WO1988006017A1

WO1988006017A1 - Brush assembly and liquid applicator

Info

Publication number: WO1988006017A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/000391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred Olson; Ann Salamone; Stanley Israel
Original assignee: Rochal Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 1987-02-13
Filing date: 1988-02-10
Publication date: 1988-08-25
Also published as: AU1427688A

Abstract

The invention is in the field of liquid dispensing brushes. There is a need for a disposable device with reliable flow to the brush bristles. The solution to the above is an improved brush assembly and applicator. The improved applicator brush assembly (10) preferably contains at least one internal liquid supply and flow regulating tube (14) for applying a liquid to surfaces. A liquid applicator provides a hermetically sealed disposable package containing a liquid reservoir (73) for limited use and preferably incorporates the brush assembly (10) of this invention.

Description

BRUSH ASSEMBLY AND LIQUID APPLICATOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brushes for application of liquids have long been known. In practice, such brushes are used for applying a liquid onto a surface by holding the brush, dipping the brush into an open container containing the liquid, withdrawing the brush from the liquid container and brushing the desired surface with the wetted brush. The open container can cause a multitude of problems such as accidental spillage, evaporation and consequent thickening of the liquid rendering it useless, as well as the necessity of having a level, steady place for sitting the container in order to readily dip the brush and apply the liquid.

Other types of applicators have been used which allow for the brush and liquid container to be a single functional unit as by attaching the brush to one end of the container. Delivery of liquid to a brush can occur through compression of a flexible container as shown in U.S. Patent No. 825,448; U.S. Patent No. 905,986; U.S. Patent No. 2,673,362; U.S.

Patent No. 2,945,252; and U.S. Patent No. 3,341,884; gravity feeding such as in U.S. Patent No. 2,630,593; U.S. Patent No. 2,872,694; U.S. Patent No. 2,932,046; and U.S. Patent No. 3,341,884 or a valve actuated delivery system such as in U.S. Patent No. 1,044,996; U.S. Patent No. 2,547,287 and U.S. Patent No. 4,029,422.

For liquid applicators composed of a brush and liquid container used as a single unit, two general techniques have been disclosed in the literature and in commercial products for dispensing a liquid such as nail enamel, through the bristle brush. Some patents claim the necessity of dispensing nail polish or enamel around or onto the outside of the brush bristles in order to obtain an adequate, non-streaked coating as in U.S. Patent No. 2,673,362 and U.S. Patent No. 3,341,884. In other areas, dispensing around bristles can also be preferred in accordance with various other references including U.S. Patent 3,565,540 and U.S. Patent No. 2,612,649.

Certain patent references disclose bristle brush components where liquid or paste is introduced to bristles by a central feed tube positioned at an inside base of the bristles as in U.S. Patent No. 825,448; U.S. Patent No. 905,986 and U.S. Patent No. 2,945,252. A commercial applicator for nail polish sold by Avon Products Co., Inc. of New York, New York, utilizes bristles held in a circular array by

a ferrule and introduces enamel at the inside base of the bristles. Certain pressurized applicators claim internal paint feed tubes extending almost to the bristle tips as in U.S. Patent No. 3.860,987 and U.S. Patent No. 3,933,415. Such paint applicators overcome specific difficulties such as applying coatings to submerged surfaces or pressurized speed painting systems, where problems of water interference and the necessity to spray outwardly at a rapid rate must be considered.

Reusable applicators of the brush type are known from U.S. Patent No. 4,572,689 which discloses a disposable applicator for nail polish or other liquid comprising a frangible ampul where the ampul can be broken to cause the nail polish to flow. Accidental breakage can occur along with difficulties in handling and using the frangible product.

U.S. Patent 4,599,008 discloses still another disposable fingernail polish and brush assembly containing a plunger for pushing polish into a brush assembly for application of the polish onto the fingernails. However, several manipulations are often necessary before the polish can be applied and such applicators may not be convenient to use since there can be some difficulty in learning to open and activate devices of this type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a brush assembly for use in applying liquids, which can be efficiently and inexpensively formed and used in connection with a variety of liquid applicator uses.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly having a liquid supply tube with an orifice opening at a selected point in the brush assembly to provide flow regulation and proper delivery of liquid as desired during use and storage of the assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly having a plurality of plastic bristles fused to form a solid plastic base entrapping a hollow tubular liquid supply tube to mount the bristles with respect to each other.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly having fused plastic bristles toward one end thereof, preventing flow of liquid through a base of said brush assembly except by use of a flow regulating tube, about which said bristles are mounted.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly in accordance with the preceding objects wherein a flow regulating tube is not wetted by the liquids to be applied.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a liquid applicator incorporating the brush assembly which applicator can be rapidly and efficiently made at minimized cost and is particularly suitable for storing and applying nail polish.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a liquid applicator incorporating a brush assembly in accordance with the preceding objects of this invention.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a liquid -applicator which can be hermetically sealed to encapsulate and maintain a liquid therein as in a handheld device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a liquid applicator in accordance with the preceding objects which can be a unitary package having a breakaway cover with a see-through reservoir and which can be made in a form suitable for disposable use.

According to the invention a brush assembly for applying a liquid from a liquid supply comprises a brush formed of a group of elongated bristles lying adjacent to each other at an applicator brush end and having a second portion spaced from the applicator end wherein the bristles are mounted to a brush support means. A liquid supply tube preferably extends from beyond the second portion to

a point intermediate said applicator brush end and said second portion with said point being selected to permit desired delivery of a liquid from an area beyond said second portion to said assembly in a desired quantity at a desired flow rate. The tube has an outer orifice for delivery of the liquid to the brush which orifice is positioned between 5 and 95 percent of the distance between said second portion of the brush and said brush applicator end and preferably 50 to 85 percent of that distance when the liquid to be applied is nail polish.

Preferably the liquid supply tube is formed of a material which is not wetted by the liquid to be applied. Irt the most preferred embodiment the liquid supply is handheld and the tube extends to the liquid supply. In the preferred nail polish applicator, the brush applicator end is fed a regulated flow of liquid by compressing a liquid reservoir, which is held in the hand, to force liquid through the tube to supply the brush and since the tube is non-wetted by the liquid, it allows the liquid to return to the reservoir when the brush is upright and no pressure is applied.

A completed liquid applicator in accordance with this invention is preferably used for applying nail polish and comprises a brush assembly hermetically sealed in a unitary, disposable, liquid applicator having a handheld reservoir filled with nail

polish. Preferably the handheld reservoir is a see-through reservoir and a cover forms a portion of the liquid applicator. Preferably the cover is interconnected with the liquid reservoir at a breakaway neck portion. The liquid applicator preferably carries a brush assembly as described above and most preferably, the brush assembly defines fused bristles interlocked with a flow regulator tube and has a collar surrounding the bristles and the tube with a space defined between the collar and the tube being filled to prevent flow of liquid there through and permit flow of liquid only through the tube.

According to the improvement of this invention a brush assembly comprises a flow regulating tube extending along a group of bristles between first and second ends of the bristles with the bristles being fused about the tube at a portion thereof to interlock with the tube. Most preferably an overlying collar surrounds the fused portion of the bristles and tube with the fused portion filling a space defined between the collar and tube. In some cases, an adhesive means can be used to hold the collar over the bristles and to fill the space. The tube is non-wettable by the liquid to be dispensed.

It is a feature of this invention that the flow regulating tube acts to provide desired and proper delivery of liquid to the applicator brush in

desired quantities and amounts at a pre-determined desired rate. Because the tube is non-wettable, it acts to prevent liquids remaining therein and clogging the tube. Because the bristles can be fused about the flow regulator tube, an interlock can be obtained which is useful in mounting the assembly in various holders and liquid reservoir means. When a surrounding mounting collar is used, means are provided for direct fusing and rapid manufacture of the brush assemblies to surrounding applicator portions such as reservoirs and/or caps which may be unitary or separate. Liquid applicators using the brush assemblies of this invention can be formed which are inexpensively made. They can be designed to carry single application quantities and thus, can be easily and efficiently disposable particularly when formed of unitary plastic means. They can have breakaway means separating a cover and integral liquid reservoir carrying the liquid to be dispensed. Liquid applicators using the brush assemblies of this invention are particularly useful for nail polish enamel in view of the hermetically sealed nature of containers that can be efficiently formed around the brush assemblies. The flow regulating properties and non-clogging properties resulting from use of the brush assemblies of this invention are particularly useful in nail polish dispensing applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a brush assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1A is a side view in accordance with FIG. 1 but showing an additional collar or tube surrounding the brush assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through line 2A-2A of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a single feed tube brush assembly;

FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view taken through line 4-4 of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through a line such as line 2-2 of a multitubular brush assembly incorporating a plurality of singular brush assemblies of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of a brush assembly of the general type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of the brush assembly with additional element of the type shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 8 is a top plane view of a preferred embodiment of a disposable liquid applicator utilizing a brush assembly of the type shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 9 is a front view thereof wherein the cover is broken away; and

FIG. 10 is a side view thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the brush assembly of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4 indicated generally at 10 with an outer encircling collar or sleeve 30 added thereto as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1-4, a group of elongated brush bristles 11, preferably of a polymeric fusable material are positioned adjacent to each other and form an applicator brush end 12 having a second portion 16 spaced from the brush end. A liquid supply tube 14 preferably extends through the group of bristles and has an orifice end 15 located between the applicator tip end 12 and a second portion 16 where the fusable bristles are fused together about the tube 14. The bristles are fused at the portion 17 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hollow tube 14 acts as a flow regulating tube and extends beyond the end of the fused plastic portion 17.

In the preferred embodiment, the brush assembly is used as a fingernail polish or enamel applicator in a handheld liquid dispenser. When used with nail enamel applications, the bristles 11 are preferably .006 inch or smaller in diameter having lengths of from 0.125 inch to 0.5 inch. The length of the bristles can vary within each brush applicator assembly as for example with longer bristles in the center to shorter at the outer perimeter of the brush to form a desirable applicator tip as known in the art. The number of bristles can range from 100 to 600 and preferably from 350 to 450. Of course depending upon the applications, the bristle length, diameter, count and material construction can be altered. For nail polish, the bristles are preferably of an organic polymeric material such as nylon 6,12, other nylon materials, polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene. Preferably the bristles are of a fusable material so that they can be. fused about a brush support means which preferably comprises the flow regulating tube 14. However, in some applications, the brushes can be adhesively united to the tube and natural bristles such as animal hair and fibers of various types can be used.

The bristle materials are selected to be resistant to the fluids to be applied by the brush assembly.

Preferably the bristles are fused at portion 17 so that they lock with the tube 14 and provide an impenetrable layer to prevent passage of liquids except through the hollow tube 14 when the applicator assembly is encased over its fused portion as will be described.

In the preferred embodiment, a collar or sleeve 30 as best shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A surrounds and is shrink fit or otherwise applied to the fused portion 17. The sleeve 30 defines a space filled by the fused portion between the sleeve and the inner tube 14. Preferably both the collar and the inner flow regulator or feed tube 14 are of a flexible material to provide some yield to the assembly. Flow is prevented between the collar 30 and the feed tube by the fused portion 17 forming a block to liquid flow. In some cases adhesive can be used to bind the collar to the fused portion or when bristles are used which are not fused, the adhesive blocks the space and unites the collar with the bristles and underlying flow regulator tube 14.

Suitable materials for the bristles are natural fibers, nylon 6,12, nylon 6,6, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof.

Suitable materials for the collar or sleeve 30 comprises known flexible materials resistant to the liquid being used and when that liquid is nail polish, such materials include:

polyoelfins, as polyethylene, polypropylene, and copolymers thereof; polyamides, such as poly(imino(1-oxohexamethylene)) , poly(iminoadipoyliminohexamethylene) , poly(iminoadipoyliminododecamethylene) , etc. ; polyfluorocarbons, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluorinated ethylene propylene, etc.; crosslinked materials, such as crosslinked polyvinylchloride; and polyacetals, such as polyformaldehyde and copolymers thereof, etc.

The central hollow tube 14 preferably extends through the inside base of the fused portion of the assembly denoted at 40 in the drawings. The central hollow feed tube 14 has an orifice 15 which preferably extends from 5 to 95 percent of the distance from the end 12 of the bristles to the top of the portion 17 where the bristles are bound together or fused and mechanically interlocked over tube 14. The fused portion 17 preferably extends a distance 40 from top to bottom. Because the orifice 15 is carefully positioned not at the very base of the bristles, or at the very end of the bristles, dripping of the liquid back onto the portion 17

formed by the fused bristles is essentially eliminated, and liquid delivery occurs above the length 40 and allows thorough wetting of the bristles 11 with the liquid to be applied.

Liquid delivery occurs at a predetermined point within the bristles 11. The precise placement of the hollow feed tube 14 is dependent upon the precise application. For example, with nail polish or enamel applications, orifice 15 is preferably 50 percent to 80 percent of the distance from the applicator end 12 of the bristles, to the top of a portion 17. Hollow feed tube 14 has a wall composed of a flexible material which does not allow the wetting of the wall with the liquid to be dispensed through the brush assembly. Flexible materials useful for the tube 14 including polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or copolymers thereof) or polyfluorocarbons (e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylenepropylene, polydifluorodichloroethylene) and are chemically resistant to the liquid. Such materials have contact angles with nail polish of greater than about 35 degrees and are considered non wetting.

The materials preferred for the flow regulating tube do not allow wetting of the side walls and as liquid does not adhere to the tube 14, it has a tendency to either flow back into an attached container as when the tube is upright, as shown in FIG. 1 or into the bristles, so that no liquid

remains in the tube 14. When the tube is used in a nail enamel dispenser, having conventional nail polish enamel viscosity of from 100 to 600 centipoise at room temperature, the tube 14 preferably has an inside diameter of from 0.006 inch to 0.060 inch and most preferably from 0.010 inch to 0.040 inch. Smaller inside diameters would deliver impractically small quantities of liquid and larger inside diameters for the tube 14 would provide too much liquid flow; hence little flow control when applying enamel to the nails. The precise inside diameter is dependent upon the liquid's rheology.

Preferably the outside of the brush assembly is in the form of the sleeve 30 forming a tight fit over the fused portion 17 or any other portion of the bristles to be locked between the flow control tube 14 and the collar. The sleeve 30 need not cover only the fused portion 17 but can extend beyond this portion at the top or bottom or can cover less than the distance 40. When non-fusable bristles are used, a suitable adhesive can be used. However, the fused plastic portion 17 is a key feature of the preferred embodiment of this invention. The fused plastic mechanically interlocks with the hollow feed tube 14 at the outer surface of the feed tube to form a barrier to prevent flow of liquid through any location along the length of the fibers or any portion internal of

the collar 30 except through the hollow portion of the tube 14. When the collar is applied by an adhesive means rather than shrink fit or fusing, chemically resistant adhesives resistant to attack by the liquids to be dispensed in the applicator are preferably used. Such adhesives based on polyolefins, polyamides, polyfluorocarbons and the like are preferred.

The collar 30 when used, acts to prevent the bristles along with the fused portion 17 and flow control tube 14 from further fusing during molding or other mounting operations of the brush assembly, thus allowing the brush assembly 10 to be readily insert molded into whole liquid applicators. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer can be eliminated and the collar 30 and the fused portion 17 can be directly bonded to a support for use of the brush assembly.

Preferably the tube 14 is centrally placed within the bristles although such placement is not required in all cases. However, by centrally placing the tube and fusing the bristles about the tube, mechanical interlock of the two is made easier and it is difficult for the bristles to be displaced from the tube in ordinary use.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIG. 5, a plurality of brush assemblies of the type shown in FIG. 1 form a single applicator. A single outer

collar 41 is used to surround the tubes and groups of bristles. The collar 41 is substantially identical to collar 30 formed of the same materials and adhesively united to the brush assembly shown. In this embodiment, the fused portion 17 of each of the three brush assemblies shown with three feed tubes 14 are fused together.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein screw thread 60 are shown on the portion 17 of the brush assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2. The screw thread allows screwing of the assembly into a container or the like to mount the assembly. The threads can be formed directly in the fused portion. Alternately as shown in FIG. 7, threads 61 are used for screw threading the brush assembly onto a supporting base or liquid reservoir. In this embodiment, a collar 30 is used and the collar bears the screw threads allowing for replacement of the brush assembly as desired.

The brush assemblies in accordance with this invention can be used on a wide variety of liquid applicator constructions. Appropriate quantities of liquid can be dispensed by brush application. Predetermined amounts of coating can be applied at predetermined rates by determining the flow rate through the flow regulator tube 14. The flow regulator tube can be provided with non-wetted surfaces so as not to plug or form dried liquid

coatings within the tube and also preventing dripping. The brush assemblies when in the preferred fused construction do not readily disassemble. They can be molded as inserts with containers of virtually any size or shape formed about them.

In the preferred embodiment, a nail polish liquid applicator is formed using a brush assembly. Preferably the liquid applicator is hermetically sealed to prevent evaporation of nail polish maintained within a liquid reservoir. Preferably the brush assembly is mounted to a liquid reservoir which can be handheld although the liquid reservoirs can be interconnected with tube 14 by conduits and can be mounted at spaced locations such as the floor or wall. Applications for the brush assembly include liquid applicators such as nail polish applicators, liquid lipstick applicators, liquid eye makeup applicators, liquid cosmetic applicators, paint applicators, liquid medications, correcting fluid applicators, ink applicators, shoe polish applicators and the like.

FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of a liquid applicator incorporating a brush assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention. The brush assembly 10 is as described in connection with FIG. 1A and includes a sleeve 30 surrounding the applicator and formed of a

shrink fit, chemically resistant polyethylene material. The brush assembly 10 is mounted within two thin wall plastic members 71, 72.

In a preferred embodiment of a liquid applicator in accordance with this invention, an applicator 70 is shown, formed as a unitary plastic thin wall casing incorporating a brush assembly 10. The liquid applicator 70 is formed of a first thin plastic sheet 71 and a second molded sheet 72 which may be shaped by vacuum forming or injection molding to define a liquid reservoir 73 and a cover 80 having an internal hollow area 74. The sheet 72 is formed with a depression to receive the assembly 10 and may be formed by insert molding to lock a neck portion of the casing 75 about the brush assembly 10.

Sheet 72 and 71 can be joined together at edges 77 by heat, solvent sealing, radio frequency or other techniques as known in the art.

A cut-back neck portion 75 forms a breakaway portion of the liquid applicator 70, which can be broken, as best shown in FIG. 9, along a tear line 76 to remove the cover. The cover once broken away can be replaceable over the brush assembly if desired. The reservoir 73 is filled with conventional nail polish. Preferably at least one of the two sheets and most preferably both sheets are see through sheets. Transparent plastic sheets are preferred so that the color of the nail polish,

when nail polish is to be applied, can be seen by the user. Translucent sheets can also be used although best eye appeal is obtained by a transparent material. In some cases one of the sheets 71 or 72 can be opaque to accentuate the content appearance.

The seals at edges 75 are preferably selected to be hermetic seals to hermetically seal the liquid in the reservoir preventing evaporation and exposure to air. When the material to be dispensed from the liquid reservoir area is a medicament, sterility can be easily maintained because of the sealed nature of the containers .

In the specific embodiment of FIGS. 8-10, the overall length of the applicator can be 2 inches with a width of 1/2 inch. A volume in the liquid reservoir of 1 ml can be used. Thus, small amounts of nail polish can be dispensed by applying pressure to the liquid reservoir as with the fingers. The size and shape, of the applicator can vary greatly. The applicator 70 is a handheld disposable applicator and can dispense desired amounts through the flow regulator tube. After application, the cover can be reapplied for reuse or removed. In the preferred embodiment, the cap or cover portion 80 can be designed to be replaceable over the liquid reservoir portion as best shown in FIG. 9 after the cover is torn or broken off to expose the brush.

Alternately the cover can be discarded if desired.

Compression of the container body about the liquid reservoir presses the liquid through the hollow feed tube into the brush 11 as previously described.

The brush assembly is preferably the brush assembly of FIGS. 1-4 with the sleeve 30 mounted thereon.

The walls formed by sheets 71 and 72 can be made of any materials that are nonpermeable to the liquid to be dispensed. For example, when a disposable nail polish applicator is used, portions 71 and 72 are preferably made of acrylonitrile copolymers such as Barex a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl erylate produced by Sohio Chemical Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Other materials such as Selar PA, a polya ide produced by El Dupont D. Nemours and Co. of Wilmington, Delaware can be used. In some cases one sheet can be a polymeric material sealed to a metal sheet such as aluminum and composites. Thus, the container of the applicator 70 can be formed of a variety of materials including organic polymeric materials, metals and the like. In all cases the applicator must allow for compression of the reservoir 73 yet be essentially nonpermeable to the liquid and preferably of a see through nature.

In the preferred embodiment, the layer 72 is formed of sheet materials of less than 50 mil and

preferably in the range of 20 mil in thickness. However, the walls need not be formed as shown. In some cases, sheet materials without molding of any kind can be used to encapsulate the liquid in a liquid reservoir while locking the brush applicator so that that tube 14 extends to the reservoir and the brush is exposed or covered by a cap. Thus, packaging machines of standard types such as used for filling liquid soap containers and the like may be used to form the liquid dispensers of this invention. In some cases, the neck portion provides a seal between the brush applicator collar or portion 17 and the liquid reservoir to allow flow of the liquid only through the flow regulator tube. In all cases, the flow regulator tube has an orifice extending between the tip of the brush applicator and the support portion for the bristles as previously described to predetermine the flow and rate of flow to the applicator tip.

Since areas 73 and 74 have defined areas which are hermetically sealed, accidental compression of the liquid reservoir does not cause complete flow of liquid from the reservoir through the brush assembly.

While specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, many variations are possible. Although a disposable applicator has been described, in some cases the brush assemblies may be screwed or otherwise mounted on rigid liquid

reservoir containers. In some cases, handles may be used with the reservoirs located at other locations such as the ground of the like. Handheld liquid reservoirs integral with the applicators are preferred for convenience, particularly when small amounts of liquids are to be held and dispensed. The flow regulating tubes need not be centrally located in the brush bristles as shown in the preferred embodiments, but can be located in other positions so long as the orifice end delivers desired liquid at a desired location in the bristles. Preferably at least one portion of a wall of the containers for the brush assemblies in liquid applicator devices is flexible to allow compression to apply pressure to deliver liquid to the brush.

In the disposable form, a breakaway cover is desired in order to provide for hermetic sealing. In some forms, where the cover is screw threaded and^' meant to be replaceable, suitable provision can be made to prevent drying out of the brush bristles as known in the art .

Advantages of the disposable applicator include provision for controlled application because of the use of a flow regulating tube. In addition, the hermetic sealing prevents drying out of the nail polish or other material to be dispensed. The disposable package is preferably unitary that is, sealed to the outside and in one piece after

assembly. The cover can be broken away easily allowing for one-time use or recovering if desired. A brush application can be easily applied. Amounts of 10 ml or less can be efficiently packaged to provide suitable fluid for a single nail polish application if desired. The packages are tamper resistant since they cannot be resealed after opening.

Claims

1. A brush assembly for applying a liquid from a liquid supply, said brush assembly comprising a group of elongated bristles lying adjacent to each other at an applicator brush end and having a second portion spaced from said applicator end wherein said bristles are mounted to a brush support means, a liquid supply tube extending from beyond said second portion to a point intermediate said application brush end and said second portion with said point being selected to permit desired delivery of a liquid from an area beyond said second portion to said assembly in a desired quantity, said tube having an outer orifice for delivery of said liquid to said brush which orifice is positioned between 5 percent and 95 percent of the distance between said second portion of said brush and said brush applicator end.

2. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said tube is formed of a material which is not wetted by said liquid and said liquid supply is hand-held.

3. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said bristles are fused at said second portion, said tube being dimensioned to regulate desired flow of said liquid.

4. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 3 wherein said tube extends from 50 to 80 percent of said distance between said applicator end and said second portion and comprises said brush support means .

.

5^". A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 3 interconnected with a hand-held liquid reservoir with liquid in said reservoir comprising nail polish.

6. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 5 wherein an overlying encircling collar encircles said bristles at said second portion to define a space between said collar and said tube which space is blocked by sai bristles being fused at said second portion.

7. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said bristles have a length of from about 0.125 inch to about 0.500 inch from said application end to said second portion.

8. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 4 wherein said fused bristles interlock with said tube.

9. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 8 wherein said bristles are between about 100 and 600 in number.

10. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said tube prevents flow of said liquid therethrough unless a predetermined pressure is applied to said liquid.

11. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 10 wherein said tube is formed of a polymer.

12. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 10 wherein said bristles are formed of a fusable polymer.

13. A brush assembly in accordance with Claim 6 wherein an overlying encircling collar encircles said bristles at said second portion to define a space between said collar and said tube, said bristles being fused at said second portion, and means between said collar and said tube holding said bristles in place with respect to said collar and tube, said collar acting as a means for mounting said brush assembly with respect to a liquid reservoir.

14. In a brush assembly comprising a plurality of polymeric bristles bound together, a flow regulating tube extending along said bristles between a first and second end of said bristles, the improvement comprising said polymeric bristles being fused about said tube to interlock with said tube.

15. The improvement of Claim 14 wherein a collar overlies said bristles and is interconnected with said tube, preventing flow of fluids between said tube and said collar, said collar acting as a means for mounting said bristles.

16. The improvement of Claim 15 wherein said flow regulating tube is non-wettable by nail polish.

17. The improvement of Claim 16 wherein said tube and said collar define a brush base at an end of said collar, said bristles having an applicator end, said tube having an orifice end extending between 20-80 percent of a distance between said brush base and said applicator end.

18. A plurality of brush assemblies in accordance with Claim 1 mounted in side-by-side relationship to form a single brush end fed by a plurality of liquid supply tubes extending to a hand-held liquid reservoir.

19. A liquid applicator comprising means defining a liquid reservoir, a brush assembly interconnected with said reservoir, said brush assembly comprising a group of elongated bristles lying adjacent to each other and having an applicator brush end and having a second portion spaced from said applicator end whereon said bristles are mounted to a brush support means, a liquid supply tube extending from beyond said second portion to a point intermediate said applicator brush end and said second portion with said point being selected to permit desired delivery of a liquid from an area beyond said second portion to said brush assembly in a desired quantity, said tube having an outer orifice for delivery of said liquid to said brush, which orifice is positioned between 5 and 95 percent of the distance between said second portion of said brush and said applicator brush end.

20. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 19 and further comprising a. cover for said brush bristles, said cover having means for mounting said cover over said bristles to act with said liquid reservoir to completely enclose said bristles.

21. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 20 wherein said cover is removable.

22. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 21 wherein said liquid reservoir is a see-through reservoir.

23. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 22 wherein said reservoir and cover are disposable and formed of a molded unitary plastic means to seal said reservoir, and a breakaway means separating said cover and said reservoir.

24. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 23, wherein said plastic means defines molded plastic walls having thickness of less than 50 mil, said liquid reservoir being a see-through reservoir and having sufficient flexibility to allow depression thereof to apply a pressure to liquid contained therein to force feed liquid through said tube to said brush bristles.

25. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 24 wherein said cover and liquid reservoir are integrally formed, said breakaway means comprising, a neck portion defined between said cover and reservoir encircling and holding said brush assembly, said brush assembly carrying a collar overlying said tube and mounted to said neck portion.

26. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 25 wherein said defined space between said collar and said tube is filled with an adhesive for said bristles forming a fluid-type seal.

27. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 25 wherein said space between said collar and said tube is filled with a molten mass resulting from fusion of said bristles.

28. A liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 19 wherein said brush assembly-comprises a collar overlying the portion of said tube, a portion of said bristle extending between said collar and tube and fused together to interlock said bristles about said tube.

29. A method of supplying a fluid in usable quantities to a brush applicator from a hand-held liquid reservoir, said method comprising positioning a narrow diameter tube between said liquid reservoir and an intermediate portion of said brush applicator, said tube being formed of a polymer which is not wetted by said liquid, and applying a force to said liquid to move said liquid through said tube to said brush applicator.

30. A method in accordance with the method of Claim 29 wherein said force is greater than gravity.

31. A disposable nail polish applicator comprising a brush assembly, a liquid reservoir and a cover, said brush assembly comprising a plurality of bristles having an applicator brush end and a portion mounted to a brush support means, a liquid supply tube extending intermediate said applicator and end mounting means in said brush and beyond said mounting means to said liquid reservoir, said liquid reservoir having a neck portion closely surrounding said brush assembly and sealed therewith to prevent external access to said reservoir except through said brush assembly, a cap overlying said brush assembly and operatively connected with said liquid reservoir.

32. A disposable liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 31 wherein said liquid applicator has at least one flexible wall forming said liquid reservoir and said cap, a breakaway portion separating said liquid reservoir from said cap whereby said cap may be broken away from said liquid reservoir to expose said brush assembly.

33. A disposable liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 31 wherein said brush assembly comprises a group of elongated bristles lying adjacent to each other at said applicator brush end and having a second portion spaced from said applicator brush end wherein said bristles interlock with a brush support means, said tube being non-wettable by nail polish and having an outer orifice extending to a position in said bristles between 50 and 80 percent of the distance between said applicator end and said brush support means.

34. A disposable liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 33 wherein a collar surrounds said bristles at a portion thereof wherein said bristles are fused together to interlock with said tube, said collar providing a portion of said brush support means and acting to permit mounting of said brush assembly on said liquid reservoir.

35. A disposable liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 34 wherein said liquid reservoir is a see-through reservoir.

36. A disposable applicator in accordance with Claim 35 wherein said liquid reservoir and said cap formed of walls having a thickness of less than 50 mil.

37. A disposable liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 35 wherein said applicator is sealed to the outside atmosphere to prevent evaporation of liquid which may be placed in said reservoir.

38. A disposable liquid applicator in accordance with Claim 37 wherein said liquid and reservoir are sterile.