CA2474368A1 - Stackable cleaner - Google Patents
Stackable cleaner Download PDFInfo
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- CA2474368A1 CA2474368A1 CA 2474368 CA2474368A CA2474368A1 CA 2474368 A1 CA2474368 A1 CA 2474368A1 CA 2474368 CA2474368 CA 2474368 CA 2474368 A CA2474368 A CA 2474368A CA 2474368 A1 CA2474368 A1 CA 2474368A1
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- applicator
- cap
- wall
- skirt
- side wall
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Abstract
A stackable cleaner or product applicator is described in which a rigid applicator body has a downwardly opening compartment surrounded by a skirt and an upper compartment surrounded by an upwardly extending wall, the upper compartment containing a foam body and fluid or gel and being closed by means of a removable top wall fixed to the top periphery of the upwardly extending wall. The removable top has a tab to aid opening.
The downwardly extending skirt is sized to accept the upwardly extending wall of an identical unit whereby multiple units may be stacked in a nested configuration. A cap is provided to cover the top of the uppermost cleaner in a stack. The cap has an opening adapted to engage the removable top tab and act as a lever for easy opening.
The downwardly extending skirt is sized to accept the upwardly extending wall of an identical unit whereby multiple units may be stacked in a nested configuration. A cap is provided to cover the top of the uppermost cleaner in a stack. The cap has an opening adapted to engage the removable top tab and act as a lever for easy opening.
Description
'i ' w .., y, ' . ..a STACKABLE CLEANER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a combined disposable rigid container and cleaner.
More particularly the invention relates to a rigid stackable package including a sealed upper compartment containing a sponge and a quantity of cleaning fluid and a lower compartment surrounded by a skirt accepting the upper compartment of an identical unit whereby multiple units can be stacked into a retail product.
Consumers encounter surfaces they wish to clean on a regular basis. This is especially true when a person is traveling, not at home or away from home.
Toilet seats in public restrooms are prime examples. However, other surfaces upon which one sits or places valuable or delicate possessions also fall into this category. One can wipe such surfaces with a tissue but such a procedure is not always satisfactory. Even if one wets a tissue or paper towel and applies soap or another cleaning agent, one is still doing less than optimal cleaning and is likely to get dirt on one's hand from the tissue or paper towel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a relatively rigid applicator body having a horizontal base wall, a downwardly extending skirt, an upwardly extending side wall and a top wall.
The horizontal base wall, the upwardly extending side wall and the top wall define an upper compartment. A compressible foam body sized to extend beyond the upper compartment in a relaxed state is sealed into the upper compartment along with a quantity of cleaning fluid. In one embodiment, the top wall is a sealing film. The sealing film is a sheet sealed around the entire periphery of the upper compartment and has a tab extending beyond the upper compartment periphery allowing the user to remove the seal when desired.
Several of these identical units are stacked and a cap placed over the top unit forming a retail product. The omc0001241 VOOl.doc . ' (i...
applicator bodies have two long sides and shorter ends with the long sides being gently curved and parallel to one another providing an overall shape for the finished product which is easily carried in a pocket, purse or brief case.
In accordance with the present invention, the applicator body of the product is fabricated from rigid plastic material.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, the foam body contained in the applicator rigid body has a width dimension slightly greater than the width dimension of the compartment in which it is contained whereby a slight interference fit is created.
Still further in accordance with the invention, the foam body is cut from a sheet material giving the foam body blanks a generally rectangular, flat, shape.
Yet further in accordance with the invention, the upwardly extending side wall surrounding the upper compartment has a shoulder at one end creating a contained volume when mated with the skirt of a mating unit, said volume accommodating the tab of the sealing film.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a cleaner or applicator product comprising an applicator pad or sponge sealed within a rigid applicator body which can be easily and safely stored, easily opened and in which the applicator body functions as a rigid handle for the sponge in use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined container and cleaner allowing one to use the applicator product to clean a surface without touching the surface or the pad or sponge during this operation.
It still a further object of the present invention to provide a applicator body which is rigid, durable, not subject to puncture or failure by compression, pleasing in appearance, easy to open, water tight and stackable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a combined disposable rigid container and cleaner.
More particularly the invention relates to a rigid stackable package including a sealed upper compartment containing a sponge and a quantity of cleaning fluid and a lower compartment surrounded by a skirt accepting the upper compartment of an identical unit whereby multiple units can be stacked into a retail product.
Consumers encounter surfaces they wish to clean on a regular basis. This is especially true when a person is traveling, not at home or away from home.
Toilet seats in public restrooms are prime examples. However, other surfaces upon which one sits or places valuable or delicate possessions also fall into this category. One can wipe such surfaces with a tissue but such a procedure is not always satisfactory. Even if one wets a tissue or paper towel and applies soap or another cleaning agent, one is still doing less than optimal cleaning and is likely to get dirt on one's hand from the tissue or paper towel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a relatively rigid applicator body having a horizontal base wall, a downwardly extending skirt, an upwardly extending side wall and a top wall.
The horizontal base wall, the upwardly extending side wall and the top wall define an upper compartment. A compressible foam body sized to extend beyond the upper compartment in a relaxed state is sealed into the upper compartment along with a quantity of cleaning fluid. In one embodiment, the top wall is a sealing film. The sealing film is a sheet sealed around the entire periphery of the upper compartment and has a tab extending beyond the upper compartment periphery allowing the user to remove the seal when desired.
Several of these identical units are stacked and a cap placed over the top unit forming a retail product. The omc0001241 VOOl.doc . ' (i...
applicator bodies have two long sides and shorter ends with the long sides being gently curved and parallel to one another providing an overall shape for the finished product which is easily carried in a pocket, purse or brief case.
In accordance with the present invention, the applicator body of the product is fabricated from rigid plastic material.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, the foam body contained in the applicator rigid body has a width dimension slightly greater than the width dimension of the compartment in which it is contained whereby a slight interference fit is created.
Still further in accordance with the invention, the foam body is cut from a sheet material giving the foam body blanks a generally rectangular, flat, shape.
Yet further in accordance with the invention, the upwardly extending side wall surrounding the upper compartment has a shoulder at one end creating a contained volume when mated with the skirt of a mating unit, said volume accommodating the tab of the sealing film.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a cleaner or applicator product comprising an applicator pad or sponge sealed within a rigid applicator body which can be easily and safely stored, easily opened and in which the applicator body functions as a rigid handle for the sponge in use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined container and cleaner allowing one to use the applicator product to clean a surface without touching the surface or the pad or sponge during this operation.
It still a further object of the present invention to provide a applicator body which is rigid, durable, not subject to puncture or failure by compression, pleasing in appearance, easy to open, water tight and stackable.
emc0001241 VOOl.doc ~-~ , I
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleansing tool which is easy to open.
It still another object of the present invention to provide a cleaner which is economical to manufacture, pleasing in appearance, easy to carry and easy to use.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a stackable applicator or cleaner in accordance with the present invention in the ready to use configuration;
FIGURE 2 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is .a side view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURES 1 and 2;
FIGURE 4 is cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 1-3 taken along line 4-4 of figure 1;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 1-4;
FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of figures 1-5 in the sealed configuration with the sponge restrained by a sealing film;
FIGURE 7 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner in the sealed configuration taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner seen in figures 1-9 in the sealed configuration;
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleansing tool which is easy to open.
It still another object of the present invention to provide a cleaner which is economical to manufacture, pleasing in appearance, easy to carry and easy to use.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a stackable applicator or cleaner in accordance with the present invention in the ready to use configuration;
FIGURE 2 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is .a side view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURES 1 and 2;
FIGURE 4 is cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 1-3 taken along line 4-4 of figure 1;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 1-4;
FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of figures 1-5 in the sealed configuration with the sponge restrained by a sealing film;
FIGURE 7 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner in the sealed configuration taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner seen in figures 1-9 in the sealed configuration;
emc0001241 VOO l .doc FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of a stack of applicator or cleaner as seen in figures 1-10 with a cap;
FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the stack of figure 11;
FIGURE 13 is a cross-section of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figure 11 taken along line 11-11;
FIGURE 14 is a bottom view of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figures 11-13;
FIGURE 1 S is a top view of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figures 11-14;
FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figures 11-15;
FIGURE 17 is a front elevational view of a stackable applicator or cleaner in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in the ready to use configuration;
FIGURE 18 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURE 17;
FIGURE 19 is a side view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURES 17 and 18;
FIGURE 20 is cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 17-19 taken along line 20-20 of figure 17;
FIGURE 21 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 17-21;
FIGURE 22 is a front elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of figures 17-20 in the sealed configuration with the sponge restrained by a top;
FIGURE 23 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of Fig. 17 in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 24 is a side elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of Fig. 17 emc0001241 VOO l .doc in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 25 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner of Fig. 17 in the sealed configuration taken along line 25-25 of FIGURE 22;
FIGURE 26 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner seen in Figures 17-25 in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 27 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIGURE 26 showing the components of the applicator or cleaner in Figures 17-26;
FIGURE 28 is an enlarged detail view of the top of the sidewall, the top and the tab of the applicator or cleaner seen in Figures 17-27;
FIGURE 29 is a front elevational view of a stack of applicators or cleaners as seen in figures 17-28 with a cap;
FIGURE 30 is a side elevational view of the stack of figure 29;
FIGURE 31 is a cross-section of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figure 29 taken along line 31-31;
FIGURE 32 is a bottom view of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figures 29-31;
FIGURE 33 is a top view of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figures 29-32;
FIGURE 34 is a perspective view of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figures 29-33;
FIGURE 35 is a perspective view of a stackable applicator or cleaner in accordance with another embodiment of the invention in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 36 is a side elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner as seen in FIGURE 35;
FIGURE 37 is a cross sectional view of the tab and a portion of the applicator as seen emc0001241 VOOl.doc in FIGURE 3 6;
FIGURE 38 is a perspective view of a cap used with the applicator or cleaner seen in FIGURES 35-37;
FIGURE 39 is a side elevational view of the cap of FIGURE 38;
FIGURE 40 is a top view of the cap seen in FIGURES 38-39; and, FIGURE 41 is a cross section of the cap seen in FIGURE 39.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purposes of limiting same, figure 1 shows a cleaner or applicator unit 10 in accordance with the invention. The applicator unit 10 comprises a applicator rigid body 12, a foam body 14 and a quantity of fluid 16 absorbed in the foam body 14. Alternatively, the fluid 16 can be a gel or paste for use in cleaning or other applications such as polishing. Referring now to figure 4, the applicator rigid body 12 comprises a horizontal wall 20, a skirt 22 extending downwardly from the horizontal wall 20 and surrounding a lower compartment 24, and an upwardly extending wall 26 surrounding an upper compartment 28 in which the foam body 14 is partially disposed. As can be seen in figure 2, the rigid body 12 has a slightly concave front 32, a slightly convex back 34, an arcuate left end 36 and an arcuate right end 38. The front 32 and back 34 are generally parallel to one another. The applicator rigid body 12 is slightly greater than 2.5 inches wide from the left end 36 to the right end 38 and approximately one half inch deep from the outside of the front 32 to the back 34. The overall depth dimension is somewhat greater than one half inch because the front wall and back wall are both curved.
The skirt 22 has a generally uniform profile extending uniformly across the front 32, the back 34, the left end 36 and the right end 38 of the applicator rigid body 12. The skirt profile is a emc0001241V001.doc generally planar downwardly extending wall with a slight amount of draft to the accommodate the manufacturing process, injection molding. Five bumps 42 prohude from the outer surface of the front of the skirt near its bottom center. Similarly, five bumps 44 protrude from the outer surface of the center of the back 34 near its bottom.
The bumps 42, 44 are tactile cues easing gripping of the applicator rigid body 12 by a user.
The upwardly extending wall 26 has a generally uniform profile across the front 32, around the left end 36 and across the back 34. The profile of the upwardly extending wall is that of a wall having two generally planar sides slightly tapering toward one another in the upward direction to accommodate the injection molding process. Three vertically orientated ridges 46 are provided near the bottom of the center of the front of the outside surface of the upwardly extending wall. Similarly, three ridges 48 are provided on the outer lower surface of the back of the upwardly extending wall 26.
The right end of the upwardly extending wall 26 has a profile differing from the remaining portions of the upwardly extending wall 26. The right end profile has a short bottom portion 52 extending generally vertically, an inwardly extending sloped shoulder portion 54 and an upper vertically extending portion 56.
An upwardly extending ridge 50 is provided at the lower extremity of the outside surface of the left end of the upwardly extending wall 26. An identical ridge S I is provided on the bottom of the right shoulder 52. The top edge 58 of the upwardly extending wall 26 is flat and smooth around its entire periphery.
The foam body 14 conforms to the shape of the upper compartment 28.
Preferably, the foam body 14 is a rectangular piece of foam or sponge cut from sheet material. In the preferred embodiment, the sheet material is approximately a quarter of an inch thick, slightly thicker than the width of the upper compartment 28. The foam body 14 is placed in the upper emc0001241 VOOl.doc compartment 28 and, preferably, is adhered to the top of the horizontal wall 20. As can be seen in figures 1-5, and 17 when the foam body I4 uncompressed, it extends beyond the top edge 58 of the applicator rigid body 12. In this configuration, a consumer can grasp the applicator rigid body 12 and use it to clean a surface by rubbing the portion of the foam body 14 extending from the upper compartment 28 over the surface. The fluid I6 or gel, which is preferably an isopropanol solution, cleans the surface in question.
Prior to use, the foam body is retained completely within the upper compartrnent 28.
Referring now to figures 6-10, the cleaner or applicator 10 is shown in the sealed configuration. A top wall, in this embodiment, a sealing film 60, extends over the top of the upper compartment 28 of the applicator rigid body 12. The sealing film 60 is sealed to the top edge 58 of the upwardly extending wall 26. While the sealing film 60 can be fixed to the top edge 58 by any suitable means, it is preferred to heat seal the sealing film 60 to the top edge 58. Heat sealing materials and techniques are well known in the industry and widely used on food containers (e.g. yogurt containers) and are readily available in commerce. The sealing film 60 has a closure portion 62 and a tab 64. The closure portion 62 is identical in shape to the top edge 58.of the upwardly extending wall 26 surrounding the upper compartment 28. The tab 64 extends outwardly from the closure portion 62 at the right end 38 of the applicator 12. The tab 64 is bent downwardly and lays along the right end 38 of the upwardly extending wall 26. As can be seen in figure 6, because the right end of the upwardly extending wall 26 includes a shoulder portion 54, there is room for the tab 64.
Referring now to figure 9, one sees that the upper compartment 28 is surrounded by the horizontal wall 20, the upwardly extending wall 26 and the sealing film 60 creating a hermetically sealed compartment. The foam body 14 and a fluid 16 or gel are contained within the sealed upper comparhnent 28. The fluid or gel 16 can not evaporate.
FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the stack of figure 11;
FIGURE 13 is a cross-section of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figure 11 taken along line 11-11;
FIGURE 14 is a bottom view of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figures 11-13;
FIGURE 1 S is a top view of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figures 11-14;
FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the stack of applicator or cleaner seen in figures 11-15;
FIGURE 17 is a front elevational view of a stackable applicator or cleaner in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in the ready to use configuration;
FIGURE 18 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURE 17;
FIGURE 19 is a side view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of FIGURES 17 and 18;
FIGURE 20 is cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 17-19 taken along line 20-20 of figure 17;
FIGURE 21 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner of figures 17-21;
FIGURE 22 is a front elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of figures 17-20 in the sealed configuration with the sponge restrained by a top;
FIGURE 23 is a top view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of Fig. 17 in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 24 is a side elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner of Fig. 17 emc0001241 VOO l .doc in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 25 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator or cleaner of Fig. 17 in the sealed configuration taken along line 25-25 of FIGURE 22;
FIGURE 26 is a perspective view of the applicator or cleaner seen in Figures 17-25 in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 27 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIGURE 26 showing the components of the applicator or cleaner in Figures 17-26;
FIGURE 28 is an enlarged detail view of the top of the sidewall, the top and the tab of the applicator or cleaner seen in Figures 17-27;
FIGURE 29 is a front elevational view of a stack of applicators or cleaners as seen in figures 17-28 with a cap;
FIGURE 30 is a side elevational view of the stack of figure 29;
FIGURE 31 is a cross-section of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figure 29 taken along line 31-31;
FIGURE 32 is a bottom view of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figures 29-31;
FIGURE 33 is a top view of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figures 29-32;
FIGURE 34 is a perspective view of the stack of applicators or cleaners seen in figures 29-33;
FIGURE 35 is a perspective view of a stackable applicator or cleaner in accordance with another embodiment of the invention in the sealed configuration;
FIGURE 36 is a side elevational view of the stackable applicator or cleaner as seen in FIGURE 35;
FIGURE 37 is a cross sectional view of the tab and a portion of the applicator as seen emc0001241 VOOl.doc in FIGURE 3 6;
FIGURE 38 is a perspective view of a cap used with the applicator or cleaner seen in FIGURES 35-37;
FIGURE 39 is a side elevational view of the cap of FIGURE 38;
FIGURE 40 is a top view of the cap seen in FIGURES 38-39; and, FIGURE 41 is a cross section of the cap seen in FIGURE 39.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purposes of limiting same, figure 1 shows a cleaner or applicator unit 10 in accordance with the invention. The applicator unit 10 comprises a applicator rigid body 12, a foam body 14 and a quantity of fluid 16 absorbed in the foam body 14. Alternatively, the fluid 16 can be a gel or paste for use in cleaning or other applications such as polishing. Referring now to figure 4, the applicator rigid body 12 comprises a horizontal wall 20, a skirt 22 extending downwardly from the horizontal wall 20 and surrounding a lower compartment 24, and an upwardly extending wall 26 surrounding an upper compartment 28 in which the foam body 14 is partially disposed. As can be seen in figure 2, the rigid body 12 has a slightly concave front 32, a slightly convex back 34, an arcuate left end 36 and an arcuate right end 38. The front 32 and back 34 are generally parallel to one another. The applicator rigid body 12 is slightly greater than 2.5 inches wide from the left end 36 to the right end 38 and approximately one half inch deep from the outside of the front 32 to the back 34. The overall depth dimension is somewhat greater than one half inch because the front wall and back wall are both curved.
The skirt 22 has a generally uniform profile extending uniformly across the front 32, the back 34, the left end 36 and the right end 38 of the applicator rigid body 12. The skirt profile is a emc0001241V001.doc generally planar downwardly extending wall with a slight amount of draft to the accommodate the manufacturing process, injection molding. Five bumps 42 prohude from the outer surface of the front of the skirt near its bottom center. Similarly, five bumps 44 protrude from the outer surface of the center of the back 34 near its bottom.
The bumps 42, 44 are tactile cues easing gripping of the applicator rigid body 12 by a user.
The upwardly extending wall 26 has a generally uniform profile across the front 32, around the left end 36 and across the back 34. The profile of the upwardly extending wall is that of a wall having two generally planar sides slightly tapering toward one another in the upward direction to accommodate the injection molding process. Three vertically orientated ridges 46 are provided near the bottom of the center of the front of the outside surface of the upwardly extending wall. Similarly, three ridges 48 are provided on the outer lower surface of the back of the upwardly extending wall 26.
The right end of the upwardly extending wall 26 has a profile differing from the remaining portions of the upwardly extending wall 26. The right end profile has a short bottom portion 52 extending generally vertically, an inwardly extending sloped shoulder portion 54 and an upper vertically extending portion 56.
An upwardly extending ridge 50 is provided at the lower extremity of the outside surface of the left end of the upwardly extending wall 26. An identical ridge S I is provided on the bottom of the right shoulder 52. The top edge 58 of the upwardly extending wall 26 is flat and smooth around its entire periphery.
The foam body 14 conforms to the shape of the upper compartment 28.
Preferably, the foam body 14 is a rectangular piece of foam or sponge cut from sheet material. In the preferred embodiment, the sheet material is approximately a quarter of an inch thick, slightly thicker than the width of the upper compartment 28. The foam body 14 is placed in the upper emc0001241 VOOl.doc compartment 28 and, preferably, is adhered to the top of the horizontal wall 20. As can be seen in figures 1-5, and 17 when the foam body I4 uncompressed, it extends beyond the top edge 58 of the applicator rigid body 12. In this configuration, a consumer can grasp the applicator rigid body 12 and use it to clean a surface by rubbing the portion of the foam body 14 extending from the upper compartment 28 over the surface. The fluid I6 or gel, which is preferably an isopropanol solution, cleans the surface in question.
Prior to use, the foam body is retained completely within the upper compartrnent 28.
Referring now to figures 6-10, the cleaner or applicator 10 is shown in the sealed configuration. A top wall, in this embodiment, a sealing film 60, extends over the top of the upper compartment 28 of the applicator rigid body 12. The sealing film 60 is sealed to the top edge 58 of the upwardly extending wall 26. While the sealing film 60 can be fixed to the top edge 58 by any suitable means, it is preferred to heat seal the sealing film 60 to the top edge 58. Heat sealing materials and techniques are well known in the industry and widely used on food containers (e.g. yogurt containers) and are readily available in commerce. The sealing film 60 has a closure portion 62 and a tab 64. The closure portion 62 is identical in shape to the top edge 58.of the upwardly extending wall 26 surrounding the upper compartment 28. The tab 64 extends outwardly from the closure portion 62 at the right end 38 of the applicator 12. The tab 64 is bent downwardly and lays along the right end 38 of the upwardly extending wall 26. As can be seen in figure 6, because the right end of the upwardly extending wall 26 includes a shoulder portion 54, there is room for the tab 64.
Referring now to figure 9, one sees that the upper compartment 28 is surrounded by the horizontal wall 20, the upwardly extending wall 26 and the sealing film 60 creating a hermetically sealed compartment. The foam body 14 and a fluid 16 or gel are contained within the sealed upper comparhnent 28. The fluid or gel 16 can not evaporate.
emc0001241 VOOl.doc {.. , ' ,.
A plug or stopper can be used in place of the sealing film 60. The stopper, not shown, has a flat, horizontal surface having a shape identical to the inner edge of the upwardly extending wall 2b plus a tab extending above the shoulder 54. A stopper skirt extends downwardly from the stepper horizontal surface and engages the inside of the upwardly extending wall 26. A horizontal ridge extends around the periphery of the skirt and engages a mating recess in the inside surface of the upwardly extending wall 126, holding the stopper in place. The upper compartment is opened by grasping the tab and removing the stopper. The stopper is, in effect, a removable top wall just as the film 60 is a removable top wall.
Referring now to figures 11-13, a stack of four identical cleaners or applicators 10a, l Ob, l Oc, lOd in the sealed condition is illustrated. The stack of cleaners is shown in cross section in figure 13. It can be seen that the upwardly extending wall 26 of the lowest unit extends into and is surrounded by the downwardly extending skirt 22 of the next higher unit.
This is true for each of the units save the topmost unit. For the topmost unit, the upwardly extending wall 26 is contained within a cap 70. The cap 70 comprises a horizontal wall 72 and a downwardly extending skirt, 74. The horizontal wall 72 is identical to the horizontal wall 20 of the applicator body 12. The skirt 74 is identical to the skirt 22 of the applicator body 12. Thus, the upwardly extending wall 26 of the top most unit lOd extends into and is surrounded by the skirt 74 of the cap 70. In this nested configuration, the ridges 46, 48, 50, 51 on the outside of the upwardly extending wall 26 wedge against the inner surface of the skirt 22 of the next higher unit holding the ensemble together.
As can be seen in figures 1, 6, and 11, the bottom edge 80 of the skirt 22 is not straight and flat. Rather, the bottom edge of the left end and right end of the skirt 22 are flat and the bottom edge of the front and back of the skirt are slightly concave.
This shape is matched by the top edge 82 of the skirt so that adjacent applicators 10a, IOb, lOc and lOd emc0001241 VOOI .doc mate together with an aesthetically pleasing close edge and a centxal curve.
The assembled mufti-unit stack of applicator or cleaner units l0a-lOd with the cap 70 is sold as a unit and is conveniently packable by the consumer. The entire assembly is only slightly greater than four inches in height, two and two-thirds inch in width and two thirds S inches thick. Moreover, the sidewalls of the entire stack of unit are curved and conveniently rest in a person's pocket. Applicator rigid bodies 12 are rigid and nested.
The sealed upper compartments 28 containing the fluid or gel are well protected. Two rigid walls, the upwardly extending wall 26 and the skirt of an adjacent unit 22 or of the cap 74, protect each upper compartment 28. The upper compartments are therefore exceedingly unlikely to be compressed to bursting or to be punctured as might be the case of a moistened wipe packed in foil envelope.
In use, a consumer buys the commercial stack as shown in figures 11-14 and places the stack in a pocket, purse or other carry bag. When the consumer encounters a surface to be cleaned, he simply removes the bottom unit I Oa or top unit lOd (replacing the cap on the remaining units). He can put the remaining units away and pull the tab 64 to remove the top film 60 on the selected applicator or cleaner unit 10. This releases the foam body 14 which extends outwardly from the top of the upper compartment 28 and is available for swabbing the intended surface. The user can swab the surface while maintaining a sure grip on the applicator rigid body 12. The applicator IO is then discarded in a convenient receptacle and the fluid or gel solution used to swab the selected surface evaporates.
The unit 10 described above is manufactured by injection molding an appropriate plastic such as polypropylene into the applicator rigid body 12 and cap 70.
Adhesive is applied to the top surface of the horizontal wall 20 or the bottom surface of the foam body 14 and the foam body 14 inserted into the upper compartment 28. Fluid or gel 16 is applied to ~ooooiaamooi.do~
the foam body 14 and the sealing film 60 applied over the foam body 14 compressing it into the upper compartment 28 bringing the sealing film closure portion 62 into contact with the top edge 58 of the upwardly extending wall 26. The sealing film 60 is then sealed to the fop edge 58 by known heat sealing techniques. A completed unit 10 is thus manufactured.
Several of the unit are then stacked as seen in figure 11 and packaged for sale at retail. Of course, fluids, gels and pastes other than cleaning fluids can be used.
Surface treatments such as vinyl protectors, shoe polishes, topical medications, or other materials can be applied to the foam body 14 and sealed into the upper compartment 28. A clean, and if needed, sterile product applicator is provided in a convenient multiple unit package.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 17-34. Referring to Figure 17, the applicator unit 110 comprises a applicator rigid body 112, a compressible foam body 114 and a quantity of fluid 116 absorbed in the foam body 114. Alternatively, the fluid 116 can be a gel or paste for use in cleaning or other applications such as polishing. Referring now to figure 20, the applicator rigid body 112 comprises a horizontal base wall I20, a skirt 122 extending downwardly from the horizontal base wall 120 and defining a lower compartment 124, and an upwardly extending wall 126 defining an upper compartment 128 in which the foam body 114 is partially disposed. The horizontal base wall is fabricated as a separate piece and ultimately jointed to the skirt 122 and upwardly extending wall 126 as will be described hereinafter.
As can be seen in figure I8, the rigid body 112 has a slightly concave front 132, a slightly convex back 134, an arcuate left end 136 and an arcuate right end 138. The front 132 and back 134 are generally parallel to one another. The applicator rigid body 112 is slightly greater than 2.S inches wide from the left end 136 to the right end 138 and approximately one half inch deep from the outside of the front 132 to the back 134. The overall depth dimension emc0001241V001.doc is somewhat greater than one half inch because the front wall and back wall are both curved.
The skirt 122 has a generally uniform profile extending uniformly across the front 132, the back I34, the left end 136 and the right end 138 of the applicator rigid body 112. The skirt profile is a generally planar downwardly extending wall with a slight amount of draft to accommodate the manufacturing process, injection molding. Five bumps 142 protrude from the outer surface of the front of the skirt near its bottom center. Similarly, five bumps 144 protrude from the outer surface of the center of the back 134 near its bottom.
The bumps 142, 144 are tactile cues easing gripping of the applicator rigid body 112 by a user.
The upwardly extending wall 126 has a generally uniform profile across the front I32, around the left end 136 and across the back 134. The profile of the upwardly extending wall is that of a wall having two generally planar sides slightly tapering toward one another in the upward direction to accommodate the injection molding process. Two vertically orientated ridges 146 are provided near the bottom of the front of the outside surface of the upwardly extending wall. Similarly, two ridges I48 are provided on the outer lower surface of the back of the upwardly extending wall 126.
The right end of the upwardly extending wall 126 has a profile differing fium the remaining portions of the upwardly extending wall 126. The right end profile has a short bottom portion 152 extending generally vertically, and an inwardly extending sloped shoulder portion 154. An upwardly extending ridge 150 is provided at the lower extremity of the outside surface of the right end of the upwardly extending wall I26. An identical ridge 151 is provided on the bottom of the right shoulder 152. The top edge 158 of the upwardly extending wall 126 is open in the configuration seen in Figures I7-21.
The foam body 114 conforms to the shape of the upper compartment 128.
Preferably, the foam body 1 I4 is a rectangular piece of foam or sponge cut from sheet material. In the emc0001241V001.doc preferred embodiment, the sheet material is approximately a quarter of an inch thick, slightly thicker than the width of the upper compartment 128. The foam body 114, preferably, adhered to the top of the horizontal wall 120. As can be seen in figures 17-21, when the foam body 114 uncompressed, it extends beyond the top edge 158 of the applicator rigid body I 12.
In this configuration, a consumer can grasp the applicator rigid body 112 and use it to clean a surface by rubbing the portion of the foam body 114 extending from the upper compartment 128 over the surface. The fluid 116 or gel, which is preferably an isopropanol solution, cleans the surface in question.
Prior to use, the foam body is retained completely within the upper compartment 128.
Referring now to figures 22-27, the cleaner or applicator I 10 is shown in the sealed configuration. A top wall 160 extends over the top of the upper compartment 128 of the applicator rigid body I 12. The top wall 160 is fixed to the top edge 158 of the upwardly extending wall 126. The top wall 160, the upwardly extending wall 126 and the skirt 122 are integrally foamed in an injection molding process. The top wall 160 is joined around its entire periphery to the top edge 158 of the upwardly extending wall 126 by a very thin web 166, a portion of which is seen in Figure 28. The top wall 160 has a closure portion 162 and a tab 164. The closure portion 162 is identical in shape to the top of the upper comparhnent 128 and closes the top completely. The tab 164 extends outwardly from the closure portion 162 at the right end 138 of the applicator 112. The tab 164 extends outwardly over the shoulder 154 at right end 138 of the upwardly extending wall 126. As can be seen in figure 26, because the right end of the upwardly extending wall 126 includes a shoulder portion 154, there is room for the tab 164.
Referring now to figure 25, one sees that the upper compartment 128 is enclosed by the horizontal wall 120, the upwardly extending wall 126 and the top wall 160 creating a etnc0001241 V001.doc hermetically sealed compartment. The foam body 114 and a fluid 116 or gel are contained within the sealed upper compartment 128. The fluid or gel 116 can not evaporate.
Referring now to figures 29-31, a stack of four identical cleaners or applicators 10a, IOb, lOc,lOd in the sealed condition is illustrated. The stack of cleaners is shown in cross section in figure 31. It can be seen that the upwardly extending wall _126 of the lowest unit extends into and is surrounded by the downwardly extending skirt 122 of the next higher unit.
This is true fox each of the units save the topmost unit 1 l Od. For the topmost unit, the upwardly extending wall 126 is contained within a cap 170. The cap 170 comprises a horizontal wall 172 and a downwardly extending skirt 174. The horizontal wall 172 is identical in shape to the horizontal wall 120. The skirt 174 is identical to the skirt 122 of the applicators 110. Thus, the upwardly extending wall 126 of the top most unit 1 I Od extends into and is surrounded by the skirt 174 of the cap 170. In this nested configuration, the ridges 146, 148, 150, 151 on the outside of the upwardly extending wall 126 wedge against the inner surface of the skirt 122 of the next higher unit holding the ensemble together.
As can be seen in figures 17, 21, and 29, the bottom edge 180 of the skirt 122 is not straight and flat. Rather, the bottom edges of the left end and right ends of the skirt 122 are flat and the bottom edges of the front and back of the skirt are slightly concave. This shape is matched by the top edge 182 of the skirt so that adjacent applicators l IOa, 110b, 110c and 110d mate together with an aesthetically pleasing close edge and a central curve.
The assembled mufti-unit stack of applicator or cleaner units 1 l0a-110d with the cap 170 is sold as a unit and is conveniently packable by the consumer. The entire assembly is only slightly greater than four inches in height, two and two-thirds inch in width and two thirds inches thick. Moreover, the sidewalls of the entire stack of unit are curved and conveniently rest in a person's pocket. Applicator rigid bodies 112 are rigid and nested. The emc0401241V001.doc sealed upper compartments 128 containing the fluid or gel are well protected.
Two rigid walls, the upwardly extending wall 126 and the skirt of an adjacent unit 122 or of the cap I74, protect each upper compartment 128. The upper compartments are therefore exceedingly unlikely to be compressed to bursting or to be punctured as might be the case of S a moistened wipe packed in foil envelope.
In use, a consumer buys the commercial stack as shown in figures 29 and 34 and places the stack in a pocket, purse or other carry bag. When the consumer encounters a surface to be cleaned, he simply removes the bottom unit 110a or top unit 1 l Od (replacing the cap on the remaining units). He can put the remaining units away and pull the tab I64 to tear the web joining the top wall 160 to the upwardly extending wall 126, on the selected applicator or cleaner unit 110. This separates the top wall 160 from the rigid body 112 and releases the foam body 114 which extends outwardly from the top of the upper compartment 128 and is available for swabbing the intended surface. The user can swab the surface while maintaining a sure grip on the applicator rigid body 112. The applicator 1 IO
is then discarded in a convenient receptacle and the fluid or gel solution used to swab the selected surface evaporates.
The unit 110 described above is manufactured by injection molding of the rigid components, namely, the two part applicator body 112 and the cap 170. With reference to Figures 27 and 25, the rigid body I 12 comprises a first component 190 and a separate horizontal wall 120. The first component is a unitary injection molded part including the top wall I60, tab 164, upwardly extending wall 126 and skirt 122. It is continuous and, except for the bottom opening, water tight. The horizontal wall I20 is a unitary injection molded part having a central planar portion i 92 surrounded by an upwardly extending flange 194 and an outwardly extending flange 196. A vertical stub 197 extends upwardly from the center of emc0001241V001.doc ',"
the central planar portion 192. The stub 197 is a short, flat stub extending transversely across the central planar portion 192. Two round bases 198, 199, Figure 32, extend downwardly from the bottom of the central planar portion 192, one on each side of the stub 197. These elements are assembled as follows: adhesive 195 is applied to the side of the horizontal wall 120 central planar portion 192 facing the foam body 114. The foam body, which has a transverse slit 118 across its center is brought into contact with the horizontal wall 120 and fixed to it by the adhesive 195. A charge of selected fluid 116 such as isopropyl alcohol, is charged into the foam body 114 or into the inverted first component 190. The horizontal wall 120 and foam body are inserted into the first component 190. The flanges 194,196 abut against ridges formed inside the first component where the upwardly extending wall 126 joins the skirt 122. The horizontal wall 120 is welded to the first component around its entire periphery sealing the upper compartment 128. The flanges 194, 196 provide necessary rigidity, surface area and mass for achieving a good welded seal. The foam body 114 and fluid I I6 are thus sealed in the upper compartment and the fluid can not evaporate away.
The bosses 198,199 provide an alternate filling method. The first component 190, foam body 114 and horizontal base wall 120 can be assembled without the fluid 116. After assembly and welding, fluid 116 can be injected through one of bosses 198,199 while the other boss is penetrated with a venting needle. After charging of the compartment, the bosses are heat sealed, creating a fluid tight upper comparhnent 128. A completed unit 10 is thus manufactured.
Several of the units are then stacked as seen in figure 34 and packaged for sale or retail. Of course, fluids, gels and pastes other than cleaning fluids can be used. Surface treatments such as vinyl protectors, shoe polishes, topical medications, or other materials can be applied to the foam body 114 and sealed into the upper compartment 128. A
clean, and if emc0001241V001.doc needed, sterile product applicator is provided in a. convenient multiple unit package.
Another embodiment of the applicator cleaner 210 is seen in figure 35. The applicator cleaner 210 is similar to the applicator cleaner 110 seen in figures 17-34.
Differences exist in the area of the tab 264 and the shoulder porkion 254 under the tab.
Just as with the embodiment of figures 17-34, the applicator cleaner 210 has an upwardly extending wall 126 and a downwardly extending wall 136. The upwardly extending wall 126 surrounds and defines an upper compartment. The upper compartment is closed at its bottom by the horizontal wall 120 as seen with respect to the prior embodiment.
The top of the upper compartment is closed by a closure portion 262. The closure portion 262 is joined to the upwardly extending wall 126 by a thin web 266. The thin web 266 extends around the entire periphery of the closure portion 262. The upwardly extending wall 126, closure portion 262 and tab 264 are fabricated from a polymer material.
The polymer material is select to provide a relatively rigid structure, but will allow separation at the thin web 266 when one peels back the closure portion 262.
Thus, the embodiment of the figures 35-41 is very similar to the embodiment of Figures 17-34 in that that a compartment is defined within the upwardly extending wall 126 which holds a foam body which is in turn saturated with a cleaning agent. The downwardly extending wall 136 will surround and engage the upwardly extending wall 126 of an identical unit forming stack. The applicator cleaner 210 is opened by the consumer by grasping the tab 264 and using the tab to rupture the thin web 266 and separate the closure portion 262 from the applicator 210, cleaner readying it for use. The tab 264 is different from the tab 164 seen in the embodiment of figures 17-34. The tab 264 includes three longitudinal ribs 272, 274, 276 extending upwardly from the tab's upper surface. The ribs are parallel to one another.
The ribs strengthen and stiffen the tab 264. The ribs 272, 274, 276 are not of a uniform emc0001241V001.doc ~i. , .
i height. Rather, the inboard portions of the ribs adjacent the closure portion 62 are of a substantially uniform height for about two thirds of the length of the tab 264. A vertical step exists at the end of this uniform height portion increasing the height of the ribs. Outboard of the vertical step 278, the ribs' height lessens in a linear manner to the upward end of the tab 264. The vertical steps 278 are adjacent one another in the ribs 272, 274, 276.
As best seen in figure 37, a gusset 280 extends downwardly from the underside of the tab 264 to the closure portion 262. The gusset 280 is about as wide as one of the ribs 272, 274, 276. The gusset 280 rigidly connects the tab 264 to the closure portion 262 near the thin web 266. Thus, an upwardly directed force applied to the tab 264 is immediately transmitted through the gusset 280 and the closure poztion 262 to the thin web 266.
The tab 264 is small. Some people may have difficulty manipulating it with their fingers. Therefore, the cap 270, seen in figures 38-41, is provided with a structure to engage the tab 264. A shoulder 290 is provided at one end of the cap 270. This can be seen in figures 39 and 41. The shoulder 290 has a substantially flat top wall 292 with a flat undersurface. Aa opening 294 is provided at the outboard end of the top wall 292. The opening 294 is defined by a straight inboard edge 296, a front straight edge 298 generally perpendicular to the inboard edge 296 and a rear straight edge 302 generally parallel to the front straight edge 298. As can best be seen in figure 41, the outboard edge of the opening 294 is in the side wall or skirt 308 of the cap 270. The outboard edge 304 is somewhat lower than the inboard edge 296 of the opening 294. The distance between the front straight edge 298 and rear straight edge 302 of the opening 294 is slightly greater than the width of the tab 264.
The cap 270 is used as removal tool for the closure portion 262 of an applicator cleanser 210. It must be remembered that the cap 270 is generally kept on top of the topmost emc0001241V001.doc applicator cleaner unit 210 and is therefore at hand when one wishes to use an applicator cleaner unit 210. The user removes the cap 270 and inverts it. The cap is then slide into engagement with the tab 264 by passing the tab 264 through the opening 294.
The flat underside of the top wall 292 engages the underside of the tab 264. The user then rotates the cap 270. This applies an upward force on the tab 264 through the top wall 292.
The cap is kept from disengaging from the tab 264 by means of engagement of the outboard edge 304 with the vertical steps 278 in the ribs 272, 274, 276. The steps 278 are a vertical surface.
They will bear against the outboard edge 304 of the opening 294 preventing the cap from sliding off the tab 264. The user therefore can use the cap as a lever lifting the tab 264 thus breaking the thin web 266 and continuing to rotate the cap 270 to remove the closure portion 262. This opens the applicator cleaner 210 and allows the foam body containing cleaning material to expand upwardly from the compartment in a ready to use configuration. The user then cleans the surface desired, removes the top most cleaner unit from the stack of cleaner units and applies the cap 270 to the next succeeding unit and puts the ensemble away.
The tab 264 is sized to fit within either the skirt 136 of an identical applicator cleaning unit 210 or within the cap 270. As the cap is always on top of the top most applicator cleaner unit 210, a removal tool to use as a lever is always available for opening the applicator cleaner when desired.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the structure of the preferred embodiments and the structural interrelationships between component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many changes in these embodiments herein illustrated and described can be made without departing from the principles of the invention.
Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descziptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the preferred embodiments and not as a limitation.
emc0001241V001.doc Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:
emc0001241V001.doc
A plug or stopper can be used in place of the sealing film 60. The stopper, not shown, has a flat, horizontal surface having a shape identical to the inner edge of the upwardly extending wall 2b plus a tab extending above the shoulder 54. A stopper skirt extends downwardly from the stepper horizontal surface and engages the inside of the upwardly extending wall 26. A horizontal ridge extends around the periphery of the skirt and engages a mating recess in the inside surface of the upwardly extending wall 126, holding the stopper in place. The upper compartment is opened by grasping the tab and removing the stopper. The stopper is, in effect, a removable top wall just as the film 60 is a removable top wall.
Referring now to figures 11-13, a stack of four identical cleaners or applicators 10a, l Ob, l Oc, lOd in the sealed condition is illustrated. The stack of cleaners is shown in cross section in figure 13. It can be seen that the upwardly extending wall 26 of the lowest unit extends into and is surrounded by the downwardly extending skirt 22 of the next higher unit.
This is true for each of the units save the topmost unit. For the topmost unit, the upwardly extending wall 26 is contained within a cap 70. The cap 70 comprises a horizontal wall 72 and a downwardly extending skirt, 74. The horizontal wall 72 is identical to the horizontal wall 20 of the applicator body 12. The skirt 74 is identical to the skirt 22 of the applicator body 12. Thus, the upwardly extending wall 26 of the top most unit lOd extends into and is surrounded by the skirt 74 of the cap 70. In this nested configuration, the ridges 46, 48, 50, 51 on the outside of the upwardly extending wall 26 wedge against the inner surface of the skirt 22 of the next higher unit holding the ensemble together.
As can be seen in figures 1, 6, and 11, the bottom edge 80 of the skirt 22 is not straight and flat. Rather, the bottom edge of the left end and right end of the skirt 22 are flat and the bottom edge of the front and back of the skirt are slightly concave.
This shape is matched by the top edge 82 of the skirt so that adjacent applicators 10a, IOb, lOc and lOd emc0001241 VOOI .doc mate together with an aesthetically pleasing close edge and a centxal curve.
The assembled mufti-unit stack of applicator or cleaner units l0a-lOd with the cap 70 is sold as a unit and is conveniently packable by the consumer. The entire assembly is only slightly greater than four inches in height, two and two-thirds inch in width and two thirds S inches thick. Moreover, the sidewalls of the entire stack of unit are curved and conveniently rest in a person's pocket. Applicator rigid bodies 12 are rigid and nested.
The sealed upper compartments 28 containing the fluid or gel are well protected. Two rigid walls, the upwardly extending wall 26 and the skirt of an adjacent unit 22 or of the cap 74, protect each upper compartment 28. The upper compartments are therefore exceedingly unlikely to be compressed to bursting or to be punctured as might be the case of a moistened wipe packed in foil envelope.
In use, a consumer buys the commercial stack as shown in figures 11-14 and places the stack in a pocket, purse or other carry bag. When the consumer encounters a surface to be cleaned, he simply removes the bottom unit I Oa or top unit lOd (replacing the cap on the remaining units). He can put the remaining units away and pull the tab 64 to remove the top film 60 on the selected applicator or cleaner unit 10. This releases the foam body 14 which extends outwardly from the top of the upper compartment 28 and is available for swabbing the intended surface. The user can swab the surface while maintaining a sure grip on the applicator rigid body 12. The applicator IO is then discarded in a convenient receptacle and the fluid or gel solution used to swab the selected surface evaporates.
The unit 10 described above is manufactured by injection molding an appropriate plastic such as polypropylene into the applicator rigid body 12 and cap 70.
Adhesive is applied to the top surface of the horizontal wall 20 or the bottom surface of the foam body 14 and the foam body 14 inserted into the upper compartment 28. Fluid or gel 16 is applied to ~ooooiaamooi.do~
the foam body 14 and the sealing film 60 applied over the foam body 14 compressing it into the upper compartment 28 bringing the sealing film closure portion 62 into contact with the top edge 58 of the upwardly extending wall 26. The sealing film 60 is then sealed to the fop edge 58 by known heat sealing techniques. A completed unit 10 is thus manufactured.
Several of the unit are then stacked as seen in figure 11 and packaged for sale at retail. Of course, fluids, gels and pastes other than cleaning fluids can be used.
Surface treatments such as vinyl protectors, shoe polishes, topical medications, or other materials can be applied to the foam body 14 and sealed into the upper compartment 28. A clean, and if needed, sterile product applicator is provided in a convenient multiple unit package.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 17-34. Referring to Figure 17, the applicator unit 110 comprises a applicator rigid body 112, a compressible foam body 114 and a quantity of fluid 116 absorbed in the foam body 114. Alternatively, the fluid 116 can be a gel or paste for use in cleaning or other applications such as polishing. Referring now to figure 20, the applicator rigid body 112 comprises a horizontal base wall I20, a skirt 122 extending downwardly from the horizontal base wall 120 and defining a lower compartment 124, and an upwardly extending wall 126 defining an upper compartment 128 in which the foam body 114 is partially disposed. The horizontal base wall is fabricated as a separate piece and ultimately jointed to the skirt 122 and upwardly extending wall 126 as will be described hereinafter.
As can be seen in figure I8, the rigid body 112 has a slightly concave front 132, a slightly convex back 134, an arcuate left end 136 and an arcuate right end 138. The front 132 and back 134 are generally parallel to one another. The applicator rigid body 112 is slightly greater than 2.S inches wide from the left end 136 to the right end 138 and approximately one half inch deep from the outside of the front 132 to the back 134. The overall depth dimension emc0001241V001.doc is somewhat greater than one half inch because the front wall and back wall are both curved.
The skirt 122 has a generally uniform profile extending uniformly across the front 132, the back I34, the left end 136 and the right end 138 of the applicator rigid body 112. The skirt profile is a generally planar downwardly extending wall with a slight amount of draft to accommodate the manufacturing process, injection molding. Five bumps 142 protrude from the outer surface of the front of the skirt near its bottom center. Similarly, five bumps 144 protrude from the outer surface of the center of the back 134 near its bottom.
The bumps 142, 144 are tactile cues easing gripping of the applicator rigid body 112 by a user.
The upwardly extending wall 126 has a generally uniform profile across the front I32, around the left end 136 and across the back 134. The profile of the upwardly extending wall is that of a wall having two generally planar sides slightly tapering toward one another in the upward direction to accommodate the injection molding process. Two vertically orientated ridges 146 are provided near the bottom of the front of the outside surface of the upwardly extending wall. Similarly, two ridges I48 are provided on the outer lower surface of the back of the upwardly extending wall 126.
The right end of the upwardly extending wall 126 has a profile differing fium the remaining portions of the upwardly extending wall 126. The right end profile has a short bottom portion 152 extending generally vertically, and an inwardly extending sloped shoulder portion 154. An upwardly extending ridge 150 is provided at the lower extremity of the outside surface of the right end of the upwardly extending wall I26. An identical ridge 151 is provided on the bottom of the right shoulder 152. The top edge 158 of the upwardly extending wall 126 is open in the configuration seen in Figures I7-21.
The foam body 114 conforms to the shape of the upper compartment 128.
Preferably, the foam body 1 I4 is a rectangular piece of foam or sponge cut from sheet material. In the emc0001241V001.doc preferred embodiment, the sheet material is approximately a quarter of an inch thick, slightly thicker than the width of the upper compartment 128. The foam body 114, preferably, adhered to the top of the horizontal wall 120. As can be seen in figures 17-21, when the foam body 114 uncompressed, it extends beyond the top edge 158 of the applicator rigid body I 12.
In this configuration, a consumer can grasp the applicator rigid body 112 and use it to clean a surface by rubbing the portion of the foam body 114 extending from the upper compartment 128 over the surface. The fluid 116 or gel, which is preferably an isopropanol solution, cleans the surface in question.
Prior to use, the foam body is retained completely within the upper compartment 128.
Referring now to figures 22-27, the cleaner or applicator I 10 is shown in the sealed configuration. A top wall 160 extends over the top of the upper compartment 128 of the applicator rigid body I 12. The top wall 160 is fixed to the top edge 158 of the upwardly extending wall 126. The top wall 160, the upwardly extending wall 126 and the skirt 122 are integrally foamed in an injection molding process. The top wall 160 is joined around its entire periphery to the top edge 158 of the upwardly extending wall 126 by a very thin web 166, a portion of which is seen in Figure 28. The top wall 160 has a closure portion 162 and a tab 164. The closure portion 162 is identical in shape to the top of the upper comparhnent 128 and closes the top completely. The tab 164 extends outwardly from the closure portion 162 at the right end 138 of the applicator 112. The tab 164 extends outwardly over the shoulder 154 at right end 138 of the upwardly extending wall 126. As can be seen in figure 26, because the right end of the upwardly extending wall 126 includes a shoulder portion 154, there is room for the tab 164.
Referring now to figure 25, one sees that the upper compartment 128 is enclosed by the horizontal wall 120, the upwardly extending wall 126 and the top wall 160 creating a etnc0001241 V001.doc hermetically sealed compartment. The foam body 114 and a fluid 116 or gel are contained within the sealed upper compartment 128. The fluid or gel 116 can not evaporate.
Referring now to figures 29-31, a stack of four identical cleaners or applicators 10a, IOb, lOc,lOd in the sealed condition is illustrated. The stack of cleaners is shown in cross section in figure 31. It can be seen that the upwardly extending wall _126 of the lowest unit extends into and is surrounded by the downwardly extending skirt 122 of the next higher unit.
This is true fox each of the units save the topmost unit 1 l Od. For the topmost unit, the upwardly extending wall 126 is contained within a cap 170. The cap 170 comprises a horizontal wall 172 and a downwardly extending skirt 174. The horizontal wall 172 is identical in shape to the horizontal wall 120. The skirt 174 is identical to the skirt 122 of the applicators 110. Thus, the upwardly extending wall 126 of the top most unit 1 I Od extends into and is surrounded by the skirt 174 of the cap 170. In this nested configuration, the ridges 146, 148, 150, 151 on the outside of the upwardly extending wall 126 wedge against the inner surface of the skirt 122 of the next higher unit holding the ensemble together.
As can be seen in figures 17, 21, and 29, the bottom edge 180 of the skirt 122 is not straight and flat. Rather, the bottom edges of the left end and right ends of the skirt 122 are flat and the bottom edges of the front and back of the skirt are slightly concave. This shape is matched by the top edge 182 of the skirt so that adjacent applicators l IOa, 110b, 110c and 110d mate together with an aesthetically pleasing close edge and a central curve.
The assembled mufti-unit stack of applicator or cleaner units 1 l0a-110d with the cap 170 is sold as a unit and is conveniently packable by the consumer. The entire assembly is only slightly greater than four inches in height, two and two-thirds inch in width and two thirds inches thick. Moreover, the sidewalls of the entire stack of unit are curved and conveniently rest in a person's pocket. Applicator rigid bodies 112 are rigid and nested. The emc0401241V001.doc sealed upper compartments 128 containing the fluid or gel are well protected.
Two rigid walls, the upwardly extending wall 126 and the skirt of an adjacent unit 122 or of the cap I74, protect each upper compartment 128. The upper compartments are therefore exceedingly unlikely to be compressed to bursting or to be punctured as might be the case of S a moistened wipe packed in foil envelope.
In use, a consumer buys the commercial stack as shown in figures 29 and 34 and places the stack in a pocket, purse or other carry bag. When the consumer encounters a surface to be cleaned, he simply removes the bottom unit 110a or top unit 1 l Od (replacing the cap on the remaining units). He can put the remaining units away and pull the tab I64 to tear the web joining the top wall 160 to the upwardly extending wall 126, on the selected applicator or cleaner unit 110. This separates the top wall 160 from the rigid body 112 and releases the foam body 114 which extends outwardly from the top of the upper compartment 128 and is available for swabbing the intended surface. The user can swab the surface while maintaining a sure grip on the applicator rigid body 112. The applicator 1 IO
is then discarded in a convenient receptacle and the fluid or gel solution used to swab the selected surface evaporates.
The unit 110 described above is manufactured by injection molding of the rigid components, namely, the two part applicator body 112 and the cap 170. With reference to Figures 27 and 25, the rigid body I 12 comprises a first component 190 and a separate horizontal wall 120. The first component is a unitary injection molded part including the top wall I60, tab 164, upwardly extending wall 126 and skirt 122. It is continuous and, except for the bottom opening, water tight. The horizontal wall I20 is a unitary injection molded part having a central planar portion i 92 surrounded by an upwardly extending flange 194 and an outwardly extending flange 196. A vertical stub 197 extends upwardly from the center of emc0001241V001.doc ',"
the central planar portion 192. The stub 197 is a short, flat stub extending transversely across the central planar portion 192. Two round bases 198, 199, Figure 32, extend downwardly from the bottom of the central planar portion 192, one on each side of the stub 197. These elements are assembled as follows: adhesive 195 is applied to the side of the horizontal wall 120 central planar portion 192 facing the foam body 114. The foam body, which has a transverse slit 118 across its center is brought into contact with the horizontal wall 120 and fixed to it by the adhesive 195. A charge of selected fluid 116 such as isopropyl alcohol, is charged into the foam body 114 or into the inverted first component 190. The horizontal wall 120 and foam body are inserted into the first component 190. The flanges 194,196 abut against ridges formed inside the first component where the upwardly extending wall 126 joins the skirt 122. The horizontal wall 120 is welded to the first component around its entire periphery sealing the upper compartment 128. The flanges 194, 196 provide necessary rigidity, surface area and mass for achieving a good welded seal. The foam body 114 and fluid I I6 are thus sealed in the upper compartment and the fluid can not evaporate away.
The bosses 198,199 provide an alternate filling method. The first component 190, foam body 114 and horizontal base wall 120 can be assembled without the fluid 116. After assembly and welding, fluid 116 can be injected through one of bosses 198,199 while the other boss is penetrated with a venting needle. After charging of the compartment, the bosses are heat sealed, creating a fluid tight upper comparhnent 128. A completed unit 10 is thus manufactured.
Several of the units are then stacked as seen in figure 34 and packaged for sale or retail. Of course, fluids, gels and pastes other than cleaning fluids can be used. Surface treatments such as vinyl protectors, shoe polishes, topical medications, or other materials can be applied to the foam body 114 and sealed into the upper compartment 128. A
clean, and if emc0001241V001.doc needed, sterile product applicator is provided in a. convenient multiple unit package.
Another embodiment of the applicator cleaner 210 is seen in figure 35. The applicator cleaner 210 is similar to the applicator cleaner 110 seen in figures 17-34.
Differences exist in the area of the tab 264 and the shoulder porkion 254 under the tab.
Just as with the embodiment of figures 17-34, the applicator cleaner 210 has an upwardly extending wall 126 and a downwardly extending wall 136. The upwardly extending wall 126 surrounds and defines an upper compartment. The upper compartment is closed at its bottom by the horizontal wall 120 as seen with respect to the prior embodiment.
The top of the upper compartment is closed by a closure portion 262. The closure portion 262 is joined to the upwardly extending wall 126 by a thin web 266. The thin web 266 extends around the entire periphery of the closure portion 262. The upwardly extending wall 126, closure portion 262 and tab 264 are fabricated from a polymer material.
The polymer material is select to provide a relatively rigid structure, but will allow separation at the thin web 266 when one peels back the closure portion 262.
Thus, the embodiment of the figures 35-41 is very similar to the embodiment of Figures 17-34 in that that a compartment is defined within the upwardly extending wall 126 which holds a foam body which is in turn saturated with a cleaning agent. The downwardly extending wall 136 will surround and engage the upwardly extending wall 126 of an identical unit forming stack. The applicator cleaner 210 is opened by the consumer by grasping the tab 264 and using the tab to rupture the thin web 266 and separate the closure portion 262 from the applicator 210, cleaner readying it for use. The tab 264 is different from the tab 164 seen in the embodiment of figures 17-34. The tab 264 includes three longitudinal ribs 272, 274, 276 extending upwardly from the tab's upper surface. The ribs are parallel to one another.
The ribs strengthen and stiffen the tab 264. The ribs 272, 274, 276 are not of a uniform emc0001241V001.doc ~i. , .
i height. Rather, the inboard portions of the ribs adjacent the closure portion 62 are of a substantially uniform height for about two thirds of the length of the tab 264. A vertical step exists at the end of this uniform height portion increasing the height of the ribs. Outboard of the vertical step 278, the ribs' height lessens in a linear manner to the upward end of the tab 264. The vertical steps 278 are adjacent one another in the ribs 272, 274, 276.
As best seen in figure 37, a gusset 280 extends downwardly from the underside of the tab 264 to the closure portion 262. The gusset 280 is about as wide as one of the ribs 272, 274, 276. The gusset 280 rigidly connects the tab 264 to the closure portion 262 near the thin web 266. Thus, an upwardly directed force applied to the tab 264 is immediately transmitted through the gusset 280 and the closure poztion 262 to the thin web 266.
The tab 264 is small. Some people may have difficulty manipulating it with their fingers. Therefore, the cap 270, seen in figures 38-41, is provided with a structure to engage the tab 264. A shoulder 290 is provided at one end of the cap 270. This can be seen in figures 39 and 41. The shoulder 290 has a substantially flat top wall 292 with a flat undersurface. Aa opening 294 is provided at the outboard end of the top wall 292. The opening 294 is defined by a straight inboard edge 296, a front straight edge 298 generally perpendicular to the inboard edge 296 and a rear straight edge 302 generally parallel to the front straight edge 298. As can best be seen in figure 41, the outboard edge of the opening 294 is in the side wall or skirt 308 of the cap 270. The outboard edge 304 is somewhat lower than the inboard edge 296 of the opening 294. The distance between the front straight edge 298 and rear straight edge 302 of the opening 294 is slightly greater than the width of the tab 264.
The cap 270 is used as removal tool for the closure portion 262 of an applicator cleanser 210. It must be remembered that the cap 270 is generally kept on top of the topmost emc0001241V001.doc applicator cleaner unit 210 and is therefore at hand when one wishes to use an applicator cleaner unit 210. The user removes the cap 270 and inverts it. The cap is then slide into engagement with the tab 264 by passing the tab 264 through the opening 294.
The flat underside of the top wall 292 engages the underside of the tab 264. The user then rotates the cap 270. This applies an upward force on the tab 264 through the top wall 292.
The cap is kept from disengaging from the tab 264 by means of engagement of the outboard edge 304 with the vertical steps 278 in the ribs 272, 274, 276. The steps 278 are a vertical surface.
They will bear against the outboard edge 304 of the opening 294 preventing the cap from sliding off the tab 264. The user therefore can use the cap as a lever lifting the tab 264 thus breaking the thin web 266 and continuing to rotate the cap 270 to remove the closure portion 262. This opens the applicator cleaner 210 and allows the foam body containing cleaning material to expand upwardly from the compartment in a ready to use configuration. The user then cleans the surface desired, removes the top most cleaner unit from the stack of cleaner units and applies the cap 270 to the next succeeding unit and puts the ensemble away.
The tab 264 is sized to fit within either the skirt 136 of an identical applicator cleaning unit 210 or within the cap 270. As the cap is always on top of the top most applicator cleaner unit 210, a removal tool to use as a lever is always available for opening the applicator cleaner when desired.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the structure of the preferred embodiments and the structural interrelationships between component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many changes in these embodiments herein illustrated and described can be made without departing from the principles of the invention.
Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descziptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the preferred embodiments and not as a limitation.
emc0001241V001.doc Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:
emc0001241V001.doc
Claims (48)
1. A stackable applicator comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment; and, said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment; and, said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.
2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said sealing film is heat sealed to said upper side wall top edge.
3. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said foam body has a bottom surface and said foam body bottom surface is adhered to said upper compartment.
4. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.
5. The applicator of claim 4 wherein said foam body is flat when in an uncompressed state.
6. ~The applicator of claim 4 wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one end and said sealing film has a tab extending beyond said top edge adjacent said shoulder.
7. ~A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit is covered by said cap.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit is covered by said cap.
8. ~The multiple unit applicator product of claim 7 wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.
9. A stackable product applicator comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment; and, said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment; and, said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.
10. The product applicator of claim 9 wherein said sealing film is heat sealed to said upper side wall top edge.
11. The product applicator of claim 9 wherein said foam body has a bottom surface and said foam body bottom surface is adhered to said upper compartment.
12. The product applicator of claim 9 wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.
13. The product applicator of claim 12 wherein said foam body is flat when in an restrained state.
14. The applicator of claim 12 wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one end and said sealing film has a removable tab extending beyond said top edge adjacent said shoulder.
15. A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising:
a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing top fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said cap top wall, said cap top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap.
a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing top fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said cap top wall, said cap top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap.
16. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 15 wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.
17. A stackable applicator comprising a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upwardly extending side wall extending upwardly from said base wall, a removable top, said base wall, side wall and top defining an upper compartment closed by said removable top and said base wall and said skirt defining a lower compartment, a compressible foam body contained in said upper compartment; a quantity of fluid absorbed in said foam body, and, said applicator body lower compartment being adapted to receive said upper compartment of an adjacent applicator whereby said applicator may be stacked with identical applicators.
18. The stackable applicator of claim 17 wherein said base wall is permanently welded into said applicator body.
19. The stackable applicator of claim 17 wherein said compressible foam body is compressed in said upper compartment when said removable top is in place.
20. The stackable applicator of claim 19 wherein removal of said removable top creates a top opening in said upper compartment and said compressible foam body extends through said top opening.
21. The stackable applicator of claim 17 wherein said compressible foam body has a bottom surface and said compressible foam body bottom surface is fined to said base wall.
22. The stackable applicator of claim 17 wherein. said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.
23. The applicator of claim 22 wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one of said ends and said top has a first end and a tab extending from said first end, said tab disposed adjacent said shoulder and adapted to be grasped by a user such that the user may remove said top.
24. A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a removable top fixed to said side wall top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment closed by said removable top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state or be contained in said upper compartment in a compressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator, and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the topmost applicator unit is covered by said cap.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a removable top fixed to said side wall top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment closed by said removable top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state or be contained in said upper compartment in a compressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator, and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the topmost applicator unit is covered by said cap.
25. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 24 wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.
26. A stackable product applicator comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said entire top edge; said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an operable closed top;
said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in a compressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body; and, said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said entire top edge; said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an operable closed top;
said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in a compressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body; and, said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.
27. The product applicator of claim 26 wherein said base wall is fixed into said rigid body by welding.
28. The product applicator of claim 25 wherein said foam body has a bottom surface and said foam body bottom surface is adhered to said upper compartment.
29. The product applicator of claim 25 wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.
30. The product applicator of claim 25 wherein said foam base wall has at least one boss adapted to allow injection of fluid into said upper compartment.
31. The applicator of claim 25 wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one end and said top has a tab extending beyond said top edge adjacent said shoulder.
32. A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an operable closed top;
said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in said closed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an operable closed top;
said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in said closed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap.
33. ~The multiple unit applicator product of claim 32 wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.
34. ~The multiple unit applicator product of claim 32 wherein said top, said at least one upper side wall and said skirt are a unitary molded structure.
35. ~The multiple unit applicator product of claim 33 wherein said base wall is welded into said unitary molded structure.
36. ~The multiple unit applicator product of claim 32 wherein said rigid body upper side wall has a shoulder and said top has a tab adjacent said shoulder, said tab adapted to be grasped by a user for removal of said top.
37. ~A method of making an applicator product comprising the steps of:
providing an applicator body first component comprising at least one upper side wall, a skirt and an operable closed top;
providing a compressible foam body;
providing a quantity of fluid;
providing a base wall;
assembling said applicator body first component, said compressible foam body, said quantity of fluid and said base wall creating said applicator product such that said foam body and said fluid is contained in an operable closed upper compartment defined by said upper side wall, said top and said base wall with said foam body in a compressed state.
providing an applicator body first component comprising at least one upper side wall, a skirt and an operable closed top;
providing a compressible foam body;
providing a quantity of fluid;
providing a base wall;
assembling said applicator body first component, said compressible foam body, said quantity of fluid and said base wall creating said applicator product such that said foam body and said fluid is contained in an operable closed upper compartment defined by said upper side wall, said top and said base wall with said foam body in a compressed state.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein said base wall is welded to said body first component.
39. The method of claim 37 wherein said skirt and said base wall define a lower compartment and a plurality of said applicator products are stacked with the upper compartment of at least one of said applicator products is received in said lower compartment of an adjacent applicator product creating a stack of applicator products.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein a cap is applied to a topmost applicator product of said stack.
41. A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising:
a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing top fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment, said top having a rigid tab extending from said top;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said cap top wall, said cap top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap, said cap top wall having an opening adapted to receive said sealing top tab such that said top wall engages said tab and said cap acts as a lever to rotate said tab to remove said sealing top.
a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;
a sealing top fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment, said top having a rigid tab extending from said top;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said cap top wall, said cap top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap, said cap top wall having an opening adapted to receive said sealing top tab such that said top wall engages said tab and said cap acts as a lever to rotate said tab to remove said sealing top.
42. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 41 wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.
43. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 41 wherein said sealing top tab has a top surface and is provided with at least one rib on said top surface;
said at least one rib having a vertical step therein, said cap top opening having an edge adapted to engage said rib vertical step whereby said cap is held in engagement with said tab.
said at least one rib having a vertical step therein, said cap top opening having an edge adapted to engage said rib vertical step whereby said cap is held in engagement with said tab.
44. A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising:
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said top edge, said top having a rigid tab extending from said top adjacent said top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an openable, closed top;
said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible body received in said upper compartment, said compressible body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in a closed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said compressible body;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said cap top wall, said cap top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap, said cap top wall having an opening adapted to received said rigid tab such that said top wall engages said tab and said cap acts as a lever to rotate said tab to remove said top.
a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said top edge, said top having a rigid tab extending from said top adjacent said top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an openable, closed top;
said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;
a compressible body received in said upper compartment, said compressible body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in a closed state;
a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said compressible body;
said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and, said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said cap top wall, said cap top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap, said cap top wall having an opening adapted to received said rigid tab such that said top wall engages said tab and said cap acts as a lever to rotate said tab to remove said top.
45. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 44 wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.
46. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 45 wherein said top, said at least one upper side wall and said skirt are a unitary molded structure.
47. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 46 wherein said base wall is welded into said unitary molded structure.
48. The multiple unit applicator product of claim 44 wherein said top tab has a top surface and is provided with a vertically upwardly extending surface on said tab top surface;
and, said cap top opening has an edge adapted to engage said vertically upwardly extending surface whereby said cap is held in engagement with said tab.
and, said cap top opening has an edge adapted to engage said vertically upwardly extending surface whereby said cap is held in engagement with said tab.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US56432204P | 2004-04-22 | 2004-04-22 | |
| US60/564,322 | 2004-04-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2474368A1 true CA2474368A1 (en) | 2005-10-22 |
Family
ID=35276886
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2474368 Abandoned CA2474368A1 (en) | 2004-04-22 | 2004-07-15 | Stackable cleaner |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2474368A1 (en) |
-
2004
- 2004-07-15 CA CA 2474368 patent/CA2474368A1/en not_active Abandoned
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