Applicator For Heated Fluids

Abstract

An applicator for applying heated or foamed fluids including an applicator body having a retaining ring provided with a valve for controlling fluid flow. A substance for chemical reaction with the fluid being dispensed to heat or foam the fluid is disposed outwardly of the valve.

Description

This invention relates to a fluid applicator especially adapted for applying medications or cosmetics and includes improvements over the invention disclosed in the U. S. Pat. No. 3,203,926, to Gilbert Schwartzman, issued Aug. 31, 1965 for "Fluid Applicator."

An object of this invention resides in the provision of means for facilitating the application of medications, cosmetics, and other heated fluids or foamy solutions through suitable chemical reactions within the applicator. The concept of this invention resides in the positioning of a substance capable of chemical reaction with the fluid within the container of the applicator so that the fluid dispensed by the applicator is heated or foamed or otherwise rendered more satisfactory by way of the chemical reaction.

A first embodiment of the invention conceives the use of a washer suitably held in place within a groove in the retaining ring of the applicator and at least partially covered by material integral with the retaining ring of the applicator so that the rate of chemical reaction is controlled and so that fluid which passes by the valve of the applicator can react with the material of the washer and cause an exothermic or foaming reaction or the like solely in the space between the retaining ring and the cover and outwardly of the cover for optimum effect of the medication, cosmetic or other fluid being dispensed.

Another embodiment of the invention resides in the concept of disposing a porous compressible body of material having at least partially embedded therein suitable crystals, granules, or like material of a substance capable of chemical reaction with the fluid within the container so that an exothermic or foaming reaction is obtained within the compressible body and outwardly of the cover for optimum application of the fluid.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a fluid applicator having means associated with the applicator and shielded when the applicator is in a valve-closed position from contact with the fluid within the container of the applicator so that the majority of the fluid remains free of the substance with which it will chemically react until such time as it passes through a valve opening, yet which is simple in construction, capable of being manufactured in any convenient size and easy to use.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention which will becomes apparent as the following description proceeds are attained by this applicator for heated or foamy fluids, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional detail view of an assembled fluid applicator constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the applicator in an overturned position in use;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the applicator with the cover removed and taken along the plane of line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the applicator taken along the plane of line 5--5 in FIG. 4.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the fluid applicator comprising the present invention. This applicator includes a container 12 in which a retaining ring 14 is positioned.

The retaining ring is designed to fit in the neck of the container 12 and includes a flange 16 provided with a swaged lip 18 for retaining a cover disc 20 in position between the lip 18 and rib 22 of circular configuration.

The disc 20 is constructed of two layers, the upper layer 21 of which is formed of a nylon knitted brushed fabric so as to achieve a feltlike applicator surface and appearance, while having the chemical inertness and strength of the nylon. Laminated and bonded to the nylon knitted brushed fabric is the lower layer 23 of coarse polyurethane foam.

The retaining ring 14 is provided with a web 26 which has a circular tapered opening 28 therein which is of approximately one-half the diameter of the web 26. Cooperating with the arcuate tapered opening 28, which serves as a valve seat, is the conical surface 30 of an integrally molded valve assembly generally indicated at 24. The valve assembly 24 includes a spring 32 formed in helical coils, the lower portion being integrally formed with a mounting ring 34. The mounting ring is held in place by the swaged end 42 of the retaining ring 14. The swaged end 42 thus retains the valve assembly 24 within the retaining ring 14 with the spring 32 in a continuously stressed condition under compression so that the valve head 36 is continuously urged into and through the opening 28 for the purpose of closing the opening and preventing fluid flow from the container 12 into the space between the web 26 of the retaining ring 14 and the cover 20. The upper end of the spring 32 is integrally formed with the body portion 33 of the valve assembly.

A groove 70 is formed in the web of the retaining ring and disposed in the groove is a washer 72 of a chemical material capable of reacting with the fluid 74 within the container 12. The washer 72 may comprise compressed crystals of magnesium chloride capable of an exothermic or thermogenic reaction with an aqueous solution 72 as it passes outwardly of the container.

Of course, the well-known selected combination of a sulfite and a peroxide can be readily employed as the two reactants for exothermic and foaming reactions.

In order to control the speed of reaction, a lip 80 of selected size and configuration is swaged over the groove 70. The lip may include a screen, fingers, extensions, etc. and may extend as much as 90 percent of the groove 70.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, there is disposed between the valve head 36 and the cover 20 a cylindrical body 50 of coarse polyurethane foam, which is continuously compressed and serves to bulge the cover 20 in a convex manner. Integrally molded with and embedded in the body 50 are crystals or granules of material 76 capable of reacting with the fluid in the container. The material 76 may be granules of a thermogenic material such as magnesium chloride.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

I claim:

1. An applicator comprising a container having a neck, fluid in said container, a retaining ring having a projecting portion seated in said neck, a cover secured to aid ring, said ring having an opening therein forming a valve seat, a valve assembly including a valve head engageable with said valve seat to close said opening and being movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said opening, spring means integral with said valve head and biasing said valve head and said projecting portion for normally urging said valve head against said valve seat, said valve head being depressible on depression of said cover to permit fluid flow through said opening, said retaining ring having a circular groove 70 therein concentric with said opening, a washer of a substance capable of chemical reaction with said fluid disposed in said groove, and means 80 integral with said retaining ring for locking said washer in said groove.

2. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is an aqueous solution, said washer being of a substance capable of exothermic reaction with said fluid.

3. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said washer is formed of magnesium chloride.

4. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said washer is capable of forming a foamy solution in reaction with said fluid.