US2267075A - Automatic applicator for liquid shoe polishes and the like - Google Patents

Description

liec. 23, 1941. G; A, BROWN 2,267,075

AUTOMATIC APPLICATOR FOR LIQUID SHOE POLISHEYAND THE LIKE Filed July 16, 1940 INVENTOR Gin/P05 ,4. B/mrv/v ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 23, 1941 AUTOMATIC APPLICATOR FOR LIQUID POLISHES AND THE LIKE SHOE George A. Brown, Roselle, N. J.

Application July 16, 1940, Serial No. 345,781 I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic applicators and more particularly to applicators for liquid polishes and dressings for shoes and the like in which the fluid flow from a reservoir is controlled automatically.

An object of the invention is to. provide a simple device for the intended purposes which may be quickly and cheaply manufactured for large scale consumption.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an applicator which is adapted for applying liquid polish or dressing to the desired portions of shoes or the like of the multi-color type without smearing or overlapping other portions of the shoe requiring polish or dressing of another shade or type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device having a novel type of guard which in one position of use serves to protect the fingers of a user and in another protects the applicator portion of the device and permits the latter to be carried safely in a pocket, bag or purse without any possibility of soiling the contents of such pocket, bag or purse.

Still another object is the provision of such construction of the guard as to minimize the possibility of its being lost.

The device is equipped with a reservoir membar or barrelfa removable so-called suction cup unit closing the member 01' barrel and a guard member. It is a further object of this invention to provide improved construction of the suction cup unit so as to minimize danger of its accidental separation from the reservoir with consequent spillage of the reservoir contents.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel type of stand for the device which serves to retain the device during idle periods, but keeps the device always ready for instant use.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and suchother objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and which shows, merely for the purposes of illustrative disclosure, preferred embodiments of the invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the appended claims without digressing from the inventive idea.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts;

of one form of my device with parts separated for Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form I of suction cup unit with a sponge rubber applicator member of different form.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further modified form of sponge rubber applicator which may be used with my device.

Fig. 6 is a-partial sectional elevation similar to Fr. 1 showing a modified form of guard as apled to the device. a

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form of guard member. v

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of an applicator of the form shown in Fig. 1 as carried in a desk stand member which latter is shown in vertical section, and

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of a modified form of suction cup unit applicable particularly to the neck of a bottle.

Referring now to the drawing, l0 denotes a reservoir tube or barrel adapted to contain black or colored lotions, liquid wax dressings, white shoe dressings, or other types of liquid polishes or dressings. This tube is preferably of some unbreakable plastic composition of any of the commercially available types and preferably is. both transparent and colorless so that the user may ascertain the color and amount of the contents at a glance, or it may be tinted corresponding to the color of the dressing or polish intended to be used therein.

One end ll of this reservoir is. permanently closed. The other end I2 is open and provided with an annular outwardly extending bead or flange l3, formed in the present embodiment by bending or rolling the rim of the tube back upon itself as shown.

stem member 2| of resilient material such as rubber or the like having cork-like external form and adapted to fit into the mouth H of the reservoir in sealing relationship. An annular Fig. l is an elevational view partially in section integral bead or flange 22 is provided at the rear edge of this stem member. This bead 22 is resilient and deformable and so admeasured as to yield during insertion of the stem 2| in the barrel opening. The stem member has suflicient axial length to permit the bead or flange 22 to ride past the depression or groove l4 in the reservoir upon insertion and to lock behind the shoulder l5 formed by said groove. As a result impositive engagement of the bead or flange 22 and the shoulder l5 occurs after insertion of the stem into theopening 12. Thus the suction cup unit 20 as a whole will be effectively prevented from sliding out of the reservoir barrel during use. The flange thus serves as impositive means for preventing accidental uncorking of the reservoir during normal usage and is more efllcient than a simple frictional engagement between the stem'and reservoir walls. Being of resilientmaterial, however, the stem with its flange may be withdrawn from the reservoir for replenishing the fluid contained therein.

Rearwardly the hollow stem member has a wall or partition 23 completely closing the end thereof. This partition is provided with two spaced tapered bores 24 terminating in capillary holes 24' for a purpose to be presently described.

integrally formed with the stem member 2|, 0: the same material, and attached to its forward end is a suction cup member 25. This member has tapered end walls 26 flaring outwardly from the stem as shown in Fig. 1 and straight side walls 21 as shown in Fig. 2 extending parallel to the stem forming thus a suction cup which in the section shown inFig. 1 has trapezoidal form and in the section shown in Fig. 2 (taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1) has rectangular form. The suction cup member 25 is so located and formed on the hollow stem as to leave a cylindrical space 21' between its inner base 28 and the partition 23. A shoulder 29 is provided externally at the junction of the stem 2! and cup member 25. This shoulder is adapted to abut the bead l3 of the reservoir when the stem is in its finally inserted position on the reservoir, the length of stem between shoulder 29 and flange 22 being admeasured to permit the required engagement of the latter behind the shoulder l5.

An applicator 35 of sponge rubber or other suitable applicator material is adapted tobe carried by the suction cup member. This applicator in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is a square rectangular parallelepiped of the required material. It is mounted in the suction cup member in such manner that its square faces 36 are parallel with the straight side walls 21 and two of its opposite corner edges 31 and 3'! lie in the plane of the central longitudinal axis AA of the suction cup member and extend perpendicular to said axis. Thus mounted, the side faces 38 and 39 of the applicator directly adjacent the corner edge 31 extend oppositely at angles approximately of 45 with the said longitudinal axis AA and the side faces 40 and 4| extend substantially parallel to the tapered end walls 25 of the suction cup. The inner corner edge 31' extends slightly into the cylindrical space 21' without touching the partition 23. The two remaining corner edges 42 and 43 are entirely clear of the outer edges 25' of the suction cup member so that in use as will be presently described, either one of the side faces 38 or 39 may be used to apply polish without causing contact between the shoe surface and the edges 25'. This applicator is permanently attached to member 25 by suitable cement or any other desirable manner.

A propeller.member 50 comprising a piece of 5 wire of copper or other non-corrosive material having parallel legs 50' and 50' is strung or looped through the applicator at 5|. The legs extend from the applicator 35 through the chamber 21', the tapered bores 24 and the capillary openings 24' in the partition 23 and are looped together or bent towards each other at 52 to prevent withdrawal after mounting.

The diameters of the capillary holes 24' are only slightly in excess of the wire diameters. Thus the space between the wire legs and the capillary openings 24' is made just sufllcient so that the fluid in the reservoir will not leak out due to the resistance set up by capillary attraction of the liquid around the small space. This prevents liquid L from leaking out through the holes and the applicator 35. The tapered bores 24 have maximum diameters sufliciently admeasured to facilitate insertion of the legs 50' and 50 during the assembly of the device.

A guard member 50 is carried on the barrel. This guard member is cup or bell-shaped as shown and has an opening 6| at its closed end of a diameter. sufficient to permit frictional sliding movement of the member longitudinally on the outside of the barrel Ill. The cup or bell member has sumcient depth and diameter to surround completely the suction cup unit 20 when the bell is located at the mouth end of the reservoir with the bead l3 engaging the inner wall of the bell member around the opening 6|.

The bell member mouth 52 is adapted to be closed by a removable cap 55. This cap may have suitable bayonet slots 56 in its side walls serving to engage bayonet pins 61 carried on the bell member. With the cap in place, the suction cup unit 20 is completely enclosed by it and the guard member and permits the entire device to be carried in a pocket, purse or handbag without danger of soiling by the reservoir contents or fluid on the applicator.

In use the cap is removed and the guard member 50 slid back on the reservoir tube to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 to expose the applicator and the suction cup. In this position, the guard member having substantially larger dimensions than the reservoir serves as a protective apron to prevent contact of the users fingers with the applicator or shoes and thus prevents soiling.

A convenient clip 10 carried on the reservoir tube serves to facilitate carrying of the device in the pocket in the manner of a fountain pen.

The guard member may have the modified construction shown in Fig. 6. Therein the end of guard member 60' is externally threaded at H. The removable cap member 65' is internally threaded at 12 and may be removed or applied by screwing onto the threaded portion H.

A further alternative construction of the guard member is shown in Fig. 7. Herein guard member 60 is provided with an annular groove or depression 13. The cap member is provided with internal lugs or projections I4 which snap into the groove I3 when the cap is forced over the mouth opening of the guard. The engagement is sufllciently impositive to permit removal of the cap during use of the device.

Guard members 60, 60' and B0 and the caps a 65, 65' and 65 may be made of the same material as that of the reservoir tube 2 or of metal compress the applicator.

such as aluminum or oi any other suitable material.

The applicator members, too, may have different form from that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the applicator 35 may be in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped inserted into a suction cup 25 in such manner that the applicator surface 68 is perpendicular to the longitudinaal axis of the suction cup unit 20'. In such event the shape of the suction cup portion 25 of the suction cup unit is modified to receive the changed form of applicator. The stem 2| and internal structure of the suction cup unit remain otherwise the same.

A further modified form of applicator 35 is shown in Fig. 5. This applicator is shown as cylindrical in form and is attached in a suitably shaped suction cup member 25 wits its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suction cup unit 20 The curved outer surface of this applicator is used to apply the polish or dressing. The other internal structure of the suction cup unit is substantially the same as of the others.

The operation of the device is as follows:

After the user has completed the polishing operations, the guard is again slid over the suction cup unit and the cap 85 replaced. It may now safely be placed in a purse or clipped in the pocket by the clip I ready for further future use. Since the guard and cap completely enclose the moist applicator, no dangers of soiling of the pocket or purse are present.

Assuming the reservoir H] to be filled with polishing fiuid L and the suction cup unit 20 in place as shown in Fig. l, the cap 65 is removed from the guard 60 as shown and the latter slid backward along the reservoir tube ID to dotted .position to unsheath the applicator sponge 35.

The user thentilts the reservoir barrel to an angle of about with the horizontal so that one of the applicator surfaces 38 or 39 is substantially horizontal. -He presses this surface onto the shoe surface to be polished with a pumping motion, serving momentarily to partially Such pumping action causes the legs of the propeller to move inwardly dislodging any sediment or encrustation about the capillary openings 24. At the same time air from the chamber 21' is forced through the capillary openings into the reservoir building up a slight back pressure at the end ll of the reservoir. This back pressure forces liquid out through the openings 24' and into the applicator 35 where it is absorbed, moistening the latter. After a few pumping motions the applicator becomes sufficiently moistened with liquid from the reservoir to commence application thereof to the surface of the shoe. This application to the surface may be by a brushing or rotary motion of the surface 38 or 39 of the moistened applicator on the shoe. Since the outline of the fiat surfaces 38 and 39 have sharply defined straightedges because 'of the parallelopiped shape of the said applicator 35, the latter is capable of applying polishes neatly to definitely defined shoe areas which may differ in color from others adjacent. The 45 tilt of the applicator during use makes it convenient to manipulate the device since it may be held between the fingers in the manner of a pencil. Also, since the guard member remains on the reservoir tube below the finger grasping point, the fingers are protected from being smeared with polishfrom the moist applicator 35. If the reservoir becomes empty, the suction cup stem 2| is removed from the reservoir ill, the latter refilled and the stem replaced as described and shown in Fig. l. The impositive engagement of the fiange 22 behind the shoulder l5 prevents dislodgement of the suction cup unit during the motion of the device during application of polish.

It is understood, of course, that if the applicators 35' or 35 are used instead of applicator 35, the holding angle of the device in use will differ from 45, being substantially to the horizontal if the applicator 35 is used and any desired angle if that of Fig. 5 is used. It is essential, too, that the applicator present at least one sharply defined edge like the edges of the faces 38 and 33 or the sharp edges of the surface 68 or the edges 59 of the applicator 35, so that such sharp edges can be used along the bordering lines of one of the multi-color'ed areas of shoes being polished. The form of applicator 35. shown in Figs. 1-3 has been found,particularly effective and convenient for use. The edges of the surfaces 38 and 39 are all sharply defined permitting sharply defined polishing. The corner edges 42 and 43 too are clear of the outer end 25' of the suction cup. Thus the suction cup itself does not interfere with brushing or rotating applicatory motion during use and eliminates streaks in the surface being polished. Also, the convenient holding angle of 45- for the device as a whole makes it easy and quick to use.

The guard 60 normally remains upon the reservoir tube at all times. Its removal over the open end of the reservoir is prevented by the bead l3 while the clip 70 prevents its complete removal from the closed end of the tube. There -is thus no likelihoodof its being lost or misplaced. The cap 35 is the only part completely separated from the device as a whole. Since this is normally only removed temporarily during use, there is little danger of loss. The guard member and cap thus provide an effective safety feature which eliminate danger of soiling at all times.

In the event that the device is not required to be carried, the guard 60 and cap 65 may be eliminated and a suitable desk or bureau stand substituted. Such a stand 90 is shown in Fig. 8.

This stand or base 90 composed of any suitable material for example Polystrene molding material or other suitable plastic material, metal or the like comprises a well member 9| closed at its bottom 9| and open at its top 9|. A conical annular flange 93 integrally formed with said well member extends downwardly and outwardly from the top edge of the well. The lower outer edge 93 of the flange terminates at substantially the same level as the bottom 9| of the well and with it forms the base of the stand. The maximum diameter at the lower edge 93 is sufiicient to provide a low center of gravity for the base as a whole and to prevent tilting of the base when a complete device including its reservoir tube I0 are carried in the well. The depth and diameter of the well itself are so admeasured as to receive the entire suction cup unit 20 therein as shown in such manner that when inserted and released the reservoir tube rests against upper edge 9| of the well directly. above the bead I3 while the applicator 35 rests both against the bottom 9| of the well and presses slightly against the side wall 9| of the well. Sufficient wedging exists in the position shown to prevent the device from falling out of the stand. Since the applicator 35 is near the bottom of the comparatively deep well, it retains its moisture content over a longer period of time than if exposed and is ready for instant use without much or any pumping action ordinarily necessary if the device is left exposed on a desk or table rather than in the stand. The stand thus not only is a convenience for desk or bureau use but has the added function of keeping the applicator moist during non-use by preventing rapid evaporation of dressing or polishing fluid thereon.

For those users who prefer a larger reservoir than that afforded by the tube I0, I provide a suction cup unit I20 embodying principles of this invention which may be applied directly to the bottle containing polishing fluids. This modiflcation is shown in Fig. 9. Herein, I denotes a bottle provided with usual opening IOI and neck I02. The suction cup unit I20 adapted for insertion in the bottle neck in place of the usual stopper has a construction substantially similar to that of suction cup unit 20. It comprises a hollow stern member I2I of similar material having cork-like form and adapted to flt into the opening IOI and neck I02 of the bottle in sealing relationship. An annular bead or flange I22 is provided adjacent the rear edge of this stem member. This bead, which is resilient and deformable, is so admeasured as to yield during insertion of the stem into the neck I02. The stem member I H has suiflcient axial length to permit the bead or flange I22 to engage the bottle internally at the shoulder I03 formed at the junction of the neck and bottle proper. The

' purpose of this engagement is similar to that of the bead 22 and positively prevents dislodgment of the suction cup unit from the reservoir bottle during use. The suction cup member I25 integrally formed with or attached to the stem member I2I is similar in form to suction cup member 25 or has the different shape shown to receive the sponge rubber applicator 35. All other internal parts of the stem and the propeller member 50 are arranged as in the suction cup unit 20 and operate in the same way. The same type of applicator 35 as that shown in Fig. 1 may be used or one of the other forms shown in Figs. 4 and 5 or the like may be used. This particular type of suction cup unit is conveniently applicable tocommercial bottles of polish or dressing and operates on the same principles as that applied to the reservoir tube Ill.

The device may be used to apply liquids other than polishes or dressings to surfaces.

It is to be understood, of course, that various modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I do not therefore wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a reservoir having a mouthed opening, an internally projecting shoulder in said reservoir ad acent said opening but at a point other than said opening, closure means adapted to be inserted into said opening and comprising a stem member whose length is greater than the distance of said shoulder from said opening, a suction cup member, an applicator member supported by said suction cup member, and a latsaid opening, a suction cup unit comprising a stem member adapted to be inserted in said opening, said stem member having a length greater than the distance from said shoulder to said opening, an applicator associated with said unit, and means on said stem member adapted to engage impositively with said shoulder of said reservoir to prevent accidental dislodgment of said unit from said reservoir during use of said device.

3. A device of the character described comprising a fluid reservoir having a mouth opening, an integral shoulder adjacent to said mouth opening but at a point other than said opening, and means carried by said reservoir for applying fluid therefrom to receiving surfaces, said means comprising a tubular stem inserted into said mouth opening, a flange member on said stem for impositively engaging with said shoulder in said reservoir to prevent accidental dislodgment of said stem from said reservoir, a suction cup member attached to said stem and an applicator carried in said suction cup member, said applicator being perforate and resilient and having applying surfaces with sharply defined edges whereby fluid fed from said reservoir to said applicator may be applied to surfaces having limited outlines adjacent said limited outlines without overlapping the latter, and means for automatically feeding fluid from said reservoir to said applicator.

4. A device of the character described comprising a fluid reservoir and means carried thereby for applying fluid therefrom to receiving surfaces having limited outlines, said means comprising a suction cup unit including a hollow stem member having cork like external form and provided with an annular bead at its end for impositive engagement with said reservoir, a suction cup member integral with said stem member, said suction cup member having tapering end walls flaring from the stem and straight side walls forming a suction cup which in one cross section has substantially trapezoidal form and in a second cross section has substantially rectangular form, a resilient applicator member having substantially parallelepiped form mounted in said suction cup member so that faces thereof extend parallel to the said end and side walls of said suction cup member and other faces of said applicator extend oppositely at angles with the longitudinal axis of the said suction cup member and externally thereof rre senting sharply defined faces for the application of fluid from the reservoir to said receiving surfaces of limited outline, and means in said unit for providing fluid to said applicator from said reservoir through said unit.

GEORGE A. BROWN.

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