EP0524256B1 - Applicator for any liquid product - Google Patents

Abstract

The device essentially comprises a body (2) provided with an applicator brush (13) which is in contact with a product held in a container (R) and sealable with a cap (1). When the body is sealed, the cap engages a sleeve (3) which is movably mounted in the body in such a way that the brush (13) is retracted into said sleeve, the brush being received in the sleeve (3) and rigidly mounted in the body. When the body is opened, said cap engages the sleeve (3) in the opposite direction to free the brush (13) from the sleeve (3) and thereby allow it to be used once the cap (1) is removed from the body (2). This device prevents the applicator brush being damaged in any way when the body is opened or closed and is useful when applying, for example, nail varnish.

Description

The present invention essentially relates to a device for applying a more or less viscous liquid product, such as for example nail varnish.

Applicator devices are already known which are provided with an applicator brush in contact with a product contained in a reservoir and which, in general, can be closed off by a plug, the mounting of which on the body of the device and the dismantling respectively control the deactivation or in the retracted position of the applicator brush and its commissioning or in the exit and use position.

Such devices are for example described in documents DE-A-2 944 336 and DE-A-3 635 690.

However, in these documents, the stopper directly actuates the applicator brush when the container is closed or opened in order to carry out its retraction or its commissioning respectively. As a result, the assembly and disassembly of the plug can, in the long run, deteriorate the brush, or at the very least, alter its qualities of finesse.

Furthermore, from the document US Pat. No. 4,902,152, an applicator device of the type described in the preamble to claim 1 is known.

The object of the present invention is to provide an applicator device with a closure cap which in no case risks damaging the applicator brush when the container is closed and opened and which, moreover, allows a secure closure. and positive which opposes the accidental exit of the liquid contained in the reservoir and remaining in contact with the applicator brush.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an appliance for applying any liquid product, such as nail varnish for example, which is equipped with an applicator brush in contact with the product contained in a reservoir and which can be closed off by a plug. whose mounting on the body of the device and dismantling control a sheath with concentric tubular walls and movably mounted in said body to allow respectively the deactivation or in the retracted position of the applicator brush mounted fixed in the body and its commissioning or in the outlet and use position, said plug comprising two concentric tubular walls arranged so as to allow the insertion of the sheath when screwing and unscrewing the plug, characterized in that the sheath has an internal tubular wall concentric to a external tubular wall which is inserted between the two concentric tubular walls of the plug, one of the tubular walls of the plug cooperating by its thread with the thread of the external tubular wall of the movable sleeve and the other tubular wall of the plug cooperating by abutment with the body.

It is therefore already understood that the plug does not risk damaging the applicator brush, since it will act only on a movable sheath making it possible to completely hide the brush or else to put it in the position of use or out of the sheath.

In addition, the applicator brush mounted fixed in the body of the device will remain in intimate contact with the liquid product contained in the reservoir.

According to yet another characteristic of this device, the plug is internally provided with a spring with which is associated a ring which the brush can pass through and cooperating with an orifice forming a seat in the sheath, from the start of mounting or screwing the cap on said sleeve.

This applicator device is further characterized in that the sheath is on the one hand mounted with leaktight sliding on a part of the reservoir in order to remain in permanent communication with it and on the other hand is mounted sliding without rotation in the body.

This device is further characterized in that one of the ends of the sheath is mounted in leaktight sliding on a tubular element extending the tank and situated in the axis of the body and of the sheath, while a spring, housed in the sheath, is supported between said end and a valve carrying the applicator brush secured to the body.

According to another characteristic of this device, the spring surrounding a rod or the like housed in the sheath and connecting the valve to the body, constantly urges the end of the sheath comprising the orifice forming a seat in abutment on said valve.

It will also be specified that the body of the device is associated with a push button provided with a leaf spring capable of cooperating with a shoulder of the sheath in order to actuate the latter in order to deliver liquid product to the applicator brush only when the cap is disconnected from the body.

The body of the device may constitute a head which can be connected to the tank by any suitable means such as screwing. Alternatively, this body may form a single element comprising a reservoir surmounted by a tubular part comprising the sheath and all of its associated elements.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the diameter of the above-mentioned tubular element is substantially equal to the diameter of the aforementioned orifice forming a seat which the brush can pass through, the diameter of which is very close to that of said orifice forming a seat.

Thus, during the unscrewing of the cap causing the penetration of the sheath into the body and therefore the disengagement of the brush from the sheath, it is advantageous to avoid an uncontrolled exit of the product contained in the reservoir and which thus does not risk escaping during the applicator device.

However, other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example, and in which.

Figure 1 is an axial and partial sectional view (tank shown partially) of the applicator device shown in the ready-to-use position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but on which the push button is actuated to deliver liquid product, such as nail polish, to the applicator brush.

Figure 3 is a view similar to the previous figures, but showing the device at the start of obturation by means of a plug or cap according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a view identical to Figure 3, but showing the plug or cap in the final closed position of the container.

Figure 5 is an axial sectional view of an alternative cap.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that a device according to this invention essentially comprises a plug 1 capable of closing off the body 2 of an applicator device which comprises a reservoir R in permanent communication, as shown by the arrow F, with a sleeve 3 slidably mounted in the body 2 and capable of cooperating with the plug or cap 1.

According to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5, the cap 1 comprises two concentric tubular walls, namely an outer tubular wall or casing 4, and an inner tubular wall 5 having an external thread 5a or facing the wall 4.

Thus, thanks to the special configuration of the cap 1 with isolated thread 5a between the two tubular walls 4, 5, any possible contamination is advantageously avoided. of this thread by the product from the tank, and therefore any possible risk of the cap seizing on the device. Such an advantage is particularly appreciable in the case where the product contained in the reservoir is nail varnish.

The movable sheath 3 according to the example shown, also comprises two concentric tubular walls, namely on the one hand an external tubular wall 6 carrying an internal thread 6a and which can be inserted in the space between the tubular walls 4 and 5 of the cap 1 so that the thread 6a comes into engagement with the thread 5a, and on the other hand an internal tubular wall 7 capable of finding a place inside the plug 1 in a housing 8, this housing being defined by the wall internal and threaded tubular 5 of said plug, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

One could perfectly, without departing from the scope of the invention, provide for the sheath 3 a single tubular wall and externally threaded cooperating with a tubular wall internally threaded and also unique of the plug or cap 1.

The sleeve 3 is mounted sliding without rotation in the body 2, and for this purpose, it comprises a lug or the like 8a cooperating with a groove or other similar means 29 provided on the internal periphery of the body 2. The sleeve 3 comprises a part d 'end 3a mounted in leaktight sliding on a tubular element 9 integral with the body 2 and extending in a way the tank R, so that the sheath 3 is in permanent communication with said tank. An elastic ring or the like has been shown at 10 tightly sealing the end portion 3a of the sleeve 3 while allowing said sleeve to slide along the extension tubular 9. The sheath 3 has an opposite end 3b provided with an orifice 11 forming a seat for a valve 12 equipped with an applicator brush 13 which can pass through the orifice 11.

The part 12 forming a valve is housed inside the movable sheath 3 and is integral with the body 2 of the container by means of a rod or other similar means 14. It can be seen that this rod is fixed at 15 to part of the body 2 of the container and is located substantially on the axis of the tubular extension 9 and of the sleeve 3. Thus, the position of the valve 12 and therefore of the applicator brush 13 in the body 2 of the container is fixed, and this is, as we as will be seen below, the sheath 3 which moves relative to this valve during the screwing or unscrewing of the cap 1 to put the applicator brush 13 out of service or in service.

16 shows a spring arranged between the valve 12 and the bottom of the sleeve 3 constituted by its end part 3a. This spring 16 constantly urges the sheath 3 towards the reservoir R, that is to say constantly urges the orifice forming seat 11 in the position applied against the valve 12, position for which the applicator brush 13 protrudes from the orifice 11, as will be described later in connection with the operation.

On the body 2 is mounted a push button 17 projecting from said body and provided with a leaf spring 18, one end 18a of which is secured to the body 2 and the other end of which 18b can actuate the sheath 3 under the effect of 'A pressure applied to said push button 17, as will be explained in detail below.

It will be observed that the tank R, shown partially in the figures, can be connected removably or not, by any suitable means, to the body 2. Also, without departing from the scope of the invention, this tank R could be integral with the body 2, that is to say constitute a part of this body.

According to the variant shown in Figure 5, the plug 1 is internally provided with a spring 19 which retains a ring 20 which can slide in the housing 8 previously mentioned and defined by the internal tubular and threaded wall 5 of the plug.

This ring 20 makes it possible to seal at the end 3b of the sleeve 3 as soon as the plug 1 is screwed onto the body 2.

However, for a better understanding of the invention, the operation of the device according to this invention will be explained below, referring successively to FIGS. 1 to 5.

When the plug or cap 1 is removed, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the spring 16 biases the sheath 3 in the direction of the reservoir R, so that the orifice 11 is closed by the valve 12 carrying the applicator brush 13 which protrudes from said orifice. In this position, the end 18b of the leaf spring 18 of the push button 17 bears on the sheath 3, or more precisely on a shoulder 3c that this sheath forms at the lug 8a.

Consequently, as can be seen in FIG. 2, by exerting a pressure with the finger on the push button 17, the sheath 3 will be pushed against the force exerted by the spring 16, by so that the orifice 11 of the sheath will disengage from the valve 12 and allow the liquid contained in the reservoir R to soak the applicator brush 13 at its part located inside the sheath 3. In other words, the user or the user can, during use and at will, call the liquid contained in the reservoir R by compressing more or less the push button 17 towards the axis of the device. This ability to be able to dose the impregnation of the brush with the product exactly according to the needs of the user, constitutes an undeniable advantage over many known applicators which deliver the product only continuously or in non-dosable quantities thus risking provide unwanted excessive flow.

At the end of use, as can be seen in FIG. 3, it is possible to screw the plug or cap 1 by its internal tubular and threaded part 5 on the sheath 3, that is to say more precisely on the external tubular part and threaded 6 of this sheath. During the screwing, the external tubular part 4 of the cap 1 will bear on the end 2a of the body 2 of the device. Thus, the sheath 3 will be attracted, by screwing, towards the inside of the cap 1, while the valve 12 will remain stationary, since it is fixed by the rod 14 on the body 2. Consequently, as the screwing the cap 1, and therefore the progressive separation of the orifice 11 from the fixed valve 12, the applicator brush 13 will gradually become housed in the sheath 3, and this while smoothing the bristles or fibers of the brush 13 on the edge orifice 11.

It will be observed that with the plug of FIGS. 3 and 4, the free ends of the tubular walls 4, 5 are located in planes very close to each other, so that the body 2 is closed immediately by pressing the free end of the wall 4 on the end 2a of the body 2, and this before the start of screwing.

It is also important to note here that the installation and screwing of the cap 1 can in no case damage the applicator brush 13 which, in a way, will withdraw into the sheath 3 as the cap is screwed.

At the end of screwing on the cap 1, and as can be seen in FIG. 4, the return spring 16 is compressed, the applicator brush is completely retracted inside the sheath 3 and the bottom of the cap 1 seals the port 11.

It should be noted that, in this position, on the one hand the applicator brush 13 remains in contact with the liquid or the vapors thereof, contained in the reservoir R, which advantageously avoids any possible drying of the brush in the event of not in use, and on the other hand, the leaf spring 18 of the push button 17 can no longer actuate the sheath 3 by its end 18b, even in the event of accidental pressure on said push button.

Of course, to return the device to the service position from the closed position visible in Figure 4, it will suffice to perform the reverse operations to those described above, that is to say, to unscrew the cap 1 , which, under the effect of the spring 16, will cause the withdrawal of the sheath 3 in the body 2, until the seat orifice 11 of the sheath 3 comes to bear on the valve 12, as shown in the figure 1.

The operation which has just been described will be exactly the same with the variant of cap illustrated in FIG. 5, except that here, from the start of the screwing of the cap to close the container, the ring 20 will take elastic rest on the end 3b of the sleeve 3, so that the liquid contained in the device cannot escape during the opening of the orifice 11 caused by the screwing of the plug. Of course, as explained above, the free end of the tubular wall 4 of the plug will also bear from the start of the screwing on the end 2a of the body 2 so as to close it off and constitute additional security when escaping from the product.

We have therefore produced according to the invention a device for closing an applicator device which avoids any possible damage to the applicator brush when the device is opened and closed, which provides security for the accidental delivery of product when the container is closed, and which prevents any drying out of the applicator brush when the device is closed since said brush will bathe in the liquid contained in the sheath in permanent communication with the reservoir.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of example.

Thus the material constituting the body of the container and the stopper may be any, that the cooperating forms of the stopper and of the sheath may be other than those shown, and that the means of actuation of the sheath by the push button could be other than a leaf spring.

Also, the sheath cooperating with the plug could be connected to the tank in a manner other than that shown.

This means that the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations, within the framework defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for applying any liquid product such as a nail varnish for example which is fitted with an applicator brush (13) in contact with the product contained in a storage tank (R) and which may be closed with a stopper-cap (1) the mounting of which onto the body (2) of the apparatus and the removal of which operate sleeve (3) with concentric tubular walls (6, 7) mounted for motion within the said body respectively for the putting out of use or in a retracted position of the applicator brush (13) fixedly mounted within the body (2) and its putting in use or in an outward extended position or position of use, the said stopper-cap (1) comprising two concentric tubular walls (4, 5) arranged to permit the insertion of the sleeve (3) upon the screwing and the unscrewing of the stopper-cap (1), characterized in that the sleeve (3) comprises an internal tubular wall (7) concentric with an external tubular wall (6) which is caused to be inserted between both concentric tubular walls (4, 5) of the stopper-cap (1), one (5) of the tubular walls of the stopper-cap (1) cooperating through its threading (5a) with the threading (6a) of the external tubular wall (6) of the movable sleeve (3) and the other tubular wall (4) of the stopper-cap cooperating through abutment with the body (2).
2. Applicator apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the stopper-cap (1) is internally provided with a spring (19) with which is associated a ring (20) through which the brush (13) may extend and cooperating with a seat-like opening (11) in the sleeve (3) as from the beginning of the mounting or screwing of the stopper-cap (1) onto the said sleeve.
3. Applicator apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sleeve (3) is on the one hand mounted in fluid-tight relationship onto one portion (9) of the storage tank (R) to remain in permanent communication with the latter and is on the other hand slidingly and non rotatably mounted in the body (2).
4. Applicator apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one (3a) of the ends (3a, 3b) of the sleeve (3) is mounted in fluid-tight sliding relationship onto a tubular element (9) in extension of the tank (R) and located along the axis of the body (2) and of the sleeve (3) whereas a spring (16) accommodated in the sleeve (3) is bearing between the said end (3a) and a valve (12) carrying the applicator brush (13) made fast to the body (2).
5. Applicator apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring (16) surrounding a rod or the like (14) housed in the sleeve (3) and connecting the valve (1) to the body (2) constantly urges the end (3b) of the sleeve comprising the seat-shaped opening (11) into bearing engagement with the said valve.
6. Applicator apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that with the aforesaid body (2) is associated a push-button (17) provided with a leaf spring (18) adapted to cooperate with a shoulder (3c) of the sleeve (3) to actuate the latter in order to deliver some liquid product to the applicator brush (13) only when the stopper-cap (1) is disconnected from the body (2).
7. Applicator apparatus according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the aforesaid body (2) constitutes a head connectable onto the tank (R).
8. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the diameter of the aforesaid tubular element (9) is substantially equal to the diameter of the aforesaid seat-shaped opening (11) through which may extend the brush (13) the diameter of which is very close to that of the said seat-shaped opening.
9. Applicator apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the external tubular wall (6) of the sleeve (3) cooperates through a threading (5a, 6a) with the internal tubular wall (5) of the stopper-cap (1).

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