Claims
- 1. An applicator comprising:
a plurality of nibs each adapted to receive a fluid from a different one of a corresponding plurality of containers and impart the fluid to a surface upon contact with a nib; said plurality of containers being connected together, whereby an individual container and its corresponding nib may be removed; plastic means connecting each nib to its corresponding container and including the nib, whereby the nib is sealed to the container; said container including a weakened portion whereby a portion of the plastic means may be removed to expose the nib for use.
- 2. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said nib is a brush type applicator having a plurality of bristles; said applicator further including:
clamp means holding the bristles in communication with the interior of a brush type applicator container and containing slots extending longitudinally therein.
- 3. An applicator in accordance with claim 1 in which the nib is a brush type nib and has a dome shape.
- 4. An applicator in accordance with claim 1 in which a valve means is put into a first position upon removal of a cap.
- 5. An applicator in accordance with claim 1 in which a valve means is put into a first position upon pressing said nib against a surface.
- 6. An applicator in accordance with claim 1 in which a brush applicator has dense filaments of thin diameter but sufficient stiffness to be self standing resulting in an ability to apply fluid more evenly than conventional thicker filaments with lower density.
- 7. An applicator in accordance with claim 1 in which a brush is formed to have a central opening and is inserted into a brush holder having an opening, with the opening of the brush holder extending part-way into the central opening of the brush, one end of the brush being within an annular groove circumscribing the opening in the brush holder.
- 8. An applicator in accordance with claim 7 in which the brush is held in place by a plurality of clamp means surrounding the annular groove, which is formed in an inner shell of the brush holder, said clamp means being adapted to hold the brush in place upon final assembly of the brush holder.
- 9. An applicator in accordance with claim 1 in which the applicator includes at its outlet an outer shell and an inner shell holding bristles and forming a bristle-lined tubular-cylindrical outlet, the interior of the inner shell communicates with the interior of a container at one end and with its outlet at the other end through a circle of bristles.
- 10. An applicator in accordance with claim 9 in which a nib of the applicator is prevented from becoming clogged with dried fluid by a valve that seals the nib when the applicator is not in use.
- 11. A method of using the applicator of claim 1 comprising the steps of releasing an ingredient from the applicator, said step of releasing the ingredient from the applicator includes the step of breaking a tip of a nozzle to expose the applicator component.
- 12. A method of forming an applicator comprising the steps of:
forming at least one container having an open bottom and a closed tubular portion; inserting into at least one tubular portion a corresponding one of a tubular mandril containing an applicator component for permitting the application of fluidic material from its tip; removing the mandril while leaving the applicator component in position within the tubular portion of the applicator container; filling the applicator with ingredients; and utilizing the applicator as a disposable applicator after filling it with its ingredients to apply its ingredients after the end of the tubular portion is broken free.
- 13. A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the step of forming at least one container includes:
the step of forming a plurality of containers connected one to the other on a base having an open end with elongated tubular members extending from each of the plurality of containers sealed at its end; and forming on each of the tubular portions a breakaway line whereby they may be uniformly broken away exposing the end of the applicator.
- 14. A method in accordance with claim 13 in which the step of inserting a tubular mandril containing an applicator includes the step of inserting applicators into the mandril.
- 15. A method in accordance with claim 14 in which the step of inserting an applicator into the mandril includes the step of pushing a flexible member into the mandril.
- 16. A method in accordance with claim 15 in which the step of inserting a flexible member into the mandril includes the step of pulling the flexible member by vacuum pressure into tubes of the mandril.
- 17. A method in accordance with claim 16 in which the step of inserting a flexible member into the mandril includes the step of clamping two portions of a hinged mandril about the flexible member.
- 18. A method in accordance with claim 17 in which the step of filling the applicators includes the step of filling the applicators with fingernail polish.
- 19. A method of forming an applicator in accordance with claim 12 in which the step of forming an applicator includes the step of forming a plurality of containers connected one to the other on a base having an open end with elongated tubular members extending from each of the plurality of containers sealed at its end; and
forming on each of the tubular members a breakaway line whereby they may be uniformly broken away exposing the end of an applicator.
- 20. A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the step of inserting a mandril containing an applicator includes the step of inserting applicators into the mandril.
- 21. A method in accordance with claim 20 in which the step of inserting an applicator into the mandril includes the step of pushing a flexible member into the mandril.
- 22. A method in accordance with claim 21 in which the step of inserting a flexible member into a mandril includes the step of pulling the flexible member by vacuum pressure into tubes of the mandril.
- 23. A method in accordance with claim 22 in which the step of inserting a flexible member into the mandril includes the step of clamping two portions of a hinged mandril about the flexible member.
- 24. A method in accordance with claim 12 in which the step of filling the containers includes the step of filling the containers with fingernail polish.
- 25. An applicator comprising:
an applicator nib; an applicator nib holder adapted to connect to a fluid container and provide fluid communication between the contents of the container and the nib; valve means in the applicator for preventing fluid flow to the nib in a first position and permitting flow in a second position; said valve means being automatically placed in said first position upon making the applicator ready for use.
- 26. An applicator in accordance with claim 25 in which said valve means is put into said first position upon removal of a cap.
- 27. An applicator in accordance with claim 25 in which said valve means is put into said first position upon pressing said nib against a surface.
- 28. An applicator in accordance with claim 25 in which a brush applicator has dense filaments of thin diameter but sufficient stiffness to be self standing resulting in an ability to apply fluid more evenly than conventional thicker filaments with lower density.
- 29. An applicator in accordance with claim 25 in which a brush is formed to have a central opening and is inserted into a brush holder having an opening, with the opening of the brush holder extending part-way into the central opening of the brush, one end of the brush being within an annular groove circumscribing the opening in the brush holder.
- 30. An applicator in accordance with claim 29 in which the brush is held in place by a plurality of clamp means surrounding the annular groove, which is formed in an inner shell of the brush holder; said clamp means being adapted to hold the brush in place upon final assembly of the brush holder.
- 31. An applicator in accordance with claim 29 in which the applicator includes at its outlet an outer shell and an inner shell holding the brush and forming a bristle-lined tubular-cylindrical outlet, wherein the interior of the inner shell communicates with the interior of the container at one end and with its outlet at the other end through a circle of bristles.
- 32. An applicator in accordance with claim 31 in which the nib of the applicator is prevented from becoming clogged with dried fluid by the valve means to seal the nib when the applicator is not in use.
- 33. An applicator in accordance with claim 25 in which a brush has a curved dome less susceptible to becoming clogged with drying material.
- 34. A method of using the applicator of claim 25 comprising the steps of releasing an ingredient from the applicator, said step of releasing the ingredient from the applicator includes the step of pressing a tip of a nozzle to open the valve means.
- 35. A method of forming a brush for an applicator, comprising the steps of:
preparing a brush; mounting the brush; and cutting the brush with a curved blade.
- 36. A method according to claim 35 in which the step of cutting the brush comprises the steps of:
rotating the brush; and shearing bristles between a stationary curved blade and a moving curved blade.
- 37. A method according to claim 35 in which the step of cutting the brush comprises the step of rotating the brush and a cutter with respect to each other.
- 38. Apparatus for cutting a brush to form a dome shaped brush, comprising:
a movable blade; a stationary blade; said movable blade and stationary blade each having curved cutting edges; means for rotating said brush in incremental steps whereby said brush is at a plurality of positions differing from each other at different degrees of rotation at different times between said increments of rotation; and means for moving said stationary blade and movable blade with respect to each other to shear said brush at least at some of said positions.
- 39. A dense brush, comprising: bristles; said bristles being self standing and having a diameter of between 2 to 5 mils.
- 40. A dense brush in accordance with claim 39 in which the bristles are Nylon.
- 41. A dense brush in accordance with claim 40 in which the bristles have a diameter of 2 mils.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/018,512 filed Feb. 4, 1998, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/685,879, filed Jul. 24,1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,104, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/209,547, filed Mar. 10, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/924,722 filed Aug. 3,1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,207 issued Mar. 15, 1994, for FLOW THROUGH BRUSH LIQUID APPLICATOR by Richard J. Keating, Harley H. Mattheis and Jerald R. Melcher.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08685879 |
Jul 1996 |
US |
Child |
09018512 |
Feb 1998 |
US |
Parent |
08209547 |
Mar 1994 |
US |
Child |
08685879 |
Jul 1996 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09018512 |
Feb 1998 |
US |
Child |
10132943 |
Apr 2002 |
US |
Parent |
07924722 |
Aug 1992 |
US |
Child |
08209547 |
Mar 1994 |
US |