Single-dose applicator and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9364872-B2
Application number	US-201213673653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2012
Priority date	Aug 10, 2010
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

An applicator, related applicator system, and a method for delivering a self-adhesive material are provided. The applicator includes an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface of the applicator defines a void that is operable to receive the self-adhesive material. At least a portion of the inner surface releasably adhere the applicator side of the self-adhesive material where the adhesive force between the portion of the inner surface and the applicator side being less than adhesive force between the substrate and the substrate side. The applicator is used by placing the applicator in contact with a substrate, pressing the applicator against the substrate such that the self-adhesive material adheres to the substrate, and releasing the applicator from the substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator comprising:
an outer surface having a handle configured to apply a self-adhesive material;
an inner surface having an inner recess configured to receive the self-adhesive material; and
wherein when the self-adhesive material is placed into the inner recess, the self-adhesive material and the inner surface form a gap between the applicator and the self-adhesive material prior to placement of the self-adhesive material on a surface;
wherein the self-adhesive material is configured to be placed into contact with the inner surface when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with a surface.

2. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the applicator further comprises a flange extending around the periphery of the applicator and wherein the flange is configured to receive a cover and the flange further comprises an angled portion defining a location for the user to remove the cover to expose the self-adhesive material to a surface.

3. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the applicator is configured to shape the self-adhesive material when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with the surface.

4. The applicator of claim 3 , wherein the inner surface of the applicator comprises an upper region defining a contour that is initially offset from the self-adhesive material and wherein the upper region is configured to at least partially imprint the contour onto the self-adhesive material when the self-adhesive material is applied to the surface.

5. A cleaning apparatus comprising:
a removable self-adhesive material configured to adhere to a surface to be cleaned, the self-adhesive material defining a first surface and a second surface; and
an applicator comprising an outer surface having a handle configured to apply the self-adhesive material to the surface; an inner surface having an inner recess configured to receive the self-adhesive material;
wherein when the self-adhesive material is placed into the inner recess of the applicator, the self-adhesive material and the inner surface form an air gap between the applicator and the self-adhesive material prior to the placement of the self-adhesive material on the surface; and wherein the self-adhesive material is configured to be placed into contact with the inner surface when the self-adhesive material is place into contact with the surface;
wherein an adhesive force between the surface to be cleaned and the second surface of the self-adhesive material is configured to be greater than an adhesive force between the first surface of the self-adhesive material and the applicator and wherein the adhesive force between surface to be cleaned and the second surface of the self-adhesive material is configured to remove the self-adhesive material from the applicator.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the applicator further comprises a flange extending around the periphery of the applicator and wherein the flange is configured to receive a cover and the flange further comprises an angled portion defining a location for the user to remove the cover to expose the self-adhesive material to the surface.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the inner surface of the applicator is configured to shape the self-adhesive material when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with the surface.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the inner surface of the applicator comprises an upper region defining a contour that is initially offset from the self-adhesive material and wherein the upper region is configured to at least partially imprint the contour onto the self-adhesive material when the self-adhesive material is applied to the surface.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the self-adhesive material further comprises a release layer placed on the first surface of the self-adhesive material.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the release layer is placed on a portion of the first surface of the self-adhesive material.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the release layer exposes an edge portion of the self-adhesive material.

12. A method for forming a cleaning apparatus comprising:
providing a removable self-adhesive material and configuring the self-adhesive material to adhere to a surface to be cleaned, the self-adhesive material defining a first surface and a second surface;
providing an applicator comprising an outer surface having a handle and configuring the applicator to apply the self-adhesive material to the surface to be cleaned, providing an inner surface in the applicator having an inner recess configured to receive the self-adhesive material;
placing the self-adhesive material into the inner recess of the applicator such that the self-adhesive material and the inner surface form an air gap between the applicator and the self-adhesive material prior to the self-adhesive material being place into contact with the surface; and configuring the self-adhesive material to be placed into contact with the inner surface of the applicator when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with the surface; and
wherein an adhesive force between the first surface of the self-adhesive material and the applicator is greater than the weight of the self-adhesive material and wherein an adhesive force between the surface to be cleaned and the second surface of the self-adhesive material is greater than the adhesive force between the first surface of the self-adhesive material and the applicator.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing the applicator with a flange extending around the periphery of the applicator and configuring the flange to receive a cover and providing the flange with an angled portion defining a location for the user to remove the cover to expose the self-adhesive material to a surface.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising configuring the inner surface of the applicator to shape the self-adhesive material when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with a surface.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing the inner surface of the applicator with an upper region defining a contour that is initially offset from the self-adhesive material and wherein the upper region is configured to at least partially imprint the contour onto the self-adhesive material when the self-adhesive material is applied to the surface.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing the self-adhesive material with a release layer placed on the first surface of the self-adhesive material.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising placing the release layer on a portion of the first surface of the self-adhesive material.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising exposing an edge portion of the self-adhesive material with the release layer.

19. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the inner recess proximate to the gap defines surface ornamentation and wherein when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with the surface, the surface ornamentation is molded onto the self-adhesive material.

20. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the inner recess proximate to the air gap defines surface ornamentation and wherein when the self-adhesive material is placed into contact with the surface, the surface ornamentation is molded onto the self-adhesive material.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the inner recess proximate to the air gap defines surface ornamentation

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C
• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Soller Douglas A
• Rice William J
• Nelson Cory J
• Klinkhammer Michael E

Classifications

• B65D75/325

  one sheet being recessed, and the other being a flat not- rigid sheet, e.g. puncturable or peelable foil · CPC title

• B65D75/527 Primary

  Tear-lines for separating a package into individual packages (B65D1/30, B65D21/0206, B65D75/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• C11D17/041

  Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means · CPC title

• B05D1/26

  performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface · CPC title

• B08B7/0028 Primary

  by adhesive surfaces · CPC title