US20130306092A1

US20130306092A1 - Pressure-Activated Lotion Applicator Apparatus and Method

Info

Publication number: US20130306092A1
Application number: US13/893,555
Authority: US
Inventors: Maya McNulty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-15
Filing date: 2013-05-14
Publication date: 2013-11-21

Abstract

A pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus and related method for applying lotion to a portion of a user's body, comprising: a refillable lotion reservoir; an air chamber; a flexible, barrier separating the reservoir from the air chamber; and one or more holes for passing the lotion from the reservoir to the portion of the user's body; configured such that pressure between the applicator and the portion of the user's body causes the lotion to pass out of the applicator through the holes and be applied to the portion of the user's body, and further configured such that when a given volume of lotion passes out of the reservoir onto the portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters the air chamber, and the barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of pending provisional application U.S. 61/647,029 filed May 15, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lotions, gels and medications are used by humans in a wide array of circumstances. However, it is sometimes difficult to uniformly apply those lotions to certain parts of the body without some assistance to do so.
Sunscreens are a good example. While it is important for sunscreen protection to cover all portions of a person's skin to avoid burning as well as long-term health problems such as skin cancer, it is very difficult to ensure that the sunscreen is properly applied to the person's back. This can be remedied if the person as a partner with them who will apply lotion to their back for them. But for a person who does not have a willing partner, reaching behind the back and obtaining an even application of lotion is very difficult. This is made even more difficult if the person has range of motion problems, such as arthritis, bursitis, joint calcification and the like.
One ostensible solution to the problem is a product called Roll-A-Lotion™ which can be seen, for example, at http://www.hsn.com/products/remedy-roll-a-lotion-applicator-as-seen-on-tv/6918267, and is readily found via Google with the search term “Roll-A-Lotion.” This product contains a lotion chamber which the user fills with lotion and then seals. There are a plurality of rollers disposed on the face of an applicator between the lotion chamber and the outside of the applicator. The lotion chamber is attached to one end of an elongated handle which enables the user to roll the rollers over a portion of the user's body that is not directly accessible to the user's hand. The rolling of the rollers causes lotion to be dispensed, because the lotion adheres inside the chamber to the rollers and is then transported to the outside of the chamber by virtue of the rolling of the rollers. Because the rollers are rolled by rolling across the user's skin, the lotion then transfers from the rollers to the user's skin.
There are serious disadvantages to the approach, however. Most importantly, this device does not comprise any means for ensuring a uniform flow of lotion, and specifically, for making certain that there is always a constant supply of lotion in contact with the rollers inside the chamber as lotion is dispensed. Rather, as lotion is dispensed, there is a tendency for air gaps to form between the remaining lotion in the chamber and the rollers, with the consequence that the user is rolling a dry set of rollers over his or her body while the remaining lotion adheres to other portions of the chamber besides the rollers. To only solution to this is for the user to open the chamber and redistribute the lotion so that it again contacts the rollers.
Needless to say, this is very inconvenient. At the root of this, is the fact that there is nothing to ensure that when given volume of lotion passes out of the lotion chamber onto a portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters an air chamber kept separate from the lotion chamber by a flexible barrier (e.g., diaphragm), such that the barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion chamber volume to ensure the steady availability of lotion for application to the user's body.
It would be very desirable to have a lotion applicator which overcomes these deficiencies and provides a reliable, uniform dispersion of lotion from the applicator without having to open and close the applicator to redistribute the lotion.
Similarly, while it is always possible to attach a spongy or other absorbent material at the end of an elongated handle, then apply the lotion to the absorbent material via dipping, squeezing pouring or the like, then distribute the lotion to the user's body, it will be apparent that this requires accessing the lotion source every time the lotion is to be applied. It would be desirable to have a device which carries a supply of lotion sufficient for multiple lotion applications, rather than one-by-one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus for applying lotion to a portion of a user's body, comprising: a refillable lotion reservoir for containing the lotion; an air chamber; a flexible, substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier separating the reservoir from the air chamber; and one or more holes for passing the lotion therethrough from the reservoir to the portion of the user's body; wherein: the apparatus is configured such that pressure brought to bear between the applicator and the portion of the user's body to which the lotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of the applicator through the holes and be applied to the portion of the user's body, and the apparatus is further configured such that when a given volume of lotion passes out of the reservoir onto the portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters the air chamber, and the barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing(s) summarized below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a one-way check valve such as is employed in a preferred embodiment of the invention to permit lotion to be dispensed in response to pressure applied between the applicator and the user's body.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the operation of a check-valve and diaphragm embodiment of the invention for releasing lotion from the lotion applicator when pressure is applied and then filling the space vacated by the lotion with air on the opposite side of a substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier (e.g., diaphragm) from the lotion reservoir.

FIG. 3 illustrates how the embodiment of FIG. 2 is filled with lotion.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the lotion applicator is shaped like a human hand and the palm area is shaped like a heart.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the lotion applicator is shaped like a human hand and the palm area is shaped like a flower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The purpose or objective of this apparatus is to be able to reach a person's back and be able to apply or self-administer lotion to the person's back. As used throughout this disclosure and in the claims, “lotion” includes any and all medications with are in lotion form, as well as personal cosmetics for face and/or body, for which this apparatus is also suitable. This product also may be used for other hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as for a person who has restricted movement and is unable to easily apply lotion or medication to his or her feet or legs. This apparatus is usable for right- or left-handed individuals. It is fabricated from a durable silicon, plastic or rubber material which may be in the shape of a human palm or hand, or any other shape that is effective or visually appealing for this applicator. In a human hand shaped embodiment, each fingertip has grooves for massaging and several small holes (e.g., 6) through which lotion is emitted when pressure is applied between the applicator and the person's body, as will be disclosed further herein. In the hand embodiment, the palm has a large number of holes (e.g., 50), to apply lotion when pressure is applied. The body of the palm may have a heart or flower or any other design, as desired. Again, other applicator shapes and other hole positions and configurations as may occur to someone of ordinary skill in the art are also regarded to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. The apparatus comprises materials which are soft and life-like to the touch on a person's skin. A refillable lotion reservoir contains the lotion to be applied. The reservoir and the applicator body are fabricated from materials that are easily washable/rinsable, so the apparatus can stay fresh, clean and sanitized for every use.
Filling the apparatus with lotion is fast and easy. In the hand embodiment one simply unscrews the capped wrist area, fills the reservoir with the lotion, and then screws the capped wrist area together again. Because it is easily cleaned, the reservoir may be refilled as often as is desired and different lotions or medications may be used each time.
Reaching the person's back is easy. The applicator is attached to an elongated handle which allows the application to reach and be applied to the user's upper and lower back and sides, with ease. The elongated handle is preferably about 12 inches, but may be as long as 30 inches and as short as 6 inches, with any length in between. The elongated handle, preferably, is also expandable and retractable to permit variable lengths and customization to the size of the person, and is preferably fabricated from a durable plastic. If the handle is expandable and retractable as is preferred, its length can be adjusted by an individual user to a comfortable length for the user.
The applicator may have unique designs, of which the hand is one preferred, but not limiting, example. The apparatus may be fabricated in a variety of colors. The seal is made to be secure and substantially airtight so that no lotion will spill, and so that pressures are maintained for proper operation of the device when pressure is applied between the applicator and the user's body. The apparatus is also fabricated to be lightweight for easy travel. Included is an optional carrying case to avoid leaks or spills.
Other points of disclosure to be noted with regard to this device for dispensing lotion onto a person's back are as follows:
The number of dispensing holes mentioned or depicted is illustrative and non-limiting. Any other configuration and number of holes which meets the objective of the invention for dispensing lotion is also part of this disclosure.
In lieu of, or in combination with dispensing holes, the applicator may alternatively comprise spongy materials through which the lotion passes for application/dispensation.
It is desirable to minimize how often the device needs to be refilled with lotion, and to allow the lotion to be properly dispensed even when the device is close to “empty.” There are several ways that this can be achieved using methods known in the art. For example not limitation, the device may include a sealed “diaphragm” which contains the lotion on one side and air or some other fluid on the other side. As lotion is dispensed, the diaphragm expands/repositions to move the lotion toward the holes/openings so that the lotion is always ready to be dispensed until the device is virtually empty. Other related mechanisms include pumps/plungers/primers to prime the device so that the lotion is ready to dispense at all times except when the device is substantially empty. There are an array of priming devices and methods known in the art that would be suitable for this purpose, all of which are taken to be within the scope of the present disclosure. These mechanisms would essentially make sure that the lotion can be released through the dispensing holes/openings, counteracting the otherwise natural tendency of the lotion to gravitate or pool toward a position with the lowest potential energy that may not be near the holes/openings.
Any type of lotion including medication in lotion form can be dispensed using this device, and it is an ideal device to allow beachgoers to apply lotion to their own backs in the event they do not have a partner available to do this for them.
This apparatus omits any type of rollers to dispense the lotion such as those employed by the “Roll-A-Lotion” device disclosed earlier, in favor of operating on pressure principles wherein when a given volume of lotion passes out of a lotion reservoir onto a portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters the air chamber and the barrier displaces to as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.
As opposed to squeezable tubes which diminish in size as the lotion is dispensed, the applicator maintains a constant overall size, because the diaphragm is hidden within the dispenser and is squeezed so as to diminish the size of the reservoir by virtue of the vacuum which is created when a given volume of lotion passes out of the reservoir onto the user's body. As a result, and in contrast to ordinary squeezable tubes, the user never actually squeezes any tube. Rather, it is the act itself of applying lotion which naturally compresses the diaphragm and decreases the size of the reservoir so that a reliable flow of lotion onto the user's body can always be achieved until the reservoir runs out of lotion and needs to be refilled.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the invention, making use of a series configuration of check valves to emit lotion when the applicator is pressed against the user's body and to then backfill the space of the emitted lotion with air on the opposite side of a diaphragm or similar stretchable material barrier. Specifically, this embodiment makes use of check valves 11 which permit air or fluid flow in one direction only. The downward-oriented arrow on the left of FIG. 1 shows the direction in which air or lotion is permitted to flow. The upward oriented arrow with an overlaid “x” shows the direction in which air or lotion is not permitted to flow, i.e., is barred from flowing. For compactness in FIG. 2, this check valve is schematically represented by the check valve symbol 11 to the right of the equal sign in FIG. 1, with the permitted directionality of flow as indicted by the downward-pointing cone. This borrows from the symbol for a diode that is often used in electrical diagrams for devices that enforce a flow of current on one direction only.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates these check valves 11 configured such that the application of pressure between bottom of the applicator 2 and the user's body causes lotion to pass one way through the check valves 11 and be released onto the user's body. Specifically, shown in FIG. 2 is a bottom surface 12 comprising one or more fluidic check valves 11 thereon which permit fluid (here, lotion) to only pass downward, never upward. Bottom surface 12 has two positions: a default “memory” position labeled by in solid line by “A” and a compressed “pressured” position labeled by in dash-dot line by “B.” Because the fluidic check valves 11 are disposed upon bottom surface 12, these fluidic check valves 11 also assume these two positions “A” and “B” at the same time as and in harmony with the movement of bottom surface 12. Bottom surface 12 comprises a material which toggles between position “A” and position “B” such that when no pressure is applied bottom surface 12 resides in “default” position “A” but when pressure is applied it bends into position “B.” Then, when the pressure is released, it snaps back into the default position “A.”
Applicator 2 also comprises a top surface 18 comprising one or more air check valves 11 thereon (only one is illustrated). Between top surface 18 and bottom surface 12 there is also a flexible, substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier 13 in the nature of a flexible diaphragm between a lotion reservoir 14 defined beneath the diaphragm 13 and an air chamber 15 defined above the diaphragm 13. The diaphragm 13 flexes upward and downward, see the bi-directional arrow 16, depending on how much lotion is contained in lotion reservoir 14. When lotion reservoir 14 is filled with lotion, diaphragm 13 flexes upward, and as lotion reservoir 14 empties over time due to use of the lotion, diaphragm 13 flexes downward, as will be further elaborated momentarily.
While there are various ways to fill lotion reservoir 14 with lotion which will be apparent to someone of ordinary skill in the pertinent arts, one simple way to fill reservoir 14 is to unscrew top surface 18 together with diaphragm 13, from the bottom surface 12, via screw-threads (not shown) situated in the vicinity of top and bottom portion joinder line 17. Then, one inverts the top surface 18/diaphragm 13 portion as shown in FIG. 3, and pours lotion 3 from a lotion container 31 or other suitable vessel into lotion reservoir 14. Finally, one sealably reattaches the bottom surface 12 portion with the top surface 18/diaphragm 13 portion along joinder line 17 via the screw threads, and once all joints are resealed, the applicator is ready to use.
The sealing of applicator 2, which can be achieved by a variety of methods well-known in the art, is important for two reasons. First, it is desirable not to have the lotion leak. Second, because the operation of the invention in the preferred embodiment relies upon the pressure applied between said applicator and the portion of the user's body to which the lotion is to be applied, a good pressure seal is required for proper operation.
Returning now to FIG. 2, the operative principle by which the lotion is applied is as follows: when pressure is applied between bottom surface 12 and the user's body, the bottom surface 12 together with the fluidic check valves 11 is pressed upwards from position “A” to position “B.” If the lotion reservoir 14 is filled, then because the air check valves 11 on top surface 18 will not permit air to flow upwards, this pressure will force some lotion to flow through the fluidic check valves 11 on bottom surface 12 and onto the user's body, because the fluidic check valves 11 which operate in the downward direction on bottom surface 12 provide the only means to relieve the pressure. Then, when the pressure is released, bottom surface 12 will snap back from position “B” to default position “A.” Now the check valve series work oppositely. Because the fluidic check valves 11 on bottom surface 12 do not permit air or fluid to enter though bottom surface 12 in an upward direction, the only relief for the vacuum that is created when bottom surface 12 snaps back to position “A” will be via air check valves 11 on top surface 18. This will cause air to be introduced into air chamber 15 to compensate for the volume of lotion of medicine that exited during the application of pressure.
As opposed to ordinary tubes which one squeezes to emit a lotion, the diaphragm 13 essentially analogizes to a “tube,” but the principle of operation is very different. Here, it is the release of pressure between bottom surface 12 and the user's body which creates a vacuum to draw air through the air check valves 11 and thus draw down the diaphragm, as opposed to squeezing of a tube. That is, whereas an ordinary tube dispenser operates by applying pressure to the outside body of the tube to press out material through the tube's nozzle, here the applicator, if analogized to a tube, operates by applying a vacuum to the tube's nozzle to compress the outside body of the tube, analogized to the diaphragm. The overall volume of applicator 2 remains unchanged throughout/
The application of pressure and then its release, may be repeated iteratively two or more times to apply additional lotion. Immediately after the applicator 2 is filled with lotion or medicine, in order to remove most air from lotion reservoir 14, the system may be primed by inverting the applicator so that bottom surface 12 faces up (against gravity), permitting air to gravitate toward bottom surface 12, and then pressing and releasing bottom surface 12 a few times to pass out the air from the from lotion reservoir 14.
It is noted that there may optionally be a spongy or felt or similar soft material (not shown) disposed beneath the fluidic check valves 11 and bottom surface 12 so as to better disperse the lotion or medicine and to provide a softer sensation against the user's skin.
FIGS. 1 through 3 are illustrative of the principles by which lotion is dispensed by the applicator 2 based on pressure applied between the applicator and the user's body. It will be appreciated that similar methods which employ pumps/plungers/primers and the like which are known in the art can also be applied as well to facilitate the dispensing of lotion using applicant's invention. The circular shape used for the applicator in FIGS. 2 and 3 is simply for illustration; as noted above, shapes such as a hand, and others that may be of interest, are also regarded within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. Give the operational principles disclosed here, including the use of check valves in series to first release lotion when pressure is applied and then draw in air on the other side of a membrane once pressure is released, a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to apply these principles to design applicator 2 in any shape or with any appearance that is desired, including the hand configuration of FIGS. 4 and 5.
For applying lotion to the user's back, the applicator 2 is attached to an elongated handle 41, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The handle may comprise a plunger/pump 42, so in an alternative embodiment, the lotion may be emitted using the pressure applied by the plunger/pump 42, with air pressure generated by the plunger or pump used to press out the lotion through the bottom surface 12. In such embodiments of the invention, the check valves 11 of FIGS. 1 through 3 together with the “memory” material for the bottom surface to toggle between positions “A” and “B” and snap/return into default position “A” are no longer needed as the pumping or plugging action serves to force out the lotion through the bottom surface 12 at the same time that air is introduce to replace the lost volume of lotion with air. In all cases, however, the principle of operation involves the use of pressure to release the lotion, as opposed to rollers or dipping of sponges and the like.
The diaphragm 13 continues to be utilized in all embodiments, however, in order to provide a fluid-impenetrable barrier between the chamber 15 and the lotion reservoir 14. Finally, the handle 41 may also screw and unscrew from the applicator 2. In some alternative preferred embodiments, in order to fill the applicator 2, the handle is unscrewed and the lotion 3 may be poured into the lotion reservoir 14. The diaphragm 13 is suitably situated to provide a barrier between the air and the lotion, using devices and methods known in the art for this purpose. Thereafter, the handle 41 is screwed back onto applicator 2, and the apparatus is ready for use.
FIGS. 4 and 5 both illustrate hand-shaped embodiments. In FIG. 4 the palm has a heart-shaped area for the holes 44 through which the lotion is passed. In FIG. 5 the palm has a flower-shaped area for the holes 44 through which the lotion is passed. Cross referencing to FIG. 1, each of the fluidic check valves 11 may have multiple such holes 44 placed thereover, that is, there may be a one-to-many correspondence between the fluidic check valves 11 and the lotion-passage holes 44. In this configuration, the holes spread the lotion over a wider area than might otherwise be achieved by the check valves alone. As also noted earlier, permeable spongy or felt-like or similar material may also be employed for the surface which directly contacts the user's skin.
It is important to keep in mind that this applicator 2 may be used as a general applicator for lotions, with or without the handle, in a way that avoids the user ever having to place the lotion on their hands (and thereafter have to clean the lotion from their hands). For example, when a beachgoer applies sunscreen, even to easily-accessible parts of the body such as the chest or belly, the typical practice is to pour the lotion into the user's hands, and then use the hands to spread the lotion. Here, once the lotion resides inside applicator, the user simply presses the applicator against the user's body which causes the lotion to pass through the holes and then be applied to the user's body. There need not be any contact whatsoever, between the user's hands and the lotion itself.
The knowledge possessed by someone of ordinary skill in the art at the time of this disclosure, including but not limited to the prior art disclosed with this application, is understood to be part and parcel of this disclosure and is implicitly incorporated by reference herein, even if in the interest of economy express statements about the specific knowledge understood to be possessed by someone of ordinary skill are omitted from this disclosure. While reference may be made in this disclosure to the invention comprising a combination of a plurality of elements, it is also understood that this invention is regarded to comprise combinations which omit or exclude one or more of such elements, even if this omission or exclusion of an element or elements is not expressly stated herein, unless it is expressly stated herein that an element is essential to applicant's combination and cannot be omitted. It is further understood that the related prior art may include elements from which this invention may be distinguished by negative claim limitations, even without any express statement of such negative limitations herein. It is to be understood, between the positive statements of applicant's invention expressly stated herein, and the prior art and knowledge of the prior art by those of ordinary skill which is incorporated herein even if not expressly reproduced here for reasons of economy, that any and all such negative claim limitations supported by the prior art are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims, even absent any express statement herein about any particular negative claim limitations.
Finally, while only certain preferred features of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus for applying lotion to a portion of a user's body, comprising:

a refillable lotion reservoir for containing the lotion;

an air chamber;

a flexible, substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier separating said reservoir from said air chamber; and

one or more holes for passing the lotion therethrough from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body; wherein:

said apparatus is configured such that pressure brought to bear between said applicator and said portion of the user's body to which the lotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of said applicator through said holes and be applied to said portion of the user's body, and

said apparatus is further configured such that when a given volume of lotion passes out of said reservoir onto said portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters said air chamber, and said barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one one-way air chamber check valve for permitting air to enter said air chamber but barring air from leaving said air chamber; and

at least one one-way lotion reservoir check valve for permitting the lotion to exit said lotion reservoir but barring lotion or air from entering said lotion reservoir; wherein:

when said pressure brought to bear and is then released between said applicator and said portion of the user's body, said lotion will pass in one direction only out of said reservoir and air will pass in one direction only into said air chamber to substantially equivalently compensate for the volume of said lotion that has exited from said reservoir.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an elongated handle of at least six inches in length with said applicator attached to a first end thereof, for permitting a user grasping a second end of said handle with the user's hand to bring said applicator onto contact with said user's body portion while said user's body portion is separated from said hand substantially by said handle length.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an elongated handle of at least six inches in length with said applicator attached to a first end thereof, for permitting a user grasping a second end of said handle with the user's hand to bring said applicator onto contact with said user's body portion while said user's body portion is separated from said hand substantially by said handle length.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device selected from the group consisting of: a pump; a primer; and a plunger; for causing said substantially equivalent volume of air to enter said air chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, fabricated in the shape of a human hand.

10. A method for applying lotion to a portion of a user's body using a pressure-activated lotion applicator, comprising:

containing lotion in a refillable lotion reservoir of said applicator;

providing an air chamber of said applicator;

providing a flexible, substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier of said applicator separating said reservoir from said air chamber; and

passing the lotion through one or more holes for from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body; wherein:

pressure brought to bear between said applicator and said portion of the user's body to which the lotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of said applicator through said holes and be applied to said portion of the user's body, and

when a given volume of lotion passes out of said reservoir onto said portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters said air chamber and said barrier displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

permitting air to enter said air chamber but barring air from leaving said air chamber, using at least one one-way air chamber check valve; and

permitting the lotion to exit said lotion reservoir but barring lotion or air from entering said lotion reservoir, using at least one one-way lotion reservoir check valve; thereby:

passing said lotion in one direction only out of said reservoir and passing air in one direction only into said air chamber to substantially equivalently compensate for the volume of said lotion that has exited from said reservoir, when said pressure brought to bear and is then released between said applicator and said portion of the user's body.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising a user grasping with the user's hand, a second end of an elongated handle of at least six inches in length with said applicator attached to a first end thereof, to bring said applicator onto contact with said user's body portion while said user's body portion is separated from said hand substantially by said handle length.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising a user grasping with the user's hand, a second end of an elongated handle of at least six inches in length with said applicator attached to a first end thereof, to bring said applicator onto contact with said user's body portion while said user's body portion is separated from said hand substantially by said handle length.

14. The method of claim 10, said applicator omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.

15. The method of claim 11, said applicator omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.

16. The method of claim 12, said applicator omitting any rollers for causing said lotion to be transferred from said reservoir to said portion of the user's body by said lotion adhering to said rollers while said applicators is rolled across said portion of the user's body.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing said substantially equivalent volume of air to enter said air chamber, using a device selected from the group consisting of: a pump; a primer; and a plunger.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising said applicator fabricated in the shape of a human hand.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the user applies the lotion to said portion of the user's body without the user's hands coming into contact with the lotion.

20. A pressure-activated lotion applicator apparatus for applying lotion to a portion of a user's body, configured such that pressure brought to bear between said applicator and said portion of the user's body to which the lotion is to be applied, causes the lotion to pass out of a refillable lotion reservoir for containing the lotion through holes of said applicator and be applied to said portion of the user's body, and further configured such that when a given volume of lotion passes out of said applicator onto said portion of the user's body, a substantially equivalent volume of air enters an air chamber, and a flexible, substantially fluidic-impenetrable barrier separating said reservoir from said air chamber displaces so as to substantially equivalently increase the air chamber volume and decrease the lotion reservoir volume.