WO1989000925A1

WO1989000925A1 - Enclosure means for liquid applicators

Info

Publication number: WO1989000925A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/002504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clark J. Rhoades
Original assignee: Rhoades Clark J
Priority date: 1987-07-27
Filing date: 1988-07-27
Publication date: 1989-02-09
Also published as: AU2325588A

Abstract

A sealing device (60) for a liquid applicator (62) of the type having a liquid applicator tip. The end of the applicator through which the tip extends is petallate. The petals (68) are enclosed with a highly resilient member (64) of generally truncated conical shape having an integral end portion. In the sealed position (B), the end portion hermetically seals the tip within the applicator and seals around any debris that may be within the channel. In the open position (A), the end portion defines an open elongate channel, resulting from a shoulder associated with the tip forcing the ends (72) of the petals (68) outward to stretch the end portion of the resilient member (64) as the tip is moved to the open position (A), without the tip contacting the end portion. When the device is moved to its sealed position (B), the petals (68) urge the channel closed. In another embodiment, the sealing device is moved between its open and sealed positions by contracting and relaxing a spring extension (112) of the sealing device.

Description


  
 



   Description
 Enclosure Means For Liquid Applicators
Technical Field
 This invention relates generally to implements for applying liquids to various surfaces, and more particularly to means for automatically sealing the tip end of such implements when not in use so as to provide an air-tight enclosure, and one that will function even when debris is present on the sealing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, means automatically seal vent means when in the non-use state.



  Background Art
 The types of liquid applicators for which the present invention is intended are varied and generally, but not exclusively, include those which have an extendable element with an application tip at the end thereof to apply a liquid to a surface when in use and which element and tip are retractable within a tubular member when not in use. Such applicators may include fountain pens, "felt tip" markers, ball point pens, and paint and nail polish brushes. Since the liquids employed in these applicators usually have volatile components, it is desirable to provide an airtight enclosure for the application tip when not in use to prevent evaporation of the volatile components. It is also desirable to seal out dirt and to prevent the unintended contact of the tip with other objects.  



   There have been a number of attempts in the past to provide sealing means for the ends of the types of liquid applicators generally under consideration here. Usually, each includes   a- petallate    structure which is forced open when the implement is extended to be used and which closes when the tip of the implement is retracted. Known attempts have been described in the following U.S. Patents:
Patent Number Inventor Date Issued 1,714965 Ullner May 28, 1929 1,839,817 Walker Jan. 5, 1932   2,291,859    Andrews Aug, 4, 1942 2,559,555 Zepelovitch Jul. 3, 1951 3,480,370 Koeln Nov. 25, 1969 4,218,154 Erfer Sep. 10, 1985 4,540,300 Midorikawa Sep. 10,1985 4,575,271 Hashimoto, et al. Mar. 11, 1986 4,595,307 Heyden Jun. 17, 1986 4,629,348 Hashimoto, et al.

  Dec. 16, 1986 4,640,637 Winthrop Feb. 3, 1987
 Thus, Ullner describes a cap for a fountain pen, which cap has a petallate closure at the end covering the pen point. The cap is placed over the point end of the fountain pen to cover the point when not in use. When the pen is to be used, the cap is drawn further over the pen barrel with the result that the petals of the end of the cap are forced apart. The petals are described as being of a material, presumably a metallic material, which has spring resilience to normally contract the petals toward each other. It can. easily be seen that foreign matter caught between two petals would cause an incomplete  seal when the cap is moved to its closed position. It can also be seen that to even approach having an airtight seal without the presence of foreign matter would require careful machining in the manufacturing process.



   Walker is similar to Ullner, and differs only in that the petallate closure is more intimately joined with the body of the pen and in that the closure of the petals is assisted by an annular spring mounted circumferentially about the petals. While this device may force closure in spite of softer debris between the petals, it would not do so with harder debris.



   Andrews is a relatively complicated variation of
Walker and Ullner.



   Zepelovitch shows a fountain pen having a resilient plug in the end of a non-petallate opening, the hole in which plug self-closes upon retraction of the point of the pen. While the plug may provide a satisfactory closure for a period of time, it is apparent that, since the point of the pen must be forced through the plug to open the hole, the hole in the plug will eventually wear, thus losing its ability to seal the opening. Additionally, such an arrangement would be unsatisfactory when used with an implement having a soft tip, such as a felt tip pen or a paint or nail polish applicator.



   Koeln is a variation of Walker, with the same limitations thereof.



   Erfer is also a variation of earlier petallate closure means and has the same limitations.



   Midorikawa overcomes some of the limitations of the devices described above, but at the cost of considerable complexity, obviously requiring several manufacturing steps. Additionally, an inherent  disadvantage of the design is that the writing element is radially unsupported for a long distance from its tip. In fact, no radial support at all is shown. It is apparent that this arrangement would result in unsatisfactory use in writing when any degree of radial force were exerted on the tip.



   Hashimoto '271 discloses a relatively complex sealing arrangement consisting either of a flapper or a ball, either of which could suffer from problems with debris.



   Hevden shows a closure for an implement such as a pencil or a pen comprising a resilient retractable sheath placed over the end of the implement. The sheath is drawn back away from the tip of the implement, thus opening a hole in the end of the sheath and exposing the tip. This design   depends- on    the natural resiliency of the sheath for closure of the hole and, therefore, is susceptible to problems resulting   from    debris in the hole.



   Hashimoto et al.   '348    is directed to another flapper closure similar to Hashimoto et al.   '271.   



   Winthrop describes a retractable finger nail polish applicator having as a closure a manually placed and removed end cap. This type of closure, which also has been commonly used on various types of writing implements and other liquid applicators, can provide adequate sealing, but has as a main d-isadvantage the fact that there is no protection once the cap is lost. Additionally, an implement with such a closure is not as convenient to use as one with automatic closure means.  



   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide automatic closure means for retractable liquid applicators which provides an air-tight, or hermetic, seal.



   It is also an object of the present invention to provide such closure means that will furnish a hermetic seal even with the presence of some debris in the closure means.



   It is another object of the present invention to provide such closure means that is easily manufactured, with a minimum number of parts, and without the necessity of providing close tolerances.

 

   It is a further object of the present invention to provide such closure means that has no contact with the tip of the applicator while the closure means is opening and closing.



   It is yet another object of the present invention is to provide such closure means that allows for radial support of the tip of the applicator when in use.



   It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such closure means that allows for automatic sealing of the vent hole of the applicator while such applicator is not in use.



   It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such closure means for a nonretractable applicator that it automatically moved between retracted and extended positions.



   Other objects of the present invention will in part be apparent and will in part appear hereinafter.  



  Disclosure of Invention
 The present invention substantially overcomes the limitations of prior known devices by providing closure means for retractable liquid applicators which include as the closing element a one piece, highly resilient, generally conical member fitted over resilient members of a petallate opening at the tip end of the applicator and having therein a channel through which the applicator tip protrudes in the extended position. In the closed, or retracted position, the channel in the conical member is urged closed, thus providing a hermetic seal and, importantly, forcing the opening in the highly resilient conical member to surround any debris.

  When the implement is being extended, a shoulder on a slidable member associated with the tip pres-ses against the inside surfaces of the petals and forces open the channel in the conical member without contact thereof with the tip. Where applicable, the movement of the closure means provides automatic sealing of the vent hole of the applicator when in the retracted, or non-use, position. In one embodiment, such a closure means is provided for nonretractable liquid applicators which is automatically moveable from a retracted position to an extended position by shortening a spring which is an extension of the closure means.



  Brief Description of Drawings
 Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional longitudinal view of a liquid applicator employing the present invention, shown in the retracted position.  



   Figure 2 shows the applicator of Figure 1 in a partially extended position.



   Figure 3 shows the applicator of Figure 1 in a fully extended position.



   Figure 4 shows the applicator of Figures 1 through 3 with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.



   Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional longitudinal view of a liquid applicator of a nonretractable type employing the present invention.



   Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional longitudinal view of means for automatically sealing the vent hole of a liquid applicator.



   Figure 7 is a liquid applicator showing an automatic retractor applied to the applicator of
Figure 5 according to the present invention, in a retracted position.



   Figure 8 is a liquid applicator showing the automatic retractor of Figure 7, in an extended position.



   Figure 9 is a liquid applicator adapted to the automatic embodiment of the present invention shown on
Figure 7.



   Figure 10 is a top plan view of the resilient member and spring extension of an automatic sealing retractor of the present invention.



   Figure 11 is a front plan view of an applicator adapted for an automatic retractor of the present invention.



   Figures 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of applicators adapted for automatic retractors of the present invention.  



  Best Mode for Carrving Out the Invention
 Referring now to the Drawing, Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention as applied to a ball point   pen our    the like, the pen being generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. Highly resilient closure means comprises a sealing cap in the general overall shape of a truncated cone, generally indicated by the reference numeral 12. Sealing cap 12    has atn outer conical shell portion 14, and may have an
 A    integral inner cylindrical portion 16, which in the state shown defines a space 18, and which is located centrally radially of the shell portion, and an end portion 20.

  As will be seen later, the inner cylindrical portion 16 is not necessary for the practicing of the invention, but, when the nature of the implement allows, may be employed, as shown here with pen 10 in a retracted position. Cylindrical portion 16 has annular protuberances 22 extending inwardly from the inner wall of the cylinder so as to se-al against and around a narrow tube 24 of pen 10, which sealing together with the closure of channel 26 in the end portion 20 of sealing cap 12 provides the small, hermetic cavity 18   for-    tip 28 of the pen.



  Sealing cap 12 grippingly fits around and is supported by and urged into its closed state by partially petallate member 30 which has resilient petals, as at 32, which have spring resilience to normally contract the petals toward each other and which in the state shown urge sealing cap 12 to its closed position, as shown on Figure 1.   Petals¯32    are enlarged at the ends thereof, as at 34, so as to help secure sealing cap 12 in place. An annular rib 36 on petallate member 30 provides for additional sealing against sealing cap 12 and also provides additional means for securing the  sealing cap to the member. Petallate member 30, in the embodiment shown, is threaded for attachment to barrel 38 of pen 10; although, any attachment means would be satisfactory, the same not being part of, nor important to, the practicing of the present invention.



   Sealing cap 12 is preferably formed of a material such as gum rubber or a synthetic material having similar resiliency characteristics, so that, if any debris should be present in channel 26, the closing action of petals 32 together with the high resiliency of sealing cap 12 will cause the material of the sealing cap to closely surround, and tend to mold itself to, the shape of the debris and to provide a hermetic seal in spite of the presence of the debris. Petallate member 30 may be formed of any material, such as a plastic or a metal, having the proper balance of resiliency and rigidity characteristics.

 

   Figure 2 shows pen 10 of Figure 1 in a partially extended position. The means for extension and retraction are not shown in these or in other figures of the Drawing and may be any of a number of different types, the type chosen not being part of, nor of importance to, the practicing of the present invention. On Figure 2, an annular shoulder 40 on large tube member 42 of pen 10 has been moved toward channel 26 and in doing so has slidingly engaged the sloped inner walls of petals 32, thus forcing them to a more open position and, consequently, spreading end portion 20 of sealing cap 12 to cause channel 26 to open, and causing narrow tube member 24 to carry tip 28 toward, but not into contact with, end portion 20.  



   On Figure 3, pen 10 is in its fully extended position and tip 28 has been carried into writing position. It is seen that shoulder 40 remains engaged with the inner surfaces of petals 32, thus providing -radial support for tip 28 close to the tip. It can also be seen that channel 26 has been opened, and tip 28 been passed therethrough, without the tip having contacted any surface. Openings, as at 44, at the base of petals 32 may be provided for stress relief to reduce the possibility of cracking of petallate member 30 as the petals open. Sealing cap 12 extends to fully cover openings 44 and any spaces between petals 32, thus providing additional sealing.



   It can be seen, therefore, that the embo-diment of the present invention, as shown on Figures 1, 2, and 3 has only two elements in addition to the normal number of pen elements, each of which can be easily manufactured, for example, by well known injection molding processes, and neither of which requires careful machining or close tolerances.



   Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in retracted position, with like elements having the same reference numerals as on Figures 1,   2,    and 3. Here, rather than having a partially petallate element 30, as shown on Figures 1, 2, and 3, the end of the pen, generally indicated by the reference numeral 50, is petallate, with petals, as at 32, integral with the barrel 52 of the pen. Operation of this embodiment is the same as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. In this embodiment, only one additional part is required in addition to those normally found in such a device.  



   Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention as it might be applied to a large marker or to a paint or nail polish applicator. Here, a sealing cap of the present invention, in the closed position, generally indicated by the reference numeral 60, is adapted to be manually positioned and axially moved back and forth over the end of the applicator, generally indicated by the reference numeral 62, which embodiment is shown here in the "retracted"   position.   



  Sealing cap 60 includes a resilient member 64 having a channel 66 at the end thereof and a partially petallate member 68. Petallate member 68 includes resilient petals, as at 70, which have enlarged tips, as at 72, and includes openings, as at 74, and an annular rib 76, all with the functions as described with reference to like elements on Figures 1 through 3. Barrel 78 of applicator 62 may have one or more 0rings disposed between it and sealing cap 60, as at 80, to slidingly seal the barrel against the sealing cap as the sealing cap is moved axially along the barrel. Sealing cap 60 includes an annular ridge 82 which releasably engages circumferential depression 84 when in its "retracted" position, as shown on Figure 5, and releasably engages circumferential depression 86 when in its "extended" position, thus giving radial support to tip 72 and affording further sealing of the tip.

  It can be seen that pen 62 will be put in its "extended" position by moving sealing cap 60 in the direction "A" as indicated be the arrow, with like elements functioning the same as described with reference to Figures 1 through 3; and, to put pen 62 in its "retracted' position, sealing cap 60 is moved in the direction "B" as indicated by the arrow. It can also be seen that the sealing cap 60 can be  readily removed and used on other applicators of the same size.



   Figure 6 shows an additional sealing feature of the present invention which may be included in an embodiment. Here, a liquid applicator, generally indicated by the reference numeral 90, includes a barrel 92, a tube 94 which contains the liquid, and 0rings 96, 98, and 100. The tip end of applicator 90 is not shown and it may include one of the embodiments of the present invention shown on Figures 1 or 4. In the position shown, which is the   "retracted"    position of applicator 90, vent 102 is positioned between 0rings 96 and 98, and vent 104 is shown positioned between O-rings 98 and 100. A circular vent depression formed on the inner circumference of barrel 92 may be included to facilitate the communication of barrel vent 102 with tube vent 104.

  Thus, it is seen that, in the retracted position, the liquid in tube 94 is sealed against evaporation and the tip end of the pen is further sealed. When applicator 90 is moved to its extended position by sliding tube 94 in direction "A", vent 104 will be positioned with vent 102 between
O-rings 96 and 98 to allow venting of tube 94 as the liquid therein is consumed. To effect sealing of the vents, tube 94 is moved in direction "B" to the position shown in Figure 6. It will be understood that sealing cap 60 of Figure 5 could be adapted as well to provide for automatic vent sealing if desired.



   Figures 7 through 13 show an embodiment of the present invention which is automatically retractable and which may be applied to applicator 62 when it is a large marker or finger nail applicator and is filled with the appropriate liquid 110. Here, partially petallate member 68 has an extension in the form of  spring means 112 which extends over a depression 114 formed in the top of barrel 78 of applicator 62. When spring means 112 is in the position shown on Figure 7, applicator 62 is in its "retracted" position. When it is desired to put applicator 62 in its "extended" position, spring means 112 is manually biased away from its normal position by pressing it into depression 114 to shorten the overall length of the spring means and the sealing cap is thereby drawn to the position shown on Figure 8.

  Spring means 112 may be guided and slidingly held in place on barrel 78 by retaining means 116 and trough 118 on top of the barrel 78, the lip 120 of which trough engages hook shaped end 122 of spring means 112 to anchor the end of the spring means therein.



   Spring means 112 may have cutouts 124 to aid in assembling sealing cap 60 to applicator 62   by placing    the spring means adjacent the top of barrel 78 to that cutouts 124 clear retaining means 116. Sealing cap 60 is then further moved back over applicator 62 until hook shaped end 122 reaches trough 118 and is forced thereinto so that the hook shaped end will be retained in the trough when spring means 112 is depressed and relaxed.

 

   Barrel 78 may include a spring retraction flange 126 on barrel 78, having a hook shaped lip 128 to aid in holding spring means 112 in its depressed state.



  In operation, spring means 112 is depressed, to move applicator 62 to its "extended" state, so that the left edge of spring means 112, as seen on Figure 12, moves under hook shaped lip 128 to the position "B" and the spring means is held in that position by the lip and by continued manual pressure of the human operator (not shown). Again referring to Figure 12,  when it is desired to move applicator 62 to its "retracted" state, spring means 112 is moved slightly to the right to release it to the position "C" and sealing cap 60 will move over the end of applicator 62 as spring means 112 moves to position   "A".   



   Figure 13 shows barrel 78 adapted to include a moveable spring retraction flange 130 having a hook shaped lip 132 with the same function as spring retraction flange 126 and hook shaped lip 126 on
Figure 12. Here, spring retraction flange 130 includes a retaining flange which may engage either of slots -136 or 138 to accomodate either righthanded or lefthanded users When spring retraction flange 130 is located as shown on Figure 13, with retaining flange 134 engaging slot 136, it would be most convenient for a righthanded user; and, when the spring retraction flange were located with the retaining flange engaging slot 138, it would be most convenient for lefthanded users. Retaining flange 134 may be removably held in either of slots 136 or 138 by friction or by any of a number of known mechanical means, the one chosen not being critical to, or part of, the present invention.



   Thus, is will be understood that what has been described is means for automatically sealing the end   -of    retractable liquid applicators and one which provides for an air-tight seal even with the presence of debris on the sealing surfaces, the sealing means being easily manufactured with a minimum number of parts and without need for close tolerances.

 

  Additionally, the sealing means does not come in contact with the applicator tip and provides support radially for the tip as the tip is being used.  



   It will also be understood that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.



   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall.



     ther-ebetween.

Claims

1. A sealing device for a liquid applicator of the type having elongate barrel means having first and second ends, with tube means containing said liquid slidably mounted in said barrel means for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said tube means having a liquid application tip at one end thereof for protrusion from said first end of said barrel means, comprising:

: (a) a partially retaliate member having first and second end sections, with said first end being of generally cylindrical shape and fixedly attached to said first end-of said barrel means, with said second end section being petallate and of generally truncated conical shape having resilient petals protruding radially inward so that the ends thereof define a circular opening smaller than that of said first end section, which circular opening s symmetrically around, and lies in a plane perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of said tube means, the inside of the petals defining a sloped surface between said first end section and said opening of said second end section;

; (b) a highly resilient member of generally truncated conical shape, having an outer shell portion fitting grippingly around the petallate end of said partially petallate member, which extends over said petallate member to cover at least the spaces between the petals, and which has an integral end portion covering said opening in said second end section; (c) in said retracted position, said end portion defining a closed elongate channel along the longitudinal axis of the tube means, hermetically sealing said tip within said petallate member; and (d) in said extended position, said end portion defining an open elongate channel, resulting from means for forcing said ends of said petals outward to stretch said end portion of said resilient member, thereby to open said channel through which said tip protrudes.

2. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 1, wherein said means for forcing said petals outward comprises a shoulder formed on the circumference of said tube means, which shoulder slidingly engages said sloped inside surface of said petals as said tube means is moved to said extended position.

3. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 1, wherein said resilient member has an integral cylindrical portion concentric with and extending inward from the channel, which circumferentially grips and seals said tube means when in said retracted position, so that in said retracted position, said tip is sealed in a cavity defined by said cylindrical portion, said end of said resilient member, and the area where said cylindrical portion grasps said tube means.

4. A sealing device, as defined in Claim I, wherein said partially petallate member is integral with said barrel means.

5. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 1, wherein said partially petallate member is removably attached to said first end of said barrel means.

6. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 1, wherein when said tube means includes a first vent hole in the side thereof and said barrel means includes a second vent hole in the side thereof, said sealing means further comprises: (a) first resilient sealing means on the side of said first vent hole nearest said second end of said barr-el means; (b) second resilient sealing means between said first and second vent holes; whereby, when said tube means is in said retracted position, said first vent hole is sealed within said barrel means between said first and second sealing means; -and (c) third resilient sealing means between said second vent hole and said first end of said barrel means;

whereby, when said tube means is in said retracted position, said first end of said barrel means is sealed from said second vent hole; whereby, when said tube means is in said extended position, said first and second vent holes are both between said first and second sealing means and communicate with each other therein.

7. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 6, wherein said resilient sealing means comprises O-rings disposed between said tube means and said barrel means.

8. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 1, wherein said tube means can be moved between said retracted and extended positions without said tip contacting any surface of said sealing device.

9. A sealing device for a liquid applicator of the type having a relatively large application tip fixedly mounted at a first end of a relatively large tube containing said liquid, which tube is of the nonretractable type, comprising: (a) a partially petallate member having a cylindrical first end attached to said first end of said tube and having a petallate second end with resilient petals protruding radially inward so as to define a circular opening smaller than said cylindrical first end, symmetrically around, and lying in a plane perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of said tube, the inside of said petals defining a sloped surface between said larger first end and said smaller second end;

; ±b) a highly resilient member of truncated conical shape, having an outer shell portion which fits grippingly around the petallate end of said partially petallate member, which extends over said member to cover at least the spaces between said petals, and which has an integral end portion covering said opening; (c) in a retracted position, said end portion defining a closed elongate channel along said longitudinal axis of said tube, hermetically sealing said tip within said tube; and (d) in an extended position, the end portion defining an open elongate channel, resulting from means for forcing the ends of said petals outward to stretch the end portion of the resilient member, thereby to form the channel through which said tip protrudes.

10. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 9, wherein said means for forcing the petals outward comprises a shoulder formed on the circumference of said tube, which shoulder slidingly engages said sloped inside surface of said petals as said said petallate member is pulled toward a second end of said tube.

11. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 9, wherein said petallate member can be pulled toward said second end of said tube to form said channel without said tip contacting any surface of said sealing device.

12. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 9, wherein at least one resilient sealing means is provided between said tube and said cylindrical first end of said partially petallate member.

13. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 12, wherein said sealing means comprises an .0-ring.

14. A sealing device, -as defined in Claim 9, further comprising: (a) spring means formed as an extension of said partially petallate member and extending over at least a portion of said tube;

(b) the distal end of said spring means being anchored to said tube; and (c) said spring means being adapted to be biased from its normal position so as to shorten the overall length of said spring means; whereby; when said sping means is biased from its normal position, said partially petallate member will move to said extended position and, when said spring means is allowed to return to its normal position, aid partially petallate member will move to said retracted position.

15. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 14, wherein said spring means can be biased from said normal position by pressing said spring means into a depression formed on said tube.

16. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 14, wherein said spring means is adapted to be slidingly held by retaining means formed on said liquid applicator.

17. A liquid applicator of the type having a liquid application tip a one end and having a sealing device with first and second positions, with said tip enclosed in said sealing device when said sealing device is in said first position and being exposed for use when said sealing device is in said second position, said sealing device being moved from said first position to said second position by biasing away from a normal position springs means formed as an extension of said sealing device and extending over at least a portion of said applicator, comprising:

: (a) an elongate body for containing said liquid; (b) said body having said application tip mounted at a first end thereof; (c) said sealing device being adapted for axial back-and-forth motion relative to said body; (d) said spring means extending over at least a portion of said body; (e) the distal end of said spring means being anclored to said body; and (f) said body having formed therein a depression extending under at least a portion of said spring means so that said sping means can be biased into said depression, such that biasing of said spring means into said depression will cause said sealing device to move from its first to its second position.

18. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 15, wherein said spring means is adapted to be retained in said biased position by flange means formed on said liquid applicator.

19. A sealing device, as defined in Claim 18, wherein said flange means may be removably positioned to accomodate either righthanded or lefthanded users.