TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the area of products used in the act of dispensing a fluid. It also relates to the area of mitts or gloves used in a fluid application process. More particularly, it relates to hand-worn articles in which a material is supplied in a fluid state to assist in a cleaning or application operation. The present invention additionally relates to the packaging, display, and storage of such articles. As described in the above-incorporated documents, the applicator can be used in a personal cleaning application in which a fluid is applied onto the skin of the user to perform a certain task, such as cleaning the skin or applying a product to the skin, such as a sunscreen product. Also, the present applicator can dispense a fluid for non-personal use, such as car care products which can be dispensed onto a car surface, such as a leather seat. The fluid can thus be a leather conditioner that can be applied to the leather seat. Other fluids to be dispensed can be cleaning products for inanimate object, such as windows, floors, etc.

BACKGROUND

The convenience of combining a hand-mounted device with a brushing, cleaning, wiping, polishing, or material application function may be generally appreciated as such wearable products free the user from the necessity of actively gripping a cloth, sponge, or other loose material.

A number of attempts have been made to produce such hand-mounted devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 19,188 to Evans shows a flexible hand-mounted curry comb for use in the grooming of livestock. U.S. Pat. No. 674,913 to Fike shows a hand-mounted glove with an internal pocket devised to hold soap or medicated material, so that the glove may be dipped in water to activate the enclosed material. U.S. Pat. No. 722,863 to Lodge discloses a cleaning mitt in which a stack of facing layers may be successively exposed.

U.S. Pat. No. 836,181 to Cray reveals a washing glove with an external fluid supply line and an integral fluid reservoir. U.S. Pat. No. 1,161,719 to Norton details a hand-worn device with integrated, perforated reservoirs from which fluid materials may be actively and electively expressed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,732 to Cahill describes a disposable glove with rupturable reservoirs carrying lotion, liquid or balm. U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,881 to Murray provides for a disposable cleaning mitt with an initially sealed container holding a pad permeated with a cleaning solution.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,172 to Myren illustrates a cleaning glove with a reservoir refillable through a valve. U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,251 to Davis shows a hand-worn dispenser with fingertip applicators that may be individually opened or capped to regulate the dispensing pattern. U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,155 discloses a sealed disposable mitt with a moistened face and a drying face. U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,785 to Otten et al. depicts a glove with a plurality of individual reservoirs arranged in a dimpled relief pattern so that a degree of user control is allowed over the amount and location of the encapsulated agent that is released.

By reference to the examples above, it may be generally understood that there has been a longstanding interest in systems which integrate a hand-worn article with consumable cleaning materials. It may also be appreciated that the inclusion of a fluid carrier within a hand-worn article, whether for water of other liquid formulation, can enhance the utility and convenience of such a device.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a portable fluid dispensing device (system) for mounting upon a human hand and for dispensing a fluid is provided. The device includes a hand-held applicator that includes a pocket that is configured to receive one hand of a user. The pocket partitions the hand-held applicator into a rear portion and a front portion. The rear portion includes a fluid reservoir for holding a fluid that is to be dispensed and the rear portion includes a first layer and a second layer that are fluidly sealed to one another such that the fluid reservoir is formed between the first and second layers. The front portion is defined by a foam layer that has a dispensing hole, with the pocket being defined between the second layer and the foam layer. The device further includes a pump subassembly that is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and includes an elongated fluid dispensing outlet that is disposed within the pocket and attached to an inner surface of the foam layer. The fluid dispensing outlet defines a fluid channel and includes an outlet that is aligned with the dispensing hole for delivering the fluid to an outer surface of the foam layer.

