Applicator having three-dimensional surface contact with reservoir

Abstract

A package includes an applicator with a contacting surface including a first porous material and a reservoir with a contacting surface including a second porous material. The package is filled with a liquid that is absorbed onto the reservoir. The contacting surfaces of the applicator and reservoir are three-dimensional to improve the transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the applicator.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A package, comprising:
 an applicator having a surface including a first porous material;   a reservoir having a surface including a second porous material, wherein the first surface extends in length, width and height, and the second surface has a negative shape of the first surface, wherein the first surface contacts the second surface along the length, width, and height.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is wetted with a liquid formulation, and the applicator is wetted with the liquid formulation through contact of the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the contact alone of the first and second surfaces is sufficient to transfer the liquid formulation from the reservoir to the applicator. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is made from a foam. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface is made from a sintered porous material, a closed cell material, a urethane foam, or a fibrous material. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the applicator is convex, or conical. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , comprising an outer cap, an inner cap, a holder, and a jar, wherein the outer cap is connected to the inner cap to fix the inner cap to the outer cap, and the holder supports the applicator. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the outer cap has an outer continuous sidewall surrounding a closed top, and the inner cap has an outer continuous sidewall surrounding a closed top. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the inner cap includes screw threads that thread onto matching screw threads on the jar, and the holder is compressed between the inner cap and a top edge of the jar. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the inner cap unscrews from the jar, and the holder with applicator are removable from the jar, wherein the applicator is wetted with formulation that is transferred through contact with the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein an underside shelf of the inner cap compresses an upperside border on the holder, and the underside of the border is compressed to an upperside of the edge of the jar. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the applicator includes a larger diameter section above a small diameter section with a groove on the periphery of the large diameter section, wherein the groove mates to a rib on the inner periphery of the holder, and a step between the large diameter section and the small diameter section is supported on a radially inward extending lip of the holder. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator includes a larger diameter section above a small diameter section, wherein the small diameter section includes the first surface extending in length, width and height that contacts the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the outer cap, the inner cap, the holder, and the jar each includes four corners of each respective periphery, wherein the four corners of the outer cup line up with the four corners of the jar. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the inner cap includes a flat border around a circular sidewall and a closed top, a tab projects upward from each of the four corners of the inner cap, a slot is placed inside of each of the four corners of the outer cap, wherein each corner tab of the inner cap fits into a corner slot of the outer cap. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the inner cap has an annular wall that extends downward that fits around the outer periphery of the mouth of the jar, the annular wall has a sealing bead that fits in a groove in the mouth of the jar. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the holder has an radially outward extending flange that rests on a top edge of the mouth of the jar without the inner cap compressing the holder, a sealing bead of the holder fits into a groove of the applicator. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the inner cap and jar have features which when engaged compress the annular wall of the inner cap against the outer periphery of the jar of the mouth. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the annular wall of the inner cap has a tapered wedge profile that is thicker on top and thinner on bottom. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the applicator includes a larger diameter section above a small diameter section with a groove on the periphery of the larger diameter section, wherein the groove mates to a rib on the inner periphery of the holder, and a step between the large diameter section and the small diameter section is supported on a radially inward extending border.