GB2170696A - Liquid applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A viscous liquid applicator comprises a generally cylindrical body 1 closed at one end and with an extended neck 6 at the other end, a closed liquid container 8 slidable within the body and having a tubular projections 12 slidable within the neck, a wick 14 tightly disposed within the projection and extending outwardly thereof to constitute an applicator tip 16, at least one longitudinally extending slot 13 in the projection, resilient means 10 acting to urge the container towards a position in which the tip extends outwardly of the neck and a cap 18 which may be pushed over the neck and locked thereagainst in a closed position, the cap having a part to engage the tip and retract the container against the action of the resilient means so that in the closed position of the cap the slot opens into the interior of the body. The liquid is suitably nail polish. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A liquid applicator This invention relates to a viscous liquid applicator and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with such an applicatorforliquids containing a highly volatile component, such as nail varnish.

According to the present invention there is provided a viscous liquid applicator comprising a generally cylindrical body closed at one end and with an extended neck at the other end, a closed liquid containerslidable within the body and having a tubular projection slidable within the neck, a wick tightly disposed within the projection and extending outwardiythereofto constitute an applicator tip, at least one longitudinally extending slot in the projection, resilient means acting to urge the container towards a position in which the tip extends outwardly of the neck and a cap which may be pushed overthe neck and locked thereagainst in a closed position, the cap having a part to engagethetip and retract the container against the action ofthe resilient means so thatin the closed position ofthe capthe slotopens into the interior of the body.

One embodiment ofthe invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa longitudinal section through an applicator with the cap in position; and Figure 2 is a similar view only partly in section with the cap removed.

Referring to Fig. 1 a cylindrical body 1 of a flexible plastics material such as polyethylene orpolypropy- lene has an end 2 closable by a screwed plug 3. At its other end the body istapered at4to a shoulder5from which a neck 6 extends outwardly. At its lower end the neck 6 is threaded at7. The neck 6 is of circular cross-sectional shape but the body 1 may be of non-circularshape.

Acontainer8for, say, nail polish 9 is ofa size and shape to be a sliding fit within the body 1; it is inserted through the end 2 and a spring 10 acts between the plug 3 and the end 11 ofthe container. The container is also offlexible plastics material and has a hollow projection 12 which is a loose sliding fit in the neck 6 and is formed with a number of longitudinal slots such as 13. Awick 14 consisting ofa numberoffibres is tightly disposed in the projection 12; the inner end 15 of the wick projecting into the interior of the container 8 and the outer end 16 constituting an applicatortip extending outwardly ofthe projection 12 and having its end 17 tapered.

Acap 18 of rigid plastics material has a skirt 19 which is a close fit over the neck 6 and is internally threaded to engage with the thread 7. The cap also has an internal projection 20 with a hollowed end 21 to extend closely within the neck 6 and engage the tapered end 17 of the wick 14. The relative lengths of the skirt 19 and projection 20 are such that in the closed position of the cap the container 8 is retracted within the body 1 againsttheactionofthespring 10so thattheslots such as 13 open into a space 21 within the body 1 and aroundthe lowerpartofthe projection 12.

Whenthe cap 18 isremoved the spring 10 urgesthe container 8 to the position shown in Fig. 2 where the projection 12 is wholly contained in the neck 6 and the applicatortip 16 extends beyond the neck.

The applicator can then be reversed and gentle squeezing of the body 1 compresses this and the container8toforce nail polish 9alongthewick 14, outwardly of the projection 12through the slots 13 and between the projection and the interior ofthe neck 6 to the outside ofthe applicatortip 16. When the nail painting operation is completed or, if an excess of nail polish is ejected, relaxation of the squeezing action will I suck back polish in through the slots 13. To facilitate the outward and inward flow of polish the slots -1 3 can be extended internally of the projection 12 as shown in dotted iines 22.

Upon completion ofthe painting operation the applicator is returned to its upright position as shown in Fig. 2, the squeezing pressure reduced and the cap 18 replaced. These operations ensure that excess polish aroundthetip 16 is partially sucked back into the siots 13 as described above and partially carried on the exterior of the projection 12 into the space 21.

This space is not exposed to atmosphere and becomes impregnated with the volatile phase of the solvent in the polish so that evaporation is inhibited.

The exterior surfaces of both the body 1 and container 8 are preferably aluminised to prevent evaporation of any solventthatmay permeatethe plastics material ofthe body and the container.

Although as described the body 1 is open at its end 2 and closable by the plug 3 it will be understood that the end 2 may be permanently closed and a screw or otherconnection p rovided at the ju nctu re of the tapered part 4 and the remainder of the cylindrical bodyl.

Although described for nail polish the applicator may be used for other viscous substances such as glues, particularly those containing a volatilecompo- nent.

1. A viscous liquid applicator comprising a generally cylindrical body closed atone end and with an extended neck at the other end, a closed liquid containerslidablewithinthebodyand having a tubular projection slidable within the neck, a wick tightly disposed within the projection and extending outwardly thereofto constitute an applicatortip, at least one longitudinally extending slot in the projection, resilient means acting to urge the container towards a position in which the tip extends outwardly ofthe neck and a cap which may be pushed overthe neck and locked thereagainst in a closed position, the cap having a part to engage the tip and retract the container against the action ofthe resilient means so that in the closed position of the cap the slot opens into the interior of the body.

2. An applicator substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A liquid applicator This invention relates to a viscous liquid applicator and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with such an applicatorforliquids containing a highly volatile component, such as nail varnish. According to the present invention there is provided a viscous liquid applicator comprising a generally cylindrical body closed at one end and with an extended neck at the other end, a closed liquid containerslidable within the body and having a tubular projection slidable within the neck, a wick tightly disposed within the projection and extending outwardiythereofto constitute an applicator tip, at least one longitudinally extending slot in the projection, resilient means acting to urge the container towards a position in which the tip extends outwardly of the neck and a cap which may be pushed overthe neck and locked thereagainst in a closed position, the cap having a part to engagethetip and retract the container against the action ofthe resilient means so thatin the closed position ofthe capthe slotopens into the interior of the body. One embodiment ofthe invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa longitudinal section through an applicator with the cap in position; and Figure 2 is a similar view only partly in section with the cap removed. Referring to Fig. 1 a cylindrical body 1 of a flexible plastics material such as polyethylene orpolypropy- lene has an end 2 closable by a screwed plug 3. At its other end the body istapered at4to a shoulder5from which a neck 6 extends outwardly. At its lower end the neck 6 is threaded at7. The neck 6 is of circular cross-sectional shape but the body 1 may be of non-circularshape. Acontainer8for, say, nail polish 9 is ofa size and shape to be a sliding fit within the body 1; it is inserted through the end 2 and a spring 10 acts between the plug 3 and the end 11 ofthe container. The container is also offlexible plastics material and has a hollow projection 12 which is a loose sliding fit in the neck 6 and is formed with a number of longitudinal slots such as 13. Awick 14 consisting ofa numberoffibres is tightly disposed in the projection 12; the inner end 15 of the wick projecting into the interior of the container 8 and the outer end 16 constituting an applicatortip extending outwardly ofthe projection 12 and having its end 17 tapered. Acap 18 of rigid plastics material has a skirt 19 which is a close fit over the neck 6 and is internally threaded to engage with the thread 7. The cap also has an internal projection 20 with a hollowed end 21 to extend closely within the neck 6 and engage the tapered end 17 of the wick 14. The relative lengths of the skirt 19 and projection 20 are such that in the closed position of the cap the container 8 is retracted within the body 1 againsttheactionofthespring 10so thattheslots such as 13 open into a space 21 within the body 1 and aroundthe lowerpartofthe projection 12. Whenthe cap 18 isremoved the spring 10 urgesthe container 8 to the position shown in Fig. 2 where the projection 12 is wholly contained in the neck 6 and the applicatortip 16 extends beyond the neck. The applicator can then be reversed and gentle squeezing of the body 1 compresses this and the container8toforce nail polish 9alongthewick 14, outwardly of the projection 12through the slots 13 and between the projection and the interior ofthe neck 6 to the outside ofthe applicatortip 16. When the nail painting operation is completed or, if an excess of nail polish is ejected, relaxation of the squeezing action will I suck back polish in through the slots 13. To facilitate the outward and inward flow of polish the slots -1 3 can be extended internally of the projection 12 as shown in dotted iines 22. Upon completion ofthe painting operation the applicator is returned to its upright position as shown in Fig. 2, the squeezing pressure reduced and the cap 18 replaced. These operations ensure that excess polish aroundthetip 16 is partially sucked back into the siots 13 as described above and partially carried on the exterior of the projection 12 into the space 21. This space is not exposed to atmosphere and becomes impregnated with the volatile phase of the solvent in the polish so that evaporation is inhibited. The exterior surfaces of both the body 1 and container 8 are preferably aluminised to prevent evaporation of any solventthatmay permeatethe plastics material ofthe body and the container. Although as described the body 1 is open at its end 2 and closable by the plug 3 it will be understood that the end 2 may be permanently closed and a screw or otherconnection p rovided at the ju nctu re of the tapered part 4 and the remainder of the cylindrical bodyl. Although described for nail polish the applicator may be used for other viscous substances such as glues, particularly those containing a volatilecompo- nent. CLAIMS

1. A viscous liquid applicator comprising a generally cylindrical body closed atone end and with an extended neck at the other end, a closed liquid containerslidablewithinthebodyand having a tubular projection slidable within the neck, a wick tightly disposed within the projection and extending outwardly thereofto constitute an applicatortip, at least one longitudinally extending slot in the projection, resilient means acting to urge the container towards a position in which the tip extends outwardly ofthe neck and a cap which may be pushed overthe neck and locked thereagainst in a closed position, the cap having a part to engage the tip and retract the container against the action ofthe resilient means so that in the closed position of the cap the slot opens into the interior of the body.

2. An applicator substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe accompanying drawing.