Product Applicator

Abstract

An improved applicator comprises a reservoir member receiving a piston within a cavity therein, the piston being threadably actuated by a drive member that seals on the reservoir member in a rotatable relation. The piston selectively engages the reservoir member in a calibrated friction fit therebetween to ensure that the engagement is sufficient to squeegee a semi-liquid or semi-solid product contained within the reservoir cavity. Selective engagement also comprises piston anti-rotation being provided by an engaging portion of the piston comprising a shape having an elliptical cross-section that may be received within an interior surface of the reservoir member having a corresponding elliptical cross-section. Anti-rotation may alternatively be provided by an engaging portion of the piston comprising a generally cylindrical shape interrupted by a flat portion thereon, which may be received within an interior surface of the reservoir member having a corresponding cylindrical shape with a flat section.

1 . An improved applicator comprising:
 a drive member; said drive member comprising a base with a shaft extending orthogonally therefrom, and a lip extending from a periphery of said base; at least a portion of said shaft comprising external threading;   a piston; at least a portion of said piston comprising a constant cross-sectional shape; said piston having a first end and a second end, and comprising an internally threaded orifice;   a reservoir member; said reservoir member having a first end and a second end and comprising at least one wall, said at least one wall having an opening at said first end into a first interior surface to form a reservoir cavity; said first interior surface corresponding to said constant cross-sectional shape of said piston; a portion of said at least one wall transitioning from said constant cross-sectional shape of said first interior surface to form a second interior surface and an exterior applicator surface at said second end of said reservoir member; said exterior applicator surface comprising a delivery orifice interconnecting with said reservoir cavity;   wherein said first end of said piston is received through said opening at said reservoir member first end with said piston selectively engaging said first interior surface, said selective engagement comprising said piston portion having said constant cross-sectional shape slidably engaging with said first interior surface in a calibrated friction fit; said external threading of said shaft being threadably received by said internal threading of said piston with said lip on said base of said drive member sealing upon said first end of said reservoir member to be rotatable thereon; and   wherein clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of said drive member relative to said reservoir member causes said threaded engagement between said shaft and said piston to drive said piston toward said applicator surface of said reservoir member.   
     
     
         2 . The improved applicator of  claim 1  wherein said selective engagement of said piston with said first interior surface of said reservoir further comprises at least a portion of said first interior surface comprising a surface formed by an elliptical cross-section, and said constant cross-sectional shape of said piston comprising a correspondingly sized shape being formed by an elliptical cross-section to produce said calibrated friction fit. 
     
     
         3 . The improved applicator of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion, of said first interior surface of said at least one wall comprises a generally cylindrical surface; and wherein said constant cross-sectional shape of said piston comprises a correspondingly sized cylinder to produce said calibrated friction fit. 
     
     
         4 . The improved applicator of  claim 3  wherein said selective engagement of said piston with said first interior surface of said reservoir further comprises a piston anti-rotation feature. 
     
     
         5 . The improved applicator of  claim 4  wherein said anti-rotation feature comprises: said cylindrical first interior surface further comprising a flat portion running between said first end and said second end of said reservoir member, and comprising a portion of said piston at said constant cross-sectional portion comprising a corresponding flat portion. 
     
     
         6 . The improved applicator of  claim 5  wherein said exterior applicator surface is generally flat and at an angle relative to a direction of said sliding of said piston within said reservoir member cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The improved applicator of  claim 6  wherein said exterior applicator surface is oriented at an angle in the range of about 50 degrees to about 60 degrees, relative to said direction of said sliding of said piston. 
     
     
         8 . The improved applicator of  claim 7  wherein said second interior surface at said second end of said reservoir member is generally flat and is generally parallel to said exterior applicator surface; and wherein said first end of said piston is generally flat and at an angle being roughly parallel to said second interior surface. 
     
     
         9 . The improved applicator of  claim 8  wherein said calibrated friction fit is calibrated to be overcome by rotation of said drive member, and be sufficient to squeegee a product contained in said reservoir cavity to force the product to extrude out said delivery orifice. 
     
     
         10 . The improved applicator of  claim 9  wherein a size of said shaft threading and base of said drive member, a size of said delivery orifice, and a size of said internal threading and constant cross-section of said piston are cooperatively calibrated to permit extruding out of said delivery orifice of the product having consistency from the group of product consistencies consisting of: a liquid consistency; a semi-liquid consistency; and a semi-solid consistency. 
     
     
         11 . The improved applicator of  claim 10  wherein said lip of said base of said drive member sealing upon said first interior surface at said first end of said reservoir member comprises one or more of: a tight friction fit therebetween; and an annular protrusion on said first interior surface of said reservoir member being received within a corresponding annular groove on said lip. 
     
     
         12 . The improved applicator of  claim 11  wherein said generally cylindrical first interior surface transitions into a conical surface, proximate to said reservoir first end. 
     
     
         13 . The improved applicator of  claim 12  wherein said exterior applicator surface comprises a teardrop shaped surface, with said delivery orifice being located proximate to a pointed side of said teardrop shaped surface. 
     
     
         14 . The improved applicator of  claim 13  wherein said teardrop shaped exterior applicator surface further comprises a delivery plenum, said delivery plenum being generally cylindrical and being generally concentric with said delivery orifice. 
     
     
         15 . The improved applicator of  claim 14  further comprising a cap, said cap being received over said reservoir member to releasably engage a portion of said driving member. 
     
     
         16 . The improved applicator of  claim 15  wherein said releasable engagement of said cap with said driving member comprises an annular protrusion on said driving member engaging an annular groove on an interior surface of said cap. 
     
     
         17 . The improved applicator of  claim 16  wherein said cap comprises a pin on said interior surface, said pin being located so as to be inserted into, and seal, said delivery orifice, when said cap is releasably engaged with said driving member. 
     
     
         18 . The improved applicator of  claim 17  wherein said reservoir member comprises an optically clear material; and wherein said cap comprises one or more translucent windows. 
     
     
         19 . The improved applicator of  claim 18  wherein said at least one wall comprises a wall having a generally cylindrical outer surface.