Coating implements with material supply – Diverse coating tools – Each with individual supply
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-06-05
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Diverse coating tools
Each with individual supply
C401S019000, C401S034000, C132S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241408
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to hand-held stick applicators for dispensing a supply of material taking the form of a salve, semi-solid, gel, cream, liquid, or the like, to be applied by a rubbing contact with an application surface. The invention more particularly relates to dual pack applicators having an outer sleeve containing two separate volumes of material to be separately dispensed from opposite ends of the sleeve.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stick applicators having various dispensing structures are generally known as being useful for dispensing various products including lip balms, lipsticks, deodorants, and the like. Stick applicators may take the form of, for example, a roll-on applicator for a liquid or a screw-operated push-up applicator for a non-liquid substance.
In a typical screw operated push-up applicator, material is stored within a barrel and is supported by an internally threaded elevator. A rotatable dispensing screw extends longitudinally inside the barrel and engages the elevator. The screw has a control knob, located at a non-dispensing end of the barrel, that determines the elevator's position. When the knob is turned, the screw is rotated inside the barrel causing the elevator to travel longitudinally, and push the material out of an opposite (dispensing) end of the barrel.
In another embodiment of a screw-operated push-up applicator, the control knob is non-rotatably fixed within an outer container surrounding a barrel, such that upon turning the barrel itself by a collar on the opposite end has the effect of moving the elevator within the barrel. This structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,802.
Known roll-on applicators have a rotatably suspended ball that carries a liquid material on the ball surface from a barrel interior to an exposed exterior.
Dual dispensing applicators have been proposed in the past. However, existing dual applicators are cumbersome and complex in structure and use. In some known devices, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,777, the material to be dispensed is stored in removable closures instead of being held in the barrel itself. Removal of a closure from either end reveals an applicator tool used to remove and apply material stored inside the closure. Thus, the closure and applicator must each be maintained separately during use. Each closure serves both a reservoir function and a closure function. In another dual applicator device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,614, a duplex rotary holder has guide pins on carrier members that interact with rotating sleeves having helical slots. When one of the sleeves is turned, its respective slot pulls the guide pin causing the carrier to move longitudinally to dispense a solid material.
It would be desirable to have a dual applicator stick that integrates existing individual applicator assemblies in a dual pack configuration so that two separate product volumes are readily available to a user in a single package.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a versatile stick applicator for dual dispensing of separate volumes of stored product from opposite ends of the applicator.
Another object of the invention is to provide a dual applicator that economically integrates various existing single applicator assemblies in a dual pack configuration.
The dual pack applicators of the present invention include a generally tubular outer sleeve capable of receiving and holding two individual applicator assemblies, a dispensing end of each assembly being at one of the two open ends of the sleeve. The individual assemblies can be, for example, roll-on or screw-operated push-up applicators.
An individual barrel applicator assembly having a barrel with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve and having a length preferably approximately less than half that of the sleeve fits within the sleeve. The dispensing end, and in certain embodiments the control mechanism, protrude from an open end of the sleeve. Another individual assembly similarly fits in the sleeve with a dispensing end protruding from the opposite open end of the sleeve. Removable closures are provided to cover the dispensing ends when not in use.
The two applicator assemblies within the sleeve oppose one another in the sleeve, preferably with their bases nearly meeting midway inside the sleeve. In this configuration, the user has access to two separate products in an integrated unit.
Each individual applicator assembly can be secured inside the sleeve by a frictional fit and/or snap fit. The friction fit can be a wall-on-wall friction fit based on the relative inner and outer diameter sizes of the tube and applicator, respectively. Alternatively, the outer sleeve can have one or a series of inwardly projecting ribs extending longitudinally along the sleeve's inner surface that enhance the frictional interaction between the sleeve and the individual applicator assemblies. A further alternative embodiment has the inside mid-portion of the sleeve including inwardly projecting ribs, alone or in combination with a snap-fit structure, to receive and hold a ribbed control knob of an applicator assembly.
A dual pack applicator of the present invention can include roll-on and push-up assemblies and thus can carry in an integrated device a variety of product formats and formulas. For example, a dual pack applicator can provide for variation of similar products, i.e., different shades or flavors of lip balm; or alternatively, provide complementary products, i.e., an insect repellent and a hydrocortisone material for treating bug bites. In the latter case, the ability to have a roll-on and a semi-solid material dispenser allows for use of many combinations of complementary products.
Another advantage provided is the provision of a central outer body area on the applicator suitable for graphics or labeling to provide an appealing aesthetic appearance and/or product labeling.
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Breiner & Breiner
deVore Peter
Douglas Steven O.
Federal Package Network Inc.
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