FIELD This invention relates to an applicator for applying lotion to a treatment surface. In particular the applicator spreads the lotion over the treatment surface. The applicator is suitable for applying a topical or transdermal lotion and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this particular application. It is to be appreciated however that the applicator may have other applications.

BACKGROUND Topical lotions such as sunscreens or medicated liquids have previously been provided in squeezable containers whereby a portion of the lotion is deposited on the treatment surface or on a free hand for subsequent transfer to the treatment surface. In either case the lotion is spread over the treatment surface with the free hand, leaving a residual lotion on the free hand. It is not always convenient for the free hand to be left with residual lotion. This is particularly the case where the lotion is a medicated lotion intended to have a therapeutic effect at a certain dose.

Topical lotions such as anti-perspirants have more recently been applied to the treatment surface using a roll-a-ball type system. The roll-a-ball is brought into contact with a bulk storage of the lotion which is transferred to the treatment surface by rolling the ball across the surface. The roll-a-ball will apply a thinner layer to the treatment surface at the apex of the ball than it will to the sides of the apex. This form of applicator is not entirely satisfactory for medicated lotions where the lotion is to be applied at a certain dose, or more specifically at a certain thickness evenly over the application area.

It would be preferable to provide a useful alternative to the existing applicators currently available. SUMMARY According to this invention there is provided an applicator for applying to a treatment surface a volume of lotion dispensed from a dispensing device, the applicator including: a receptacle defining a reservoir space for storing the volume of lotion dispensed from the dispensing device, the receptacle having an outer surface a portion of which forms a spreading surface, the receptacle having a plurality of apertures formed through the spreading surface wherein the lotion is applied to the treatment surface by transferring the lotion from the reservoir space through the apertures to the treatment surface and spread over the treatment surface using the spreading surface.

The receptacle preferably includes a plurality of ribs formed on the spreading surface. The ribs are located adjacent the apertures and are configured so as to space the exit openings from the treatment surface when the applicator is in use. This facilitates the application of a layer of lotion of specific thickness over the treatment surface.

The spreading surface is preferably slightly rounded. It is more preferred that the spreading surface have a central portion between a leading and a trailing edge portions, wherein the radius of curvature of the central portion is substantially less than the radius of curvature of the leading and trailing edge portions. A spreading surface configured in this way has been found to facilitate the smooth transfer of lotion from the reservoir space to the treatment surface without a build up of lotion.

Each aperture is preferably configured to minimise lotion retention within the reservoir space during transfer of the lotion from the reservoir space to the treatment surface. This may be achieved in any suitable manner however it is preferred that the aperture form an entry funnel having an entry opening which is square. The square entry opening maximises the volume of lotion that is captured by the entry funnel. Each entry funnel preferably constricts from its square entry opening to a circular exit opening. It has been found that this facilitates control of the flow of the lotion. Furthermore the slope of the constriction of the entry funnel reduces the tendency of build up of residual lotion in the reservoir space particularly in the entry funnels. Instead the lotion moves towards the exit openings.

Each aperture is preferably configured to retain the lotion within the reservoir space by surface tension of the lotion. This may be achieved in any suitable manner however it is preferred that each aperture flare from the circular exit opening to the spreading surface. The flaring is preferably in the form of a cone. The diameter of the cone adjacent the spreading surface and the diameter of the circular exit opening are determined having regard to the viscosity of the lotion so as to retain the lotion in the aperture and the reservoir space using the surface tension of the fluid.

The applicator preferably includes a cap formed with a plurality of plugs that when the cap is in . a closed position adjacent the spreading surface, occlude each of the apertures. When the cap is in the closed position each plug preferably extends into the reservoir space, a free end of each plug providing a surface over which the film of residual lotion can be formed. This allows for the residual lotion formed over the. free ends of the plugs to be removed from the reservoir space when the cap is moved away from its closed position so as not to form part of a subsequent volume of lotion in the reservoir space. The cap is preferably hingedly connected to the applicator however this is not essential. Instead for example the cap may be detachably connectable to the applicator.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to the attached illustrations. The particularity of the subsequent description and detail of the illustrations is not intended to supersede the generality of the preceding broad definition of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a isometric view of the applicator attached to a dispensing device.

Figure 2 illustrates the applicator and dispensing device from Figure 1 in cross-section. Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the receptacle of the applicator.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of the receptacle from Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows front elevation of the receptacle from Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows in detail a cross-section of a portion of the receptacle from Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates a rear elevation of the cap of the applicator from Figure 1.

Figure 8 shows in detail a cross-section of a portion of the cap from Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows an isometric view of the cap from figure 1.

Figure 10 shows in cross section the receptacle and in particular the curvature of the spreading surface.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an applicator 1 attached to a dispensing device 2. The dispensing device 2 illustrated may generally be described as a pump dispenser. The pump dispenser illustrated includes a body 3 for bulk storage of lotion (not shown) and a pump 4 for dispensing a measured volume of the lotion from the body 3. The pump 4 includes an actuator 5 which is depressed to draw the volume of lotion from within the body 3. Figure 2 shows the actuator 5 in both an extended and depressed condition. The measured volume of lotion is dispensed from a nozzle 6 (see figure 2) of the actuator. The pump dispenser as illustrated and more particularly its method of operation for drawing a measured volume of lotion from within the body 3 ought to be readily understood by those in the industry. Referring still to Figure 1 the applicator 1 illustrated includes a receptacle 7, the outer surface of which is shown partly covered by a cap 8. The cap 8 is shown in the closed position and is hingedly connected to the receptacle for movement to an open position. The cap 8 may alternatively be detachably connected to the receptacle (not shown). The hinge connection and the movement of the cap will be further described with reference to later illustrations.

The receptacle defines a reservoir space 9 and it can be appreciated from Figure 2 that the volume of lotion dispensed through the nozzle 6 will be stored in the reservoir space 9. Lotion may be dispensed from the dispensing device 2 when the dispensing device 2 is in the upright orientation as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly a rear wall 10 (see Figure 2) is provided between the dispensing device 2 and the receptacle 7 to stop the egress of lotion from the reservoir space 9 where the dispensing device 2 is in the upright orientation. Clearly other arrangements are possible, as for example the rear wall 10 could be formed as part of the receptacle 7 or a bucket may replace the rear wall.

Referring now to Figure 3 which shows the receptacle 7 in isolation from the cap 8. The receptacle 7 has an outer surface a portion of which is a spreading surface 11. The spreading surface 11 includes a plurality of ribs 12 which extend transversely across the receptacle 7. A plurality of apertures 13 are formed in the receptacle 7 in the spreading surface 11. The illustrations show the apertures 13 in a 5x5 square matrix with each line of apertures 13 being spaced by a rib 12. Clearly other arrangements of the apertures 13 and ribs 12 could be possible.

Each aperture 13 is initially formed as a funnel 23 as can be seen from Figure 2 having a square entry opening 14 as shown in Figure 4. Whilst the entry opening may be formed of another shape the square shape has been found to maximise the amount of lotion that is captured and directed ipto the funnel 23. Furthermore the shape of the funnel 23 and in particular its slope encourage the lotion to move along the funnel 23 rather than remain in the , reservoir space 9.

Each funnel 23 has a circular exit opening 15. Downstream of the exit opening each aperture 13 flares in a conical shape to the spreading surface 11. The diameter of the cone 25 adjacent the spreading surface 11 may be determined having regard to the viscosity of the lotion to retain the lotion in the reservoir space 9 using the surface tension of the lotion.

The position of the exit openings 15 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 6 which shows the exit openings 15 transversely spaced from the ribs 12. This allows the user to spread the lotion with a specific thickness over the treatment surface 16. The spacing of the ribs 12 from the exit openings 15 may be varied to vary the thickness of the layer of lotion applied to the treatment surface.

Referring now to Figure 7 which illustrates the cap 8 in greater detail. The cap 8 has a pair of pins 17 that are received in sockets 18 (see Figure 3) formed on opposing sides of the receptacle 7. The cap 8 also has a stop arm 19 (see Figure 9) formed adjacent each pin 17 which engages a stop lug 20 formed adjacent each socket 18 (see Figure 3). The cap 8 is pivotable from a closed position as shown in Figure 1 to an open position (not shown) whereby the stop arm 19 engages the stop lug 20. In this open position the cap is sufficiently removed from the spreading surface 11 to be no hindrance to the spreading of the lotion. It is preferred that the applicator have means for retaining the cap in the open position. Clearly other arrangements may be possible for limiting the movement of the cap 8 relative to the receptacle 7 away from the closed position. Naturally where the cap 8 is detachably connected to the receptacle 7 it is unnecessary for the cap to include the pin 17.

Referring again to Figure 7, the cap is formed on its inner surface with a plurality of plugs 21. The plugs 21 are shown in greater detail in cross-section in Figure 8. Each plug 21 is configured to occlude a respective aperture 13 of the receptacle 7 when the cap 8 is in the closed position. In particular a free end 22 of the plug 21 is intended to extend into the reservoir space providing a surface over which a film of residual lotion can form. This film is broken when the cap is moved again to the open position, reducing the amount of residual lotion in subsequent volumes of lotion dispensed from the dispensing device.

Furthermore the cap 8 or more specifically the plugs provide a closure or seal which enables the applicator 1 to be easily stored between applications. The cap 8 is preferably held in the closed position using a clasp means 24 (see figure 2). Where the cap 8 is detachably connected to the receptacle 7, the cap 8 may include multiple clasp means 24 to retain the cap 8 in the closed position. Alternatively the plugs 21 may snap or friction fit into the apertures 13 to retain the cap 8 in the closed position.

The spreading surface 11 Illustrated in figure 10 is slightly rounded. In particular figure 10 illustrates the spreading surface 11 having a central portion 26 between a leading edge 27 and a trailing edge 28. The intention is that for the purpose of this illustration the applicator be applied to the treatment surface 16 and moved in the direction of the arrow x. The radius of curvature of the central portion 26 is substantially less than the radius of curvature of the leading and trailing edge portions 27,28. A spreading surface configured in this way has been found to facilitate the smooth transfer of lotion from the reservoir space 9 to the treatment surface 16 without a build up of lotion.

The applicator 1 may be made from any suitable material. In this regard it has been found appropriate to make the applicator from polypropylene, polyethylene, acetyl copolymer or other similar thermoplastics.

When in use a user will depress the actuator 5 to dispense a volume of lotion into the reservoir space 9. The cap 8 can be moved from the closed position and the applicator oriented such that the spreading surface 11 is substantially horizontal. This will deposit the lotion in the apertures 13. The spreading surface 11 is then brought into contact with the treatment surface 16 breaking the surface tension in the lotion exposed through the cones 25. The lotion will be spread over the treatment surface 16 with the spreading surface 11 of the applicator 1 drawing the lotion out of the reservoir space 9 through the funnels 23 and cones 25. Once the application is complete, the cap 8 is moved to the closed position with the applicator 1 being free to be stored for subsequent use.

It ought to be appreciated that the invention provides a relatively simple means of spreading a lotion over a treatment surface without the user having to make direct contact with the lotion. The ability of the applicator to enable a user to apply an accurate and reproducible layer of measured dose of lotion over a large area of a treatment site is a particular advantage.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations and or additions may be introduced to the invention as previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.