Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
2C563gO
Applicator for applyina resin~ and la~a~ers
Technical Field
This invention concerns an applicator for applying~
resins and lacquers, particularly nail polish,
according to the preamble of claim 1.
State of the art
An applicator of the above type is disclosed in
the German published patent application DE-OS 35 20
523. The applicator has a tip to which liquid can be
compulsorily supplied in a precise dose. For this
purpose there is, in the liquid reservoir, a
displaceable piston which is displaced by a certain
amount towards and onto the applicator tip each time a
knob disposed at the rear of the applicator is
operated. The liquid reservoir has an outlet sealed by
a check valve, said outlet being connected with the
applicator tip. An activating rod operable from the
outside by means of the press knob extends coaxially to
and through the liquid reservoir, and is intended to
open the check valve. The activating rod is passed
through the piston and is connected with the latter via
a sort of one-way coupling in such a manner that when
the activating rod is displaced to open the check
valve, the piston is also displaced, but remains in the
liquid reservoir when the activating rod is retracted.
The disadvantage of this design is that the piston has
to be doubly sealed against the wall of the liquid
reservoir on the one hand, and against the activating
rod on the other hand. Moreover, it is scarcely
possible to dose the liquid delivered to the applicator
tip in as small a quantity as required since in any
2 2C56390
case, a minimum path is required for the activating rod
to open the check valve. Around this minimum path, the
piston is displaced each time downwards.
A similar applicator is disclosed in the English
patent application GB 21 50 424. The applicator has a
reservoir which is sealed by a piston. Connected with
the piston is an activating rod which extends away from
the reservoir. Along the activating rod is disposed a
delivery mechanism which rotates the activating rod,
which has a screw, by a small amount when a knob at the
end of the applicator is depressed. Although this
applicator does allow finer dosing it evident that an
improbable number of individual parts are required for
its production.
Both of the above-mentioned applicators are not
well suited to be carried in handbags because of the
risk of unintentionally and repeatedly operating the
button.
The German published patent application 22 07 288
discloses another applicator. In it, a liquid
reservoir is also sealed with a longitudinally
displaceable piston, on which a threaded rod extends
away from the liquid reservoir. Disposed around the
threaded rod is a jacket with an inner thread, which is
formed as a rotary disk at the end of the applicator.
By rotating this disk, the piston is displaced along
the liquid reservoir. It is scarcely possible to
achieve accurate dosing with this embodiment, eg. by
displacing the piston forwards in a stepwise manner.
Since the piston can be displaced both forwards and
backwards with the rotary disk there is no guarantee
that on each rotation for a forward movement liquid is
actually delivered. This applicator is however of a
3 2CS6390
simple construction. To longitudinally displace the
piston, the latter must not turn around its axis.
However there is a certain unreliability in the
functioning since such rotation is to be prevented
merely by the friction of the piston on the wall of the
liquid reservoir.
Disclosure of the invention
lo It is the task of this invention to propose an
applicator of the above-mentioned type with which it is
possible to achieve an accurate dosing and with which
no unintentional forward movements of the piston occur.
Moreover, the piston should be of a very simple
construction.
This task is solved with an applicator which has
the features listed in the characterizing part of claim
1.
Preferred embodiments of the applicator are
characterized in the dependent claims.
The simple constructional features of the
applicator, with a rotary knob which can be operated
from the outside whose rotary movement is translated
via a thread into an axial movement of the piston,
whilst the halting means built into the rotary knob
allow a stepwise forward movement of the piston thus
achieving a defined, portion-wise delivery of nail
polish, ensure simple and reliable operation and highly
reliable ~unctioning.
A preferred embodiment intends the reservoir with
the brush and the cap covering the brush to be designed
as a replacement unit. The replacement unit takes
environmental considerations into account since the
applicator is not designed as a disposable article, and
4 2~56390
all the parts of the applicator not subject to wear due
to use are simultaneously replaceable without any
danger of pollution.
A further advantage of the applicator according to
the invention is that different replacement units,
containing different colours of nail polish for
example, can be inserted into the applicator as
required. A replacement unit can be changed at any
time. The remaining content and colour may either be
viewed directly on the transparent reservoir or, in the
case of one replacement unit inserted, can be read in a
display window.
In embodiments without a replacement unit, the
level and, depending on the location of the opening,
the colour of the content of the reservoir can be made
visible by contriving a slit-shaped opening which
extends along the housing.
These said displays are important since it may be
assumed that a fully transparent applicator is not
highly desirable in the cosmetics field.
Short description_of the drawinqs
The applicator of the invention will be described
in more detail, by way of example, with reference to
the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an
applicator according to the invention,
Fig. 2 is a partial cross-section of the
applicator of Fig. 1, along the lines
II-II,
Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the rotatable
knob of the applicator, along the lines
III-III in Fig. 1,
5 2QS6390
Fig. 4 is another embodiment of the rotary
knob, with which it is possible to
retract the dosing device,
Fig. 5 is a partially cut view of an applicator
with a reservoir associated with a
replacement unit,
Fig. 6 is a replacement unit,
Fig. 7 is an applicator according to Fig. 5,
without replacement unit, and
Fig. 8 is a section through the housing of the
applicator of Fig. 7, along the lines
VIII-VIII.
The best way of implementing the invention
The outer shape of the applicator shown in Fig. 1
is essentially cylindrical. At one end of the cylinder
is a removable cap 27 with an inner chamber 3, which is
formed between the outer wall of a cap insert 37 and
the inner wall of the cap, and in which there is a
liquid-absorbing element 4. In the liquid-absorbing
element 4 there are means, for example alcohol, for
ensuring that a brush 2 is ready to be used at all
times. The cap insert 37 has at least one sealing
ridge 39. The cap 27 is designed to be screwed closed
via the said sealing ridge 39 and a groove running in a
helical shape on a closing section 38 of the reservoir.
A ring seal 40 disposed on the closing section 38
prevents the means for keeping the unit operational
from evaporating. The cap 27 is used to cover the
brush 2, which is disposed around a thin nail polish
delivery duct 25 in the closing section 38.
The cap insert 37 is of an essentially hollow
cylindrical shape. It becomes wider towards the
6 2C56390
opening of the cap so that when the cap is put on,
there is no problem in centering the brush 2. The
inner surface of the cap insert 37 is substantially
adapted to the outline of the brush 2 and the abutting
closing section 38 of the reservoir. In order to
ensure that when the cap is put on, an atmosphere
saturated with the means for keeping the unit
operational develops as fast as possible, there should
be as little hollow space as possible between the brush
2, ie. the closing section 38, and the cap insert 37.
This contributes substantially to prolonging the life
of the means for keeping the unit operational. The cap
insert 37 also serves to mechanically shield the
element 4.
The latter is therefore prevented from swelling up
and reducing the size of the opening for the brush 2.
The said duct 25 ends in a reservoir 1. The
latter is encased by a cylindrical housing 31 and is
sealed on the side opposite the duct 25 by a piston 10
which can be displaced along the cylindrical housing.
On the side furthest from the brush 2, the housing 31
is extended beyond the reservoir 1. This prolongation
will be referred to below as the end portion and is
designated by reference numeral 11. At the end of the
said end portion 11 furthest away from the reservoir 1
there is an activating element, which, in the
embodiment illustrated, is a rotatable knob 5. The
knob 5 is operationally connected with the piston 10
via coupling elements 6, 7. Via the coupling elements
6, 7, the dosing device designated by 5, 6, 7 and 8
tran~lates a rotary movement applied to the knob 5 into
an axial movement of the piston 10. Inside the knob 5
there is a hollow area 12, in which there are disposed
7 ZQ56390
coaxially to the longitudinal axis a carrier element 15
with a hexagonal recess 20, and are connected with the
jacket-shaped wall of the cap via crosspieces 30. A
carrier rod 6 which is mounted rotatably, but axially
undisplaceably, at the end of the end portion 11 which
is furthest away from the reservoir 1, has an end which
passes through the said hexagonal recess 20 and which
is formed as a flexible spreading device with two forks
21. There are hooks 22 on the forks 21 for holding the
knob 5, which, when the latter has been slid apen,
partially overlap the carrier element 15. The
spreading device rests on two opposite sides of the
hexagonal recess 20. By rotating the knob, the carrier
rod 6 is also rotated. There is a cover 23 to cover an
opening in the knob furthest away from the end portion
11. The carrier rod 6, which extends along
approximately the entire length of the end portion 11,
engages in the opening of a longitudinally displaceable
threaded hollow rod 7. The latter has an outer thread
18 which engages with an inner thread contrived on a
ring 8. The outer surface 29 of the ring 8 is
connected with the inside wall of the casing at
approximately the transition point of the reservoir 1
and the end portion 11. This connection may be made
either by adhering or by welding, or, as is often the
case in plastic injection technology, can be made with
appropriately formed grooves and elevations which can
be pressed or snapped in to engage with one another. A
slit-shaped opening 33 which runs in the longitudinal
direction of the applicator and extends over the end
portion 11, serves as a display means to render visible
the threaded hollow rod 7 and therefore the level of
the content of the reservoir.
8 2Cs6390
Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the carrier
rod 6 and through the threaded hollow rod 7. In the
embodiment example illustrated, the carrier rod has a
cross-shaped section and comprises four first ribs 17.
The threaded hollow rod 7 has four second ribs 16
protruding into its hollow space and which extend over
the entire length of the threaded hollow rod, and are
evenly distributed over the circumference of the cross
section. The carrier rod 6 can be inserted between the
second ribs 16 in such a way that it is longitudinally
displaceable relative to the~threaded hollow rod 7, but
cannot be rotated. The rotary movement of the knob
transferred to the carrier rod 6 is transferred to the
threaded hollow rod 7. This latter is displaced as a
consequence of the thread 18, 19 with which it is
engaged, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of
the applicator. The end of the threaded hollow rod 7
which abuts the piston 10 has an added part 26 which
abuts the piston 10 in a funnel-shaped indentation 28.
The piston 10 is provided with an O-ring to seal the
reservoir 1.
In order to regulate finely and exactly the amount
of nail polish stored in the reservoir 1 which is
delivered to the brush 2, halting means 9 are provided,
with which the piston 10 can be moved forward in a
substantially stepwise manner. In this embodiment
example these halting means according to Fig. 3, are
disposed in the form of vanes 9 in the knob 5.
Starting from the said carrier element 15 of the knob
5, the vanes 9 extend spirally in the direction of the
wall 14 of the knob. At the end of the end portion 11
nearest the knob substantially saw-tooth-shaped notches
13 are disposed along the inner wall of the
g ZC56390
circumference, into which snap the flexible vanes 9.
This engagement is possible because the said end of the
end portion and the knob overlap over a short area.
The halting means 9 and the notches 13 can be designed
for example, so that the knob 5 can only be rotated in
one direction.
Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a rotary knob.
The overlap region of the rotary knob 5 with the end of
the end region 11 is enlarged with respect to the
example previously illustrated. Between the front side
of the carrier element 15 furthest from the reservoir
and the forks of the spreading device 21, a pressure
spring 43 is held between a support disk 41 and a
sealing disk 42. The knob 5 can be lifted off the
applicator by an amount determined by the distance of
the two said disks. When this happens, the vanes 9
disengage from the notches 13 and the threaded hollow
rod 7 can be rotated back into its starting position.
When the button 5 is released, engagement chamfers 44,
which are disposed to the side of the notches 13,
ensure that the vanes 9 engage again with the notches
13.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show an applicator of the type
mentioned above, in which the reservoir 1 with the
sealing piece 38 and the brush 2 attached thereto as
well as the cap 27 which surrounds the chamber 3, are
united as a replacement unit 32. The replacement unit
can be inserted into the housing 31 of the applicator.
The latter comprises a hollow area for receiving the
reservoir 1 and the adjoining end portion 11, in which
are disposed the previously described coupling elements
for moving the longitudinally displaceable piston 10
which seals the reservoir. The rotary knob 5, which is
2C56390
preferably the same as that previously described with
respect to Fig. 4, is disposed at the end of the
housing 31 lying opposite the replacement unit. It is
intended that the replacement unit 32 may be at least
partially inserted into the housing 31 and engaged with
the latter. By means of a simple manipulation, the
replacement unit 32 should also be able to be
disengaged or released again at any time for removal
from the housing part 31. The example illustrated
assumes that an elongated ridge 36, protruding on the
surface, is disposed on the reservoir. On the inside
of housing part 31 there is a lead-in groove 45 which
has a lead-in enlargement 34 towards the open end of
the housing part 31 so that the ridge 36 can be easily
attached when the replacement unit 32 is inserted.
When the ridge 36 is located towards the rear end of
the groove 45, the replacement unit 32 can be rotated
with respect to the housing part 31, causing the ridge
to overcome an obstacle to engagement 46, and engage in
a window 35. This is a slit-shaped opening disposed in
housing part 31, whose outline corresponds essentially
with the outline of the ridge 36. Since the reservoir
1 with the ridge 36 is made from a transparent
thermoplastic, the level and colour of the lacquer in
the reservoir can be seen in the window through the
ridge. Said slit-shaped opening serves on the one hand
to retain the replacement unit 32 in the housing part
31 and, on the other hand, as a window. The adjoining
surfaces of the ridge 36 engaged in the window 35, and
the engagement obstacle 46, are essentally radially
directed so that disengagement is impossible. Lying
opposite, disposed on the side of the window 35
furthest away from the lead-in groove 45, there is a
11 2CS6390
disengagement groove 47. On the corresponding side of
the window 35, abutting the ridge, there is a
disengagement obstacle 48 which may be overcome by the
ridge. In accordance with the example illustrated, the
disengagement obstacle may consist of one side surface
of the window which forms an inclined plane, said side
surface abutting an appropriately inclined surface of
the ridge. By continuing to rotate the replacement
unit 32 the wall of the window is raised by the side
surface of the ridge and the ridge enters the
disengagement channel. The replacement unit 32 can be
removed from the housing part. Fig. 8 is a partial
section illustrating what has just been described. The
way in which the ridge 36 engages and disengages is
illustrated in self-explanatory manner.
As already mentioned, the replacement unit 32
comprises the reservoir 1 and the cap 27 with its inner
chamber 3. The side of the reservoir 1 nearest the cap
27 is sealed with the sealing section 38, which has
also already been mentioned, and to which the brush
(not visible in Figs. 5 and 6) is attached. On the
side furthest away from the cap 27, the reservoir is
sealed with the piston 10. The cap 27 is preferably,
as mentioned at the beginning, designed to be sealed by
a rotary movement. Simple engagement and disengagement
of the replacement unit is then guaranteed if the lead- -
in groove 45 and the disengagement groove 47 are
disposed on the inner circumference of the housing part
31 in the direction in which the cap 27 is turned for
sealing.
Although only one ridge 36 and one window 35 are
shown in the embodiment example illustrated, in a
preferred embodiment they may be disposed twice,
12 2 ~5 63 90
staggered at 180. Each window 35 will have one lead-
in groove and one disengagement groove.
In this embodiment example, the reservoir 1 can be
filled in the same way as described above, namely by
welding on the sealing element 38 after filling with
the lacquer. It is however also possible to
manufacture the saaling element as one piece together
with the reservoir and to seal the latter by inserting
the piston 10 after filling. In this way, the
reservoir could be designed as a returnable, refillable
part.
The individual parts of the applicator are
preferably made from thermoplastic. All parts coming
into contact with the lacquer substance which contains
alcohol must be made from an alcohol-impermeable
thermoplastic, or from another material. For luxury
production, it is also conceivable to produce
individual parts from metal or plastic with a
metallized surface. In this respect, there are no
limits to the design.
