Patent ID: 8342765

Claim:
A liquid applicator comprising: (a) a hollow body portion incorporating (i) a reservoir portion for containing a liquid to be applied by the applicator, and (ii) an outlet portion having first and second ends, the first end being connected to an outlet mouth of the reservoir, (b) an applicator tip assembly provided on the second end of the outlet portion for discharge of liquid from the reservoir portion via said outlet portion, (c) a plug located in the mouth of the reservoir portion, said plug and mouth being configured so that the plug is moveable towards the applicator tip assembly from a first position at which it seals the reservoir portion to a second position at which fluid may follow out of the reservoir portion, wherein the inner surface of the outlet portion is formed with at least one channel that extends from the first end of the outlet portion towards the second end and wherein the plug has a head that is a sliding fit on the inner surface of the outlet portion and a shank with a first portion that sealingly locates within the mouth of the reservoir portion, the arrangement being such that movement of the plug from the first to the second position allows fluid to flow from the reservoir portion through said at least one channel to the applicator device, (d) an actuator for applying an actuating force to a wall of the outlet mouth to effect movement of the plug towards the outlet mouth, and for squeezing the walls of the reservoir portion to effect discharge of liquid from the reservoir portion via the outlet mouth and the applicator device, (e) and further wherein the end of the head of the plug nearest the applicator tip assembly has constellations to divert flow of liquid from along the channels inwardly towards the centre of the outlet portion for subsequent discharge via the applicator tip assembly.