US20120097183A1

US20120097183A1 - Lotion applicator

Info

Publication number: US20120097183A1
Application number: US12/925,531
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey Brian Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-25
Filing date: 2010-10-25
Publication date: 2012-04-26

Abstract

A lotion applicator with an elongate handle member, an applicator head portion, a hinge member, a hook type fastening panel and a plurality of disposable lotion application pads. The applicator head portion is hollow and has a front half and a rear half. The rear head half is attached to one end of the elongate handle. The front half and rear half are hingedly attached to each other. The the hook type fastening panel is attached to the outer surface of the front head half. The front head half and the rear head half form a hollow internal compartment when the front half and the rear half are in the closed position. The hollow compartment is sized to retain the disposable application pads. The disposable application pads are made of fibrous absorbent material that can retain lotion and can also be removably attached to the hook type fastener panel.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of liquid applicator devices and more specifically to a hand held lotion applicator.
From time to time it may be necessary for a person to apply lotion to a hard to reach area of the body, for example the middle of one's back. Since it is hard for a person to reach that area, it would be helpful to have an applicator that includes an elongate handle with a lotion application head at one end.
A number of lotion applicators have been designed, and several have been manufactured for just such a purpose.
However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that the application head must be cleaned after each use. Some applicators do provide additional applicator pads where a used pad is peeled off of the head and a new pad is applied using double faced adhesive. However, the pads tend to be bulky sponge type designs and are only intended to be used after the preceding pad has worn out. There is no provision for storing disposable single use pads in close proximity to the applicator for situations when a person is using the applicator in a remote location such as the beach. It would therefore be helpful to have available a lotion applicator device that allows a person to use a disposable application pad and to have quick and easy access to additional application pads while at a remote location.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hand held lotion applicator that allows a person to easily attach and detach a disposable lotion application pad to the head of the applicator.
Another object of the invention is to provide a lotion applicator that stores additional application pads within the hollow head of the applicator device.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a lotion applicator comprising: an elongate handle member, an applicator head portion, a hinge member, a hook type fastening panel, a plurality of disposable lotion application pads, said applicator head portion being hollow, said head portion having a front half and a rear half, said rear head half fixedly attached at one end of said elongate handle, said head front half and rear half hingedly attached to each other, said said hook type fastening panel fixedly attached to the outer surface of said front head half, said front head half and said rear head half forming a hollow internal compartment when said front half and said rear half are in a hingedly closed position, said hollow compartment sized to removably retain a plurality of said disposable application pads, and said disposable application pads made of fibrous absorbent material that can retain lotion and can also be removably retained from said hook type fastening panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side section view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head portion of the invention in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the application and removal of the disposable pad of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the lotion applicator of the present invention. It is a hand held device that includes an elongate handle 4 and a head portion 4. The rear portion 8 of the head is fixedly attached to the upper end of the handle 2. The front portion 6 of the head 4 is hingedly attached to the rear portion 8 as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 7 as hinge member 26. A disposable pad 10 is removably attached to the outer top surface of head portion 6 as will be described in more detail below.
FIG. 2 is a side section view that longitudinally bisects the invention. Rear head portion 8 is a continuation of handle portion 2. The front head portion 6 and rear head portion 8 forms a hollow container within 34 that allows a plurality of disposable pads 16 to be stored within the head portion 4. The outside surface of front head portion 6 has a hook type fastener panel 10 fixed to it. The hooks of this panel 10 can removably retain disposable pad 20 because the pad 20 is made of absorbent, loop type fibrous material that interacts to the hook fastener panel 10 in that same way that a standard loop type fastener such as Velcro works as shown in FIG. 4.
Referring back to FIG. 2, a cylindrical cup shaped portion 36 is sized to hold a plurality of pads 16 that are identical to the one 10 shown affixed to the hook type fastener panel 20. My experiments show that at least twenty additional pads 16 can be retained in the cup shaped portion 36.
FIG. 3 shows the head portion 4 in the open position as front head portion 6 has been swung open from rear portion 8 via hinge member 26. Cup shaped member 36 can be seen retaining a plurality of pads 16. A magnet 22 embedded in front head 6 is aligned with a steel plate 24 embedded in rear head portion 8. When the two head portions 6, 8 close, the magnet 22 attracts steel plate 24 thereby keeping the two head portions 6, 8 closed until the user forcibly separates them. Of course, other standard closures may be used, such as a snap closure or hook and loop closure.
FIG. 5 shows a front plan view of the invention. An aperture 14 in the end of the handle 2 allows the invention to be hung on a hook, or allows a cord to be tied through the aperture 14 to facilitate other hanging options. Ribs 12 indicate the hand gripping portion of the handle 2 and help prevent slippage during use.
FIG. 6 is a left side view of the invention and is shown for clarity purposes.
FIG. 7 is a right side view of the invention which clearly shows hinge member 26.
FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the invention.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. lotion applicator comprising:

an elongate handle member;

an applicator head portion;

a hinge member;

a hook type fastening panel;

a plurality of disposable lotion application pads;

said applicator head portion being hollow;

said head portion having a front half and a rear half;

said rear head half fixedly one end of said elongate handle;

said head front half and rear half hingedly attached to each other;

said said hook type fastening panel fixedly attached to the outer surface of said front head half;

said front head half and said rear head half forming a hollow internal compartment when said front half and said rear half are in a hingedly closed position;

said hollow compartment sized to removably retain said disposable application pads; and

said disposable application pads made of fibrous absorbent material that can retain lotion and can also be removably attached to said hook type fastener panel.