Abstract:
An applicator apparatus includes a non-liquid composition of at least one of an underarm antiperspirant and an underarm deodorant. A barrel at least partially contains the composition. The apparatus includes means for progressively raising the composition through an outlet of the barrel including means for indicating a remaining amount of the composition.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to personal care. More particularly, the invention relates to applicators for underarm antiperspirant and/or deodorant.  
         [0002]     A well-developed art exists regarding dispenser/applicators for personal care products. One particular area involves applicators for solid or gel antiperspirant and/or deodorant compositions. Applicators for solid and gel compositions are typically thoroughly similar to each other, with a piston (platform) upwardly movable within a cylinder (barrel) to progressively drive the composition out the barrel upper end. Due to the relative lack of stiffness of many gels, dispensers for such gels commonly include foraminate screen-like applicator elements across the upper end of the barrel. Exemplary applicators are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,755, 6,435,748, and D331,534. U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,369 discloses incorporation of a usage indicator into the composition to provide warning that the applicator is nearly empty.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Accordingly, one aspect of the invention involves a personal care apparatus having a non-liquid composition of at least one of an underarm antiperspirant and an underarm deodorant. A barrel at least partially contains the composition. The apparatus includes means for progressively raising the composition through an outlet of the barrel. The means further includes means for indicating a remaining amount of the composition.  
         [0004]     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded view of an applicator apparatus.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a fully exploded view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a second applicator apparatus.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the second applicator apparatus. 
     
    
       [0009]     Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an applicator  20  having a barrel  22  and a cover  24  in a removed position off a barrel neck  26  (an installed position being over the neck). The barrel and cover may each be unitarily molded (e.g., of a plastic material). The barrel extends from a bottom (base) end  28  to an upper end formed by a rim  30 . A discardable undercap/seal  32  may be plugged into the neck and contain the composition (if required when filling the applicator). A foraminate applicator (not shown) may alternatively be secured across the barrel upper end for applying gel compositions. A platform  34  ( FIG. 2 ) supports the composition  35 .  
         [0011]     A tubular shaft  36  depends from the underside of the platform and may be unitarily formed therewith (e.g., of a molded plastic material). As is discussed in further detail below, a cover  38  or an equivalent plug may close the open lower end  40  of the shaft  36 . The shaft  36  passes through an aperture  42  in the barrel  22 . A distal portion of the shaft  36  thus protrudes beyond the aperture. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the shaft  36  has an essentially circular transverse cross-section and the aperture  42  is essentially complementary. The aperture  42  is at an intermediate position along the height of the barrel. The aperture is open to a recessed area  50  in the front face  52  of the barrel, leaving adjacent barrel portions at either side extending down to the bottom end  28 . The exemplary recess  50  is also open at the bottom end, permitting a user to engage the shaft (such as via pressing a finger against the bottom end of the cap  38 ) when the shaft distal end is in close proximity to the bottom end  28 .  
         [0012]     Along its exterior sidewall surface, the shaft  36  bears indicia including exemplary registration lines  60  and associated numbers  62 . Exemplary indicia  62  and  60  are molded-in-place and/or applied via painting or as a label/decal. Exemplary lines and numbers identify a percentage of the usable composition remaining in the applicator  20 . In operation, with the seal  32  removed, the user may press upward on the shaft  36  to progressively raise the platform toward the barrel upper end/rim  30  so as to discharge the composition  25 . As the barrel is raised, various of the registration lines may come into alignment with a corresponding registration feature on the barrel. One example of a corresponding registration feature is the aperture  42 . Another is a registration line  64  (e.g., molded-in-place and/or applied as a paint or applied as a label/decal). As more and more of the composition  25  is consumed, the shaft distal end and cap  38  will progressively move upward along the recess  50 . In the exemplary embodiment, the back/rear face  70  of the barrel is essentially continuous, lacking such a recess. However, a similar or different recess could be provided on that side.  
         [0013]     To assemble and fill the applicator, the platform is inserted downward through the barrel upper end to an essentially bottomed position with the shaft  36  passing through the aperture  42 . The seal  32  is then installed. In an inverted orientation, liquid composition material may be introduced through the shaft distal end  40 . The material is permitted to harden (e.g., via cooling from a previously-elevated temperature). During this process, the underside of the seal  32  forms a mold, shaping the top surface of the ultimate composition body. After solidification, the shaft end cap  38  may be installed. The cap  38  provides a smooth surface for contact by the user&#39;s finger. The cover  24  may then be installed. If not already applied, a label, decal, or paint may be applied to the barrel and/or cover  24  containing appropriate information including trademarks, instructions, an identification of antiperspirant and/or deodorant status, legal information, and the like.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show an alternate implementation of an applicator  100  having a barrel  102  and a cover  104  shown in an installed position on the barrel neck  106 . The barrel extends from a bottom end  108  to an upper end formed by a rim  110 . A foraminate applicator or a discardable seal is schematically shown as  112 . A platform  114  supports the composition  115 . A shaft  116  depends from the platform  114  and may be unitarily formed therewith. The exemplary shaft  116  is of a slightly rounded rectangular transverse section.  
         [0015]     The exemplary barrel  102  includes an aperture  120  extending along the front face  122  and bottom end  108 . Along the front face, the aperture  120  is vertically elongate extending downward from a rounded upper end  124 . The exemplary aperture  120  extends to a second end  126  ( FIG. 4 ) near a junction of the bottom end  108  and a rear face  128 . Alternatively, however, the aperture may extend along the rear face as it does on the front. However, by extending only along one of the faces, the chances for accidental movement of the platform during handling are reduced. In this implementation, the aperture  120  itself defines a recess between adjacent side portions of the barrel. The linear and numerical indicia  130  and  132  may be formed on the shaft and/or platform. The user may lift the platform by placing a finger against a plug  138  in a shaft lower end  140 .  
         [0016]     One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the principles may be applied in a redesigning/engineering of any of a variety of existing applicators or in the design/engineering of yet new applicators. The illustrated or similar combinations of registration features may be reversed (e.g., an array of linear indicia and percentages along the barrel, with a single registration feature formed on or as a portion of the platform, shaft, or associated movable component or part). Other forms of recesses may be provided. Barrels lacking the recesses and/or including transparent windows for viewing the indicia may be provided. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.