Roll-on applicating package with sealing cap

Claim 1

A roll-on applicating package adapted to contain and dispense products incorporating a liquid having a very low surface tension, said package comprising: a container comprising a body portion adapted to receive the product and having an integrally formed upper portion which includes an applicator socket terminating in a lip; a spheroidal applicator element rotatably disposed within said socket with said lip circumscribing and thereby enclosing a major portion of said applicator element within said socket; a closure telescoped over and enclosing said socket and applicator element, said closure comprising a topwall, a depending skirt-like sidewall, and a depending rib formed integrally on the interior peripheral portion of said topwall, and having mounted therein a porous, absorptive insert having a lower surface which is in intimate contact with said lip along substantially its entire perimeter; means to affix said closure to said container when said closure is in telescoped condition; and means to establish a continuous primary mechanical seal between the said applicator element and the said socket and adapted to resist leakage of said product therethrough when said closure is in telescoped condition; said absorptive insert comprising a microporous polymer which is chemically unreactive with said product and has an open cellular structure, a void volume in the range of from about 50% to about 95%, a median cell size of from about 10 to about 100 microns, a median pore size of from about 1 to about 30 microns, and a stress of compression in the range of from about 8 to about 15 kilograms/cm. 2 and which possesses capillary attraction with said liquid of a magnitude sufficient to cause preferential migration of said liquid into said microporous polymer rather than spreading on the exterior surface of said container when said liquid is in contact with both, whereby upon application of said closure into telescoped condition the compressibility characteristics of said microporous polymer permit sufficient penetration by said depending rib to insure that said insert is brought into intimate contact with said lip such that fugitive liquid which may leak through said primary seal when said closure is in telescoped condition is absorbed and held within said insert as a result of said capillary attraction.