DE20301714U1 - Spring-operated cosmetic dispenser pen has a mantle with a cosmetic product reservoir and a spring operated pressure pin directed against an end-stop - Google Patents

Abstract

A cosmetic dispenser pen has a mantle with a cosmetic product (26) reservoir (24) and a spring (36) operated pressure pin directed against an end-stop (30). The pressure exerted by the spring is esp. variable.

Description

CARPENTER

PATENT ATTORNEYS

EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

EUROPEAN TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Dipl.-Ing. H. Leinweber or 1976)
Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Zimmermann
Dipl.-Ing. A.Gf. ν. Wengersky
Dipl.-Phys. Dr. Jürgen Kraus
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Busch
Dipl.-Phys. Dr. Klaus Seranski

Rosental 7

D-80331 Munich

TEL +49-89-231124-0
FAX+49-89-231124-11

the

0 i Feb. 2003

Our sign

Swan-STABILO

Cosmetics GmbH & Co.

Schwanweg 1

90562 Heroldsberg

APPLICATION DEVICE

The invention relates to an application device with a storage device for storing a product to be applied and an overpressure generating device having an elastic device, wherein the elastic device is designed to press against a boundary of the storage device with its elastic restoring force in order to generate an overpressure in the storage device.

An application device of the above-mentioned type is known, for example from DE 42

964 C1. An application device is not only understood to mean a writing or drawing pen. Rather, the invention is applicable to all types of application devices, be it for drawing, painting, writing, marking or the like or for applying cosmetics to skin or hair. Relevant examples are make-up pencils for applying make-up to lips, eyebrows, eyelids, cheeks, fingernails and toenails, etc. Accordingly, the invention also relates to all types of "applicable

Products", i.e. for example writing, drawing, painting and marking inks as well as cosmetic products that can be applied using application devices, in particular in the form of pens. The products to be applied can have any consistency that can be applied using an application device. Examples are liquid, gel-like and pasty products.

The pen according to DE 42 00 964 C1 is designed in such a way that constant pressure is always exerted on the reservoir. In other words, there is always a constant overpressure in the reservoir of the known pen. Such constant overpressure can have a damaging effect on the product being applied. In the event of a leak, the permanent overpressure will lead to immediate leakage.

The invention is based on the object of improving the application device of the type mentioned at the beginning insofar as damage to the product to be applied and/or leakage is better prevented.

According to the invention, the stated object is achieved in that the overpressure generating device can be controlled in the sense of a reduction in the pressure in the accumulator.

The invention is based on the knowledge that the overpressure in the reservoir is not required at all times, but only when the application device is being used. The controllability of the overpressure generating device in the sense of reducing the pressure in the reservoir makes it possible to reduce the pressure when it is not required, thereby minimizing any potentially damaging effect of the overpressure on the product being applied. In addition, any leakage can be prevented more effectively.

From DE 23 31 285 C2, DE 40 27 271 C1 and DE-OS 23 09 738, pins are known in which an overpressure generating device does not use an elastic device, but rather works with gas pressure. This makes the structure complicated and complex, particularly with regard to sealing problems, and thus expensive. In contrast, according to the invention, an elastic device is used as part of the overpressure generating device, which in particular eliminates sealing problems. In addition, a

A particularly simple structure can be realized, which improves handling and also keeps production costs low.

In principle, the elastic device can be designed in any way. However, a spring is preferred as it is particularly simple.

Preferably, the overpressure generating device has a gear with two coupling elements that are designed to engage with each other in at least two different relative positions. These two different relative positions can serve to take different operating states into account.

The two relative positions can thus be assigned to different filling levels of the reservoir. In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, when the reservoir is at a first filling level, the two coupling elements of the gear have a first relative position to one another, in which, for example, the elastic device generates a predetermined overpressure in the reservoir. If the filling level in the reservoir drops due to use of the pin, the two coupling elements assume a different relative position to one another, with which the same overpressure is generated in the reservoir.

While otherwise the overpressure generated in the accumulator would decrease with decreasing filling level in the accumulator and the associated relaxation of the elastic element, in this way it can be achieved that the same overpressure is always generated in the accumulator, regardless of the filling level.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the overpressure generating device has a gear with at least one internal thread element and at least one external thread element, wherein the gear can assume at least two operating states, namely a first operating state in which the two thread elements mesh with each other to generate the overpressure, and a second operating state in which they do not mesh with each other, resulting in a reduction in the pressure.

In other words, according to this preferred embodiment of the invention

It is intended that two threaded elements are coupled together to generate the overpressure and are decoupled to reduce the pressure in the accumulator. This is a particularly simple, cost-effective and easy-to-use solution in terms of construction.

According to the invention, a threaded rod with at least one thread interruption, for example in the form of a longitudinal groove, can be used. In this solution, only the internal thread element has to be placed in the thread interruption for decoupling.

In particular, in order to further protect the product to be applied, the invention provides a device for limiting the overpressure generated by the overpressure generating device. In addition, this feature obviously also contributes to leakage safety.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the limiting device has a stop in order to make the design particularly simple.

The stop is further preferably formed on an external thread element.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the stop lies in a path along which an internal thread element moves when the two thread elements mesh with each other.

Once again, a solution has been found that is particularly simple in terms of construction and easy to handle.

The limiting device preferably also has a slip clutch. This provides a high degree of protection against the consequences of improper handling, because the slip clutch automatically disengages if an attempt is made to generate excessive overpressure.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the

Overpressure generating device has a gear with a rack and a detent, wherein the rack and the detent are preferably designed to engage and disengage from one another in at least two different relative positions.

This design represents an alternative to the design with the rotary gear described above.

According to the invention, the overpressure generating device preferably has a piston, which does not necessarily have to have a circular outer contour. This piston can, for example, represent the boundary of the accumulator against which the elastic restoring force of the elastic device for generating the overpressure in the accumulator presses.

According to the invention, a device is further preferably provided which prevents the piston from drawing the product back into the reservoir when the excess pressure is reduced.

The piston can be designed as a drag piston.
20

In this context, it is particularly preferred according to the invention that the piston is coupled to the elastic device with play and/or via an elastic element.

In order to prevent the product to be applied from leaking and drying out, the invention provides, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, a sealing compound for sealing the product in the reservoir. The reservoir, the piston and/or a writing tip of the pen preferably comprise LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymers) according to the invention. This material is particularly advantageous in places on the pen that come into contact with the product to be applied because it is extremely diffusion-tight. In addition, it is characterized by high dimensional stability, which is particularly important for parts that are held movable relative to one another, such as the piston that is held movable in the reservoir. The high dimensional stability prevents

Finally, LCP is characterized by high chemical resistance, so that it cannot be attacked by the product being applied.

The applicator preferably has a shock absorber at its rear end. This prevents the product to be applied from being pushed away from a writing tip into the reservoir if the applicator hits the rear end.

The shock absorber preferably has a spring.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the spring of the shock absorber serves to generate the overpressure. In other words, the elastic element used to generate the overpressure is assigned a second function, namely that of the shock absorber, whereby the overall number of parts is reduced.

It can happen that a user of the applicator forgets to reduce the pressure in the reservoir after work is done. In such a case, the product being applied in the reservoir may be damaged. In addition, leakage cannot be ruled out.

The invention therefore provides an applicator, in particular of the type described in detail above, with a reservoir for storing a product to be applied and an overpressure generating device for generating an overpressure in the reservoir, whereby the applicator can assume at least two operating states, namely a rest state and a use state. According to the invention, a device for reducing the pressure in the reservoir is provided which responds to the applicator being moved from the use state to the rest state.

In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, it is ensured that the pressure in the accumulator is automatically reduced as soon as the application device - after the work has been done - is put into the rest state.

The idle state and the operating state can differ in particular in that in the idle state a cap (protector) is placed on the application device, whereas in the operating state this cap is removed.

Therefore, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention provides a coupling between a cap and the overpressure generating device. In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, the removal of the cap is accompanied by the generation of an overpressure in the reservoir, whereas placing the cap on the applicator leads to an automatic reduction in the pressure in the reservoir.

A particularly advantageous design is a thread for holding the cap on the applicator. Instead of the thread, a bayonet lock can also be provided for holding the cap on the applicator. Such a bayonet lock has the particular advantage that the angle of rotation by which the cap is rotated with respect to the applicator is limited, so that no further special measures are required to limit the overpressure in the reservoir generated by applying the cap to the applicator. This design can therefore possibly manage without the slip clutch and without the overpressure limitation mentioned above.

Particularly in the area of diameter reductions in the path of the product to be applied from the reservoir to a writing tip of the applicator, air inclusions often occur, which are detrimental to the operation of the applicator.
25

The invention is therefore based on the further object of avoiding such air inclusions.

The invention therefore ultimately provides an application device, in particular according to the type described in detail above, with a storage device having a front end region for storing a product to be applied and a writing tip, wherein a rear end region of the writing tip is sleeve-shaped and the

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front end of the memory is inserted into the rear end of the writing tip.

If - as is the case with the prior art - the rear end area of the writing tip is inserted into the front end area of the storage, a reduction in diameter occurs in the area of the front surface of the writing tip facing the storage. However, if, according to the invention, the front end area of the storage is inserted into the rear end area of the sleeve, there is no reduction in the average in the transition area, which reliably prevents the air inclusions mentioned above. _:

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail using two preferred embodiments in the form of pens with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

a longitudinal sectional view of a pin according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention,

Views of a piston arrangement of the pin according to Figure 1,

Views of a control tappet of the pin according to Figure 1, and

a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention.

According to Figure 1, the pin has an outer shaft 10 onto which a cap 12 is screwed in the operating position according to Figure 1. For this purpose, a thread designated with the reference number 14 is provided. The cap 12 has a seal 16 which seals around a tip 18 in the operating state shown in Figure 1. A ball 20 is held at the free end of the tip 18. The inner contour of the seal 16 deviates from the circular shape. It is oval. The outer contour of the tip 18 has a complementary outer contour in the area in which it is enclosed by the seal 16. As a result, the cap 12 is rotationally coupled to the tip 18 when fitted.

· C

The tip 18 is enclosed by a lead sleeve 22 at its end section facing away from the ball 20. In this area, the tip 18 has a circular outer contour. It forms a slip clutch with the lead sleeve 22.

The interior of the lead sleeve 22 forms a reservoir 24 for ink 26. On the side facing away from the ball 20, a sealing compound 28 is arranged in the reservoir 24, which serves to seal against the environment. The rear boundary of the reservoir 24 is formed by a piston 30. The piston 30 is held displaceably within the reservoir 24. As seen from the ball 20, a piston holder 32 is located behind the piston 30. A control tappet 34 projects into the piston holder. A spring 36 is supported on the one hand on the control tappet 34 and on the other hand on a closure cap 38.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the piston 30 has a projection 40 which, when assembled, engages in a window 42 of the piston holder 32. The piston holder 32 has projections 44 and 46 on its end section facing away from the piston 30, which engage in corresponding recesses in the lead shaft 22 for rotational coupling. The piston holder 32 is therefore rotationally coupled to the lead shaft 22, but is held axially displaceable therein.

Also at its end portion facing away from the piston 30, the piston holder 32 is provided in its interior with an approximately hemispherical internal thread element 48 which serves for - temporary - coupling with the control tappet 34.

The control tappet 34 is provided with external thread elements complementary to the internal thread element 48, one of which is designated by the reference number 50 by way of example. The external thread elements 50 correspond to segments of a helical groove and each extend over an angle of slightly more than 300°. They are interrupted by a longitudinal groove 52 which extends over an angle of approximately 27°.

At its end section facing away from the ball 20, the control tappet 34 is provided with projections 54, 56, 58, 60, which engage in corresponding recesses in the outer shaft 10 for rotational coupling. The control tappet 34 is, however, with respect to the outer

shaft 10 is axially displaceable between the end cap 38 and a stop 62. The function of the pin shown in the drawing is as follows:

In the operating position shown in Figure 1, i.e. when the cap 12 is screwed onto the outer shaft 10, the internal thread element 48 is located in the groove 52. Thus, in this operating position, there is no coupling between the control tappet 34 and the piston 30. The piston 30 therefore does not exert any pressure on the sealing compound 28 or on the ink 26.

If the cap 12 is rotated with respect to the outer shaft 10 in order to unscrew it, the tip 18 rotates due to the rotational coupling between the seal 16 and the tip 18. The piston holder 32 therefore also rotates. As the rotation continues, the internal thread element 48 leaves the groove 52 and enters the external thread element 50. Further rotation in this state causes the internal thread element 48 to run along the external thread element 50, whereby the control tappet 34, which was previously supported on the projection 62, is urged against the spring 36. The elastic restoring force of the spring 36 therefore acts via the control tappet 34 on the piston holder 32 and thus on the piston 30, whereby the pressure in the accumulator 24 increases. The external thread element 50 is limited at its end by a stop 64, against which the internal thread element 48 strikes when it is rotated further. If rotation continues, the slip clutch formed between the lead shaft 22 and the tip 18 slips, so that the pressure in the reservoir 24 does not increase any further.

The overpressure now built up in the reservoir 24 can be used to apply the ink 26.

If the cap 12 is screwed back onto the outer shaft 10 after using the pen, the internal thread element 48 runs along the external thread element 50 back into the groove 52 due to the couplings described in detail above. As a result, the control tappet 34 runs under the influence of the spring 36 against the stop 62 again, where it rests. The spring 36 therefore no longer acts on the ink 26 via the piston holder 32 and the piston 30. In this state, there is no

There is no longer any overpressure in the reservoir 24, which is a great advantage with regard to protecting the ink 26 and with regard to leakage protection.

When the cap 12 is screwed onto the outer shaft 10, the piston holder 32 is moved in the direction away from the ball 20 until the internal thread element 48 enters the groove 52. To prevent the piston 30 from sucking the ink out of the tip 18, the piston 30 is designed as a drag piston. The piston holder 32 can move away from the ball 20 according to the axial length of the window 42 without taking the piston 30 with it.
10

In addition to or instead of the projection 40 in the window 42, an elastic coupling between the piston holder 32 and the piston can also be provided.

However, the elastic coupling and/or the play can also be connected elsewhere between the control tappet 34 and the piston surface delimiting the accumulator 24.

Instead of the thread 14, a bayonet lock can also be used to hold the cap

12 on the outer shaft 10. In this case, the overpressure limitation by the stop 64 may be dispensed with, because with a bayonet lock the angle by which the two parts to be connected can be rotated relative to each other is limited anyway.

The embodiment according to Fig. 4 is described below:

In this embodiment, the cap 12 is not screwed onto the outer shaft 10, but rather pushed on axially. When pushed on, a stop 66 on the cap 12 takes a control sleeve 68 with it in the axial direction. The control sleeve 68 is provided with two locking pawls 70, 72, which in the operating state shown in Fig. 4 are in engagement with a rack 74. The control sleeve 68 thus forms a locking mechanism together with the locking sleeves 70 and 72 and the rack 74. In the operating state shown in Fig. 4, the spring 36 presses against the control sleeve 68 with its elastic restoring force. Due to the engagement of the locking pawls 70 and 72 with the rack 74

the pressure generated by the spring 36 is transmitted via the rack 74 to the piston 30, which is why the piston 30 generates an overpressure in the accumulator 24.

However, if the cap 12 is pushed onto the outer shaft, the control sleeve 68 moves axially backwards, whereby the locking pawls 70 and 72 strike with an end section on a rotating control cam 76 and are pivoted out of engagement with the rack 74 upon further axial displacement. As a result, the restoring force exerted by the spring 36 is no longer transmitted to the rack 74 and thus also no longer to the piston 30, which is why the excess pressure in the accumulator 24 drops.

1 to 3, the respective gears, i.e. the rotary gear according to Fig. 1 to 3 and the locking mechanism according to Fig. 4, can compensate for a decrease in the fill level in the reservoir 24. As the fill level decreases, for example, the rack 74 according to Fig. 4 moves gradually into the reservoir 24 together with the piston 30. Nevertheless, the same restoring force of the spring 36 can be used to generate the overpressure in the reservoir 24. The same applies to the piston holder 32 with the piston 30 according to Fig. 1 to 3. These two elements also move gradually into the reservoir as the fill level in the reservoir 24 decreases, whereas the control tappet 34 does not change its position relative to the spring 36 in accordance with the fill level, which is why the same restoring force is always available to generate the overpressure.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, an overpressure limitation is realized in that the stop 66 or an annular projection 78 of the control sleeve 68 strikes a stop 80 on the outer shaft 10.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, a front end section 82 of the lead sleeve 22 is inserted into a rear end section 84 of the writing tip 18. This avoids a step-like cross-sectional reduction in the path of the product 26 from the reservoir 24 in the tip 18, thereby eliminating the risk of air inclusions.

The end cap 38 in the embodiment according to Fig. 4 is designed in the manner of a

Shock absorber is held by springs. The spring 36 serves for this spring mounting, i.e. the elastic element whose restoring force serves to generate the overpressure in the accumulator 24. This design thus achieves a minimization of the number of components.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings can be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims (26)

1. Application device with
a memory ( 24 ) for storing a product to be applied ( 26 ) and
an overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) having an elastic device ( 36 ), wherein the elastic device ( 36 ) is designed to press against a boundary ( 30 ) of the accumulator ( 24 ) with its elastic restoring force in order to generate an overpressure in the accumulator ( 24 ),
characterized in that
the overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) is controllable to reduce the pressure in the accumulator. 2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic device ( 36 ) is a spring. 3. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) has a gear with two coupling elements ( 32 , 34 ) which are designed to engage with one another in at least two different relative positions. 4. Application device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two relative positions are assigned to different filling levels of the reservoir ( 24 ). 5. Applicator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) has a gear with at least one internal thread element ( 48 ) and at least one external thread element ( 50 ), wherein the gear can assume at least two operating states, namely
a first operating state in which the two threaded elements ( 48 , 50 ) mesh with each other to generate the overpressure, and
a second operating state in which they do not mesh with each other, resulting in a reduction in pressure. 6. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a threaded rod ( 34 ) with at least one thread interruption ( 52 ). 7. Applicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a device ( 18 , 22 ; 64 ) for limiting the overpressure generated by the overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ). 8. Application device according to claim 5, characterized in that the limiting device ( 18 , 22 ; 64 ) has a stop ( 64 ). 9. Applicator according to claim 6, characterized in that the stop ( 64 ) is formed on an externally threaded element ( 50 ). 10. Applicator according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the stop ( 64 ) lies in a path along which an internal thread element ( 48 ) moves when the two thread elements ( 48 , 50 ) mesh with one another. 11. Application device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the limiting device ( 18 , 22 ; 64 ) has a slip clutch ( 18 , 22 ). 12. Applicator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the overpressure generating device has a gear with a rack and a catch, the rack and the catch being designed to engage and disengage in at least two different relative positions to one another. 13. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) has a piston ( 30 ). 14. Applicator according to claim 13, characterized by a device which prevents the piston ( 30 ) from withdrawing the product into the reservoir ( 24 ) when the excess pressure is reduced. 15. Applicator according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the piston ( 30 ) is a drag piston. 16. Applicator according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the piston ( 30 ) is coupled to the elastic device ( 36 ) with play ( 40 , 42 ) and/or via an elastic element. 17. Applicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sealing compound ( 28 ) for sealing the product ( 26 ) in the reservoir ( 24 ). 18. Applicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reservoir ( 24 ), the piston ( 30 ) and/or a writing tip ( 18 ) of the applicator has LCP. 19. Applicator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a shock absorber at the rear end. 20. Applicator according to claim 19, characterized in that the shock absorber has a spring ( 36 ). 21. Applicator according to claim 20, characterized in that the spring ( 36 ) of the shock absorber serves to generate the overpressure. 22. Application device, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with
a memory ( 24 ) for storing a product to be applied ( 26 ) and
an overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) for generating an overpressure in the accumulator ( 24 ),
whereby the application device can assume at least two operating states, namely a rest state and a use state,
marked by
means ( 16 , 18 , 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ) responsive to moving the pen from the use state to the rest state for reducing the pressure in the accumulator ( 24 ). 23. Applicator according to claim 22, characterized by a coupling ( 18 , 22 ) between a cap ( 12 ) and the overpressure generating device ( 22 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 ). 24. Applicator according to claim 23, characterized by a thread ( 14 ) for holding the cap ( 12 ) on the applicator. 25. Applicator according to claim 23, characterized by a bayonet lock for holding the cap ( 12 ) on the applicator. 26. Application device, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a storage having a front end region for storing a product to be applied and a writing tip, characterized in that a rear end region of the writing tip is sleeve-shaped and the front end region of the storage is inserted into the rear end region of the writing tip.