Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the dispensing of liquids and more particularly, this invention relates to an improved dual seal for a brush applicator stored within a container.

Description of the Related Art

Bushes have been used for thousands of years for providing a controlled application of a liquid onto a surface. One specialized application of a brush applicator is a brush in a bottie. In a brush in a bottle, a brush applicator is secured to a closure and is stored within a container (bottie) during non-use and/or storage. The container (bottle) may be glass, plastic metal or die like.

The brush in a bottle is generally used to dispense small quantities of liquids. Examples of common uses of a brush in a bottle include nail polish, correction fluid, touchup paint and the like. Although the brush in a bottle has been use in various forms for many years, the brush in the bottle suffers from two major defects. Firstly, many of the brush in die bottle leak between the closure and the bottle of container. Secondly, in many case, excess liquid is extracted from the container by the brush. The excess liquid on the liquid applicator can cause uncontrolled application of die liquid onto a surface.

Therefore, h is an object of this invention to overcome die deficiencies of the prior art and to provide a significant advancement in the art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual seal for a liquid applicator for applying a liquid from a container that provides the security of a dual seal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual seal for a liquid applicator that provides a wiper for removing excess liquid from the liquid applicator prior to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual seal for a liquid applicator mat provides a dual seal and a wiper while providing the same time of assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual seal for a liquid applicator that provides a dual seal and a wiper while using the same number of parts as (he prior art

Hie foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying using the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of die invention and the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment of the invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is defined by the appended claims with specific embodiments being shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention comprises a dual seal for a liquid applicator for applying a liquid from a container comprising a container having an open end with a container fastener. A closure has a closure fastener for engaging with the container fastener for forming a first seal between the closure and the liquid container. A rod extends from the closure for supporting a liquid applicator. A circumferential projection extends from the rod. A resilient pariiaUy conical wiper extends from the container for sealing with the circumferential projection of the rod for forming a second seal between the closure and the liquid container.

In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the rod extends between a first end and a second end. The first end of the rod is connected to the closure. The second end of the rod supports the liquid applicator. The closure includes a socket for receiving the first end of the rod. The circumferential projection provides a stop for limiting insertion of the first end of the rod into the socket in the closure. Preferably, the drcurnferential projection is a generally cylindrical projection extending from the rod

In another example of the invention, the liquid applicator is a brush. The resilient partially conical wiper engages the liquid applicator upon removal of the liquid applicator from the container for removing excess liquid from the liquid applicator.

In still a further example of the invention, the container fastener includes container threads.

The closure fastener includes closure threads for engaging with the container threads for fonrdng a first seal between the closure and the container. The first seal comprises at least one of the container ends and the closure ends forming a compression seal with the other of the closure and the container.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order thai the detailed description that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated Additional features of die invention will be described hereinafter which form die subject matter of die invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled hi the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of (he present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of die nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is top isometric view of a brush stored within a liquid container incorporating the present invention;

FIG.2 is a side view of die liquid applicator device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is top view of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a partial removal of the brush applicator from the liquid container,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a further removal of the brush applicator from the liquid container; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of die drawings. DETAILED DISCUSSION

FIGS. 1-6 are various views of a dual seal for a liquid applicator 10 for providing a first and a second seal 11 and 12 for a liquid 15 within a container 20. The container 20 extends between a first end 21 and a second end 22. The container 20 defines an outer sidewall 23 and an inner sidewall 24. Preferably, the container 20 is formed from a one piece polyrneric material.

The first end 21 of the container 20 is open for facilitating molding of the container 20. A plug 30 comprising a cap 32 and an insert 34 seals the first end 21 of the container 20. !n this example, the insert 34 engages the timer sidewall 24 of the container 20 in a press-fit engagement The second end 22 of the container 20 is an open end for enabling the removal of the liquid 15 from the container 20. A shoulder 26 extends inwardly from the outer sidewall 23 of the container 20. The shoulder supports 26 a closure fastener 40. The container fastener 40 extends from a proximal end 41 to a distal end 42 and defines a substantially cylindrical sidewall 43 having integral container threads 45.

A closure 50 extends between a first end 51 and a second end 52. The closure 50 defines an outer sidewall 53 and an inner sidewall 54. A transverse member 56 extends across the closure 50. The transverse member 56 defines a void 58 between the transverse member 56 and the second end 52 of the closure 50. Preferably, the closure 50 is formed from a one-piece polymeric material.

A closure fastener 60 extends from a proximal end 61 to a distal end 62 and defines a substantially cylindrical sidewall 63 having integral closure threads 65. An annular bias 67 extends from the transverse member 56 to toward die first end 51 of the closure 50.

The closure threads 65 of the closure 60 engage with the container threads 45 of the container 20 for forming a first seal 11 between the closure 50 and the liquid container 20. The thread engagement between the closure threads 65 and the container threads 45 creates a compression first seal 11 with at least one of the second end 22 of the container 20 and the transverse member 56 and the other of the first closure end 51 and the shoulder 26. In addition, the annular bias 67 biased the second end 22 of the container 20 into engagement with the transverse member 56.

Although the container fastener 40 and the closure fastener 60 have been shown utilizing a threaded engagement to create a first seal 11 between the container 20 and the closure 50, it should be understood that various other devices may be utilized to form the first seal 11 between the container 20 and the closure 50 by those skilled in the art. A closure SO includes a socket 70 extending from the transverse member 56 to toward die first end 51 of (he closure 50. The socket 70 extends from a proximal end 72 to a distal end 71 to define a substantially cylindrical inner sidewall 73. The distal end 71of the socket 70 is angled 74 for facilitating insertion into the socket 70 as will be explained in greater hereinafter.

A rod 80 extends from the closure 50 for supporting a liquid applicator 90. The rod 80 extends between a first end 81 and a second end 82 defining an outer sidewall 83. The first end 81 of the rod 80 is configured to receive the liquid applicator 90. In this example, the first end 81 of the rod 80 includes a respite 85 for mounting a brush applicator 88. Although the liquid applicator 90 has been shown as a brush applicator 88, it should be understood mat various other type applicators may be utilized as should be well known to those skilled in the art.

The second end 82 of the rod 80 is connected to the closure 50. The second end 82 of the rod 80 is received within the socket 70 in a press-fit engagement, a frictional engagement, an adhesive engagement or the like. The angle 74 of the distal end 71 of the socket 70 facilitates insertion of the second end 82 of the rod 80 into the socket 70.

The second seal 12 is formed between a circumferential projection 100 formed on the rod

80 and a wiper seal 110 extending from the shoulder 26 of the container 20.

The circumferential projection 100 extends from the rod 80 in proximity to the second end 82 of (he rod 80. The circumferential projection 100 is a generally cylindrical projection extending from the rod 80. An edge of generally cylindrical projection of the draimferential projection 100 engages the distal end 72 of the socket 70 and functions as a stop for limiting the insertion of the rod 80 into the socket 70.

The wiper seal 110 extends from the shoulder 26 of the container 20. The wiper seal 110 is a resilient partially conical wiper extending from a support surface 111 integral with the shoulder 26 of the container 20 to a depending end 112. The depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 defines an aperture 114. The aperture 114 defined by Ihe depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 has a diameter greater than the cross-section of the rod 80.

The aperture 114 defined by the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 is fashioned to resiliency engage with the dicurnferential projection 100. The resilient engagement of the aperture 114 defined by the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 with the circumferential projection 100 forms the second seal 12 between the closure 50 and the liquid container 20.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a side sectional view of the liquid applicator 90 partially removed from the container 20. The wiper seal 110 performs a second important function in addition to the second seal 12 set form above. The clearance between the aperture 114 and the cross-section of the rod 80 is selected to make it likely that the rod 80 will contact the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 for a user. The contact of the rod 80 with the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 is assisted by the natural movement of a typical operator tilting the closure 40 relative to the container 20. The contact of the rod 80 with the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 wipes excesses liquid from the rod 80.

In one example, the rod 80 has a diameter of 0.128 inches and the aperture 114 has a diameter of 0.201 inches rendering a clearance between the aperture 114 and the rod 80 of 0.073 inches or (57%) percent of the diameter of the rod 80.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a side sectional view illustrating a further removal of the liquid applicator 90 from the container 20. The liquid applicator 90 is shown contacting the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110. The contact of the liquid applicator 90 with the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 wipes excesses liquid from the liquid applicator 90. The length of the rod 80 in combination with the clearance between the clearance between the aperture 114 and the cross- section of the liquid applicator 90 makes it very likely that the liquid applicator 90 will contact the depending end 112 of the wiper seal 110 for a user.

The wiper seal 110 performs two important and independent functions. Firstly, the wiper seal 110 cooperates with the circurnferential projection 100 of the rod 80 to form the second seal 12 between the container 20 and the closure 50. Secondly, the wiper seal 110 cooperates with the rod 80 and die liquid applicator 90 to wipe excesses liquid 15 from the rod 80 and the liquid applicator 90

Although the invention has been described in its referred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the comrjirtation and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of die invention.