Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
A SUBSTANCE APPLYING APPARATUS
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substance applying apparatus. 1t has long
been. known, with respect to the application of substances, to hold in
readiness a first
component of the substance in a first chamber and an additional component of
the sub-
stance in a second chamber and to effect mixing of the two components in the
two
chambers by applying a pressure such that a structure adapted to maintain the
two
components separate from one another is broken through to thereby permit
mixing of
the two components within the two chambers. An example of such an arrangement
is
disclosed in DE-AS 2 024 402:
Substance applying apparatus having application elements have, in any event,
long been known, whereby, for example, such a device is disclosed in DE-GM 92
189
49. Via side holes in an inner tube, a fluid connection between the inner
space of the
inner tube and the inner space of the outer tube is produced: This arrangement
is sui-
table for cosmetic products. If the application scenario requires storage of
the substan-
ce component in the inner space of the inner tube separate from the substance
com-
ponent in the inner space of the outer tube, however, this solution is less
suitable. .
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
- 2 -
It is further known in DE-OS 44 158 54 to provide a mixing and application cap-
sule for dental purposes. With this arrangement, the substance components are
united
with one another by the puncture, with a sharp element, of a film between the
substan-
ce components.
r
Numerous other substance applying apparatus are known. Thus, for example, it
has been proposed to maintain an application element in a submerged condition
in a
fluid, whereupon, upon application of a downward pressure on the fluid
retaining con-
tainer, an additional fluid is permitted to flow thereinto in the manner of an
overspill acti-
on, in order to thereby place in readiness the substance which is to be
applied. This ar-
rangement requires, in any event, two separate sealing off systems so that a
not in-
considerable effort is required to configure the arrangement. A plurality of
sealing loca-
tions brings with it, in any event, a correspondingly large susceptibility to
damage and
storage instability.
It has further been proposed, in German Patent Application 199 56 705.0, to di-
spose an application element with a wetting body partially in an inner tube
and to di-
spose the inner tube in an outer tube. By means of an application of pressure
on the
application element, a fluid connection between the inner space of the inner
tube and
the inner space of the outer tube is produced. The arrangement basically
offers a good
and simple sealing off of the two substance components to be held in readiness
for
eventual combination together to form the substance to be applied. To be sure,
the ou-
ter tube must be produced with a somewhat elastic material in preparation for
the de-
ployment of a sealing lip, in order to ensure a fluid tight disposition of the
sealing lip
between the inner tube and the outer tube. On the other hand, it is important
that the
substance to be received in the inner space of the outer tube can also be
stored therein
in a secure manner for a long time. In order to achieve this goal, a
substantially large
wall thickness must be provided.
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
3 -
In certain applications, additionally, solvents such as acetone, ethyl aicohdl
and
so forth are deployed as the substance components. Such solvents exhibit an
excepti-
onally high vapor pressure and diffuse through the outer tube, even if the
walls thereof
have a substantially large wall thickness.
To be sure, it has become conventionally known to limit a high vapor pressure
by the addition of additional coatings such as, for example, a metallic
coating. The pro-
blem with this arrangement is that double-coated materials are problematic due
to the
proocessing and disposal issues involved therewith and, moreover, a corrlplete
blocking off of the vapor pressure is not possible. To be sure, the metallic
coating can
also be applied on an interior surface. !n that event, however, the metallic
coating ex-
tends over the sealing lips disposed therein so that the sealing effect is
thereby redu-
ced. At the same time, the application of a metallic coating adds to the
production ex-
pense of the substance applying apparatus, whereby the production costs of
such devi-
ces in connection with the realization of a single dose unit is of particular
importance.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention offers a solution to the challenge of providing a
substance
applying apparatus which is cost favorable in its production and which is
operable to
apply a substance, with the substance applying apparatus being suitable as
wall for
storing the to be applied substance components therein for more than one year
at~d for
applying substances having a high vapor pressure.
In accordance with the present invention, it is especially advantageous that
the
fom~ation of the inner tube of a soft material permits the sealing off
function to be ensu-
red solely by the inner tube itself and permits the formation of the outer
tube ftom a
non-yielding and highly non-porous material. This arrangement is cost
favorable for the
reason that the wall thickness of the outer tube can be reduced while,
however, storage
stability is available due to the improved vapor pressure sealing off ability.
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
4
The desired softness and deformability of the inner tube, in accordance with
the
present invention, permits flexibility in the material choices as well as the
configuration
choices of the inner tube. If a deformation element exerts a one-sided radial
force on
the bottom of the inner tube or on a region adjacent to the bottom of the
infer tube, the
inner tube collapses thereat, at least partially, so that the sealing off
between the inner
tube and the outer tube is lost in the desired manner.
In accordance with the present invention, it is preferable if the sealing lip
is for-
med in an annular shape in the region adjacent the bottom of the inner tube
and ex-
tends outwardly. The wall of the outer tube can thereby be formed, in the
interior of the
outer tube, with a completely smooth surface up to the location of the
deformation ele-
ment.
In accordance with the present invention, it is particularly advantageous if
the
bottom of the inner tube is configured to be significantly thin. Due to a one-
sided and
massive wedge, which forms the deformation element, a correspondingly thin
bottom of
the inner tube can be deformed in the application operation, even if the
material proper-
ties of the substance components in the inner tube and the outer tube differ
only slightly
from one another. To this extent, the formulation of a tube to be "softer" is
also to be
understood to include the concept of being "more yielding" and, as required,
the inner
tube can alternatively be comprised of a substantially hard material, it being
understood
that the prerequisite therefor is that the desired seating off function must
still be ensu-
red.
In accordance with a particularly favorable embodiment of the substance app-
lying apparatus of the present invention, the deformation element or the
deformation
body is disposed on the side of the inner wall of the outer tube and extends
in a pro-
gressively sharper manner in the direction toward the bottom of the inner
tube. The ra-
dial depth of the deformation element increases continuously in a direction
toward the
bottom of the outer tube and, in the region of the inner tube, approaches
substantially
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
- 5 -
zero radial depth. in this manner, the resistance ofi the inner tube to
insertion along the
deformation element is substantially small and the deformation of the inner
tube occurs
in a gradual manner as the inner tube is inserted downwardly.
The deformation element, on its outer side can either be ball shaped or have a
cutting portion. !n the configuration of the deformation element with a
cutting portion, it
is also possible to exploit the hard material properties of the outer tube
such that the
bottom of the inner tube, or especially, one or more sealing rings, are
normally cut. In
this arrangement, the openings in the inner tube can be dispensed with,
whereby it is to
be understood that suitable desired deformation elements can be deployed in
order to
produce a fluid connection between the inner space of the inner tube and the
inner spa-
ce of the outer tube.
It is also possible to configure the sealing ring as an O-ring which is
disposed in
a groove on the inner tube. In this arrangement, the cutting portion can cut
the O-ring.
The O-ring retracts along its longitudinal extent and thereby makes available
for fluid
passage therethrough a region in which the fluid can flow through the openings
into the
inner space ofi the inner tube.
It is to be understood that the groove should be so configured that the
cutting
operation of the cutting portion is not hindered but, instead, is facilitated.
Even in the event that an asymmetric deformation element is preferred, it is
pos-
sible without additional structure to provide two deformation bodies disposed
in oppo-
sed arrangement to one another and cooperating together to pinch the inner
tube and
thereby produce a space or gap in the form of an overflow channel between the
inner
space of the inner tube and the inner space of the outer tube. It is
additionally further
possible, without additional structure, to configure the deformation body in a
suitable
desired configuration, whereby it is preferred that an inner corner extends
immediately
adjacent the deformation body which permits an overflow to flow therealong
toward the
bottom of the inner tube.
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
6 -
The application element comprises a wetting body which, as required, is either
already provided with a reaction substance, or is provided with a reaction
substance
before the application operation. The wetting body can be configured in a
suitably des-
ired manner as, for example, a brush or a foam body which is connected Qr
coupled to
a stock of the application element.
It is also possible that the application element is itself separately deployed
and
thus a different combination of substance components can be placed in
readiness for
subsequent mixing together to form the substance to be applied, whereby
advantage
can be taken of the fact that the substance applying apparatus can also be
sealed off
without an application element therein.
Further advantages, details and features are described in the hereinafter-
follo-
wing description of an embodiment Of the substance applying apparatus of the
present
invention taken in connection with the figures of the drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The object and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly
from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying
schematic dra-
wings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a generally schematic view of one embodiment of the substance
applying apparatus of the present invention whereby the applicati-
on element has been omitted and whereby the inner tube is di-
sposed in an outward condition relative to the outer tube;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the one embodiment of the substance applying ap-
paratus shown in Figure 1, whereby the application element has
been inserted into the tube;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of fihe one embodiment of the substance applying ap-
paratus shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby a pressure has already
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
been exerted on the application element and the inner tube has
been inserted into the outer tube;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the one embodiment of the substance applying ap-
paratus shown in Figures 1-3, whereby the inner tupe has been
completely inserted into the outer tube and the wetting body of the
application element has been wetted with the substance;
Fig. 5 is a top plan sectional view of a deformation element in the
arrangement
of the outer tube; and
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the substance applying ap-
paratus of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
As seen in Figure 1, one embodiment of the substance applying apparatus of
the present invention, hereinafter, the substance applying apparatus 10,
comprises an
outer tube 12 which forms a housing. An inner tube 14 is guided within the
substantial-
ly flask or bucket-shaped outer tube and is configured in a special manner in
accordan-
ce with the present invention. The inner tube 14 is particularly configured to
receive
therein an application element 16, which can be seen in Figure 2, and which is
provi-
ded with a wetting body 18.
The outer tube 12 is longer than the inner tube 14 and is provided, in its
bottom
region, with a fluid 20 which is available for the preparation of the
substance to be app-
lied.
The inner tube 14 seals off an area or region of the outer tube 12 - namely,
the
inner space of the outer tube. The inner tube 14 comprises in this connection
a sealing
lip 24 (see Figure 6) which extends in an annular manner and is disposed
adjacent the
bottom 26 of the inner tube 14. The inner tube 14 is, in the illustrated
embodiment,
comprised of plastic and the outer tube 12 is comprised of glass. The sealing
tip 24
can seal off the smooth inner wall of the outer tube 12 in a good seal-tight
manner.
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
The inner tube 14 comprises two relatively large openings 28 and 30 which ex-
tend in a side-wise manner along the wall of the inner tube to a location
adjacent the
bottom 26 of the inner tube. These openings permit the easy and rapid through
flow of
the fluid 20 upon the insertion of the inner tube 14 into the outer tube 12.
r,
A deformation element 34 is provided to effect a fluid connection between the
in-
ner space of the inner tube 14 and the inner space of the outer tube 12. The
deformati-
on element 34 is, in the illustrated embodiment, configured as a wedge and has
.the
configuration as shown in Figure 5. The wedge extends from the bottom 26 of
the in-
ner tube 14, in the condition thereof shown in Figure 1, to the bottom 36 of
the outer tu-
be 12.
While Figure 2 shows the manner in which the application element 16 with the
wetting body 18~is inserted into the inner tube, Figure 3 shows the overflow
of the fluid
20 into the inner tube 14. The inner tube 14 is moved at the same time into
the outer
tube 12 due to the application of pressure on the application element 16 in
the direction
of the wedge 36 as shown in Figure 3. ,In this connection, the inner tube
comprises an
engagement shoulder 56, which has a diameter which is somewhat less than the
dia-
meter of a sealing periphery 58 of the application element 16. It is thus
possible ~to
exert pressure in this manner on the inner tube 14 without the necessity for a
pointed
element 54 to contact the bottom 26 of the inner tube.
As can be seen in Figure 4, the wetting body 18 is intensively wetted with the
substance 20 and the substance 20 is applied via the application element 16,
fn this
operational condition, the substance applying apparatus 10 forms a bucket
configurati-
on for the application of the substance, whereby multiple immersions of the
wetting bo-
dy 18 are possible without further structure.
Figure 5 shows the particular manner in which the deformation element can be
confgured. In the illustrated embodiment, the deformation element 34 is
substantially
wedge-shaped with two points or apexes 35 and 37, which makes possible a
reduced
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
_ g _
sliding resistance upon the sliding thereover of the bottom 26 of the inner
tube 14 along
the deformation element 34. It can be seen that the deformation element is
provided
along its sides with inner corners 39 and 41, which make possible an easy flow
through
of a substance into the inner space of inner tube 14.
In Figure 6, another embodiment of the substance applying apparatus of the pre-
sent invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the inner tube 14 comprises
a sealing
off ring 38, from which. a projection 40 extends outwardly. A sealing lip is
formed .
thereat such that a sealing off is ensured upon the disposition of the
application ele-
ment 16 therein.
The application element 16 includes a grip 42. The grip 42 extends into a
thickened portion 58, which is connected with a shaft 44. In this embodiment,
the wet-
ting body is configured as a micro-brush 50. The micro-brush 50 comprises a
flocked
portion so that numerous tousled brush hairs 52 extend outwardly. .
The micro-brush 50 terminates in a substantially blunt end 54. This permits,
as
well, a force transmission or carryover of force to the bottom 26 of the
narrow tube 14
and, thus, an insertion of the inner tube 14 to effect activation of the
substance app-
lying apparatus, if an engagement shoulder 56 is not provided.
As required, a reaction substance can be provided on the micro-brush 50, pre-
ferably in the manner of a salt deposited on the micro-brush. In this
embodiment, a ta-
per 60 or notch is provided underneath the engagement shoulder 56, which
offers the
possibility to bend the shaft 44 relative to the grip 42. In this
configuration of the appli-
cation element a plastic or permanent deformation is possible. ft is also
possible in this
configuration to deform the bottom 26 of the inner tube via the deformation
element 34
in order to initiate the wetting of the micro-brush 50 with the substance 20.
The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority
document 101 19 480.3-24.
CA 02374560 2002-03-05
-
The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific
disclosure
of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications
within the
scope of the appended claims.
