt and contact with other objects when the device is not in use.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,714, issued to Bernard, teaches a lotion applicator of the type for applying lotion to body areas not easily reached and which includes an angled handle having a first end section, a middle section and a second end section. An elongated stem connects to and extends from the first end, an applicating member rotatably mounting on the elongated stem. A tubular member has a first open end and second closed end, the first open end is connectable to the first end section of the handle for storing the applicating member therein and is connectable to the second end section for extending the length of the handle.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,077, issued to Trejo, teaches a sunscreen lotion applicator having a lotion container, tubular handle and a flexible, necked applicator head. The handle is contoured for facilitating not only access to a person&#39;s backside for lotion application, but also for being carried on a tool belt of an individual. The handle includes a detachable fill cap having a rough texture for better on/off manipulation, an upper rough textured grip facilitates firm grasping for insertion and removal from a tool belt and a lower rough texture grip for grasping during use.  
      The applicator head member is constructed in the form of a ball roll-on applicator or cylindrical roller, or further as a replaceable porous dauber covered with a chained cap. The applicator head connects with lotion-container handle via a bellows portion that facilitates flexible manipulation, and adjustment capability while being worn on a tool belt. The head member includes a first chamber region in fluid communication with the main lotion container handle body and a second dispensing chamber region in communication with the applicator ball, as provided. The two chambers are separated by an open/close mechanism which controls the flow of different viscosities of lotions into the dispensing chamber.  
      Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,661, issued to Sutton et al., teaches a fluid applicator for applying fluid in a uniform and discrete manner to a remote surface and wherein the applicator has a fibrous pad which is saturated and retains the fluid until applied to a surface. A valve or throttle means controls the amount of fluid in the fibrous pad and a telescoping handle element can be extended to provide an elongate handle for reaching remote areas and to expose a cylindrical fluid vessel having a flexible wall which is compressed to extrude fluid therefrom and into the fibrous pad.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      The present invention discloses an elongated lotion stick applicator which is an improvement over prior art lotion applicating devices in that it provides for quick and efficient self-application of lotions, such as to the back and otherwise inaccessible locations of the user&#39;s body. An applicator body includes an elongated and arcuately extending stem defining an interior-extending passageway.  
      A cylindrical-shaped handle is secured to a first end of the body and incorporates a fluid holding reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is attached to an end of the body in a fluid-tight manner, and such as through the provision of interengaging threads.  
      A fluid-pressurizing pump mechanism is incorporated into the body, proximate the handle, and in fluidic communication with the extending stem. An applicator is secured to a second end of the stem and includes such as a foam or sponge-like material. The applicator can be adjusted, such as by rotation, for selective communication with the fluid flow through the stem. Actuation of the pump mechanism causes fluid to be withdrawn from the reservoir, conveyed along the extending passageway and applied across the applicator. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental view illustrating the lotion stick in use according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lotion stick illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an axial cutaway view of the lotion stick and which illustrates the features of the handle reservoir, pump, and fluid conveying passageway extending to the pad applicator;  
       FIG. 4  is a rotated bottom view of the lotion stick shown in  FIG. 3  and further illustrating in phantom the conduit passageway for feeding fluid to the pad applicator;  
       FIG. 5  is a first sectional view of the applicating head in a fluid conveying position; and  
       FIG. 6  is a second sectional view of the applicating head in a rotated and fluid shut-off position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view is illustrated at  10  of a lotion stick applicator produced according to the present invention. As previously described, the present invention provides for quick and efficient self-application of lotions and the like to typically inaccessible locations such as the user&#39;s back  12 .  
      The lotion stick applicator  10  exhibits an elongated body, such as further including an arcuately extending stem  14  exhibiting an interior extending passageway (see inner wall  16 ). Although illustrated in one extending configuration, it is also understood that the stem  14  may exhibit a reverse bent or other suitable configuration to facilitate the user in self-applicating parts of the body typically inaccessible without the use of some sort of applicating device.  
      The applicator is typically constructed of a durable plastic or other suitable material exhibiting the necessary properties of strength and resiliency. In one variant, a sanitary-type plastic can be used in the construction of the body, however it is also understood and envisioned that the applicator body can be constructed from any suitable material including a lightweight metal or other material.  
      A handle  18  (see  FIGS. 2-5 ) secures to a first end of the body and such as to a portion  20  extending in fluidic communication with the stem  14 . The handle  18  in the preferred embodiment is illustrated as an elongated cylinder and which is internally hollowed such that it defines a fluid holding reservoir (such as for containing a lotion, oil, soap, or other liquid).  
      The preferred embodiments for securing the handle  18  to the body include the provision of interengaging screw threads (such as which can be used in cooperation with a pressure-sealing washer). Alternatively, a bayonet and slot arrangement (not shown) can be employed for securing the fluid holding handle in a push and twist fashion to the body portion  20 .  
      An elongate member  22  (such as an arcuate extending handlebar portion) is pivotally secured, see at  24 , to the intermediate body portion  20  (see as best shown in  FIG. 3 ) and extends in partially overlapping fashion relative to the cylindrical handle  18 . An inward projection  26  (see again  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) is associated with the elongate member  22  and, upon the user inwardly compressing the elongate member  22  in a direction towards the handle  18 , the projection  26  engages a pressurizing flow mechanism  28  incorporated into the body portion  20  and associated with a fluid-pressurizing pump.  
      The pressurizing flow mechanism  28 , in the preferred embodiment, includes a spring-loaded piston unit located intermediate a first inlet passageway  30  (again  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) extending from the fluid holding reservoir built into the handle  18  and the interior extending passageway  16  extending through the stem portion  14  of the elongated body. In application, actuation of the pressurizing flow mechanism causes a suction, or vacuum, to be created on the inlet side (corresponding to the inlet passageway  30 ), thus drawing fluid in a pressurized fashion through the extending passageway  16 . It is also contemplated and understood that, in substitution for the elongated member  22  and spring-loaded pump actuating cylinder  28 , other pressure or flow inducing mechanisms can be incorporated for creating the necessary suction or drawing force for the fluid containing reservoir, such further including suction inducing and flexible bellows members and the like.  
      An applicator  32  exhibits a specified shape and size and further includes a three-dimensional foam or sponge-like material, which secures to a remote extending end of the elongated stem  14 . In a preferred embodiment, a substantially planar shaped element  34  is mounted to the body and upon which is secured the three-dimensional material consisting of the applicator  32 .  
      At least one fluid conveying aperture  36  extends through the planar-shaped element  34  and such that the applicator  32  is rotatable between a first position (see also  FIG. 5 ), in which the fluid conveying aperture  36  is in aligning and fluidic communication between the interior extending passageway  16  and the applicator  32  (see position of a hex head  38  defining a terminating location of the interior passageway  16  in fluidic communication with the aperture  36  and sponge  32 ), and a second rotated position (see as illustrated by a ninety degree rotated position of the sponge  32 ′ and hex head  38 ′ and planar support element  34  in  FIG. 6 ) by which the fluid flow is disrupted.  
      It is therefore evident that the present invention teaches a novel and unique lotion applicating stick which is an improvement over prior art devices in that it provides for quicker and more efficient one-handed manipulation and self-application of a pressurized lotion of other suitable applicating fluid, than which was previously possible.  
      Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.