Patent Publication Number: US-4733784-A

Title: Container and applicator for fluids

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Potential users of cosmetic fluids such as nail polish do not want to purchase relatively large containers of fluids which may prove to be unsatisfactory after purchase. For example, a nail polish color as displayed on the container may appear to be satisfactory before actual use, but may be found to be unsatisfactory when the polish is actually applied to the nails. It is, of course, possible for a potential user to purchase the container and throw it away after one unsatisfactory application, but such action is obviously costly and undesirable. The same problem arises when purchases of cans of paint or other fluid materials are made. 
     A primary object of this invention is to provide a new type of small leakproof container and applicator of fluids which is inexpensive and can even be thrown away after use and which will enable a prospective user to test use a small quantity of fluid before deciding whether or not to purchase a larger container of fluid. For example, when the fluid is nail polish, a new type container may contain only enough polish to enable the user to test a single coat on all ten nails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A container and applicator, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, utilizes a small plastic container having a hollow interior chamber adapted to store the desired fluid. The container has upper and lower ends. A downwardly disposed bowl shaped member is disposed in the upper end. The member has an exposed upper surface and has an opening in the bottom which flares outwardly as it extends downwardly through the member into the chamber. 
     A vertical prong shaped plastic element is secured at its lower end to the upper surface of the member in the region of the opening to seal the opening in a leak proof manner. The element extends upwardly out of the member and has a vertical bore that extends upwardly from the lower end of the element to a point intermediate the ends thereof. The element when manually pivoted about the opening breaks away from the container and at the same time breaks the seal and exposes the opening. The element can then be removed from the container. 
     Vertical bristles are secured in the bore and extend downwardly out of the element and through the opening into the chamber. When the element is broken away from the recess, the element with the bristles can be removed from the container and the element can be used as a handle to repeatedly dip the bristles in the fluid to charge the bristles with fluid for repeated application as desired by a user. 
     The plastic used must have the characteristic brittleness which will enable the element to be broken away from the container by the manual pivotal action previously described and must be chemically inert with respect to the fluid fill. 
     This container and applicator will not leak before the element is broken away from the container and can be stored with the fluid therein for months before use. Once the element has been broken away from the the container and the seal has been broken to expose the opening in the upper end of the container, the fluid must be used immediately because it may deteriorate with exposure to air and, in any event, the opening cannot be resealed with the element so the container may leak. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will either be explained or will become apparent to those skilled in the art when this specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention prior to use. 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the manual pivoting action which frees the element from the container. 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the embodiment ready for use. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 7 is a detail cross sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, there is shown a hollow vertical plastic container 10 which flares somewhat outwardly and downwardly from the upper end 12 to the lower end 14. The upper end has secured therein a downwardly extending bowl shaped member 16 with a centrally disposed bottom opening 18 which extends downwardly through the member 16 and into the hollow interior of the container. The inner periphery of the top of the recess can have an inwardly projecting lip 30. Opening 18 has an outwardly and downwardly flaring chamfer of about forty five degrees. The lower end 14 is open and is sealed closed by a snap fitting plastic disc 20. 
     A vertical prong shaped vertical plastic element 22 is secured at its lower end in the recess and seals off the opening in an air-tight and liquid-tight seal. Element 22 has a vertical bore 24 which extends upwardly from its lower end to a point intermediate its ends but closer to the lower end than to the upper end. Vertical bristles 26 are secured in the bore and extend downwardly into the interior of the container. 
     The element, when manually pivoted about its lower end will break away from the container and expose the opening. The plastic used should be stiff and should be brittle enough to enable the breaking action to take place. A plastic known by the tradename BEREX can be used for this purpose. 
     In use, the element with its bore and the container without disc 20 is molded as a single integral unit. The bristles are inserted via the open end of the container. The container is then inverted and filled with fluid 28. The disc 20 is then snap fitted into position and then is sonically welded in place. The chamber is then leak proof. 
     Any suitable fluid 28 such as nail polish or other material can be used and applied in the manner previously described. Excess fluid can be wiped off the bristles by moving the bristles over the lip 30. The material cannot react chemically with the plastic used. Chemically inert plastics of the type described are well known. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numberous modifications thereof can be made without departing from the invention as defined by the scope of the claims that follow.