Foam applicator with wiper insert

• US 6,238,116 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BIC Corporation (Societe BIC)
• Original Assignee: BIC Corporation (Societe BIC)
• Inventors: Smith, Alexander Rhodes, Ashe, Gary R., Whitaker, James Jr., Lockshier, Roger F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prunner, Kathleen J.
• Application Number:
  US09/302,951
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 401/122, 401/198, 401/199, 401/127
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0006 specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1046 Brush used for applying cosmetics

Abstract

The present invention is related to a durable foam tipped applicator that can absorb and retain fluids easily. The foam material used to make the applicator tip may be used in both water-based and solvent-based fluids. A wiper insert may be used to remove excess liquid from the applicator during removal from a reservoir of fluid. A lip at the mouth of the wiper insert can redirect excess fluid into the reservoir.

Claims

1. A container for the storage of a correction fluid and adapted to be used with an applicator inserted through a container opening, said container comprising:

(a) a reservoir portion for containing fluid;

(b) a neck portion defining an opening to said reservoir portion, said opening being formed around a central axis

(c) an applicator, said applicator including a foam tip, wherein said foam tip is made of material that is chemically inert in both water-based and solvent-based solutions, has a density from about 4 to about 7 pounds per cubic foot, and has a porosity of from about 80 to about 130 pores per inch.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said neck portion includes a wiper insert disposed annularly around said opening and central axis, wherein said wiper insert comprises:

an upper opening portion defining said opening to the outside of said container and having a first inner diameter sloping inward and downward to a second inner diameter smaller than said first inner diameter;

an annular wiping lip in the form of a protruding structure extending upward from and surrounding said upper opening portion at said first inner diameter of said upper portion, said wiping lip and said upper portion being shaped to direct excess fluid wiped onto said wiping lip into said reservoir so that fluid does not remain on said insert; and

an inner portion disposed below the upper opening portion, said inner portion including an annular wall shaped for removing excess liquid from the applicator passed therethrough.

3. The container according to claim 2, further comprising at least one cleaning element connected to said inner portion and shaped to wipe excess fluid off said applicator withdrawn through said wiper insert.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein said at least one cleaning element comprises a plurality of cleaning elements in the shape of prongs having upper ends connected to said wiper insert and lower ends extending toward said applicator and forming an open and broken circle about the central axis of said applicator.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of cleaning elements are approximately orthogonal to the axis of said applicator.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein said prongs are separated from each other by sectional apertures.

7. The container according to claim 4, wherein said prongs can flex or bend as the applicator is removed or inserted into the container.

8. The container according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the open and broken circle formed from the plurality of cleaning elements is larger than the diameter of the applicator.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the lower ends of the prong-shaped plurality of cleaning elements are less than about 0.5 mm from the surface of the applicator.

10. The container according to claim 2 further comprising a bevel at the lower end of the annular wall shaped for removing excess liquid from the applicator, wherein said bevel slopes inward and downward until terminating at a rounded edge.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein said foam tip is made of material having a density of from about 5.4 pounds per cubic foot to about 6.6 pounds per cubic foot.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the material for said foam tip has a porosity from about 85 to about 120 pores per inch.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the material for said foam tip has a porosity of about 110 pores per inch.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the material for said foam tip has a tensile strength of at least 20 psi.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the material for said foam tip has a minimum elongation of 180 percent.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein the material for said foam tip is polyester polyurethane.

17. A container for the storage of a correction fluid and adapted to be used with an applicator inserted through a container opening, said container comprising:

(a) a reservoir portion for containing fluid;

(b) a neck portion defining an opening to said reservoir portion, said opening being formed around a central axis; and

(c) an applicator, said applicator including a foam tip, wherein said foam tip has a density from about 4 to about 7 pounds per cubic foot and a minimum elongation of 180 percent.

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the material for said foam tip has a tensile strength of at least 20 psi.

19. The container according to claim 18, wherein said neck portion includes a wiper insert disposed annularly around said opening and central axis, wherein said wiper insert comprises:

an upper opening portion defining said opening to the outside of said container and having a first inner diameter sloping inward and downward to a second inner diameter smaller than said first diameter;

an annular wiping lip in the form of a protruding structure extending upward from and surrounding said upper opening portion at said first inner diameter of said upper portion, said wiping lip and said upper portion being shaped to direct excess fluid wiped onto said wiping lip into said reservoir so that fluid does not remain on said insert; and

an inner portion disposed below the upper opening portion, said inner portion including an annular wall shaped for removing excess liquid from the applicator passed therethrough.

20. The container according to claim 19, wherein the material for said foam tip has a porosity from about 80 to about 130 pores per inch.