EP3500129B1 - Device for applying a liquid medium - Google Patents

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for applying a liquid or powdery medium with a flexible application element in width and two lateral limiting elements for the exact and simplified application of this liquid or powdery medium. The invention further relates to a kit containing this device and a vessel which comprises the liquid medium and a scraper for stripping the liquid or powdery medium from the delimiting element and / or application element. The invention also relates to a method for applying a liquid or powder medium using the device according to the invention.

Background of the Invention

Numerous devices for applying a liquid medium, in particular from the field of cosmetic products, are known from the prior art. The liquid medium is currently predominantly applied with application elements such as brushes or unrolling devices, but can also be applied using a spray device. The devices known from the prior art are usually used in connection with a vessel which contains the medium to be applied.

The clean varnishing of fingernails or toenails is a particular challenge. Nails represent curved surfaces with variable contours. An optimal application of nail polish should result in a smooth surface without grooves, bubbles, pores, eyes or runners. In addition, the coating should be uniformly thick and cover the entire surface. The greatest difficulty, however, is to varnish the entire nail surface without the nail polish being applied to the adjacent nail fold or cuticle.

This is made more difficult by the rapid hardening of the nail polish, which leaves the user with very little time to process the lacquer. Since a first coat partially hardens very quickly on the surface, painting over often leads to irregularities in the paint surface.

Due to the circumstances explained above, it is therefore very difficult with conventional nail polish brushes to produce a cleanly contoured and smooth lacquer surface. Inexperienced users are therefore very likely to paint themselves when painting the nails, i.e. also paint the neighboring nail bed or even the toe or finger skin or only paint a partial area of the nails, or even create an unclean surface. This explains why a large proportion of women (according to a survey conducted in Düsseldorf in 2016, this is 55%), despite a positive attitude towards varnished nails, rarely or not at all varnishes the fingernails.

Therefore, the first automated devices for improved application of nail polish have been developed. For a clearly contoured application of paint, stencils or adhesive tapes are used to differentiate them. This procedure is cumbersome and prone to errors and often requires post-treatment (eg by cleaning the template or removing paint residues that "crawl" under the template or the adhesive tape).

Alternatively, the nail bed can be coated with silicone compounds or oils that repel the varnish. This means a further process step in which an unclean application of these compounds on the nail bed immediately results in an unclean application of nail polish. In addition, the products used are often substances that are harmful to the organism or the environment.

The German published application DE 3708984 A1 relates to a brush, in particular for nail polish, on the holder of which at least two stems (2, 3) with two bristle bundles (4, 5) are provided (see Fig. 1 ). This enables a broader application of varnish and multiple nail varnish colors in one Apply next to step. However, this brush also has the disadvantage that the nail polish can easily get onto the neighboring nail fold.

The European patent application EP 1 836 921 A1 relates to a nail varnishing device with a roller. The roller can have different surfaces. This is intended to achieve a controlled, ie more even, application of paint. However, this presupposes that the prior wiping off of the roller also takes place in an equally controlled manner. A roller in particular has the disadvantage that the ink application "frays out" on the side and therefore does not result in a clear boundary and, moreover, a cylindrical roller does not give an even application on curved surfaces.

The DE 199 60 511 A1 relates to a device and a method for the automatic application of nail polish to a fingernail. In this case, an image of the fingernail is first recorded using a camera and, after image analysis, converted into a processing path, an applicator then applying the lacquer while following the processing path. This process is complex and expensive and is therefore unsuitable for private use.

The document EP0503706A1 discloses an apparatus for applying nail polish according to the preamble of claim 1.

The document US8382727B1 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 2.

There is therefore a need for an improved application device for liquid media and in particular for the application of nail polish.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for applying a powdery or liquid medium which is an improvement over the disadvantages mentioned above by reducing the disadvantages or even eliminating them entirely.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a device according to claim or 2. Specific embodiments of the invention are the subject of the additional dependent or independent claims.

The device according to the invention has numerous advantages over the vessels known from the prior art.

The device according to the invention initially has an application element that can be flexibly changed in its width. This allows the width of the media job to be varied during the media job, controlled either by the user or the contour of the surface, and thus to be adapted to the shape of the surface. The device is thus ideally adapted to the spatula-shaped contour of nails and the application can be carried out step-free and smoothly in adaptation to the shape of the fingernail or toenail.

This width adjustment also makes it possible to paint the nails neatly with a line, which is time-saving on the one hand and minimizes the risk of coating errors on the other.

The fast application of media also has the advantage that even very fast drying or hardening media (e.g. colors with volatile solvents) can be applied. Liquid media with an even shorter processing time, which previously could not be used for application reasons, are now available for application for the first time.

This change in the width of the application element occurs through its even spreading, so that it continues to be homogeneous and therefore optimal Media application results, which also fulfills the requirement of a smudge-free application with good fine coating properties.

Almost all known technical configurations can be used as the application element, such as, for example, a brush, roller, sponge or spray device, so that the device can be used widely.

The lateral width flexibility of the application element also allows the device to be used with the conventional media vessels in an advantageous manner, so that the device can be easily inserted into the vessel opening by narrowing the application member. A narrow vessel opening is preferred, especially for nail polishes with the volatile solvents.

In addition, the device has two laterally positioned limiting elements. This easily prevents the liquid or powdery medium from spreading to adjacent surfaces and thus provides a media application with an exact lateral boundary.

The device can thus be used in a broad manner for all technical purposes in which a liquid or powdery medium is to be applied with an exact boundary line.

Since the device itself specifies the limitation, there is no need for external aids such as stencils or adhesive tapes, and any post-treatment is not necessary. This results in a quick and easy media order.

The lateral limiting elements also allow the use of elongated bristles that can hold more medium. Such long bristles have so far not been usable in the prior art because they spread excessively and result in an unclean media job. Therefore, the application organ can also absorb so much nail polish that frequent dipping of the applicator into a nail polish supply is avoided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the delimiting element of the device comprises a guide element which detects surface structures or contours and can thus variably control the delimitation based on the detected structure / contour. Especially for toenails or fingernails, the nail fold represents a clearly graspable structure. The guide element can engage in this fold and regulate the width of the media application accordingly. This means that even inexperienced people can paint the nails precisely.

The device according to the invention is relatively simple and therefore not only inexpensive to manufacture, but also user-friendly to use.

In summary, the device according to the invention allows a quicker and qualitatively better application of the liquid or powder medium with simple use.

The invention in detail

According to the invention, the application element is attached between two carrier elements in the device. In a preferred manner, the width of the application element located between can be changed accordingly by the variable spacing of the carrier elements. As an alternative to this, the carrier elements can have a fixed spacing and the width of the application element attached between them can be varied independently of this.

In the sense of the application, the width of the order element refers to that side of the order element that is perpendicular to the direction of the media order and thus defines the width of the media order.

Furthermore, the change in width relates at least to that part of the application element which is in contact with the surface to be processed and thus ensures that the liquid or powdery medium is transferred directly to the surface. According to the invention, it does not have to be the whole Order element can be variable in its width. In the case of a bristle bundle, it is therefore sufficient if only the front area of the bristle bundle is varied in width.

In one embodiment, the application element is attached directly to the carrier element. In an alternative embodiment, the application element can be connected indirectly to the carrier element / the carrier elements via a further element (e.g. via a roller axis).

The usual rod-shaped supports, which are known in particular in the field of nail polish applicators, can be used as the support element. Wood, metal or plastic can be used as materials here. The use of flexible materials, such as an elastomer material, is preferred here. This material is advantageously selected from the group consisting of polyethylene such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyurethane, polyester, polyether block amides, polyvinyls, ter-polymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM) and polymers of styrene-butadiene Consequences (SEBS-SIS). In particular, the elastomer material has a hardness which is in the range from 35 to 90 Shore A and preferably in the range from 50 to 70 Shore A. In an equally preferred embodiment, the elastomer material has a Shore D80 hardness.

The lateral positioning of the delimiting element according to the invention allows adaptation to the width of the application element. This means that the delimitation elements follow the changes in the width of the application element; in the case of delimitation elements on both sides, their distance from one another is changed to the same extent as the width of the application element located between them. This requirement is met in the simplest manner in that the two delimiting elements are connected to the application element, the distance between the application element and the delimiting element being essentially unchangeable.

In a preferred embodiment, the delimiting element comprises a guide element which detects the contour and / or the structure of the surface and is designed such that it is the width during the media application of the media order flexibly adapts to the contour of the surface. It is therefore possible that the surface itself determines the width of the media job and does not have to be actively guided in width by the user.

For this purpose, the limiting element in the simplest embodiment is designed to taper to a point, so that the pointed end engages in contours or structures of the surface and thereby gives the material application a corresponding guidance. In an alternative embodiment, the guide element is a ball or a roller. The width B _{FE of} the tapered guide element is chosen so that it can still correctly grasp the contours / structures of the surface, but also not too pointed to damage the surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the delimiting element provides a marking for the current width of the media job. This can be done by means of a limiting element tapering towards the end with a marked tip, which gives the user a clear indication of the width of the media job.

Alternatively, the marking can be displayed on the surface to be processed. For this purpose (preferably miniaturized) light sources can be used, which project a light signal from the device onto the surface and thus indicate the application limits to the user.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the limiting element is attached directly to the side of the application element. In this way, the liquid or powdery medium emitted by the application member can be retained by the delimiting element and continue to be available for the media application.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid medium is selected from the areas of cosmetic product or medical product. The following are examples of a liquid medium: lotion, gel, mask, mascara, eyeshadow, denture care products, dental varnish, hair fixatives, Hair dye, lip care product, nail polish, nail polish remover, nail care product, nail glue, adhesive gel, nail oil and medical device selected from cavity lacquers, medical care lacquers and antimicrobial coatings.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the liquid medium is selected from nail polish, nail polish, nail hardener, groove filler, nail polish remover, nail care product, nail glue, adhesive gel, nail oil, lip care product such as lipstick or lip gloss, make-up or varnish for the dental field.

In an alternative embodiment, the medium to be applied is a powdery medium and selected from the group comprising body powders, face powders, powder coatings, and in particular electrically curing lacquers and lacquers which are cured by UV light, heat or chemical processes.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the device is designed such that it can be used to apply liquid or powdery media for nonbiological applications, for example for coatings in the field of furniture, textiles, leather goods, paper, building materials, building structures, metal, plastic, machines , Motor vehicles.

In a further embodiment, the device according to the invention is suitable for applying the liquid or powdery medium to one of the following surfaces: a wall, ceiling or floor surface of a building, a surface of a vehicle body, a surface of a piece of furniture and the surface of foods.

In a preferred embodiment, this surface is a surface of the human or animal body.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, this surface is the surface of toenails, fingernails, teeth, skin or hair.

In addition to the nails, the teeth are also a relevant field of application for the device according to the invention. The guide element can engage in the interdental spaces and thus allow the clean, targeted application of medically or cosmetically active media to the teeth.

The application element can be designed in a wide variety of ways and the person skilled in the art can use all forms of application known from the prior art. For example, the application element can be configured as follows: fiber bundle, bristle bundle, tassel, roller, flocked device, swab, sponge, fleece, loop, spatula or spray head.

In the case of a flocked device, flock fibers are applied to a base body with the aid of adhesive.

The application element can include one or more of the application forms listed above. According to the two carrier elements, it is preferred that the application element comprises exactly two of these application forms, that is to say two bristle bundles or two tassels.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the application element is advantageously formed in a conventional manner from a tuft of essentially parallel bristles. The bristle tuft has in particular a length (L _AE ) that ranges from 8 to 40 mm and preferably from 11 to 20 mm. In this case, the applicator forms a brush.

The application element can be fastened with respect to the width B _{BE of} the delimiting element on the rear edge, in the middle or on the front edge of the delimiting element.

The application element is preferably attached centrally to the delimiting element. The depth of the order element (p. Figure 10 : T _AE ) is preferably narrower than the width of the associated Delimiting element (see Figure 10 : B _BE ). As a result, the limiting element can limit the application of paint laterally in a simple manner.

In one embodiment, the bristle bundles are attached to the limiting or carrier element in such a way that there is a distance Δ _AE-BE between the front edge of the bristle bundles and the inner edge of the guide element, which is preferably up to 1.5 mm. As a result, the order element can expand laterally by this amount before it even touches the guide element.

According to this variant, the device preferably has a tuft of about 20 to 200 and preferably about 50 to 150 bristles with a diameter that ranges, for example, from 4 hundredths to 25 hundredths mm and preferably from 6 hundredths to 17 hundredths mm, which generally are formed from polyamide, for example from Nylon® 6,6-6,6-10,6-12 or from Nylon® 11, from polyester, from polyacrylate, from polyacetal or from cellulose acetate. The bristles can alternatively be of natural origin.

At least some of the bristles can have slight corrugations along their length. The bristles can have cross sections, the shape of which is selected from the group of circular, ring-shaped, polygonal, cross-like, rectangular, multi-lobed, U, C or V-shaped shapes and / or they have at least one capillary groove. The free end of the bristles that form the applicator can be designed in the form of a needle head, which was achieved in particular by thermal treatment, for example by flaming. The free end of the bristles can also be designed in a tapered shape, which was obtained for example by grinding or carding.

In principle, the tufts of bristles can be gripped both in a ring, for example in a circular cylindrical flexible sleeve, as well as oval, rectangular, square or in another shape. An elongated rectangle or an ellipsoid is preferred here, which is changed via the width fit to a rectangle with a modified longitudinal side or to an ellipsoid with a modified eccentricity.

Furthermore, the bundle of bristles can also have an arcuate or C-shaped cross section, the concave underside being intended to come into contact with the convex nail surface. In a further embodiment, the bristle cross section can change its shape in a controlled manner by bringing it into contact with the surface. For example, a convex bristle bundle (pair) can "fold over" into a concave brush cross-section by pressing it onto a likewise convex nail surface.

The surface defined by the bristle ends can be completely or at least partially, for example, in the form of a straight or inclined circular cone, a truncated cone, a pyramid, a truncated pyramid or a spherical segment, or can be more tapered, as is known from hair brushes used in painting, or also run like a spherical segment. Combinations of these shapes are also possible. For example, the surface defined by the bristle ends can also have the shape of a truncated cone and be rounded in the upper region.

In a preferred embodiment, the surface defined by the bristle ends is convexly curved.

In one embodiment, with a convex bristle end, the guide element on the front is at the same height or is set back by up to 2 mm (see distance Δ _{AE-FE: convex} in the Figure 10 ).

In an alternative embodiment, with a concave bristle end, the guide element on the front is at the same height or protrudes by up to 2 mm (see distance Δ _{AE-FE: concave} in the Figure 10 ).

The material that forms the bristles can contain an agent that modifies its surface condition and / or its sliding properties and / or contains its wettability with water and / or a solvent or also an antistatic agent.

Advantageously, the agent which improves the sliding property of the fiber and reduces its wettability with water and solvent is included in the material of the bristles in a proportion which is between 0.2% by weight and 15% by weight and preferably between 0.3% by weight .% and 5% by weight.

This lubricant is preferably selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, boron nitride, molybdenum bisulfate, graphite, silicones, walker earth and talc.

Advantageously, the attachment of the application element to the carrier element is ensured, for example, by gluing, but it can also be effected by any other known means that is usually used for the production of brushes, for example by a clamping ring or a so-called anchor method.

In a further preferred embodiment, the application element consists of at least one bristle bundle which is connected at one end to the device and has a clamping aid which clamps the individual bristles of the bristle bundle evenly distributed in one plane. The clamping aid is either connected to the bristles or spans the bristle bundle on both sides. In this case, the clamping aid is preferably glued to the bristle bundle.

This clamping aid expediently consists of an elastic material such as, for example, an elastomer which can be elastically deformed under tensile and compressive loads, but then returns to its original, undeformed shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the elastomer is selected from the group comprising polyisoprene, polyisobutylene, isoprene / isobutylene copolymer and styrene-butadiene rubber, poly (organo) siloxanes (silicone) and combinations thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the clamping aid consists of a silicone compound.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the application element consists of at least one roller which can be flexibly moved transversely to the roller axis. As a result, the roller can also produce a concave or convex application surface, or even a more complex shaped application surface. As part of the nail polish application, the roller will deform accordingly in a concave manner in order to optimally paint the convex nail surface.

Such a roller can thus be flexibly changed not only in width but also perpendicular to it, and thus particularly well suited to provide complex or complex surfaces with liquid or powdery media.

In the case of a roller, various technical solutions can be used for the width variability according to the invention. For example, the roller can consist of an elastic material or be constructed like an accordion. In a preferred embodiment, it is a spiral-divided roller, the spiral in the sense of a spring element making the roller flexible in width and also representing a surface structure that does not impair the homogeneous application of the liquid or powdery medium.

In a further embodiment, the roller used as the application element has a roll-off aid, preferably in the form of a polygon and particularly preferably in the form of a star, which facilitate the roll-off of the roll on the surface.

This rolling aid is preferably identical to the delimiting elements, so that the roller according to the invention is delimited, for example, by two adjacent circular delimiting elements which carry elevations (for example in the form of "star points") and thus facilitate rolling.

In an alternative embodiment, the rolling aid is at a distance from the delimiting elements. In the case of a roller as an application element, the tooth-bearing roller can be attached to the center of the roller as a rolling aid. With a correspondingly thin design of this spiked roller, the even application of paint is not disturbed even with such a central arrangement.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tips of this unrolling aid easily penetrate into the surface provided for the media application.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the application element consists of two bristle bundles which are each fastened laterally on the inside of the two rod-shaped carrier elements, the two rod-shaped carrier elements being pivotally coupled via a pivot axis and preferably being connected by at least one spring element in such a way that they their pivoting movement can be biased.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the delimiting elements consist of a plate or disk according to claim 2. In an embodiment not according to the invention, the delimiting element represents the end of the carrier element the area in which the application element placed between them runs the risk of expanding its liquid or powdery medium to neighboring areas in its media application.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one delimiting element is attached such that it can be rotated about its own axis as a preferably circular flat element.

The necessary pivotability of the two support elements and thus also the delimiting elements relative to one another is ensured by at least one pivot axis and / or a flexible material. In this case, a tension is built up in this pivoting of the two support elements / limiting elements, which counteracts the pivoting.

In a preferred embodiment, metal, plastic, wood or glass fiber reinforced plastic is used as the flexible material.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least one of the surfaces of the guiding and / or limiting element has a coating which exerts a repellent effect on the liquid or powdery medium used. In the case of a hydrophobic medium, this is suitably an oleophobic, hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating. In the case of a polar medium, a coating offers itself which leads to a lotus effect, that is to say forms a micro or nanostructure which is water-repellent.

1. a. eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung; und
2. b. ein Gefäß zum Eintauchen der Vorrichtung (Mediengefäß), welches das aufzutragende flüssige oder pulverförmige Medium enthält.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising:

1. a. a device according to the invention; and
2. b. a vessel for immersing the device (media vessel), which contains the liquid or powder medium to be applied.

The media vessel can take any shape here, with a standing bottle being preferred.

Alternatively, the vessel can also serve as a cap for the device designed as a pin. In one embodiment, the cap can simultaneously serve as a storage vessel for the liquid or powdery medium.

In an alternative embodiment, the cap is only intended as a protection or closure option. The liquid or powdery medium can be removed from a separate vessel or is integrated in the pen so that it is fed to the application element from above.

In a further embodiment, the media vessel has a volume between 2 and 20 ml, preferably between 5 and 16 ml and particularly preferably between 8 and 13 ml.

In a preferred embodiment, the media vessel comprises a stripping element for stripping the liquid or powdery medium from the guide element and / or limiting element and / or carrier element.

In a further preferred embodiment, the stripping member consists of one of the following materials or devices or a combination of these: silicone, foam, an electrostatically acting device.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the stripping element for the limiting or guiding element is designed as a gap which is arranged at a distance from the media vessel and which is preferably designed in a wave form. As a result, the application element is selectively immersed in the liquid or powdery medium and receives the medium there, while the limiting or guiding element is guided separately therefrom through the gap, which in this case removes any liquid or powdery material present on both sides from the application element.

In a further embodiment, the media vessel also has a wiping element for the application element in order to wipe off excess liquid or powdery medium. This is particularly important in the case of a roller-shaped application element since, after immersing a roller in liquid or powdery medium, a uniform distribution of the medium on the roller surface with removal of excess medium is particularly necessary. The wiping element for the application element can be designed in form and material like the wiping elements described above. In the case of a roller, a scraper grid is preferred.

In a further embodiment, the media vessel contains a trapezoidal trough for receiving the liquid or powdery medium. When the device is immersed in this trough, the liquid can be absorbed by the application element in a controlled manner. The trapezoidal design allows the device to be pulled through the trough up to a controlled width of the application element, so that it tends to do so selected width corresponds to the width of the surface to be treated. When painting a thumbnail, the optimal amount of nail polish can be included here in advance of the amount of media.

In a further aspect of the invention, the two delimiting elements are positioned and designed in such a way that they adapt to the flexible width of the application element and laterally limit the media application to the inside.

In this embodiment, the inventive teaching regarding the application of paint is inverted. The application elements are now outside, that is to say on the right and left with respect to the two carrier elements. Thanks to its flexible, adjustable width, two separate order tracks can be created. The media order is then limited internally.

1. (a) Eintauchen des Auftragsorgans der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in das flüssige oder pulverförmige Medium unter Aufnahme des flüssigen oder pulverförmigen Mediums von dem Auftragselement;
2. (b) Abstreifen des überschüssigen flüssigen oder pulverförmigen Mediums vom Auftragselement und/oder Begrenzungselement und/oder Führungselement;
3. (c) Auftragen des flüssigen oder pulverförmigen Mediums auf die Oberfläche durch Inkontaktbringen des Auftragselements mit der Oberfläche.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for applying a liquid medium, which comprises the following steps:

1. (a) immersing the application member of the device according to the invention in the liquid or powdery medium while taking up the liquid or powdery medium from the application element;
2. (b) scraping off the excess liquid or powdery medium from the application element and / or limiting element and / or guide element;
3. (c) applying the liquid or powdery medium to the surface by bringing the application element into contact with the surface.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zusammen mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Mediengefäß, welches mit einem Deckel verschlossen werden kann.
• Fig. 2 zeigt einen seitlichen Querschnitt (A) sowie eine Aufsicht ebenfalls im Querschnitt mit einer Vergrößerung des Bereiches der seitlichen Führung (B) des Mediengefäßes, sowie in (C) ebenfalls im Querschnitt mit einer unterschiedlichen Ausgestaltung des gestrichelt dargestellten Saugkörpers im Inneren des Gefäßes.
• Fig. 3 zeigt einen seitlichen Querschnitt durch das in dieser Ausführungsform als Flasche ausgestaltete Mediengefäß.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, ausgeführt als Stift, zusammen mit einer als Gefäß ausgebildeten Stiftkappe in Seitenansicht (rechts) oder einem Querschnitt (links) gemäß der Querschnittslinie A-A.
• Fig. 5 zeigt links eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit einem Auftragselement bestehend aus einem Borstenbündel in Seitenansicht und rechts in Seitenansicht mit einer zu beauftragenden Oberfläche.
• Fig. 6 zeigt oben eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit einem Auftragselement bestehend aus zwei an die seitlichen Begrenzungselemente angebrachten Borstenbündeln in Seitenansicht, unten rechts in Seitenansicht zusammen mit einer zu beauftragenden Oberfläche und unten links in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht mit zwei Begrenzungselementen die über je ein Gelenk verfügen.
• Fig. 8 zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht, bei der die stabförmigen Trägerelemente aus einem flexiblen Material bestehen, das die Verschwenkbarkeit erlaubt.
• Fig. 9 zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht mit einer Walze als Auftragselement und zusätzlich eine Seitenansicht dieser Ausführungsform im Zusammenwirken mit einer zu beauftragenden Oberfläche.
• Fig. 10 zeigt relevante Abstände und Bemaßungen bei einer Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 6.

These and other aspects of the invention are described in detail in the figures and in the exemplary embodiments. The illustrations demonstrate:

• Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention together with the media vessel according to the invention, which can be closed with a lid.
• Fig. 2 shows a lateral cross-section (A) and a plan view also in cross-section with an enlargement of the area of the lateral guide (B) of the media vessel, and in (C) also in cross-section with a different design of the absorbent body shown in dashed lines inside the vessel.
• Fig. 3 shows a lateral cross section through the media vessel designed as a bottle in this embodiment.
• Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention, designed as a pin, together with a pin cap designed as a vessel in side view (right) or a cross section (left) according to the cross-sectional line AA.
• Fig. 5 shows on the left a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention with an application element consisting of a bristle bundle in a side view and on the right in a side view with a surface to be applied.
• Fig. 6 shows above another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention with an application element consisting of two bristle bundles attached to the lateral limiting elements in side view, bottom right in side view together with a surface to be applied and bottom left in a perspective view.
• Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention in side view with two delimiting elements each have a joint.
• Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention in side view, in which the rod-shaped support elements consist of a flexible material that allows the pivotability.
• Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention in side view with a roller as an application element and additionally a side view of this embodiment in cooperation with a surface to be applied.
• Fig. 10 shows relevant distances and dimensions for a device according to Figure 6 .

Examples:

The embodiment in Fig. 1 shows the kit according to the invention consisting of the device 10 for applying the liquid medium and a media vessel 12 with a lid 11 for closing the media vessel. The device 10 is introduced into the storage chamber through the opening 13 . For the product application, the lid 11 is removed from the media vessel 12 and the device 10 is inserted into the media vessel 12 from above and is immersed there in the liquid medium that is present in the central trapezoidal chamber. Here, the delimiting elements 14 or the guiding elements are guided along the V-shaped lateral guides, which leads to a wiping off of superfluous liquid medium from the delimiting elements 14 on both sides.

In Fig. 2 the media vessel 22 is shown with the opening 23 for storing the device. As the cross section in B shows, the round storage chamber 23 is surrounded by a hatched, absorbent material, which ensures that excess material is removed and / or soaked with solvent so that the liquid medium dries prevented. The device is introduced in such a way that the application element is immersed between the V-shaped lateral guide 26 in the liquid medium and can take up the medium there. The guide element or the limiting element is inserted into the gap 201 and thus does not come into contact with the liquid medium. Remaining liquid medium is wiped off by pulling it through the gap 201 acting as a wiping element 25 . The enlarged illustration clarifies the position of the scraper, in this embodiment of a foam, in the media vessel 22. In the embodiment shown in (C) , the foam forms a common foam body from the lower storage area and the upper application area, which in contrast to the device ( A) has no separation.

Another embodiment of the media vessel 32 is shown in FIG Fig. 3 shown. In this case, the scraper member 35 is integrated in the upper part of the bottle neck.

Fig. 4 shows a special embodiment of the device 40 in the form of a pen with a closure cap 401, which in one embodiment can also function simultaneously as a media vessel of the pen-shaped device. In the media vessel design, the closure cap has a stripping element 45 on the opening side. The carrier elements 441 can be pivoted here relative to one another via a pivot axis 47 and are connected as a spring element via a flexible band 48 . The two application elements 49 are each attached to the inside of the delimiting elements 44 .

In Fig. 5 is complementary to Fig. 4 a clamping aid 501 is provided which, in this embodiment of the device 50, uniformly distributes the individual bristles of the application element 59 and clamps them in one plane. In addition, the device 50 is imaged on the schematically indicated surface 502 of a fingernail during the media application.

In contrast to Fig. 5 the device has 60 in Fig. 6 not over one but over two application elements 69, which are attached to the side of the two Bounding elements 64 are attached and fanned out onto a schematically indicated surface 602 of a fingernail during the media application to form an application surface.

In Fig. 7 A further embodiment of the device 70 is shown, in which the application element 79 is fastened as a bundle of bristles in the extension of the stem 701 and is limited in its media application by two limiting elements 74 , each with a pivot axis 77 .

Another embodiment of device 80 is shown in FIG Fig. 8 shown, in which the two tufts of bristles are placed as sleeves 89 in sleeves, which in turn are attached to the inside of the carrier elements 841 . These parallel support elements consist of a flexible material and end in the delimiting elements 84.

In Fig. 9 The embodiment of the device 90 is shown with a roller-shaped application element 99 both in the initial state and when applying media to a schematically indicated surface 902 of a fingernail. This is equipped as a roller 99 with spiral depressions, which enables the width variability. This roller is also mounted on a flexible axis of rotation 901 , which is stretched between two carrier elements 941 . The delimiting elements are designed at both ends of the roller as circular end plates 94 which have an outer edge 96 as a guide element, as a result of which they have a surface structure / contour like a groove; Can follow fold or edge.
In Fig. 10 are based on the in Figure 6 shown device highlighted dimensions or distances relevant to the invention. The device shown has two bristle bundles as an application element with a length L _AE . The bristle bundles are attached in such a way that a distance Δ _{AE-BE is} formed between the edge of the bristle bundle and the inner edge of the guide element. The guide element ends in a tip with the width B _FE . In the case of a pair of convex or concave bristle bundles, the guide elements are arranged on the front by a distance Δ _{FE-AE: convex} or Δ _{FE-AE: concave} . In (B) is a perspective view of a device with a limiting element that is wider in width B _BE than the depth of the bristle bundles attached to the inside as application elements with a depth T _AE .

Definitions

In the context of the present invention, a limitation of the media order to the "outside" means the prevention of media transfer from the side of the delimitation element facing the order element to the side of the delimitation element facing away from the order element.

Further variants of the invention and its implementation result for the person skilled in the art from the preceding disclosure, the figures and the patent claims.

Terms used in the claims such as "comprise", "have", "include", "contain" and the like do not exclude further elements or steps. The use of the indefinite article does not preclude a majority. A single device can perform the functions of several units or devices mentioned in the patent claims. Reference numerals given in the claims are not to be regarded as restrictions on the means and steps used. <b> List of reference symbols </b> Contraption: 10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 Vessel lid: 11 Media vessel: 12, 22, 32 Storage opening the device: 13, 23 Vascular opening: 33 Limiting element / s: 14, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94 Guide element: 56, 66, 76, 96 Scraper: 25, 35 Lateral guidance: 26 Swivel axis: 47, 57, 67, 77 Spring element: 48, 58, 68 Order element: 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99 Gap for receiving the Guide element 201 Pen cap: 401 Clamping aid: 501 Surface: 502, 602, 902 Stalk: 701 Elastic guidance: 901 Carrier element: 141, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841, 941

Numeral dimensions

L _AE

Length of the order element

B _FE

Width of the guide element at its tip

T _AE

Depth of the order element

B _BE

Bounding element width

Δ _AE-BE

Distance between order element and delimitation element

Δ _{FE-AE: concave}

Front distance between the guide element and the concave application element

Δ _{FE-AE: convex}

Front distance between guide element and convex order element

Claims (12)

1. Device for applying a liquid or powdered medium to a surface comprising

   a) an application element (49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99) for applying a liquid or powdered medium, which element is mounted between two carrier elements (141, 441, 541, 641, 741, 841, 941) and is variable flexibly in its width; and

   b) two limiting elements (14, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94) which are positioned laterally on the application element (49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99) and are configured so that they adapt to the flexible width of the application element (49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99) and laterally delimit the medium application,

   wherein the two limiting elements (14, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94) each comprise a guide element (56, 66, 76, 96) that detects the contour of the surface and is configured so that it adapts the width of the medium application flexibly to the contour of the surface during the medium application, characterised in that the limiting elements are either tapered, so that the pointed end engages in contours or structures of the surface and hereby gives the material application corresponding guidance, or that the guide element is configured as a ball or roll.
2. Device for applying a liquid or powdered cosmetic product or medical product to a surface of the human or animal body comprising

   a) an application element (99) for applying a liquid or powdered medium, which element is mounted between two carrier elements (941) and is variable flexibly in its width; and

   b) two limiting elements (94) which are positioned laterally on the application element (99) and are configured so that they adapt to the flexible width of the application element (99) and laterally delimit the medium application,

   wherein the two limiting elements (94) each comprise a guide element (96) that detects the contour of the surface and is configured so that it adapts the width of the medium application flexibly to the contour of the surface during the medium application, characterised in that the application element consists of at least one roller, which is movable flexibly transversely to the roller axis and runs on a flexibly movable roller shaft (901) that is mounted between the carrier elements (941) and that the limiting elements (94) each consist of a plate-shaped element with a rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, oval or circular outline, wherein it is preferably supported rotatably about the axis of rotation as a circular plate.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the application element (49, 59, 69, 79, 89) consists of two brush bundles, which are each attached laterally to the inside of two bar-shaped carrier elements (14, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84), wherein the two bar-shaped carrier elements are coupled pivotably via a pivot axis (47, 57, 67) and are preferably connected by at least one spring element (48, 58, 68) so that they can be preloaded in their pivot movement, wherein in this pivot movement a tension is built up that counteracts the pivot movement.
4. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one limiting element (94) is mounted directly laterally on the application element (99).
5. Device according to claim 1 to 4, characterised in that the medium or cosmetic product or medical product is selected from the group comprising nail polish, nail polish remover, nail care product, nail adhesive, bonding gel, nail oil, lip care product, lacquer for the dental sphere, talcum powder, face powder, powder coatings, electrically curing powder coatings, UV-light-curing powder coatings, and chemically curing powder coatings.
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device is suitable for applying the liquid medium to the surface of toe- or fingernails, teeth, skin or hair.
7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the application element (49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99) comprises at least one brush bundle, at least one sponge or at least one flocked device.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the application element (49, 59, 69, 79, 89) consists of at least one brush bundle, which is connected at one end to the device (10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) and has a spreading aid (501), which spreads the individual brushes of the brush bundle, uniformly distributed, in one plane.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the surfaces of the guide elements (56, 66, 76, 96) and/or of the limiting elements (14, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94) has a non-adhesive coating, a hydrophobic/oleophobic/superhydrophobic coating, a lotus coating or a micro- or nanostructure with non-adhesive properties.
10. Kit comprising:

    a) a device (10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) according to any one of the preceding claims; and

    b) a vessel (12, 22, 32) containing the medium to be applied for insertion of the device (media vessel).
11. Kit according to claim 10, characterised in that the media vessel (12, 22, 32) comprises a stripper (25, 35) for stripping the liquid medium from the guide elements (56, 66, 76, 96) and/or the limiting elements (14, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94).
12. Method for applying a liquid or powdered medium to a surface comprising the following steps:

    a) insertion of the application element of a device according to one of claims 1 to 9 into a media vessel containing the liquid or powdered medium with take-up of the liquid or powdered medium;

    b) stripping of the excess liquid or powdered medium from the application element and/or limiting element and/or guide element by a stripper, wherein the stripper is executed as a slot mounted spaced at a distance from the media vessel;

    c) application of the liquid or powdered medium to the surface by bringing the application element into contact with the surface.

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