EP2520192B1 - Applicator rapid-release lock - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rapid applicator closure according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known in the art to apply cosmetic applicators to the inside of a lid or cap, which then in many cases immediately form the handle portion of the applicator. If the lid is placed with the applicator on the cosmetic container and bolted or locked with this, then the applicator dips into the reservoir and is wetted there with the cosmetic.

Out GB 2417232 an applicator quick release is known.

In the vast majority of cases, the lid carrying the applicator is fitted with a fine thread. The lid can then be screwed with several turns on the equipped with the mating thread container neck of the cosmetics container. About the thread is then applied at the end of the screwing and the required pressure in the direction of the longitudinal axis, which is necessary so that the lid closes the cosmetic container tight and no cosmetic can leak. As long as the user has screwed the lid tight enough on the container neck, the friction between the thread of the lid and the container neck is sufficiently strong to ensure that there is no accidental loosening of the lid and subsequent leakage of cosmetic. The user usually has no special option to to check if the lid is screwed tight enough.

The well-known fine and at the same time long threads, in which the lid with several turns must be screwed tight enough on the cosmetics container, are particularly problematic in those cases in which it matters that the applicator always in the same position in the cosmetics container as possible. or that the applicator connected to the lid is not rotated too far relative to the cosmetics container when closing the cosmetic container.

In contrast, it is the object of the invention to provide an applicator closure or a cosmetic packaging closure, which can be conveniently set with a short rotational movement of the cosmetics container and still held securely there.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Accordingly, an applicator quick-release closure with an applicator-side closure element and a container-side closure element is provided. The two closure elements can be rotated relative to each other for fixing the applicator to the reservoir associated therewith. In this case, a multi-start, preferably double-threaded or in some cases three-thread short thread is provided at least on one of the closure elements. This is designed so that the two closure elements with a rotational movement <as a 3/8 turn and preferably less than a 1/4 turn relative to each other from a position in which the passages of the short thread begin to take hold in a first completely closed position can be rotated.

This saves the user a long screwing and unscrewing and can bring the cosmetic unit comfortably with instead open or close a very short rotational movement, especially with a single hand using only two fingers to generate a rotational movement on the upper part.

In addition, additional retaining means are provided, which hold the two closure elements on the already existing in a thread of the type claimed threaded friction addition to each other once they have reached their fully closed position. These said holding means are thus designed so that they generate additional forces which prevent the two closure elements from experiencing an unintentional relative movement out of their closed position. In this way, the quick release is securely held in its closed position. This is very important especially for cosmetic units, as they are often transported in handbags or rucksacks, where they are exposed to a variety of shocks that must not lead to opening and thus leakage of the cosmetic unit under any circumstances.

Preferably, the thread is also designed as a coarse thread. A coarse thread is understood to mean a thread in which the pitch angle of each of the threads is at least 5 ° with respect to the horizontal, better even at least 7 ° and ideally even at least 8 ° with respect to the horizontal. It should be noted, however, that for the relevant cosmetics sector in individual cases even threads with a pitch angle of 3.75 ° or greater than coarse thread are considered. Such threads are not preferred for the execution of the invention, but are included for reasons of protective law in the claimed scope.

The use of a coarse thread is particularly crucial when it is important that the between the two closure elements or between a closure element and the bottle or provided between the applicator and the bottle centering and / or sealing surface only then comes with its associated mating surface into engagement when the threads have begun to take and possibly even one at least have forced approximately correct position positioning of the parts to each other. In other cases, the use of a coarse thread is especially of decisive advantage, if it is important that certain parts of the cosmetic unit really only come into contact with each other when only a very short further rotational movement has to be carried out.

Finally, the use of a fast-closing helical thread is especially advantageous where a so-called tweezers applicator to be fixed to the cosmetics container.

Said additional holding means are preferably formed by at least one latching projection and at least one latching recess, which engage in a form-fitting manner as soon as the closure elements have reached or reached their closed position. Ideally, the latching projection and the latching recess are designed so that the user feels their engagement or disengagement during rotation of the closure elements relative to one another haptically and / or acoustically clearly.

Such positively acting additional holding means perform their function particularly reliable, since the forces developed by them significantly lower fluctuations (for example due to wear) subject, as for example, the forces of frictionally acting additional holding means.

In addition, the clearly noticeable locking or unlocking offers at any time a sure control over whether the cosmetic unit was really well sealed or whether a short - perhaps only when playing with the cosmetic unit generated rotation has been enough to open the cosmetic unit ultimately unintentional.

An alternative embodiment, which may be preferred in some cases, provides that the additional holding means are formed by friction-increasing means. Thus, the additional holding means can be formed, for example, that at least one thread narrows wedge-shaped towards its end. This allows the co-operating with this thread mating counterpart wedged under increased friction in the region of the thread once the closure elements have reached their fully closed position. Such a configuration may be useful in particular when using relatively brittle plastics or in the use of metal materials, which are used now and again for the production of cosmetic containers in order to achieve a particularly high-quality appearance.

A preferred embodiment provides that each thread of the helical thread precedes a so-called "free screw surface". Such a free screw surface leads the respective threaded counterpart to the respective thread of the coarse thread, when the closure elements are brought by a movement along its longitudinal axis to abut each other and then rotated in the closing direction relative to each other. The term "precede" here refers to the path that is traveled along a threaded surface of the thread in the closing direction. Under a free screw surface is understood that helical surface, which, seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis, a free end face of the respective closure element forms the marked local front end of the closure element in the direction of the longitudinal axis and against which the other closure element by a pure displacement of the closure elements in the direction of the longitudinal axis can come to rest against each other. Such a free screw surface makes it much easier to insert the threaded counterparts attached to the one closure element into the threads of the other closure element.

Preferably, the free screw surfaces each extend over substantially half the circumference of the relevant closure element. But they cover at least a rotation angle of about 90 °.

In the context of another preferred embodiment, it is provided that the free screw surface associated with a thread thread, which is seen as follows in the closing direction, extends into a region which overlaps a preceding thread, that is to say that H. which is seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis above the previous thread.

According to the invention, there is an applicator quick-action closure, which is characterized in that a thread with at least one thread is provided on one of its closure elements, whose boundary is formed on a side of the thread by a tongue which is connected on one side only in the area of the circumferential end of the thread. Because of this "unilateral connection", the tongue protrudes from the rest of the relevant closure element in the manner of a cantilever beam, which protrudes predominantly or substantially in the direction of the thread pitch. This means that the tongue has a free tongue tip and four free side surfaces, namely one radially outward, a radially inward and extending approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis surface and extending approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lower surface. In most cases, this preferred embodiment is designed so that the thread here forms only a kind of hook in which a matching counterpart can be hung.

The advantage of such a tongue is its elasticity. Such a tongue can easily dodge resiliently to the required amount when screwing and thereby "overrun" a locking element which is intended to engage in a detent recess, which is seen in the closing direction behind the tongue tip or even the entire tongue.

According to the tongue or the latching means are designed so that the tongue during the "overrun" of the locking element in the radial direction elastically springs outwards, thus at least partially evades the detent element and therefore this can drive over relatively easily. It is ideal if the tongue even predominantly or exclusively evades in the radial direction.

According to the invention, the tongue or the locking means can also be designed so that the tongue elastically springs when "driving over" the locking element approximately in the direction of the longitudinal axis or axis of rotation of the applicator or cosmetic unit, thereby at least partially evades the detent element and therefore slightly overrun can.

Preferably, the tip of the tongue has a run-on slope, which makes it easier for the tongue to run over a locking projection when turning, which should insert into a locking recess located behind the tongue tip as seen in the closing direction.

The quick release according to the invention may also be useful be if only a cosmetic container is to be closed with a lid without an applicator is involved. For example, the quick release according to the invention can also be used very well for closing perfume bottles. Because of this, protection for this broader application and product range is claimed, albeit marginal to the main application area of the applicator quick-release. The person skilled in the art understands that he has to read certain terms analogously adapted for this last-mentioned protection variant, eg by reading in the following each "cover-side closure element" instead of "applicator-side closure element".

Other modes of operation, advantages and design possibilities of the invention described in this document will become apparent from the following description, on the basis of which the embodiments are explained in more detail with the aid of the figures.

• Figur 1 zeigt ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kosmetikbehälters mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Applikatorschnellverschluss in Frontansicht.
• Figur 2 zeigt ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kosmetikbehälters mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Applikatorschnellverschluss in Seitenansicht.

Show it:

• FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cosmetic container with the applicator quick release according to the invention in front view.
• FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a cosmetic container with the applicator quick release according to the invention in side view.

The FIG. 3 shows one of the closure elements, which can be performed in this form on the side of the applicator or on the side of the reservoir.

The FIG. 3a shows a sectional view of the closure element according to FIG. 3 ,

The FIG. 3b shows a side view of the closure element according to FIG. 3 ,

The Figure 3c shows a view of the closure element according to FIG. 3 from above.

The 3d figure shows a perspective view of the closure element according to FIG. 3 from underneath.

The FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of a complementary closure element for cooperating with the FIG. 3 shown closure element.

The FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a closure element of FIG. 4 shown type.

The FIG. 6 shows that of FIG. 5 described embodiment from another perspective.

The FIG. 7 shows that of FIG. 5 described closure element from a different perspective.

The FIG. 8 shows that of FIG. 7 shown closure element in another position of use.

The FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in the form of a complete cosmetic unit, which exemplifies how the closure element according to the invention can be usefully used.

The FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment to that of FIG. 1 shown applicator quick release.

The FIG. 11 shows an enlarged section of the area of the thread according to FIG. 10 ,

The FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment for the thread.

The FIG. 1 shows a first overview of the cosmetic unit according to the invention K with the quick release invention 1. As can be seen, the quick release 1 from an applicator-side closure element 2 and a container-side closure element 3. The applicator-side closure element is multi-piece or integral in a cover or a holding section over.

The container-side closure element is usually multi-piece or integral part of a patch on the reservoir 5 collar 6. In the case illustrated here, the container-side closure element is an integral part of the collar 6 and therefore equate with this. In the present case, the collar 6 is screwed with a thread 16 of the usual kind on the neck of the reservoir 5, but it can also be snapped. If such a thread 16 is used, latching devices are normally provided in the vicinity of the thread or in the thread itself, with which the collar 6 engages in corresponding latching devices of the container. In this way, unintentional release of the collar 6 is avoided. Such an additional collar 6 has the advantage that on the part of the reservoir no consideration must be given to whether the quick release according to the invention should be used or not. Therefore, inexpensive standard containers can be used. Alternatively, the container-side closure element but also be an integral part of the reservoir 5 directly and is then sprayed onto a reservoir 5 as a rule, which is not shown here.

The exact operating principle of the invention can best be described by reference to FIG. 3 describe. The FIG. 3 shows in this particular embodiment, the container-side closure element 3. For the sake of completeness but said that the thus designed closure element does not necessarily have to be the container-side closure element 3, but in principle could be the applicator-side closure element.

The key point is that at least one of the two closure elements according to the invention must be provided with a multi-course coarse thread, which is designed so that the two closure elements with less than a 3/8 turn relative to each other from a position in which the Gears of the coarse thread begin to take hold, can be brought into a fully closed position. Preferably, the design is even such that the closing operation just described can be done with less than a 1/4 turn or ideally even less than a 1/8 turn.

The multi-start, namely in the concrete case two-threaded, which is formed from the threads 7a and 7b, is in the FIG. 3 clearly visible. As a thread is here designated that region which is on three sides, namely upwards, downwards and in a circumferential direction, closed and with which the closure element can therefore exert on the other closure element a closing force acting. It is also easy to see that each thread is preceded by a free screw surface 8a or 8b (the term "preceding" refers to the closing direction).

The thread is designed as a coarse thread, ie the pitch angle a of each of the threads is at least 5 ° to the horizontal, better even at least 7 ° to the Horizontal (cf. Fig. 1 and 2 ). Ideally, at least 8 ° to the horizontal is chosen. In the present embodiment, the pitch angle a is about 9 ° relative to the horizontal.

As well as the hand of the FIG. 3 is to be understood, are preferably directly in the range (at least one thread) of the threads recesses 9 provided in the corresponding locking projections 10 (see. Fig. 4 ) of the other closure element as soon as the closure elements have reached their fully closed position relative to each other. These latching recesses 9 and the associated latching projections 10 additionally form holding means which hold the two closing elements together beyond the already existing threaded friction, here by positive locking.

The peculiarity of the FIG. 3 shown thread is that the thread is machined into a hollow cylindrical portion of the closure element, that the free screw surfaces form the narrow frontal boundary surfaces of the hollow cylindrical portion and the two threads 7a and 7b completely penetrate the wall of the hollow cylindrical portion in the radial direction, so to speak each form a "window" in the wall of the hollow cylindrical portion. This results in each case a first tongue 11a and a second tongue 11b, each of which forms a side wall of the respective thread 7a and 7b and which are connected in each case only in the region of the end of the thread on one side. In particular, when the closure element is made of a plastic and the tongues 11a and 11b are not dimensioned too thick, they behave in the same way as leaf spring elements. Ie. The tongues 11a and 11b can be elastically moved a little bit in the radial direction outwards without too much expenditure of force to bend. Preferably, this effect is used to facilitate the locking of the incorporated into the tongues recesses 9 with the complementary locking projections 10 crucial - as soon as the tongues 11a and 11b come in the course of Zudrehens at their tips with the locking projections 10 in contact, they yield radially outside and feathers preferably only fully back to their original position, when the locking projections 10 have been inserted into the recesses 9.

How to hand on the FIG. 3 As best seen, the free screw surfaces 8a and 8b each extend substantially over half the circumference of the closure member.

Instead of in the manner described above or in addition, the tongues can also be designed so that they yield elastically resiliently in the direction of the longitudinal axis L or perpendicular to the free screw surface 8a and 8b, so that just for the yielding in the radial direction described effect can be exploited mutatis mutandis. The FIG. 10 illustrates such an alternative embodiment. It is important, however, that care is taken in such an embodiment that the tongues can actually exert a certain amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis or perpendicular to the free screw surface. For this purpose, then if necessary local free cuts are provided.

At the of FIG. 10 shown alternative embodiment, the tongues can easily exert a certain amount of movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis or perpendicular to the free screw surface. This is because in this alternative embodiment, only one of the two closure elements is provided with the multistage coarse thread according to the invention, while the other Closing element has a smooth cylindrical outer contour, protrude from the peripheral surface at the corresponding locations local extensions. These extensions enter into the aisles 7a and 7b of the coarse thread, when the two closure elements are rotated relative to each other in the Verschließstellung. In the modification according to the FIG. 10 these local extensions are configured as circular stubs 12. How the an enlarged cutout performing FIG. 11 shows, these stubs snap when needed in the recess 9 a.

How best to hand on the Figures 1 and 2 can recognize, but also both closure elements 2 and 3 may be complementarily equipped with a 2-threaded thread from a first thread and a second thread and a first free screw surface and a respective second free screw surface. As a rule, however, it will then be the case that only one closure element has tongues which are resilient, while the tongues of the other closure element are rigid. This is because only in a closure element, the coarse thread is incorporated in a sleeve portion, while it is incorporated in the other closure element usually in a massive cylinder portion, so that the tongues are also tied on its radially inward side, which of course makes them very rigid ,

Such a closure element, here in the form of the applicator-side closure element 2, as it ideally with that of FIG. 3 shown closure element cooperates, show the FIGS. 4 to 8 , It should be noted here that the special grip part 4 and the division of the closure element to be recognized in these figures are not the decisive point. In this respect, the representations in the closure element are merely exemplary, since it is the closure element of the FIG. 9 special case of a so-called mascara tweezers is.

It is crucial that you see here the locking projection 10, with the of FIG. 3 shown locking recess 9 is brought into engagement and can be run over for this purpose by the tongues 11a and 11b.

Very nice to see this FIGS. 4 to 8 in that also this complementary closure element preferably has a first thread turn and a second thread turn. For the sake of simplicity, both threads are also identified here by the reference numerals 7a and 7b, although they are not the same threads as those of FIG FIG. 3 shown, but the corresponding threads of the complementary part, to engage with the of FIG. 3 is provided closure element shown. The same applies mutatis mutandis to the reference numerals 8a and 8b and the reference numerals 14th

It should also be noted that the fixed portions denoted by the reference numeral 18 are substantially rigid both in the radial direction and in the direction of the longitudinal axis, thereby they differ from the tongues 11a and 11b of the FIG. 3 even if they look quite alike.

As can be seen readily with reference to the figures, the coarse thread in the present case in the embodiments is designed so that it reaches into the visible outer surface of the cosmetic unit in the finished cosmetic unit. Such a design not only has a certain aesthetic appeal, but also simplifies the operation considerably - the fact that the user always has the thread in mind, he usually sets the two closure elements when closing involuntarily so that the closure elements with the shortest possible , efficient rotary motion in their Closing position can bring.

In addition, the coarse thread at the of the FIGS. 1 to 9 shown embodiment designed so that the two closure elements form a unitary body with a consistently smooth visible outer surface, although the coarse threads extend into the visible outer surface. Such a design is not only aesthetically very appealing, but also makes sense from a hygienic point of view - should some cosmetic mass in the area of the thread come in, it can be relatively easily wipe with such a design.

Incidentally, it should also be noted that the threads 7a and 7b in the embodiments shown here have a pronounced gear end, which serves as a defined stop (14a or 14b), which is also reached when closing. The result is that the cosmetic applicator always comes to rest in the same end position - unlike the known cosmetic applicators, which were screwed by means of a fine thread, which allows a more or less strong twisting, so that the cosmetic applicator to lie in different positions comes, depending on how tight was turned off.

How to easily handle the FIG. 12 can recognize, instead of a holding means of form-locking elements and a holding means can be used, which increases the friction and thereby ensures that the two closure elements are held above the already existing Gewindereibung out together once they have reached their fully closed position. For this purpose, the threads 7a and 7b are designed so that they constrict wedge-shaped towards their end, so that the correspondingly shaped thread counterpart 15 wedges under increased friction in the constriction when the closure elements have reached their fully closed position.

K

Kosmetikeinheit

1

Schnellverschluss

2

applikatorseitiges Verschlusselement

3

behälterseitiges Verschlusselement

4

Deckel bzw. Halteabschnitt

5

Vorratsbehälter

6

Kragen

7a

erster Gewindegang

7b

zweiter Gewindegang

8a

erste freie Schraubenfläche

8b

zweite freie Schraubenfläche

a

Steigungswinkel

9

Rastausnehmungen

10

Rastvorgang

11a

erste Zunge

11b

zweite Zunge

12

kreisförmiger Stummel

13

(entfallen)

14

Anschlag

15

Anlaufschräge

16

Gewinde

17

(entfallen)

18

Festabschnitte

The other, previously not discussed figures from the figure set of FIGS. 1 to 14 show the quick release according to the invention or parts thereof from different angles and therefore also contribute to the understanding of the invention.

K

cosmetics unit

1

quick release

2

applicator-side closure element

3

container-side closure element

4

Lid or holding section

5

reservoir

6

collar

7a

first thread

7b

second thread

8a

first free screw surface

8b

second free screw surface

a

lead angle

9

recesses

10

Rast operation

11a

first tongue

11b

second tongue

12

circular stub

13

(Deleted)

14

attack

15

starting slope

16

thread

17

(Deleted)

18

fixed sections

Claims (11)

1. A quick-fastening applicator closure (1) comprising a cap-side closure member (2) and a container-side closure member (3) which are twisted relative to one another in order to fix the applicator on the storage container (5) associated with it,
   characterised in that a multi-start, preferably double-start, short threaded portion is provided on at least one of the closure members (2, 3), whose threads (7a, 7b) are designed in such a way that the two closure members (2, 3) can be brought from a separated position, in which the threads of the short threaded portion grip for the first time, into a fully closed position with a rotary movement ≤ of a 3/8 rotation relative to one another, with additional retaining means being provided which hold the two closure members (2, 3) firmly against each other in addition to the thread friction that is present anyway, once they have reached their fully closed position, wherein, on one of the closure members (2, 3), a threaded portion with at least one thread (7a, 7b) is provided whose boundary on one thread side is formed by a tongue (11a, 11b) that is unilaterally attached only in the area of the circumferential end of the thread and which protrudes like a cantilever beam in the direction of the thread lead, wherein the unilaterally attached tongue (11a, 11b) is able to interact with a latching element associated with it in order to hold the closure members (2, 3) firmly against each other in addition to the thread friction that is present anyway, once they have reached their fully closed position, and the tongue (11a, 11b), during the course of running over the latching element, either yields elastically outwards in the radial direction, or the tongue (11a b), during the course of running over the latching element, yields in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
2. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the short threaded portion is a steep-pitch threaded portion with a lead angle (α) of preferably greater than 5°.
3. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional retaining means are preferably formed by at least one latching projection (10) and at least one latching depression (9) that come into engagement in a positive fit as soon as the closure members (2, 2) have reached their fully closed position.
4. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the additional retaining means are formed by at least one thread narrowing towards its end in a wedge-shape so that the mating threaded portion wedges into the narrowed portion under increased friction as soon as the closure members have reached their fully closed position.
5. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each thread is preceded, seen in the closing direction, by a free screw surface (8a, 8b) that leads the respective mating threaded portion to the corresponding thread of the threaded portion when the closure members (2, 3) are brought to rest against each other by a movement along their longitudinal axis and are then rotated relative to each other in the closing direction.
6. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the free screw surfaces (8a, 8b) respectively extend substantially over half the circumference of the respective closure member.
7. The quick-fastening applicator closure according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the free screw surface which (8a, 8b), seen in the closing direction, is associated with a subsequent thread (7a, 7b), extends into an area that overlaps a preceding thread (7a, 7b).
8. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the threaded portion comprises at the end of its at least one thread (7a, 7b) a positive-fit stop (14a, 14b) that prevents that the two closure members (2, 3) can be twisted relative to one another even further in the closing direction.
9. The quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip of the tongue comprises an oblique leading surface (15) that makes it easier for the tongue (11a, 11b) to run over a latching projection (10) during closing, which is supposed to come to lie in a latching depression (9) that, viewed in the closing direction, is located behind the tongue tip.
10. A cosmetics unit and in particular a mascara unit comprising a storage bottle (5), a cosmetics supply, a cover and an applicator for applying the cosmetic, characterised in that the cosmetics unit comprises a quick-fastening applicator closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
11. Use of the quick-fastening closure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for tightly closing a cosmetics container using a cover or a cap to which no applicator is attached.

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