Patent Publication Number: US-2023140417-A1

Title: Applicator

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/272,716, filed Oct. 28, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to systems and methods for application of liquid, semi-liquid, solid and/or gaseous products to an object, and in particular is directed to an applicator that operates to deliver such products for medical and/or cosmetic purposes, for example. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional applicators, such as those used for application of cosmetics, do not have a compact and unitary structure that is able to both store a liquid product and deliver the liquid product to an object. For example, many conventional applicators have a container portion and an applicator portion, and in use the two portions must be separated so that the applicator portion can be inserted into the container portion to draw in the liquid product and then used to apply the liquid product. This construction also makes it difficult to control the amount of liquid product being delivered to the applicator portion since there is no mechanism to control the delivery. This often results in too much product being drawn into the applicator portion for a particular use, resulting in waste of the product over time. 
     Further, since conventional applicators are not able to store a liquid product, liquid products that are intended to be applied together as a mixture but need to be kept separate until application cannot be applied using a single applicator. Instead, two separate applicators often need to be used to deliver corresponding liquid products, which then would need to be mixed separate from the applicators, either on the target object or in a separate container, for example. 
     There is a need for improved systems and methods for application of products. 
     SUMMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An applicator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a main body comprising at least one compartment in which is stored at least one product, the product being liquid, semi-liquid, solid and/or gaseous; at least one applicator portion configured to deliver the at least one product to an object; and at least one activation mechanism configured to release the at least one product from the at least one compartment for delivery by the at least one applicator. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one compartment comprises at least two compartments. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one product comprises at least two products, and each one of the at least two products is stored in a corresponding one of the at least two compartments. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one activation mechanism comprises at least two activation mechanisms, and each one of the at least two activation mechanisms is configured to release a corresponding one of the at least two products from a corresponding one of the at least two compartments. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one applicator portion comprises at least two applicator portions, and each one of the at least two applicator portions is configured to deliver a corresponding one of the at least two products to the object. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least two applicator portions differ from one another in construction. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least two applicator portions have the same construction. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the applicator further comprises an additional activation mechanism configured to mix the at least two liquid or semi-liquid products. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one compartment comprises a seal. 
     In an exemplary embodiment actuation of the at least one activation mechanism results in breakage of the seal. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one activation mechanism comprises a button, a lever, a switch, or a rotating element. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one applicator portion comprises a brush, a sponge, a valve, or a squeeze applicator. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the applicator further comprises a battery that powers a pressure device configured to move the at least one product from the at least one container to the at least one applicator portion. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the pressure device comprises a pump. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the pump is an electric pump. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the pump is a manually operated pump. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one applicator portion is a pressurized dispenser. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one applicator portion is configured to deliver the at least one product in aerosol form. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the at least one applicator portion is configured to deliver the at least one product in a specific direction. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the applicator is disposable. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the applicator is recyclable and/or reusable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with references to the accompanying figures, wherein: 
         FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  are perspective views of an applicator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are perspective views of an applicator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are cross-sectional views showing operation of an applicator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  are cross-sectional views showing operation of an applicator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1 A  is a perspective view of an applicator, generally designated by reference number  1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The applicator  1  has an elongated main body  10 , with applicator portions  12 ,  14  disposed at each end of the main body  10 . Separate activation mechanisms  16 ,  20  may be provided on the main body  10  corresponding to each of the applicator portions  12 ,  14 . In exemplary embodiments, the activation mechanisms  16 ,  20  may be, for example, buttons, levers, switches or rotating elements, to name a few. As explained further below, actuation of the activation mechanisms  16 ,  20  results in delivery of a liquid or semi-liquid product to the applicator portions  12 ,  14 . In exemplary embodiments, activation of the applicator  1  may be done manually (e.g., by a user squeezing the activator  1 ) or automatically (e.g., by a user pressing a button or some other activating mechanism). 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate operation of the activation mechanisms  16 ,  20  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Two (or more) different types of liquids or semi-liquids  30 ,  40  (or potentially powders, gases and/or other solid substances inclusive of solids) may be stored within corresponding compartments within the main body  10 . The compartments may be separated by a barrier  50 , and each compartment may be bound by a corresponding seal  32 ,  42 . In this example, the activation mechanisms  16 ,  20  are buttons disposed on the sides of the applicator  1  and operatively connected to corresponding camming elements  17 ,  21 , which in turn are in sliding contact with corresponding pins or rods  19 ,  23 . The buttons  16 ,  20  may be biased outwards relative to the main body  10  by, for example, springs. The pins or rods  19 ,  23  (or other activating elements) are capable of movement in the Y-direction (referring to the reference frame in the lower right-hand corner of the drawing sheet). For example, the pins or rods  19 ,  23  may be slidably disposed within the applicator portions  12 ,  14 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 B , depression of the button  16  in the X-direction results in movement of the camming element  17  also in the X-direction, which in turn results in movement of the pin or rod  19  in the Y-direction into engagement with the seal  32 . The end portion of the pin or rod  19  that engages with the seal  32  preferably terminates in a sharpened point so that contact of the pin or rod  19  with the seal  32  results in puncturing of the seal  32 , which in turn allows the first liquid or semi-liquid  30  to freely move through the seal  32  and into contact with the applicator portion  12  where the first liquid or semi-liquid  30  may be delivered to an object. In the same way, the second liquid or semi-liquid  40  may be delivered through the seal  42  to the opposite applicator portion  14  through operation of the button  18 , camming element  21  and pin or rod  23 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the activation mechanisms  16 ,  20  may be configured to allow a gradual, immediate, and/or selective percent mixing of the two or more substances held within the applicator. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the activations mechanisms  16 ,  20  may be configured to puncture the two or more compartments, while one or more other activation mechanisms may be configured to regulate flow volume, mix percentages, flow direction, flow speed, and flow width. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator portions  12 ,  14  may have the same or differing construction. For example, as shown in  FIG.  1 B , the applicator portion  12  may include a brush, while the applicator portion  14  may include a sponge. This allows for two different types of liquid or semi-liquid products to be applied using the same applicator  1 , either at the same time or at different times. In general, the applicator portions  12 ,  14  may include any type of applicator mechanism, such as, for example, a brush, a sponge, a one-way valve, and a squeeze applicator, to name a few. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator portions  12 ,  14  may include reservoirs to temporarily hold and transport product from the compartments of the main body  10  to the applicator mechanisms. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator portions  12 ,  14  may be fixed or interchangeable with other types of applicator portions, and/or various types of applicator mechanisms may be located along the body of the applicator. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator portions  12 ,  14  may include various types of applicator mechanisms each configured to deliver different types of substances from the various compartments within the applicator. In this regard, in exemplary embodiments, each compartment may have an individual or a shared activation mechanism and/or applicator portion. 
       FIGS.  2 A  shows an applicator, generally designated by reference number  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As in the previously described embodiment, the applicator  100  includes a main body  110 , an applicator portion  112  and an activation mechanism  116 . The applicator  100  in this embodiment has only one applicator portion  112  so as to be more compact in size. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  illustrate operation of the activation mechanisms  116  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A liquid or semi-liquid  130  may be stored within a compartment within the main body  110 , with the compartment bound by a seal  132 . In this example, the activation mechanism  116  is a button disposed at a proximal end of the applicator  100 . The button  116  is operatively connected to a pin or rod  119 . The pin or rod  119  extends in the Y-direction through the compartment that holds the liquid  130 . The button  116  may be biased outwards relative to the main body  110  by, for example, a spring. The pin or rod  119  is capable of movement in the Y-direction (referring to the reference frame in the lower right-hand corner of the drawing sheet). 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , depression of the button  116  in the Y-direction results in movement of the pin or rod  119  in the Y-direction into engagement with the seal  132 . The end portion of the pin or rod  119  that engages with the seal  132  preferably terminates in a sharpened point so that contact of the pin or rod  119  with the seal  132  results in puncturing of the seal  132 , which in turn allows the liquid or semi-liquid  130  to freely move through the seal  132  and into contact with the applicator portion  112  where the liquid or semi-liquid  130  may be delivered to an object. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the pin or rod may have a screw conveyor design or other type of design to propel the contents out of the compartment of the main body. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the body of the applicator may be made of a flexible material (e.g., plastic) to allow for a user to squeeze the applicator to deliver its contents 
       FIG.  2 B  shows the same applicator  100  as that shown in  FIG.  2 A , except that the applicator portion  112  has been modified to be a brush. In general, the applicator portion  112  may include any type of applicator mechanism, such as, for example, a brush, a sponge, a one-way valve, and a squeeze applicator, to name a few. The applicator portion  112  may include a reservoir to temporarily hold and transport product from the compartment of the main body  110  to the applicator mechanism. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may contain a solution, such as, for example, a medication cream or hair coloring. The solution may be a semi-liquid (e.g., a liquid containing solid particles), viscous liquid or a free-flowing liquid. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may contain solid, powder and/or gaseous substances. 
     In exemplary embodiments, a user may activate the applicator by, for example, pushing on a button, twisting/pressing on the bottom of the applicator, or by activating some other type of mechanism. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may be electrically activated. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may be activated by release of compressed gas. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may be activated by a spring mechanism. 
     In exemplary embodiments, activation of the applicator results in breakage of a seal that releases the product. Some products, such as, for example, a hair coloring mixture, may be activated by the mixing of two or more components that are held in separate compartments within the applicator. This may be done by, for example, providing an activation mechanism that is actuated to break a barrier between the two compartments, resulting in mixture of the two components. A second activation mechanism may then be actuated to break a seal that allows the mixture to flow to the applicator portion. Alternatively, puncture of the barrier and seal may be performed using a single activation mechanism. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may include a battery that operates a pressure device to aid in movement of the liquid, solid or gaseous substance from its compartment to the applicator portion. The pressure device may be, for example, a pump (potentially allowing for delivery of a spray, for example). 
     In exemplary embodiments, because the applicator is compact in size and thus can be carried in a pocket, purse or briefcase, for example, the applicator may be used to administer a liquid product (e.g., coloring for a small area of hair or a medication cream or a tooth whitening substance) at any place or time (such as just prior to a meeting). 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may be disposable. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the applicator may be used by multiple specialties where a controlled release of a substance or medication is desired, particularly when such application is confined to a very small space (such as ENT, dermatology, dental, pediatrics, emergency medicine, radiation medicine, ob/gyn, radiology). 
     Now that embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon can become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. The spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly.