# US 5,702,759 A · Applicator for flowable materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,759 A - Document ID: US5702759A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/483,226 - Filed: 1995-06-07 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-23 - Assignees: Henkel Corporation - Inventors: Robert Ashton White; Lester Steinbrecher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702759A ## CPC - C23C 22/00: Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals - B43K 5/1845: {opened by actuation of the writing point (nibs with ball points with resilient supporting means, e.g. acting as a valve B43K1/086)} - B43K 23/122: {with means for preventing choking} - B43M 11/08: of the fountain-pen type - B43M 99/006: {with more than one penholder} - C23C 22/73: characterised by the process - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - B43K: IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING (containers, casings or accessories for cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soap, lipstick, make-up A45D34/00, A45D40/00) - B43M: BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (stapling devices B25C5/00; devices for temporarily attaching sheets together B42F) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an applicator for flowable materials which comprises a generally cylindrical housing having a chamber, a discharge opening, a wick projecting through said discharge opening, and a projecting structure for shielding the user from flowable materials and for preventing placement of the applicator in inappropriate receptacles. Further, the present invention relates to a storage and shipping rack for said applicators and to a method of dispensing flowable materials onto a surface. Preferably, the applicator is filled with metal coating and treating compositions such as aqueous acidic chromate compositions. Most preferably, the acidic compositions contain a very low concentration of a fluorinated surfactant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of repairing a damaged area of a conversion coating on a metal surface, comprising: a) introducing a flowable material into a reservoir of an applicator for flowable material, said applicator having means for dispensing said material and applying it to a damaged area of a metal surface, and said applicator having an outwardly projecting guard structure, and b) contacting said dispensing means with said damaged area to apply said flowable material onto said damaged area to repair the conversion coating on said damaged area by flowing over said damaged area wherein said flowable material comprises an aqueous acidic composition for forming a conversion coating on a metal surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said projecting guard structure is manufactured from transparent materials. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising applying said material to said damaged area by moving said applicator while in contact with said damaged area, whereby flowable material is dispensed onto said damaged area upon movement of said applicator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said composition is selected from the group consisting of non-accelerated chromium chromate, chromium chromate accelerated with ferricyanide, ferrocyanide or molybdate, chromium phosphate, and mixture thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein following the application of said composition over said damaged area, a film of said composition covers said damaged area, and said damaged area is rinsed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said composition further comprises fluoride ion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said composition further comprises a functionally effective amount of a fluorinated surfactant, to provide a more even flow of said composition during dispensing of it from said applicator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, said composition comprising from about 0.0001% to about 3% by volume of said fluorinated surfactant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising from about 0.01% to about 1% by volume of a fluorinated surfactant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising from about 0.01% to about 0.05% by volume of a fluorinated surfactant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said flowable material comprises zinc phosphate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said flowable material comprises an aqueous solution of a) polyacrylic acid and esters thereof, and b) at least one acid selected from the group consisting of fluozirconic, fluotitanic, and fluosilicic acids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said flowable material comprises an aqueous solution of a) polyacrylic acid and esters thereof, and b) chromium chromate.