(1) Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a fillable liquid applicator that is useful for storing liquids such as paints, dyes, varnishes and so forth and then later using the applicator to apply the liquid to a surface.
(2) Description of the Art
Liquids such as paint, dyes, sealers, and so forth are typically sold in cans and bottles and applied to walls, cloth, floors and so forth. Typically, the unused portion of the liquid is kept in the originally purchased container which is re-sealed after use and stored. The original liquid containers are quite large and require a large amount of storage space even though the amount of liquid left in the container is quite small. Often the unused liquids in the re-sealed containers evaporate because of an inadequate seal or become contaminated so that when the originally applied paint, dye or other liquid requires refreshing or retouching, the unused re-sealed liquid material is unusable.
While there are many applicators available in the prior art for applying newly purchased paints, dyes and other liquids to surfaces, they do not provide the user with a storage container for left over liquids that can also be used to apply the liquid to a surface. Thus, there is a need for a container that is capable of storing residual paints, dyes and other liquid materials and that is also capable of being used to apply the liquid to a surface.
It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid applicator that is capable of being filled with a liquid such as paint, storing the liquid for an extended period of time, and then using it to apply the liquid to a surface.
It is another objection of this invention to provide a liquid applicator that is refillable, that is reusable, and that may be associated with various types of applicators.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a liquid applicator that is small in size, that is ergonomic, and that is useful for touchup projects and for applying a liquid to hard to reach areas.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a liquid applicator that may be associated with a roller for applying a liquid where the roller is easily removed from the applicator.
In one embodiment, this invention is a liquid applicator including a resilient bottle, a pin, a cap and an applicator holder. The liquid applicator resilient bottle is adapted to hold a liquid and includes an opening. The pin includes a body having a first opening and a second opening wherein the pin body at least partially surrounds the resilient bottle and wherein the resilient bottle opening is concentric to the pin second opening. The liquid applicator cap includes a first open end, and a second open end wherein the pin first aperture fits into the cap first open end and wherein the pin second opening is concentric to the cap second open end. The resilient bottle further includes an applicator holder wherein the applicator holder is typically united with the cap outer surface.
In another embodiment, this invention is a liquid applicator comprising a resilient bottle, a pin, a cap, and an applicator. The liquid applicator resilient bottle is adapted to hold a liquid and includes a hollow body, an opening and a neck located between the hollow body and the opening wherein the neck has a threaded outer surface. The liquid applicator pin includes a body forming a first opening and a second opening forming a nozzle wherein the pin body at least partially surrounds the resilient bottle and wherein the resilient bottle opening is concentric to the pin second opening, the pin further including an annular wall having a first end associated with a shoulder dividing pin first opening from pin second opening and a threaded inner surface wherein the threaded inner surface is complementary to the threads on bottle neck outer surface, and a neck located between the shoulder and the nozzle wherein the neck includes a threaded outer surface. The liquid applicator cap includes a first open end, a second open end, wherein the pin first opening is united with cap first open end and wherein the pin second opening is concentric to the cap second open end. Cap first open end is an annular wall having an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the annular wall inner surface includes threads that are complementary to threads on the pin neck outer surface. The liquid applicator further includes an applicator holder attached to the cap and an applicator associated with the applicator holder such that the applicator is positioned adjacent to the cap first open end.
In yet another embodiment, this invention is a liquid applicator comprising a resilient bottle, a pin, a cap and an applicator holder. The resilient bottle is adapted to hold a liquid and includes an opening and a locator bump. The pin includes a body that forms a first opening and a second opening wherein the pin body at least partially surrounds the resilient bottle and wherein the resilient bottle opening is concentric to the pin second opening. The pin further includes a recess complementary to the resilient bottle locator bump. The cap includes a first open end and second open end wherein the pin first open end is united with cap first opening and wherein the pin second open end is concentric to the cap second opening. The applicator also includes an applicator holder that is adapted to accept an applicator.
In still another embodiment, this invention is a liquid applicator including a resilient bottle, a pin, a cap, and an applicator holder. The resilient bottle is adapted to hold a liquid and has an opening. The pin includes a body forming a first opening and a second opening wherein the pin body at least partially surrounds the resilient bottle and wherein the resilient bottle opening is concentric to the pin second opening. The pin further includes a detent. The cap includes a first open end and second open end wherein the pin first open end is united with cap first opening and wherein the pin second open end is concentric to the cap second opening and wherein the cap includes at least one rib that engages the pin detent. The liquid applicator also includes an applicator holder that is adapted to accept an applicator.
A further embodiment of this invention is a liquid applicator including a resilient bottle, a pin, a cap, and an applicator holder. The resilient bottle is adapted to hold a liquid and includes an opening. The pin includes a body forming a first opening and a second opening wherein the pin body at least partially surrounds the resilient bottle and wherein the resilient bottle opening is concentric to the pin second opening. The cap includes a first open end and second open end wherein the pin first open end is united with cap first opening and wherein the pin second open end is concentric to the cap second opening. The cap further includes a seal hood. The liquid applicator also includes an applicator holder adapted to accept an applicator.
In still another embodiment, this invention includes methods to fill the liquid applicator with a liquid and for using the liquid applicator to apply a liquid to a surface.
The present invention relates to a liquid applicator that can be filled with a liquid, that can be used to store the same liquid, and that can be used at a later time to apply the stored liquid such as paint, dye, varnishes and so forth to a surface. The liquid applicator of this invention is especially useful for being filled with, storing and applying paints and other liquids for home improvement projects. The liquid applicator of this invention is capable of holding liquids for an extended period of time. When needed, the applicator can be used, for example, to touch up surfaces which were painted with the same paint stored in the liquid applicator without any preparation. The liquid applicator of this invention is also useful for applying a liquid to small or confined areas that are difficult to reach with conventional brushes or rollers.
Referring now to the Figures,
An embodiment of a liquid applicator resilient bottle 12 is shown in more detail in
A preferred resilient bottle 12 will include a first crease 24, a second crease 26, an indentation 28 located between first crease 24 and second crease 26, a first rounded surface portion 30 and a second rounded surface portion 32. The combination forms a bellows-like structure that can be easily squeezed by hand. Resilient bottle 12 shown in
Resilient bottle 12 may include a neck 34 having an threaded outer surface 36. Resilient bottle 12 may also include a first shoulder 38 located between hollow body 22 and neck 34 and a second shoulder 40 located between neck 34 and opening 20 wherein first shoulder 38 is larger than second shoulder 40. Furthermore, as shown in
It is preferred that opening 20 is of a diameter that is sufficient to quickly fill resilient bottle 12 but that is not so large that the liquid that enters resilient bottle 12 during the vacuum filling procedure leaks from resilient bottle 12 in a significant amount as the bottle is being removed from the filling liquid. It is preferred that opening 20 has a diameter ranging from about 0.10 inches to about 0.8 inches. The diameter can be larger or smaller depending upon factors such as fluid viscosity, the resiliency of the bottle and so forth. More preferably, opening 20 will have a diameter of from about 0.25 to about 0.4 inches. An opening 20 with a diameter below about 0.25 inches, while useful, generally fills at a rate that some users might find to be too slow while an opening greater than about 0.4 inches can, depending upon the fluid viscosity, allow a significant amount of liquid to leak from resilient bottle 12 at the end of the vacuum filling procedure. Most preferably, opening 20 has a diameter of from 0.35 inches to about 0.375 inches with a diameter of about 0.375 inches being most suitable.
Resilient bottle 12 can be filled with a liquid by several methods. In one method, the vacuum filling method, hollow body 22 of resilient bottle 12 is squeezed to force air out of resilient bottle 12. While still squeezing resilient bottle 12, opening 20 is placed in a liquid being transferred to resilient bottle 12 and squeezing is stopped. Once squeezing is stopped, the walls of hollow body 22 return to their original shape thereby creating a vacuum that draws liquid into resilient bottle 12. Opening 20 of resilient bottle 12 is removed from the liquid when filling is complete. Resilient bottle 12 can be disengaged from pin 14 and cap 16 before filling or it may remain associated with pin 14 and cap 16 during filling.
In an alternative method, liquid applicator 10 of this invention can be filled pouring a liquid through opening 20 of resilient bottle 12 with or without the aid of a funnel. Alternatively, liquid can be injected into resilient bottle 12 through opening 20 or through a resealable portion of the bottle wall. If resilient bottle 12 is filled by pouring or injecting a liquid into resilient bottle 12, then opening 20 should be of a size sufficient to accept the liquid.
An embodiment of pin 14 of a liquid applicator 10 of this invention is shown in
Resilient bottle 12 may be united with pin 14 by any means known in the art. Pin 14 further includes an inner surface 50. Resilient bottle 12 may be irreversibly united with pin 14 using an adhesive for example. Alternatively resilient bottle 12 may be reversibly united with pin 14 using any known reversible attaching methods such as threads, locking tabs and so forth. In a preferred embodiment shown in
When pin 14 and cap 16 are separate elements, pin 14 includes a device for uniting pin 14 with cap 16. Pin 14 may be reversibly or irreversibly united with cap 16. In a preferred embodiment shown in the Figures, pin 14 includes a neck 62 with a threaded outer surface 63. Threaded outer surface 63 is complementary to threads of cap 16. As shown in
Liquid applicator 10 further includes a cap 16. Cap 16 allows liquid applicator 10 to be sealed during storage and unsealed for use. Furthermore, cap 16 optionally provides a site to which an applicator holder is associated with liquid applicator 10. As with pin 14, cap 16 is preferably manufactured of a rigid material such as a rigid plastic material. Preferably, cap 16 is made of the same material as pin 14. Details of a preferred cap embodiment are found in
Cap 16 and pin 14 are preferably axially movable with respect to one another. Moving cap 16 axially with respect to pin 14 causes plug 64 to block first open end 70 when cap 16 is moved axially towards pin 14. When plug 64 blocks first open end 70, the liquid in resilient bottle 12 is prevented from exiting liquid applicator 10. When cap 16 is moved axially away from pin 14, first open end 70 becomes unobstructed by plug 64 and liquid is able to flow from resilient bottle 12 out of first open end 70 of liquid applicator 10. In a preferred embodiment, cap 16 is axially moved with respect to pin 14 using threads 63 associated with pin 14 and threads 72 associated with cap 16 wherein the turning of cap 16 with respect to pin 14 causes cap 16 to move axially towards or away from cap 14.
Cap 16 further includes an applicator holder 76. Applicator holder 76 is attached to outer surface 75 of cap 16 and provides a site to attach an applicator 78 to liquid applicator 10. Applicator 78 may be any type of applicator known in the art for applying a liquid to a surface. Examples of applicators include brushes, rollers, pads and so forth. The size of the applicator as well as the material used to manufacture the applicator may vary depending upon the liquid that will be applied from liquid applicator 10. In addition, when applicator 78 is a pad or roller, the pad or roller may include variations in surface texture and nap.
It is preferred that applicator 78 is a roller that is associated with applicator holder 76. The roller may be made of any material useful for applying the liquid held in the liquid applicator 10 to a surface. For example, the roller may be a solid rubber roller when it is used for applying ink to a stencil or other surface. Alternatively, the roller can be made of felt or foam when the liquid is a paint or varnish that is being applied to a surface. When the liquid applied by a liquid applicator 10 is paint, then it is preferred that the roller is a foam material that has a density of from 1 to 8 pounds per square foot and preferably a density from 4 to 7 pounds per square foot. A preferred foam is polyester foam having a density of about 6 pound per square foot. The roller will generally be from about ½ to 2 inches in width.
In order to facilitate positioning of a preferred roller with respect to first open end 70, cap 16 preferably includes a concave front surface portion 79 that is complementary to a roller. Concave surface portion 79 allows the roller (shown in
Regardless of the type of applicator 78 chosen, it is important that applicator holder 76 positions applicator 78, in front of cap first open end 70. While is it preferred that pin 14 includes a plug that is used to seal liquid applicator 10 while not in use, second opening 70 may be sealed using a non-integral element such as a plug or a piece of tape.
Liquid applicator 10 is used by removing the device sealing first open end 70 of cap 16 or by indexing cap 16 away from pin 14 such that plug 64 no longer impedes flow of liquid through first open end 70. If not already in place, an applicator 78 is associated with applicator holder 76 and the user squeezes hollow body 22 of resilient bottle 12 in order to force liquid from hollow body 22, through opening 20, through first open end 70 and onto a surface or onto applicator 78. Once a sufficient amount of fluid has been squeezed from resilient bottle 12, the user can shift their finger position and hold the pin and/or cap portion of liquid applicator 10 in order to apply the liquid to a surface.
In another embodiment of this embodiment shown in
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and unnecessary limitations are not to be construed therefrom. For example,
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/224,947 filed Aug. 11, 2000.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1425242 | Dinardo | Aug 1922 | A |
2582861 | Coombs | Jan 1952 | A |
2721347 | Benkowski | Oct 1955 | A |
4909265 | Goncalves | Mar 1990 | A |
5213431 | Gentile et al. | May 1993 | A |
5308182 | Lampert | May 1994 | A |
6053650 | Bennett et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6386782 | White, Sr. | May 2002 | B1 |
6439381 | Alvarez | Aug 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20020070232 A1 | Jun 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60224947 | Aug 2000 | US |