Patent Publication Number: US-8534947-B2

Title: Disposable fluid applicator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fluid applicators, and more particularly, to a disposable fluid applicator that contains fluid and selectively dispenses said fluid. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Several designs for fluid applicators have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes a fluid reservoir that may be easily and safely opened without applying pressure to a frangible seal combined with a spreader and in a disposable format. 
     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,468 issued to Gruenbacher et. al. However, it differs from the present invention because the Gruenbacher device employs a frangible seal to open a reservoir and requires pressure to rupture the seal before use. When a user applies pressure to rupture the frangible seal and thus open said reservoir the rupture tends to be uncontrollable and creates the likelihood that more of the contents of the reservoir are dispensed when applying pressure to break the seal than desired. Similarly, because the reservoir seal is frangible the device must be protected from pressure before the device is used or the risk of unintended rupturing of the frangible seal remains. 
     Kerch et. al. discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,124 a liquid dispensing pouch that does not include a reservoir to contain the liquid being dispensed and therefore is limited in the amount of liquid that can be dispensed by the device to how much liquid can be absorbed in the absorbent layer. Furthermore, the Kerch design will not likely allow all of the fluid contained in the absorbent layer to be fully dispensed because some of the fluid will remain in the absorbent layer thereby reducing its efficiency. 
     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a device that efficiently and safely dispenses fluid in a controlled manner. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a device that is environmentally responsible yet is disposable. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device that avoids overspray, is hygienic, provides even coverage of the dispensed fluid, is easy to transport and is durable for storage and transport. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents a perspective view of an embodiment of the disposable fluid applicator. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disposable fluid applicator. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the disposable fluid applicator without the applicator assembly where the tab assembly is not removed from the reservoir assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a representation of a perspective view of an embodiment of the disposable fluid applicator without the applicator assembly where the tab assembly is partially removed from the reservoir assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section along cross section indicator lines shown in  FIG. 1  demonstrating the various layers of the several assemblies comprising the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present device is a disposable fluid applicator. The device is ideally suited for the application of fluids onto the human body, for example, lotion, cream, sunscreen, insect repellant, moisturizer, sanitizer, soap, beauty treatment, colorant or any other desirable foam, emulsion, gel, cream or fluid. The device is equally suited to dispense fluid for other applications, for example, polish, sanitizer, cleaner, cleanser, wood stain, automotive treatment or any other desirable gel, cream, chemical or other fluid. 
     Referring now to the drawings, where in  FIG. 1  the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10  (sometimes referred to as “the device”), it can be observed that it basically includes a tab assembly  12 , a applicator assembly  20  and a reservoir assembly  30 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2  where an exploded view of the invention is shown. It can be seen that the tab assembly  12  is further comprised of a grip  14  and a tape  16 . Said tape  16  having, inter alia, a surface  18  and a surface  19 . Said applicator assembly  20  is shown to be comprised of, inter alia, a spreader  22  and an edge  24 . said reservoir assembly  30  is shown to be comprised of, inter alia, a membrane  32 , a membrane  34 , perforations  36 , a seam  38  and a seal  40 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  said spreader  22  may be comprised of any of commonly used materials that is permeable by a fluid contained inside of the reservoir assembly. For many applications this could include a fibrous material, a porous synthetic or natural material, sponge, woven or knitted fabric, bristles or any other material known in the art to permit a fluid contained inside the reservoir assembly  30  to flow through the applicator assembly  20  so it can be spread on a surface with the applicator  22 . For example, if the fluid to be dispensed is sunscreen a non-woven fibrous material would be one of several suitable choices of material for the spreader  22 . In another example, if the fluid dispensed is to be a cleaning fluid, bristles may be one of several suitable selections for the spreader  22 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , said reservoir assembly  30  is formed from said membrane  32  on a first side and said membrane  34  on a second side. Membrane  32  and membrane  34  are joined together around the periphery of membrane  32  and membrane  34  at said seam  38  to form a generally hollow interior reservoir that contains a fluid to be dispensed. Said seam  38  may be formed by means of welding, adhesive, stitching, crimping or any other means commonly known in the art to create a leak-resistant seal between membrane  32  and membrane  34 . 
     In the embodiment demonstrated in  FIG. 2  said membrane  32  and said membrane  34  are both formed of a flexible and impermeable material, such as a synthetic polymer, foil, natural material or any suitable flexible and impermeable material known in the art. In an alternate embodiment, the membrane  34  may be made of a rigid or semi-rigid impermeable material. In any embodiment it is preferred to have at least either of membrane  32  or membrane  34  constructed of a flexible material to aid in the dispensation of a fluid contained in the reservoir assembly  30  by applying squeezing pressure by a users hand onto membrane  32  and membrane  34 . 
     Yet referring to  FIG. 2 , a multiplicity of perforations  36  are positioned on and penetrate through membrane  32 . Said perforations  36  are the conduit by which a fluid contained inside the reservoir assembly  30  exits the reservoir assembly  30  and passes into the applicator assembly  20 . The diameter of the perforations  36  are dimensioned to compliment the viscosity of fluid being dispensed by the device. For thicker fluids the perforations  36  are typically dimensioned larger than if a lower viscosity fluid was being dispensed by the device. 
     Similarly the quantity of perforations  36  may vary depending on the viscosity of the fluid dispensed as well as how quickly the fluid should be dispensed. For example, if the device is used for polishing furniture the reservoir assembly is filled with furniture polish with a relatively low viscosity and the invention is to be used on multiple pieces of furniture then the diameter of the perforations  36  and the quantity of the perforations  36  would both be reduced than if used with a higher viscosity fluid and/or a more rapid dispensation time period. Typically between one and one hundred perforations  36  that are between 0.5 mm and 25 mm are present on the membrane  32 . As would be appreciated by a practitioner of normal skill in the art, the quantity and diameter of the perforations  36  may vary depending on, inter alia, the viscosity of the fluid dispensed and for which type of application the disposable fluid dispenser  10  is being used. 
     The disposable fluid dispenser  10  is in a storage mode when all present perforations  36  are covered and sealed by said tab assembly  12 . Said surface  18  of the tab assembly  12 , in one embodiment, is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive that is permanently adhered to said surface  18  and is removably adhered to the surface of membrane  32  that faces said applicator assembly  20  effectively temporarily sealing all of said perforations  36 . The position of said perforations  36  are complimentary to the dimensions of said surface  18  of the tab assembly  12  to ensure that surface  18  covers each of the perforations  36 . 
     Now referring in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4  where for better understanding of the device  10  the applicator assembly  20  is not shown. For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  the device  10  functions better for most applications to have the applicator assembly  20  permanently affixed to the membrane  32  around the periphery of the edge  24  of the applicator assembly  20  except where the tab assembly  12  protrudes from the seam between the applicator assembly  20  and the reservoir assembly  30 . It is contemplated that for some uses of the device  10  that the applicator assembly  20  is not necessary for the functionality of the device. 
     Shown in  FIG. 3  is the storage mode of the device  10  where the tab assembly  12  fully covers said perforations  36  with surface  18  removably adhered to membrane  32 .  FIG. 4  demonstrates the position of the tab assembly  12  partially removed from the membrane  32  thereby unsealing the perforations  36 . When the tab assembly  20  is removed from the device  10  by a user and the perforations  36  are unsealed the fluid contained inside the reservoir assembly  30  is able to exit the reservoir assembly  30  through the perforations  36  and into the spreader  22  of the applicator assembly  20  where the fluid can be spread onto a desired surface. In at least one embodiment the spreader  22  is both porous and absorbent so that as the dispensed fluid is expelled the fluid is less likely to drip or otherwise deliver the fluid to an undesired surface due to the absorbent characteristics of the spreader  22 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , seal  40  on a first side is permanently affixed to membrane  32 . Seal  40  on its second side has an adhesive surface that is removably adhered to surface  18  of the tab assembly  12  when the device is in storage mode. When the grip  14  of the tab assembly  12  is pulled out and removed from between the applicator assembly  30  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) and the reservoir assembly  30  the second side of seal  40  is exposed to contact the applicator assembly  20  thereby completing the seal between the periphery of the applicator assembly  20  and the periphery of the reservoir assembly  32 . Thus, as the device  10  is used and the fluid contained in the reservoir assembly  30  is expelled through the perforations  36  the fluid cannot escape through the gap between the applicator assembly  20  and the reservoir assembly  30  where the tab assembly  12  was after it is removed from the device  10 . As disclosed above, the balance of the periphery of the spreader assembly  20  is permanently adhered to the reservoir assembly  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  where a cross section elevation of  FIG. 1  is shown. The tab assembly  12  is disposed between the applicator assembly and membrane  32  of the reservoir assembly  30 . The fluid to be dispensed by the device  10  is contained between membrane  32  and membrane  34 . When the tab assembly  12  is removed from between the applicator assembly  20  and the reservoir assembly  30  said fluid can exit the reservoir assembly  30  through the perforations  36  and flow into the spreader  22  of the applicator assembly  20  where the fluid can be applied to a target surface. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 5  is seal  40  permanently affixed to membrane  32 . A surface  19  on the tab assembly  12  is removably affixed to the seal  40 . When the device  10  is prepared for use the tab assembly  12  is removed from between the applicator assembly  20  and the membrane  32  thus allowing the seal  19  to be in contact with and affix itself to the applicator assembly  20  and complete the connection between the applicator assembly  20  and the membrane  32  and allowing the only egress for the fluid contained inside the reservoir assembly  30  to be through the perforations  36  in the membrane  32 . 
     In but one of several contemplated uses of the device  10  sunscreen lotion is fills the reservoir formed between membrane  32  and membrane  34 . With the tab assembly in place as shown in  FIG. 5  the device  10  is crush-resistant and leak-resistant and therefore can be stored and transported without special care. When a user of the device is desirous of applying the sunscreen lotion she pulls on grip  14  to remove the tab assembly  12  from between the applicator assembly  20  and reservoir assembly  30  and unseals the perforations  36 . The user then squeezes the reservoir assembly with their fingers allowing the suntan lotion to flow through the perforations  36  in the membrane  32 , into and through the spreader  22  where the fluid can be applied to the user&#39;s skin. 
     It would be appreciated to one reasonably skilled in the art that the device  10  not be necessarily in a disk shape as demonstrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively the device could be rectangular, triangular, oblong or any other shape that may contribute aesthetically or functionally to the overall usefulness of the device. 
     For example, the device  10  may be optimally triangular if the device  10  is used to apply a coating to the inside of a corner on a surface that the device  10  is applying fluid upon to allow for more complete coverage of the fluid being dispensed. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed a disposable fluid applicator comprising a tab assembly  12 , an applicator assembly  20  and a reservoir assembly  30 . Said reservoir assembly  30  having a reservoir formed by a first membrane  32  and a second membrane  34  sealed together around the periphery of said first membrane  32  and said second membrane  34 . Said first membrane  32  having a plurality of perforations  36 . Said second membrane  34  being impermeable. Said applicator assembly  20  being porous and/or absorbent and being affixed to said first membrane  32 . Said applicator assembly  20  covering said perforations. Said tab assembly  12  being disposed between said first membrane  32  and said applicator assembly  20 . Said tab assembly  12  sealing said perforations  36  in said first membrane  32 . Said tab assembly  12  being removable from between said first membrane  32  and said applicator assembly  20  thereby unsealing said perforations  36 . 
     In another variation of the invention the disposable fluid applicator  10  is further characterized in that a seal  40  is affixed to said first membrane  32  that is adhearable to said applicator assembly  20  when said tab assembly  12  is removed that substantially completes a seal between the periphery of said first membrane  32  and the periphery of said applicator assembly  20 . 
     In another variation of the invention the disposable fluid applicator is further characterized in that said applicator assembly  20  is formed of any one of a non-woven fibrous material, a fabric material, a sponge material or a porous synthetic material. 
     In another example, a more oval shape may be more aesthetically pleasing. Other shapes or various configurations may be suited to any of a variety of applications where a particular form may have advantages over the basic circular or oval shape shown in the drawings. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.