Applicator

Abstract

An applicator and methods of dispensing liquid. The applicator may include a reservoir with a body and a pad. The body may extend around and form a receptacle. The pad may be attached to the body. An actuator may be movably connected to the reservoir and may include a plunger. The plunger may be movable relative to the body in a first direction to drive the liquid from the receptacle and into the pad and a second direction to move the plunger away from the pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An applicator to contain and dispense liquid, the applicator comprising:
 a reservoir comprising:
 a body that extends around and forms a receptacle, the body comprising an opposing top side and a bottom side with the top side being open; 
 a pad attached to the body and that extends across the bottom side, the pad being constructed from a permeable material to allow the liquid to pass; 
   an actuator that is movably connected to the reservoir, the actuator comprising:
 a plunger with a bottom and an outer wall that extends outward from the bottom and with an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the receptacle to fit into the receptacle; 
 a shell connected to the plunger and movably connected to the body of the reservoir, the shell being movable relative to the body to move the plunger within the receptacle in a first direction to drive the liquid from the receptacle and into the pad, and a second direction to move the plunger away from the pad. 
   
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a cylindrical outer wall and a bottom at the second end, the bottom comprising apertures to dispense the liquid from the receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising threads positioned on the body and the shell to movably connect the shell to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising slits that extend through the pad to allow for the liquid to pass. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the plunger has an exterior that is smooth to facilitate movement against an inner wall of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 5 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the outer wall of the plunger and the inner wall of the body, the gasket configured to prevent the liquid from leaking from the receptacle when the plunger is moved in the first direction into the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator and the reservoir and co-axially aligned. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap with a solid bottom, the cap being removably connected to the body with the solid bottom sized to extend over and cover the pad. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a non-permeable inner pad that includes openings and a permeable outer pad that extends over the inner pad, the outer pad being exposed. 
     
     
         10 . An applicator to contain and dispense liquid, the applicator comprising:
 a receptacle formed within an outer wall and a bottom side, the bottom side comprising apertures, the receptacle further comprising an open top side opposite from the bottom side;   a plunger sized to extend through the open top side and into the receptacle, the plunger comprising an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the receptacle for the plunger to be axially movable within the receptacle;   connectors positioned at the receptacle and the plunger to movably connected to the plunger to the receptacle and provide for the plunger to axially move relative to the receptacle;   a pad that extends across the bottom side of the receptacle, the pad comprising an inner side that faces into the receptacle and an outer side that faces away from the receptacle, the pad configured for the liquid to move through the pad and be dispensed from the outer side.   
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the pad is constructed from a permeable material to allow the liquid to pass. 
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 10 , further comprising openings that extend through the pad to allow for the liquid to pass. 
     
     
         13 . The applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the plunger has an exterior that is smooth to facilitate movement against the outer wall of the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The applicator of  claim 10 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the plunger and the receptacle to prevent the liquid from leaking from the receptacle when the plunger is moved axially into the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator and the reservoir and co-axially aligned. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator of  claim 10 , further comprising a cap with a solid bottom with the cap being removably connected to the body with the solid bottom sized to extend over and cover the pad. 
     
     
         17 . The applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a non-permeable inner pad that includes openings and a permeable outer pad that extends over the inner pad, the outer pad being exposed. 
     
     
         18 . A method of dispensing liquid, the method comprising:
 receiving the liquid into a receptacle;   attaching a plunger to a body that forms the receptacle;   axially moving the plunger into a first end of the receptacle and forcing the liquid out of the receptacle through a second end of the receptacle;   moving the liquid through openings in the second end of the receptacle; and   moving the liquid through the openings and into a pad that extends across the second end of the receptacle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising rotating the plunger relative to the receptacle and axially moving the plunger into the first end of the receptacle.