Portable combination nail polish and polish remover holder and applicator

PORTABLE OOMBIHAT™^PHA^Yi?^,?OUsli Pm 3,341,884 REMOVE, “OLDER AMD AFPUMTOR

Filed Feb. 19, 1955

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attorneys

3,341,884

Patented Sept. 19, 1967

United States Patent Office

3,341,884

PORTABLE COMBINATION NAIL POLISH AND POLISH REMOVER HOLDER AND APPLICATOR Barbara Pryor, 2829 Lunt Ave., Chicago, III. 60-545 Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 433,894

Claims. (CI. 15—523)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Nail polish and polish remover storage and applicator assemblies are coupled together on opposite ends of a common base. Each assembly has a tubular housing mounted on the base, a polish or remover receptacle therein, and a suitable applicator attached to an apertured neck portion thereof. Means are provided in each housing to force the contents of the receptacle through the applicator. The polish applicator has an outwardly extending position for use, and an inverted position for storage wherein a cap covers the housing aperture. An open ended shield is disposed over each housing and pressfitted to the base, the shield associated with the polish assembly abutting against the cap.

This invention relates to portable applicators for applying nail polish and/or polish remover. More particularly, the invention pertains to a compact type combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator such as may be safely carried in a woman’s purse.

In the past, manicuring applicator devices normally were comprised of a small glass receptacle for nail polish or polish remover and a closure cap. Usually the closure cap for the polish receptacle also served as the applicator. .A thin rod-like member was attached at one end to the inside surface of the closure cap and the other end, having a brush secured thereto, extended into the polish’ In this manner, the cap also served as the handle for spreading the brush along the nail when the brush was removed from inside the polish. Of course, it was necessary to continuously dip the brush end into the liquid in order to replenish the supply thereof on the brush during the manicuring operation.

ihe obvious disadvantage of these prior manicuring devices was the breakable nature of the small glass receptacle. Another disadvantage was that when one would remove the combination cover and applicator from the receptacle for use, the receptacle, if it were placed on a surface such as a table top, a wash basin or the like, was susceptible to tipping over or doing so upon the slightest vibration to the supporting surface. For the foregoing reasons, these prior devices were not suitable for carry* ing in the purse or pocket. They were especially unsuitable for use in a moving vehicle.

Attempts to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages were made by introducing manicuring applicator devices which were purported to be more adaptable for carrying on the person. These comprised nail polish and polish remover bottles held together by a coupling member. Some of these devices even included unbreakable plastic type bottles. However, these manicuring devices still had many undesirable features. Thus, for example, the polish or polish remover bottles were often susceptible to “working loose” the coupling member. Moreover, fluid would oftentimes leak out from the caps. In addition, there were no safeguards to prevent the accidental dispensing of fluid from the bottles by the accidental compression of the same. Furthermore, there was no attempt made to spread or distribute the applied force over a large area. Hence, the localized forces occasionally caused the bottles to crack.

A further and important undesirable feature of these prior portable manicuring devices was that the polish brush always extended outward from the polish bottle. Therefore, even after a single use, the brush upon drying became extremely stiff and unusable. To avoid this, it was required to thoroughly wipe or clean the brush after each use. However, this requirement defeated a prime purpose of the device, i.e. to provide a manicuring device capable of quick or instant use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a nail polish and remover holder and applicator that is of a compact construction adaptable for carrying in the purse or pocket and which overcomes all of the aboverecited disadvantages.

It is another object to provide a nail polish and remover holder constructed of a non-breakable material.

It is a further object to provide a combination nail polish and remover holder that is adaptable for easy replacement of a receptacle of nail polish or remover with another of the same.

It is still another object to provide a combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator designed to prevent or at least minimize leakage.

It is yet another object to provide a combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator in which the rate of flow of the polish or polish remover therefrom may be readily controlled.

It is a further object to provide a combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator that distributes over a wide area the force applied to the receptacles for forcing the outflow of the liquid contents.

Still another object is to afford a device of the character described designed with fountain-type applicators so that liquid flows continually from the reservoir to the brush or applicator, thereby eliminating the necessity for intermittently interrupting the manicuring process to manually replenish the supply of liquid on the applicator.

It is still a further object to provide a combination nail polish holder and applicator which maintains the polish brush moist thereby preventing stiffness.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a housing for protecting the compressible polish and polish remover receptacles against inadvertently being compressed.

It is another feature to provide a double covering for the nail polish receptacle to insure against leakage.

It is still another feature to provide a polish applicator adaptable to have its brush end placed within the polish receptacle when not in use and to have its brush end extending outward and away from the polish receptacle when the same is being used.

It is still another feature to provide a compartment positioned in the outer shield for the polish remover section for containing cotton.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from the inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, objects, features, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator with parts thereof spread apart and portions thereof broken away to show the general arrangement of components therewithin;

3,341,884 ³

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3—3 in FIG. 2, viewed in the direction indicated, and showing the nail polish section of the combination;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the nail polish section and showing the polish applicator in operational position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap which fits over the head of the polish applicator for securing the polish receptacle;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the nail polish remover section and showing the polish remover applicator;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the nail polish remover section and showing the cotton storage compartment of the outer shield; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the nail polish remover section with the cotton storage compartment cover spaced therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates generally a combination nail polish and remover holder and applicator embodying the principles of the invention. The holder and applicator 10 may be of any suitable outer physical configuration, but in the embodiment illustrated, the same comprises a tubular construction having a nail polish section 11 and a nail polish remover section 12.

The nail polish section 11 and the nail polish remover section 12 are securely connected together by a coupling member 14. The various sections and members are readily separable. Coupling member 14 includes a pair of sockets 15, 16 sharing a common wall 17. Preferably the inside of the sockets 15, 16 are threaded as at 15' (see FIG. 3).

The nail polish and nail polish remover sections 11 and 12 include tubular housings 20, 20α respectively. A receptacle 21 containing nail polish is positioned within and mounted to housing 20. A receptacle 21α containing the nail polish remover liquid is similarly removably positioned within and mounted to housing 20α. Since housings 20, 20α and receptacles 21 and 21α are similar, the present description will be limited to the housing 20 and receptacle 21 of nail polish section 11 with identical parts in housing 20α and receptacle 21α bearing the same identifying numerals, but with the suffix “a” added thereto.

As shown in FIG. 3, housing 20 has an open rear end 22 leading into its hollow interior. Rear end 22 is externally threaded to engage the threads 15' of socket 15.

The front end of housing 20 includes a shoulder 24 having a central opening 25 therethrough (see FIG. 3). The opening wall is threaded as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. An internally and externally threaded hollow neck 26 is integrally formed at shoulder 24 and protrudes outwardly therefrom. The hollow portion of neck 26 is aligned, and in communication with opening 25. As shown in FIG. 6, neck 26α (nail polish remover section) differs from neck 26 in that it need not be externally threaded.

Receptacles 21, 21α are preferably of a tubular shape and constructed of a compressible type material such as rubber or plastic. Receptacles 21, 21α are provided at their top ends with externally threaded necks or nozzles 28, 28α respectively the threads of which are adapted to cooperate with the internal threads of the opening 25.

Receptacle 21 is inserted within housing 20 through the open rear end 22 for being disposed therein. Nozzle 28 may be provided with a sealed top which is punctured or opened to permit liquid to flow therethrough when a receptacle is initially used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a polish applicator 30 is provided with a hollow externally threaded base ring 31 having a polish applicating means attached thereto. The applicating means comprises a brush 32 secured to and protruding from, the other end of a hollow cylindrical rod 33. Brush 32 has a plurality of bristles held compactly in place, preferably by a metallic circular band 34 which is crimped tightly against the bristles. The circular band 34 may be press-fitted inside the outer end of rod 33. The other end of rod 33 is press-fitted into the hollow base ring 31.

Referring further to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the base ring 31 of the polish applicator 30 is adapted to either position the brush 32 inside or outside of receptacle 21. When the polish applicator 30 is not in use the brush 32 may be inverted and stored inside the receptacle 21 with base ring 31 securely screwed into the neck 26 as shown in FIG. 3. By positioning the brush 32 inside the receptacle 21 the carrying size of this combination polish and remover holder and applicator 10 is minimized. More important, however, the brush 32 remains moist and ready for immediate use. Moreover, when reinverted and placed in operational position it is precoated with a supply of nail polish.

When it is desired to use the polish applicator 30, the head 31 is unscrewed from neck 26. Then the brush 32 is removed from within receptacle 21 and inverted to extend in the opposite direction. Head 31 is re-screwed into neck 26 and, as shown in FIG. 4, brush 32 extends outward and away from receptacle 21.

When the polish applicator 36 is positioned for applying polish (see FIG. 4), the dispensing of the polish occurs when the combination holder and applicator 10 is tilted in the downward direction. The gravitational force causes the polish to flow through the hollow portions of base ring 31 and rod 33 to brush 32.

However, since the usual type of nail polish is a lacquer which coagulates when dry, the flow initiated by gravity may be inhibited by the presence of a residue of dried polish. Moreover, nail polish liquid normally being of a viscous nature, the rate of flow thereof may be somewhat inhibited. Hence auxiliary feeding means may be required. Such a means is shown in FIG. 3 and comprises a control device 36 for compressing receptacle 21 to force polish therefrom and through the brush 32. The control device 36 comprises a handle 37 located in a recessed groove 43 formed on the outside wall of the housing 20. The handle 37 may be connected to or integrally formed with a plate member 38, preferably of an arcuate shape for gripping the tubular body of the receptacle 21 in the housing interior. A pivotal joint 40 positioned in a communicating pasageway 42 mounts the handle and plate on the wall of the receptacle. Normally, the handle 37 rests in the recessed groove 43 and plate member 38 is sandwiched between the interior surface of housing 20 and receptacle 21, as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 3. To apply pressure to the inner receptacle 21 the handle 37 is pivoted outward from groove 39. This causes the arcuate plate member 38 to pivot inwardly thereby compressing receptacle 21. The effect is to force the liquid directly toward the polish applicator 30 or to compress the air within receptacle 21 which in turn pneumatically forces the polish outwardly and causes the same to flow onto brush 32.

The control device 36 further serves to distribute the applied force over a substantial area of the surface of receptacle 21. The force applied to handle 37 is diffused to the entire area of plate member 38 which contacts receptacle 21. This precludes the possibility of receptacle 21 rupturing by reason of the repeated application of a concentrated force against a localized area of the receptacle wall.

An internally threaded cap member 44 is preferably sized to engage the external threads of neck 26. A sponge pad 45 of suitable thickness and resiliency may be inserted in or formed on the inside of cap 44 to prevent seepage of polish therethrough. A resilient cord 48 may secure cap 44 to shoulder 24 to prevent misplacing of cap 44 when applicator 3® is in use.

A tubular outer shield cover 46, open at one end, is provided to press fit over housing 21. In its closed position the edges of the open end abut the outer edge of

3,341,884 ⁵ socket 15 (see FIG. 1). The closed end 47 of the cover abuts cap 44 to prevent its becoming accidentally unloosened.

Similar to the above description and as illustrated in FIG. 6, nozzle 28α of the polish remover receptacle 21α is threadedly associated within opening 25α of shoulder 24α. A swab 50 serves as the applicator for the polish remover. The swab may be made of any suitable coarse absorbent material such as a textile. Mohair has been found to be quite acceptable.

A hollow throat member 51 engages the internal threads of neck 26a. Swab 50 is preferably press fitted within the hollow of throat member 51. When the swab 50 has absorbed its capacity of the polish remover liquid, it prevents any further passage of liquid therethrough.

An outer tubular shield or cover 55 is press fitted over housing 20α and like the previous described shield, its open edges may abut the adjacent edge of socket 16. Shield 55 provides the covering for swab 50 and sufficiently maintains the area therearound in air tight condition to minimize the loss of remover liquid due to evaporation. Shield 55 may include a compartment 56 to hold cotton 57 therein and a cover member 58 to close said compartment. A resilient cord 48 may be attached between shield 55 and cover member 58 to hold the two together when cotton is being removed from the compartment.

Alternatively, the polish remover section 12 could be completely removed from socket 16 and replaced with another polish section 11 which may contain a different shade of polish. Therefore, if more than one of the combination holder and applicator of FIG. 1 were carried in the purse, only one section need be occupied with polish remover.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that a novel polish and remover holder and applicator has been provided which is adaptable for transportation in the pocket or purse and for providing a last minute touch up of the nails before an important engagement, etc.

The housing encasing the compressible receptables safeguard the applicator and holders from being accidentally compressed. The outer shield 46 for the polish section 11 bears against the polish closure cap 44 for preventing the same from unscrewing and -the polish from leaking to the outside. The outer shield 55 of the polish remover section 12 serves as a cover for the swab 50 and includes a compartment 56 which conveniently stores cotton.

Furthermore, the feature of inserting the polish applicator 30 inside the receptacle when the same is not in use contributes to the compactness of the combination holder and applicator and maintains the brush moist and always ready to use.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.