US2314538A

US2314538A - Fluid control applicator

Info

Publication number: US2314538A
Application number: US405503A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest L Hollenbeck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-08-05
Filing date: 1941-08-05
Publication date: 1943-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 1960-03-23

Description

March 23, 1943'; E HOLLENBECK 2,314,538

FLUID CONTROL APPLICATOR Filed Aug. 5, 1941 INVENTOR.

Ewesillfiilenbeck,

, Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID CONTROL APPLICATOE Ernest L. Hollenbeck, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 5, 1941, Serial No. 405,503

5 Claims.

My invention relates to fluid control appli-' cators of the character embodied in my copending application Ser. No. 321,621, filed March 1, 1940, now Patent No. 2,282,406, May 12, 1942.

It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a fluid control applicator which is characterized by its structural simplicity, low cost of manufacture, and the embodiment therein of a fluid feed regulator which is permanently associated with the applicator assembly in order to? prevent accidental detachment and loss of the regulator.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a fluid control applicator having a feed duct, and ports leading to opposed surfaces of a flexible spreader tongue, for supplying fluid to" such surfaces, so that as the tongue is flexed first in one direction and then the other in the manner of a paint brush, the fluid can be applied to and spread evenly over a surface to be coated.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a fluid control applicator embodying a fluid feed regulator which is manually operable to vary the size of the ports and to thereby control the quantity of fluid discharged from the ports.

A further purpose of my invention is the proform of fluid control applicator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a viewshowing the applicator of Fig. 1 in side elevation and with a portion thereof in section, the applicatlng strip being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the regulator of the applicator adjusted to open the ports, as distinguished from the closed ports and corresponding adjustment of the, regulator as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, and showing the applicator applied to the neck of a bottle.

Fig. 6 is a view showing in plan another form of fluid control applicator embodying my invention, with the applicating strip thereof omitted.

Fig. '7 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 6 in side elevation and with the applicating strip applied and a portion thereof broken away.

-Fig. 8 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 7 in edge elevation, and with a portion thereof in section.

'Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 7 is bottom plan. I

Fig. 11 is a view showing the applicator of Fig. 7 inverted and applied to the neck of a bottle, a portion of the applicator tongue being in section Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to the form of fluid control applicator illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, such applicator comprises, in the present instance, an elongated and tapered body I5 having a circu lar base I 6 formed with an annular flange IT. The body l5 merges into a spreader tongue l8, which latter is likewise tapered. The elements just described constitute an integral structure or assembly which is molded from a single piece of flexible and resilient material, such as rubber.

The body 15 is formed with rounded edges [5a, [5a and flat sides I5b, I51), the latter being formed with longitudinal extending grooves I9, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. its best shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 the applicator assembly is molded with a feed duct 20 which extends through the base l6 and inwardly of the body I 5 to a point where the latter merges into the tongue l8.

Two ports 2| are provided in the side |5b of the body !5, by slitting the body longitudinally and centrally for a portion of its length. These ports provide communication between the duct 20 and the sides l5b, but by reason of the resiliency of the material of which the assembly is formed, such ports are normally closed to prevent the emission of fluid from the ports.

At the upper or outer ends/of the ports 2|, pockets'ZZ, 22 are provided which serve as seats for a valve, as will be later described. Adjacent the pockets 22

recesses

23, 23 are formed in opposite sides of the body !5. These recesses are preferably semi-circular in form, and they serve to reduce the thickness of the rubber at the entrance ends of the ports M for the purpose of facilitating movement of the valve into the ports.

As shown in Fig.1, the spreader tongue I8 is provided at its free ends with an applicating strip 24 of fabric, or the like, the strip being secured to the tongue by a staple 25.

For opening the ports 2| and regulating the degree of opening of such ports, a fluid feed regulator is provided. This regulator is designated generally as R, and, in the present instance, comprises a yoke 26 formed of wire and substantially of rectangular configuration. This yoke has an upwardly extending portion 21, the

free end of which is bent at right angles to pro- As the regulator R, is applied" vide a valve 28. to the applicator assembly, the yoke 26 is extended about the body l so that the end portions of the yoke have frictional contact with the edges Hia for the purpose of holding the regulator in any position of adjustment along the length of the body l5. The valve 28 is extended through the pockets 22, but is movable downwardlyto open the ports 2| by forcing the yoke downwardly on the body i5, as will be understood from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3.

To associate the aforedescribed applicator to a, bottle or other receptacle containing a liquid such as liquid shoe dressing, I employ a metal cap C (Fig. 5) whichmay screw on or be otherwise secured to the neck end of the bottle. cap is formed with an opening 29 in which is received the base It, the flange being interposed between and clamped by the cap and the bottle neck tohold the applicator in proper position on the bottle neck.

With the applicator applied to the bottle as justdescribed and the bottle containing a liquid shoe dressing, such liquid may be applied to the surface of a shoe by manipulating the bottle and applicator as follows: By inverting the bottle and applicator and using the former as a handle, the applicatin strip may be worked back and forth over the shoe surface in the manner of a paint brush, the tongue l8 being flexed firstin one direction and then the other.

To permit discharge of the liquid the ports 2| are opened by forcing the regulator R. inwardly on the body l5, or from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3. Under such movement of the regulator the valve 28 passes from the pockets 22 inwardly of the slits to spread the latter and thus open the ports. With opening of the ports the liquid is free to flow from the duct v2 3 outwardly of the ports 2| to opposed surfaces of the tongue I8, and finally to the appiicating strip 24. Thus, by repeated oscillation of the tongue is the liquid, as fed to the applicating strip, can be applied to the surface of the shoe. The grooves 59 serve to prevent the liquid from flowing off of the edges of the body l5, and.

to direct liquid toward the applicating strip.

Manifestly, through manipulation of the yoke 25, the valve 28 can be adjusted lengthwise of the ports to vary the degree of opening of the latter, and thereby regulate the flow of liquid to a nicety and in keeping with the particular requirement. However, once the valve is returned to the pockets 2!! the ports close to prevent further emission of liquid.

Referring to the second form of fluid control applicator as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, here again th applicator assembly is a unitary structure of rubber or other suitably resilient and flexible material. This assembly comprises a body 35 having an annular flange 3|, a spreader tongue 32 which is tapered but flat to present This or glued, to the tongue.

menting, the tongue at its sides 32a. is provided opposed surfaces 32a, 32a, and a pair of tapered flap valves 33 flanking the tongue.

Interiorly the body 3|] is formed with a fluid feed duct 34 which is tapered, as shown in dash lines in Fig. '7. The valves 33 are formed by splitting the body 30 longitudinally at opposite sides of the tongue, and in order that these valves may remain attached to the body, the splits terminate short of the bottom of the body.

As in the first form of my invention, the tongue 32 carries an applicating strip 35 of suitable fabric, but in this instance the strip is cemented To facilitate such cewith grooves 36 which form channels in which the cement is received, thereby providing a more secure bond between the tongue and strip.

The grooves'36 may extend the entire length of the tongue, in which case those portions of the grooves/to the sides of the valves 33, function to prevent the liquid as emitted from the duct, from flowing to and off the edges of the tongue. grooves also direct the'flow of fluid to the applicating strip 35, and augment the flexibility of the tongue.

For regulating the quantity of liquid emitted from the duct 34, a regulator R is provided. This regulator is made of relatively light and resilient wire, and comprises a U-shaped yoke 31 having its free ends bent to form a pair of confronting trunnions 33 rotatably seated in recesses 39 of the valves 33 (Fig. 8). Protuberances 4|), 40 in the shape of beads are formed on the outer sides of the valves 33 to be embraced by the parallel portions of the yoke 31, and by Virtue of their resiliency to frictionally retain the regulator R in any position to which it can be swung.

As in the first form of my invention, the present applicator is adapted to be mounted on the neck N (Fig. 11) of a bottle or other receptacle containing a liquid such as shoe dressing. For this purpose a cap C similar to the cap C is employed to embrace the flange 3| and securely hold thekapplicator in proper position on the bottle nec In the use of my applicator, the regulator R first is swung to the broken line position shown in Fig. 7, whereupon by using the bottle as a handle the applicating fabric 35 is worked back and forth over the surface of the shoe. Normally, the valves 33 lie in close contact with opposite sides of the tongue I8 so that opposite sides of the outer end of the duct 34 are closed. However, with the valves free and the tongue l8 subjected to a back i and forth motion, the latter is flexed first in one direction and then the other to such an extent that first one valve and then the other is so flexed as to leave the unflexed valve spread away from the adjacent face of the tongue. This allows liquid to flow from the duct 34 first to one side 2a of the tongue and then the other, and from there to the applicating fabric 35, thereby constantly supplying liquid to the applicating fabric. v

When the regulator R is in the solidline position shown in Fig. 7, the outer ends of the protuberances 43 are engaged by the yoke 3'5, to secure the flap valves 33 against flexing even when the tongue i8 is flexed, so that there can be no escape of liquid. However, when the regulator is adjusted toward the broken line position shown in Fig. 7, the flap valves may be flexed to a degree which increases with such adjustment. As the degree to which the valves may be flexed controls the quantity of flow of fluid from the duct,

The

it will be clear that the quantity flow is directly controllable by adjustment of the regulator.

In practical use of the applicator and bottle, the regulator R normally occupies the position shown in solid lines in Fig. '7, wherein the valves 33 are engaged by the yoke to prevent such flexing of the tongue l8 and the valves as would cause the valves to open and allow liquid to be discharged from the duct 34. However, upon moving the regulator to the broken line position shown in Fig. '7, or any position intermediate this and the position shown in solid lines, the valves are partially or fully released to permit them to flex under flexing movements of the tongue.

I claim:

1. In a fluid control applicator, a body of resilient material, a tongue of resilient and flexible material, a duct in said body, ports in said body leading from said duct to points exteriorly of said body and urged to closed position, a valve for adjustably opening said ports, and jmeans frictionally engaging said body for retaining said valve in any position of adjustment.

2. In a fluid control applicator, a body of resilient material having a duct therein and ports leading from said duct to opposed surfaces of said body, said ports urged to closed position, a flexible tongue on said body, and a manually operable regulator for said ports, comprising a valve,

and a member secured to the valve and adjustable on said body for actuating and holding said valve in adjusted positions in respect to said ports.

3. In a fluid control applicator, a body of re silient material having a duct therein arid ports leading from said duct to opposed surfaces of said body, said ports urged to closed position, a flexible tongue on said body, and a manually operable regulator for said ports, comprising a yoke adjustable on said body but frictionally held in adjusted positions thereon, and a valve fixed to said yoke so as to be movable therewith to occupy corresponding positions of adjustment.

4. In a fluid control applicator, a body of resilient material having a duct therein and slit to form ports leading to said duct but urged to closed position, a flexible tongue on said body, pockets at one end of said ports, a valve normally seated in said pockets, and a member to which said valve is secured, said member frictionally embracing said body so as to be adjustable thereon for moving said valve from said pockets into and opening said ports.

5. In a fluid control applicator as embodied in claim 4, wherein the material about said pockets is relatively thin to facilitate movement of said valve out of the pockets into said ducts.

ERNEST L. HOLLENBECK.