Patent Publication Number: US-8991405-B2

Title: Substance applicator

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/369,383, filed on Jul. 30, 2010, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This application is generally related to a substance applicator such as nail polish applicators. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Substance applicators are generally well known to be used for nail polish. Non-disposable nail polish containers have been well known in the art. Nail polish containers generally consist of a bottle and an applicator attached to a screw-top cap. Due to misplaced caps for these containers, nail polish can evaporate when exposed to air or be susceptible to spillage. Additionally, the applicator elements are known to become worn out and ineffective after repeated usage. These common problems have led to inventions disclosing applicators which are single-use, thus partially overcoming some problems associated with non-disposable nail polish containers. 
     One such type of a disposable nail polish applicator uses a frangible ampul and a brush attached to the bottom of a housing. Once grasped, the housing breaks the ampul and releases nail polish into a chamber and to the brush. Such a device presents obvious disadvantages, as there is no sturdy base in which the brush can rest during application of the nail polish. 
     A need exists for a disposable substance applicator assembly that is free-standing, wherein the applicator container is removable from the base and a nail filing element is incorporated in the applicator assembly. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a substance applicator assembly, which contains a substance in a sealed container and is disposable after one use. Further, a need exists for a sealed container for the substance that can be manually opened, allowing for a user to remove the applicator with a desired amount of substance and to provide for a free-standing substance applicator with a nail filing element. 
     SUMMARY 
     The applicator assembly comprises a base member, a cap member removably associated with the base member, a container for a substance to be applied; and an applicator member removably associated with the container. The container and applicator member are configured to be received within an interior space defined between the base member and cap member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the cap member. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the applicator. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the applicator container. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the base member. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the applicator assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the applicator and applicator container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
       FIG. 1  shows the cap member  24 . In one embodiment, the cap member  24  is hollow and has one end with a threaded portion  26 . The mating end  26  of the cap member  24  engages the mating portion  32  of the base member  28 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the applicator member  16 . The applicator member  16  includes an applicator element  18 . The applicator element  18  is used for applying a substance to a desired surface, such as nails. The applicator element  18  is connected to the applicator handle  20  via an elongated portion  22 . The elongated portion  22  has a first end  21  and a second end  23 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the applicator container  12 . The applicator container  12  is hollow and open at a first end  14 . The second end  15  is closed. The applicator container  12  holds substances in the upright position while resting its second end  14  in the recessed portion  30  of the base member  28 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the base member  28 . The base member  28  has a recessed portion  30 , which is used for supporting the first end  14  of the applicator container  12 . The base member  28  has a mating portion  32  that is used for receiving the mating end  26  of the cap member  24 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the applicator assembly  10 . Here, the applicator assembly  10  is shown fully assembled, with the cap member  24  engaged with the base member  28 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the applicator member  16  and applicator container  12 . The applicator member  16  is attached to the applicator container  12 . The applicator element  18  is submerged in a substance  34 . Notches are shown on the side surface of the applicator container  12 . In this embodiment, the applicator container  12  is clear to allow users to determine the remaining portion of substance  34 . Alternatively, the applicator container  12  can be partially or completely opaque. A window in the applicator container  12  can be used to allow users to determine the level of the substance  34 . 
     In one embodiment, the applicator assembly  10  comprises a base member  28 , a cap member  24  removably associated with the base member  28 , a container  12  for a substance to be applied, and an applicator member  16  removably associated with the container  12 . An air-tight seal exists between the applicator member  16  and the applicator container  12 . In one embodiment, the applicator assembly  10  is polymeric. 
     The container  12  and applicator member  16  are configured to be received within an interior space defined between the base member  28  and cap member  24 . The base member  28  includes a recessed portion  30  and a mating portion  32 . The cap member  24  includes a mating end  26  that corresponds to the mating portion  32  of the base member  28 . In one embodiment, the cap member  24  is substantially cylindrical. The mating portion  32  of the base member  28  may be threaded. In another embodiment, the mating portion  32  of the base member  28  is a snap-fit. 
     The applicator container  12  includes a first end  14  shaped to be received by the recessed portion  30  of the base member  28 . The applicator member  16  includes an elongated portion  22 , a handle  20 , located at a first end  21  of the elongated portion  22  and an applicator element  18  located at a second end  23  of the elongated portion  22 . In one embodiment, the applicator element  18  of the applicator member  16  comprises a plurality of bristles forming a brush. In another embodiment, the applicator element  18  of the applicator member  16  is a thin solid element, for more precise application of the substance. In another embodiment, the applicator element  18  is a cotton ball. 
     The first end  14  of the applicator container  12  is a closed end. The second end  15  of the applicator container  12  is an open end. The first end  14  of the applicator container  12  is tapered. The applicator container  12  includes an indicator capable of conveying a level of remaining substance. For example, the indicator may consist of graded, visual notches on the side of the applicator container  12 . The applicator container  12  includes a second end  15  that receives the applicator member  16 . The handle  20  of the applicator member  16  is breakably attached to the second end  15  of the applicator container  12 . 
     At least one of the base member  28 , the container  12 , the cap member  24 , or the applicator member  16  includes a nail filing element. For example, the bottom surface of the base member  28  may include a nail filing element. In one embodiment, the base member  28  is substantially circular. In another embodiment, the base member  28  is substantially hexagonal. 
     During use of the applicator assembly  10 , the user can manually crack or break the seal between the applicator container  12  and the applicator member  16 . This allows the user to remove the applicator member  16  from the applicator container  12 . The user is then free to insert the applicator member  16 , with the applicator element  18  end first, into the applicator container  12  to apply a desired amount of substance to the applicator element  18 . It may be desirable for the user to remove the applicator container  12  from the base member  28  to allow for easier application of the substance. 
     While various methods, configurations, and features of the present invention have been described above and shown in the drawings, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that any combination of the above features can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is also recognized by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the above described methods and embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof.