Patent ID: 6945723

Claim:
An application device comprising: a container having an internal space configured to contain product; product contained in the internal space of the container; an application element; a housing for housing the application element; and a permeable wall located between the housing and the internal space, wherein the application element and the housing are configured so that the application element, when in the housing, comprises at least one surface portion without appreciable axial compression, the at least one surface portion being opposite at least one opening in the permeable wall, wherein the internal space has a variable-volume, wherein the device is configured to reduce volume of the internal space from a first volume, greater than a volume of the product contained in the internal space, to a second volume, smaller than the first volume, wherein the reduction in volume is accompanied by an overpressure conducive to transferring product through the permeable wall towards the application element, and wherein before a first use of the device, the first volume of the internal space is greater than the volume of product.