U.S. patent application number 12/173790 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for twist-open stain applicator dispenser method of use.
Invention is credited to KURT KOPTIS, JEFFREY KUNKLER, DAVID RICHMOND.
Application Number | 20100014907 12/173790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41530421 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100014907 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RICHMOND; DAVID ; et
al. |
January 21, 2010 |
TWIST-OPEN STAIN APPLICATOR DISPENSER METHOD OF USE
Abstract
The device of the disclosure comprises a fluid applicator which
keeps liquid inside a sealed bottle until a user rotates a head
assembly relative to the bottle, thereby piercing a seal at the
neck of the bottle. Further, the head assembly is provided an
eccentric fluid valve which permits fluid flow from the bottle
through an applicator pad in its ON configuration, but not when the
head assembly is rotated 180 degrees into an OFF configuration.
When in its OFF configuration, the device's pad may be washed while
remaining on the disclosed device, and the fluid within the bottle
remains sealed there within.
Inventors: |
RICHMOND; DAVID; (Culver
City, CA) ; KOPTIS; KURT; (Auburn, CA) ;
KUNKLER; JEFFREY; (Shenzhen, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ELIZABETH SWANSON;c/o SWANSON & ASSOCIATES
9454 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 500
BEVERLY HILLS
CA
90212
US
|
Family ID: |
41530421 |
Appl. No.: |
12/173790 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/130 ;
401/132; 401/139; 401/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 11/001 20130101;
A47L 13/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/130 ;
401/132; 401/139; 401/205 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/26 20060101
A47L013/26 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a. a bottle, a spacer, and a head assembly;
b. the bottle comprising a fluid-containing chamber, the chamber
defining a neck, the neck comprising an external cylindrical
surface defining a screw thread and defining a circular mouth, the
mouth comprising a puncturable seal; c. the spacer positioned
between the head assembly and the bottle and adapted to be manually
removed from therebetween by a user, the spacer further adapted to
space the bottle apart from the head assembly by at least the
height of a seal cutter positioned within the head assembly; and d.
the head assembly comprising at least i. a cap shaped pivot valve
comprising a top and a cylindrical wall, which wall is adapted to
screwingly mate with the bottle's neck and which top defines an
aperture eccentrically positioned relative to the bottle neck's
mouth, the top further comprising a seal-cutter extending
downwardly therefrom, which seal-cutter is dimensioned and disposed
to pierce the bottle neck's seal when the spacer is removed and the
bottle and the head assembly are completely screwingly mated by a
user, ii. a brush head body defining a cylinder positioned adjacent
the pivot valve and adapted to envelop and to rotate 180 degrees
about the pivot valve, and further comprising a brush head
platform, and still further defining a fluid channel adapted to
conduct fluid between the pivot valve aperture and a
platform-defined aperture eccentrically positioned relative to the
circular bottle neck's mouth, iii. a brush head attached to the
brush head platform comprising a fluid well, a fluid trough, the
fluid well adapted to fluidly communicate with the platform
aperture, and iv. a water washable brush pad attached onto the
brush head, e. the head assembly still further comprising at least
a pair of substantially 180 degree rotational stops adapted to
permit a user's rotation of the brush head body relative to the
pivot valve when the spacer is removed and the brush head is fully
screwingly mated with the bottle by a user, thereby permitting the
seal-cutter to cut the seal; thereafter when the spacer has been
removed by a user, and the seal cut by a user and the brush head is
fully screwingly mated with the bottle and fluid may flow from the
bottle to the pad and onto a surface, the device is in an "ON"
configuration, and when the brush head is rotated 180 degrees from
the "ON" configuration, so that fluid is blocked at the pivot
valve, and the device is in an "OFF" configuration, washing of the
brush pad by a user is possible without mixing water and fluid
present within the container.
2. A method of using the device of claim 1 comprising the following
steps, namely: a. pulling out the spacer from between the bottle
and the head assembly; b. rotating the head assembly relative to
the bottle at least 180 degrees to cut the seal of the bottle neck
with the seal cutter; c. positioning the head assembly relative to
the bottle to the ON configuration; d. applying fluid to a target
surface; e. rotating the head assembly relative to the bottle to
the OFF configuration; f. positioning the device relative to water
to permit the pad to be cleaned by the water.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] Applicants claim priority to the provisional application
dated 15 Jul. 2007 entitled "Twist-Open Stain Applicator Dispenser
Method of Use", U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/______ filed by
Kurt Koptis and David Richmond.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Wood stain or other fluids may be messy to apply using a
hand held applicator or brush, and the materials used for applying
the stain or fluid may be messy to store. The application process
itself can be difficult if a user is not careful to avoid
inadvertently dripping or pooling the fluid or stain during
application. Some fluids, for example wood stain, have
traditionally been sold in cans. Such fluids are typically applied,
like paint, by using a hand-held brush or a handled sponge. Fluids
are prone to drip from the applicator during applications.
Depending on the nature of the fluid, such drips may cause staining
or permanent marring of whichever surface they land upon.
[0003] Unused fluid, such as stain, is typically either sealed and
stored in its can for later use, or is thrown away and wasted. The
used fluid applicator must be either separately cleaned and stored,
or discarded after only one use and similarly wasted.
[0004] Alternatively, a user may purchase fluid or stain sold in an
bottle having an attached applicator dispensing end, similar to
dispensers used for liquid shoe polish. Typically, accumulated
fluid or stain will stiffen and clog the applicator and prevent
future satisfactory fluid or stain application, even though
additional fluid or stain is left in the bottle. Further, such
applicators have not typically prevented fluid or stain dripping
from the applicator unintentionally.
[0005] The device according to the disclosure provide an easy to
use, no mess fluid or stain applicator that allows a user to clean
the applicator after use, store the applicator and the fluid
contained therein between uses, and prevent or minimize fluid or
stain dripping therefrom during application. The device also
provides a foil-sealed container, which foil seal is punctured for
use without either removing the cap assembly or the user touching
the foil. If the fluid within the container is unpleasant or messy
to touch, this provides added benefit, as well as convenience for
use. It also permits a user to clean the applicator without adding
water to the fluid in the container, all without removing the
applicator from the container.
DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device of the
disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a an exploded perspective of a device of the
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an element of a device of
the disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevation of a device of the
disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a device and method of use of
the disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side sectional elevation of three configurations
of a device of the disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a rear sectional elevation of one configuration of
a device of the disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a rear sectional elevation of one configuration of
a device of the disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of three configurations of
a device of the disclosure; and
[0015] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a device and method of
the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] With reference to FIG. 1, there is generally shown an
embodiment of a device of the disclosure 1 comprising a
fluid-containing bottle 10, a spacer 20, and a head assembly 30.
Referring to FIG. 2, the bottle 10 may comprise a blow molded
fluid-containing chamber 110, but any bottle or container capable
of being hand held by a user and being squeezed to expel fluid or
being inverted to use gravity to drain or expel fluid from the
bottle will work. The bottle 10 defines a neck 120 comprising an
external cylindrical surface comprising a thread 130 and an
essentially circular mouth 140. Either an external or an internal
thread is acceptable.
[0017] Still with reference to FIG. 2, the mouth 140 defined by the
neck 120 of the bottle 10 further comprises a seal 150. This seal
150 may comprise a foil induction seal, a plastic seal, or any
material sealed over the mouth 140 of the bottle as commonly
practiced in the art. The purpose of the seal 150 is to prevent
leakage of the contained fluid until the seal 150 is purposefully
punctured, releasing the contained fluid for application and use.
The head assembly 30 is itself comprised of at least a pivot valve
310 adapted to envelop the neck 120 and mouth 140 of the bottle 10,
a brush head body 320, a brush head 330, a brush pad 340 and a
vented cap 350.
[0018] With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spacer 20 of the
device 1 is removably positioned between the bottle 10 and the head
assembly 30 about the neck 120 of the bottle 10. The spacer 20 is
adapted to position the bottle 10 apart from the head assembly 30.
The distance that these components 10, 30 are positioned apart is
at least the height of a seal cutter 319, which seal cutter 319 is
positioned within the head assembly 30, opposite the seal 150 but
apart therefrom.
[0019] With reference to FIG. 3, the pivot valve 310 comprises at
least an aperture 312 through its top portion 314 positioned so
that, when assembled, it will lie adjacent the bottle mouth 140 but
eccentric to the center thereof, and a cylindrical portion 316
substantially parallel to cylindrical walls of the neck 120. The
cylindrical portion 316 comprises a thread 318 adapted to
screwingly mate with the bottle's neck 120. The top of the pivot
valve 310 also comprises at least a seal cutter 319. While FIG.
3(b) discloses a cutting cam as a seal cutter 319, any device
capable of piercing, rupturing or cutting a seal when the pivot
valve 310 is fully screwed down upon the bottle's neck 120 and
brought to bear on the seal 150 would suffice.
[0020] Please refer to FIG. 4. The spacer 20 is adapted to be
removed by an end user of a device of the disclosure 1, which user
may grasp the tab 22 of the spacer 20 and pull the spacer 20 from
between the head assembly 30 and the bottle 10.
[0021] Before providing additional disclosure concerning removal of
the spacer 20, please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. These Figures
illustrate a head assembly 30 comprising a pivot valve 310 which is
adapted to envelop the mouth 140 and neck 120 of the bottle 10.
Accordingly, the pivot valve 310 comprises a thread 318 adapted to
mate with the bottle neck's thread 130, but the valve's thread 318
runs only the same as the length of the neck 120 of the bottle 10.
When the spacer 20 lies between the pivot valve 310 and the bottle
10, the valve 310 and bottle 10 cannot be completely screwingly
mated.
[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, when a user removes the
spacer 20 according to the method of the disclosure, and then
rotates the head assembly 30 360 degrees so that it fully
screwingly mates with the bottle's neck 120, the seal cutter 319,
extending downwardly from the pivot valve 310, cuts the seal
150.
[0023] The device and method of the disclosure comprise another
functional feature of the rotation of the head assembly 30 relative
to the bottle 10, namely the storage of fluid within the chamber
110, and the ability of a user to wash the device of the disclosure
1 without removing the head assembly 30 or diluting any liquid
within the chamber 110. Discussion follows.
[0024] With reference now to FIG. 4, the disclosure provides at
least a brush head 330 comprising a cylinder portion 322 that, when
the device 1 is assembled, lies adjacent the pivot valve 310 and
rotates about it, using the pivot valve 310 as an axis. The
cylinder portion 322 is adapted to pivot about the pivot valve 310
through an angle of at least 180 degrees. The brush head body 320
is retained about the pivot valve 310 by any means commonly used in
the art, such as snap fit means. The brush head body 320 further
defines a fluid channel 324 adapted to conduct fluid leaving the
pivot valve aperture 312. At the end of the channel 324 opposite
the pivot valve aperture 312, the channel 324 defines a channel
aperture 326.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the brush head 330 is attached to the
brush head body 320. The brush head body 320 is adapted to support
a brush head 330. The head 330 comprises at least a fluid well 332
and a fluid trough 334, both of which are able to fluidly
communicate with fluid dispensed from the aperture 326.
[0026] A brush pad 340 adpated to be attached to the brush head 330
is attached thereto. This pad 340 is adapted to convey and
distribute fluid from the fluid trough evenly throughout the width
of the brush pad 340.
[0027] The head assembly 30 may still further comprise at least a
pair of substantially 180 degree rotational stops (not shown) which
stop the rotation of the brush head body 320 relative to the pivot
valve 310 at 180 degrees when the spacer 20 is removed and the head
assembly 30 is fully mated with the bottle 10. No rotation of the
brush head body 320 relative to the pivot valve 310 is possible
before spacer 20 removal, thereby ensuring that the seal 150
remains intact and the fluid inside the container 110 before a user
decides to break the seal 150 and apply the contained fluid using
the device of the disclosure 1.
[0028] Reffering to FIG. 9, the device of the disclosure 1 has at
least two configurations, namely an ON configuration [FIG. 9(a) and
an OFF configuration [FIG. 9(b)]. The ON configuration [FIG. 9(a)]
permits fluid to flow from the bottle 10 through its neck 120, the
pivot valve aperture 312, the brush head body aperture 326 and
channel 324, and therethrough onto the brush pad 340 and a target
surface for application by a user.
[0029] While any position except one permitting fluid flow could be
considered an "off" position, such as the configuration illustrated
as FIG. 9(b), the primary OFF configuration is illustrated at FIG.
9(c). This is in contrast to when the device 1 is in the ON
configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 9(a). In either its ON or its
OFF configurations, the brush head body 320 "clicks" into place. As
illustrated in FIG. 10, illustrating one portion of a method
disclosed here in, a user may hold the device of the disclosure 1
under running water and wash excess fluid from the brush pad 340.
Such pad 340 is adapted to be washable. Such washing, or tilting or
storing of contained fluid may be done without allowing fluid from
within the bottle 10 to leak out, or allowing water to dilute fluid
inside the bottle 10.
[0030] After washing the pad 340, a user may affix a vented cap 350
over the pad 340, thereby permitting the pad 340 to dry while the
disclosed device 1 is stored in its OFF configuration. This OFF
configuration ensures safe storage and containment of the fluid
inside the bottle 10 without either the hazard of spilling the
bottle's contents or of seeping fluid through the pad 340.
[0031] Although the present has been described with reference to a
particular embodiment, it is to be appreciated that various
adaptations and modifications may be made and the disclosure is
only to be limited by the appended claims.
* * * * *