[0001] The present invention relates to an applicator for liquid compositions applied by
means of a brush, such as nail varnish and the like. More particularly but not exclusively,
it relates to an applicator having a reservoir for the liquid composition, to a container
for the liquid composition provided with said applicator, and to a method for applying
said composition.
[0002] Nail varnish is normally applied using a short generally cylindrical brush mounted
at a distal end of an elongate stem, held at a proximal end by the user. The brush
is dipped into ajar or vial of nail varnish to pick up a charge of liquid varnish,
which is then painted on to a finger or toe nail.
[0003] Nail varnish conventionally contains highly volatile solvents so that it dries rapidly
after application to form a hard, glossy film on the nail. Unfortunately, this results
in the varnish tending to dry out on the brush, clogging its bristles. Thus, when
the charge of liquid varnish is used up, and the user returns the brush to the container
to refresh it, there is a risk that some bristles will have become stuck together
and/or become contaminated with dried blobs of varnish, which may not redissolve in
the fresh charge of liquid varnish. This can lead to an unattractive lumpy or streaky
finish on subsequently-coated nails.
[0004] Furthermore, if a charge of liquid varnish runs out part-way through painting a nail,
there is a risk that a "tide-mark"' may be formed, when painting the nail is completed
using a fresh charge of varnish.
[0005] A conventional brush sufficiently large to hold enough liquid varnish to complete
a set of nails in a single operation would probably either be too broad for accurate
application, or too long in the bristle, in which case varnish may dry out near the
bristles' roots, and the brush may not be sufficiently controllable.
[0006] Conventionally, each charge of varnish will be enough for no more than one nail.
This necessitates frequent dipping of the brush into the container, which is inconvenient
and may risk upsetting the container. There is hence a need for an applicator for
nail varnish which can hold sufficient varnish to coat several nails in sequence without
drying out.
[0007] Similar problems may be experienced with other liquid compositions containing volatile
solvents, such as conventional varnishes and paints, and obliterating or correcting
fluids. In the latter case in particular, applicator brushes are notorious for becoming
clogged with dry white deposits which are inconvenient to remove. Thus, while the
present invention will largely be described with respect to the application of nail
varnish, it is equally applicable to other liquid compositions having premature drying
problems, and the term nail varnish herein should be interpreted accordingly.
[0008] It is hence an object of the present invention to provide an applicator for nail
varnish or the like which obviates the above problems and allows smooth, substantially
blemish-free application of the varnish. It is also an object of the present invention
to provide a container for nail varnish or the like comprising such an applicator,
and a method for applying nail varnish therewith.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an applicator
for nail varnish as herein defined, comprising reservoir means, brush means, passage
means extending adjacent said brush means and connected to the reservoir means, and
suction means manually operable to draw liquid nail varnish into the reservoir means
through the passage means and to deliver it back to the brush means for subsequent
application to a substrate such as a nail.
[0010] Preferably, the passage means extends adjacent root means of the brush means.
[0011] Advantageously, the passage means comprises delivery aperture means adjacent the
root means of the brush means.
[0012] The applicator means preferably comprises recess means adjacent the root means of
the brush means, into which nail varnish is deliverable from the passage means.
[0013] The brush means may then define one face of said recess means.
[0014] Preferably, the brush means comprises a plurality of generally parallelly extending
elongate bristle means arranged in a curve, a concave face of said curve being aligned
towards the passage means or the delivery aperture means thereof.
[0015] Advantageously, said bristle means are rooted generally in an arc of a circle centred
on the delivery aperture means of the passage means.
[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the brush means comprises a plurality of generally
parallelly extending elongate bristle means defining a hollow shape surrounding the
passage means.
[0017] Advantageously, the bristle means are then arranged in a hollow cylinder around the
passage means.
[0018] The brush means may comprise mounting means to which the bristle means are attached
and through which the passage means also extends.
[0019] In each embodiment, the reservoir means is preferably at least partially transparent
or translucent so as to make visible a level of nail varnish contained therein.
[0020] Advantageously, the reservoir means comprises a substantially rigid elongate tubular
vessel.
[0021] Said elongate vessel may be aligned substantially parallelly to the bristle means.
[0022] Preferably, the suction means comprises bulb means compressable manually, for example
between thumb and finger of a hand of a user.
[0023] The suction means may be connected directly to the reservoir means.
[0024] Alternatively, the suction means may connected to the reservoir means through flexible
connector means.
[0025] The suction means may comprise handle means for the applicator.
[0026] Preferably, the suction means is provided with protective enclosure means.
[0027] Advantageously, said protective enclosure means comprises rigid shell means provided
with window means adapted for the suction means to be squeezed therethrough, optionally
digitally.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the applicator may comprise closure means adapted selectably
to seal an opening of a container for nail varnish.
[0029] Advantageously, said closure means comprises cap means so threaded as to be engageable
with a corresponding thread adjacent the opening of the container.
[0030] The brush means of the applicator may be disposed within said container when the
closure means is in position sealing said opening, and the suction means may then
be disposed externally of the container.
[0031] The reservoir means may then extend through the closure means.
[0032] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container
for nail varnish as herein defined, comprising an applicator as described in the first
aspect above, adapted to seal removably an opening of the container.
[0033] Preferably, said applicator is provided with threaded cap means, engageable with
corresponding thread means adjacent the opening of the container.
[0034] Advantageously, the applicator is adapted to seal the opening with its brush means
disposed within the container and its suction means disposed externally thereof.
[0035] The reservoir means may then extend through the cap means.
[0036] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method
of applying nail varnish to a nail, comprising the steps of providing an applicator
as described in the first aspect above, operating the suction means thereof so as
to draw nail varnish into the reservoir means thereof, applying the brush means thereof
to a nail to be varnished, and operating the suction means so as to deliver nail varnish
to the brush means.
[0037] Preferably, the nail varnish is delivered to the brush means as the brush means is
drawn across a surface of the nail.
[0038] Advantageously, the method comprises the step of providing a container of liquid
nail varnish comprising an applicator, as described in the second aspect above.
[0039] The method may comprise the steps of applying nail varnish sequentially to a plurality
of nails without repeating the step of drawing nail varnish into the reservoir means.
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way
of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures 1A to 1D are perspective views showing stages of production of a brush element for an applicator
embodying the present invention;
Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views showing mounting of the brush element shown in Figure 1D to
a reservoir tube of an applicator embodying the present invention;
Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views showing assembly of a first applicator embodying the present
invention;
Figures 4A and 4B are perspective views showing assembly of a second applicator embodying the present
invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third applicator embodying the present invention;
Figure 6 is a schematic elevation of a container for nail varnish provided with an applicator
as shown in Figure 5;
Figures 7A to 7C are schematic elevation showing application of varnish to a nail, using the applicator
shown in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of a fourth applicator embodying the present invention,
in place in a respective container for nail varnish;
Figure 9A to 9C are a frontal elevation, a plan view from above and a perspective view, respectively,
of the fourth applicator and container as shown in Figure 8;
Figure 9D is a side elevation of the fourth applicator as shown in figure 8, withdrawn from
the container;
Figure 9E is an exploded perspective view of the fourth applicator as shown in Figure 8;
Figure 9F is a frontal elevation of the fourth applicator as shown in Figure 8;
Figure 10A is a cross-sectional elevation of a fifth applicator embodying the present invention;
and
Figure 10B is an exploded perspective view of the fifth applicator shown in Figure 10A.
[0041] Turning now to the figures, and to Figure 1A in particular, an elongate tube 1 of
thin, malleable aluminium or the like has a plurality of natural or synthetic bristles
2 inserted into an open end thereof so as to project therefrom generally parallelly
to a longitudinal axis of the tube 1. The tube 1 is then crimped flat, as shown in
Figure 1B, holding the bristles 2 securely in place as a generally planar brush. The
flattened tube 1 is next curled around an axis parallel to the bristles 2 (as shown
in Figure 1 C), for example by being formed around a cylindrical mandrel. Ultimately,
the flattened tube 1 is rolled into a cylinder, as shown in Figure 1D, to produce
a hollow brush element 3. The brush element 3 thus comprises a plurality of bristles
2 arranged in the form of a hollow cylinder, a central bore of which is linked to
a bore extending from end to end of the rolled tube 1.
[0042] The brush element 3 is inserted into an open end of an elongate reservoir tube 4
as shown in Figure 2A. The reservoir tube 4 comprises a clear plastics material, or
optionally glass, to allow viewing of its contents. The rolled tube 1 of the brush
element 3 may be a friction fit within a bore of the reservoir tube 4, or may be sealed
in place with adhesive. As shown in Figure 2B, the bristles 2 thus project from the
reservoir tube 4 generally parallelly to a longitudinal axis thereof, and the bores
of the brush clement 3 and the reservoir tube 4 are linked.
[0043] In a first applicator 7, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, a first end of a clear flexible
plastics connector tube 5 is mounted to an end of the reservoir tube 4 remote from
the brush element 3, and a squeezable bulb 6, typically of latex rubber or other elastomer,
is mounted to a second end of the connector tube 5 remote from the first. The connector
tube 5 is glued sealingly to the reservoir tube 4, and the bulb 6 is glued sealingly
to the connector tube 5. Thus, if the bulb 6 is squeezed and released, fluid may flow
in and out of an interior of the first applicator 7 only through the brush element
3.
[0044] In a second applicator 9, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the end of the reservoir
tube 4 remote from the brush element 3 is surrounded by a sleeve 8. The squeezable
bulb 6 is then mounted around both the sleeve 8 and the respective end of the reservoir
tube 4 and is glued sealingly in place.
[0045] A third applicator 11, shown in Figure 5, is generally similar to the second applicator
9, with the addition of a generally cylindrical hollow cap element 10 mounted to the
sleeve 8 coaxially around the reservoir tube 4. The third applicator 11 is intended
to form a closure for ajar 12 or other container of nail varnish, as shown in Figure
6. The cap element 10 is provided with an internal thread engageable with an externally-threaded
neck 13 of the jar 12, so as to seal the jar 12.
[0046] To use the applicator 11, as shown in Figures 7A to 7C, the bulb 6 is squeezed between
thumb and forefinger, expelling air from its interior through the bore between the
bristles 2 of the brush element 3. The brush element 3 is then dipped into the jar
12 and submerged in a supply 14 of liquid nail varnish contained therein. The bulb
6 is slowly released, creating suction which draws liquid varnish up through the bore
of the brush element 3 into the reservoir tube 4. Since the reservoir tube 4 is clear,
the user may draw up a charge 15 of liquid varnish of a desired volume.
[0047] The bristles 2 of the applicator 11 are then brought into contact with a nail 16
to be varnished. The bulb 6 is squeezed gently to deliver liquid varnish 15 to the
bristles 2, to replace that transferred to the nail 16 as the applicator 11 is stroked
thereacross. The applicator 11 shown easily holds a sufficient charge 15 of the liquid
varnish at least to coat each nail 16 on a hand or a foot in turn, before needing
to be returned to the jar 12 to be refilled.
[0048] A continual flow of liquid varnish is maintained, out from the reservoir tube 4,
through the bore of the brush element 3, and into the bore between the bristles 2,
from whence it wicks into gaps between individual bristles 2, flows down the bristles
2 and is transferred to the nail 16 from the tips of the bristles 2. At no point is
any liquid varnish left "stagnant" where it might dry out, so the bristles 2 will
remain flexible and unclogged, producing an even, attractive coating on each nail
16. Even if slight drying were encountered, such as on a very warm day or with particularly
volatile solvents, varnish could be "pumped" in and out of the applicator 11, through
the bristles 2, to ensure that any partially solidified material redissolves.
[0049] As an alternative to the particular brush element 3 shown, it is also envisaged that
the roots of the bristles 2 could be embedded in one annular end-face of a hollow
cylindrical collar of plastics material.
[0050] While the applicator 7, 9, 11 arc shown with no particular brush profile, clearly
the bristles 2 could all be made the same length, to give a flat-ended brush element
3, or the brush element 3 could be provided with an obliquely angled tip, or more
complex profiles, if desired.
[0051] Although the hollow cylindrical brush elements 3 are shown are probably the most
generally useful shape, it is envisaged that other shapes could be produced, optimised
for particular uses.
[0052] Figure 8 shows a fourth applicator 17 embodying the present invention, having a (currently
preferred) form which differs in several respects to that of the applicators 7, 9,
11 described above.
[0053] A plurality of nylon bristles 2 are inserted into a socket 18 formed in a first end
of an elongate plastics tube 19, adjacent an opening 20 of the tube 19. The reservoir
tube 19 is connected at a second end remote from the first to a compressible bulb
21. The bulb 21 is located within a rigid plastics cap element 22, which is provided
with a resiliently deformable elastomer insert 23 (shown more clearly in Figures 9A
to 9F) surrounding the bulb 21. Part of the insert 23 is accessible through a gap
or window in the rigid element 22. The applicator 17 also comprises a thread element
24, which is engageable with a co-operating thread on a neck of a container 25. The
applicator 17 thus acts as a sealing lid or cap for the container 25, with the bristles
2 and most of the reservoir tube 19 extending into an interior 26 of the container
25. The container 25 may hold nail varnish (or any other volatile material requiring
controlled application to a surface, such as correction fluid).
[0054] In use, the insert 23 is squeezed and released, compressing and releasing the bulb
21. As in the case of the applicators 7, 9, 11 above, this draws a charge of nail
varnish or the like from the interior 26 of the container 25 into the reservoir tube
19.
[0055] The applicator 17 is then unscrewed from the container 25, and the bristles 2 are
applied to a nail to be varnished. The insert 23 is gently squeezed, compressing the
bulb 21 slightly and displacing varnish out of the opening 20 of the reservoir tube
19. Since the opening 20 is adjacent the roots of the bristles 2, the varnish will
flow on to and between the bristles 2 towards their tips.
[0056] The first end of the tube 19 around the opening 20 has an angled profile, as shown,
which defines a notch 27 between the first end of the tube 19 and the roots of the
bristles 2. Varnish displaced out of the opening 20 will tend to collect in the notch
27, ensuring that it contacts the roots of the bristles 2 as intended. It will then
be drawn along the bristles 2 by capillary forces.
[0057] Thus, when the bristles 2 are drawn along the nail, varnish on the bristles 2 will
be laid down as an even layer and continually replaced, as long as the user squeezes
the insert 23 sufficiently to deliver fresh varnish into the notch 27. The reservoir
tube 19 shown can hold sufficient varnish for several nails to be treated using a
single charge, before the applicator 17 need be returned to the container 25 to be
refilled.
[0058] Figures 9A to 9F show various features of the fourth applicator 17 more clearly.
Figures 9A to 9D show a preferred configuration of the rigid cap element 22 and the
deformable insert 23. The rigid cap element 22 has a gap or window extending across
its top and part-way down opposite sides, which allows fingertip access to the deformable
insert 23 within. This configuration permits a user to squeeze the insert 23 (and
hence the enclosed bulb 21) controllably between fingertip and thumbtip, for example.
Meanwhile, the configuration of the remainder of the rigid cap element 22 protects
the insert 23 and bulb 21 from being crushed or squeezed accidentally (e.g. if dropped).
[0059] The exploded view of the applicator 17 in Figure 9E shows this window 28 in the cap
element 22 more clearly. Preferably, the insert 23 has an expanded portion 29 having
a shape corresponding to that of the window 28. This locates the insert 23 positively
within the cap element 22, and produces a substantially smooth and continuous profile
for the outside of the applicator 17.
[0060] Other structural features visible in Figure 9E include a threaded portion 30 of the
bulb 21, by which it is connected to the threaded element 24 (the threaded element
24 thus has a thread to receive the bulb 21 and a thread, not visible in Figure 9E,
to engage with the threaded neck of the container 25). In this embodiment, the threaded
element 24 is also provided with a plurality of external longitudinal ribs 31, which
help it to grip an inner face of the cap element 22 when the applicator 17 is assembled,
The reservoir tube 19 is in this embodiment press-fitted into a corresponding socket
in the threaded element 24 (compare Figure 9A and Figure 8).
[0061] Comparison of Figures 9D, 9E and 9F also shows the preferred configuration of the
bristles 2. The socket 18 (Figure 8) is arcuate, generally concentrically with the
opening 20 of the reservoir tube 19. The roots of the bristles 2 thus form an arc
partially encircling the opening 20 and further enclosing the notch 27 formed between
the first end of the reservoir tube 19 and the roots of the bristles 2. The bristles
2 splay slightly outwardly towards their tips, which form a broader but shallower
arc than their roots. The tips of the bristles 2 are thus configured to conform generally
to a profile of a finger or toe-nail, further improving the ease and effectiveness
of application of the varnish.
[0062] A fifth, simplified applicator 32 is shown in Figures 10A and 10B. This does not
have the rigid cap element 22 and resiliently deformable insert 23, leaving the bulb
21 exposed. There may well be applications in which the risk of accidental squeezing
or damage to the bulb 21 is outweighed by the greater simplicity of this form of the
applicator 32. The other difference between the fourth and fifth applicators 17, 32
is that the fifth applicator 32 has a reservoir tube 19 with a wider bore. This appears
to be a design choice that can be made based on the volume of the charge of fluid
required to be held in the reservoir tube 19, the viscosity of the fluid, and so forth.
The reservoir tube 19 of the fifth applicator 32 is still so profiled that there is
a notch 27 between its end and the roots of the bristles 2, into which nail varnish
or other fluid is delivered from the tube 19.
[0063] As mentioned above, while the applicators 7, 9, 11, 17, 32 described are optimised
for applying nail varnish, it is envisaged that applicators embodying the present
invention might also be useful for applying other compositions containing volatile
solvents, such as correcting fluid.
[0064] Nail varnish and other liquid media containing volatile solvents lead to particular
problems that the applicators of the present invention are well-adapted to address.
For nail varnish in particular, a user wishes to apply the varnish evenly across a
nail in a single stroke, without needing to re-coat or touch up gaps. Furthermore,
the varnish should be applied only to the nail, and not to the adjacent skin, so control
of the application is important, and not every shape of brush will be usable.
[0065] Another major issue is the tendency for the varnish to dry out and clog up brushes
or even entire containers. If a container and cap are not perfectly airtight, the
solvent will evaporate, initially rendering the contents too viscous and difficult
to apply, and ultimately allowing the contents to solidify. Once this has occurred,
it is rarely possible to re-constitute the contents, and the container and contents
must be thrown away. The construction of the applicators above ensures that they remain
airtight, particularly the suction devices thereof, which may comprise a weakness
of alternative designs.
[0066] A brush caked with dried varnish will not apply liquid varnish in an adequate manner,
however one delivers varnish to the brush. It is also essential that any varnish delivery
systems are not prone to blockage by dried varnish. The applicators shown above, particularly
when used in conjunction with the containers described, will ensure that the brush
remains wetted with liquid varnish when stored, as will sufficient of the reservoir
tube to ensure that it will not become blocked with dried varnish.
1. An applicator (7, 9, 11, 17, 32) for nail varnish comprising reservoir means (4, 19),
brush means (3) and suction means (6, 21), characterised in that the applicator (7, 9, 11, 17, 32) also comprises passage means (1, 20) connected
to the reservoir means (4, 19) and extending adjacent root means of said brush means
(3) and the suction means (6, 21) is manually operable to draw liquid nail varnish
into the reservoir means (4, 19) through said passage means (1, 20) and to deliver
it therethrough back to the brush means (3) for subsequent application to a substrate
such as a nail (16).
2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the passage means (1, 20) comprises delivery aperture means adjacent said root means.
3. An applicator as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that it comprises recess means (27) adjacent said root means into which nail varnish is
deliverable from the passage means (1, 20).
4. An applicator as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the brush means (3) defines one face of the recess means (27).
5. An applicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the brush means (3) comprises a plurality of generally parallelly extending elongate
bristle means (2) arranged generally in an arc, a concave face of said arc being aligned
towards the passage means (1, 20) or delivery aperture means thereof.
6. An applicator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the brush means (3) comprises a plurality of generally parallelly extending elongate
bristle means (2) defining a hollow shape surrounding the passage means (1).
7. An applicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claim, characterised in that the reservoir means (4, 19) is adapted to make visible a level of nail varnish contained
therein, optionally being at least partially transparent or translucent.
8. An applicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the suction means (6, 21) is provided with protective enclosure means (22).
9. An applicator as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the protective enclosure means (22) comprises rigid shell means having window means
adapted for the suction means (6, 21) to be squeezed manually therethrough.
10. An applicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the applicator (7, 9, 11, 17, 32) comprises closure means (10, 22, 24) adapted selectably
to seal an opening of a container (12, 35) for nail varnish.
11. An applicator as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said closure means comprises cap means (10, 24) so threaded as to be engageable with
a corresponding thread (13) adjacent the opening of the container (12, 25).
12. A container (12, 25) for nail varnish as herein defined, characterised in that it comprises an applicator (7, 9, 11, 17, 32) as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, adapted to seal removably an opening of the container (12, 25).
13. A method of applying nail varnish to a nail (16), characterised in that it comprises the steps of providing an applicator (7, 9, 11, 17, 32) as claimed in
any one of claims 1 to 11, operating the suction means (6, 21) thereof so as to draw
nail varnish into the reservoir means (4, 19) thereof, applying the brush means (3)
thereof to a nail (16) to be varnished, and operating the suction means (6, 21) so
as to deliver nail varnish to the brush means (3).
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that it comprises the step of providing a container (12, 25) of liquid nail varnish comprising
an applicator (7, 9, 11, 17, 31) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.
15. A method as claimed in either claim 13 or claim 14, characterised in that it comprises the steps of applying nail varnish sequentially to a plurality of nails
(16) without repeating the step of drawing nail varnish into the reservoir means (4,
19).