Semi-enclosed applicator for distributing a substance onto a target surface

Abstract

A semi-enclosed applicator for distributing a substance onto a target surface including a first side having a first internal surface and a first external surface, a second side having a second internal surface and a second external surface, an internal cavity between said first and second sides, at least one externally accessible opening, and a flexible film reservoir containing a product. At least a portion of the flexible film reservoir of said flexible film reservoir is disposed between said external surfaces of said first side and said second side.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 969,074, filed Oct. 2, 2001; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 451,536, filed Dec. 1, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,602 granted Jan. 21, 2003); and claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. Nos. 60 / 209,062, filed Jun. 2, 2000 and 60 / 217,172 filed Jul. 10, 2000. U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 451,536 is a continuation-in-part of 09 / 415,866 filed Oct. 8, 1999 (now abandoned).FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a semi-enclosed applicator useful for distributing substances onto target surfaces. The present invention also relates to such an applicator that also contains a substance for application to the surface of a target object. More particularly, the present invention relates to such applicators wherein the substance may be released from the applicator material and distributed upon the surface of the target object, th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While there are advantages with having the substance present on or near the surface of such articles, there is often the drawback that the useful substance is unprotected and is subject to inadvertent contact before intended use.

Inadvertent contact may lead to contamination of the substance, loss of the substance onto surfaces other than the desired target surface, and / or contamination of such other surfaces with the substance.

Moreover, the use of such articles to manually apply a substance to a surface of an object frequently results in exposure of a user's hands to the substance.

At the very least such a scenario results in a waste of product and is undesirable from an aesthetic standpoint and, at worst, results in excessive exposure of the user to potentially harmful, toxic, or otherwise undesirable substances.

While such practices are widely accepted, they often result in inefficient use of product and / or contact with the substances involved.

Moreover, utilizing such an implement typically only provides one type of material surface for use in contacting the substance and the target surface.

Applying the substance to the applicator from a vessel at the point of use likewise often results in inefficient use of product and / or contact with the substances involved.

Spraying the cleaning solution usually wastes some of the cleaning solution due to over-spray landing on areas not intended to be cleaned.

This over-spray is often undesirable since some surfaces can be harmed by this cleaning solution or at a minimum requires additional surfaces to be cleaned.

The paper towel has a difficult time spreading the cleaning solution since it is typically designed to be highly absorbent.

This however typically makes the towel weaker due to a paper towel's lack of wet strength.

This approach requires more cleaning solution to be applied and requires more paper towels than desired.

However, this approach is less desired because special paper towels are required and a lot of buffing is required to get the desired end result.

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