DE102004048544B4 - Scraper for cosmetics applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

Scrapers for applicators for liquid or pasty media, in particular for decorative cosmetics such as mascara, characterized in that it comprises a scraping element (14) and in the front region at least one lateral opening (13), wherein the opening (s) a connection between inner and outer wiper surface, and has no connection to the wiping element.

Description

The invention relates to a scraper for applicators, a combination of a scraper and an applicator, containers for cosmetic and dermatological preparations and the use of scrapers according to claims 1, 6, 13 and 14.

An applicator is an aid used to apply a cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation to the skin and / or hair. A wiper is a means of adjusting the amount of cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation on an applicator.

An applicator for mascara should ensure that the mascara is easy to apply evenly. For this purpose, the applicator must meet the condition that the eyelashes are combed when applying the mascara and thus aligned in the desired manner. In addition, the applicator should be able to absorb so much mascara that all eyelashes can be dyed with the applicator, without having to immerse it several times in the mascara reservoir. In order for the application of the mascara evenly and bum-free, it must be ensured that not excessively mascara adheres to the applicator, which is why this is usually stripped when pulling out of the mascara reservoir.

So far it was common ( US 4,982,838 ) to make a mascara applicator of a plurality of wires, between which a plurality of bristles are arranged. After twisting the wires, the bristles are held firmly between the wires.

Out DE 101 02 219 is a modern applicator for liquid or pasty media, in particular for decorative cosmetics such as mascara, known, which has a rod-shaped, stiffening core of a first plastic material and in the region of its front end a brush head, consisting of a support sleeve made of an elastic second plastic -Material, wherein the support sleeve has a plurality of radially outwardly projecting fingers, which are integrally formed on the support sleeve and also made of the second plastic material comprises.

The DE 696 01 473 T2 describes a care or make-up arrangement comprising an applicator dosing device (applicator) and a liquid removal element (scraper).

The DE 692 05 984 T2 describes a device for stripping a brush or the like. The stripping element is executed here by special flaps.

• – der Schaft wird nur unzureichend gereinigt, da die lichte Weite des abstreifenden Elementes auf den Durchmesser des Bürstenkopfes abgestellt ist,
• – beim Herausziehen der Bürste gibt es ein Hängen an der Stelle an dem die Bürste und der Schaft zusammentreffen, damit ist die gleitende Entnahme von einem störendem Kraftaufwand begleitet, was zu unkontrollierten Bewegungen und zum bekleckern und verspritzen der Zubereitung führen kann,
• – eine zu enge Dimensionierung führt zu vakuumdichten Verschluss und damit zu einem vulgären Geräusch bei der Entnahme (typisches Plopp-Geräusch) und
• – bei zu geringem Querschnitt ist eine Beschädigung der Applikatorborsten nicht ausgeschlossen.

Commonly used are single-stage scrapers, that is scrapers, which contain only one stripping element, which is designed as a central opening and which are inserted into the opening of the product container. By interlocking elevations and recesses, the scraper is held firmly in the neck of the bottle. The application of these wipers works without any problems, with applicators based on wire brushes. In modern applicators with the structure described above, the one-step stripping has various disadvantages:

• - The shaft is insufficiently cleaned, since the clear width of the wiping element is placed on the diameter of the brush head,
• - When removing the brush, there is a hanging at the point where the brush and the shaft coincide, so that the sliding removal is accompanied by a disturbing force, which can lead to uncontrolled movements and smearing and splashing of the preparation,
• - Too narrow dimensioning leads to vacuum-tight closure and thus to a vulgar noise when removing (typical pop-sound) and
• - If the cross section is too small damage to the applicator bristles is not excluded.

All of these problems are due to the special construction of the modern brush head, which, in contrast to the wired brush head, has lower compressibility; H. has a larger diameter with applied bristles.

Inadequate cleaning of the shaft when pulling out leads to the substrate accumulating on the inside of the scraper, which can swell when screwing and thus leads to contamination of the container. Inside is the side facing the outside environment. The outside, however, faces the interior of the product container. The separation of inside and outside takes place in the region of the smallest diameter of the stripping element.

In DE 102 05 514 describes a two-stage scraper, which has some advantages over a single-stage scraper, but exerts very high shear forces on the finger-occupied carrier sleeve, so the finger can be sheared off. The production of the two-stage scraper is due to the strong undercut of the inner stripping element very complicated and therefore expensive.

The invention has for its object to find a scraper, which has both an improved stripping effect and ensures a good and non-destructive removal of the brush.

Surprisingly, it has been found that this object is achieved with a scraper for applicators according to the main claim and the additional claims. The part of the stiffening core lying outside the brush head is referred to below as Stem. Particular embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

A corresponding scraper-applicator combination can be used in various fields of application. The following is an example of the application of mascara, the so-called mascara, be assumed, however, the scraper according to the invention can also be used in a similar manner for applicators, with which hair dyes, pharmaceuticals o. Ä. Can be applied.

Particularly suitable applicators have a stiffening core made of a first plastic material, which is surrounded at least in the region of its front end by a carrier sleeve of a second plastic material having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting fingers which are integral with the carrier sleeve are formed and made of the second plastic material, wherein several distributed over the circumference of the support sleeve fingers form a finger ring and wherein in the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve a plurality of finger wreaths are arranged one behind the other (brush head).

At the rear end of the stiffening core opens into a handle (handle), which usually serves as a cap. This end-side handle can usually be screwed onto the substrate container in such a way that the brush head dips into the substrate.

The stem of the preferred applicator has a diameter in the major part, which corresponds approximately to the inner diameter of the matched to the brush head scraper. According to the invention, the stem should have an excess of 0.005 to 0.3 mm with respect to the inside diameter of the unloaded scraper.

In the area of the booklet, the stem is enlarged in the circumference in such a way that a stripping of the substrate located on the stripper inner side takes place during screwing. The diameter is to be chosen so that the stem has a certain excess compared to the clear width of the scraper inside, so that forms a piston-cylinder pair. Preferably, the diameter of 0.005 to 0.3 mm is greater than the inside diameter of the scraper inside selected.

The length of the enlarged in the scope Stems depends on the length of the scraper used and should extend at least to the upper edge or maximum to the lower opening of the scraper.

It is also advantageous according to the invention that the piston-like thickened stem region is only enlarged in such a way on a part that a so-called sealing ring with an excess of 0.1 mm to 2 mm is formed. The sealing ring is located between the upper edge of the scraper and the edges of the vent holes. Most preferably, the sealing ring may have the shape of a circle segment, a rectangle, a triangle or a trapezoid.

A narrow sealing ring reduces friction on the stem, making it easier to remove.

It is particularly advantageous if the contour of the piston-like thickened Stembereiches the contour of the scraper inside is adjusted, so that only a small dead volume between the scraper and Stem is formed at fully inserted applicator.

• – die einen Druckausgleich zwischen Behälterinnenraum und der äußeren Atmosphäre bewirken und
• – die eine Rückführung des an der Abstreiferinnenseite befindlichen Substrates in den Behälterinnenraum ermöglichen.

The scraper according to the invention, in contrast to the known from the prior art scrapers in the front area openings,

• - Which cause a pressure equalization between the container interior and the external atmosphere and
• - Allow a return of the located on the Abstreiferinnenseite substrate in the container interior.

The pressure equalization takes place both when pulling out the applicator (removal process) and when pushing the applicator (immersion process) into the container.

The typical pop-popping noise that occurs with conventional scrapers, which is considered by many consumers to be unattractive and vulgar, no longer occurs due to the possibility of continuous pressure equalization.

By the return transport, pushing back the substrate through the piston-like thickened Stemteil by the side scraper openings in the container interior, the Scraper inside regularly when screwing the container of Mascararesten freed.

According to the invention, the openings can have all conceivable geometric figures in their cross section and the openings can be arranged so that a circumferential grid or network is formed.

Scrapers according to the invention are made of a sufficiently flexible material which withstands the requirements of the duration of bending resilience, in particular of polypropylene or elastomers.

Scrapers according to the invention can have constrictions and / or expansions on the outer surface, which enable a stable anchoring in the product container.

According to the invention can be determined by the choice of the clearance of the stripping element of the contact pressure to the applicator and thus the Abstreifleistung.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are explained in more detail below, with reference to an embodiment shown in schematic drawing figures. However, the invention should not be limited to the embodiment, which serves only to visually support the description.

Show it:

1 an applicator,

2 a scraper,

3 a scraper inserted into a container neck with inserted applicator,

4 to 7 the schematic representation of the mode of action of scraper with applicator

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

applicator

2

Stem (stiffening core)

3

brush head

4

cantilevered fingers (bristles)

5

Handle (handle) with screw cap

6

substratum

7

seal

10

scraper

11

Abstreiferinnenseite

12

Abstreiferaussenseite

13

Openings in the scraper

14

stripping element

20

container

21

container neck

22

Recess for latching

23

Container interior

1 shows an example of an applicator according to the invention ( 1 ) with a stem ( 2 ) with brush head ( 3 ), which projecting fingers ( 4 ) having. At the far end, the stem opens into a booklet ( 5 ), which is designed as a closure cap.

The stem has a diameter d ₁ in the region C which is approximately equal to the inside diameter d _{2 of} the stripping element (FIG. 14 ) in 2 equivalent.

In area B of the booklet ( 5 ), the circumference of the stem is increased in such a way that a wiping of the on the scraper inside ( 11 ) substrate when screwing or complete insertion of the applicator takes place. (see also 4 to 7 )

The length l ₁ of the enlarged in the scope Stem depends on the length l _{2 of} the scraper used ( 2 ).

In order to obtain a particularly high wiper performance at low friction surface, the piston-like thickened Stemabschnitt (B) at its lower, the wiping element of the stripper side facing, with a sealing ring ( 7 ) Mistake.

Usual thicknesses d _{1 of} the stem are in the range of 2.5 to 10 mm. However, dimensioning is heavily dependent on the flexibility of the materials used.

2 shows a scraper with a stripping element ( 14 ), which forms the central opening with a clear width d ₂ and the scraper inside ( 11 ) from the wiper outer side ( 12 ) separates. For a better grip in the container neck ( 21 ), the scraper on the Abstreiferaußenseite surveys, which in corresponding recesses ( 22 ) in the neck of the container ( 3 ).

In the lower area facing the wiping element, the wiper has openings ( 13 ), which establish a connection between the inner and outer scraper surface. In 2 For example, the cross-section of the openings is formed as two rows of equilateral triangles, but this is not intended to be limiting.

Usual inner diameters d ₂ are in the range of 2.5 to 10 mm, in particular between 3.5 and 7 mm.

Usual diameter of the lateral scraper openings d ₃ ( ) are between 0.2 to 10 mm, in particular between 0.2 and 2.0 mm.

Usual oversize of the piston seal thickened Stembereichs against the inner diameter d ₁ is 0.1 to 2 mm.

3 shows an example of a mascara product containing a container body ( 20 ), whose opening a container neck ( 21 ) trains. In the container neck is the scraper ( 10 ) fixed by toothing in the area D. The closure is a combination of an applicator ( 1 ) with a brush head ( 3 ) and a screw cap ( 5 ) passing over the stem ( 2 ) are connected.

The operation of the scraper-stem combination is described below in connection with to explained. The direction of movement of the stem with respect to the wiper is indicated by an arrow.

When removing - pulling out - the applicator ( 1 ) is caused by the front stripping element ( 14 ) the shaft is roughly cleaned ( 4 ), but remains of the substrate ( 6 ) on the stem ( 2 ) be liable.

When the applicator is pushed into the storage container, the scraping element strips off the substrate attached to the stem, which accumulates on the inside of the stripper ( 5 ).

Is the applicator inserted so far that the piston-like thickened stem end is inserted into the applicator ( 6 ), the scraper inside is stripped off.

In the final step, the stripped substrate is passed through the openings ( 13 ) into the container interior ( 20 ) ( 7 ).

Claims (15)

Scraper for applicators for liquid or pasty media, in particular for decorative cosmetics such as mascara, characterized in that it comprises a stripping element ( 14 ) and in the front area at least one lateral opening ( 13 ), wherein the opening (s) establishes a connection between the inner and outer scraper surfaces and has no connection to the scraping element. Scraper according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of openings ( 13 ) form a circumferential grid or network. Scraper according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scraper of a sufficiently flexible material, in particular elastomers, very particularly made of polypropylene. Scraper according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scraper on its outer side ( 12 ) Has extensions or constrictions that can be brought into engagement with the container neck. Scraper according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper has the following dimensions: d ₂ = 2.5 to 10 mm, in particular 3.5 to 7 mm, and d ₃ = 0.2 to 10 mm, in particular 0, 2 to 2 mm. Combination of a scraper according to one of the preceding claims and an applicator ( 1 ) with a stem ( 2 ) with brush head ( 3 ), with the stem at the back end in a booklet ( 5 ), characterized in that the circumference of the stem in area B of the booklet ( 5 ) is enlarged. Combination of a scraper and an applicator according to claim 6, characterized in that the diameter d _{1 of} the stem ( 2 ) in the region C is between 2.5 and 10 mm. Combination of a scraper and an applicator according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the diameter d of the stem ( 2 ) in the region C by 0.005 to 0.3 mm greater than the diameter d _{2 of} the central opening of the scraper. Combination of a scraper and an applicator according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the diameter of the stem ( 2 ) in area B is 0.005 to 0.3 mm larger than the clearance width of the wiper inside is selected. Combination of a scraper and an applicator according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the piston-like thickened stem ( 2 ) in area B a sealing ring ( 7 ) has an excess of 0.1 to 2.0 mm. Combination of a scraper and an applicator according to claim 10, characterized in that the profile of the sealing ring has the shape of a circle segment, a rectangle, a triangle or a trapezoid. Combination of a scraper and an applicator according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the piston-like thickened star ( 2 ) in area B of the contour of the wiper inside ( 11 ) is adjusted. Containers for cosmetic or dermatological preparations, characterized in that they contain in the region of the container opening a scraper according to at least one of claims 1 to 6. Using scrapers with a wiping element ( 14 ) and at least one lateral openings ( 13 ) for cleaning applicators for cosmetic or dermatological products. Use of scrapers according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, for regulating the removal amount from containers for cosmetic and dermatological products.

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