EP0766938B1 - Applicator unit and applicator for hot melt products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field general technique of application devices hot-melt product, such as depilatory wax, ointments, creams, or even glues or varnishes, in which the product is stored in solid form and must be subjected to a calorific contribution to change state, and move to at least a pasty state, in order to can be applied.

By hot melt, it should be understood any type of product at room temperature in a solid, even semi-solid physical state or pasty, but susceptible to heat change physical state to liquefy enough so that it can be spread out as a layer.

The invention more particularly aims to protect an application device and a wax applicator depilate, but it is quite obvious that the application is not limited to this specific use.

Regardless of the type of wax application hair removal considered, the hair removal technique by application of a depilatory wax consists in making melt a certain amount of wax and then apply in the molten state, a layer of wax on the area to be depilated. After hardening, i.e. cooling, the cold wax film is removed using any appropriate means, the hairs then being extracted from the skin due to their attachment to the wax.

The implementation of these techniques requires generally the use of devices relatively bulky, giving rise to a hair removal operation long, tedious, and often messy.

To implement this technique, we know already implemented application devices essentially a heated tank allowing liquefy the depilatory wax. These devices are supplemented by an applicator element, of the spatula type or roller, independent of the tank, that the user introduced into the mass of melted wax in order to take a certain amount from it spread over the area to be epilated.

These simple, very rustic devices, are often found not to meet the needs of more and more sophisticated users.

The wax application temperature is wrong controlled, as well as the thickness application of the wax layer on the area to be depilate. Such devices generate numerous disadvantages and in particular require time important to implement.

To improve previous devices previously mentioned, it has already been proposed application devices comprising a portable distribution, connected to the tank by a flexible pipe. A pump system allowing the discharge of wax from the tank to the pipe, then to the distributor.

Such devices generally have a great autonomy and are well suited in the case hair removal to be performed on a large area important. However, the device remains relatively bulky and requires relatively handling important.

In order to further improve the devices earlier, it was developed autonomous devices, in particular that described in the patent application European EP-0.629.366 concerning an applicator of hot-melt product, in particular depilatory wax. This device comprises a housing, associated with means grip, a reservoir of the product to be applied made of a material which is good conductor of heat and preferably aluminum. This reservoir is related thermal with external heating means. At at least one applicator roller is placed in the vicinity a tank outlet, to allow applying depilatory wax to the area desired.

Another device of comparable type was developed in European patent application EP-0.592.340 concerning a product applicator hot-melt, in particular depilatory wax, also comprising a box, associated with a means of gripping, a reservoir of the product to be applied, and less means for applying the product disposed at the near the outlet of the tank. In the device described in this document, at least part of the tank is made of plastic electric current conductor constituting heating means.

Document EP-0.499.317 which shows the characteristics of the preamble of the claim 1 relates to an apparatus epilation including a housing with a reservoir intended to contain a block of wax. The device is provided with a roller rotary distributor and a heating element arranged between the tank end and the distribution roller and against which rests the block of wax.

These three previous devices, compact in shape, allow better control and control of wax application temperature, facilitate the use and cleaning of the devices, and limit the risks of environmental pollution.

Although improved, these prior devices do not not always meet current needs users.

The object of the present invention is to consequence to remedy the disadvantages of prior devices and in particular to provide a device for applying a hot-melt product, the design and implementation are particularly simplified, while allowing good control of the application temperature of the hot-melt product.

Another object of the invention is to have a application device comprising connections particularly simple electrics and despite everything reliable, and means of application limiting the risk accidental sagging or spreading.

It is another objective of the invention of allow the user an easy use on itself and this even in inaccessible places, with a handy device, with an applicator autonomous whose simplified design allows easy miniaturization, allowing in particular a depilation on small areas with difficulty accessible, such as around the mouth and more precisely above the upper lip, and therefore to have a device whose size is weak and easy to handle.

Yet another goal is to have a applicator whose filling level can be easily controlled.

To achieve these goals, the invention relates to a applicator of hot-melt product, particular depilatory wax, as defined in claim 1.

The invention also relates to an applicator assembly such as defined in claim 10. An applicator assembly for the adhesive, comprising the features of the preamble of claim 10 is known from US-A-4826049.

• le bloc d'alimentation délivre une très basse tension, comprise entre 2,5 volts et 6 volts ;
• les moyens de connexion électrique comportent une partie mâle, comprenant deux broches solidaires du réservoir et raccordées aux moyens de chauffage, permettant, d'une part, la liaison électrique des moyens de chauffage au bloc d'alimentation et, d'autre part, une liaison mécanique de l'applicateur au bloc d'alimentation électrique servant de support ou d'embase ;
• le réservoir est constitué en matériau plastique ;
• au moins une des parois du réservoir est partiellement constituée en matériau transparent à la lumière ;
• l'organe distributeur est un rouleau ;
• le rouleau distributeur est de faible dimension, de diamètre inférieur à 2 cm et d'une longueur inférieure à 2 cm ;
• le réservoir est à remplissage unique.

In different particular embodiments, the invention includes the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:

• the power supply unit delivers a very low voltage, between 2.5 volts and 6 volts;
• the electrical connection means comprise a male part, comprising two pins integral with the tank and connected to the heating means, allowing, on the one hand, the electrical connection of the heating means to the power supply and, on the other hand, a mechanical connection of the applicator to the power supply unit serving as support or base;
• the tank is made of plastic material;
• at least one of the walls of the tank is partially made of material transparent to light;
• the dispensing member is a roller;
• the dispensing roller is small, with a diameter of less than 2 cm and a length of less than 2 cm;
• the tank is single fill.

• la Figure 1 représente une réalisation d'un appareil selon l'invention, dans laquelle un applicateur vu en coupe verticale est disposé sur son bloc d'alimentation servant d'embase ;
• la Figure 2 représente une coupe transversale de l'applicateur de produit thermofusible visible sur la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une coupe horizontale de l'applicateur de produit thermofusible.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, given by way of example and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, in which an applicator seen in vertical section is disposed on its power supply serving as a base;
• Figure 2 shows a cross section of the hot melt applicator visible in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the hot melt applicator.

A set of applicator for hot-melt product, in particular depilatory wax, in accordance with the invention and shown more particularly in Figure 1, includes a power supply unit 1 and a applicator 3 of the hot-melt product 20.

The power supply unit 1 is provided with a socket 2 or domestic plug for connection on the electrical network. Advantageously, this block supply 1 delivers a very low voltage, by example between 2.5 volts and 6 volts. This very low voltage allows, on the one hand, a simple design of the applicator and, on the other hand, gives the whole a high level of protection from the device electrical risks.

The applicator 3 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in vertical sections, orthogonal one by relative to each other, views in the heating position of the applicator. The latter includes a reservoir 4 intended to contain the hot-melt product 20. The hot-melt product 20 can be introduced in the form solid granules or, when hot, in the liquid state. The tank 4 can be refillable or, preferably, filled during its manufacture and discarded after use. This tank 4 also serves as a body, i.e. allows manual gripping of the applicator, and its manipulation can be carried out with one hand.

A distribution unit is arranged opposite an opening 5 at the outlet of the reservoir 4. This member distribution is basically made up of a roller 6, movable in rotation about an axis 7. The axis 7 can be rigidly mounted, either on the roller 6, either on the lateral sides of the tank 4.

Inside the tank 4, are arranged heating means 8. These are therefore directly in contact with the hot-melt product 20. These means of heating consist essentially of a wire 9 heat resistant, mounted on an insulating support 10. Advantageously, the electric wire 9 is a wire of copper, can be enamelled, insulated or not. Means of electrical connection 11 are used to connect the power supply unit 1 to the heating means 8, and more specifically to the resistant wire 9.

When feeding wire 9 resistant, it heats up and allows a contribution heat transmitted directly to the product hot-melt 20 contained in the tank 4. Advantageously, the capacity of the reservoir 4 is limited to a volume of less than 10 cm3 and so preferred equal to 7 cm3, which allows the product hot melt 20 to melt quickly, the applicator 3 is then operational within a very short time.

The electrical connection means 11 are temporary, i.e. they link the low voltage output of the power supply unit 1 aux heating means 8 so as to melt the wax epilate, but that applicator 3 can also be disconnected from power supply 1 to allow the application of the hot-melt product. This characteristic therefore allows the applicator 3 to be very easy to handle, and in particular allows its one-handed operation and access to hard-to-reach areas. this is all the more pronounced as the applicator 3 is small dimension and that the distributor, and more precisely the roller 6, is also of low dimension and for example of a diameter less than 2 cm and also less than 2 cm in length, allowing the application for example above the upper lip.

The electrical connection means include a male part 12, more particularly visible on the Figure 2, comprising two pins 13 and 14. Durant the heating stage, this male part 12 is connected to a female part integral with the block supply 1 and constituting its low output voltage. Each pin 13, 14 is connected to one of the ends of the heating wire 9. These two pins 13, 14 thus make it possible to ensure an electrical connection between the power supply 1 and the resistant wire 9, when the heating stage, but it also ensures, during of this same step, a mechanical connection between the applicator 3 and the power supply 1, the latter then serving as a support or base for the applicator 3.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the tank 4 taken in a section parallel to the plane of application, or horizontal seen in the position of applicator heating, has a quadrilateral shape, usually rectangular or square. The tank 4 has therefore substantially a parallelepiped shape. Advantageously, the support 10 of the electric wire 9 is placed in a plane corresponding to one of the diagonals of the quadrilateral section. So the heating element is perfectly positioned inside the tank 4 and is almost immobile in position, thanks also to the two pins 13, 14 integral with the tank 4. This precise positioning of wire 9 heating is achieved thanks to a design and particularly simple means this design simple being easily miniaturizable.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reservoir 4 is constituted by a plastic material.

The particularly simple design of the applicator 3 allows the reservoir 4 to be single filling. The entire applicator 3 can then be discarded when the tank 4 is empty, i.e. that it no longer contains any material hot melt.

Advantageously, at least one of the walls of the tank 4 is partially made of a material transparent to light. This transparent part is a window that allows the user to checking the filling level of the product hot-melt 20. The filling state of the tank 4 is particularly easy to observe.

In order to allow the level of filling, it is also possible that one of the walls, or the whole, of the reservoir 4 is constituted entirely in materials transparent to light. Of such materials are generally poor conductors of heat and therefore, in the case of a totally tank made of this material, thermal insulation is increased. The heating elements being placed at inside the tank 4, the caloric losses are therefore minimized and the efficiency of the heating means is optimized.

The unique filling characteristic, or disposable applicator, further facilitates the user any cleaning operations and limits the risk of environmental pollution.

At rest, before use, the applicator 3 is cold and the hot-melt product 20 which it contains, is solid. When she wants to use it, the user fixed on power supply 1 which is itself connected to the domestic electrical network. The the temperature of the heating means then rises, this which results in the fusion of the hot-melt product. Applicator 3 is then dissociated from the block and due to the thermal inertia of overall, the hot melt remains at the desired temperature, allowing its application. The hot-melt product 20 can therefore be deposited. Yes necessary, after applying a first strip of hot-melt product 20, the applicator 3 is again attached to the power supply to increase the temperature and therefore the fluidity of the product hot melt. Applying another tape can then be done.

The invention is not limited to the details of the modes described above, but includes in particular variants employing means equivalent. Different variants of this device are possible, particularly in the arrangement of the wire 9 resistant. This heating wire 9 can be distributed over its support 10 by turns whose density can be also distributed in the height of the tank 4. These turns can be distributed to heat more near the dispenser roller 6, or closer to the base of the reservoir 4 and of the pins 13, 14 so as to shorten the implementation time during the first use or during use when the tank is partially empty.

Claims (11)

1. Applicator for hot melt products, particularly hair removal wax comprising:

   a tank (4) provided for containing a volume of hot melt product (20) and to allow picking-up and handling of the applicator,

   a distribution element (6) arranged outside an outlet opening (5) of the tank (4),

   heating means (8) of the hot melt product (20) provided inside the tank (4) in contact with the hot melt product (20),
   characterised in that temporary electrical connection means (11) allow to link a power supply block (1) to the heating means (8) which then melt the hot melt product (20), whereas the power supply is disconnected during the application of the product and in that the tank (4) taken in a section parallel to the application plane has the shape of a quadrilateral and in that the heating means comprise a resistive electric wire (9) placed on a support (10) and wound around said support, whereby the said support (10) is placed in a plane corresponding to one of the diagonals of the quadrilateral.
2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterised in that the said support (10) has a width greater than the internal greatest width of the tank (4).
3. Applicator according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the electrical connection means (11) comprise a male section (12) having two pins (13, 14) integral with the tank (4) and connected to the heating means (8), enabling on the one hand to link the heating means (8) to the power supply block (1) and, on the other hand, the mechanical link of the applicator (3) to the electrical power supply block (1), acting as a support.
4. Applicator (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the capacity of the tank (4) is limited to a volume smaller than 10 cm³.
5. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the tank (4) is made of a plastic material.
6. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least one of the walls of the tank (4) is partially constituted of a light-transparent material.
7. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the distribution element is a roller.
8. Applicator according to claim 7, characterised in that the distribution roller is rather small, less than 2 cm in diameter and less than 2 cm in length.
9. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the tank (4) is of single fill-up version.
10. Applicator unit for hot melt products, particularly hair removal wax, comprising :

    an electrical power supply block (1), and

    an applicator (3),
    characterised in that said applicator (3) is as mentioned in any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. Applicator unit according to claim 10, characterised in that the power supply block (1) provides a very low voltage, ranging between 2.5 and 6 volts.

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