Stackable cleaner

Abstract

A stackable cleaner or product applicator is described in which a rigid applicator body has a downwardly opening compartment surrounded by a skirt and an upper compartment surrounded by an upwardly extending wall, the upper compartment containing a foam body and fluid or gel and being closed by means of a removable top wall fixed to the top periphery of the upwardly extending wall. The downwardly extending skirt is sized to accept the upwardly extending wall of an identical unit whereby multiple units may be stacked in a nested configuration.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:  
     
         1 . A stackable applicator comprising: 
 a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;    a quantity of fluid absorbed in said foam body;    a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment; and,    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.    
     
     
         2 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein said sealing film is heat sealed to said upper side wall top edge.  
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein said foam body has a bottom surface and said foam body bottom surface is adhered to said upper compartment.  
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 1  wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.  
     
     
         5 . The applicator of  claim 4  wherein said foam body is flat when in an uncompressed state.  
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 4  wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one end and said sealing film has a tab extending beyond said top edge adjacent said shoulder.  
     
     
         7 . A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising: 
 a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;    a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;    a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment;    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator; and,    said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit is covered by said cap.    
     
     
         8 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 7  wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.  
     
     
         9 . A stackable product applicator comprising: 
 a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment having an open top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;    a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;    a sealing film fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment; and,    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.    
     
     
         10 . The product applicator of  claim 9  wherein said sealing film is heat sealed to said upper side wall top edge.  
     
     
         11 . The product applicator of  claim 9  wherein said foam body has a bottom surface and said foam body bottom surface is adhered to said upper compartment.  
     
     
         12 . The product applicator of  claim 9  wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.  
     
     
         13 . The product applicator of  claim 12  wherein said foam body is flat when in an restrained state.  
     
     
         14 . The applicator of  claim 12  wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one end and said sealing film has a removable tab extending beyond said top edge adjacent said shoulder.  
     
     
         15 . A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising: 
 a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, said at least one upper side wall and said base wall defining an upper compartment, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body extending above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state;    a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;    a sealing top fixed to said at least one upper side wall top edge compressing said foam body into said upper compartment and sealing said upper compartment;    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and,    said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said horizontal wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap.    
     
     
         16 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 15  wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.  
     
     
         17 . A stackable applicator comprising 
 a rigid applicator body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upwardly extending side wall extending upwardly from said base wall, a removable top, said base wall, side wall and top defining an upper compartment closed by said removable top and said base wall and said skirt defining a lower compartment, a compressible foam body contained in said upper compartment; a quantity of fluid absorbed in said foam body, and, said applicator body lower compartment being adapted to receive said upper compartment of an adjacent applicator whereby said applicator may be stacked with identical applicators.    
     
     
         18 . The stackable applicator of  claim 17  wherein said base wall is permanently welded into said applicator body.  
     
     
         19 . The stackable applicator of  claim 17  wherein said compressible foam body is compressed in said upper compartment when said removable top is in place.  
     
     
         20 . The stackable applicator of  claim 19  wherein removal of said removable top creates a top opening in said upper compartment and said compressible foam body extends through said top opening.  
     
     
         21 . The stackable applicator of  claim 17  wherein said compressible foam body has a bottom surface and said compressible foam body bottom surface is fixed to said base wall.  
     
     
         22 . The stackable applicator of  claim 17  wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.  
     
     
         23 . The applicator of  claim 22  wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one of said ends and said top has a first end and a tab extending from said first end, said tab disposed adjacent said shoulder and adapted to be grasped by a user such that the user may remove said top.  
     
     
         24 . A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising: 
 a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a removable top fixed to said side wall top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment closed by said removable top, said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state or be contained in said upper compartment in a compressed state;    a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator; and,    said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the topmost applicator unit is covered by said cap.    
     
     
         25 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 14  wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.  
     
     
         26 . A stackable product applicator comprising: 
 a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said entire top edge, said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an openable closed top;    said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in a compressed state;    a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body; and,    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid applicator whereby several applicators may be compactly stacked.    
     
     
         27 . The product applicator of  claim 26  wherein said base wall is fixed into said rigid body by welding.  
     
     
         28 . The product applicator of  claim 25  wherein said foam body has a bottom surface and said foam body bottom surface is adhered to said upper compartment.  
     
     
         29 . The product applicator of  claim 25  wherein said rigid body has two long arcuate generally parallel sides and two ends connecting said sides.  
     
     
         30 . The product applicator of  claim 25  wherein said foam base wall has at least one boss adapted to allow injection of fluid into said upper compartment.  
     
     
         31 . The applicator of  claim 25  wherein said rigid body has a shoulder in one end and said top has a tab extending beyond said top edge adjacent said shoulder.  
     
     
         32 . A multiple unit applicator product comprising several identical sealed applicator units and a cap, each applicator unit comprising: 
 a rigid body comprising a base wall, a skirt extending downwardly from said base wall, at least one upper side wall extending upwardly from said base wall having a top edge, a top removably fixed to said side wall around said top edge,    said at least one upper side wall, said base wall and said top defining an upper compartment having an openable closed top;    said skirt and said base wall defining a lower compartment having an open bottom;    a compressible foam body received in said upper compartment, said foam body adapted to extend above said at least one upper side wall top edge when in an uncompressed state and be contained in said upper compartment in said closed state;    a quantity of fluid or gel absorbed in said foam body;    said skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of an identical rigid body; and,    said cap comprising a cap top wall and a cap skirt extending downwardly from said top wall, said top wall and said cap skirt defining a cap compartment having an open bottom, said cap skirt being adapted to surround and engage the upper side wall of one of said applicator units whereby several applicator units may be compactly stacked and the top most applicator unit covered by said cap.    
     
     
         33 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 32  wherein said cap top wall is generally flat.  
     
     
         34 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 32  wherein said top, said at least one upper side wall and said skirt are a unitary molded structure.  
     
     
         35 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 33  wherein said base wall is welded into said unitary molded structure.  
     
     
         36 . The multiple unit applicator product of  claim 32  wherein said rigid body upper side wall has a shoulder and said top has a tab adjacent said shoulder, said tab adapted to be grasped by a user for removal of said top.  
     
     
         37 . A method of making an applicator product comprising the steps of: 
 providing an applicator body first component comprising at least one upper side wall, a skirt and an openable closed top;    providing a compressible foam body;    providing a quantity of fluid;    providing a base wall;    assembling said applicator body first component, said compressible foam body, said quantity of fluid and said base wall creating said applicator product such that said foam body and said fluid is contained in an openable closed upper compartment defined by said upper side wall, said top and said base wall with said foam body in a compressed state.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein said base wall is welded to said body first component.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein said skirt and said base wall define a lower compartment and a plurality of said applicator products are stacked with the upper compartment of at least one of said applicator products is received in said lower compartment of an adjacent applicator product creating a stack of applicator products.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein a cap is applied to a topmost applicator product of said stack.