Patent Publication Number: US-2017367542-A1

Title: Applicator device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/353,299, filed Jun. 22, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of applicator devices and more specifically relates to an improved applicator device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An applicator is a tool or device used to apply a fluid or semi-fluid substance to a surface. A sponge is a tool or cleaning aid consisting of soft, porous material. Sponges are usually used for cleaning impervious surfaces. They are especially good at absorbing water and water-based solutions. Sponges are commonly made from cellulose wood fibers or foamed plastic polymers. Some natural sponges are still sold, but most are now used either as body or facial sponges (bath sponges) or as tools for sponge painting. Bath sponges help cleanse the skin by scraping away the dead skin and washing away dirt. The three other categories of widely available synthetic sponges are low-density polyether (known as the rainbow packs of non-absorbent sponges), PVA (a highly absorbent material), and polyester. Unfortunately, users may have a hard time reaching certain areas of a body with the conventional sponge or applicator. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 20120009002 to Patrick Ping Sun Lo; U.S. Pat. No. 20040208683 to Swanan et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,682 to Mark C. Campbell. This art is representative of applicator devices. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a applicator devices should provide thorough application, gentle exfoliation, and a pleasant experience, and yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable improved applicator device to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known applicator device art, the present invention provides a novel improved applicator device. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide thorough application, gentle exfoliation, and a pleasant experience. 
     The improved applicator device preferably comprises an elongated handle member formed as a an elongated tube, a sponge member attached to a distal end of the elongated handle member, a reservoir located within the tube at a proximal end that is adapted to retain a liquid substance within, a pump member located within the tube in between the reservoir and the distal end of the elongated handle member that is adapted to pump the liquid substance from the reservoir through the distal end of the elongated handle member and into the sponge member such that a user can apply the liquid substance from the sponge member onto their body while scrubbing their body at the same time. 
     A heating element is located within the tube in between the reservoir and the distal end of the elongated handle member that is adapted to heat the liquid substance before it reaches the sponge member. A cooling element is located within the tube in between the reservoir and the distal end of the elongated handle member that is adapted to cool the liquid substance before it reaches the sponge member. 
     A control member is located within the tube in between the reservoir and the distal end of the elongated handle member that is adapted to control the pump member, the heating element, and the cooling element, such that a user can control the temperature of the liquid substance before it reaches the sponge member. 
     A vibrating member is located within the tube in proximity to the sponge member and is adapted to be controlled by the control member and vibrate the tube member and the sponge member to provide vibrations to the body of the user. The elongated handle member further includes a cup-shaped portion on the distal end thereof adapted to releasably retain the sponge member therein. The sponge member is adapted to be removed from the cup-shaped portion, washed, and replaced with a similar sponge member. A power source is located within the tube and adapted to power the heating element, the cooling element, the pump member, and the vibrating member. 
     The reservoir includes an input nozzle adapted to allow more of the liquid substances to be injected therein. The elongated handle member includes a removable cap member on the proximal end adapted to allow access to the reservoir and the input nozzle. The elongated handle member is formed from a material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood and bamboo. 
     The elongated tube of the elongated handle member may be formed as a telescoping tube member to be extendable in length. The control member may include a dial member for allowing rotatable adjustment of the temperature of the liquid substance before it reaches the sponge member or the control member may include a slide member for allowing linear adjustment of the temperature of the liquid substance before it reaches the sponge member instead of a rotatable adjustment. The control member may also include a slide member thereon for allowing linear adjustment of the amplitude of vibrations of the vibrator member. The elongated handle member is formed as being waterproof and the sponge member may be formed as a loofah sponge. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an improved applicator device. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, improved applicator device constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating an improved applicator device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an improved applicator device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating improved applicator device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an applicator device and more particularly to an improved applicator device as used to improve the thorough application, gentle exfoliation, and a pleasant experience. 
     Generally speaking, an improved applicator device is an elongated, extendable applicator for applying liquids, gels, or lotions on hard-to-reach areas of the body. The device may have a removable and washable sponge which can also be replaced when worn and have a temperature controlled reservoir within the handle for heating or cooling the lotions along with having vibrating, massage capabilities. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view illustrating improved applicator device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Improved applicator device  100  preferably comprises elongated handle member  105  formed as a elongated tube  110 , sponge member  115  attached to distal end  106  of elongated handle member  105 , reservoir  120  located within elongated tube  110  at proximal end  111  that is adapted to retain liquid substance  125  within, pump member  130  located within elongated tube  110  in between reservoir  120  and distal end  106  of elongated handle member  105  that is adapted to pump liquid substance  125  from reservoir  120  through distal end  106  of elongated handle member  105  and into sponge member  115  such that a user can apply liquid substance  125  from sponge member  115  onto their body while scrubbing their body at the same time. 
     Heating element  145  is located within elongated tube  110  in between reservoir  120  and distal end  106  of elongated handle member  105  that is adapted to heat liquid substance  125  before it reaches sponge member  115 . Cooling element  135  is located within elongated tube  110  in between reservoir  120  and distal end  106  of elongated handle member  105  that is adapted to cool liquid substance  125  before it reaches sponge member  115 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , is a perspective view illustrating improved applicator device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Control member  140  is located within elongated tube  110  in between reservoir  120  and distal end  106  of elongated handle member  105  that is adapted to control pump member  130 , heating element  145 , and cooling element  135 , such that a user can control the temperature of liquid substance  125  before it reaches sponge member  115 . 
     Vibrating member  150  is located within elongated tube  110  in proximity to sponge member  115  and is adapted to be controlled by control member  140  and vibrate elongated tube  110  and sponge member  115  to provide vibrations to the body of the user. Elongated handle member  105  further includes cup-shaped portion  155  on distal end  106  thereof adapted to releasably retain sponge member  115  therein. Sponge member  115  is adapted to be removed from cup-shaped portion  155 , washed, and replaced with a similar sponge member  115 . Power source  160  is located within elongated tube  110  and adapted to power heating element  145 , cooling element  135 , pump member  130 , and vibrator member  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , is a perspective view illustrating improved applicator device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Reservoir  120  includes input nozzle  165  adapted to allow more of liquid substance  125  to be injected therein. Elongated handle member  105  includes removable cap member  170  on proximal end  111  adapted to allow access to reservoir  120  and input nozzle  165 . Elongated handle member  105  is formed from a material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood and bamboo. 
     Elongated tube  110  of elongated handle member  105  may be formed as telescoping tube member  175  to be extendable in length. Control member  140  may include dial member  141  for allowing rotatable adjustment of the temperature of liquid substance  125  before it reaches sponge member  115  or control member  140  may include slide member  142  for allowing linear adjustment of the temperature of liquid substance  125  before it reaches sponge member  115  instead of a rotatable adjustment. Control member  140  may also include slide member  142  thereon for allowing linear adjustment of the amplitude of vibrations of vibrating member  150 . Elongated handle member  105  is formed as being waterproof and sponge member  115  may be formed as loofah sponge  185 . 
     An improved applicator device  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.