US2425251A - Liquid applicator - Google Patents

Description

Aug? 9 Y M. E. LANDAU 294 mm LIQUID- APPLICATOR I Filed'sept. ll, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR Hilsliilandau I ATTORNEYS ME; LANBA'U LIQUID APBLIOATORV F ilgd, Sept. 11, 19%

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,425,251 LioUin APPLICATOR Miles E. Landau, Brooklyn, N. Y.

, Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,565

The invention has in view an applicator of the indicated character having a liquid reservoir which is sealed against the intake of air and the discharge of the liquid except through an orifice located adjacent the bottom thereof and which orifice is covered by a cellular sponge functioning when the same is saturated to limit the discharge of the liquid to the amount required or removed from the sponge.

The invention further comprehends a liquid applicator provided with a pair of cellular sponges disposed in superimposed relation and 50 located that the lower sponge covers the orfice of the liquid reservoir and restricts the flow of the liquid therethrough to the volume of air admitted to the reservoir through the interstices in the lower sponge by the absorption of the liquid from the lower sponge by the upper sponge.

The invention also resides in improved means for resiliently supporting the liquid reservoir in a socket in juxtaposition to the sponges whereby the reservoir may be readily removed for refilling and replaced with the orifice thereof disposed in alignment with a discharge opening in the socket and whereby the reservoir is snugly compressed against the wall of the socketadjacent said discharge opening to thereby permit the discharge of the liquid through said opening and into the lower sponge.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which are illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid applicator constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a vertical plane.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line '33 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the liquid reser- Fig. 5 is a similar view of the socket.

8 Claims; (01. 91-54.4)

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a liquid applicator illustrating another modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View therethrough.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and more particularly tothe form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 thereof, the applicator includes a base or holder ll) of general rectangular formation having a cylindrical shaped Well opening through the upper surface thereof and which well communicates with a rectangular shaped recess |2 located forwardly thereof and extending inwardly from the upper face of the base or holder [0. I

The wall of the well II is threaded as at l3 adjacent the bottom thereof for removably receiving a cylindrical sleeve l4 exteriorly threaded as at l5 adjacent the lower end thereof and which is of a length to project upwardly through the well with the upper end thereof disposed slightly above the upper face of the base or holder Ill. The said sleeve is provided with an aperture l6 located above the threaded portion l5 and arranged when the sleeve is secured in the well to open into the rectangular shaped recess l 2. Opposite the aperture l6, the sleeve I4 is formed with a slit extending longitudinally thereof from the upper edge to a transversely disposed slit l8 located adjacent the threaded portion l5 and 5 extending forwardly I short distance at each side of the slit I! to thereby form oppositely disposed resilient arcuate members l9 and 20 at the rear of the sleeve. The sleeve provides a socket for slidably receiving and supporting a container 2| in the base or holder III in juxtaposition to the rectangular recess l2 which container 2| constitutes a reservoir for holding a supply of the liquid to be dispensed by the applicator.

The container 2| may be of any desired formation and which as illustrated consists of a spherical shaped hollow body 22 having a, depending cylindrical shank 23 provided with an orifice 24 located adjacent the bottom thereof and which orifice is slightly larger than the aperture l6 and is disposedin registry therewith when the container is positioned in the sleeve. The resilient arcuate members I9 and 20 of the sleeve function to frictionally secure the container 2| in the sleeve and to compress the shank 23 thereof against the wall of the sleev in the region of the aperture I6 so 3 as to insure the discharge of the liquid through the aperture IS.

The shank 23 is formed with a projection 25 extending outwardly at the side thereof opposite the orifice 24 and which projection is of a size to slidably engage in the slit l'l between the ends of the resilient arcuate members I9 and 2D for disposing and retaining the container in position in the sleeve with the orifice 24 thereof arranged in registry with the aperture IS.

The applicator also includes superimposed upper and lower rectangular shaped sponges 26 and 21 which fit into the rectangular shaped recess I2 with the upper sponge protruding slightly above the rim of the recess and with the lower sponge disposed with the inner end thereof abutting against the sleeve l4 so as to cover the aperture l6. Preferably the sponges 26 and 21 are of a fine pore synthetic material such as cellulose or any equivalent thereof and due to the arrangement thereof function to supply the required amount of the liquid to the upper sponge so as tomaintain the same in a moistened condition while eliminating excess liquid in the recess l2. This is accomplished by the lower sponge 2'! functioning when the same is saturated with the liquid to prevent the entrance of air into the container 2i except such as admitted thereto by the taking up of the liquid from the lower sponge through the medium of the absorptive action of the upper sponge, thus limiting the discharge of the liquid from the container 2| to the amount required to maintain the applicator surface of the upper sponge in a moistened condition. The arrangement of the sponges also renders it possible to conveniently remove the upper sponge for cleaning the accumulation of gummy material which adheres thereto when moistening envelopes and the like without disturbing the lower sponge.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the base or holder 30 of theapplicator is of circular formation having a circular recess 3| in the upper-face thereof and centrally of the recess the bottom thereof is formed with a circular well 32 adapted to threadedly receive therein an upstanding sleeve 33 having an aperture 34 and which sleeve is similar to and functions in the same manner as the sleeve l4 in the previous form of the invention. The sleeve 33 projects upwardly above the rim of the base or holder 30 and is adapted to frictionally receive and support a container 35 having an orifice 36 adjacent the bottom thereof providing a discharge outlet, the container 35 constituting a liquid reservoir and being similar in construction to the container 2| in the previous. form of the invention.

Superimposed upper and lower centrally apertured sponges 31 and 38 are provided which are arranged in the circular recess 3| in surrounding relation with the sleeve 33 and with the upper sponge 31 protruding above the rim of the base or holder 30. Th inner periphery of the lower sponge 38 snugly fits about the sleeve 33 and covers the aperture 34 therein so as to effect the discharge of the liquid from the reservoir. centrally apertured flexible disk 39 of waterproof material is provided which is arranged upon the upper-sponge 31 with the central aperture thereof disposed about the sleeve 33. Above the sponge 31 the disk 39 is provided with closely spaced perforations 49 through which the liquid from the upper sponge 31 is exuded or expressed by slight pressure or tapping on the upper surface of the disk 39. The outer periphery of the lower sponge A thin 38 is preferably spaced from the Wall of the recess 3| as shown in Fig. 7 forming an annular space in which the liquid forced from the sponges by pressure thereagainst will collect so as to avoid the recess 2| filling up and the liquid spilling over the edges thereof.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, the applicator is similar in construction to the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 thereof except that in this form a container 42 is provided which is of-cy1indrical formation and furnishes a relatively larger liquid reservoir. The container 42 is slidably mounted in a sleeve 43 frictlonally fitted in a circular recess 44 in the base or holder 45 which recess communicates with a rectangular shaped recess 45 in the forward portion of the base or holder. The container 42 is provided with an orifice 41 disposed in registry with an aperture 48 in the sleeve 43 which functions as in the previous forms of the invention to discharge the liquid to the upper and. lower sponges 49 and 50 disposed in the recess 46 with the rear end of the lower sponge 50 arranged in abutting relation over the aperture 48. The sleeve v43 is slit as at 5| for frictionally gripping the container which is formed with a projection 52 adapted to engage in the slit 5| for .automatically positioning the container with the orifice 41 thereof in registry with the aperture 48.

It is to be understood that the container or liquid reservoir in each form of the invention being closed at the top and the orifice thereof being relatively small, the liquid will not run out or be discharged therefrom except .by the capillary action of the lower sponge. For this reason the lower sponge is positioned in covering relation with the aperture in the sleeve and in contact with a globule of the liquid which protrudes from the orifice in the container or liquid reservoir whereby the sponge sets up a suctorial action on the liquid in the container or reservoir to draw the same therefrom as required to maintain the upper sponge in a moistened condition.

To fill the container or reservoir the same is removed from the applicator and held with the orifice thereof disposed under a stream of the liquid such as .a running faucet, the weight and velocity of the falling liquid being such as to force the same into the orifice thereof and displacing the air in the container. Prior to the first use thereof the sponges are removed and saturated or filled with the liquid. Preferably the container or reservoir is constructed of transparent or translucent material so that the height of the liquid therein is apparent at all times.

What is claimed is 1. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoir having a closed upper end and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder, a socket member mounted in said holder for slidably receiving and supporting the liquid reservoir, said socket member having an opening at one side thereof and a pair of resilient clamping members adapted .to resiliently compress the reservoir against the wall of the socket member in the region of the said opening with the outlet thereof in registry with said opening, and a pair of superimposed sponges disposed in said holder with the. lower sponge arranged in covering relation with the opening in said socket member to control the flow of the liquid from the reservoir when the lower sponge is saturated.

2, In a liquid applicator, .a container defining portion of the reservoir for supporting the same and functioning to resiliently compress the lower portion of the reservoir against the wall of the socket member in the region of said opening therein, means carried by the cylindrical portion of said reservoir engageable between the ends of the clamping tongues for disposing and maintaining the reservoir with the outlet thereof in registry with the opening in the socket member and a pair of superimposed cellulose sponges disposed in said holder with the lower sponge arranged in covering relation with the opening in said socket member to control the flow of the liquid from the reservoir when the lower sponge is saturated.

3. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoir having a closed upper end and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder, means mounting said reservoir in said holder and having an opening registering with the outlet in the liquid reservoir, and a pair of superimposed sponges disposed in said holder with the lower sponge arranged in covering relation with said outlet and functioning when the lower sponge is saturated to effect the discharge of the liquid from the reservoir to the amount taken up by the upper sponge.

4. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoir having a discharge outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder, a tubular sleeve having a threaded lower end portion threadedly secured in said holder and adapted to slidably receive and support the liquid reservoir, said sleeve having an opening therein and a split upper portion defining a pair of resilient clamping members adapted to resiliently compress the reservoir against the Wall of the sleeve in the region of the outlet and with said opening registering with the discharge outlet, a pair of superimposed sponges disposed in said holder with the lower sponge arranged in covering relation with the discharge opening, and a plate having an opening therein through which the reservoir projects and having a foraminous portion overlying said upper sponge adapted for moistening the fingers through the openings in the foraminous portion.

5. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoir having an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder having a circular recess opening through the upper face thereof and a rectangular recess communicating with said circular recess and extending inwardly from the upper surface of said holder, a socket member threadedly secured in said circular recess and having an opening at one side thereof and directed into said rectangular recess, said socket member being adapted to receive and support the container in the holder with the outlet thereof in registry with the opening in the socket member, and a sponge disposed in said rectangular recess with one side thereof abutting against the socket member so as to cover the opening therein to thereby effect the discharge of the liquid from the container.

6. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoir having an orifice in the lower portion thereof, a holder, a tubular sleeve secured in said holder and having an opening and resilient clamping means adapted to receive and resiliently retain the reservoir in the sleeve with said opening registering with the orifice, a pair of superimposed sponges disposed in said holder with the lower sponge arranged in covering relation with the orifice in the reservoir and a shield having a foraminous portion overlying said upper sponge and adapted to admit liquid from the upper sponge therethrough.

7. In a liquid applicator, a container defining a liquid reservoir having a closed upper end and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof, a holder, a socket member mounted in said holder for slidably receiving and supporting the liquid reservoir, said socket member having an opening at one side thereof and a pair of resilient clamping members adapted to resiliently compress the reservoir against the wall of the socket member in the region of the said opening with the outlet thereof in registry with said opening, and a sponge disposed in said holder in covering relation with the opening in said socket member to control the flow of the liquid from the reservoir.

8. In a liquid applicator, a holder, a liquid container defining a liquid reservoir having a closed upper end and an orifice in the lower portion thereof, a socket member disposed in said holder, said socket member receiving said reservoir and having an orifice in registry with the orifice in said reservoir to permit the passage of liquid therethrough, and sponge material disposed in said holder in covering relation with said orifice in the socket member to effect and control the discharge of liquid from said reservoir.

MILES E. LANDAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images