US1935639A - Container and applicator - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1933. w. T. KEESHAN CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR Filed May 19, 1932 INVENTOR f/ fla/1I Les/Ia/z Wawy@ ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR William T. Keeshan, Navesink, N. J.

Application May 19, 1932. Serial No. 612,331

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain applicators which may be employed as means for containing and applying various liquid substances, such as nail polishes, nail polish removers, cuticle removers, or equivalent substances.

Liquid nail polishes, which are usually viscous solutions of nitrocellulose containing, as coloring matter, dyes in solution, tend to thicken through evaporation of the solvents, thereby retarding the drying time and deepening the color so that it varies from that originally intended. Bottles which have been previously used as containers for nail polishes are open to the objection that they admit of the evaporation of the solvents and 5 thickening of the polish and the attendant disadvantages and objections above enumerated, in addition to presenting the risk of upsetting and spilling the contents and the difiiculty and inconvenience experienced of obtaining uniform application of the contents With a separate applicator dipped into the container. Many of these disadvantages and objections also apply to nail polish removers, cuticle removers, iodine or other equivalent substances.

The present invention, therefore, broadly comprehends a safe and practical device of the indicated character which serves both as a container for conveniently carrying liquid substances of this nature and an eiicient medium for dispensing and applying the same without waste either through spillage or loss through evaporation and thickening while providing means by virtue of which an even application is insured and a uniformity of color is obtained.

The invention further contemplates a container and applicator designed for the intended purpose which includes means for preventing the discharge of the contents by expansion due to temperature changes, which means particularly resides in the provision of a removable closure cap which is equipped with an absorbent pad containing a vapor pressure generating substance which counteracts the expansion of the reservoir contents and which further acts to prevent hardening of the substance on the applicator brush or element.

As a further feature, the invention embodies an improved venting means to be used where the reservoir contains a viscous substance which does not readily flow and requires venting.

The invention further resides in a device of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of use, in-

expensive to manufacture, which is practically unbreakable and which is highly eilicient for its intended purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there are exhibited several examples or embodiments of the invention, While the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing: y

Figure 1 is a side view of a container and ap- 65 plicator constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the removable closure cap in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale with the cap removed and shoW- ing the venting means in closed condition.

Figure 3 is a similar fragmentary view showing the venting means in open condition.

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary View illustrating a slightly modified form of applicator. 5

Figure 5 is a similar View of a further form of applicator.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the device includes a tubular body 10,- preferably of glass or any other suitable transparent material, which in the preferred form of the invention is covered by an insulating sheath 11 of cork or any other suitable material. .One end, hereinafter referred to as the rear end, is closed by a stopper 12, while the opposite end receives a plug 13 which tapers toward its outer exposed end and has a remaining diameter 14 approximating the diameter of the tubular body 10. The plug 13 is formed with a longitudinally extending, preferably axial, passage 15 which terminates in an enlarged recess 16 opening through the outer reduced end. The applicator as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is in the nature of a brush and includes a sleeve 17 tted into 95 the recess 16 and having a constricted outer end 18. Bristles 19 are anchored in the sleeve and protrude outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, and the anchored ends of the bristles terminate Within the inner end of the sleeve 16. The anchored portion of the bristles is drilled or otherwise formed with an axial perforation 20 to permit of the flow of the contents therethrough from the reservoir dened Within the body 10, so that the contents flow onto the protruding portions of the bristles. Adjacent the rear or stopper end 12, the covering sheath 11 is provided with diametrically disposed aligned slots 21,. by virtue of which the quantity of the contents in the body may be observed, whereby 11o the user may be informed when the contents are about to be depleted.

In order to provide means for closing and protecting the appl'icator'end of the device when the same is not in use, a removable closure cap 22 is provided having a closed outer end 23 and an open inner end 24 which is of an internal diameter to snugly fit over the plug 13, which plug is preferably of cork. Within the closed outer end 23 of the cap, an absorbent material 25 is arranged which is held in place by a foraminous disk or screen 26. Where the contents are of a volatile nature containing a solvent which 'rapidly evaporates and dries on the applicator bristles, the absorbent material is saturated with approximately the same liquid as the liquid constituent of the substance in the reservoir. The purpose of this is to give off a vapor which in addition to acting as a solvent to keep the bristles in a softened condition, also serves to set up or generate a vapor pressure for counteracting any tendency of the contents of the reservoir to be forced out through the feed passages.

Where the contents of the reservoir are of a viscous nature and do not readily flow, the stopper 12 is provided with a venting passage 27 extending axially or longitudinally therethrough. In order to provide means for controlling the venting passage, a cap 28 is provided which is formed with an inwardly directed -projection 29 which engages within the venting opening and closes the same. The stopper 12 in this instance has an external portion or flange 30 of larger diameter than the diameter of the body 10, and the cap is formed with an annular inwardly directed marginal flange 31 of an internal diameter to snugly engage with the periphery of the fiange 30. Theinner extremity of the flange 31 is offset inwardly as at 32 and has an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the body 10. In this instance, the covering sheath 11 terminates in appropriate spaced relation from the rear end of the body 10 to afford a clearance to permit of sliding of the cap 28, the sliding movement being limited outwardly by the flange 30 of the stopper. The fiange 31 of the cap is formed with a vent opening 33 which, when the cap is shifted inwardly to the extent of its movement, is located behind the flange 30 of the stopper. When the cap 28 is shifted outwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 3, it is obvious that the reservoir will be vented to the atmosphere to facilitate flowing of thev contents through the feed passage 15 and bristle perforation 20.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the plug 13a, in this instance while following generally the shape of the plug illustrated in the first form of the invention, is provided with a longitudinal or axial bore 15a, within which is arranged a wick tube 16a, and which wick tube has extending therethrough a wick 17a which conveys the liquid content A from the interior of the body 10a to the exposed terminal of the wi/ck tube. This particular form of applicator is especially useful for nail polish removers but may also be used for iodine or other free fiowing liquids of this nature.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the plug 13b is preferably of a flexible elastic material, such as rubber, and the external configuration of the same is substantially identical with the plugs in the previously described forms, but in this instance, the plug is provided with a longitudinally extending borfI or passage 15b for conveying the liquid content B directly through the plug from the interior of the body 10b. This form of the invention is particularly desirable for containing and applying liquid cuticle remover and the plug serves also as a. means for not only applying the cuticle softening substance to the cuticle but for working the same into the cuticle and for working off the cuticle to facilitate its removal.

Where it is desired to produce the device so as to render the same non-refillable, a suitable form of cement may be employed to retain the stopper 12 and the plug 13 in place and to prevent its removal without fracturing the body 10.

While there have been illustrated and described several embodiments of the invention, no limitation is intended to the precise structural detalls, and variations and modifications thereof which fall within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A container and applicator including a tubular body defining a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinal feed passage and having an enlarged recess opening through the outer end of the body and in communication with said feed passage, and an applicator brush including a sleeve fitted in the recess and having a constricted outer end, and bristles anchored in said sleeve and protruding outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, said anchored portion of the bristles having an axial perforation to permit of flow of the reservoir contents therethrough onto the protruding portions of the bristles, and a closure at the opposite end of the body.

2. A container and applicator including a tubular body defining a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinal feed passage, anl applicator element carried by the plug and protruding outwardly therefrom, a closure at the opposite end of the body, said closure having a venting passage and means for closing and opening said venting passage.

3. A container and applicator including a tubular body defining a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinal feed passage, an applicator element carried by the plug and protruding outwardly therefrom, a closure at the opposite end of the body, said closure having a venting passage and means for closing and opening said venting passage, said means consisting of a cap having a vent opening and a projection on the cap engageable within the venting passage to close the same, said cap being slidably mounted for movement to a position to simultaneously disengage the projection from the venting passage and to establish communication with the atmosphere through the vent opening of the cap.

4. A container and applicator including a tubular transparent body defining a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinal feed passage and having an enlarged recess opening through the outer end of the body and in communication with said feed passage, and an applicator brush including a sleeve fitted in the recess and having a constricted outer end, and bristles anchored in said sleeve and protruding outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, said anchored portion of the bristles having an axial perforation to permit of fiow of the reservoir contents therethrough onto the protruding portions of the bristles and an insulating sheath covering said body and having aligned diametrically opposed slots adiaeent the rear end of the body for observing the quantity of the contents in the body.

5. A container and applicator including a tubular body dening a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinal feed passage and having an enlarged recess open-l ing through theouter endof thebodyandin communication with said feed passage, and an applicator brush including a sleeve fitted in the recess and having a constricted outer end, and bristles anchored in said sleeve and protruding outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, said anchored portion of the bristles having an axial perforation to permit of ilow of the reservoir contents therethrough onto the protruding portions of the bristles and an insulating sheath covering said body, said sheath denning a shoul-i der against which shoulder a removable cap fitted over said plug is adapted to seat.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a tubular body closed at one end and constituting a reservoir containing a volatile liquid content, a plug member closing the opposite end of the bodyandhavingafeedpassagefordispensing therethrough the contentsyof the reservoir, a

removable cap fitted over the plug member and absorbent means containing a liquid for producing a coxmteracting vapor pressure to prevent feeding of the reservoir contents through the feed passage when the cap is applied.

7. A device for containing, dispensing and applying volatile substances which are subject to expansion by heat, including a tubular body having a closed end and a dispensing outlet at the other end, a heat insulating sheath covering said body, a removable closure for the dispensing end and an absorbent means within the closure containing a substance for producing a counteracting vapor pressure to prevent feeding of the contents of the device through the dispensing outlet when the closure is applied.

8. A container and applicator including a tubular transparent body dening a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of the body having a longitudinal feed passage and an insulating sheath covering said body and having aligned diametrically opposed slots adjacent the rear end of the body for observing the contents in the body.

WILULAM T. KEESHAN.

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