GB2242354A

GB2242354A - Liquid applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2242354A
Application number: GB9103788A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kiyohiko Fukazawa
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-02-23
Filing date: 1991-02-22
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: IT1247902B; ITMI910468A0; CA2036934A1; ITMI910468A1; JPH03111208U; DE4105294A1; GB9103788D0; JP2511817Y2; FR2658740A1

Abstract

A push member (4) serves to advance an inner shaft (1) in order to open a valve so that liquid may flow from inside the inner shaft (1) to an applicator brush (3). The push member (4) has a window (5) and the inner shaft (1) is made of translucent material. Thus, the user may view the amount of liquid remaining inside the inner shaft (1). <IMAGE>

Description

1 1 LIQUID APPLICATOR The present invention relates to a liquid applicator

for applying a liquid such as a hair dye liquor or the like.

Heretofore, a known hair dyeing instrument has had an inner shaft which acts as a reservoir for a hairidye liquor and is axially slidably housed in the interior of an outer shaft. A valve is interposed between the inner shaft and a brush fixed at the front end of the outer shaft so that, when the inner shaft is advanced relative to the outer shaft, the valve is opened and the hair dye liquor flows to the brush from the inner shaft. In such a conventional hair dyeing instrument, however, it has been inconvenient that the residual quantity of hair dye liquor contained in the interior of the inner shaft cannot be ascertained.

The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid applicator which is convenient for use in that the residual quantity of liquid contained in the interior of the inner shaft can be readily ascertained.

According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid applicator comprising: an outer shaft; an inner shaft for containing a liquid, the inner shaft being axially slidably mounted inside the outer shaft; an applicator member mounted on a front end of the outer shaft; a valve mounted between the inner shaft and the applicator member and openable in response to axial movement of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft to permit liquid to flow from the inner shaft to the applicator member; and a push member provided over a rear end of the inner shaft, which rear end protrudes out of a rear end of the outer shaft, the push member having an aperture over a part of the inner shaft which is transparent or translucent, whereby a user of the applicator may view the liquid in the inner shaft.

The invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dyeing instrument according to the present invention, in an uncapped state; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument of Fig. 1, in a capped state.

An outer shaft 2 has a front shaft 6 screwed onto the front end thereof, and. in the interior of the front shaft 6 is fixed the base part 7 of an applicator member in which a brush 3 is implanted. In a central hole of the base part 7 is fitted a sponge 8 which comes in contact with the brush 3, and at the rear of the base part 7 is fixed a liquid delivery tube 10, with a stopper 9 for the sponge being disposed therebetween. On the outer surface of the front end of the front shaft 6 is mounted a comb 11.

An inner shaft 1 contains a hair dye liquor (not shown in the drawings) and is axially slidably housed within the outer shaft 2, with a valve being provided in an opening at the front end of the inner shaft 1. The valve comprises a valve stem 12, a valve seat 13, a valve spring 14 and a spring bearing 15. Onto the outer peripheral portion of the front end of the inner shaft 1 is screwed a cap 17 which has packing 16 fixed therein. The rear end of the liquid delivery tube 10 is inserted through the central hole of the cap 17 so as to form a liquidtight seal with the packing 16, and the rear end of the liquid delivery tube 10 abuts against the front end of the valve stem 12. On the end of the inner shaft 1 remote from the valve is a push member which is engaged with an axial groove 18 in the inner shaft 1, whereby the push member 4 and the inner shaft 1 are rotatable integrally with one another. Both of the rear ends of the inner shaft 1 and the push member 4 protrude rearwardly out of an opening in the rear end of the outer shaft 2. In the side of the protruding portion of the push member 4 is provided a window hole 5 which permits viewing of the side face of the inner shaft 1. The inner shaft 1 is made of thin, milky white, translucent, resinous material, and the black hair dye liquor contained therein can be seen therethrough from the outside. Thus, the hair dye liquor in the inner shaft 1 can be seen through the window hole 5 even from the outside of the push member 4. In the opening at the rear end of the outer shaft 2 is press fitted a breechblock 19 which prevents the inner shaft 1 from slipping rearwards. In addition, in the drawings, 20 is a cap, 21 is an inner cap, 22 is a seal ring and 23 is an ornamental ring.

Because the inner shaft 1 is made of a material through which the liquid contained therein can be seen, and because the protruding rear end of i i 1 the push member 4 has the window hole 5 which permits viewing of the underlying portion of the inner shaft 1, the residual quantity of the liquid in the interior of the inner shaft 1 can be ascertained by viewing it through the window hole 5 from outside the push member 4 and thus the convenience for use is greatly improved.

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Claims

1. A liquid applicator comprising: an outer shaft; an inner shaft for containing a liquid, the inner shaft being axially slidably mounted inside the outer shaft; an applicator member mounted on a front end of the outer shaft; a valve mounted between the inner shaft and the applicator member and openable in response to axial movement of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft to permit liquid to flow from the inner shaft to the applicator member; and a push member provided over a rear end of the inner shaft, which rear end protrudes out of a rear end of the outer shaft, the push member having an aperture over a part of the inner shaft which is transparent or translucent, whereby a user of the applicator may view the liquid in the inner shaf t.

2. A liquid applicator according to claim 1, wherein the part of the inner shaft is translucent.

3. A liquid applicator according to claim 1, wherein all of the inner shaft is transparent.

4. A liquid applicator according to claim 1, wherein all of the inner shaft is translucent.

5. A liquid applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the push member and inner shaft are engaged with one another to prevent relative rotation.

6. A liquid applicator substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7.

All novel features and combinations thereof.

Published j99 I at The Patent Offize. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies maybe obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwinfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray. Kent- z