GB2180445A

GB2180445A - Packaged applicator/fluid combination

Info

Publication number: GB2180445A
Application number: GB08621234A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Bird
Original assignee: Caligen Foam Ltd
Current assignee: Caligen Foam Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-04
Filing date: 1986-09-03
Publication date: 1987-04-01
Also published as: GB8521995D0; GB8621234D0; GB2180445B; EP0218371A1

Description

1 GB 2 180 445 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Cleaning or like product 5.This; invention relates to devices for containing and dispensing., products in liquid or paste form in the nature ofelean:fng, refurbishing, polishing or like preparations.

It has previously been proposed to incorporate a liquid cleaning product into a porous material by impregnating the material with the 1 iquid product. The porous material then acts-as an applicatorfrom which the impregnated product is released by a wiping or similar action. Such previously proposed devices however have certain limitations. The productswhich can be impregnated are limitedto those having a viscosity enabling the productto be held within the porous carrier. The technique cannot be employed in relation to products which will evaporate when stored over a period of time and there is little control overthe rate at which the product is dispensed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device by means of which these disadvantages are obviated or mitigated.

The invention provides a devicefor containing and applying a product comprising a container, a quantity of productto be dispensed located within the contain er, an applicator removably located within the con tainer and having an absorbantface thereof in contact with the product in the container, and a detachable cover member engageable overthe mouth of the containerto close same in an airtight manner. In use of the productthe cover is removed enabling the 95 applicatorto bewithdrawn and product carried bythe absorbant surface thereof appliedto a surface orthe liketo be cleaned. The applicator maybe re-inserted intothe containerto pick up more productas desired from thesupplywithin the container. The cover member may be re-sealable in an airtight manner or the product may be designedto be discarded after use.

Thecontainer preferably comprises atrayformed from plastics material having a base adaptedto accommodatethe productto be dispensed and an open top closable by said cover member. The cover member may advantageously comprise flexible sheet material sealingly engaged with the container around the edges of said opening to form an airtight enclosure. Sealing may be effected by means of pressure sensitive adhesive.

Preferablythe applicator comprises a pad of resi lient material having a heightslightly greaterthan the depth of the container whereby on removal of said coverthe inherent resilience of the pad causes same to rise slightly beyond the mouth of the containerto enable itto be 9,dpped by a user. Advantageously the pad compriswa main body portion of relatively flexible foamed plastics material and a grip portion of I.essfl,'exi.ble material tofacilitate handling and prevent productfrom migrating through the flexible foam into contactwith the user's hand.

The base of thetray may advantageously be provided with a pattern of recesses grooves orthe like to accommodatethe cleaning or like productand restrain samefrom migrating orflowing across the base of the container. The product is preferably in paste, cream or otherviscous form.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described. by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention in its closed and sealed condition; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the container in its open position and the applicator removed.

Referring to the drawings the device comprises a container in the form of a moulded plastic body 5 in the nature of a tray having an opening 6 at its upper end surrounded by outwardly directed flanged portions 7 integral with the body 5. A cleaning or polishing product in viscous or pastyform 8 is applied overthe base of thetray and the opening 6 is sealed by a closure memberg in the form of a flexible sheet of metalized paperthe edges of which in the closed position shown in Fig. 1 are adhered to the f langes 7 of the base 5.

Within thetray 5 is an applicator device in theform of a pad 10 (Fig. 2) having a main body portion 11 of flexible foamed plastics material and a grip portion 12 of firmer plastics material. The height of the applicator pad 10 is slightly greaterthan the internal height of the body 5 such thatwhen the closure member 9 is removed the resilience of the applicator causes the grip portion 12 to be projected out of the mouth of the containerto facilitate gripping by a user. When located within the containerthe lower surface of the applicator portion 11 remotefrom the grip portion 12 contacts the upper surface of the product8 located within the base of thetray and a quantity of the latter isthereby picked up bythe applicator pad. The base of thetray is formed with a series of parallel grooves or recesses (notvisible in the drawings) to prevent migration of the product across the base.

In usethe device is supplied in its sealed condition which rendersthe container airtight and prevents evaporation of the cleaning preparation contained within it. When it is desired to use the product the closure member 9 is pulled backto reveal the applicatorwhich risesthrough the opening 6 due to removal of the compressive force applied by the closure member and can then be removed from the tray and used in the nature of a sponge or pad to apply the cleaning product 8 to a surfaceto be cleaned. The applicator may be re-introduced into the tray as required to pick up more cleaning preparation. Once the cleaning operation has been completed the device is discarded. Alternatively the cover may be arranged to be re-sealable in orderto permit re-use of the device while maintaining an airtightseal between periods of use.

The device is particularly suitablefor use in connection with cleaning operations where a predetermined known quantity of cleaning preparation is likely to be required. One example is in the refurbishing of plastic vehicle bumpers where a relatively The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

2 small quantity of cleaning product is sufficient to treat the bumpers of one vehicle. A single device of the kind described may thus be purchased, utilized for this purpose and then discarded. This avoidsthe need to purchase a greater quantity of cleaner product than is 70 necessary, in addition to which the device, being in the nature of both a container and an applicator, is self contained and it is not necessaryto acquire or purchase separate cloths orthe liketo applythe cleaning or refurbishing preparation as has been necessary hitherto. The device could alternatively containJor example, a cleanerfor horses hooves.

Various modifications may be made without depart ing from the invention. For example the shape and size of the container ortray may be varied as desired and absorbant applicators otherthan foamed plastics material may be employed.The lid of the container may be of different construction provided itis capable of being sealingly engaged with the container bodyto provide an airtightseai and prevent evaporation of the 85 cleaning product. The invention may also be used in conjunction with a wide variety of cleaning, polishing refurbishing or like products in paste, cream or other viscousform.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification 90 to draw attention to thosefeatures of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood thatthe Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/orshown in the 95 drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A device for containing and applying a product comprising a container, a quantity of product to be dispensed located within the container, an applicator removably locatedwithin the container and having an absorbantface thereof in contact with the product in the container, and a detachable cover member en gageable overthe mouth of the containerto close same in an airtight manner.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said container comprises a tray formed from plastics material having abase adapted to accommodate the productto be dispensed and an open top closable by said cover member.

3. A device according to claim 1 or2 wherein said cover member comprises flexible sheet material sealingly engaged with the container around the edges of said opening to form an airtight enclosure.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein sealing is effected by means of pressure sensitive adhesive.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said cover member is re-sealable in an airtight manner after use.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said applicator comprises a pad of resilient material having a height slightlygreaterthan the depth of the container whereby on removal of said coverthe inherent resilience of the pad causes same to rise slightly beyond the mouth of the containerto enable itto be gripped by a user.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said pad comprises a main body portion of relatively flexible foamed plastics material and a grip portion of less GB 2 180 445 A 2 flexible material.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said grip portion is formed from a material which prevents product from migrating th rough the flexible foam into contact with user's hand.

9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the base of said tray is formed with recesses to accommodate product and restrain some from migrating across the base.

10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said product is viscous in nature.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said product is in paste or cream form.

12. A device accordingto claim 10 or 11 wherein 80 said product is a cleaning or polishing preparation.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said product is a preparation for refurbishing vehicle bumpers.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said product is a preparation for cleaning horses hooves.

15. A device for containing and applying a cleaning, polishing or like product substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims andlor shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Tweeddale Press Group, 8817356, 4187 18996. Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.