FR2619027A1 - LIQUID APPLICATOR OR WRITING INSTRUMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

In a liquid applicator or writing instrument, a liquid having a relatively high viscosity is forcibly supplied from a liquid reservoir to a liquid applicator element when the user rotates a control button for the liquid. so as to axially move a piston forwards in the liquid reservoir to forcefully supply the liquid applicator element with the liquid contained in the liquid reservoir. The control knob can only be turned in one direction, while the piston is prevented from moving forward, even when the control knob is pushed axially forward. Consequently, the liquid is forcedly supplied to the liquid applicator element only when the control knob is turned only in such a direction, so that the forced supply of the liquid applicator element is prevented, even when the control button is accidentally pushed forward.

Description

1. 2619027

  The present invention relates to a liquid applicator or a writing instrument suitable for applying a liquid such as inks, paints, cosmetic liquids such as nail polish, liquid medicines, adhesives, etc. and more particularly a liquid applicator or a writing instrument o the liquid having a relatively high viscosity is forcibly supplied to a liquid applicator element of the liquid applicator or of the writing instrument

by the effect of a piston means.

  The published Japanese utility model No. 51-1985 describes one of the conventional liquid applicators of this type, where a piston disc serving as a piston means for pressing the liquid is attached to a threaded rod which is engaged by its thread with a threaded hole of a rotation shaft attached to a control button, the rotation shaft being held stationary axially in a main body or a shaft sleeve of the liquid applicator. During the 2.

  operation of the conventional liquid applicator

  nel, when the user turns the control knob to turn the rotation shaft, the threaded rod engaged by its thread with the rotation shaft is moved axially forwards so as to move the piston disc towards the front, which presses the liquid contained in the liquid applicator by the piston disc so that it is supplied to

  the liquid applicator element of the applicator.

  In the conventional liquid applicator below

  above, there is a fear that the threaded rod fixed to the piston disc will be rotated together with the rotation shaft when the user turns the control knob fixed to the rotation shaft. To prevent the threaded rod from being turned, it is necessary to provide a rotation stop means, such as a friction means, in the piston disc to prevent the piston disc from being turned relative to the body. main of the liquid applicator. In addition, as in the conventional liquid applicator the control button is fixed on the rotation shaft, when the control button is subjected to an external axial force to be moved axially, the rotation shaft is also moved axially . It follows that the threaded rod engaged by its thread with the rotation shaft is also moved axially together with the piston disc and therefore the liquid is pressed by the piston disc to be accidentally supplied in a way forced to the liquid applicator element of the applicator. These problems

  are inherent in the conventional liquid applicator.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem by providing: A liquid applicator or a writing instrument provided with a liquid applicator element 3. To which a liquid having a viscosity is forcedly supplied relatively high by the effect of a piston means, comprising in combination: a shaft sleeve or main body of said applicator; a liquid applicator element mounted on a front end portion of said shaft sleeve; a liquid reservoir provided inside said shaft sleeve in a position aft of said liquid applying member; said axially displaceable piston means mounted in said liquid reservoir in a liquid tight manner; an essentially cylindrical threaded rod provided with at least one flat surface portion on its lateral surface, said threaded rod being connected with said piston means while extending axially towards the rear, an external periphery of said threaded rod being threaded ; rotation stop means fixedly mounted inside said shaft sleeve in a position immediately behind said liquid reservoir, said rotation stop means being provided with a threaded through hole whose cross section is identical to that of said threaded rod and whose thread is engaged with said threaded rod; a rotation shaft mounted in said shaft sleeve so as to be held stationary in its axial direction while being able to rotate on its axis relative to said shaft sleeve, said rotation shaft being engaged by its thread with said threaded rod ; unidirectional means allowing the rotation of said rotation shaft in only one direction, said unidirectional means being fixedly mounted on said rotation shaft; and a control button mounted on a rear end portion of said shaft sleeve, said control button being connected with said rotation shaft so as to rotate in block with said rotation shaft while it is kept axially movable by

report to said rotation shaft.

  In the liquid applicator or writing instrument of the present invention, since the rotation stop means is provided to reliably prevent the threaded rod from being turned, it is not necessary to increasing friction between an outer periphery of the piston means and an internal surface of the liquid reservoir, which friction prevents the piston means from being moved in an easy manner. In addition, as the control button is mounted so as to be able to slide axially on the rotation shaft, an external force accidentally applied to the control button does not act on the threaded rod engaged by its thread with the rotation shaft, so that the piston means connected to the threaded rod is prevented from accidentally moving axially forward so as to prevent the liquid from being accidentally supplied

  forcibly to the liquid applicator element.

  Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section view of an - embodiment of the liquid applicator or nail polish applicator of the present invention, this embodiment constituting a nail polish applicator; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 1 - 1 in FIG. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 1; and

2 6 19 0 2 7

  5. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the main parts of the embodiment of the present invention shown

in Fig, 1.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It is clear that the present invention is not limited

  only to this form of execution.

  In the drawings, the reference numeral 6 indicates a shaft sleeve constituting a main body of a nail varnish applicator which is an embodiment of the present invention. The shaft sleeve 6 is made with a front end portion 1 and a liquid reservoir 4 containing a nail varnish 3. A rear extension of the liquid reservoir 4 constitutes a polygonal portion with multiple sides 5, the cross section of which takes the polygon shape

  suitable such as a regular octagon.

  A piston 7 is provided in the liquid reservoir 4 to forcefully supply the nail varnish 3 to a liquid applicator element 33. The piston 7 is brought into tight contact for liquids with an internal wall of the liquid reservoir 4 so as to be able to slide axially in the liquid reservoir 4. A rear end portion of the piston 7 is fixed

  rigidly to a threaded rod 9 provided with a screw 36.

  As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, portions of opposite flat surfaces 8, 8 ′ are

provided on the threaded rod 9.

  In the drawings, the reference numeral 11 indicates a plate-like rotation stop means having a regular octagon-shaped cross section. The rotation stop means 11 is installed in a comfortable and fixed manner in a front end portion of the polygonal 6-sided portion 6 multiples of the shaft sleeve 6 so that it cannot rotate relative to the sleeve d 'shaft 6. The rotation stop means 11 is provided with a through hole 10 which takes the same shape in cross section as that of the threaded rod 9, but which is slightly larger in cross section than the threaded rod. The threaded rod 9 passes through the through hole 10 of the rotation stop means 11, although the threaded rod 9 is prevented from rotating on its C axis relative to the shaft sleeve 6 by the effect of the means of rotation stop 11, while remaining axially movable in the through hole 10 of the stop means

of rotation 11.

  In a region behind the rotation stop means 11 inside the polygonal multi-sided portion 5 of the shaft sleeve 6, a rotation shaft 16 is engaged by its threading with the threaded rod 9 In section, the rotation shaft 16 has the shape of a regular octagon in its outer peripheral portion and it has a circular central hole. In a front end portion of the control button 16, a flange 12 is provided, a rear portion of which forms a

ratchet device 13.

  In an inner wall of a front end portion of the rotation shaft 16, there is provided a threaded portion engaged by its thread with the threaded rod 9. View in cross section, a rear end portion 15 of the shaft rotation 16 forms a regular octagon. The rotation shaft 16 is provided with a central hole in which the threaded rod 9 is inserted, so that the screw 36 of the threaded rod 9 is engaged by its thread with the threaded portion of

the rotation shaft 16.

  A ring-shaped spring support 19 is movably mounted on the rotation shaft 16 in a position adjacent to the rear surface of the flange 12 of the rotation shaft 16, while being prevented from rotating relative to the shaft sleeve 6. In cross section, the outer peripheral portion of the spring support 19 forms a regular octagon. In a front end portion of the spring support 19, there is an internal flange extending radially inward to form a seat portion 18, a front portion of said internal flange being arranged in a ratchet device 17 engaged with the device to

  ratchet 13 of the rotation shaft 16.

  The engagement of the ratchet devices 13 and 17 allows the threaded rod 9 to be rotated only clockwise in the exploded view shown in FIG. 4 to be moved axially forward, while it is prevented from turning in the opposite direction of the hands of a watch in the exploded view. A permanent member 21 for preventing the tubular control button 28 from falling from the shaft sleeve 6 is fixedly mounted in an end portion

rear of the shaft sleeve 6.

  The tubular control button 28 with closed rear end is identical in terms of external diameter to the shaft sleeve 6. A hole in the control button 28 has in cross section the shape of a regular octagon to receive a rear terminal portion therein. of the threaded rod 9. A front portion of the control button 28 consists of a small diameter cylindrical portion 25 which extends forward. In a front end portion of the small diameter portion 25, there is a radial projection 23 directed radially outward. Inside the radial projection 23 there is a shoulder portion forming a seat 22. A pair of diametrically opposed axial slots 8. 24 is provided in the small diameter portion 25 of the control button 28 to allow the portion small diameter 25 of the control button 28 to deform elastically inward. The control button 28 is mounted so that it can rotate in the rear end portion of the shaft sleeve 6 through the permanent element 21 in a condition where the radial projection 23 of the control button 28 is engaged with the front end portion

of the permanent element 21.

  Between the spring support 19 and the seat 22 of the control button 28, a compressed coil spring 20 is mounted so that the outer periphery of the rotation shaft 16 is surrounded by the coil spring 20. Under the effect of an elastic force exerted by the coil spring 20, a front surface of the flange 12 of the rotation shaft 16 is constantly pressed against a rear surface of the rotation stop means 11 so as to establish a position axial of

the rotation shaft 16.

  A junction element 31 is inserted under pressure into the front end portion 1 of the shaft sleeve 6 so as to seal against liquids. A recessed portion 29 is provided in a front end portion of the joining element 31. In addition, a central through hole 30 is provided in the joining element 31 so as to extend axially from a central portion of the intaglio portion 29 to the

  rear end surface of the joining element 31.

  A guide tube 32 is inserted into the central through hole 30 to reach an axially intermediate portion of the central through hole 30 at the rear, while it extends forward from

  the joining element 31 of a predetermined length.

  The portion of the guide tube 32 thus extending 9. is surrounded by the liquid applicator element 33 taking the form of a brush. A rear portion of the liquid applicator element 33 is fixedly mounted in the hollow portion 29 of the joining element 31. In the drawings, the reference numeral 34 indicates a nozzle which covers the outer periphery of

  the liquid applicator element 33; and 35 a plug.

  Any part of the nail varnish applicator of the above embodiment of the present invention can be made with conventional materials such as rigid synthetic resins. Now, we will describe below the operation of the nail polish applicator of the

  Above embodiment of the present invention.

  In use, when the control knob 28 is rotated by the user, the rotation shaft 16 inserted in the regular octagon-shaped hole of the control knob 28 also rotates together

  with the control button 28. At this time, as the-

  threaded rod 9 engaged by its thread with the rotation shaft 16 is prevented from rotating by the effect of the rotation stop means 11, the threaded rod 9 is moved axially relative to the rotation shaft 16. As as described above, the ratchet devices 13 and 17 allow the rotation shaft 16 to rotate only in one direction to move the threaded rod 9 axially forward. When the piston 7 is moved axially forwards in the liquid tank 4 by the effect of the threaded rod 9 thus moved, the nail varnish 3 contained in the liquid tank 4 is supplied in a forced manner to the liquid applicator element 33 through the central through hole

  30 of the joining element 31 and the guide tube 32.

  10. When an external axial force is accidentally applied forwards to the control button 28, only the control button 28 is moved slightly in the axial direction towards the front relative to the shaft sleeve 6, because the control button 28 and the rotation shaft 16 can move axially and the rotation shaft 16 is held axially stationary. As the rotation shaft 16 is held axially stationary, the threaded rod 9 and the piston 7 are also both held axially stationary. As a result, accidental forced supply of the liquid applicator member 33 with nail varnish 3 is prevented. The piston 7 is moved axially forward when the control button 28 is rotated in a predetermined direction on its axis. As the external peripheral portion of the control button 28 has a circular shape in section, there is no fear that the

  control button 28 is accidentally turned.

11.

Claims (3)

  1. Liquid applicator or writing instrument provided with a liquid applicator element (33) to which a liquid having a relatively high viscosity is forcedly supplied by the effect of a piston means (7), comprising in combination: a shaft sleeve (6) or main body of said applicator; said liquid applicator element (33) mounted on a front end portion of said shaft sleeve (6); a liquid reservoir (4) provided inside said shaft sleeve (6) in a position at the rear of said liquid applying member (33); said axially displaceable piston means (7) mounted in said liquid reservoir (4) in a liquid tight manner; an essentially cylindrical threaded rod (9) provided with at least one flat surface portion (8) on its lateral surface, said threaded rod (9) being connected with said piston means (7) while extending axially towards the 'rear, an outer periphery of said threaded rod (9) being threaded; rotation stop means (11) fixedly mounted inside said shaft sleeve (6) in a position immediately behind said liquid reservoir (4), said stop means rotation (11) being provided with a central threaded through hole (10) whose cross section is identical to that of said threaded rod (9) and whose thread is engaged with said threaded rod (9); a rotation shaft (16) mounted in said shaft sleeve (6) so as to be held stationary in its axial direction while being able to rotate on its axis relative to said shaft sleeve (6), said shaft 12. de rotation (16) being engaged by its thread with said threaded rod (9); unidirectional means (13, 17) permitting rotation of said rotation shaft (16) only in one direction, said unidirectional means (13, 17) being fixedly mounted on said rotation shaft (16); and a control button (28) mounted on a rear end portion of said shaft sleeve (6), said control button (28) being connected with said rotation shaft (16) so as to rotate in block with said drive shaft rotation (16) while it is kept mobile   axially with respect to said rotation shaft (16).   2. A liquid applicator or writing instrument according to claim 1, wherein said one-way means for rotating said rotation shaft (16) in one direction only is   consisting of ratchet devices (13, 17).   3. liquid applicator or writing instrument according to claim 1, o a pair of portions (8, 8 ') with flat surfaces   diametrically opposite is provided on said rod (9).