U.S. patent application number 12/082683 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for tire dressing applicator.
Invention is credited to Richard J. Baumgart, Wen-Chen Su.
Application Number | 20080253824 12/082683 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39853847 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080253824 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Su; Wen-Chen ; et
al. |
October 16, 2008 |
Tire dressing applicator
Abstract
An applicator for applying a liquid to the surface of a vehicle
tire side wall. The applicator includes an elongate container for
holding a selected quantity of liquid and a housing connected
thereto. The housing has a concave front face with an elongate open
faced channel extending along a selected length portion thereof for
distributing the liquid to a porous pad overlying the concave face.
There is at least one vent hole through pad with an inlet thereto
communicating with such open faced channel and an outlet in a free
outer surface of the pad.
Inventors: |
Su; Wen-Chen; (Lexington,
KY) ; Baumgart; Richard J.; (Paris, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David W. Carrithers;CARRITHERS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
Ste. 206, 6200 Dutchman's Lane
Louisville
KY
40205
US
|
Family ID: |
39853847 |
Appl. No.: |
12/082683 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11230835 |
Sep 20, 2005 |
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12082683 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/3046 20130101;
A46B 2200/20 20130101; A46B 11/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/11 |
International
Class: |
A46B 11/00 20060101
A46B011/00 |
Claims
1. An applicator for applying a liquid to the surface of a vehicle
tire side wall, said applicator comprising: an elongate container
capable of holding a selected quantity of said liquid and having an
open ended neck projecting from one end thereof, a housing having a
generally rectangular plate-like portion with a concave front face
on one side thereof and a rear face on the opposite side, said
front face having first and second spaced apart ribs projecting
therefrom providing an elongate open faced channel extending along
a selected length portion of the housing, a third rib projecting
from said front face and surrounding said channel at a position in
spaced relation therewith, a spigot projecting from said rear face
and having means associated therewith for coupling with the neck of
the container and thereby interconnect the housing and container, a
fluid flow passage through said housing, said passage having an
inlet thereto in said spigot communicating with liquid in the
container and an outlet discharging directly into said elongate
channel, and a selectively porous applicator pad overlying said
curved front face of the housing, means attaching said pad to free
outer edges of said ribs and at least one vent hole through said
pad with an inlet thereto communicating with said elongate channel
and an outlet therefrom in a free outer surface of the pad.
2. An applicator as defined in claim 1 including means controlling
fluid flow through said fluid flow passage.
3. An applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said container has
opposed front and rear faces and a spaced apart pair of edges
interconnecting the same and means rendering said end edges stiffer
that said opposed faces.
4. An applicator as defined in claim 3 wherein said container is
oval in cross-section.
5. An applicator as defined in claim 4 including a concave portion
in at least one of said end edges.
6. An applicator as defined in claim 1 including a further channel
portion at each of respective opposite ends of said elongate
channel and disposed transversely with respect thereto and in fluid
flow therewith.
7. An applicator as defined in claim 6 wherein each said first and
second rib is continuous and provide said elongate and each of said
further channels disposed transversely at respective opposite ends
thereof.
8. An applicator as defined in claim 6 wherein a vent hole through
said pad is disposed in direct communication with said elongate
channel and at least one further vent hole is disposed in direct
communication with a transversely disposed channel portion at one
end of such elongate channel.
9. An applicator as defined in claim 8 wherein said fluid flow
passage outlet is located in closer proximity to the transversely
disposed channel at the end of said elongate channel opposite said
one end.
10. An applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said spigot and
bottle neck have respective internal and external mating threads
detachably interconnecting the container and housing.
11. An applicator as defined in claim 7 wherein said third rib
extends around the outer periphery of said curved front face.
12. An applicator for applying a liquid to the surface of a vehicle
tire side wall, said applicator comprising: an elongate container
capable of holding a selected quantity of said liquid and having an
open ended neck projecting from one end thereof, said container
having opposed front and rear walls with a spaced apart pair of
side edges interconnecting the same and means rendering said side
edges stiffer that said front and rear faces, a housing having a
generally rectangular plate-like portion with a concave front face
on one side thereof and a rear face on the opposite side, said
front face having first and second spaced apart ribs projecting
therefrom providing an elongate open faced channel extending along
a selected length portion of the housing, a third rib projecting
from said front face and surrounding said channel at a position in
spaced relation therewith, a spigot projecting from said rear face
and having means associated therewith for coupling with the neck of
the container and thereby interconnect the housing and container, a
fluid flow passage through said housing, said passage having an
inlet thereto in said spigot communicating with liquid in the
container and an outlet discharging directly into said elongate
channel, and a selectively porous applicator pad overlying said
curved front face of the housing, means attaching said pad to free
outer edges of said ribs and at least one vent hole through said
pad with an inlet thereto communicating with said elongate channel
and an outlet therefrom in a free outer surface of the pad.
13. An applicator as defined in claim 12 wherein said container is
oval in cross-section.
14. An applicator as defined in claim 13 including a concave
portion in at least one of said container edges.
15. An applicator as defined in claim 12 including a further
channel portion at each of respective opposite ends of said
elongate channel and disposed transversely with respect thereto and
in fluid flow therewith.
16. An applicator for applying a liquid to the surface of a vehicle
tire side wall, said applicator comprising: an elongate container
capable of holding a selected quantity of said liquid and having an
open ended neck projecting from one end thereof, said container
having opposed front and rear walls with a spaced apart pair of
side edges interconnecting the same, means rendering said side
edges stiffer that said front and rear walls, a housing having a
generally rectangular plate-like portion with a concave front face
on one side thereof and a rear face on the opposite side, said
front face having first and second spaced apart ribs projecting
therefrom providing an elongate open faced channel extending along
a selected length portion of the housing, a third rib projecting
from said front face and surrounding said elongate channel at a
position in spaced relation therewith, each said first and second
ribs being continuous and providing said elongate channel and each
of said further channels disposed transversely at respective
opposite ends thereof, a spigot projecting from said rear face and
having means associated therewith for coupling with the neck of the
container and thereby interconnect the housing and container, a
fluid flow passage through said housing, said passage having an
inlet thereto in said spigot communicating with liquid in the
container and an outlet discharging directly into said elongate
channel, and a selectively porous applicator pad overlying said
curved front face of the housing, means attaching said pad to free
outer edges of said ribs, a vent hole through said pad disposed in
direct communication with said elongate channel and at least one
further vent hole through said pad and disposed in direct
communication with a transversely disposed channel portion at one
end of such elongate channel, each said vent hole terminating in a
free outer face of said pad.
17. An applicator as defined in claim 16 wherein said spigot and
bottle neck have respective internal and external mating threads
detachably interconnecting the container and housing.
18. An applicator as defined in claim 16 wherein said third rib
extends around the outer periphery of said curved front face.
19. An applicator as defined in claim 16 including a rib projecting
into said elongate channel proximate one end thereof from a bottom
wall of the channel providing a fluid flow dam with the container
disposed in an upright position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/230,835 filed on Sep. 20, 2005 and published as US
2006/0062629 on Mar. 23, 2006 claiming priority from U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/990,209 filed on Nov. 16, 2004 and
published as U.S. 2005/0135868 on Jun. 23, 2005 (now abandoned)
claiming priority from U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,801 which issued on Nov.
16, 2004 from application Ser. No. 10/437,762 filed on May 14,
2003, claiming priority from U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,722 which issued
on Sep. 20, 2005 from application Ser. No. 10/437,658 filed on May
14, 2003 and published as U.S. 2004/0228670 on Nov. 18, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,722 is directed to an applicator for
applying a liquid treatment to the side wall of a vehicle tire
wherein the applicator includes a container connected to a housing
that has a pad mounted on one face thereof. The container holds a
supply of the liquid that passes through a passageway in the
housing to the pad. There is a flow control device in the
passageway and there are channels or the equivalent for spreading
the liquid over the pad surface that interfaces with the housing.
In one instance, the outer face of the pad is contoured to mate
with the radial curvature of the tire sidewall curved surface while
in another instance the pad is sufficiently resiliently as to
conform to curvature of the surface by hand pressing the applicator
pad against the sidewall and in a still further instance the pad is
mounted on a curved face on the housing. The liquid is distributed
to the pad as it is dispensed from the container when the container
is squeezed.
[0003] The prior co-pending published application Ser. No.
11/230,835 is essentially the foregoing arrangement but wherein the
container is flexible, wherein the bottom face of the housing has a
concave outer periphery surrounding a chamber at the outlet end of
the fluid flow passage. It was found that the improvements to the
instant invention allowed distribution of the liquid more evenly
along the pad.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] Applicant has discovered that fluid flow from the container
and distribution thereof to the pad is improved by having a few
strategically positioned vent holes through the pad. These vent
holes are located at a position spaced from where the liquid from
the container enters a liquid distribution channel in the curved
surface of the housing. As will be seen hereinafter open faced
distribution channels are defined by spaced apart ribs projecting
from the front curved face of the housing and the porous pad is
attached to such ribs closing the open face of the channels. These
ribs are surrounded by an outer peripheral wall (or further rib)
that also projects somewhat from the curved face of the housing and
the pad is also secured to the outer face of such peripheral wall
by for example a suitable adhesive.
[0005] In keeping with the foregoing, there is particularly
provided in accordance with the present invention an applicator for
applying a liquid to the surface of a vehicle tire side wall. The
applicator comprises an elongate container capable of holding a
selected quantity of the liquid and having an open ended neck
projecting from one end thereof. A housing has a generally
rectangular plate-like portion with a concave front face on one
side thereof and a rear face on the opposite side. The front face
has first and second spaced apart ribs projecting therefrom
providing an elongate open faced channel extending along a selected
length portion of the housing. A third outwardly projecting rib
surrounds the channel at a position in spaced relation therewith. A
spigot projects from the rear face of the housing and has means
associated therewith for coupling with the neck of the container
and thereby interconnecting the housing and container. A fluid flow
passage through the housing communicating with the liquid in the
container and having an inlet in the spigot and an outlet
discharging directly into the channel. A selectively porous
applicator pad overlying the curved front face of the housing
includes means attaching the pad the ribs and at least one vent
hole through the pad with an inlet thereto communicating with the
elongate channel and an outlet therefrom in a free outer surface of
the pad.
[0006] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A better understanding of the present invention will be had
upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts
throughout the several views and wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an oblique view of applicants improved tire
sidewall applicator;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the applicator shown in FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 with is a rear view of the applicator sown in FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a hand side view of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an oblique view of an upper top end portion of the
container portion of the applicator;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an oblique view of the rear face portion of the
housing that attaches to the container and together provide the
applicator;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a view of the front concave face of the housing
with the applicator pad removed therefrom; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is view showing the outer face of the applicator pad
that mounts on in overlying relation the front concave face of the
housing shown in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Illustrated is applicants tire sidewall applicator 10
comprising an elongate container 20 having an applicator housing 30
detachably connected to one end thereof. The container 20 is
capable of holding a selected quantity of a liquid to be applied to
the surface of a vehicle tire sidewall by a porous applicator pad
40 mounted on a concave front face of the housing. An open faced
elongate channel extends along a selected length portion of the
concave face and is in fluid flow communication, via passage means
through the housing, with liquid in the container.
[0017] In accordance with the present invention there is at least
one, preferably three vent holes 41 extending through the
applicator pad and with such vent hole(s) being in direct
communication with the open face channel. The vent holes improve
distribution of the liquid on the applicator pad as the liquid is
being forced out of the container.
[0018] The container 20, transverse to it's longitudinal axis, is
oval in cross-sectional shape and has respective front and rear
walls 21, 22 that are interconnected by a spaced apart pair of edge
walls 23,24. The container is closed at the bottom by a bottom end
wall 25 and at the opposite end there is a top end wall 26 that has
an externally threaded open ended neck 27. The applicator, when
delivered to the user has a foil seal closing the open end of the
neck. The container top end wall has a groove 28 extending around
the outer periphery thereof. Each edge wall 23, 24 has an inwardly
directed indentation or concave portion 29. The front and rear
faces have a larger radius of curvature than the edge walls and
therefor the latter are substantially stiffer than the former. Also
the concave portions 29 have a further stiffening affect on the
edge walls 23, 24 as does a crease at the juncture of the side
walls with the front and rear walls resulting from the latter walls
being stepped outwardly gradually in a direction toward the bottom
of the container. The container serves as a handle during use of
the applicator and these stiffer or more rigid edge walls 23, 24
allows one to grasp the handle with considerable force before
causing liquid to be forced from the container. The concave
portions 29 not only stiffen the edge walls but also provide an
area that can be comfortably gripped. The liquid is readily
dispensed from the container using relatively little force against
at least one or both of the front and rear walls 21, 22.
[0019] With respect to applying a force against the walls of the
container it has been observed that when hand squeezing a
container, having a flexible foil diaphragm sealingly closing the
open end of the neck, the force when applied to the relatively
flexible front and/or rear wall caused the diaphragm to flex
outwardly while on the other hand applying even considerably more
force to the rigid end walls caused it to flex inwardly. This
feature perhaps contributes to having the container successfully
act as a handle for manipulating the applicator during use thereof
while at the same time allowing the user to easily dispense liquid
onto the applicator pad by shifting some of the force to the front
and/or rear wall.
[0020] The housing 30 is generally in the form of a curved
rectangular plate 31 having a concave front face 32 with a
generally rectangular porous applicator pad 40 attached thereto and
a rear face 33 disposed opposite the front face and having an
internally threaded spigot 34 projecting therefrom. The spigot
threadingly receives the externally threaded container neck 25
thereby detachably interconnecting the container and housing.
[0021] The housing curved plate 31 is generally rectangular in
outline shape having respective front and rear generally parallel
ends 35,36 that define the length of the plate and respective first
and second generally parallel opposite side edges 37, 38 defining
the width of the plate. The curvature of the front face conforms
generally to the radial curvature of the automobile tire sidewall.
In a commercial embodiment the curved plate measures approximately
four inches in length and a major portion thereof measures 2.5
inches in width. The edges 35, 36 respectively are approximately 2
inch and 1.5 inch long.
[0022] An annular wall 39, oval in end view, projects from the rear
face 33 of the housing. The wall 39 is disposed in axial alignment
with the spigot 34 circumscribing the same and extends
substantially across the width of the rear face 33. The outline
size and shape of the wall 39 corresponds to that of the container
top end wall and the free outer end of the wall projects into the
peripheral groove 28 thereby further stabilizing the housing on the
container.
[0023] With respect to groove 28 in the container care must be
taken to ensure the container wall thereat is of sufficient
thickness that it does not become a line of weakness that could
rupture for example upon impact of the container if and when
dropped onto a floor or the like.
[0024] A hole 50 through the curved plate at the bottom of the
spigot 34 provides a fluid flow passage communicating at an inlet
thereto with the liquid in the container via the container's open
ended neck and at the other end terminates in an outlet discharging
directly into an elongate channel 51 in the curved front face of
the housing. The spigot 34 has an annular rib therein that provides
an abutment ledge for an o-ring seal 52 positioned to compressively
engage the free outer end of the container neck 25 and thereby
provide a fluid tight seal. The o-ring seal, if desired, can also
include a diaphragm portion 53 with crossed slits 54 to control
fluid flow through the passage or alternatively a slitted domed
diaphragm acting as a one way flow control valve.
[0025] The elongate channel 51 merges at opposite ends thereof into
respective transversely disposed channel portions 55, 56. By way of
example, in a commercial embodiment, these channels 55 and 56
measure 1/4 inch wide by 1/4 inch deep and 1.25 inch long, the
elongate channel 51 1/4 inch.times.1/4 inch.times.2 inch in length.
The fluid flow passage discharge outlet is located approximately
1.75 inch from the rear edge 36 of the plate 31 and the
transversely disposed channel portions are approximately 1 inch
from the edge (36, 35) associated therewith. There is a rib 57
projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of the elongate channel 51
at a position proximate the transversely disposed channel 56. Each
of the three spaced apart vent holes through the porous pad
measured 3/32 inch in diameter with one directly overlying the open
face of the elongate channel 51 and the other two directly
overlying the transversely disposed channel portion 55.
[0026] The top end of the container has two lugs at the base of the
neck that are spaced from one another circumferentially there
around. Theses lugs fit between pairs of lugs projecting from the
end of the spigot 34 thereby locking the housing onto the
container. Further locking is provided by the free outer end of the
wall 39 projecting into the groove 28 around the periphery of the
top end wall of the container.
[0027] As previously mentioned the applicator is delivered to the
end user with a foil disc sealingly closing the end of the
container neck 27 (see FIG. 5). The end user twists off the
housing, removes the seal and then replaces the housing on the
container. While holding the applicator upright (position shown in
FIG. 4) with the concave surface of the applicator pad facing away
from the user, the user squeezes the container walls forcing
sufficient liquid therefrom into the generally "I"-shaped liquid
distribution channel to saturate the pad. The saturated pad is then
brought into engagement with the tire sidewall and by a sweeping
motion the liquid is spread evenly over the sidewall surface.
During use the walls are squeezed as and when more liquid is
needed. When finished excess liquid is wiped off to prevent
dripping and the applicator is then stored in an upright position
for reuse at later time.
[0028] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for
clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be
understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those
skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made
upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the
appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be
limited by the specific exemplifications presented herein above.
Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *