Applicator system with helical applicator surface and source

Abstract

An applicator system includes a handle and an applicator head coupled to the handle, the applicator head including at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a space. The applicator system also includes a source of product disposed axially within the at least one helical applicator surface.

1 . An applicator system comprising:
 a handle;   an applicator head coupled to the handle, the applicator head comprising at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a space; and   a source of product disposed axially within the at least one helical applicator surface.   
   
   
       2 . The applicator system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one helical applicator surface includes an interior space defined therein and at least one outlet port in communication with the interior space; and   the source of product being disposed within the interior space defined in the at least one helical applicator surface.   
   
   
       3 . The applicator system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one outlet port opens to the space. 
   
   
       4 . The applicator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the source is disposed in the space. 
   
   
       5 . The applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein the source comprises a solid or semi-solid product. 
   
   
       6 . The applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein the source comprises an absorbent material at least partially soaked with the product. 
   
   
       7 . The applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein the source comprises a container at least partially filled with the product and having at least one outlet port. 
   
   
       8 . The applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein the source and the surface have contrasting colors. 
   
   
       9 . An applicator system comprising:
 a handle;   an applicator head coupled to the handle, the applicator head comprising at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a space; and   a source of product entirely disposed within the space about which the at least one helical applicator surface is disposed, the source having an outer surface that is axially spaced from the helical applicator surface.   
   
   
       10 . The applicator system according to  claim 9 , wherein the source is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the applicator head. 
   
   
       11 . The applicator system according to  claim 9 , wherein the source comprises a solid or semi-solid product. 
   
   
       12 . The applicator system according to  claim 10 , wherein the source comprises an absorbent material at least partially soaked in the product. 
   
   
       13 . The applicator system according to  claim 10 , wherein the source comprises a container at least partially filled with the product and having at least one outlet port. 
   
   
       14 . The applicator system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one outlet port faces the at least one helical applicator surface. 
   
   
       15 . A method of applying product comprising:
 passing a target material through an applicator head, the applicator head comprising at least one helical applicator surface, the at least one helical applicator surface disposed about a space;   contacting the target material with a source of product disposed within the space about which the at least one helical applicator surface is disposed after the target material has passed through the applicator head; and   contacting the target material with the at least one helical applicator surface after the target material contacts the source of product.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising automatically moving the applicator surface. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising rotating the applicator surface. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , comprising automatically moving the source. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , comprising rotating the source. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , comprising translating the source. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , comprising vibrating the source. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising automatically moving the applicator surface and the source. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , comprising automatically moving the applicator surface and the source together in unison. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , comprising automatically moving the applicator surface and the source, the applicator surface and the source moving relative to each other. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising ejecting product from the source of product.