Device for applying a substance disposed within a liquid container to an applicator

Abstract

A device that attaches to the valve stem of a non-refillable, hermetically sealed pressurized aerosol container, or a hermetically sealed non-pressurized aerosol-like pump container. The device allows the contents of the container to dispense directly to an applicator without requiring the user to hold the container. The device is designed to allow users to easily actuate the valve and dispense desired amounts of the container's contents directly from the container onto the applicator.

1 . An actuator for a valve of a sealed container, which valve has a stem and is: operated by depressing the stem, the actuator comprising: 
 a body having a port disposed on a first side, which port is sized to receive the valve stem, and a shallow cavity disposed on a second side of the body, wherein the first and second sides are opposite one another, and the shallow cavity and port are in fluid communication with one another.    
   
   
       2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes an orifice extending between the port and the shallow cavity.  
   
   
       3 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the shallow cavity has a width, a length, and a depth, and the depth is less than the width and the length.  
   
   
       4 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity equals the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the length or width.  
   
   
       5 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity is greater than the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the width.  
   
   
       6 . The actuator of  claim 5 , wherein the shallow cavity has a shape substantially similar to a distal portion of a human finger.  
   
   
       7 . An aerosol can, comprising: 
 a body;    an actuator having a port disposed on a first side, and a shallow cavity disposed on a second side of the actuator, wherein the first and second sides are opposite one another, and the port and the shallow cavity are in fluid communication with one another;    a valve having a stem received in the port, which valve is operable by depressing the stem; and    an overcap selectively attachable to the body to cover the actuator in a manner that prevents normal operational access to the actuator.    
   
   
       8 . The can of  claim 7 , wherein the shallow cavity has a width, a length, and a depth, and the depth is less than the width and the length.  
   
   
       9 . The can of  claim 8 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity equals the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the length or width.  
   
   
       10 . The can of  claim 7 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity is greater than the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the width.  
   
   
       11 . The can of  claim 10 , wherein the shallow cavity has a shape substantially similar to a distal portion of a human finger.  
   
   
       12 . The can of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is operable to actuate the valve when the can is standing upright on a substantially horizontal surface, by depressing the actuator and valve stem attached thereto without requiring support of the can.  
   
   
       13 . A fluid container, comprising: 
 a body;    a pump valve with a stem translatable along an axis, which valve is operable by pumping the stem along the axis;    an actuator having a port disposed on a first side, which port is sized to receive the stem, and a shallow cavity disposed on a second side of the actuator, wherein the first and second sides are opposite one another, and wherein the stem is received within the port; and    an overcap selectively attachable to the body to cover the actuator in a manner that prevents normal operational access to the actuator.    
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the shallow cavity has a width, a length, and a depth, and the depth is less than the width and the length.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity equals the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the length or width.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity is greater than the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the width.  
   
   
       17 . An actuator for a valve of a sealed container, which valve has a stem cavity and is operated by inserting a stem into the stem cavity and depressing the stem, the actuator comprising: 
 a body having a stem disposed on a first side, which stem is sized to fit within the stem cavity of the valve, a shallow cavity disposed on a second side of the body, wherein the first and second sides are opposite one another, and an orifice extending through the stem to the shallow cavity.    
   
   
       18 . The actuator of  claim 17 , wherein the shallow cavity has a width, a length, and a depth, and the depth is less than the width and the length.  
   
   
       19 . The actuator of  claim 18 , wherein the length of the shallow cavity equals the width of the shallow cavity, and the depth of the shallow cavity is less than one-half the length or width.