Coating implements with material supply – With means to attach or conform to body of user
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-24
2001-08-28
Eloshway, Charles R. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
With means to attach or conform to body of user
C401S124000, C401S125000, C401S130000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280108
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Despite publicity about the dangers associated with excessive sun exposure, people enjoy sun tanning. People with a good tan tend to be considered healthier and more attractive than people with a pale complexion. Fortunately, however, most people are smart enough to realize that if they are going to be spending time in the sun, they should apply some type of suntan lotion. Suntan lotion applicators are known, but a majority of people still apply suntan lotion by squirting the lotion into their hands, and then rubbing it into the skin. Utilizing this old-fashioned method, it is virtually impossible for someone to apply suntan lotion to one's back without assistance. Failure to apply suntan lotion can, of course, result in sunburn.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,568,669 and 5,664,281 are two recently issued patents that disclose lotion applicators that attempted to address the problems associated with applying suntan lotion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,669 discloses a non-porous pad affixed to a thin retractable handle. Because the disclosed pad is non-porous, it does not adequately absorb lotion and tends to smear the lotion instead of spreading it evenly.
Pat. No. 5,664,281 discloses a porous pad attached to a thin hinged handle. This porous pad is exposed to ambient air, and unless cleaned the lotion in the pad will quickly dry and the pad will become ineffective as an applicator.
In both 5,664,281 and 5,568,669, lotion is poured onto the pad from a separate bottle of suntan lotion. Also, both patents disclose flimsy devices that could easily break if not carefully handled. Similar problems exist with other prior art devices.
What is needed is a new, sturdy suntan lotion applicator that effectively applies suntan lotion to hard to reach areas of the user's body without getting suntan lotion on the user's hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a lotion applicator that has a hollow handle for containing lotion. The hollow handle has a closable opening and flexible walls such that the squeezing of the walls forces lotion contained within the hollow handle to exit the closable opening. A casing is attached to the handle and covers the closable opening. A casing cap is removably attached to the casing such that a storage compartment is formed by the attachment of the casing cap to the casing. A porous pad is contained within the storage compartment and is for absorbing lotion squeezed out of the handle. Some purposes of the casing cap are to delay drying of the pad, protect the pad from contamination, and prevent lotion on the pad from contaminating other objects.
In a preferred embodiment, the user first removes the casing cap from the casing. Then, the user removes the handle from the casing. The user then opens the closable opening and squeezes the handle so that lotion exits the handle and is applied to the pad. The user then reattaches the handle to the casing. Now the user is able to apply lotion to his back and other parts of the body by gripping the handle and rubbing the pad over his body. When complete, the user reattaches the casing cap to the casing.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 394915 (1998-06-01), Haining
patent: 2168179 (1939-08-01), Tobey
patent: 2567764 (1951-09-01), Davies
patent: 2724849 (1955-11-01), Schultz
patent: 2986762 (1961-06-01), Webb
patent: 3590414 (1971-07-01), Gores
patent: 4630954 (1986-12-01), Ladd, Jr.
patent: 4974984 (1990-12-01), Kafkis et al.
patent: 5322382 (1994-06-01), Hull et al.
patent: 5568669 (1996-10-01), Godown
patent: 5664281 (1997-09-01), Pelfrey
patent: 449869 (1969-04-01), None
Haining John B.
Simmons Kevin
Tu Chin Yi
Eloshway Charles R.
Ross John R.
Ross, III John R.
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