Applicator for hazardous substances

Abstract

A pen-type hazardous material applicator is provided that is convenient for applying metal pretreatment agents to complex shapes such as blind holes, through holes, rivets, crevices, chamfers, countersinks, countersinks, and other difficult-to-access surfaces.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD The invention described herein relates to the field of applicators for hazardous substances, and more particularly to applicators that dispense individual, finely controlled amounts of hazardous substances. [Background technology]

[0002] Many chemical applicators and methods are known. These devices and techniques include, for example, spray systems, pump systems, dip baths, etc. Various types of applicators include fiber markers, felt tip pens, capillary pens, etc.

[0003] There have been ongoing efforts to improve the ease of use and safety of systems and methods for applying flowable chemicals of hazardous, toxic or other nuisance substances. Particularly in the field of metal coating and treatment, systems have been developed that use equipment such as spray booths and dip tanks to physically separate the user from the article being treated or coated. A major drawback of such systems is that small defects in the coating or treatment are difficult to repair, requiring the entire article to be completely re-dipped or re-coated. This process can be particularly time-consuming and expensive, as even a small defect in the coating requires the consumption of a sufficient amount of chemical or flowable material to re-treat the entire article.

[0004] Typically, aluminum and other metal parts used in commercial and military systems are manufactured and then their surfaces are chemically treated using conventional batch processing techniques to prevent corrosion. This chemical treatment is very important in applications that require, for example, electrical or thermal insulation or electrical conductivity. However, after chemical treatment, many parts become scratched during subsequent handling or processing, which can cause parts of the chemically treated corrosion protection layer to peel off from the surface of the part. Therefore, it may be necessary to treat the scratched areas in order to return the surface to its fully chemically treated corrosion-resistant state.

[0005] A traditional method for repairing scratches involves obtaining a bottle of coating solution and using a cotton ball, cotton swab, rag, sponge, etc. to rub or apply the coating solution to the scratched area until the scratch is completely coated. In many cases, the geometry of the part can pose many challenges when applying the coating solution to a surface.

[0006] Coating solutions are often corrosive and hazardous because they contain, for example, large amounts of chromate, heavy metals, fluorides, ferricyanides, and ferrocyanides. Conventional methods typically apply excessive amounts of coating solution, which often results in spills that create hazardous conditions in the processing area. Conventional methods are prone to messes and waste a lot of coating solution. In addition, the cotton balls, swabs, rags, sponges, etc. used to apply and wipe off the coating solution become hazardous waste after use, creating disposal issues.

[0007] Generally, there are two types of coating solutions or flowable materials: those that require rinsing to remove excess coating material, and those that do not. The former may require rinsing because the excess coating material tends to form crystals that cause undesirable surface roughness, and these crystals and residual coatings are generally very active, i.e., pH 1.5-4.5, which poses a hazard. Although rinsing is necessary, they produce wash water that is acidic and therefore corrosive, and may be environmentally harmful or toxic, creating disposal problems. No-rinse (NR) coatings do not require rinsing for these reasons, as they do not form crystals and can be formulated to be self-leveling.

[0008] The inefficiencies of earlier coating systems attempting to address minor coating defects have been addressed to some extent by the applicant's previous development of handheld pen-type applicators for use in applying corrosive, harmful, or other chemical coating solutions to flawed surfaces. In particular, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,702,759 and 6,217,935, incorporated herein by reference, disclose applicators and methods for dispensing a variety of chemicals. Devices using such technology have been found to be most useful in correcting flaws in flat conversion coated aluminum surfaces. The advent of such marker and pen-type dispensers has increased the efficiency and speed with which minor defects in coated metal surfaces can be addressed, and has enhanced safety for the user and the environment by facilitating isolation of the user from active chemicals.

[0009] Although the above-mentioned pen dispensers have improved the industry, the inventors have found that coating surfaces with shapes that are more complex than flat surfaces still involves problems.Therefore, the inventors have determined that there is still a need in the field for an improved technology in pen-type hazardous material applicators that is useful for improving the coating of non-flat or complex shapes, especially for applications with blind holes, through holes, rivets, gaps, chamfers, countersinks, countersinks and other difficult-to-access surfaces.

[0010] This background discussion is provided to aid in understanding the description of the exemplary embodiments that follow, and is not necessarily an admission that any or all of this background information is prior art. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] Various embodiments described below are intended to address or ameliorate one or more deficiencies of existing pen applicator systems and include, comprise, or otherwise consist of a means for supporting and / or increasing the rigidity of the applicator wick, a means for regulating the flow rate from an applicator chamber containing flowable material to the wick, and / or a means for positioning the wick at a non-zero angle relative to at least a portion of the applicator housing. Various embodiments of Applicant's applicators are particularly useful for applying material to complex shapes, for applications having, by way of non-limiting examples, blind holes, through holes, rivets, gaps, chamfers, countersinks, and other difficult to access surfaces.

[0012] According to one aspect (Aspect 1) of the present invention, a housing (302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1008, 1108) is provided having a chamber (308, 408, 508, 608, 708, 808, 1008, 1108), an outlet (310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 1010, 1110), a valve (314, 414, 514, 614, 714, 814, 1014, 1114) movable between a closed position in which the outlet is not in fluid communication with the chamber and an open position in which the outlet is in fluid communication with the chamber, and a valve spring (318, 418, 518, 618, 718, 818, 1018, 1118) configured to bias the valve toward the closed position. The present invention provides an applicator for hazardous substances having a housing (312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912, 912, 1012, 1112, 1912) and a wick (312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912, 912, 1012, 1112, 1912) movably coupled to the housing and configured to transfer an axial load to the valve to move the valve from a closed position to an open position, the wick being made of a material suitable for receiving fluid from an outlet and expelling the fluid out of the housing, the applicator being characterized in having a means (322, 422, 522, 622, 722, 824, 922, 1021, 1124, 1922, 1930) for supporting and / or increasing the rigidity of the wick.

[0013] Further exemplary aspects of the invention are set forth below.

[0014] Aspect 2. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the means for supporting the wick and / or increasing the rigidity of the wick comprises a tube (322, 522, 622, 824, 922, 1922) that surrounds at least a portion of the wick.

[0015] Embodiment 3. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the tube surrounding the wick has one or more lateral openings (324, 530, 626, 924) extending through the wall of the tube.

[0016] Aspect 4. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the one or more lateral openings are located on the exterior of the housing.

[0017] Aspect 5. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the one or more lateral openings are located inside the housing.

[0018] Embodiment 6. An applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the wick is movably attached to the tube between an extended position and a retracted position, and a wick spring (526) is operably disposed between the wick and the tube and configured to bias the wick to the extended position.

[0019] Aspect 7. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the wick spring has a lower spring constant than the valve spring.

[0020] Embodiment 8. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the tube has a trigger (624) disposed outside the housing and configured to be operated to move the valve from a closed position to an open position.

[0021] Embodiment 9. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the housing further has a gripping surface (628) spaced from the trigger and configured to be grasped to hold the housing against a force applied to the trigger.

[0022] Embodiment 10. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the wick includes a selected one of various wicks (812', 812'', 812''', 812'''', 812'''''), and the various wicks are interchangeably connectable to the tube.

[0023] Embodiment 11. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the means for supporting the wick and / or increasing the rigidity of the wick comprises an internal support (422, 1124) at least partially surrounded by the wick.

[0024] Aspect 12. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the wick, and preferably the internal support, is angled at a non-zero angle relative to the outlet.

[0025] Embodiment 13. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the housing has a tip portion (1004) and a handle portion (1006), the tip portion being movable relative to the handle portion.

[0026] Embodiment 14. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the tip portion is attached to the handle portion by a rotary coupling (1022).

[0027] Aspect 15. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the means for supporting the wick and / or increasing the stiffness of the wick comprises an inner bundle of fibers forming a first portion of the wick having greater stiffness than a second portion of the wick having an outer layer, preferably the outer layer being comprised of a covering or coating made of raw material or fibers that have been chemically and / or mechanically treated to reduce the stiffness of the outer layer.

[0028] According to another aspect (aspect 16) of the present invention, a housing (1302, 1402, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1802, 2002, 2102, 2202, 2302, 2402) having a chamber (1308, 1408, 1508, 1608, 1708, 1808, 2008, 2108, 2208, 2308, 2408), an outlet (1310, 1410, 1510, 1610, 1710, 1810, 2010, 2110, 2210, 2310, 2410), and a wick (1312, 1412, 1512, 1612, In one embodiment, an applicator for hazardous substances is provided having an applicator having a nozzle (1712, 1812, 2012, 2112, 2212, 2312, 2412) and a valve (1314, 1414, 1514, 1630, 1730, 1830, 2014, 2114, 2214, 2330, 2428, 2430) fluidly coupled to the chamber, the valve being movable between a closed position in which the valve fluidly isolates the outlet from the chamber and an open position in which the valve fluidly couples the outlet to the chamber, the applicator having a means for regulating flow rate from the chamber to the wick.

[0029] Embodiment 17. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the means for regulating the flow rate includes a flexible wall (1322, 1422) of the chamber, the flexible wall being configured to be compressed to increase the flow rate.

[0030] Aspect 18. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the housing comprises a flexible bottle forming a flexible wall, or a portion of the housing having a flexible membrane forming a flexible wall.

[0031] Embodiment 19. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the means for regulating the flow rate comprises a piston (1622, 1722, 1822, 2326) slidably disposed within and sealed against a cylinder (1624, 1708, 1808, 2328) to form a variable-sized chamber (1634) in fluid communication with the wick, the piston being movable to reduce the volume of the variable-sized chamber, thereby transferring fluid from the variable-sized chamber to the wick.

[0032] Aspect 20. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the piston and cylinder are disposed within the housing.

[0033] Embodiment 21. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the piston and cylinder are connected to the housing by a flexible tube (2322).

[0034] Embodiment 22. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, further comprising a spring (1618) configured to bias the piston to decrease the volume of the variable-sized chamber, the piston being coupled to the wick such that a force applied to the wick acts against the spring to move the piston to increase the volume of the variable-sized chamber.

[0035] Aspect 23. An applicator of any of the above aspects, further comprising a spring (1718, 1818, 2318) configured to bias the piston to increase the volume of the variable-sized chamber, and the applicator having a button (1738, 1838, 2336) configured to be operated by a user to move the piston to decrease the volume of the variable-sized chamber.

[0036] 24. The valve, a first one-way valve (1630, 1730, 1834, 2330) disposed in a first passageway extending through the piston and configured to open when the piston moves to increase a volume of the variable-sized chamber and to close when the piston moves to decrease a volume of the variable-sized chamber; a second one-way valve (1630, 1730, 1834, 2330) disposed in a second passageway extending through the piston and configured to open when the piston moves to decrease the volume of the variable-sized chamber and to close when the piston moves to increase the volume of the variable-sized chamber; The applicator of any of the above aspects.

[0037] Embodiment 25. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, further comprising a means for adjusting the distance traveled by the piston.

[0038] Aspect 26. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the means for regulating the flow rate from the chamber to the wick includes a trigger (624, 1738, 1838, 2004, 2124, 2224, 2324, 2424) configured to operate a valve, the trigger being separate from the wick.

[0039] Embodiment 27. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the trigger includes a proximal portion of the housing (2004) that is movable relative to a distal portion of the housing (2006), thereby moving the valve to an open position.

[0040] Embodiment 28. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the trigger has a cam driver (2128, 2228) operable to move a cam (2126, 2226) coupled to the valve.

[0041] Aspect 29. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the valve, cam driver, and cam are disposed in the housing.

[0042] Embodiment 30. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the valve, cam driver, and cam are disposed on a flexible tube (2222) that connects the housing to the wick.

[0043] Embodiment 31. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the trigger includes a flexible chamber (2426), and the valve includes a first one-way valve (2428) disposed between the flexible chamber and the chamber, and a second one-way valve (2430) disposed between the flexible chamber and the wick, the first one-way valve configured to close when the flexible chamber is compressed and open when the flexible chamber is inflated, and the second one-way valve configured to open when the flexible chamber is compressed and close when the flexible chamber is inflated.

[0044] According to yet another aspect (Aspect 32) of the present invention, there is provided a housing (1002, 1202, 2002, 2102, 2202, 2302, 2402, 2502) extending in a longitudinal direction "L" and having a chamber (1008, 1208, 2008, 2108, 2208, 2308, 2408, 2508), an outlet (1010, 1210, 2010, 2110, 2210, 2310, 2410, 2510), a wick (1012, 1212, 2012, 2112, 2212, 2312, 2412, 2512) coupled to the outlet, and a wick (1012, 1212, 2012, 2112, 2212, 2312, 2412, 2512) fluidly coupled to the chamber. In an applicator having a valve (1014, 1214, 2014, 2114, 2214, 2330, 2428, 2430, 2514), the valve being movable between a closed position in which the valve fluidly isolates the outlet from the chamber and an open position in which the valve fluidly couples the outlet to the chamber, the applicator having means for positioning the wick at a non-zero angle relative to at least a portion of the housing, preferably the non-zero angle being 1 degree or greater relative to a longitudinal direction "L" of the housing.

[0045] Aspect 33. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the means for positioning the wick relative to at least a portion of the housing is comprised of a proximal portion (1004, 2504) of the housing that is movable relative to a distal portion (1006, 2506) of the housing.

[0046] Embodiment 34. The applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the proximal portion of the housing is coupled to the distal portion of the housing by a rotary coupling portion (1022) or a flexible portion (2522).

[0047] Embodiment 35. An applicator of any of the above embodiments, wherein the means for positioning the wick at a non-zero angle relative to at least a portion of the housing is comprised of a proximal portion (1204) of the housing fixed at a non-zero angle relative to a distal portion (1206) of the housing, and the outlet (1210) and wick (1212) are oriented along an axis A having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction L, and preferably the valve (1214) and spring (1218) are also oriented along axis A.

[0048] Aspect 36. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the means for positioning the wick at a non-zero angle relative to at least a portion of the housing is comprised of a flexible tube (2022, 2122, 2222, 2322, 2422).

[0049] Aspect 37. The applicator of any of the above aspects, further comprising a means for regulating the flow rate configured in a flexible wall of the chamber (1008, 1208, 2008, 2108, 2208, 2308, 2408, 2508), the flexible wall being configured to be compressed to increase the flow rate.

[0050] Aspect 38. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the housing (1002, 1202, 2002, 2102, 2202, 2302, 2402, 2502) comprises a flexible bottle forming a flexible wall, or a portion of the housing having a flexible membrane forming a flexible wall.

[0051] Aspect 39. The applicator of any of the above aspects, further comprising a means for regulating flow rate comprising a piston (1622, 1722, 1822, 2326) slidably disposed within and sealed against a cylinder (1624, 1708, 1808, 2328) to form a variable-sized chamber (1634) in fluid communication with the wick, the piston being movable to reduce the volume of the variable-sized chamber, thereby transferring fluid from the variable-sized chamber to the wick.

[0052] Aspect 40. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the piston and cylinder are disposed within the housing.

[0053] Aspect 41. The applicator of any of the above aspects, wherein the piston and cylinder are coupled to the housing by a flexible tube.

[0054] Applicant's pen applicators can be used to dispense hazardous materials (which are often reactive and / or have a hazardous acid or alkaline pH, non-limiting examples being pH 1-5 or pH 9-14) such as chemical coating materials including, but not limited to, hexavalent chromium, trivalent chromium, non-chromium chemical coating materials, metal pretreatment products including, but not limited to, cleaning agents, adhesion promoters, and other compositions for metal pretreatment. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0055] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cutaway view of a prior art pen applicator. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cutaway view of another prior art pen-type applicator. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic cutaway view illustrating one embodiment of a pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 10A]FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 10B] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 18A] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 18B] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway view showing another embodiment of the pen-type applicator of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 21A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 21B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 22A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 22B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pen applicator of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056] Pen applicators that apply hazardous chemicals are often used in work environments that are unique to certain industries where chemical processing is performed. For example, when performing repair work on aircraft parts, pen applicators are often used by technicians who must perform the dispensing work safely, completely, and accurately, without physical contact with the chemicals and without accidentally dispensing material on surfaces or locations other than the location of the intended treatment part. Technicians also often use dispensers in hazardous environments, such as on scaffolding or ladders high enough to access aircraft and other parts. The surface requiring treatment can be in virtually any position or orientation relative to the technician, so the technician must be able to reach in all directions (including directly above) to apply the chemicals.

[0057] A conventional pen applicator 100 is shown in FIG. The applicator 100 has a housing 102 extending in a longitudinal direction L from a proximal end 104 to a distal end 106. The housing defines a chamber 108 that holds the flowable material. The proximal end 104 has an outlet 110 that defines a fluid passageway from the chamber 108 to the external environment. A wick 112 is disposed within and protrudes from the outlet 110. The wick 112 is preferably constructed of a perforated material, such as polyester or polyethylene, and directs the flowable material from the chamber 108 to the surface to be treated. The housing 102 includes a collar 114 that extends radially from the housing 102 to form a disk-shaped protrusion. The collar 114 is sized to prevent the applicator 100 from being placed in a typical pocket of a technician's clothing.

[0058] The wick 112 is movably supported within the outlet 110, such as by forming a part with cooperating sliding features or surfaces. A valve 116 is attached to a distal end of the wick 112, and a spring 118 is provided in the housing 102 to bias the valve 116 and wick 112 in a proximal direction. The spring 118 allows the wick 112 and valve 116 to move between a closed position, as shown on the left side of FIG. 1, and an open position, as shown on the right side of FIG. 1. In the closed position, the valve 116 contacts a corresponding wall of the chamber 108 to form a seal that prevents the flowable material from moving from the chamber 108 to the wick 112. In the open position, the valve 116 is not sealing against the wall, and the flowable material is free to move by gravity to the wick 112 and from there to the surface to be treated.

[0059] 1 and 2 show two different configurations of the chamber 108 and spring 118. In FIG. 1, the spring 118 is disposed between a distal support wall 120 and the valve 116, and the support wall 120 is disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the chamber 108. The support wall 120 in FIG. 1 includes one or more openings 122 to allow the flowable material to move throughout the chamber 108. The configuration in FIG. 1 allows the distal end of the chamber 108 to be opened and closed, such as by a screw cap 124, to change the flowable material without interfering with or removing the spring 118. In FIG. 2, the distal support wall 120 is formed as the distal end of the chamber 108, which is more suitable for a non-openably sealed housing 102.

[0060] Conventional pen dispensers, such as those shown in Figures 1 and 2, have been found to have certain deficiencies. For example, the size of the dispenser tip may be too large to fit into certain holes or reach completely within certain openings. Also, the elongated pen configuration may not fit into relatively tight spaces or reach corners. Also, a safety collar extending radially from the pen body to prevent it from being placed in a clothing pocket may prevent access to certain surfaces. Additionally, the wick may not fit into corners or tight spaces, resulting in insufficient coverage of the chemical on the surface being treated. These deficiencies have necessitated the use of ancillary devices, such as cotton swabs, to fully treat portions of a surface that cannot be reached by the wick of the pen applicator.

[0061] One possible improvement to existing devices is to reduce the diameter or cross-section of the wick to allow it to reach corners and tight spaces. However, it has been found that making the wick smaller interferes with the spring action to open the valve. A typical use of prior art devices involves an operator simply pressing the wick against a surface to dispense material. This is a simple, convenient, and one-handed operation, making it safer and easier to perform in locations where the user's other hand can support it. Reducing the wick diameter reduces the wick's rigidity, making it less suitable for pressing against the closing force of the valve without bending or breaking. A similar problem occurs when the wick is made longer.

[0062] In one embodiment, the resistance or stiffness of the valve and spring is reduced to account for the reduced strength of the smaller wick, which can solve some application problems, but the weaker spring can lead to harmful leakage, and the body of the pen can block access to tighter application areas. In other embodiments, harder wick materials can be used, but at the expense of hindering the movement of the flowable material and making the wick more susceptible to clogging.

[0063] With reference to Figures 3 to 5, the inventors have revealed various other embodiments that allow the user to reduce the diameter of the wick and / or increase the length of the wick without compromising the user's ability to use the wick to depress the spring.

[0064] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an applicator 300 having a housing 302 extending from a proximal end 304 to a distal end 306 with a chamber 308 that holds a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 302. An outlet 310 connects the chamber 308 to the outside environment. A wick 312 is disposed within the outlet 310 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 314 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 312, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 312 is slidable within the outlet 310 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position (left side of FIG. 3) and a retracted position (right side of FIG. 3). When the wick 312 is in the extended position, the valve 314 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 316 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 308 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 300) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 308 to the wick 312. When the wick 312 is in the retracted position, the valve 314 unseals from the first wall 316 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 308 to the wick 312. A spring 318 is disposed between the valve 314 and a second wall 320 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 308 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 300). The spring 318 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 314 to urge the wick 312 to the extended position. Applying an opposing force along the wick 312 overcomes the biasing force of the spring and moves the wick 312 to the retracted position.

[0065] The embodiment of FIG. 3 preferably includes a wick 312 that is small in size relative to the amount of force required to repeatedly move the wick 312 from an extended position to a retracted position. This means that the material and / or dimensions of the wick 312 are selected such that, over the course of use, the wick 312 will tend to buckle under a retraction force applied to the distal side of the wick 312 along the longitudinal direction L, rather than moving to a retracted position with the valve open, absent additional conditions described herein. A small wick may not break upon initial actuation, but may result in wasting material and leaking the remaining contents of the applicator 300 after some use and before the contents of the applicator are depleted. The selection of the size and material of the wick 312 that reduces the size of the wick 312 relative to the biasing force of the spring 318 is a matter of conventional mechanics that can be determined mathematically or empirically without undue experimentation and need not be described in detail herein. The lack of durability of the wick 312 to transmit retraction forces is remedied by the addition of an outer support tube 322 defining a lumen 326 that surrounds the wick 312, supports the wick and increases the wick's rigidity, and extends at least partially longitudinally along the length of the wick 312.

[0066] The outer support tube 322 may extend distally to contact the valve 314, may be integrally formed with the valve 314, and may extend proximally to extend from or be flush with the outlet 310 when the wick 312 is in a retracted position, although other configurations are possible. The support tube 322 and wick 312 collectively have sufficient strength to transfer a retraction force from the wick 312 to the spring 318. Thus, application of a distal retraction force on the wick 312 along the longitudinal direction L retracts the wick 312, tube 322, and valve 314, thereby allowing the flowable material to move from the chamber 308 to the wick 312. The tube 322 may be constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as a thermoplastic, polymer, rubber, or the like, that is resistant to corrosion by the flowable material, and is preferably an interference fit with the wick 312. However, it is not strictly required that the tube 322 be more rigid than the wick 312, so long as the joint stiffness of the parts is sufficient to transfer the retraction force to the spring 318. Additionally, the wick 312 and tube 322 may have some flexibility when assembled to allow the wick 312 to distort in order to maneuver around tight spaces and corners. The tube 322 may be attached onto the wick 312, for example, by molding it in place on the wick 312, wrapping it around the wick 312 and sealing itself (e.g., ultrasonically, thermally or adhesively bonded), shrink-fitting it onto the wick 312 (e.g., using a heat-sensitive thermoplastic that shrinks when heat is applied, drawing or pressing the wick 312 into the tube 322, or stretching the tube 322 over a tubular mandrel and removing the mandrel when the tube 322 is surrounding the wick 312), etc.

[0067] The proximal end of the wick 312 protrudes from the support tube 322 a sufficient distance to provide the desired adhesive properties of the flowable material. For example, if it is desired that the applicator 300 be used primarily to direct material onto the bottom surface of a recessed opening, the tube 322 may extend to terminate near the proximal end of the wick 312. In contrast, if the applicator 300 is intended to be used to coat the bottom and sides of a recess with material, the length of the wick extending between the proximal end of the wick 312 and the proximal end of the tube 322 may be longer. The tube 322 may also have a lateral opening 324 in communication with the lumen 326 to provide an additional outlet for the flowable material to travel perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L (i.e., laterally), which is expected to provide the wick 312 with greater rigidity while allowing lateral flow to aid in applying the material to the sides of a recess. Lateral dispensing may also be enhanced by forming the wick 312 to extend outwardly from the lumen 326 of the tube 322 through the lateral opening 324. For example, the wick 312 may be composed of a soft material, or a soft outer layer of material (e.g., a layer of woven or non-woven felt-like material) that is sufficiently compliant to protrude through the lateral opening 324 when the wick 312 is disposed in the lumen 326 of the tube 322.

[0068] 4 shows another example of an applicator 400 having a housing 402 extending from a proximal end 404 to a distal end 406 with a chamber 408 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 402. An outlet 410 connects the chamber 408 to the external environment. A wick 412 is disposed within the outlet 410 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 414 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 412, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 412 is slidable within the outlet 410 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position (left side of FIG. 4) and a retracted position (right side of FIG. 4). When the wick 412 is in the extended position, the valve 414 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 416 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 408 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 400) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 408 to the wick 412. When the wick 412 is in the retracted position, the valve 414 unseals from the first wall 416 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 408 to the wick 412. A spring 418 is disposed between the valve 414 and a second wall 420 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 408 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 400). The spring 418 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 414 to urge the wick 412 to the extended position. Applying an opposing force along the wick 412 overcomes the biasing force of the spring and moves the wick 412 to the retracted position.

[0069] The embodiment of FIG. 4 also preferably includes a wick 412 that is small in size compared to the amount of force required to move the wick 412 from the extended position to the retracted position. The degradation of the wick 412's ability to transmit retraction forces over the life of the applicator 400 is ameliorated by reinforcing the wick with the addition of an internal support 422 that is surrounded or partially surrounded by the wick 412 and extends longitudinally at least partially along the length of the wick 412. The internal support 422 may extend distally to contact the valve 414, may be integrally formed with the valve 414, or may extend proximally so that it extends from or is flush with the outlet 410 when the wick 412 is in the retracted position, although other configurations are possible. The internal support 422 and wick 412 collectively have sufficient strength to transmit the retraction force from the wick 412 to the spring 418. Thus, application of a distal retraction force to the wick 412 along the longitudinal direction L retracts the wick 412, the internal support 422 and the valve 414, thereby allowing the flowable material to move from the chamber 408 to the wick 412.

[0070] The internal support 422 may be constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, thermoplastic, polymer, rubber, etc. It is not strictly required that the internal support 422 be more rigid than the wick 412, so long as the joint stiffness of the parts is sufficient to transmit the retraction force to the spring 418. Additionally, the wick 412 and the internal support 422 may have some flexibility in the assembled state to allow the wick 412 to distort to maneuver through tight spaces and corners. To this end, the internal support 422 may extend to terminate at or near the proximal end of the wick 412 to facilitate forcing the wick material into corners. The internal support 422 may be attached to the wick 412, for example, by molding it into place within a cavity in the wick 412, by forcing it into the wick material, or the like.

[0071] The internal support 422 may have any shape that helps resist buckling or inelastic deformation loads on the wick 412. For example, the internal support 422 may be configured with one or more cylindrical protrusions from the bulb 414. The internal support 422 may also be open space or hollow with wick material disposed therein. A hollow internal support 422 without wick material therein may be particularly useful for conveying a higher flow rate of flowable material to the proximal end of the wick 412. Similarly, the internal support 422, particularly a hollow internal support 422, may have lateral openings, such as the lateral openings 324 described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 3, to form additional lateral flow paths for the flowable material. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0072] FIG. 5 illustrates another example of an applicator 500 having a housing 502 extending from a proximal end 504 to a distal end 506 with a chamber 508 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 502. An outlet 510 connects the chamber 508 to the outside environment. A wick 512 is disposed within the outlet 510 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 514 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 512, either directly or via an intermediary, for moving with the wick 512 in a two-stage motion as described below. The wick 512 is slidable within the outlet 510 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position (left side of FIG. 5) and a retracted position (right side of FIG. 5). When the wick 512 is in the extended position, the valve 514 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 516 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 508 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 500) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 508 to the wick 512. When the wick 512 is in the retracted position, the valve 514 unseals from the first wall 516 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 508 to the wick 512. A first spring 518 is disposed between the valve 514 and a second wall 520 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 508 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 500). The first spring 518 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 514 to urge the wick 512 to the extended position. Applying an opposing force along the wick 512 overcomes the biasing force of the spring and moves the wick 512 to the retracted position.

[0073] In this example, the wick 512 is slidably held within a support 522, which is slidably held within the outlet 510. The support 522 may be cylindrical or have other shapes (e.g., rectangular, square, oval, etc.) that accommodate the cross-sectional shapes of the wick 512 and the outlet 510. The support 522 includes a support chamber 524 within which the wick 512 is slidable along a longitudinal direction L. A second spring 526 is disposed between a distal end of the wick 512 within the support chamber 524 and a facing inner wall 528 of the support 522.

[0074] The embodiment of Figure 5 preferably includes a wick 512 that is small in size compared to the amount of force required to move the first spring 518 to unseal the valve 514. However, the wick 512 is not small in size compared to the amount of force required to compress the second spring 526. Thus, the second spring 526 has a lower spring constant than the first spring 518.

[0075] This embodiment provides a two-stage retraction action. A distal force applied to the proximal end of the wick 512 along the longitudinal direction L first compresses the second spring 526 until the wick 512 is retracted into the support chamber 524, and then compresses the support 522 and the wick 512 to a retracted position, unsealing the valve 514. This embodiment overcomes the problem of the wick 512 being too small to transmit the valve opening force by retracting the wick 512 into the rigid (or relatively rigid) support 522, effectively increasing the stiffness of the wick. The support 522 creates sufficient lateral support to transmit the retraction force and open the valve 514. The wick 512 may protrude from the support 522 when the wick 512 is fully retracted into the support 522 (as shown in FIG. 5) or may be pressed flush against the proximal end of the support 522. The support 522 also includes an opening sufficient to allow the flowable material to travel to the wick 512. For example, the support 522 may include a lateral opening 530 that is exposed to the chamber 508 when the valve 514 is unsealed. If desired, a seal, such as an O-ring 532, may be provided between the support 522 and the outlet 510 to prevent leakage of the flowable material therethrough.

[0076] Referring now to FIG. 6, other embodiments may include features that allow for the use of a wick that is small in size, but does not require the wick to be supported or reinforced to transmit the force required to unseal the valve. In FIG. 6, the applicator 600 has a housing 602 that extends from a proximal end 604 to a distal end 606 with a chamber 608 that holds the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 602. An outlet 610 connects the chamber 608 to the outside environment. A wick 612 is disposed within the outlet 610 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 614 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 612, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 612 is slidable within the outlet 610 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position (left side of FIG. 6) and a retracted position (right side of FIG. 6). When the wick 612 is in the extended position, the valve 614 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 616 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 608 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 600) to prevent the flow material from migrating from the chamber 608 to the wick 612. When the wick 612 is in the retracted position, the valve 614 unseals from the first wall 616 to allow the flow material to move from the chamber 608 to the wick 612. A spring 618 is disposed between the valve 614 and a second wall 620 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 608 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 600). The spring 618 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 614 to urge the wick 612 to the extended position.

[0077] The embodiment of FIG. 6 includes a wick 612 that is preferably small in size compared to the amount of force required to move the first spring 618 to unseal the valve 614. However, the wick 612 is fixed within a support 622, which is slidably held within the outlet 610. The support 622 may be cylindrical or have other shapes (e.g., rectangular, square, oval, etc.) that accommodate the cross-sectional shapes of the wick 612 and outlet 610. The support 622 is operably coupled to the valve 614 such that a retraction force can be applied to the support 622 (in addition to or instead of the wick 612) to unseal the valve 614. To this end, the support 622 may include a trigger 624 located on the outside of the housing 602 to assist the operator in applying the retraction force. The support 622 may also include one or more openings 626 that allow the flow material to move from the chamber 608 to the wick 612 when the valve 614 is unsealed.

[0078] The shape and size of the trigger 624 can be selected based on the anticipated needs of the operator. For example, the trigger 624 may be an annular plate (as shown) that surrounds the wick 612, or other shape that allows the operator to press the trigger with a finger or by pressing the entire assembly against a fixed surface (e.g., by placing the trigger 624 against a rigid portion of the surface to be treated and pushing the applicator 600 forward). The trigger 624 may also include an opposing gripping surface 628 (e.g., a ring adapted to receive the operator's thumb or a palm-receiving plate) so that the operator can squeeze the trigger 624 against the gripping surface 628 to open the valve 614 with only one hand. Alternatively, multiple seals, such as O-rings 630 or gland seals, may be provided between the support 622 and the outlet 610 to reduce the possibility of leakage therethrough.

[0079] The embodiment of FIG. 6 allows for the use of a smaller wick while still providing convenient and safe operation of the valve at the user's discretion. One variation of the embodiment of FIG. 6 is to slidably mount the wick 612 in a chamber within a support with a second spring having a lower spring constant and biasing the wick 612 to an extended position. This modification can provide additional functionality to the embodiment of FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the trigger feature of FIG. 6 may be combined with the wick support features of FIGS. 3 and 4. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0080] Another problem with conventional pen applicators is the inability to fit the applicator's felt into tight spaces and corners. This is particularly problematic around recessed holes, oddly shaped holes, and where the original coating has been damaged with deep scratches. This problem is also seen when applying coatings around rivets and other fasteners where there are small openings or narrow gaps at the interface between the fastener and the supporting structural surface. Figures 7 and 8 show an embodiment adapted to accommodate such situations.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows an applicator 700 having a housing 702 extending from a proximal end 704 to a distal end 706 and including a chamber 708 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 702. An outlet 710 connects the chamber 708 to the external environment. A wick 712 is disposed within the outlet 710 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 714 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 712, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 712 is slidable within the outlet 710 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position (left side of FIG. 7) and a retracted position (right side of FIG. 7). When the wick 712 is in the extended position, the valve 714 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 716 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 708 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 700) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 708 to the wick 712. When the wick 712 is in the retracted position, the valve 714 unseals from the first wall 716 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 708 to the wick 712. A spring 718 is disposed between the valve 714 and a second wall 720 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 708 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 700). The spring 718 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 714 to urge the wick 712 to the extended position.

[0082] The wick 712 may or may not be small in size compared to the force required to push the spring 718 to move the valve 714 to the retracted position. If the wick 712 is small in size, it may incorporate other features, as discussed above, to accommodate or assist the operation of the valve 714.

[0083] The wick 712 includes a central support portion 722 that extends into the outlet 710 and a flexible outer layer 724 that surrounds or is attached to the central portion 722. The outer layer 724 is more flexible than the central support portion 722 and may be comprised of any of a number of bonded natural or synthetic fibers, preferably polyester, polyurethane, acrylic, nylon and combinations thereof. For example, the central portion 722 may be comprised of a bundle of relatively stiff polyester fibers bonded to form a cylindrical shape, and the outer layer 724 may be comprised of a separate cover or coating formed of a soft porous and / or fibrous raw material, synthetic and / or natural, for example, felt, sponge, wool, cotton, etc. Such a cover may be removably or fixedly attached to the remainder of the wick 712. As another example, the wick 712 may be composed of a stiff bundle of fibers with the inner fibers gathered in a stiff central support 722 and the outer fibers chemically or mechanically treated (e.g., roughened or chopped) to provide a softer outer layer 724. Alternatively, a tube or hollow inner support as disclosed herein may replace the central support portion 722 to support and strengthen the wick 712, in which case an opening at the proximal end of the tube and / or lateral openings along the length of the tube or support may provide flowable material to the soft outer layer 724 of the wick 712.

[0084] The relatively soft outer layer 724 may conform to surface irregularities to improve the applicator's ability to address crevices and corners by allowing greater reach into such areas. The softer outer layer 724 may also promote lateral distribution of the flowable material, which may aid in coating the interior walls of narrow holes. Such lateral application may be enhanced by making the diameter D1 of the softer outer layer 724 larger than the diameter D2 of the adjacent portion of the central support 722 and larger than the diameter D3 of the adjacent portion of the housing 702. This allows the proximal end of the wick 712 to extend into the narrow hole, yet the soft outer layer 724 may apply the flowable material to the sides of the hole.

[0085] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of an applicator 800 adapted to apply flowable material to narrow or oddly shaped areas. In this example, the applicator 800 has a housing 802 extending from a proximal end 804 to a distal end 806 with a chamber 808 that holds the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 802. An outlet 810 connects the chamber 808 to the outside environment. One of several wicks 812 may be attached to protrude from the outlet 810. A valve 814 is operably attached, either directly or via an intermediary, to the distal end of the attached wick 812 for movement with the wick 812. The attached wick 812 is slidable within the outlet 810 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position and a retracted position. When the attached wick 812 is in the extended position, the valve 814 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 816 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 808 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 800) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 808 to the attached wick 812. When the attached wick 812 is in the retracted position, the valve 814 unseals from the first wall 816 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 808 to the wick 812. A spring 818 is disposed between the valve 814 and a second wall 820 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 808 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 800). The spring 818 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 814 to urge the attached wick 812 to the extended position.

[0086] The wick 812 may or may not be small in size compared to the force required to push the spring 818 to move the valve 814 to the retracted position. If the wick 812 is small in size, it may incorporate other features, as discussed above, to accommodate the operation of the valve 814.

[0087] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, a collection of various wicks 812 are adapted to be selectively attached to the outlet 810. Each wick 812 may have a unique shape configured to treat a particular surface. For example, the wicks 812 may include a chisel point wick 812' with a tapered proximal end, a wick 812'' with a spherical proximal end, a wick 812'' with a reverse tapered proximal end, a wick 812'''' with an enlarged cylindrical end 812'''', a wick with a beveled or "chisel" tip 812'''''. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure, and it will be understood that these alternative wick shape embodiments may be used in other embodiments.

[0088] Each wick 812 has a respective shaft 822 configured to be removably secured within a support carrier 824 that is slidably mounted within the outlet 810. A seal (not shown), such as an O-ring, may be provided between the carrier 824 and the outlet 810. The carrier 824 is slidable relative to the housing 802 along a longitudinal direction L and is operably coupled to the valve 814. The wick 812 and carrier 824 may be held together by a friction fit or by a mechanism such as a detent or bayonet attachment. The carrier 824 includes one or more openings, such as those described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 5, to allow for movement of the flowable material from the chamber 802 to the wick 812 when the valve 814 is unsealed.

[0089] In use, a user selects the desired wick 812 and inserts it into a carrier 824 located within the outlet 810, and uses the applicator 800 as normal, but with customized capabilities for treating otherwise hard-to-reach surfaces with the wick 812 enhanced by supporting carrier 824 which distributes the force applied to the tip that actuates the valve 814.

[0090] It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with other embodiments described herein. As a non-limiting example, an embodiment having a flexible outer layer 724 or a replaceable wick 812 may be used with features such as the metering valve systems of FIGS. 16 and 17.

[0091] Another persistent problem with conventional pen applicator bodies is that, although they are sized to be easily handled by a user wearing protective gear and to accommodate a sufficient amount of flowable material, they are consequently not suited to fitting into tight spaces. In particular, pen applicators may be too long to fit into tight gaps, and collars 114 may be too large to tilt the applicator at a low angle to reach under protrusions and the like. Figures 9-12 show various alternative applicators intended to provide greater maneuverability for treating surfaces within confined spaces.

[0092] 9 shows an applicator 900 having a housing 902 extending from a proximal end 904 to a distal end 906 and a wick 912 extending from the proximal end 904. The applicator 900 also includes other features such as a chamber for holding the flowable material, a valve, etc. In one embodiment, the wick 912 is disposed within a lumen of a support tube 922 perforated with a laterally extending hole 924, as described above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 3. However, other wicks may be used in other embodiments, including, as non-limiting examples, those other wicks described herein.

[0093] The housing 902 has an elongated, generally cylindrical shape and includes features such as ribs, knurling, etc., to allow a user wearing gloves to manipulate the applicator 900. The described housing features may be included in other embodiments disclosed herein. Specifically, the housing 902 includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs 926 and a plurality of circumferential ribs 928. The longitudinal ribs 926 protrude from adjacent exterior surfaces of the housing 902 and extend along the longitudinal direction L (i.e., along a direction from the housing proximal end 904 toward the housing distal end 906). The longitudinal ribs 926 enhance gripping and maneuvering for rotating the housing 902 about the longitudinal direction L. The circumferential ribs 928 extend radially from the longitudinal axis and surround the circumferential periphery of the housing 902. The circumferential ribs 928 enhance gripping and maneuvering for moving the housing 902 along the longitudinal direction L. Also, some or all of the circumferential ribs 928 may have proximal surfaces that are angled outwardly in the distal direction, forming a "sawtooth" configuration that helps improve gripping when pushing proximally. It is expected that the longitudinal ribs 926 and the circumferential ribs 928 will collectively improve gripping and maneuverability of the applicator 900, particularly when the applicator 900 is made smaller than existing conventional devices and / or when it is manipulated to ensure sufficient contact between a surface in an awkward position and the wick 912. While the embodiment of FIG. 9 has both longitudinal ribs 926 and circumferential ribs 928, other embodiments may have only one type of rib or neither.

[0094] 9 also illustrates an alternative arrangement of the collar 930. Specifically, the collar 930 is disposed on a cap 932 that is selectively secured to the housing 902 to cover and protect the wick 912. The cap 932 may also have ribs (e.g., longitudinal ribs 934) to aid in the installation and removal of the cap 932 by a gloved user. The cap and collar features illustrated in FIG. 9 and described above may be included in other embodiments disclosed herein.

[0095] 10A and 10B show another embodiment of an applicator 1000 configured for use in a confined space. In this example, the applicator 1000 has a housing 1002 having a tip portion 1004 defining a proximal end and a handle portion 1006 defining a distal end. One or both portions 1004, 1006 have a chamber 1008 that holds a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 1002. An outlet 1010 connects the chamber 1008 to the outside environment. As with the embodiment of FIG. 6, the wick 1012 is disposed within a support 1021 that is slidably held within and protrudes from the outlet 1010. A valve 1014 is operably attached, either directly or via an intermediary, to the distal end of the support 1021 for movement with the wick 1012. A support 1021 that holds the wick 1012 is slidable within the outlet 1010 along the longitudinal direction L between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1012 is in the extended position, the valve 1014 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1016 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1008 or a surface of a valve subassembly installed in the applicator 1000) to prevent the flowable material from moving from the chamber 1008 to the wick 1012. When the wick 1012 is in the retracted position, the valve 1014 releases its seal from the first wall 1016 to allow the flowable material to move from the chamber 1008 to the wick 1012. A spring 1018 is disposed between the valve 1014 and a second wall 1020 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1008 or a surface of a valve assembly installed in the applicator 1000). The spring 1018 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes against the valve 1014 to bias the wick 1012 into the extended position.

[0096] The housing 1002 is movable between a first configuration as shown in FIG. 10A and a second configuration as shown in FIG. 10B. In particular, the tip portion 1004 is connected to the handle portion 1006 by an articulation joint, such as a rotary coupling 1022. The rotary coupling 1022 may comprise any movable joint, such as a pivot joint or a swivel joint. In the illustrated example, the rotary connection 1022 comprises a swivel joint formed by a cylindrical boss 1024 extending from the tip portion 1004 and a cylindrical receptacle 1026 on the handle portion 1006. The boss 1024 fits into the receptacle 1026 to allow relative rotation between the tip portion 1004 and the handle portion 1006. The boss 1024 includes a lip 1028 or fastener (e.g., a spring clip, a D-ring, etc.) that holds the pieces together. In this example, a chamber 1008 is formed in both the tip portion 1004 and the handle portion 1006, and the rotary coupling 1022 has an opening 1030 that also provides fluid communication between the tip portion 1004 and the handle portion 1006. One or more rotary seals (not shown) may be provided to prevent leakage through the rotary coupling 1022.

[0097] During use, an operator can rotate tip portion 1004 relative to handle portion 1006 to orient wick 1012 at different angles. This can aid in reaching into tight spaces and can also allow for different hand positions when using applicator 1000 under normal use conditions. For simplicity of construction, spring 1018 and valve 1014 are preferably located within tip portion 1004, although this is not strictly required.

[0098] 11 illustrates another embodiment of an applicator 1100 configured for use in tight spaces. The applicator 1100 includes a housing 1102 extending from a proximal end 1104 to a distal end 1106 and a chamber 1108 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 1102. An outlet 1110 connects the chamber 1108 to the outside environment. A wick 1112 is disposed within the outlet 1110 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 1114 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 1112, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 1112 is slidable within the outlet 1110 along a longitudinal direction L between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1112 is in the extended position, the valve 1114 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1116 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1108 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 1100) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 1108 to the wick 1112. When the wick 1112 is in the retracted position, the valve 1114 unseals from the first wall 1116 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 1108 to the wick 1112. A spring 1118 is disposed between the valve 1114 and a second wall 1120 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1108 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 1100). The spring 1118 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 1114 to urge the wick 1112 to the extended position.

[0099] The wick 1112 in this embodiment is configured with a bent shape to reach laterally into tight spaces, under overhangs, corners, etc. For example, the wick 1112 may be constructed of a bundle of foraminous fibers that is heated and bent to have a permanent L-shaped foot 1122 extending laterally. The foot 1122 may be supported by an internal (or external) support 1124, such as a plastic rod that extends along the wick 1112. The support helps the foot 1122 portion of the wick 1112 maintain its shape and may be useful for pushing the foot 1122 laterally deeper into tight spaces or for pressing the bottom of the foot 1122 to treat the bottom of a hole. While an L-shaped foot is preferred in this embodiment, other wick shapes may be used in other embodiments. For example, the proximal end of the wick 1112 may be configured as a J-shaped hook (which may be particularly useful for reaching under a flange or rolled edge of metal, such as an edge that is free of surrounding obstacles), or may have other shapes. Additionally, the support 1124 may be omitted in other embodiments.

[0100] 12 illustrates another embodiment of an applicator 1200 configured for use in tight spaces. The applicator 1200 includes a housing 1202 extending from a proximal end 1204 to a distal end 1206 and a chamber 1208 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 1202. An outlet 1210 connects the chamber 1208 to the outside environment. A wick 1212 is disposed within the outlet 1210 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 1214 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 1212, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 1212 is slidable within the outlet 1210 between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1212 is in the extended position, the valve 1214 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1216 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1208 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 1200) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 1208 to the wick 1212. When the wick 1212 is in the retracted position, the valve 1214 unseals from the first wall 1216 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 1208 to the wick 1212. A spring 1218 is disposed between the valve 1214 and a second wall 1220 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1208 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 1200). The spring 1218 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 1214 to urge the wick 1212 to the extended position.

[0101] In this example, the outlet 1210 and the wick 1212 are oriented along an axis A that is angled relative to the longitudinal direction L. For simplicity, the valve 1214 and the spring 1218 are also oriented along the axis A, but this is not required in all embodiments. The axis A may be oriented at any desired angle relative to the longitudinal direction L, with 45° being expected to be a generally convenient angle for most applications. In other cases, the angle may be less than 45° or greater than 45°. An angle equal to or greater than 90° may be desirable for use when treating the back side of an article, and it is contemplated that the wick 1212 may be oriented at an angle of around 180° relative to the remainder of the applicator 1200. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0102] Another drawback of conventional pen applicators is the difficulty in controlling the flow rate of the flowable material from the chamber to the wick. In conventional systems such as those shown in Figures 1 and 2, an operator can open and close a valve, but there is no mechanism to force the flowable medium into the wick other than tilting or shaking the applicator to use gravity. This is particularly problematic when the surface to be coated is located above the wick. Another problem associated with flow rate control is that conventional applicators cannot meter an exact amount of flowable medium, and when the valve is open, the flowable medium may continue to flow even after soaking into the wick, resulting in dripping, pooling, and wasted material. Figures 13-17 show applicator embodiments that address one or more of these drawbacks.

[0103] 13 illustrates an embodiment of an applicator 1300 configured to allow an operator to force the deposition of fluid medium from a chamber to a wick when a valve is open. The applicator 1300 includes a housing 1302 extending from a proximal end 1304 to a distal end 1306 and a chamber 1308 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 1302. An outlet 1310 connects the chamber 1308 to an external environment. A wick 1312 is disposed within the outlet 1310 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 1314 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 1312, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 1312 is slidable within the outlet 1310 between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1312 is in the extended position, the valve 1314 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1316 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1308 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 1300) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 1308 to the wick 1312. When the wick 1312 is in the retracted position, the valve 1314 unseals from the first wall 1316 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 1308 to the wick 1312. A spring 1318 is disposed between the valve 1314 and a second wall 1320 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1308 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 1300). The spring 1318 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 1314 to urge the wick 1312 to the extended position.

[0104] In this example, the housing 1302 and a portion of the chamber 1308 are constructed with flexible walls, which are shown in FIG. 13 as being formed by a flexible bottle 1322, but may take other forms. Referring to FIG. 13, the flexible bottle 1322 can be squeezed when the valve 1314 is opened to create an internal pressure that pushes the flowable material towards the wick 1312, which has the effect of making the wick soak faster. For example, the flexible bottle 1322 can be made of a soft plastic material. Also, the flexible bottle 1322 can be transparent to view the contents of the chamber 1308. The flexible bottle 1322 can be permanently or removably attached to the remainder of the housing 1302. In this example, the proximal end of the bottle 1322 is threaded into a collar 1324 located on a rigid portion of the housing 1302, and the bottle 1322 can be removed to refill it. In other embodiments, the flexible bottle 1322 may be secured to the remainder of the housing 1302 by a non-removable bond.

[0105] The flexible bottle 1322 and the remainder of the housing 1302 are aligned along the longitudinal direction L, although this is not strictly necessary. In other examples, the flexible bottle 1322 may be threaded or otherwise attached so as to protrude laterally from the remainder of the housing 1302 or at an angle relative to the remainder of the housing 1302. The flexible bottle 1322 may also be partially enclosed in the housing 1302, with a portion of the bottle 1322 exposed so that a user can bend the bottle walls to force the flowable material towards the wick. The flexible bottle 1322 may also be completely enclosed in the housing 1302 and squeezed by the application of force by an intermediate component, such as a plunger, located at a side end of the housing 1302. Although shown as having a cylindrical shape, the flexible bottle 1322 may have alternative shapes.

[0106] The illustrated flexible bottle 1322 is intended to return to its original shape after application of a deforming force so as to function as a handle that a user can grasp. However, in other alternatives, the flexible bottle 1322 may be constructed of a bag-like structure (e.g., a bladder) that collapses during use. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0107] 14 illustrates an embodiment of an applicator 1400 configured to allow an operator to force the deposition of a fluid medium from a chamber to a wick. The applicator 1400 includes a housing 1402 extending from a proximal end 1404 to a distal end 1406 and a chamber 1408 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 1402. An outlet 1410 connects the chamber 1408 to an external environment. A wick 1412 is disposed within the outlet 1410 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 1414 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 1412, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 1412 is slidable within the outlet 1410 between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1412 is in the extended position, the valve 1414 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1416 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1408 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 1400) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 1408 to the wick 1412. When the wick 1412 is in the retracted position, the valve 1414 unseals from the first wall 1416 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 1408 to the wick 1412. A spring 1418 is disposed between the valve 1414 and a second wall 1420 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1408 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 1400). The spring 1418 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 1414 to urge the wick 1412 to the extended position.

[0108] In this example, a portion of the chamber 1408 is formed as a user-accessible flexible membrane 1422. A user can press down on the flexible membrane 1422 to create internal pressure within the chamber 1408, forcing the flowable material to the wick 1412 when the valve 1414 is open. Alternatively, the wick-operated valve 1414 may be omitted and replaced with a valve that automatically opens upon application of sufficient pressure to the flexible membrane 1422 to move the flowable material from the chamber 1402 to the wick 1412, as described in connection with FIG.

[0109] The flexible membrane 1422 may be constructed of any suitable flexible material and may be transparent to allow viewing into the chamber 1408. The flexible membrane 1422 may also be placed under a movable cover to prevent inadvertent manipulation. The flexible membrane 1422 may also be placed inside the housing 1402 and operated by an intermediate device such as a push button or plunger that passes through the wall of the housing 1402. Other alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0110] 15 illustrates an embodiment of an applicator 1500 configured to prevent excess deposition of flowable material when the wick is fully moved to a retracted position. The applicator 1500 includes a housing 1502 extending from a proximal end 1504 to a distal end 1506 and a chamber 1508 for holding the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 1502. An outlet 1510 connects the chamber 1508 to the outside environment. A wick 1512 is disposed within the outlet 1510 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 1514 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 1512, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 1512 is slidable within the outlet 1510 between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1512 is in the extended position, the valve 1514 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1516 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1508 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 1500) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 1508 to the wick 1512. When the wick 1512 is in the retracted position, the valve 1514 unseals from the first wall 1516 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 1508 to the wick 1512. A spring 1518 is disposed between the valve 1514 and a second wall 1520 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1508 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 1500). The spring 1518 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 1514 to urge the wick 1512 to the extended position.

[0111] In this example, the valve 1514 is disposed within a subchamber 1522 located between the main volume of the chamber 1508 and the wick 1512. The subchamber 1522 is fluidly coupled to the main volume of the chamber 1508 by a passageway 1524, and the spring 1518 may be disposed within the subchamber 1522 as shown or may extend through the opening 1524. The valve 1514 has a secondary seal 1526 that abuts and closes the passageway 1524 when the wick 1512 and valve 1514 are fully moved to the retracted position. Any type of sealing surface may be used (e.g., a face seal, a tapered seal (as shown), a metering needle, etc.). This configuration prevents the flowable material from continuing to migrate to the wick when the wick is fully retracted, providing some protection against over-dispensing of material.

[0112] FIG. 16 illustrates an example of an applicator 1600 that prevents over-dispensing of flowable material when the wick is retracted and allows for accurate metering of a consistent amount of flowable material when the wick returns from a retracted position to an extended position. The applicator 1600 has a housing 1602 that extends from a proximal end 1604 to a distal end 1606 and a chamber 1608 that holds the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 1602. An outlet 1610 connects the chamber 1608 to the outside environment. A wick 1612 is disposed within the outlet 1610 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 1614 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 1612 directly or via an intermediary for movement therewith. The wick 1612 is slidable within the outlet 1610 between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 1612 is in the extended position (shown on the left side of FIG. 16 ), the valve 1614 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 1616 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1608 or a surface of a valve subassembly installed in the applicator 1600) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 1608 to the wick 1612. When the wick 1612 is in the retracted position (shown on the right side of FIG. 16 ), the valve 1614 unseals from the first wall 1616 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 1608 to the wick 1612. A spring 1618 is disposed between the valve 1614 and a second wall 1620 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 1608 or a surface of a valve assembly installed in the applicator 1600). The spring 1618 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 1614 to urge the wick 1612 to the extended position.

[0113] In this example, the valve 1614 is configured as an assembly having a piston 1622 coupled for movement with the wick 1612 and sliding within a cylinder 1624. The piston 1622 has one or more seals 1626 (e.g., O-rings or wiper seals) at its outer periphery that contact the cylinder 1624 to restrict flow of the flowable material at the sliding interface. The valve 1614 or first wall 1616 may also have a face seal 1628 (e.g., O-rings or packing) that seals against the wick 1612 when the wick 1612 is in the extended position. The piston 1622 includes one or more one-way valves 1630 configured to open to allow flowable material to pass through the piston 1622 when the wick 1612 and piston 1622 are moving from the extended position to the retracted position and to close to prevent flowable material from passing through the piston 1622 when the wick 1612 and piston 1622 are moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0114] The one-way valve 1630 may be comprised of any suitable mechanism that allows flow in one direction and prevents flow in the other direction. The illustrated valve 1630 is a poppet valve, but other examples include ball valves, flapper valves, and reed valves. Such devices typically include a separate or integral spring to hold the valve in a closed position, and the valve and seat are shaped such that excess water pressure on one side of the valve will push the valve into the seat to maintain a seal, and excess water pressure on the other side of the valve will push the valve away from the seat against the bias of the spring, unsealing. Such devices are conventional and need not be described in detail herein.

[0115] The perimeter seal 1626 and one-way valve 1630 cooperate to form a variable-sized chamber 1634 between the piston 1622 and the wick 1612. The chamber 1634 expands and fills with the flowable material when the wick 1612 moves to the retracted position, and the chamber 1634 shrinks when the wick 1612 moves to the extended position. During this extension, the seal 1626 and one-way valve 1636 create pressure on the flowable material, forcing it into the wick 1612. The amount of force depends on the spring constant of the spring 1618. The size of the chamber 1634 can be selected to provide a desired volume of the flowable material during each stroke toward the extended position. If desired, the chamber 1634 may also include a mechanism (e.g., a movable wall) for altering the volume of the chamber 1634 to allow an operator to adjust the amount dispensed. The applicator 1600 may also include a graduated scale that indicates how much volume is dispensed depending on how far the operator retracts the wick 1612. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

[0116] In this embodiment, the cylinder 1624 may optionally be separated from the remainder of the chamber 1608 by an intermediate wall, such as the second wall 1620, and a one-way valve 1632 may be provided in a passageway fluidly connecting the chamber 1608 to the piston. The one-way valve 1632 prevents the flowable material from exiting the cylinder 1624 when the wick 1612 moves to a retracted position. This helps to ensure that the flowable material is forced through the one-way valve 1630 in the piston 1622 to fill the variable sized chamber 1636.

[0117] 17 shows another example of an applicator 1700 that prevents over-dispensing of flowable material and allows for accurate metering of a consistent amount of flowable material. The applicator 1700 has a housing 1702 that extends from a proximal end 1704 to a distal end 1706 and a chamber 1708 that holds the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 1702. An outlet 1710 connects the chamber 1708 to the outside environment. A wick 1712 is disposed within the outlet 1710 and protrudes from the outlet 1710. In this example, the wick 1712 may be rigidly fixed to the outlet 1710 and the valve is replaced by a movable piston 1722 that slides within the chamber 1708. The piston 1722 functions as a valve. 16, the piston 1722 has a peripheral seal 1726 that seals against the chamber wall and one or more one-way valves 1730 that prevent the flowable material from passing through the piston 1722 when the piston is moving towards the wick 1712 but allow the flowable material to pass through the piston 1722 when the piston is retracted away from the wick 1712. The one-way valves 1730 in this example are shown as flapper valves or reed valves (i.e., a flexible cantilevered flap covering a hole). A spring 1718 is disposed between the piston 1722 and the wick 1712 and is configured to bias the piston 1722 away from the wick 1712.

[0118] The piston 1722 is manually operated by a user to move the piston 1722 against the biasing force of the spring 1718. Any suitable mechanism can be used to perform such operation. For example, the piston 1722 may be coupled to a rod 1732 that extends through an opening 1734 in the distal end 1706 of the housing 1702. A seal 1736 (e.g., a sliding seal or a gland seal) prevents the flowable material from escaping at the sliding intersection. The rod 1723 may terminate in an enlarged button 1738 at its distal end. A flexible membrane 1740 may also be provided to seal the end of the rod 1723 and provide an additional measure against the flowable material escaping the housing 1702 at this position. In use, the operator presses the button 1738 to move the piston from a retracted position (shown on the right in FIG. 17 ) to an extended position (shown on the left in FIG. 17 ). During this operation, the one-way valve 1730 closes and any flowable medium between the piston 1722 and the wick 1712 is forced into the wick 1712. If desired, additional flow paths and check valves can be provided between the button 1738 and the piston 1722 to force flowable material through the one-way valve 1730 in the piston 1722 as the piston moves to the retracted position, as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 16. Other alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0119] Another problem with current pen applicators is that the flowable material cannot be moved back from the wick to the chamber without flipping the applicator over and pushing down on the wick. Even then, the wick tends to retain the flowable material by capillary action, and atmospheric pressure on the exposed side of the wick is insufficient to overcome this capillary action. This problem is at least partially addressed by the embodiment of Figures 18A and 18B.

[0120] The applicator 1800 has a housing 1802 extending from a proximal end 1804 to a distal end 1806 and a chamber 1808 that holds a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may be provided on the housing 1802. An outlet 1810 connects the chamber 1808 to the outside environment. A wick 1812 is disposed within and protrudes from the outlet 1810. In this example, the wick 1812 may be fixedly secured to the outlet 1810 and the valve is replaced with a movable piston 1822 that slides within the chamber 1808. 16, the piston 1822 has a peripheral seal 1826 which seals against the wall of the chamber, and one or more first one-way valves 1830 which prevent the flowable material from passing through the piston 1822 when the piston is moving towards the wick 1812, but allow the flowable material to pass through the piston 1822 when the piston is retracted away from the wick 1812. The piston 1822 is moveable by an operating rod 1832, and a spring 1818 is provided to bias the piston 1822 away from the wick 1812. Thus, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 17, the piston 1822 is moved by pushing the operating rod 1832 against the biasing force of the spring 1818.

[0121] The piston 1822 also has one or more second one-way valves 1834 configured in an opposite direction to the first one-way valve 1830 (i.e., the second one-way valve 1834 allows the flowable material to pass through the piston 1822 when the piston 1822 is moving toward the wick 1812, but prevents the flowable material from passing through the piston 1822 when the piston 1822 is moving away from the wick 1812). A valve controller 1836 is provided to selectively function either the first one-way valve 1830 or the second one-way valve 1834. In this example, the valve controller 1836 is comprised of a cover pivotally attached to the piston operating rod 1832 and connected to a knob 1838 disposed outside the housing 1802 by a tube 1840 that surrounds the piston operating rod 1832. The position of the piston 1822 is manipulated by pushing down or pulling up on the knob 1838, and the valve controller 1836 is manipulated by rotating the knob 1838. As shown in FIG. 18A, when the valve controller 1836 is oriented over the first one-way valve 1830, the first one-way valve 1830 is inoperative and the second one-way valve 1834 is inoperative. As shown in FIG. 18B, when the valve controller 1836 is oriented over the second one-way valve 1834, the first one-way valve 1830 is inoperative and the second one-way valve 1834 is inoperative. (FIG. 18B is shown without the spring 1818 to show the open position of the first one-way valve 1830.) In use, an operator can push or pull the knob 1838 to move the piston towards or away from the wick 1812 and can further rotate the knob 1838 to operate the valve controller 1836.

[0122] As with the other embodiments, various seals or covers may be provided to prevent the flowable material from leaking around knob 1838. A fixed travel stop (not shown) may be provided inside chamber 1802 to prevent piston 1822 from retracting further than desired. Also, one or more adjustable travel stops, such as screws 1842 and 1844, may be provided to selectively limit the range of piston travel. In this example, a first screw 1842 may be adjusted (e.g., by abutting piston 1822) to limit the distance piston 1822 may be retracted from wick 1812, and a second screw 1844 may be adjusted (e.g., by abutting knob 1838) to limit the distance piston 1822 may be moved toward wick 1812. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0123] The embodiment of Figures 18A and 18B provides a unique advantage in that an operator can manipulate the valve controller 1836 to control whether the piston 1822 pumps the flowable material towards or away from the wick 1812. Thus, the operator can pull back the flowable material from the wick 1812 when it becomes overly saturated or when the priming operation is complete. It will be appreciated that alternative flow control mechanisms can be used in other embodiments. For example, the rotating plate type flow controller 1836 can be replaced with any suitable alternative mechanism, such as a cam operated pin that extends to lock either one-way valve.

[0124] Another problem with conventional pen applicators is that they cannot be used to reach into narrow and deep openings, and even if the applicator is made relatively small, it may not be able to reach around certain corners or other obstacles to apply material to a particular area. Such problems may be at least partially addressed by the embodiments of Figures 19-23.

[0125] FIG. 19 shows an applicator 1900 having a housing 1902 extending from a proximal end 1904 to a distal end 1906 and an extension rod 1922 extending from the proximal end 1904. A wick 1912 extends from the proximal end of the extension rod 1922. The applicator 1900 also includes other features such as a chamber for holding the flowable material, a valve, etc. The extension rod 1922 constitutes a physical extension of the housing 1902 and may be rigid or have some flexibility to allow a user to precisely aim the wick 1912 into a tight space. The housing 1902 may include one or more types of ribs as described in connection with FIG. 9 to improve user maneuverability of the applicator 1900. Any suitable trigger mechanism may be provided to actuate an internal valve to dispense the flowable material. For example, the wick 1912 may extend the entire length of the extension rod 1922 and be movable to actuate a valve disposed within the housing 1902. As another example, the wick 1912 may be slidably held only at the end of the extension rod 1922 and include a push rod for actuating a valve disposed within the housing 1902. As yet another example, the valve may be disposed at the proximal end of the extension housing adjacent the wick 1912 to allow for localized operation by the wick 1912. Alternatively, the extension rod 1922 may be a hollow tube with the wick 1912 secured to the tube lumen and the valve may be disposed within the housing or within the tube near the tip, with the valve being actuated by a trigger on the housing or on the tube. As with other embodiments, a cap 1924 may be provided to cover the wick 1912 when the device is not in use.

[0126] The embodiment of Figure 19 is advantageous when treating surfaces that are deeply recessed. This maneuverability is enhanced by making the extension rod 1922 relatively narrow compared to the housing 1902 and not significantly larger than the wick 1912 (preferably about the same diameter as the wick 1912). In this example, the diameter of the extension rod 1922 is no more than about 20% larger than the maximum diameter of the wick 1912, more preferably no more than 10% larger. Alternatively, the wick 1912 may extend 1-50% or more beyond the diameter of the rod, similar to that of Figure 7, more preferably less than 10%.

[0127] FIG. 19 also illustrates an alternative embodiment of the wick 1912, where the wick 1912 has a stepped shape. The proximal tip 1926 of the wick 1912 is relatively small and flexible enough to bend to fit into tight spaces and corners, while the distal end 1928 of the wick 1912 is relatively large and rigid enough to be pressed against a surface with some force to actuate a valve to deposit the flowable material. A transition portion 1930 of the wick 1912 between the proximal tip 1926 and the distal end 1928 may optionally be shaped to accommodate specific shapes that may be encountered during use of the applicator 1900. For example, the transition portion 1930 may be tapered to facilitate application of the flowable material into a chamfered opening that receives a corresponding cone-shaped fastener head so that the fastener head is mounted flush. In other embodiments, multiple proximal tips 1926 may be used. For example, the wick 1912 may have multiple flexible "fingers" extending in one or more directions from the wick 1912. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. Such wicks may be used in any of the other embodiments described herein.

[0128] 20 shows another embodiment of an applicator 2000 intended for treating remote or relatively hard to reach surfaces. Here, the applicator 2000 has a housing 2002 extending from a proximal end 2004 to a distal end 2006 with a chamber 2008 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 2002. An outlet 2010 connects the chamber 2008 to the outside environment. A flexible hollow tube 2022 extends from the outlet 2010, with a wick 2012 disposed in and projecting from the lumen of the flexible tube. A valve 2014 is operably attached to the proximal end 2004 of the housing 2002, which is movable relative to the distal end 2006 of the housing 2002. For example, the proximal end 2004 may have a piston-like structure that fits into a cylindrical structure formed on the distal end 2006. A seal 2024 may be provided to prevent leakage at this sliding joint. When the distal end 2002 is in the extended position, the valve 2014 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 2016 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 2008 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted within the applicator 2000) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 2008 to the wick 2012. When the proximal end 2004 is in the retracted position, the valve 2014 releases its seal from the first wall 2016 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 2008 to the wick 2012. A spring 2018 is disposed between the valve 2014 and a second wall 2020 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 2008 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted within the applicator 2000). The spring 2018 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that urges the valve 2014 to bias the proximal end 2004 into the extended position.

[0129] In use, an operator can grasp the housing 2002 with one hand and move the proximal end 2004 towards the distal end 2006. This movement unseals the valve 2014 against the biasing force of the spring 2018 and allows the flowable material to move from the chamber 2008 to the wick 2012, thereby wetting the wick 2012. When the user releases pressure, the spring 2018 moves the proximal and distal ends 2004 and 2006 apart so as to reseat the valve and seal the applicator 2000. The user can then orient the wick 2012 into contact with the surface to be coated, either by moving the entire applicator 2000 or by grasping and manipulating the tube adjacent the wick 2012.

[0130] This embodiment provides a relatively simple construction of the applicator 2000 with a flexible attached wick 2012. The lumen 2022 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as a flexible polymer or rubber, and may be filled with a wick material or may be filled with capillaries to inhibit the free flow of flowable material from the wick 2012 when the device is not in use. As with the other embodiments, a flexible cover 2026 may be provided over the wick 2012, which is useful for maneuvering in tight crevices, holes, or other tight spaces with uneven surfaces where the wick 2012 may not be maneuverable, and may be flexible enough to conform to surface irregularities.

[0131] 21A and 21B show another embodiment of an applicator 2100 intended for treating remote or relatively hard to reach surfaces. Here, the applicator 2100 has a housing 2102 extending from a proximal end 2104 to a distal end 2106 with a chamber 2108 for holding the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 2102. An outlet 2110 connects the chamber 2108 to the outside environment. A flexible lumen 2122 extends from the outlet 2110, and a wick 2112 is disposed in and projects from the flexible lumen 2122. A valve 2114 is provided within the housing 2102 for selectively blocking the flow of the flowable material from the chamber 2108 to the wick 2112. In this example, the valve 2114 is operated by a trigger 2124 provided on the side of the housing 2102. The valve 2114 is movable between a first position (FIG. 21A) and a second position (FIG. 21B). In the first position, the valve 2114 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 2116 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 2108 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 2100) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 2108 to the wick 2112. In the second position, the valve 2114 is unsealed from the first wall 2116 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 2108 to the wick 2112. A spring 2118 is disposed between the valve 2114 and a second wall 2120 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 2108 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 2100). The spring 2118 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 2114 to bias the valve 2114 to the first position.

[0132] The trigger 2124 may be configured with any suitable mechanism. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the trigger 2124 includes a cam 2126 coupled to the valve 2114 and a cam driver 2128 movably mounted relative to the housing 2102. The cam driver 2128 is a structure that abuts the cam 2126. The cam driver 2128 is movable between a first position (FIG. 21A) in which the cam driver 2128 moves the valve 2114 to a first (i.e., closed) position and a second position (FIG. 21B) in which the cam driver 2128 pushes the cam 2126 to hold the valve 2114 in a second (i.e., closed) position. The cam driver 2128 may be pivotally, slidably, rotatably, or otherwise movably mounted relative to the housing 2102. In this example, the cam driver 2128 is pivotally mounted to the housing and a return spring 2130 may be provided to bias the cam driver 2128 to the first position. Any suitable seal may be used to prevent leakage of the flowable material around the trigger part. In this example, the seal is provided by a flexible cover 2132 that covers the cam driver 2128. In use, an operator presses the cam driver 2128 to open the valve 2114 and cause the flowable material to be dispensed into the wick 2112.

[0133] 22A and 22B show another embodiment of an applicator 2200 intended for treating remote or relatively hard to reach surfaces. Here, the applicator 2200 has a housing 2202 extending from a proximal end 2204 to a distal end 2206 with a chamber 2208 for holding the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 2202. An outlet 2210 connects the chamber 2208 to the outside environment. A flexible tube 2222 extends from the outlet 2210 to a valve assembly 2224. A wick 2212 protrudes from the valve assembly 2224. The valve assembly 2224 is configured to selectively block the flow of the flowable material from the tube 2222 to the wick 2212. In this example, the valve assembly 2224 includes a valve 2214 movable between a first position (FIG. 22A) and a second position (FIG. 22B). In the first position, the valve 2214 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 2216 to prevent the flowable material from migrating to the wick 2212. In the second position, the valve 2214 unseals from the first wall 2216 to allow the flowable material to migrating to the wick 2212. A spring 2218 is disposed between the valve 2214 and the second wall 2220. The spring 2218 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that urges the valve 2214 to bias the valve 2214 to the first position.

[0134] The valve assembly 2224 includes any mechanism suitable for operating the valve 2214. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the valve assembly 2224 includes a cam 2226 coupled to the valve 2214 and a cam driver 2228 movably mounted to the trigger assembly 2224. The cam driver 2228 is a structure that abuts the cam 2226. The cam driver 2228 is movable between a first position (FIG. 22A) in which the cam driver 2228 can move the valve 2214 to a first (i.e., closed) position and a second position (FIG. 22B) in which the cam driver 2228 pushes the cam 2226 to hold the valve 2214 in a second (i.e., closed) position. The cam driver 2228 may be pivotally, slidably, rotatably, or otherwise movably mounted relative to the valve assembly 2224. In this example, the cam driver 2228 is pivotally mounted to the valve assembly 2224. A return spring (not shown) may be provided to bias the cam driver 2228 to the first position, or such returning motion may be caused by the biasing force of the spring 2218 acting on the cam 2226. Any suitable seals may be used to prevent leakage of the flowable material around the trigger assembly components.

[0135] The applicator 2200 of Figures 22A and 22B is expected to be particularly useful in allowing one-handed operation of the applicator 2200. For example, the trigger assembly 2224 may be configured as a small, rigid housing that an operator can actuate to wet the wick 2212 with the flowable material, then manipulate the tube 2222 to direct the wick 2212 to a desired treatment location, and then manipulate the valve 2214 to dispense more flowable material as needed. The housing 2202 can then be attached to a nearby structure (e.g., scaffolding or a ladder), or a carrying device, or to the operator's body (e.g., via a wrist cuff, etc.), preferably to facilitate gravity feeding of the flowable material. If desired, a second valve may be provided in the housing 2202 to allow for flow shutoff at the housing 2202.

[0136] It will also be appreciated that the side-operated trigger shown in Figures 22A and 22B may be replaced with other trigger mechanisms for operating the valve 2214. For example, the valve assembly 2224 may be configured with a pistol-style grip and trigger. Other alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0137] 23 shows another embodiment of an applicator 2300 intended for treating remote or relatively hard to reach surfaces. Here, the applicator 2300 has a housing 2302 extending from a proximal end 2304 to a distal end 2306 with a chamber 2308 for holding the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 2302. An outlet 2310 connects the chamber 2308 to the outside environment. A flexible lumen 2322 extends from the outlet 2310 to a valve assembly 2324. A wick 2312 protrudes from the valve assembly 2324. The valve assembly 2324 is configured to selectively block the flow of flowable material from the lumen 2322 to the wick 2312. In this example, the valve assembly 2324 includes a piston 2326 that slides within a cylinder 2328. The piston 2326 is sealed to the cylinder 2328 by a peripheral seal (not shown) and has one or more one-way valves 2330 that allow flowable material to move from the lumen 2322 towards the wick 2312 but prevent flowable material from going the other direction. A spring 2318 is disposed within the cylinder 2328 and configured to bias the piston 2326 away from the wick 2312. A check valve 2332 couples the lumen 2322 to the cylinder 2328 and is configured to allow flowable material to move from the lumen 2322 to the cylinder 2328 but prevent flow in the reverse direction.

[0138] The trigger assembly 2324 also includes a push rod 2334 extending from the piston 2326 to a plunger 2336 located in a position convenient for an operator. One or more triggers 2338 may be located on the trigger assembly 2324 adjacent to the plunger 2336. The piston 2326 is operated by grasping the plunger 2336 and trigger 2338 in one hand and squeezing them together against the biasing force of the spring 2318. This causes the piston 2326 to move towards the wick 2312 while the one-way valve 2330 remains closed, forcing the flowable material towards the wick 2312. When the plunger 2336 and trigger 2338 are released, the spring 2318 moves the piston 2326 away from the wick 2312 and the one-way valve 2330 opens, allowing the flowable material to pass through the one-way valve 2330. During the return stroke, check valve 2332 closes to prevent flowable material from flowing out of cylinder 2328 and into lumen 2322 .

[0139] The use of such a trigger assembly 2324 at the end of the lumen 2322 is expected to provide the advantage of regulating the flow rate of the flowable material while minimizing the amount of flowable material remaining between the valve and the wick 2312. This reduces the amount of flowable material that may leak from the applicator 2300 when the applicator 2300 is not in use.

[0140] If desired, the trigger assembly 2324 may be configured or formed with an extension rod 2340 to allow for remote manipulation and manipulation of the wick 2312. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 23, an operator can hold and use the plunger 2336 and trigger 2338 to direct the wick 2312 into tight spaces or under overhangs.

[0141] FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of an applicator 2400 intended for treating remote or relatively hard to reach surfaces. Here, the applicator 2400 has a housing 2402 extending from a proximal end 2404 to a distal end 2406 with a chamber 2408 for holding the flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 2402. An outlet 2410 connects the chamber 2408 to the external environment. A flexible lumen 2422 extends from the outlet 2410 to a valve assembly 2424. A wick 2412 protrudes from the valve assembly 2424. The valve assembly 2424 is configured to selectively block the flow of flowable material from the lumen 2422 to the wick 2412. In this example, the valve assembly 2424 includes a flexible chamber 2426 located between an upstream check valve 2428 and a downstream check valve 2430. The chamber can be squeezed by the operator to force its contents past the downstream check valve 2430 and into the wick 2412. During such squeezing, the upstream check valve 2428 prevents the flowable material from passing back into the flexible lumen 2422. When the chamber 2426 is released, it returns to its original shape and is refilled by drawing the flowable material through the upstream check valve 2428. The check valves 2428, 2430 may comprise any suitable one-way valve. The downstream check valve 2430 is preferably comprised of a one-way valve that is normally biased to a closed position, such as by a spring 2432, to prevent fluid from leaking out when no squeeze pressure is applied to the chamber 2426. The illustrated chamber 2426 comprises a bulb-shaped chamber that is flexible around its entire circumference. Alternative chambers 2426 may be only partially flexible, such as the chamber described in connection with FIG. 14 herein.

[0142] The use of a valve at the end of a flexible lumen, as shown in Figures 22A-24, is expected to provide the advantage of regulating the flow rate of the flowable material while minimizing the amount of flowable material remaining between the valve and the wick. This reduces the amount of flowable material that may leak from the applicator when the applicator is not in use. However, in each example, the applicator may be modified to include a valve in the housing, as shown in Figures 20-21B, to provide a redundant flow regulation mechanism. It will also be understood that the valve mechanism shown in Figures 22A-24 may be used in embodiments that do not have a flexible lumen. For example, the valve-type chamber 2426 and associated valve of Figure 24 may be attached directly to the proximal end of the housing without an intervening flexible lumen.

[0143] 25 shows another embodiment of an applicator 2500 configured for use in tight spaces. The applicator 2500 includes a housing 2502 extending from a proximal end 2504 to a distal end 2506 and a chamber 2508 for holding a flowable material. A collar (not shown) or other feature may also be provided on the housing 2502. An outlet 2510 connects the chamber 2508 to the outside environment. A wick 2512 is disposed within the outlet 2510 and protrudes therefrom. A valve 2514 is operably attached to the distal end of the wick 2512, either directly or via an intermediary, for movement therewith. The wick 2512 is slidable within the outlet 2510 between an extended position and a retracted position. When the wick 2512 is in the extended position, the valve 2514 abuts and seals against a corresponding first wall 2516 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 2508 or a surface of a valve subassembly mounted in the applicator 2500) to prevent the flowable material from migrating from the chamber 2508 to the wick 2512. When the wick 2512 is in the retracted position, the valve 2514 unseals from the first wall 2516 to allow the flowable material to migrating from the chamber 2508 to the wick 2512. A spring 2518 is disposed between the valve 2514 and a second wall 2520 (e.g., a wall of the chamber 2508 or a surface of a valve assembly mounted in the applicator 2500). The spring 2518 is compressed to generate a resilient biasing force that pushes the valve 2514 to urge the wick 2512 to the extended position.

[0144] In this example, the discharge housing 2502 includes a flexible section 2522 located between the distal end 2506 of the housing 2502 and the proximal end 2504 of the housing 2502. The flexible section 2522 comprises an area where the housing 2502 is sufficiently flexible to allow the proximal end 2504, and therefore the wick 2512, to change orientation relative to the distal end 2506. The flexible section 2522 may, for example, be a bellows-like cylindrical section of the housing 2502 located between the valve 2514 and the distal end 2506. In this example, the bellows can be bent to change orientation of the wick 2512 and the valve 2514. The bellows may be an integral part of the housing 2502, or may have a thin wall thickness to facilitate bending. The bellows or other flexible section 2522 may alternatively be a separate piece, such as a flexible boot, that is attached to the remainder of the housing. Other alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0145] It will be understood that all of the above embodiments may or may not be used in conjunction with a small sized wick, and that this feature is not specifically required for any embodiment.

[0146] It will also be understood that the features described herein are described in exemplary schematic configurations, and that each embodiment may include more sophisticated mechanisms or mechanisms having different shapes and sizes. For example, the valve mechanisms shown herein are generally shown in schematic form, but may be replaced with any suitable corresponding mechanism or subassembly having any number of operating parts. Non-limiting examples of alternative valve mechanisms are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,702,753, 5,702,759, 4,848,947, 4,685,820, and 4,792,252, which are incorporated herein by reference. As another example, various fasteners and connecting parts may be provided to attach the parts to each other. For example, retainer clips, pins, adhesives, etc. may be provided to secure the valve to the wick when the parts need to move together, and the wick or other moving parts may have other features to prevent them from stretching or retracting beyond desired travel limits. As another example, the springs described in the various embodiments may be comprised of any suitable springs, with example options including non-tapered and tapered helical springs, Belleville washer type springs, cantilever leaf springs, elastomeric blocks, etc. Additionally, the springs may be mounted to act in compression or tension. Other alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0147] The present disclosure describes numerous inventive features and / or combinations of features that may be used alone, in combination with each other, or in combination with other techniques. The embodiments described herein are all exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. It will also be understood that the invention described herein can be modified and adapted in various ways, and all such modifications and adaptations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a housing (302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102, 1902) having a chamber (308, 408, 508, 608, 708, 808, 1008, 1108), an outlet (310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 1010, 1110), a valve (314, 414, 514, 614, 714, 814, 1014, 1114) movable between a closed position in which the outlet is not in fluid communication with the chamber and an open position in which the outlet is in fluid communication with the chamber, and a valve spring (318, 418, 518, 618, 718, 818, 1018, 1118) configured to bias the valve towards the closed position; a wick (312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912, 1012, 1112, 1912) movably coupled to the housing and configured to transfer an axial load to the valve to move the valve from the closed position to the open position, the wick being made of a material suitable for receiving fluid from the outlet and discharging the fluid out of the housing; A means for supporting the wick and / or increasing the rigidity of the wick (322, 422, 522, 622, 722, 824, 922, 1021, 1124, 1922, 1930); In an applicator having The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a tip portion (1004) and a handle portion (1006), the tip portion being movable relative to the handle portion.

2. 2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for supporting and / or increasing the rigidity of the wick comprises a tube (322, 522, 622, 824, 922, 1922) surrounding at least a portion of the wick.

3. The applicator of claim 2 , wherein the tube surrounding the wick has one or more lateral openings (324, 530, 626, 924) extending through a wall of the tube.

4. The applicator of claim 3 , wherein the one or more lateral openings are located on an exterior side of the housing.

5. The applicator of claim 3 , wherein the one or more lateral openings are disposed on an interior side of the housing.

6. 6. The applicator of claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the wick is movably attached to the tube between an extended position and a retracted position, and a wick spring (526) is operably disposed between the wick and the tube and configured to bias the wick to the extended position.

7. The applicator of claim 6 , wherein the wick spring has a lower spring constant than the valve spring.

8. The applicator of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the wick comprises a selected one of various wicks (812', 812'', 812''', 812'''', 812''''', and the various wicks are interchangeably connectable to the tube.

9. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the means for supporting and / or increasing the rigidity of the wick comprises an internal support (422, 1124) at least partially surrounded by the wick.

10. The applicator of claim 9 , wherein the wick and internal support are angled at a non-zero angle relative to the outlet.

11. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the tip portion is attached to the handle portion by a rotary coupling (1022).

12. 2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the wick and / or increasing the stiffness of the wick comprises an inner bundle of fibers forming a first portion of the wick having a greater stiffness than a second portion of the wick having an outer layer, the outer layer being comprised of a covering or coating of raw material or fibers that have been chemically and / or mechanically treated to reduce the stiffness of the outer layer.

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