GB2205280A

GB2205280A - Liquid applying device

Info

Publication number: GB2205280A
Application number: GB08812112A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norio Matsutani
Original assignee: MASUYAMA KOGYO KK
Current assignee: MASUYAMA KOGYO KK
Priority date: 1987-05-30
Filing date: 1988-05-23
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-23
Also published as: DE3817692A1; IT1219622B; GB8812112D0; GB2205280B; JPS63300708A; IT8848019A0; FR2615761A1; FR2615761B1

Description

1 LIQUID APPLYING DEVICE 4; 5980 0 4W This invention relates to a device

for applying liquid material and, more particularly, to a device in which a liquid material such as makeup material, ink or the like contained in a disposable cartridge filled with a predetermined amount thereof is speedily fed and impregnated into a liquid material feed core and a liquid material retaining member for the purpose of preventing the liquid material from dripping in drops.

A device for applying a liquid such as liquid makeup material generally comprises a front tip for applying the liquid material to an object and a feed core for supplying the liquid to the applying tip by capillary action.

In one example of a conventional disposable liquid makeup material applying device in which a predetermined amount of the liquid makeup material is preliminarily impregnated, when the device has been stored for a long time without use, the makeup material is liable to become denatured or the applying tip is apt to become unusable in a dried condition.

In order to overcome these problems, the prior art has further provided a liquid makeup material applying f device utilizing a cartridge in which a spare cartridge filled with a predetermined amount of the liquid makeup material is connected to a body of the device when it is to be used.

The liquid applying device -of this type, however, entails a problem in that the liquid material is liable to drip in drops when the cartridge is connected to a liquid material retaining member of the applying device with the front tip downwardly directed for the reason that the cartridge is warmed by the temperature change in the environment such as body temperature of a user and that the air in the cartridge accordingly tends to expand. The liquid applying device of this type further is accompanied by a problem in that it takes much time for the device tolbecome usable after the charging of the spare cartridge, that is, for the liquid to-be supplied to the front applying tip, whereby the device is not handy and convenient in use.

J f 1 - A - The present invention provides a device for applying a liquid material comprising an outer barrel tube cons.tituting a main body of the device and a cartridge to be charged therein with a predetermined amount of a liquid material wherein a feed core is accommodated in the barrel tube and adapted to be impregnated with the liquid material, the feed core being provided with a front tip for applying the liquid material on an object, a liquid material retaining member is mounted around an axially intermediate portion of the feed core to retain the liquid material in an impregnated state, the rear end portion of the feed core is held by a feed core holder to the rear end of which is connected the cartridge which has an inner volumetric space capable of retaining a predetermined amount of the liquid material corresponding to an amount thereof which is retainable in the feed core and the liquid retaining member in the impregnated state, and the front end of the barrel tube is detachably sealed by a cap.

According to the liquid applying device having the, construction described above, the liquid retaining member k is mounted around the feed core at the axially intermediate portion thereof, and the entire amount of the liquid material contained in the cartridge can be fed and impregnated into the retaining member and the feed core in a very rapid manner when the device is u sed, so that there can be substantially no dripping of the liquid in drops.

In a preferred embodiment, the feed core comprises first and second core members which have opposing needle- like sharp ends to be inserted into the liquid retaining member in mutual alignment, whereby the impregnation speed of the liquid material from the core member to the liquid retaining member or vice vetsa can be remarkably facilitated by capillary action. Thus, the time for the device to become usable is consideyably shortened, whereby the device is handy and convenient.

The preferred embodiments of this invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of a liquid applying device according to this invention; FIG. 2 is also a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of a liquid applying device according to this invention; and a 1.

t FIG. 3 is also a longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of a liquid applying device according to this invention.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional- view of a liquid makeup material applying device as one example embodying a liquid applying devic'e according to this invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a liquid makeup material applying device 10 generally comprises a cylindrical body 11 of the applying device 10 and a cartridge 12 mounted in the body 11. The body 11 comprises an outer fine barrel tube 13, to the front end of which a cap 14 is detachably fitted. A makeup material applying member of tip type 15 (called hereinafter applying tip), which is is held in the barrel tube 13 via a holder 16, is made of a porous soft material such as polyurethane foam or sponge in a preferred embodiment. The applying tip 15 has an inner hollow portion 15a of cone shape serving as a receiving hole into which the front end of a feed core 17 for feeding the makeup material to the applying tip 15 is to be inserted. The feed core 17 is made of a porous resin such as polyester resin or acrylic resin and formed into a rod shape extending axially in the body 11, and a press sleeve 18 is mounted near the front end of the feed core 17 and substantially inward of the holder 16. The holder 16 has a bore 19 through which the interior of the barrel tube 13 communicates with the outside atmosphere with the cap 14 removed.

A liquid makeup material retaining member 20 is mounted on and around an axially intermediate portion of the feed core 17 in such -a manner that the feed core 17 penetrates the liquid makeup material retaining member 20, which is constituted by, for example, polyester fibers or aclyric fibers 20a formed into a fleecy material and an outer coat film 21 made of a moisture- proof 'cellophane or golypropylene so as to retain the liquid makeup material in the impregnating member 20a.

A core holder 22 for holding the feed core 17 in the barrel tube 13 is disposed by a ptess-fit manner at an axially rear portion of the location of the retaining member 20. The core holder 22 is provided with an inner axial hollow portion 22a through which the rear portion 17b of the feed core 17 extends rearwardly. A plurality of, for example, four, ribs 22b are formed on the inner circumferential wall of the core holder 22 so as to project inwardly, and axial air passages 23 are formed between these ribs.

A packing 25 is mounted on the front end of the core holder 22 to seal the rear portion of the barrel tube 13. When the cap 14 is fitted onto the front end of the body 11, the air hole 19 is closed and the interior of the barrel tube 13 is sealed. To the rear end of the core a C:

holder 22 is disposed a connecting member 24 through which the feed core 17 and a cartridge 12 are connected.

The cartridge 12 comprises a -cylindrical case 26 having a rear end closed by a plug 28 and a f ront end closed by a thin lid. not shown, when the cartridge 12 is unused. A predetermined amount of the liquid makeup material is contained in the closed case 26, and a ball 27 is also accommodated therein for the purpose of agitating the contained makeup material. According to this construction, when it is required to use the makeup material applying device 10, the front end of the cartridge 12 is inserted into the connecting member 24 of the core holder 22, and the front thin lid is broken or removed thereby to feed the entire amount of the makeup material contained in the cartridge 12 through the feed core 17 toward the applying tip 15. The entire amount of the makeup material to be contained in the cartridge is determined to be slightly less than but substantially equal to the total amount thereof to be retained, by impregnation, in the feed core 17, the retaining member 20 and the applying tip 15.

The body 11 of the applying device 10 and a spare cartridge 12 are stored separately under unused condition. At the time of use thereof, the cartridge 12 is forcibly inserted into the connecting member 24 of the core holder 22 as described above in a state shown in FIG. 1 - 1 1 Upon inserting the cartridge 12, the liquid makeup material L contained in the cartridge 12 is immediately fed to the feed core -17, the retaining member 20 and the applying tip 15 in this order by capillary phenomenon through the feed core 17 to assume a usable condition. Under this condition, the interior of the cartridge 12 becomes empty, so that the dripping of the makeup material through the applying tip 15 can be substantially prevented even if the applying device 10 is positioned with the front end thereof downwardly directed or even if the cartridge 12 is warmed by an environmental temperature change, and of course, this advantageous effect is associated with the location of the air hole 19 and air passages 23.

Another preferred embodiment of the liquid makeup material applying device of this invention will be described hereunder with reference to FIG. 2 in which like reference numerals are assigned to members or elements corresponding to those of the applying device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the feed core comprises two members, i.e., a first feed core member 31 and a second feed core member 32 which are separated in the location of the makeup material retaining member 20, whereas the feed core 17 in the aforementioned embodiment comprises a single unitary rod like member. The first febd core member 31 disposed on a 1,,I the side of the cartridge 12 has a sharp needle-like front end 31a, and the second feed core member 32 disposed on the -side of the applying tip 15 has a sharp needle-like rear end 32a. The front and rear sharp ends 31a and 32a are inserted into the impregnation material 20a in a stuck state in axial alignment with each other.

These front and rear ends 31a and 32a may or may not be in contact with each other in the impregnation material 20a.

In the use of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the liquid makeup material L contained in the cartridge 12 is fed, by impregnation, into the first feed core 31 and then into the impreg'nation material 20a through the sharp front end 31a of the first feed core member 31. Since the sharp front end 31a contacting the impregnation material 20a in the retaining member 20 has the surface area of the bar like portion such- as the feed core 17 of the first embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIG. 1 and, in addition, the impregnation speed at the central portion of the bar like feed core is high, the liquid makeup material L can be rapidly impregnated into the liquid impregnation material 20a of the retaining member 20 by capillary phenomenon in association with the air pressure through the air passage 23. Accordingly, the makeup material applying device becomes usable in a short time after the insertion of the cartridge, and the a surface area laraer than 41 applying tip can be amply filled with the liquid makeup material in a short time. In repeated experiments, the cartridge filled with the liquid makeup material in an amount of 1 to 2 CM3 was made empty only for about 10 to 40 seconds for the impregnation thereof with substantially no dripping thereof from the applying tip.

FIG. 3 is-an illustration of a further embodiment of the liquid makeup material applying device according to this invention, in which like reference numerals are assigned to elements or members corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first feed core member 31 is designed to be cylindrical with, a diameter d, larger than the diameter d2 of the second feed core member 32.

is According to this design, the liquid makeup material L in the cartridge can be impregnated. into the retaining member 20 in a time shorter than -that required with respect to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 after the insertion of the spare cartridge into the device body 11.

In a preferred modification, the applying tip may be eliminated by sharply forming the front end of the feed core to serve as a liquid applying end.

1 !P t - 11 Furthermore, this invention can be utilized for various kinds of writing utensils such as soft-touch pens, signing pens, and writing and painting brushes by using cartridges filled with ink or the like writing liquid material.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention can reduce drawbacks or problems encountered in the prior art in this technical field and to provide an improved device for applying a liquid material capable of preventing the liquid material from dripping in drops.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention can also provide a device for applying a liqui d material contained in a cartridge in which the liquid material is speedily fed to a front applying tip in a short time.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention can additionally provide a device for applying a liquid material in the form of a liquid cosmetic makeup material applying device.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for applying liquid of the type comprising an outer barrel tube constituting a main body of the device and a cartridge to be charged therein with a predetermined- amount of a liquid material, wherein a feed cpre (17) is accommodatdd in said barrel tube (11) and adapted to be impregnated with the liquid material,. said feed core being provided with a front tip (15) for applying the liquid material on an object, a liquid material retaining member (20) is mounted around an axially intermediate portion of said feed core to retain the liquid material in an impregnated state, the rear end portion of the feed core is held by a feed core holder (22) to the rear end of which is connected the cartridge (26) which has an inner volumetric space capable of retaining a predetermined amount of the liquid material corresponding to an amount thereof which is retainable in the feed core (17) and the liquid retaining member (20) in the impregnated state, and the front end of the barrel tube (11) is detachably sealed by a cap (14).

2. A liquid applying device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid material retaining member (20) comprises a cylindrical impregnation member (20a) mounted around said f eed core (17) and a shell member (21) for r z 1 e, k covering an outer peripheral surface of the impregnation member.

3. Aliquid applying device according to claim 2 wherein said impregnation member (20a) is made of a resin such as polyester resin and said shell member ' (21) is made of a moisture-proof material.

4. A liquid applying device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said feed core (17) is made of a porous resin such as polyester resin in the form of a fine rod.

5. A liquid applying device according.to.any of the preceding claims wherein said core holder (22) is provided with an inner hollow portion into which the rear end portion of said feed core (17) is inserted and provided with rib means formed on an inner circumferential surface of the inner hollow portion for_defining an air passage (23) between the feed core and the core holder when the rear end portion of the feed core is inserted into the hollow portion of the core holder.

6. A liquid applying device according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said feed core (17) comprises a first core member (31) disposed in said barrel tube on a side of the cartridge (26) and a second core member (32) on a side of the liquid applying tip (15), said first and second core members being aligned in a line in said barrel tube (11) and provided with opposing needle-like sharp ends inserted into said liquid material retaining member (20).

1

7. The liquid applying device according to claim 6 wherein said feed core (17) is made cylindrical and a diameter of said first core member (31) is designed to be larger than that of said second core member (32).

8. The liquid applying device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said liquid applying tip (15) is integrally formed with said feed core (17).

9. The liquid applying device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said liquid applying tip (15) is made of a material different from said feed core and capable of being impregnated with the liquid material.

10. The liquid applying device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said liquid material is a liquid makeup material.

11. A liquid applying device as hereinbefore described with 'reference to Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3.

1 Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WClR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BRS 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.