EP1607020B1 - Applicator with a ventilation groove - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator has a reinforcing core (11) of a first plastics material surrounded at least at the front by a support sleeve (12) of a second plastics material having several radially outwardly extending fingers (13) formed integral on the sleeve. The surface of the sleeve also contains at least one ventilation groove which extends in the longitudinal direction to divide the finger rims into peripheral segments. The fingers stand perpendicular to the brush axis and the finger rims form parallel discs.

Description

The invention relates to an applicator for liquid or pasty media, in particular for decorative cosmetics such as mascara, with a stiffening core of egg nem first plastic material which is surrounded at least in the region of its front end by a support sleeve made of a second plastic material, the a plurality of radially outwardly projecting fingers, which are integrally formed on the carrier sleeve and made of the second plastic material, wherein a plurality of distributed over the circumference of the carrier sleeve fingers form a finger ring and wherein in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve a plurality N of finger wreaths with the same number of fingers n are arranged one behind the other, wherein the support sleeve has on its surface, in the longitudinal direction, at least one groove for better pressure equalization and the finger rings are segmented by the groove.

A corresponding applicator can be used in various application areas. The following is an example of the application of mascara, the so-called mascara, be assumed, however, the applicator of the invention is to be used in a similar manner, inter alia, for the dyeing of hair strands or for the application of pharmaceuticals.

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 ge first combs before applying the mascara and thus be 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 usually when pulling out en is stripped from the mascara reservoir. Since the applicator is designed as a cantilevered component with an end-side handle, it must have sufficient stability to safely absorb the forces acting in use, without the risk ei Nes break exists. On the other hand, the applicator must ever be so flexible that it can be adapted to the curvature of the au genlider and is sufficient yielding in case of incorrect use to avoid injury to the user in the eye area.

Out DE 101 02 219 Applicators are known for liquid or pasty media, in particular for decorative cosmetics such as mascara, which have a rod-shaped, stiffening core of a first plastic material which is surrounded at least in the region of its front end by a support sleeve made of a second plastic material, wherein the carrier sleeve has a plurality of radially outwardly projecting fingers, which are integrally formed on the carrier sleeve and also made of the second plastic material. Several distributed over the circumference of the support sleeve fingers form a finger ring and in the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve are a plurality of finger wreaths with the same number of fingers hintereinan arranged and form a rotationally symmetrical brush. A major disadvantage of such applicator brush is that due to the uniform arrangement of the bristles pressure equalization during insertion of the brush head into the substrate container or when pulling the brush head from the substrate container is not possible. The consequence of insufficient pressure equalization is a Plopp sound that many consumers find unpleasant or vulgar.

The invention has the object zug round, a generic applicator such that simultaneously with the pushing in and pulling out the brush head into or out of the substrate container, a pressure compensation can be done.

This object is achieved in an applicator of the type mentioned by at least one introduced in the surface of the carrier sleeve vent groove.

Preferably, the number of vent grooves should not be more than 6 grooves.

According to the invention, the groove can be U, V, circular section, rectangular or the like.

All fingerprints should have the same number of fingers. The distribution over the circumference of the carrier sleeve takes place in segments. Within a segment, the fingers have the same mutual angular distance. The number n of fingers per finger wreath is in the applicator of the invention between 8 and 16, in particular, an even number n of the fingers (8,10,12 or 16 fingers) should be provided.

The segments preferably have the same number of fingers.

While the number n of fingers per finger ring determines the array density of the fingers in the circumferential direction, the arrangement density of the fingers in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve and thus of the applicator is determined by the number N of finger rings lying one behind the other in the axial direction. The distance between adjacent finger wreaths should be within a predetermined range and beyond should not be too many finger wreaths are provided in order not to complicate the handling of the applicator and even with relatively small eyelashes ei NEN good mascara order to achieve. According to the invention it is therefore provided that the applicator has between 14 and 30 finger rings and in particular between 20 and 27 finger wreaths.

The fingers of all finger rings can be configured with the same dimensions. However, it has proved to be advantageous to form finger rings with fingers of reduced dimen conditions both at the front and at the rear end of the applicator. Although these finger rings of smaller fingers are counted in the number N of finger rings, the following remarks refer to the fingers of a midrange normal finger ring. Since it is provided that the length I of the fingers, d. H. the extent to which the finger protrudes radially from the carrier sleeve in the range of 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

Also, the mutual distance s ₁ adjacent finger wreaths is a measure, since s significantly affects the combing effect and the mascara. The distance s ₁ measured between the free ends of similar fingers of adjacent finger rings should, according to the invention, be in the range of 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm.

In the area of the feet of the fingers, ie in the connection region of the fingers to the carrier sleeve, the fingers of adjacent finger rings should have a clearance s _{2 of} the order of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.

By the distance s ₃ , the maximum width of the ngersegmenten between the Fi segments lying vent groove is determined.

The vent groove preferably has a depth t ₁ of 0.2-1.0 mm measured from the surface of the carrier sleeve between the fingers. According to the invention it is also to make the vent groove so that it is returned to the ends of the support sleeve to a depth of 0 mm, that runs out gently against the carrier sleeve surface.

1. I. n = 10
2. II. N = 27
3. III. I = 2,4 mm
4. IV. s₁ = 0,95 mm
5. V. s₂ = 0,25 mm
6. VI. r_K = 25 mm
7. VII. s₃ =1,0 mm
8. VIII. t₁ = 0,5 mm

In a first embodiment of the invention, it is seen before that the applicator possesses the following parameter combination:

1. I. n = 10
2. II. N = 27
3. III. I = 2.4 mm
4. IV. S ₁ = 0.95 mm
5. V. s ₂ = 0.25 mm
6. VI. r _K = 25 mm
7. VII. S ₃ = 1.0 mm
8. VIII. T ₁ = 0.5 mm

1. I. n = 12
2. II. N = 22
3. III. I = 2,4 mm
4. IV. s₁ = 1,2 mm
5. V. s₂ = 0,42 mm
6. VI. r_K = 15 mm
7. VII. s₃ 1,0 mm
8. VIII. t₁ = 0,5 mm

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the parameters in Kombinat ion take the following values:

1. I. n = 12
2. II. N = 22
3. III. I = 2.4 mm
4. IV. S ₁ = 1.2 mm
5. V. s ₂ = 0.42 mm
6. VI. r _K = 15 mm
7. VII. S ₃ 1.0 mm
8. VIII. T ₁ = 0.5 mm

The applicator has a substantially circular cylindrical configuration, i. H. an envelope surface of the Applika sector has a circular cross-section which is constant either over the entire length of the finger field or only in the end regions is reduced in the aforementioned manner. For practical handling of the applicator, it has proven to be useful if this has an outer diameter D in the range of 6.0 mm to 10.0 mm and in particular of 8.0 mm.

The stiffening core preferably has egg nen circular cross-section, whose diameter is in the range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm and in particular 2.0 mm. The core may have a constant cross-section over its entire length, but it is preferred that the core be tapered at its forward end.

For the purposes of the invention, a curvature of the core, for. B. in the form of a Elipsenausschnittes or sickle. A continuous corotomic curvature of the core preferably has a radius r _K of 12 mm to 50 mm, which is based on the typical radius of the human eyelid.

The wall thickness a of the carrier sleeve substantially determines the elastic bearing ung the finger and thus their deformability speed. In the region in which the core has a constant cross section, the radial wall thickness a of the carrier sleeve should be in the range of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm and in particular 0.6 mm. If the core tapers at its front end, the wall thickness a of the support sleeve is increased accordingly in this area, so that the Au ßenkontur the support sleeve is circular cylindrical.

The applicator is preferably produced in the two-component method. In a first step, the core of the first plastic material is injected, whereupon then in a second step, an elastomeric second plastic material to form the carrier sleeve and the finger is sprayed onto the core.

The assembly of the brush, by inserting a core into a prefabricated carrier sleeve, however, is also possible.

The total axial length L of the carrier sleeve should be in the range of 20.0 mm to 35.0 mm and in particular 25.0 mm.

According to the invention, it may be provided to form the front region of the applicator with increased flexibility. This can be achieved by protruding the support sleeve with its front end portion by the dimension v beyond the front end of the core, so that the front end portion of the applicator is formed entirely of the elastomeric second plastic material. Since s dimension v may be in the range of 1.0 mm to 8.0 mm and is preferably 3.0 mm.

In the simplest geometric configuration, the fingers of each finger ring lie with their central axes in a common, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the Applika sector extending plane, so that no offset of individual fingers in the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve and the Applika sector is provided. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that at least one finger of a finger wreath is offset relative to the other fingers of the finger ring by the amount v _F in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve. In before zugter embodiment of the invention i st provided that every second finger of the finger ring is staggered so that the fingers of a finger ring in two parallel, spaced in the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve, are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve extending planes. The offset amount v _F is preferably given as a multiple of the foot diameter d _{F of} the fingers to v _F = fxd _F , where f is a factor in the range of 0 (no offset) to 1.5 (maximum offset).

In addition to an offset of individual fingers within a finger ring, adjacent finger rings can also be offset relative to each other in the circumferential direction by an angle α, where α should be between 0 ° and 10 °. If α = 0 ° and thus there is no angular offset, the tips of similar fingers of the finger beads lie on a straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the applicator. If an angular offset is present between adjacent finger wreaths, the tips of similar fingers of the finger wreaths are arranged on egg ner circumferential spiral line on.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that each finger is conical and has a foot diameter d _F in the range of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm and in particular of 0.68 mm. The fingers are preferably rounded at their free end, wherein a radius R of the rounding is in the range of 0.02 mm and 0.2 mm and in particular 0.05 mm.

The fingers of the individual finger beads preferably form parallel disks, thereby achieving a particularly good combing effect. (S. Fig. 1 )

If the fingers are arranged perpendicular to the curvature tangent of the core, then the disk-shaped finger beads have a smaller distance on the side of the smaller radius than on the side of the larger radius.

Figur 1

die Seitenansichten eines Applikators mit Lotrecht zur Achse A -a angeordneten Borsten gemäß einem grundsätzlichen Aufbau,

Figur 2

eine Aufsicht auf die Spitze A des Applikators gemäß Fig. 1,

Figur 3

einen ausschnittsweisen Längsschnitt, Schnitt VI -VI in Fig. 2, des Applikators gemäß Fig. 1.

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

the side views of an applicator with perpendicular to the axis A -a arranged bristles according to a basic structure,

FIG. 2

a plan view of the tip A of the applicator according to Fig. 1 .

FIG. 3

a partial longitudinal section, section VI -VI in Fig. 2 , of the applicator according to Fig. 1 ,

The Fig. 1 to 2 show an applicator 10 basic structure based on the individual parameters are to be explained.

The applicator 10 has a stiffening core 11 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) With a circular cross-section, which is provided at its rear end with connecting elements 11 b to brin supply to a receiving part, not shown. In its front end portion of the core 11 carries a widened head, which together with in the middle section of the core 11 formed recesses of the positive attachment of the core 11 is used.

The core 11 is made of a first plastic material and is manufactured in the first phase of a two-component injection molding process.

On the core 11, in a second phase of the two-component injection molding process, a carrier sleeve 12 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) is sprayed from an elastomeric second plastic material, which is firmly connected due to the engagement with the recesses and the head of the core 11 with this. The outer contour of the support sleeve 12 is kreiszylin drisch so that it has a constant wall thickness in a central and rear portion in which it surrounds the central portion having a constant cross section of the core 11, while their wall thickness in the personigen area in which they The tapered region of the core 11 surrounds, steadily increasing and compensating for the cross-section of the core 11. The carrier sleeve 12 protrudes with a front end portion 12 b by the dimension v (see Fig. 1 ) beyond the front end of the core 11 so that the front end portion 12b is formed entirely of the elastomeric second plastic material.

In the area of the vent grooves 20, the wall thickness is reduced ( Fig. 2 ). The segments have a distance s ₃ and are separated by the vent groove 20 with a depth t ₁ .

On the outside of the support sleeve 12 radially outwardly projecting, conically tapered to its free end fingers 13 are integrally formed, which also consist of the elastomeric second plastic material. The fingers 13 are arranged in the form of a total of N segmented finger rings K ₁ , K ₂ , K ₃ , K ₄ , ... K ₂₅ , K ₂₆ , which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve 12 with the same distance one behind the other lying on. Every finger ring K _i (see Fig. 2 ) comprises a certain number n of fingers 13, each in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support sleeve 12 extending plane E _i , of which in Fig. 2 only one is indicated, and within the segments at the same angular distance over the circumference of the carrier sleeve 12 are equally distributed. At the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, a total of N = 26 finger rings are provided, all n = 14 fingers 13 to summarize, which are divided into two segments with 7 fingers. The arrangement and configuration of the fingers 13 is identical in most finger rings, only the first finger ring K ₁ formed at the rear end has fingers reduced Dimensions while the finger beads K ₂ to K _{26 have} an identical configuration. Information on the dimensioning of the fingers 13 always refer to the identically formed finger rings.

Fig. 3 shows the geometric conditions in the middle region of the applicator 10. The core 11 has in its section from constant circular cross-section on an outside diametrically and is surrounded by the support sleeve 12 with a wall thickness a. The support sleeve 12 carries on the outside the cantilevered outwardly, conical, that is conically tapered to the free end fingers 13, which have a radial length I. The total diameter d of an envelope surface of the applicator thus results in: $$\mathrm{D}\mathrm{=}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{,}$$

The associated fingers 13 adjacent finger wreaths have at their free ends a mutual distance s ₁ , while between the Finge rfüßen associated fingers adjacent finger wreaths a clear distance s ₂ consists, as shown in Fig. 5. The fingers 13 are in the form of a circular cone with the base or pad of the finger having a diameter d _F. The Fing he are rounded at its outer free end with a radius R.

1. 1. Gesamtdurchmesser D des Applikators: 6,0 mm bis 10,0 mm.
2. 2. Krümmungsradius r_K des Kerns: 12 mm bis 50 mm
3. 3. Kemdurchmesser d: 1,5 mm bis 2,5 mm.
4. 4. Wandstärke a Trägerhülse: 0,3 mm bis 1,0 mm.
5. 5. Fingerlänge I: 1,5 mm bis 3,0 mm.
6. 6. Abstand s₁ der Fingerspitzen benachbarter Fingerkränze: 0,6 mm bis 1,5 mm.
7. 7. Abstand s₂ der Fingerfüße benachbarter Fingerkränze: 0,2 mm bis 0,5 mm.
8. 8. Gesamtlänge L der Trägerhülse: 20,0 mm bis 35,0 mm.
9. 9. Länge v des vorderen, nicht ausgesteiften Bereichs: 1,0 mm bis 8,0 mm.
10. 10. Anzahl n der Finger pro Fingerkranz: 8 bis 16, insbesondere 8, 10, 12 oder 16.
11. 11. Anzahl N der Fingerkränze: 14 bis 30.
12. 12. Durchmesser d_F des Fingerfußes: 0,4 mm bis 1,0 mm.
13. 13. Rundungsradius R der Fingerspitze: 0,02 mm bis 0,2 mm.
14. 14. Axialer Versatz v _F der Finger eines Fingerkranzes: v _F = f x d_F, wobei 0 ≤ f ≤ 1,5.
15. 15. Versatzwinkel α benachbarter Fingerkränze in Umfangs richtung: 0° ≤ α ≤ 10°.
16. 16. Tiefe t₁ der Entlüftungsnut: 0,2 bis 1,0 mm
17. 17. Abstand s₃ der Fingersegmente : 0,5 bis 2,0 mm

The following areas have proven to be useful for the individual parameters:

1. 1. Overall diameter D of the applicator: 6.0 mm to 10.0 mm.
2. 2. Radius of curvature r _{K of} the core: 12 mm to 50 mm
3. 3. Kemdurchmesser d: 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.
4. 4. Wall thickness a Carrier sleeve: 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm.
5. 5. Finger length I: 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm.
6. 6. Distance s _{1 of} the fingertips of adjacent finger rings: 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm.
7. 7. Distance s _{2 of} the finger feet of adjacent finger rings: 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.
8. 8. Overall length L of the carrier sleeve: 20.0 mm to 35.0 mm.
9. 9. Length v of the front, non-stiffened area: 1.0 mm to 8.0 mm.
10. 10. Number n of fingers per finger ring: 8 to 16, especially 8, 10, 12 or 16.
11. 11. Number of fingerings: 14 to 30.
12. 12. Diameter d _{F of} the finger foot: 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm.
13. 13. Rounding radius R of the fingertip: 0.02 mm to 0.2 mm.
14. 14. Axial Offset v _{F of} the fingers of a finger ring: v _F = fxd _F , where 0 ≤ f ≤ 1.5.
15. 15. Offset angle α of adjacent finger rings in the circumferential direction: 0 ° ≤ α ≤ 10 °.
16. 16. Depth t _{1 of} the vent groove: 0.2 to 1.0 mm
17. 17. Distance s _{3 of} the finger segments: 0.5 to 2.0 mm

Claims (17)

1. Applicator for liquid or pasty media, in particular for decorative cosmetics such as mascara, having a stiffening core (11) which is made of a first plastics material and, at least in the region of its front end, is enclosed by a carrier sleeve (12) which is made of a second plastics material and has a multiplicity of radially outwardly projecting fingers (13), which are integrally formed on the carrier sleeve (12) and consist of the second plastics material, a plurality of fingers (13), distributed over the circumference of the carrier sleeve (12), forming a finger ring (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.), and a multiplicity N of finger rings (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.) with the same number n of fingers being arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve (12), characterized in that the surface of the carrier sleeve contains at least one ventilating groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve, and the ventilating groove subdivides the finger rings into circumferential segments.
2. Applicator according to Claim 1, characterized by at least one of the following parameters:

   - number n of fingers (13) per finger ring (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.): 8 to 16,

   - number N of finger rings (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.) located one behind the other in the axial direction of the carrier sleeve: 14 ≤ N ≤ 30, in particular 20 ≤ N ≤ 27,

   - length I of fingers (13): 1.5 mm ≤ I ≤ 3.0 mm,

   - spacing s₁ between the free ends of identical fingers (13) of adjacent finger rings (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.): 0.6 mm ≤ s₁ ≤ 1.5 mm and

   - spacing s₂ between the feet of identical fingers (13) of adjacent finger rings (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.): 0.2 mm ≤ s₂ ≤ 0.5 mm and

   - bending radius (curvature) of the core in the region of the brush is from r_K= 12 mm to 50 mm,

   - depth t₁ of a ventilating groove: 0.2 to 1.0 mm,

   - spacing s₃ between the finger segments: 0.5 to 2.0 mm.
3. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of ventilating grooves is from 1 to 6.
4. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 2 or 3 ventilating grooves run in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve.
5. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fingers are located perpendicularly to the brush axis A-A (Figure 1) and finger rings form parallel discs.
6. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fingers (13) of the finger ring (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.) are distributed equally over the circumference of the carrier sleeve (12).
7. Applicator according to at least one of preceding Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the applicator has an external diameter D in the range from 6.0 mm to 10.0 mm.
8. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external diameter d of the core (11) is in the range from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.
9. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (11) tapers at its front end.
10. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier sleeve (12) has a radial wall thickness a in the range from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm.
11. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier sleeve (12), together with the fingers (13), consists of an elastomeric plastics material.
12. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier sleeve (12) has an axial length L in the range from 20.0 mm to 35.0 mm.
13. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier sleeve (12), in its front end section (12b), projects beyond the front end (11d) of the core (11) by the extent v, where v is in the range from 1.0 mm to 8.0 mm.
14. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one finger of a finger ring is offset by the extent v_F in the longitudinal direction of the carrier sleeve (12) in relation to the other fingers of the finger ring.
15. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent finger rings (K₁, K₂, K₃, etc.) are offset in relation to one another by an angle α in the circumferential direction, where 0° ≤ α ≤ 10°.
16. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foot diameter d_F of the finger (13) is in the range from 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm.
17. Applicator according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fingers (13) are designed in the form of cones or pyramids and are rounded at their free end.

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