EP0218371A1

EP0218371A1 - Cleaning or like product

Info

Publication number: EP0218371A1
Application number: EP86306843A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Donald Bird
Original assignee: Caligen Foam Ltd
Current assignee: Caligen Foam Ltd
Priority date: 1985-09-04
Filing date: 1986-09-04
Publication date: 1987-04-15
Also published as: GB8521995D0; GB8621234D0; GB2180445B; GB2180445A

Abstract

A device for containing and applying a product comprises a container (5), a quantity of product (8) to be dispensed located within the container, an applicator (10) removably located within the container and having an absorbent face (11) in contact with the product in the container, and a detachable cover member (9) engageable over the mouth of the container to close the container in an airtight manner. The container preferably comprises a tray (5) formed from plastics material having a base to accommodate the product to be dispensed and an open top (6) closable by a cover member in the form of a flexible sheet sealingly engaged with the container around its edges (7).

Description

This invention relates to devices for containing and dispensing products in liquid or paste form in the nature of cleaning, refurbishing, polishing or like preparations.
It has previously been proposed to incorporate a liquid cleaning product into a porous material by impregnating the material with the liquid product. The porous material then acts as an applicator from which the impregnated product is released by a wiping or similar action. Such previously proposed devices however have certain limitations. The products which can be impregnated are limited to those having a viscosity enabling the product to be held within the porous carrier. The technique cannot be employed in relation to products which will evaporate when stored over a period of time and there is little control over the rate at which the product is dispensed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device by means of which these disadvantages are obviated or mitigated.
The invention provides a device for containing and applying a product comprising a container, a quantity of product to be dispensed located within the container, an applicator removably located within the container and having an absorbant face thereof in contact with the product in the container, and a detachable cover member engageable over the mouth of the container to close same in an airtight manner. In use of the product the cover is removed enabling the applicator to be withdrawn and product carried by the absorbant surface thereof applied to a surface or the like to be cleaned. The applicator may be re-inserted into the container to pick up more product as desired from the supply within the container. The cover member may be re-sealable in an airtight manner or the product may be designed to be discarded after use.
The container preferably comprises a tray formed from plastics material having a base adapted to accommodate the product to be dispensed and an open top closable by said cover member. The cover member may advantageously comprise flexible sheet material sealingly engaged with the container around the edges of said opening to form an airtight enclosure. Sealing may be effected by means of pressure sensitive adhesive.
Preferably the applicator comprises a pad of resilient material having a height slightly greater than the depth of the container whereby on removal of said cover the inherent resilience of the pad causes same to rise slightly beyond the mouth of the container to enable it to be gripped by a user. Advantageously the pad comprises a main body portion of relatively flexible foamed plastics material and a grip portion of less flexible material to facilitate handling and prevent product from migrating through the flexible foam into contact with the user's hand.
The base of the tray may advantageously be provided with a pattern of recesses grooves or the like to accommodate the cleaning or like product and restrain same from migrating or flowing across the base of the container. The product is preferably in paste, cream or other viscous form.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention in its closed and sealed condition; and
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the container in its open position and the applicator removed.

Referring to the drawings the device comprises a container in the form of a moulded plastic body 5 in the nature of a tray having an opening 6 at its upper end surrounded by outwardly directed flanged portions 7 integral with the body 5. A cleaning or polishing product in viscous or pasty form 8 is applied over the base of the tray and the opening 6 is sealed by a closure member 9 in the form of a flexible sheet of metalized paper the edges of which in the closed position shown in Fig. 1 are adhered to the flanges 7 of the base 5.
Within the tray 5 is an applicator device in the form of a pad 10 (Fig. 2) having a main body portion 11 of flexible foamed plastics material and a grip portion 12 of firmer plastics material. The height of the applicator pad 10 is slightly greater than the internal height of the body 5 such that when the closure member 9 is removed the resilience of the applicator causes the grip portion 12 to be projected out of the mouth of the container to facilitate gripping by a user. When located within the container the lower surface of the applicator portion 11 remote from the grip portion 12 contacts the upper surface of the product 8 located within the base of the tray and a quantity of the latter is thereby picked up by the applicator pad. The base of the tray is formed with a series of parallel grooves or recesses (not visible in the drawings) to prevent migration of the product across the base.
. In use the device is supplied in its sealed condition which renders the container airtight and prevents evaporation of the cleaning preparation contained within it. When it is desired to use the product the closure member 9 is pulled back to reveal the applicator which rises through the opening 6 due to removal of the compressive force applied by the closure member and can then be removed from the tray and used in the nature of a sponge or pad to apply the cleaning product 8 to a surface to be cleaned. The applicator may be re-introduced into the tray as required to pick up more cleaning preparation. Once the cleaning operation has been completed the device is discarded. Alternatively the cover may be arranged to be re-sealable in order to permit re-use of the device while maintaining an airtight seal between periods of use.
The device is particularly suitable for use in connection with cleaning operations where a predetermined known quantity of cleaning preparation is likely to be required. One example is in the refurbishing of plastic vehicle bumpers where a relatively small quantity of cleaning product is sufficient to treat the bumpers of one vehicle. A single device of the kind described may thus be purchased, utilized for this purpose and then discarded. This avoids the need to purchase a greater quantity of cleaner product than is necessary, in addition to which the device, being in the nature of both a container and an applicator, is self contained and it is not necessary to acquire or purchase separate cloths or the like to apply the cleaning or refurbishing preparation as has been necessary hitherto. The device could alternatively contain, for example, a cleaner for horses hooves.
Various-modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the shape and size of the container or tray may be varied as desired and absorbant applicators other than foamed plastics material may be employed. The lid of the container may be of different construction provided it is capable of being sealingly engaged with the container body to provide an airtight seal and prevent evaporation of the cleaning product. The invention may also be used in conjunction with a wide variety of cleaning, polishing refurbishing or like products in paste, cream or other viscous form.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A device for containing and applying a product characterised in that it comprises a container (5), a quantity of product (8) to be dispensed located within the container, an applicator (10) removably located within the container and having an absorbant face (11). thereof in contact with the product in the container, and a detachable cover member (9) engageable over the mouth of the container to close same in an airtight manner.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterised in that said container comprises a tray (5) formed from plastics material having a base adapted to accommodate the product to be dispensed and an open top (6) closable by said cover member (9).

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that said cover member (9) comprises flexible sheet material sealingly engaged with the container around the edges (7) of said opening (6) to form an airtight enclosure.

4. A device according to claim 3 characterised in that sealing is effected by means of pressure sensitive adhesive.

5. A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that said cover member (9) is re-sealable in an airtight manner after use.

6. A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that said applicator comprises a pad (11, 12) of resilient material having a height slightly greater than the depth of the container (5) whereby on removal of said cover (9) the inherent resilience of the pad causes same to rise slightly beyond the mouth of the container to enable it to be gripped by a user.

7. A device according to claim 6 characterised in that said pad (10) comprises a main body portion (11) of relatively flexible foamed plastics material and a grip portion (12) of less flexible material.

8. A device according to claim 7 characterised in that said grip portion (12) is formed from a material which prevents product (8) from migrating through the flexible foam into contact with user's hand.

9. A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that the base of said tray (5) is formed with recesses to accommodate product (8) and restrain some from migrating across the base.

10.- A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that said product (8) is viscous in nature.

11. A device according to claim 10 characterised in that said product (8) is in paste or cream form.

12. A device according to claim 10 or 11 characterised in that said product (8) is a cleaning or polishing preparation.

13. A device according to claim 12 characterised in that said product (8) is a preparation for refurbishing vehicle bumpers.

14. A device according to claim 12 characterised in that said product (8) is a preparation for cleaning horses hooves.