Brush Applicator

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to brush applicators for containers, and in particular, to a flow through brush applicator for containers for storing and dispensing curable products, in particular liquid curable products and for example cyanoacrylate products, and assemblies and packs comprising such an applicator. Background to the Invention

[0002] The use of brush applicators is found in a wide and varied number of products, ranging from make-up application to nail varnish application to some curable product application. Invariably, the brush applicator is dipped into or charged with the product being applied. The problem associated with the use of brush applicators with, for example, curable products is that once used, the brush bristles tend to become clogged with curable product which then hardens. This in turn prevents an even and simple application of curable product to a substrate. Furthermore, the use of a brush applicator in such circumstances would invariably lead to contamination of the bristles with cured product and subsequently, if the brush is contacted again with the curable product, contamination of the product being applied. This problem has been a constant theme of the commercially available brush applicators.

[0003] US Patent Publication No. US-2009-0050649 (published on 26 February 2009 having) is a patent application of the applicant of the present invention which describes a nozzle assembly incorporating a moulded flow though brush applicator and break-off cap.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first aspect the present invention provides brush applicator adapted to be reversibly mated to an outlet nozzle of a container for holding curable product, the applicator comprising: an applicator body which has a receiving opening, adapted to matingly receive therein the outlet nozzle, and a dispensing opening;

a conduit defined in the applicator body running between the receiving opening and the dispensing opening;

a series of filaments integrally formed with the applicator body about the dispensing opening and arranged to act as a brush, so that when the applicator is mated to the outlet nozzle the brush can be utilised to apply curable product dispensed from the outlet nozzle of the container and through the applicator body.

[0005] It may be desirable that the reversible mating of the applicator to the nozzle is achieved by a frictional push fit, for example sliding engagement of a male part with a female part optionally in a Luer arrangement. The frictional push fit requires could be used very simply and easily without too much strength and/or dexterity required on the part of the user. It may be further desirable that the reversible mating of the applicator to the nozzle may be achieved by a Luer connection which has interlocking parts that can be used to lock the applicator in place. This gives a more secure interconnection than a frictional fit. Such Luer fittings could also be used very simply and easily without too much strength and/or dexterity required on the part of the user. In addition, the applicator can easily be removed after use, thereby preventing the introduction of contaminants into the product stored in a container.

[0006] It may also be desirable to have the applicator brush formed as a single piece by moulding. Current brush packs do not allow for large application without dipping/charging the brush. The moulding of a single piece brush applicator requires no separate assembly of the filaments. By incorporating the filaments into the applicator allows for greater surface area coverage when in use and eliminates the need to charge the filaments on the brush.

[0007] It may be desirable that the series of filaments are arranged in a plurality of (optionally concentric) circles around the dispensing opening of the brush applicator. It will be appreciated that the brush applicator may comprise from 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 8, more preferably 1 to 6, and even more preferably 1 to 5 concentric rings. It will be appreciated that the applicator may comprise any number of filaments in any arrangement around the dispensing opening of the applicator.

[0008] The applicator of the present invention may be for use with a liquid curable product, for example cyanoacrylate. In this case, it may be desirable that the applicator body and filaments are formed of a cyanoacrylate-compatible material, for example, material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin materials, for example HDPE (high density polyethylene), MDPE (medium density polyethylene), LDPE (low-density polyethylene) including LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) and PP

(polypropylene), and combinations thereof. The use of polyolefin materials allows for product to flow through the filaments and be applied to a part/substrate. Such materials are cyanoacrylate compatible and do not cause premature curing of the cyanoacrylate material. [0009] In second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing assembly for a curable product comprising:

(i) a container for holding curable product and having an outlet nozzle; and

(ii) a brush applicator as defined above matingly received attached to the outlet nozzle of the container.

The brush applicator of the present invention is suitable for all liquid products and may be scaled up for larger nozzles. When the user has finished applying product to the desired part/substrate, the applicator may be easily removed from the container and the cap of the container returned to the nozzle to prevent oxidation or otherwise of the product contained therein.

[0010] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pack comprising

(i) a container for holding curable product and having an outlet nozzle; (ϋ) curable product held within the container; and

(iii) a brush applicator as defined in any preceding claim having matingly received therein the outlet nozzle of the container.

[0011] It may be desirable that the curable product is liquid, for example cyanoacrylate.

[0012] Where suitable, it will be appreciated that all optional and/or preferred features of one embodiment of the invention may be combined with optional and/or preferred features of another/other embodiment(s) of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the invention and from the drawings in which:

[0014] Figure 1A and 1 B illustrate a side elevational view and side cross-sectional view, respectively, of a brush applicator of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2A and 2B illustrate a top plan and bottom plan view, respectively, of the brush applicator of Figure 1 .

[0016] Figure 3A and 3B illustrate perspective views of the brush applicator of Figures 1 and 2.

[0017] Figure 4A-4C illustrates a (bottle) container for storing curable products, a nozzle for the container, and a cap for the nozzle, respectively.

[0018] Figure 4D illustrates the brush applicator of Figures 1 to 3 in use with a standard tube nozzle of Figure 4C.

Detailed Description of the Drawings [0019] It should be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the examples disclosed herein below represent generalised examples only, and that other arrangements and methods capable of reproducing the invention are possible and are embraced by the present invention.

[0020] There is illustrated, in Figure 1A a side elevational view and, in Figure 1 B, a cross-sectional view of a brush applicator 1 according to the present invention. The applicator 1 is for use with a container 60 for holding curable products, and preferably with containers which have a dispensing nozzle 62 thereon.

[0021] The applicator is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1 . The applicator 1 comprises a body 3 having a receiving opening 5 at a proximal end 4 and a dispensing opening 7 at a distal end 8. The body 3 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a conduit 6 defined therein running between the receiving opening 5 and dispensing opening 7. The body 3 has at its proximal end 4 a collar 9 external to and circumscribing the receiving opening 5.

[0022] The conduit 6 is tapered having its largest dimension at the proximal end 4 of the applicator. It narrows toward the distal end 8. The applicator 1 is thus adapted so that a nozzle mated with it by insertion of the (male part) nozzle into the (female part) receiving opening 5. The nozzle is also tapered to match the tapering of the conduit 6 so that a mating frictional fit is achieved. For example the frictional fit can be of the Luer type. If desired additional locking elements, for example a screw thread lock including a Luer locking connection may be utilised if desired.

[0023] A plurality of filaments 20 extends upwards and away from the distal end 8 of the body 3. The filaments 20 are integrally formed with the applicator body 3 and are arranged about the dispensing opening 7. The filaments 20 are arranged such that they act like a brush. They can thus be used as a brush applicator to apply curable product, for example liquid product, which is dispensed through the applicator 1 .

[0024] Figure 2A shows a top plan view and Figure 2B shows a bottom plan view of the applicator of Figure 1. The filaments 20 are arranged in a substantially annular pattern around the dispensing opening 7 of the body 3. As shown in Figure 2A, the brush applicator 1 comprises a total of sixty-five filaments 20 arranged in 4 concentric rings 22,24,26,28 about the dispensing opening 7. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments of the applicator 1 , the number of concentric rings and filaments may vary depending on the size of the outlet nozzle of the container. In alternative embodiments, from 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 8, more preferably 1 to 6, and even more preferably 1 to 5 concentric rings may be provided. It will be appreciated that the applicator 1 may comprise any number of filaments in any arrangement around the dispensing opening 7.

[0025] As illustrated in Figure 2B, the filaments 20 are not visible when viewed from the distal end 8 through the conduit 6 and dispensing opening 7, forming a passage from the dispensing opening 7 to the filaments 20. The passage formed by the conduit 6 allows product to be dispensed through the applicator body 3, through the dispensing opening 7, and into the filaments 20 whereby the product may be applied.

[0026] In Figures 3A and 3B there is illustrated perspective views of the brush applicator 1 . The annular arrangement of the filaments 20 is clearly illustrated in these Figures.

[0027] In Figure 4A there is illustrated the container (bottle) 60 which may be used to store and dispense curable product. The container 60 comprises a nozzle 62 which is matingly engaged with the container 60 by a screw thread lock, such as a Luer locking connection, at a base 63 of the nozzle 62 (see Figure 4C). If desired additional locking elements, for example a screw thread lock including a Luer locking connection may be utilised if desired. The nozzle 62 is generally covered by a cap 61 , as shown in Figure 4B. The nozzle 62 comprises an elongate body 17, a dispensing conduit 18 defined therein, and a dispensing end 19.

[0028] Figure 4D illustrates the applicator 1 in use with the nozzle 62 which is fitted to the container 60. In use, the dispensing end 19 of the nozzle of the container is inserted into the conduit 6 of the applicator body 3. They then matingly engage by friction.

[0029] When pressure is applied to the container 60, the product stored therein is forced out through the nozzle 17 of the container 60 and into the applicator 1 in particular a conduit 6 thereof and through dispensing opening 7 and into contact with filaments 20. Once dispensed, the product can then be applied to a substrate by using the filaments 20 as a brush. Unlike current brush applicators on containers, there is no need for dipping or charging the filaments 20 prior to application of product.

Furthermore if desired the applicator 1 may be removed easily even after use. This means that should the applicator, for example its filaments 20, become fouled with curable product to the extent that it is no longer desirable to use, then it may be discarded.

[0030] The applicator 1 is injection moulded from a plastics material selected from the group consisting of polylefin materials, for example HDPE (high density polyethylene), MDPE (medium density polyethylene), LDPE (low-density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene), and combinations thereof. For example, blends of polyolefin materials can be used. These materials are used for their low reactive properties with adhesives or other curable substances which the dispenser may be used to dispense. The applicator body 1 is particularly useful for dispensing cyanoacrylate adhesive. It will be appreciated that any cyanoacrylate adhesive compatible material may be used for the manufacture of the applicator 1 . Such compatible materials will be used also for the container 60 and any dispensing nozzle 17.

[0031] The words "comprises/comprising" and the words "having/including" when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0032] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.