US20060085937A1

US20060085937A1 - Lotion applicator

Info

Publication number: US20060085937A1
Application number: US10/971,252
Authority: US
Inventors: Rowland Norris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-23
Filing date: 2004-10-23
Publication date: 2006-04-27

Abstract

The present invention provides a lotion applicator having an elongated handle with first and second opposite ends, an applicator interconnected member positioned at said first end of said handle, and an applicator releasably connected to said applicator interconnect member. Various items for providing the releasable interconnection between the applicator and handle can be employed, including hook and loop fabric, i.e., VELCRO®, or double sided tape. A sponge or other absorbent body can be affixed to the applicator to provide an effective mechanism for transferring the lotion to the user's body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to lotion applicators, and more particularly to applicators with replaceable applicators and that permit a person to apply his or her own lotion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the skin cancer risks associated with sun exposure becoming better understood amongst the populous, many people have become more conscious of applying sun screen to their bodies when being exposed to the sun. Areas of the body that have larger surface areas and that are in a more direct line of the sun, such as the back, are particularly susceptible to becoming burned or otherwise adversely impacted through exposure to the sun. However, because it is difficult for a person to reach his or her own back, sunscreen or other lotion is not always applied to this area.
3. Objects and Advantages
It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide an applicator that may be used by an individual to apply lotion to his or her own body, including portions of the body that are difficult to reach without the aid of an implement.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a lotion applicator having a disposable applicator so that the entire unit does not need to disposed of after every use.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a lotion applicator that may be inexpensively produced.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a lotion applicator having an elongated handle with first and second opposite ends, an applicator interconnect member positioned at said first end of said handle, and an applicator releasably connected to said applicator interconnect member. Various means for providing the releasable interconnection between the applicator and handle can be employed, including hook and loop fabric, i.e., VELCRO®, or double sided tape. A sponge or other absorbent body can be affixed to the applicator to provide an effective mechanism for transferring the lotion to the user's body. In order to provide the applicator with an ergonomic profile, the applicator interconnect member includes an interconnect surface that extends in a plane that is essentially parallel to and laterally offset from the plane in which the handle extends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof without the applicator;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view the entire assembly of the present invention including an applicator;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the entire assembly shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 a front elevation view thereof;
FIG. 8 is a side elevation view thereof; and
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective of an entire assembly constituting a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a lotion applicator implement, designated generally by reference numeral 10, used by a person to apply sunscreen or lotion to his or her own body. Applicator implement 10 generally comprises a handle 12 having first and second opposite ends, 14, 16, an applicator interconnect member 18 attached to first end 14, and an applicator 20 releasably attached to interconnect member 18. Applicator 20 can be a sponge or similar absorbent body that can effectively retain and transfer lotion to the user's body.
Interconnect member 18 is of about the same size and shape as applicator 20, such as rectangular, and includes a releasable attachment substrate, such as pile (or hook) fabric 22, or any equivalent thereof, on its outwardly facing surface, and applicator 20 includes a corresponding releasable substrate, such as pile (or hook) fabric 24, or an equivalent thereof, on its inwardly facing surface. As an alternative, double sided tape 26 may be applied to applicator and releasably adhered to interconnect member 18 (see FIG. 9.) Thus, applicator 20 can be disposed of and replaced with a fresh one after it has been exhausted.
In its preferred form, handle 12 extends in a first plane and the outwardly facing surface applicator interconnect member 18 extends in a second plane that is laterally offset from, but essentially parallel to the first plane. Thus, applicator 20 will be laterally offset from handle 12. It is contemplated that other ergonomic relationships between handle 12 and applicator 20 could also be implemented, with the goal being to provide an applicator that may easily be used by an individual to apply to hi/her entire body.

Claims

1. A lotion applicator, comprising:

a. an elongated handle having first and second opposite ends;

b. an applicator interconnect member positioned at said first end of said handle; and

c. an applicator releasably connected to said applicator interconnect member.

2. The lotion applicator according to claim 1, wherein said handle extends in a first plane.

3. The lotion applicator according to claim 2, wherein said applicator interconnect member includes an interconnect surface that extends in a second plane that is parallel to and laterally offset from said first plane.

4. The lotion applicator according to claim 1, wherein said applicator interconnect member includes a first interconnect surface on which a first connecting substrate is mounted.

5. The lotion applicator according to claim 4, wherein said first connecting substrate is double-sided tape.

6. The lotion applicator according to claim 4, wherein said first connecting substrate is pile fabric.

7. The lotion applicator according to claim 4, wherein said first connecting substrate is hook fabric.

8. The lotion applicator according to claim 4, wherein said applicator includes a second interconnect surface on which a second connecting substrate is mounted.

9. The lotion applicator according to claim 8, wherein said second connecting substrate is double-sided tape.

10. The lotion applicator according to claim 8, wherein said second connecting substrate is pile fabric.

11. The lotion applicator according to claim 8, wherein said second connecting substrate is hook fabric.

12. The lotion applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a sponge affixed to said applicator.

13. A lotion applicator, comprising:

a. an elongated handle having first and second opposite ends;

b. an applicator interconnect member positioned at said first end of said handle;

c. an applicator releasably connected to said applicator interconnect member; and

d. means for releasably mounting said applicator to said applicator interconnect member.

14. The lotion applicator according to claim 12, wherein said means for releasably mounting said applicator to said applicator interconnect member comprises:

a. a first connecting substrate mounted to said applicator interconnect member; and

b. a second connecting substrate mounted to said applicator, wherein said first and second connecting substrates are adapted to be movable into and out of contacting relation with one another.

15. The lotion applicator according to claim 14, wherein said first connecting substrate is selected from the group consisting of hook fabric, pile fabric, and double sided tape.

16. The lotion applicator according to claim 15, wherein said second connecting substrate is selected from the group consisting of hook fabric, pile fabric, and double sided tape.

17. The lotion applicator according to claim 13, further comprising a sponge affixed to said applicator.