EP2205450B1 - Applicator for decorative objects - Google Patents

Abstract

An applicator for decorative objects, comprising a heating rod (14) projecting from a handle (12) and carrying at a free end thereof a suction head (20), the applicator further comprising a suction line (22) that passes from the suction head through the heating rod and the handle and is connected to a subat- mospheric pressure source (24).

Description

• The invention relates to an applicator for decorative objects.
• Several procedures are customary for applying decorative objects such as gems, sequins and the like, on substrates, e. g. on clothing or other textile materials. For example, on the side with which they are to be applied to the substrate, the decorative objects are coated with a hot-melt adhesive and are, for example, picked up using a pair of tweezers and placed at the desired position and are fixed by the effect of heat. It is further known to arrange the decorative objects on an adhesive foil, arranged them on the substrate together with the adhesive foil and then ion the decorative objects onto the substrate.
• DE 92 03 908 U1 describes an insert for a heating device, the heating device having a shaft with a tubular section that accommodates the insert. The shaft 5 is provided with a heating coil for heating the shaft and the holding insert. A suction line passes through the insert and the shaft. The suction line provides a subatmospheric pressure for holding a decorative object at the holding insert. A decorative object can be a released by interrupting the suction force.
• US 5,118,153 describes a hand-held surface mount pick having a handle that includes a vacuum passageway with an evacuation opening at a first end and a plurality of closely spaced vents along an intermediate region. Upon contact with a component to be picked up, the vents are covered by the finger of a user, thereby creating a vacuum at the evacuation opening at the first end.
• It is an object of the invention to find a new possibility of applying the decorative objects.
• According to the invention, this object is achieved by an applicator for decorative objects according to claim 1.
• Using this applicator, decorative objects such as gems, sequins and the like, may be applied onto substrates, e. g. on clothing or other textile materials. For example, on the side with which they are to be applied to the substrate, the decorative objects are coated with a hot-melt adhesive, and they may be picked up by means of the applicator with the suction head using subatmospheric pressure, so that the heat generated by the heating rod is transferred by thermal conduction through the decorative object to the hot-melt adhesive to make the same tacky. Then, the decorative object is placed on the desired location on the substrate by means or the applicator. Then, the decorative object is released, so that the decorative object remains on the substrate and is fixed thereon when the adhesive is cured.
• It is especially advantageous, that the applicator allows applying a decorative object using only one hand.
• The handle is provided with a vent hole that is connected to the suction line and adapted to be closed with a finger. Thereby, the applicator is more easy to operate. As long as the vent hole is left open, the suction line is vented even when the subatmospheric pressure source is switched on, and, accordingly, the suction head is not operating. When the user wants to pick up a decorative object, he only has to place the suction head on the object and then to close the vent hole with one finger of the hand holding the handle, whereby a subatmospheric pressure is created in the suction line and the object is picked up by the suction head. Likewise, the decorative object may easily be placed on the desired location on the substrate by removing the finger from the vent hole. In this way, the user is no longer required to copiously switch the subatmospheric pressure source on and off in order to make the suction head operative and inoperative, respectively.
• Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.
• An embodiment example will now be explained in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic cross-section of an applicator according to the invention, hav- ing a vent hole; and

Fig. 2

shows a schematic cross-section of a different applicator.

• The applicator 10 shown in Fig. 1 has an elongated handle 12 that can be gripped with one hand and is made of a material that is heat resistant but has a low heat conductivity. The outer surface of the handle 12 is formed by a layer of a soft non-slip plastic that becomes thicker towards the front end of the handle.
• An electric heating rod 14 projects from the front end of the handle 12, and a portion of this heating rod adjacent to the handle 12 is surrounded by a thermally insulating protection pipe 16 and a protective shield 18 formed by the handle. The shield 18 serves as a heat shield and at the same time as a support which permits to deposit the applicator on a support surface in such a manner that the heating rod 14 will not contact the support surface.
• An interchangeable, heat-conductive suction head 20 that is adapted to the specific shape of the decorative objects to be applied and has a heat-resistant non-stick coating, e. g. of PTFE is provided at the free end of the heating rod 14. The interchangeable suction head 20 is connected to a suction line 22 that passes through the heating rod 14 and the interior of the handle 12 and leads to the rear end of the handle 12 where it is connected to a supply line 26 leading from a subatmospheric pressure source 24.
• In the example shown, the subatmospheric pressure source 24 is formed by a control apparatus that can be connected to a mains supply and includes a pump for generating the subatmospheric pressure as well as a mains adapter for supplying power to the heating rod 14. As the case may be, a thermostatic control for the heating rod may be integrated. The heating rod can be switched on and off with a switch 28 at the control apparatus, and a regulator 30 is provided for controlling the displacement of the pump and hence the subatmospheric pressure.
• The supply line 26 is formed by a flexible hose, and electrical leads 32 for connecting the mains adapter to the heating rod 14 are integrated in the wall of that hose.
• Inside of the handle 12, the suction line 22 passes through a T-piece 34 the branched-off leg of which leads to a vent hole 36 formed in the surface of the handle 12. The vent hole 36 is arranged in the thickened end of the handle 12 near the protective shield 18 in such a manner that it may conveniently be opened and closed, for example with the thumb or forefinger, when the user holds the handle 12 in his hand like a stylus.
• The cross-sectional area of the vent hole is dimensioned such that, even when the subatmospheric pressure source 24 is operating with maximum power, the subatmospheric pressure in the suction line 22 is collapsed completely as long as the user does not close the vent hole. Moreover, the power of the pump in the subatmospheric pressure source 24 and the cross-sections of the suction line 22 and the vent hole 36 are so adapted that, when the pump is running, the air current does not produce any substantial disturbing noise, and the pump itself operates at very low noise. The power of the pump is controlled with the regulator 30, so that the subatmospheric pressure is just sufficient for picking up the decorative objects with the suction head 20.
• Fig. 2 shows a different applicator, which is similar to the applicator 10 of Fig. 1. The applicator of Fig. 2 differs from the applicator of Fig. 1 in that instead of the vent hole 36, a switch 40 for switching the subatmospheric pressure source 24 on and off is provided at the surface of the handle 12.
• Electrical leads 38, which connect the switch 40 to the control apparatus, are integrated in the wall of the flexible hose. The switch 40 comprises a switch button 42 at the surface of the handle 12. This switch button is arranged in the thickened end of the handle 12 near the protective shield 18 in such a manner, that is may conveniently be actuated, for example, with the thumb of forefinger, when the user holds the handle 12 in his hand like a stylus.
• The power of the pump in the subatmospheric pressure source 24 and the cross-sections of the suction line 22 are so adapted that, when the pump is running, the air current does not produce any substantial disturbing noise, and the pump itself operates at very low noise. The power of the pump is controlled with the regulator 30, so that the subatmospheric pressure is just sufficient for picking up the decorative objects with the suction head 20.

Claims (5)

1. An applicator for decorative objects, comprising a heating rod (14) projecting from a handle (12) and carrying at a free end thereof a suction head (20), the applicator further comprising a suction line (22) that passes from the suction Head through the heating rod and is connected to a subatmospheric pressure source (24), characterized in that the suction line (22) passes through the handle (12), and that the handle (12) is provided with a vent hole (36) that is connected to the suction line (22) and adapted to be closed with a finger.
2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle (12) has an elongated stylus-like shape.
3. Applicator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suction line (22) is connected, at an end of the handle (12) opposite to the heating rod (14), to a flexible supply line (26) that is itself connected to the subatmospheric pressure source (24).
4. Applicator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a switch (28) for switching the heating rod (14) on and off is provided at the subatmospheric pressure source (24).
5. Applicator according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the subatmospheric pressure source (24) comprises a regulator (30) for controlling the subatmospheric pressure.

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