US Patent 10172432 Applicator for semi-solid materials

An applicator for a stick product, such as lip balm, has a generally tubular housing closed at one end by an elastomeric base cap and at the other by an end cap. The base cap is connected to one end of a plunger shaft, and at the other end the shaft is connected to a tray holding a semi-solid mass of the stick product. The end cap is in the form of a mold so that the stick product may be molded onto the tray in situ. The end cap locks to the housing to cover the semi-solid mass, and when removed the base cap (e. g. durometer 70A), which is bistable, having two relaxed configurations, may be depressed to move the mass out of the housing. The plunger and stick product are easily replaced.