Combination tire sidewall protectant dispenser and applicator

• US 6,945,722 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property Llc
• Original Assignee: Valvoline Incorporated (Bank of Montreal)
• Inventors: Su, Wen-Chen, Bucknam, William R. Jr., Anderson, Dan, Baxter, Brooke T., Colburn, Todd, Large, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/437,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20040228670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 401/9, 401/11, 401183-186, 401203-207
• US Class Current: 401/11
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/06 connected to supply pipe or to other external supply means A46B11/0003 and A46B11/0006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/20 Brushes for applying products to surfaces in general A46B2200/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3046 Brushes for cleaning cars or parts thereof

Abstract

A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to sidewall of a vehicle tire, which is constructed with an applicator head including a dispenser housing having a bottom distribution plate and an applicator pad affixed thereto, and which may be configured to complementally and releasably receive an associated container.

Claims

1. A tire applicator for applying cleaning or other surface treatment fluid to the convex curving sidewall of a tire comprising:

a housing formed with a flow chamber and including a coupling assembly that includes an inlet to the chamber and a first connector element, the housing further being formed on one side with a distribution plate through which is formed an outlet for communicating fluid from the flow chamber to an outwardly facing distribution surface;

an elongated pad mounted on one side to the distribution surface at an interface and formed on its opposite side with a concave working surface to complementally fit the convex curving sidewall, the pad further being porous for flow of fluid therethrough to the working surface;

a container including a second connector element releasably engagable with the first connector element and an outlet neck for receipt in the coupling assembly to engage in the inlet;

a fluid distribution device interposed at the interface and in fluid communication with the outlet to distribute the fluid longitudinally along the pad; and

a flow control device for regulating the flow of fluid to the distribution surface.

2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the fluid distribution device is further configured to distribute the fluid laterally along the pad.

3. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the flow control device includes a valve.

4. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the flow control device includes a one way valve responsive to a predetermined pressure in the flow chamber to provide for fluid flow therethrough.

5. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the inlet includes a tubular boss in communication with the flow chamber; and

the neck of the container is constructed to be telescopically received over the boss.

6. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the neck of the container includes at least one stud defining the second connector element; and

the inlet includes the first connector element which is formed with at least one lug for connecting with the at least one stud.

7. The applicator of claim 6 wherein:

the first connector includes at least one clearance slot corresponding in shape to that of the at least one stud; and

the neck is constructed so the container may be grasped to rotate the neck to align the at least one stud with the clearance slot for axial withdrawal therethrough to release the second connector element from the first connector element.

8. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the inlet is formed with a coupling shell that is formed with an annular cavity and a coupling wall that defines an abutment surface, the coupling shell further including at least one lug defining the first connector element; and

the neck is received in the annular cavity with the neck abutted against the abutment surface and includes at least one stud defining the second connector element for connecting with the at least one lug.

9. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second connector elements are constructed to allow rotation of the container about a rotational axis relative to the housing, and upon such rotation, the first connector element will be disengaged from the second connector element.

10. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the coupling assembly includes a cowling configured on at least one side with a tongue terminating in a registration edge; and

the container includes an end wall configured with a shoulder facing such cowling to compliment the shape of the edge to abut thereagainst to register the container relative to the housing.

11. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the coupling assembly includes a cowling configured to receive the container in close fit relationship to resist rotation thereof, and is sufficiently flexible to, upon application of predetermined rotational forces thereto, permit limited rotation thereof.

12. The applicator of claim 11 wherein:

the first and second connector elements are constructed so that the container can be rotated relative to the housing to disengage the elements from one another.

13. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the housing includes a flexible cowling projecting toward the container and configured to complementally engage the container to resist rotation of the container relative to the housing, the cowling being sufficiently flexible to flex and, upon predetermined rotational forces being applied to the container, permit rotation of the container relative to the housing.

14. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the distribution device includes at least one longitudinally extending distribution channel.

15. The applicator of claim 14 wherein:

the at least one longitudinally extending distribution channel is further formed with a plurality of laterally outwardly extending distribution branches.

16. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the pad includes a plurality of channels extending from the interface through the pad to facilitate the flow of fluid to specific desired points on the working surface.

17. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the container and the housing are configured for complemental mating to releasably hold the container against rotation about a rotational axis from a first rotational position with the first and second connector elements in axial alignment with one another, and further configured to, upon application of rotational forces thereto, permit the container to be rotated about the axis to move the first and second connector elements out of axial alignment.

18. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the distribution device includes a distribution manifold connecting a plurality of channels that extend laterally outwardly in the distribution plate and distribution surface.

19. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the distribution plate includes a plurality of flow openings arrayed about the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the plate to define the distribution device and outlet.

20. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the flow chamber is formed adjacent to the inlet and further comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending distribution ribs defining a central introduction chamber therebetween and respective laterally flanking chambers in fluid communication with such central introduction chamber.

21. The applicator of claim 20 wherein:

the distribution plate defines a bottom surface of the central chamber and the flanking chambers and includes a plurality of flow openings arrayed thereabout to define the distribution device and outlet.

22. The applicator of claim 21 wherein:

the distribution plate is formed with at least a central set of elongated flanking flow openings spaced longitudinally along the central introduction chamber, and at least one elongated flow opening formed in each of the flanking chambers.

23. The applicator of claim 1 wherein:

the container includes an end wall formed with the neck; and

the coupling assembly includes a mounting socket for receiving the end wall therein, the mounting socket being formed with an inlet bore for telescopic receipt of the neck.

24. The applicator device of claim 23 wherein:

the inlet bore is formed with an abutment ridge for abutting the neck thereagainst when the container is received in the housing.

25. A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to the convex curving sidewall of a tire comprising:

a distribution housing formed with a flow chamber and including a coupling assembly that includes an inlet to the chamber and a first connector element, the housing being formed on one side with a distribution plate having an outwardly facing concave distribution surface formed to complementally fit the convex curving sidewall and configured with at least one outlet opening from the chamber;

an elongated pad mounted on the distribution surface at an interface and formed with a working surface, the pad further being porous to flow fluid therethrough to the working surface;

a container including a second connector element and an outlet neck for receipt in the coupling assembly to engage in the inlet;

a fluid distribution device interposed at the interface and in fluid communication with the outlet to distribute the fluid from the outlet longitudinally along the pad; and

a flow control device for regulating the flow of fluid to the distribution surface.

26. The applicator of claim 25 wherein:

the distribution device is further constructed to distribute the fluid laterally on the applicator pad.

27. A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to the convex curving surface of a tire sidewall comprising:

a housing head having a front and rear extremity and including a distribution plate formed with a distribution surface, a receiver opening upwardly toward the rear extremity and a flow passage leading from the receiver to the distribution surface, the receiver being further formed with a first connector;

the distribution plate further including a longitudinal distribution channel in communication with the passage and opening into such distribution surface;

an elongated applicator pad mounted on one side to the distribution surface and formed on its opposite side with a working surface, the pad being constructed to, when such plate is pressed toward the convex tire sidewall, flex and cause the working surface to complementally fit such sidewall, the pad further being porous for flow of the fluid from the channel to the working surface;

a one way valve located along a fluid flow path extending between the container, the receiver and the flow passage for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough;

a flexible wall fluid package including a neck receivable in the receiver and including screw thread segments releasably engagable with a screw cap received on the neck and a second connector releasably engagable with the first connector whereby the fluid may be packaged in the package, the cap may be removed and the neck may be inserted in the receiver to couple the second connector with the first connector such that upon squeezing of such flexible wall, the fluid will be flowed along the fluid flow path, through the valve and to the distribution channel for flow therealong and passage from the one side of the pad to the working surface.

28. The applicator of claim 27 wherein:

the package is formed with a shoulder; and

the head includes a cowling projecting toward the package and terminating in abutment edges engaging the shoulder to cooperate with the neck and receiver in supporting the package relative to the head.

29. The applicator of claim 27 wherein:

the distribution surface is formed with a concave shape formed to complement the convex curving surface of the tire sidewall.

30. The applicator of claim 27 wherein:

the plate includes at least one lateral distribution channel in communication with the longitudinal distribution channel.

31. A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to the convex curving surface of a tire sidewall comprising:

an applicator head having a front and a rear extremity and formed with an interior flow chamber for receiving the treatment fluid and an exterior hand pressure surface facing in one direction, the head further including an elongated distribution plate formed with a passage means for passing the fluid therethrough to a distribution surface facing in the opposite direction and an inlet device in communication with the chamber that is formed with a first connector element, the distribution surface defining a saddle shape to complementally fit the convex curving surface of the tire sidewall;

a fluid container for storing the fluid and including a neck for receipt in the inlet device and a second connector element for connecting with the first connector to releasably secure the container in the applicator head;

a flexible porous pad affixed to the distribution surface to define an interface and including a working surface facing in the opposite direction, the pad being constructed to, upon the hand pressure surface being grasped by a user, engage such working surface with the tire sidewall for the application of a selected force in the opposite direction toward the sidewall to flex the pad to cooperate with the working surface and conform it to the convex contour of the tire sidewall;

a flow device to be activated by the user to drive the fluid to flow along a fluid communication path defined by the container neck, the inlet device, the flow chamber and the distribution plate and the passage means; and

a distribution device interposed at the interface for receiving the fluid from the passage means and including at least one longitudinal channel for distributing the fluid longitudinally along the applicator pad, the pad being sufficiently porous for communicating the fluid therethrough to the working surface.

32. The applicator of claim 31 wherein:

the pad is pre-formed with the working surface defining a saddle shape to complementally fit the convex curving surface of the tire sidewall.

33. A method of using an applicator for applying treatment fluid to the convex curving sidewall of a vehicle tire comprising:

selecting an applicator device including a flexible wall container containing the treatment fluid, a hand pressure surface facing in one direction, a housing releasably mounting the container and including a distribution plate formed with a distribution surface facing in the opposite direction, a fluid communication path formed between the container and the distribution surface, a one-way flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid along the fluid communication path, a flexible applicator pad attached on one side to the distribution surface at an interface and being sufficiently porous to flow fluid therethrough to an opposite side formed with a working surface facing in the opposite direction, and a distribution device interposed at the interface for distributing the fluid from the distribution surface across the area of the one side of the pad;

flexing the flexible wall container to cause the fluid to flow under pressure along the fluid communication path from the container, through the flow control device, and through the distribution surface to the distribution device to be distributed about the area of the pad and flow therethrough to the working surface; and

treating the tire sidewall by grasping the hand pressure surface facing in the one direction, engaging the working surface with the tire sidewall and applying a selected force in the opposite direction toward the sidewall, thereby causing the working surface to flex and cooperate with the pad to conform to the convex contour of the tire sidewall for application of fluid from the working surface to the sidewall.

34. The method of claim 33 including:

selecting the flexible wall container having the hand pressure surface formed thereon.

35. The method of claim 33 including:

selecting the housing head with the hand pressure surface formed thereon.

36. A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to the convex curved sidewall of a tire comprising:

a housing formed with a flow chamber and including a coupling assembly forming an inlet to the chamber and a first connector element, the housing being formed on one side with an outlet to an outwardly facing concave distribution surface formed to complementally fit the convex curving sidewall;

an elongated pad mounted on the distribution surface confronting the outlet and formed with an outwardly facing working surface, the pad further being porous to flow fluid therethrough to the working surface;

a container including an outlet neck for receipt in the coupling assembly to engage in the inlet and a second connector element cooperating with the first connector element to couple the container to the housing; and

a flow control device for regulating the flow of fluid to the outlet for flow through the pad to the working surface.

37. The applicator of claim 36 wherein:

the first connector element and second connector element are defined by respective screw threads configured for mating rotational engagement.