Applicator Device

Abstract

An applicator device includes a primary handle and a detachable handle. The applicator device also includes a telescoping element situated between the primary and detachable handles, the telescoping element having a first end coupled to the primary handle and a second end coupled to the detachable handle. The detachable handle is removably coupled to the telescoping element second end. An applicator arm is pivotably coupled to the detachable handle. An applicator is coupled to the applicator arm. In addition, the telescopic element includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a position inside the primary handle and a position outside the primary handle. A pad is removably coupled to the applicator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]This invention relates generally to applicator devices and, more particularly, to an applicator device particularly adapted to simplify the application of sunscreen, lotion, or ointment to one's own back without assistance.

[0002]Applying any type of liquid to one's own back is difficult without the assistance of another person. In other words, only portions of one's own back are reachable with one's own hands. While a person may scratch their own back by rubbing up against a tree, post, or by using a ruler or other elongate apparatus, gently applying and rubbing in lotion, sunscreen, or the like requires a more sophisticated instrument.

[0003]Various devices have been proposed in the art for applying liquids to a person's own back. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices are not adjustable to an individual's personal needs and preferences and do not include telescopic sections that also provide control over angles of use, pivot action, and length adjustment.

[0004]Therefore, it would be desirable to have an applicator device having telescopic sections, a detachable handle, and structures for controlling the angle of use and pivot action such that its end may conform to the contour of a user's back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005]Accordingly, an applicator device according to the present invention includes a primary handle and a detachable handle. The applicator device also includes a telescoping element situated between the primary and detachable handles, the telescoping element having a first end coupled to the primary handle and a second end coupled to the detachable handle. The detachable handle is removably coupled to the telescoping element second end. An applicator arm is pivotally coupled to the detachable handle. An applicator is coupled to the applicator arm. In addition, the telescopic element includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a position inside the primary handle and a position outside the primary handle. A pad is removably coupled to the applicator.

[0006]Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an applicator device that enables a user to apply lotion, sunscreen, or ointment to one's own back without another person's assistance.

[0007]Another object of this invention is to provide an applicator device, as aforesaid, that has a telescopic element so that the applicator device may be selectively length adjustable.

[0008]Still another object of this invention is to provide an applicator device, as aforesaid, having an applicator arm that is pivotally coupled to a detachable handle such that an applicator may conform to the contour of a user's back.

[0009]Yet another object of this invention is to provide an applicator device, as aforesaid, in which an applicator pad is conveniently replaceable or interchangeable.

[0010]A further object of this invention is to provide an applicator device, as aforesaid, that is durable and economically feasible to manufacture.

[0011]Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1a is a perspective view of an applicator device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an extended configuration;

[0013]FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1a in a retracted configuration;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1a;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1a;

[0016]FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are isolated views on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 3, illustrating the applicator arm in respective pivotal configurations;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a secondary handle detached from the telescoping element and primary handle;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an end view of the applicator handle as in FIG. 1a;

[0019]FIG. 5a is a sectional view taken along line 5a-5a of FIG. 5;

[0020]FIG. 5b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 5a; and

[0021]FIG. 6 is a rear view of the applicator device as in FIG. 1a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022]An applicator device 100 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1a through 6 of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, according to the current invention, an applicator device 100 includes a primary handle 110, a secondary handle 120, a telescoping element 130, an applicator arm 140, and an applicator 150.

[0023]As shown in FIG. 1a, the telescoping element 130 is between the primary and secondary handles 110, 120 and has a first end 132a coupled to the primary handle 110 and a second end 132b coupled to the secondary handle 120. The secondary handle 120 may be removably coupled to the telescoping element second end 132b, such as by a push-latch 122, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5a, for example, and the secondary handle 120 may be referred to herein as a detachable handle.

[0024]The telescoping element 130 may be selectively positioned at a closed (also referred to herein as "retracted") configuration 130a (FIG. 1b) and at least one open (also referred to herein as "extended") configuration 130b (FIG. 1a), and means may be included for selectively maintaining the telescoping element 130 at the closed configuration 130a (FIG. 1b) and the at least one open configuration 130b (FIG. 1a). More particularly, the telescoping element 130 includes at least one telescoping section 134 that is selectively movable between a position inside either the primary handle 110 (FIG. 1b) or the secondary handle 120 and a position outside the primary handle 110 and the secondary handle 120 (FIG. 1a). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, each telescoping section 134 may include a push-latch 135 that interact with a hole 136 in an adjacent element to maintain the sections 134 at the desired configuration. The telescoping element 130 may have a curved configuration, and the curved configuration may be more pronounced when the telescoping element 130 is at the extended configuration 130b, as shown in FIG. 1a when compared to FIG. 2b, for example.

[0025]The applicator arm 140 is coupled to the secondary handle 120, and as best shown in FIGS. 2-3c and FIG. 5b, the applicator arm 140 may be pivotably coupled to the secondary handle 120. While the applicator arm 140 is shown in the drawings as being rotatably sandwiched between forks 124 of the secondary handle 120, other pivotable attachments may additionally or alternately be used. A lock 145 (FIGS. 3a-3c) may be included to temporarily fix the location of the applicator arm 140 relative to the secondary handle 120, such as through friction. The applicator 150 is coupled to the applicator arm 140, and as best shown in FIG. 5b, the applicator 150 may be coupled to the applicator arm 140 by a ball and socket joint 152.

[0026]A pad 160 (FIG. 2) may be coupled to the applicator 150 in either a permanent or removable manner. If removably coupled, hook and loop fasteners 162 (FIG. 5b) or any other appropriate non-permanent fastener may be used to couple the pad 160 to the applicator 150. While the pad 160 is shown in the accompanying drawings to be generally circular, the pad 160 may alternately be oval, generally rectangular, or any other appropriate shape. The pad 160 may be constructed of any appropriate material, including for example, cotton, cloth, sponge, or woven paper.

[0027]In use, a substance (e.g., lotion, sunscreen, ointment, etc.) may be placed on the pad 160 by the user, or the pad 160 may be manufactured to include the substance. The telescoping element 130 may be positioned at the retracted or extended configuration 130a, 130b as discussed above, depending on how the user intends to utilize the applicator device 100. For example, to utilize the applicator to apply the substance to the user's lower back, the user may position the telescoping element 130 at the extended configuration 130b (FIG. 1a). The user may then grasp the primary handle 110 and apply the substance on the pad 160 to the desired body location. The telescopic nature of the telescoping element 130, the curved configuration of the telescoping element 130, the pivotal nature of the applicator arm 140, and the ball and socket joint 152 that couples the applicator 150 to the applicator arm 140 may collectively allow the user to reach a wide range of body locations to apply the substance. The telescoping element 130 may be positioned at the retracted configuration 130a (FIG. 1b) or the secondary handle 120 may be removed from the telescoping element 130 (as discussed above and shown in FIG. 4) if the length and curve provided by the telescoping element 130 is not needed to reach the desired body location. Once the substance is applied, the pad 160 may be separated from the applicator 150 (as noted above) and discarded if the pad 160 is removably coupled to the applicator 150. The telescoping element 130 may optionally be positioned at the retracted configuration 130a for storage.

[0028]It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An applicator device, comprising:a primary handle;a detachable handle;a telescoping element between said primary handle and said detachable handle, said telescoping element having a first end coupled to said primary handle and a second end coupled to said detachable handle, said detachable handle being removably coupled to said telescoping element second end;an applicator arm pivotably coupled to said detachable handle; andan applicator coupled to said applicator arm.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said telescoping element includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a position inside said primary handle and a position outside said primary handle.

3. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising means for selectively maintaining said telescoping element at a closed configuration and at least one open configuration.

4. The applicator of claim 3, further comprising a pad coupled to said applicator, and wherein:said telescoping element includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a position inside said primary handle when said telescoping element is at said closed configuration and a position outside said primary handle when said telescoping element is at said at least one open configuration;said applicator is coupled to said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint; andsaid telescoping element has a curved configuration.

5. The applicator device of claim 1, wherein said applicator is coupled to said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint.

6. The applicator device of claim 1, wherein said telescoping element has a curved configuration.

7. The applicator device of claim 1, further comprising a pad coupled to said applicator.

8. The applicator device of claim 7, wherein:said applicator is coupled to said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint; andsaid telescoping element has a curved configuration.

9. The applicator device of claim 8, wherein said pad is removably coupled to said applicator.

10. An applicator device, comprising:a primary handle;a detachable handle;a telescoping element between said primary handle and said detachable handle, said telescoping element having a first end coupled to said primary handle and a second end coupled to said detachable handle, said detachable handle being removably coupled to said telescoping element second end;an applicator arm coupled to said detachable handle;an applicator coupled to said applicator arm;a pad coupled to said applicator; andwherein said telescoping element has a curved configuration and includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration.

11. The applicator device of claim 10, wherein said applicator is coupled to said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint.

12. The applicator device of claim 11, wherein:said pad is removably coupled to said applicator; andsaid applicator arm is pivotably coupled to said detachable handle.

13. The applicator device of claim 10, wherein said pad is removably coupled to said applicator.

14. The applicator device of claim 10, wherein said applicator arm is pivotably coupled to said detachable handle.

15. An applicator device, comprising:a primary handle;a secondary handle;a telescoping element between said primary handle and said secondary handle, said telescoping element having a first end coupled to said primary handle and a second end coupled to said secondary handle;an applicator arm pivotably coupled to said secondary handle; andan applicator coupled to said applicator arm.

16. The applicator device of claim 15, further comprising means for selectively maintaining said telescoping element at a closed configuration and at least one open configuration.

17. The applicator of claim 16, further comprising a pad coupled to said applicator, and wherein:said telescoping element includes at least one telescoping section selectively movable between a position inside at least one of said primary handle and said secondary handle when said telescoping element is at said closed configuration and a position outside said primary handle and said secondary handle when said telescoping element is at said at least one open configuration;said applicator is coupled to said applicator arm by a ball and socket joint; andsaid telescoping element has a curved configuration.

18. The applicator of claim 17, wherein said secondary handle is removably coupled to said telescoping element second end.

19. The applicator of claim 15, wherein said telescoping element has a curved configuration.

20. The applicator of claim 15, further comprising a pad removably coupled to said applicator.

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