Dipstick-type applicator for tooth whitener and skin care medication

Abstract

A dipstick-type applicator for tooth whitener and skin care medication includes a housing defining an internal chamber sealed when an applicator is received therein. A quantity of liquid medication is hermetically sealed within the chamber. The applicator consists of a gripping portion, a stem, and at the distal end of the stem, a tip made of a flexible absorbent material having a flat angled distal surface that is specifically designed to best coat the user's teeth with tooth whitener or the user's skin with skin care medication. A wiper within the housing has a reduced diameter opening, through which the tip of the applicator must travel to remove the tip from the chamber filled with liquid medication. The relationship between the outer dimensions of the tip and the opening in the wiper is such that excess liquid medication is removed from the tip as it is removed from the chamber.

1 . An applicator device for applying medication to a user comprising: 
 a) a housing having an opening allowing access to a chamber;    b) a quantity of medication within said chamber;    c) an applicator having an applicator tip insertable within said chamber; and    d) a wiper extending at least partially about a periphery of said opening and sized to remove excess medication from said tip as said tip is removed from said chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said opening is at one end of said housing and an opposite end of said housing is defined by an end wall.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said opening is generally circular.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said opening is generally circular.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said quantity comprises sufficient medication for a single treatment.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said medication is hermetically sealed within said chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wiper includes a generally circular opening smaller than outer dimensions of said chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said wiper comprises a sleeve installed within said housing, and having said opening at a distal end thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator includes a stem proximal of and attached to said tip.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said applicator includes a hand grip proximal of said stem.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said hand grip includes concave surfaces adapted to receive a user's fingers.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said tip is made of a resilient absorbent material.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said tip is made of a resilient absorbent material.  
   
   
       15 . An applicator device for applying medication comprising: 
 a) a cylindrical housing having a circular opening allowing access to a chamber;    b) a single-dose quantity of liquid medication within said chamber;    c) an applicator having an applicator tip insertable within said chamber, said tip having a circular cross-section and a flat applicator surface; and    d) a wiper extending at least partially about a periphery of said opening and sized to remove excess medication from said tip as said tip is removed from said chamber.    
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said liquid medication is hermetically sealed within said chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said wiper comprises a sleeve installed within said housing and having an opening at a distal end thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said applicator includes ( 1 ) a stem proximal of and attached to said tip; and ( 2 ) a hand grip proximal of said stem.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said hand grip includes concave surfaces adapted to receive a user's fingers.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said tip is made of a resilient absorbent material.