Foldable lotion applicator

Abstract

A foldable lotion applicator for applying body, suntan and medicinal lotions, including creams, gels, ointments, oils and other preparations. The applicator is comprised of a beveled I-beam two-part folding shaft with a one-hand operable locking hinge and a ribbed non-slip grip handle with a removable, replaceable cosmetic foam applicator pad with a snap-on cover to protect the applicator pad from contamination and the unwanted distribution of lotions and the like, with the applicator shaft sufficiently long to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the back and all other areas of the body.

1 . In a lotion applicator, the combination comprising: 
 a handle shaft having a handle at one end and a handle shaft hinge member at its other end;    an applicator head shaft having an applicator head hinge member at one end rotatably attached to said handle shaft hinge member wherein said shaft members can rotate relative to each other such that in a first rotated position, said shafts are aligned along a common axis and in a second rotated position, said handle shaft is generally parallel to and overlying, said applicator head shaft;    an applicator head at the other end of said applicator head shaft wherein said applicator head includes an open applicator pad compartment;    an applicator pad compartment cover which attaches to said applicator head enclosing said applicator pad compartment;    wherein said handle shaft is of a length that said handle extends beyond said applicator head shaft and over said applicator pad compartment when said shafts are in their second rotated position whereby said handle overlies said applicator pad compartment cover when said cover is attached to said applicator head, thereby helping to keep said applicator pad compartment cover attached to said applicator head.    
   
   
       2 . The lotion applicator of  claim 1  wherein said applicator head hinge member and said handle shaft hinge member include complementary parts of a locking mechanism by which said shafts are automatically locked in the first rotated position forming a unitary structure.  
   
   
       3 . The lotion applicator of  claim 2  wherein said locking mechanism is releasable using just one hand whereby said shafts can be reconfigured from the first rotated position to the second rotated position.  
   
   
       4 . The lotion applicator of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 an absorbent lotion pad sized to fit in said open applicator pad compartment and be fully enclosed therein when said applicator pad compartment cover is attached to said applicator head.    
   
   
       5 . The lotion applicator of  claim 4  wherein said applicator pad compartment is partially formed by a surrounding wall member and said absorbent lotion pad is thicker than the height of the wall whereby said pad extends above said wall when said pad is in said compartment.  
   
   
       6 . The lotion applicator of  claim 4  wherein said absorbent lotion pad includes a notch and said open applicator pad compartment has a raised alignment guide of the same shape as said pad notch whereby when said notch is aligned with said guide, said pad is properly situated within said applicator pad compartment.  
   
   
       7 . The lotion applicator of  claim 1  wherein said shafts have an I-beam structure formed by side walls attached by an intermediate web defining an upper channel and a lower channel.  
   
   
       8 . The lotion applicator of  claim 4  wherein said shafts have an I-beam structure formed by side walls attached by an intermediate web defining an upper channel and a lower channel.  
   
   
       9 . The lotion applicator of  claim 8  wherein said applicator shaft upper channel opens into said pad compartment and said applicator pad includes a tab that fits into said head shaft upper channel when said pad is properly situated in said pad compartment.  
   
   
       10 . The lotion applicator of  claim 1  wherein said handle shaft, handle and handle shaft hinge member are a single molded piece and said head shaft, said applicator head and said head shaft hinge member are a single molded piece.  
   
   
       11 . The lotion applicator of  claim 10  wherein said molded pieces are molded from polypropylene.  
   
   
       12 . The lotion applicator of  claim 10  wherein said molded pieces are molded from nylon.  
   
   
       13 . The lotion applicator of  claim 10  wherein said molded pieces are molded from acetal polyoxymethylene (POM) resins.  
   
   
       14 . The lotion applicator of  claim 4  wherein a space exists between said applicator pad compartment cover and said absorbent lotion pad when said cover is on said applicator pad compartment.  
   
   
       15 . The lotion applicator of  claim 1  wherein said handle is formed by spaced-apart ribs.  
   
   
       16 . The lotion applicator of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a latch affixed to said handle shaft;    a latch keeper attached to said applicator head shaft, which keeper engages and secures said latch when the shafts are in their first rotated position, preventing the shafts from rotation in a direction toward their second rotated position.    
   
   
       17 . A quick-release locking hinge providing a rotatable connection between a first shaft and a second shaft wherein each shaft has an end comprising: 
 a hinge connecting the ends of the shafts whereby said shafts can rotate relative to one another in a first direction which brings the shafts into alignment along a common axis and the ends of said the shafts abut, preventing further rotation in the first direction;    a latch affixed to the first shaft;    a latch keeper attached to the second shaft which keeper engages and secures said latch when the shafts are rotated in the first direction and brought into alignment along a common axis wherein the shafts are prevented from rotation in a direction opposite to the first direction.    
   
   
       18 . The quick-release locking hinge of  claim 17  wherein said hinge comprises: 
 a pair of post bearing holes adjacent the end of the first shaft;    a pair of posts adjacent the end of the second shaft and disposed in said post bearing holes.    
   
   
       19 . The quick-release locking hinge of  claim 17  wherein pressure applied to said latch keeper releases said latch and permits rotation of the shafts in the direction opposite to the first direction.  
   
   
       20 . The quick-release locking hinge of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a pair of spaced-apart bearing support members at the end of said first shaft each containing one of said cylindrical post bearing holes;    a pair of post mount members at the end of said second shaft wherein one of said posts is carried by each of said mount members;    a ramped channel in each of said support members leading into said post bearing holes;    whereby when said posts are disposed in said ramped channels and forced toward said post bearing holes, said bearing support members are forcibly flexed apart until said posts enter said post bearing holes, after which they return to their original spaced apart positions.