Patent ID: 7614811

Claim:
A dispensing applicator comprising a frangible applicator tip, said frangible applicator tip further comprising: (a) an attachment member permanently connected to a hand-held fluid source; (b) a substantially rigid tongue element extending outwardly from the attachment member into a fluid-absorbent member and wherein: (i) said rigid tongue element has side edges and a central portion and is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs located between said side edges and configured to resist deflection, at least two of said plurality of reinforcing ribs each being disposed along a respective one of the side edges and at least one additional rib being disposed along said center portion; (ii) said plurality of reinforcing ribs each being thicker than said rigid tongue element, said reinforcing ribs extending along said side edges each being thicker than the at least one reinforcing rib located next to said central portion (c) a frangible region between the support element and said substantially rigid tongue element whereby unintentional breaking of said frangible region is reduced by said plurality of reinforcing ribs while allowing partial fluid release proximate at least one aperture formed at a nexus with said frangible region.