Patent Publication Number: US-2018044095-A1

Title: Devices and methods for applying body lotions such as sunscreens

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/475,939, filed Sep. 3, 2014, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/873,050, filed Sep. 3, 2013, the entire content of both of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to lotion dispensers and, in particular, to devices and methods for applying lotions such as sunscreens. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many occasions wherein an individual desires to apply a body lotion prior to a trip to the beach or a session at a tanning salon, but the applicator choices are limited. At a tanning salon, it would be advantageous to provide one-time or disposable applicators so that a user need not purchase or bring a large bottle of lotion. Further, whether at the salon or the beach, it would be advantageous if the device and method enabled a user to apply lotion to their own back area without having to enlist the assistance of others. 
     There are many devices and inventions relating to applying lotions and the like to one&#39;s back with the aid of another. Such devices include long-handled rollers and other implements. Some devices use strips of material. U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,514, for example, discloses an applicator system for storage and retrieval of applicator strips from a container to be used for applying a liquid preparation to a user&#39;s body. An elongated applicator strip is hand held for the user to apply the liquid preparation on remote body parts, such as the back. The applicator strips can be sealed in the container to prevent the evaporation of the liquid preparation contained therein. The applicator strips have laminated layers including an absorbent first layer to receive and retain the liquid preparation. A non-absorbent stabilizing second layer is included to provide strength and dimensional stability. Preferably, the strip includes two outer first layers and one middle second layer. Each elongated applicator strip is preferably about 36 inches in length and about 4.5 inches in width. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention resides in a hand-held article for applying lotion to a user, including a user&#39;s back or other hard-to-reach places. In broad and general term&#39;s, the article includes a housing containing a lotion to be dispensed, and a member, integral to the housing, for transferring the lotion to a user&#39;s body. The member may be a roller, in which case the dispenser may be an elongated wand or an existing lotion bottle having threads to which the roller attaches. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the member is a pre-moistened, elongated sheet, web or strip, with the housing containing a roll of pre-moistened material. The housing may further include a manually operated lever that allows a length of the strip to be pulled from the roll in the housing. The housing may additionally include a cap with a cutting edge to sever the strip at a desired length. Optionally, the housing includes a tensioning mechanism to keep excess material from coming off the roll, and/or a separately fellable lotion reservoir. 
     A particular article for applying lotion to a user comprises a housing containing an elongated strip of material on a roll internal to the housing, the strip being pre-moistened with a lotion. The housing includes a slot through which the strip is pulled off of the roll and out of the housing. A manually operated lever, proximate to the slot, has a first position enabling the strip to be pulled off of the roll and out of the housing, and a second position preventing the strip to be pulled off of the roll and out of the housing. A cap is provided with an integral cutting edge to sever the strip at a desired length once pulled off of the roll and out of the housing. The housing may further includes a tensioning mechanism to keep excess material from coming off the roll, and/or a separately fillable lotion reservoir. 
     The strip of material may be pre-moistened with a tanning lotion; self-tanning lotions; sun block; moisturizing cream, or insect repellant. The strip of material may be made of a non-woven synthetic fibrous material, with a width in the range of 1 to 3 inches. The strip of material more preferably has a width in the range of 2 to 2.5 inches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a first embodiment of the invention in the foul′ of a small, cylindrical article with two portions that come apart by pulling on handles; 
         FIG. 2  shows the two halves of the article of  FIG. 1  initially pulled apart; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates that when the two halves of the article of  FIG. 2  are pulled apart, the system enables a user to apply any type of lotion or liquid to areas of their back which they may otherwise be unable to reach; 
         FIG. 4A  is an oblique drawing of a different dispenser according to the invention, wherein a much longer applicator strip is contained in a decorative housing; 
         FIG. 4B  shows the back of the item of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross sectional drawing of a device like the one depicted in  FIGS. 4A , B, but with additional features including a cover with integral cutter and a lotion reservoir; 
         FIG. 4D  is a detail drawing that better illustrates a lever release mechanism; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein a roller is supported in an elongated housing having a bent neck portion; 
         FIG. 5B  is a bottom view of the device of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5C  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5D  shows a manual pump mechanism that may be included in the end of the housing of  FIGS. 5A and 5B ; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a roller portion with a threaded end enabling the roller portion to be coupled to an existing bottle of lotion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This invention solves the above problems by providing lotion applicators for different purposes at low cost.  FIG. 1  is a drawing of a first embodiment of the invention in the form of a small, cylindrical article  102  with two portions  104 ,  106  that come apart by pulling on handles  108 ,  110 . The handles may be folded down onto the sides of the article until use, and all aspects may be made of disposable materials such as cardboard, plastic, and paper. 
       FIG. 2  shows the two halves  104 ,  106  initially pulled apart. Inside, a pre-moistened paper or other material  200  comes off of roll  202  which is rotatable about pin  204  that extends through the end of the housing, held in position with button  206 . The other end of the applicator may be anchored at  208  to the inner wall of the other portion  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the two halves are pulled apart, the system enables a user to apply any type of lotion or liquid to areas  300  of their back which they may otherwise be unable to reach. 
       FIG. 4A  is an oblique drawing of a different dispenser according to the invention, wherein a much longer applicator strip  402  is contained in a roll within housing  404 .  FIG. 4B  shows the back of the item. This system includes a pivoting bar-like member  406  which pivots as shown to allow (and prevent) the strip, which again is pre-moistened, to come off internal roll  408 . The pivoting bar-like member  406  may include a surface that provides friction when engaged against the pre-moistened strip, and the dispenser or member  406  may include a serrated tear-bar enabling the strip to be torn off at a desired length for use. 
     Thus, in operation, a user grasps the dispenser with one hand using finger depressions  410 , while grasping the free end of the strip  402 . The strip can then either be torn from the dispenser and used by itself, or the user may continue to hold the dispenser, tearing the strip off following use. An optional spout may be provided to extract additional fluid for independent application. 
       FIG. 4C  is a cross sectional drawing of a device like the one depicted in  FIGS. 4A , B, but with additional features includes a cover  420  with integral cutter and a lotion reservoir  490 . The cover pivots on axis  424 , and the cover is shown in an open configuration having been pivoted clockwise until stop  426  hits the outer surface of the housing  428 , enabling premoistened strip  430  to be drawn from the device. To release the strip from the roll  432 , which rotates on axis  434 , a user depresses lever  436  which pivots on axis  438 . Pressing the lever  436  works against a spring  440 , causing the end  442  to move away from a surface  444 , as shown in the detail drawing of  FIG. 4D . One or both of the surfaces  442 ,  444  may me serrated or otherwise roughened to ensure that the strip does not slip when lever  436  is not pressed. 
       FIGS. 4C and 4D  both illustrate an optional yet preferred tensioning mechanism comprising roller  446  and tensioning spring  448 . In use, as the strip  430  is pulled out of the housing, it rolls on the surface of roller  446  and past spring  448  which is urged against the roller  446 . This added resistance to pull ensures that excessive material is not pulled off roll  432  which might interfere with the operational mechanism. When a desired length of strip  430  has been released, cover  420  may be closed, causing cutter  422  to but up against surface  423  to cut the strip to length. Optional but desirable lotion reservoir  490  is filled and refillable via capped port  492 . 
     As with other embodiments disclosed herein, the device of  FIGS. 4C and 4D  is constructed largely of molded plastic, with the exception of the spring(s) which may be metal. The strip of material  430  is preferably made of an inexpensive yet strong and absorbent natural or synthetic material. A non-woven fibrous cellulosic or synthetic material such as PET or polypropylene may be used. Biodegradable and/or recycled materials may also be used. Non-woven technologies include spun-bonded, felted and needle-punched. The strip is preferably non-perforated so that it does not break unintentionally. Multi-layer strips may be used; for example, with a strong backing layer bonded to one or more absorbent layers. The width of the strip is preferably on the order of 1 to 3 inches, more preferably in the range of 2 to 2½ inches. 
     The housings of the invention such as the one depicted in  FIG. 4C  comes with a roll of the strip material, pre-moistened with any of a number of formulations, including tanning self-tanning lotions, sun blocks, moisturizing creams, insect repellants, and the like. The invention is not limited in this regard. If lotion reservoir is provided, it need not have the same liquid as the strip. For example, the strip may be pre-moistened with a sunblock, while the reservoir contains moisture cream. 
     Roller Embodiments 
     Apart from the pre-moistened strip embodiments of the invention described above, other embodiments use a roller in communication with a lotion supply.  FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate one such device, wherein a roller  502  is supported in an elongated housing  506  having a bent neck portion  504 .  FIG. 5A  is a side view of the device,  FIG. 5B  is a bottom view, and  FIG. 5C  is a front view. 
     A guard piece  508  may be provided to protect the roller  502  when not in use. Such guard piece may be removable or attached and pivotable between retracted and non-retracted positions. Any desired lotion would be added to the handle  506 , which would be delivered to the body of a user through roller  502 . The length of the handle portion  506  would preferably be long enough (i.e., 12-20 inches) to enable a user to reach the middle of their back. The broken lines in  FIGS. 5A-5C  indicate internal structure of some embodiments. For example, the broken lines at  508  may indicate a spring that pushes a plunger  510  against the lotion contained in the housing  506 . A central guide rod  512  may be provided for the plunger to travel along. A band or window of clear plastic may be provided, as show at  514 , to indicate when the housing is full. 
       FIG. 5D  shows a manual pump mechanism that may be included in the end of the housing  506  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The mechanism, depicted at  520 , includes a depressible ‘bulb’  522  which operates when a user covers the hole  523  with the thumb for example and pumps the bulb  522 , pressurizing the internal cavity of the housing with air shown at  524 . The user would grip the outer surface of the container at  530 . Item  526  is an optional molded strap to keep cap assembly  528  from falling out during refills. 
     As opposed to an integrated assembly, another embodiment of the invention includes only the roller portion  602  with a threaded end  604  enabling the roller portion to be coupled to an existing bottle of lotion  610 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Again, a snap-on/off cover guard  612  may be provided. The neck portion may be curved and may be of any convenient length, and a sliding button  614  may be provided to block the flow of liquid to the roller  606  when not in use. In an alternative embodiment, roller  602  may be augmented or replaced with retractable strip of pre-moistened material enabling the strap to be extended for application and drawn back up between uses.