Patent · US Expired

Liquid applicator

US6547471B1 · kind B1 · utility

19Cited by
9References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 2000
Grant dateApr 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D47/2075
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An applicator for local application of a liquid to a person's skin. The applicator includes a porous dome, a chamber under the dome, a squeeze bottle providing a reservoir containing the liquid, and a tube from the squeeze bottle to the chamber. The porous dome has pores sized to provide liquid transport therein by capillary action. The chamber provides a location for liquid in position to be transported into dome. Increased pressure in the reservoir from squeezing the bottle causes liquid to flow from the reservoir through the tube to the chamber, and decreased pressure in the reservoir from releasing the bottle causes excess liquid in the chamber to flow from the chamber through the tube to the reservoir. The applicator can include a squeeze bottle having a relatively rigid molded open-end portion connected to a porous dome and an integral flexible, blow-molded reservoir portion that can be squeezed to a reduced volume condition to deliver liquid to the dome and has memory to return to an unsqueezed volume condition.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.