Liquid product applicator

Abstract

The present invention achieves the above object, among others, by providing in a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, comprising: a liquid product applicator; and means to wipe liquid product from only a portion of said liquid product applicator, while leaving a greater amount of liquid product on other portions of said liquid product applicator. A method of using said liquid product applicator is also provided.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 (a) a liquid product applicator, and    (b) means to wipe liquid product from only a portion of said liquid product applicator, while leaving a greater amount of liquid product on other portions of said liquid product applicator.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein: said means to wipe comprises an orifice in a wiper operatively attached to a container of said liquid product  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 2 , wherein: said orifice, in a cross-section taken orthogonal to a major axis of said liquid product applicator and to a major axis of said wiper, is non-symmetrical with respect to said liquid product applicator.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 3 , wherein: said orifice wipes said liquid product from two opposing sides of said liquid applicator.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising: a stem from which said liquid product applicator depends, said stem being complementary to shape of said orifice.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 5 , wherein: a proximal end of said stem is arranged such that said stem remains rotationally immobile with respect to said container when a cap is screwed onto and from said container.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising: at least one flexible doctor blade attached to and depending from said orifice and arranged such that said at least one doctor blade further wipes said liquid product from said portion of said liquid product applicator.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 7 , wherein: said at least one flexible doctor blade wipes a portion of said liquid product from a tip of said liquid product applicator.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 (a) a liquid product carrier,    (b) means to wipe liquid product from only a portion of said liquid product carrier, while leaving a greater amount of liquid product on other portions of said liquid product carrier, and    (c) said liquid product carrier being selected from the group consisting of: a spiral wound brush, flocked doe's foot tip, foam mitt, narrow tipped liner brush, and wide tipped liner brush.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus, as defined in  claim 6 , wherein: a proximal portion of said stem is cylindrical and has a horizontal flange extending therefrom, said horizontal flange, at a lower surface of said horizontal flange, rotationally engages a horizontal surface in said cap.  
   
   
       11 . A method, comprising: 
 (a) providing a container of liquid product;    (b) providing a liquid applicator that can be disposed in said container of liquid product, in contact with said liquid product;    (c) providing a wiper operatively connected to said container of liquid product, through which wiper said liquid applicator passes to have wiped off said liquid product from only a portion of said liquid applicator;    (d) applying said liquid product using a portion of liquid applicator using other than said portion; and    (e) using said portion to brush out clumps of said liquid product.    
   
   
       12 . A method, as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising: providing in said wiper an orifice, said wiper being operatively attached to a container of said liquid product.  
   
   
       13 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising: providing said orifice, in a cross-section taken orthogonal to a major axis of said liquid product applicator and to said wiper, as non-symmetrical with respect to said liquid product applicator.  
   
   
       14 . A method, as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising: providing said orifice to wipe said liquid product from two opposing sides of said liquid applicator.  
   
   
       15 . A method, as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising: providing a stem from which said liquid product applicator depends as complementary to the shape of said orifice.  
   
   
       16 . A method, as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising: providing a proximal end of said stem arranged such that said stem remains rotationally immobile with resect to said container when a cap is screwed onto and from said container.  
   
   
       17 . A method, as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising: providing at least one doctor blade attached to and depending from said orifice and arranged such that said at least one doctor blade further wipes said liquid product from said portion of said liquid product applicator.  
   
   
       18 . A method, as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising: providing said at least one doctor blade to wipe a portion of said liquid product from a tip of said liquid product applicator.  
   
   
       19 . A method, comprising: 
 (a) providing a container of liquid product;    (b) providing a liquid product carrier that can be disposed in a container of liquid product, in contact with said liquid product;    (c) providing a wiper operatively connected to said container of liquid product, through which wiper said liquid product carrier passes to have wiped off said liquid product from only a first portion of said liquid product carrier;    (d) applying said liquid product using a second portion of said liquid product carrier,    (e) using said first portion of said liquid product carrier to brush out clumps of said liquid product; and    (f) providing said liquid product carrier selected from the group consisting of: spiral wound, flocked doe's foot tip, foam mitt, narrow tipper liner, and wide tipped liner brushes.    
   
   
       20 . A method, as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 (a) providing a portion of a proximal end of said stem as cylindrical and having a horizontal flange extending therefrom; and    (b) providing a lower surface of said horizontal flange rotationally engaging a corresponding horizontal surface in said cap.    
   
   
       21 . A dispenser for storing and applying liquid product, comprising in combination: 
 (a) a container having a neck portion;    (b) a closure cap adapted to be mounted on said neck portion of said container to selectively form a seal therewith;    (c) an elongate applicator device frictionally and turnably carried by the interior of said closure cap, said elongate applicator device having a body portion and a distal end portion receivable in an interior of said container for contact with liquid product; and    (d) cooperable, activatable keying means on said neck portion of said container and said elongate applicator device, for selectively prevent turning movement of said elongate applicator device with respect to said container,    (e) said cooperable keying means being rendered active as said elongate applicator device and said closure cap are being installed to said neck portion of said container,    (f) said keying means being rendered inactive as said elongate applicator device and said closure cap are being withdrawn from said neck portion of said container; and    (g) whereby, said elongate applicator device becomes restrained against turning movement with respect to said container as said distal end portion of said elongate applicator device is inserted into said neck portion of said container.    
   
   
       22 . A dispenser, as defined in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) said closure cap has formed thereon continuous internal threads; and    (b) said neck portion of said container has formed thereon cooperable continuous threads engagable with said continuous internal threads of said closure cap.    
   
   
       23 . A dispenser, as defined in  claim 22 , wherein: said keying means is activated prior to any engagement of said continuous internal threads formed on said neck portion of said container and said continuous internal threads formed on said closure cap when said closure cap is assembled to said container.  
   
   
       24 . A dispenser, as defined in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) said keying means comprises a non-circular cross sectional portion of said elongate applicator device; and    (b) means defining a cooperable hole in said neck portion of said container, and    (c) said elongate applicator device fitting into said hole in solely a fixed registration therewith.    
   
   
       25 . A dispenser, as defined in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) said elongate applicator device has a brush at a distal end thereof; and    (b) said keying means comprises means defining a hole in said neck portion of said container, and    (c) said hole of said neck portion of said container having a configuration which complements the cross-sectional configuration of said brush.    
   
   
       26 . A dispenser, as defined in  claim 21 , wherein: said cooperable keying means forms a seal between said elongate applicator device and said neck portion of said container when said closure cap is assembled to said neck portion of said container, to thereby minimize product accumulation in said neck portion of said container.  
   
   
       27 . A dispenser, as defined in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 (a) said elongate applicator device comprises a brush; and    (b) said keying means on said neck portion of said container comprises a hole having a configuration complementary to a cross-section of said brush.