GB2255052A

GB2255052A - Ball applicator for cosmetics

Info

Publication number: GB2255052A
Application number: GB9208763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans-Joachim Ahrens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-23
Filing date: 1992-04-22
Publication date: 1992-10-28
Also published as: DE4113214A1; GB9208763D0; FR2676339A1

Description

2255052 COSMETIC APPLICATOR The invention described in the following

relates to a cosmetic applicator having an applicator element, preferably as a ball or roll, for the application of cosmetic liquids including lip-paint.

Cosmetic applicators, which are produced in large numbers and the typical representative of which is described in DE - OS 3104525, must, with falling filling level, be shaken or turned more or less intensively before use, for example under the armpits. The distance between the applicator element and the liquid is 30 to 80 mm.

When using the comparatively small applicators for scents, lip-paint and the like, in a substantially horizontal position of the vessel the ratios are comparatively favourable down to a level of 50. When less than half full, the applicator must be held ever more steeply. This results in troublesome handling.

For example, in the case of application on lips the applicator must be tipped upwards again and again for renewed moistening of the applicator element.

Proposed solutions, which combine rolling elements, in particular applicator rolls, with a spray bottle or conveying pump, are known from the patent literature. Thus it is proposed in DE OS 3409946 to mount a rolling element, in particular a roll, on an axially displaceable cap. As a result of pressure on the roll or on an actuating handle, an atomize: pump which is closed in the manner of--a valve can be actuated.or a container filled with propellent gas can be opened for a short time in order to spray the roll from below.

This quite considerable mechanical expenditure is not particularly sensible economically. Contamination of the bearing of an applicator element that is a rolling element is not unavoidable. The use of the known devices in usual usage systems is, in many cases, not possible without pre-wetting of the applicator element, unless by the rolling wetting of the element 5 increased contamination Is endured.

According to the present invention there is provided a cosmetic applicator comprising a container having an applicator element, a bearing for the applicator element with a sealing ring and hollow spaces arranged in between, and a closing cap, there being in the container on an intermediate bottom of the bearing a moveable conveying means, the end of which reaches as far as the bottom of the container, an inner bore of the conveying means being connected, by way of a break-through, with a storage space which is laterally delimited from an annular space by the sealing ring and on the inner side of which axial capillaries extent from the base of the intermediate bottom as far as the applicator element. This applicator renders possible wetting of the applicator element with cosmetic liquid without changing the position for use usual in usage. Thus, in the case of an applicator which is held with its applicator element towards the top or at the side, with minimum additional expenditure in terms of component parts, ease of conveyance of the liquid is possible as is a return flow of the excess liquid, preventing contamination of the bearing of the applicator element.

Preferably the elastic container can at least in part be deformed elastically by f-Inger pressure and the conveying means is hose-like, the lower end of which as a result of loading by for example, a mass-i)iece is always located below the level of liquid. The upper end of the hose-like conveying means is connected directly or by way of a tubular adapter with the storage space which is arranged below the applicator element. The sealing ring, which laterally delimits the storage space, in a known manner closes the interior space of the container by means of axial pressure on the applicator element with the cap screwed 5 onT.

The conveying means can advantageously be arranged in the container in different variants. Thus the conveying means can be formed with the bearing of the applicator element as a tubular piece which is shaped in one piece or can be formed as an articulated hose, connected with an adapter, on which a joint is arranged as a movable receiver for a small tube.

Spring elements can be arranged in the storage space or in the annular space.

It can be arranged that the supply of the storage space and of the annular space with liquid is dependent upon the height "h" of the sealing ring.

The container can be formed of elastic areas with highly flexible jackets and rigid container portions in connection with elastic pressure areas as bellows.

As a result of finger pressure on the elastic container or elastic part of the container, the liquid pressure rises at the end of the conveying means in such a way that a certain quantity of liquid is conveyed into the storage space. The air, which is then to be displaced out of the storage space, likewise undergoes an increase in pressure, and thereby lifts the applicator element off from the sealing ring and escapes through the gap which is formed from the clearance between the applicatorldleitent and the bearing therefor.

The storage space is connected with the liquid exclusively by way of the break-through in the intermediate bottom and by way of the conveying means.

The mass piece, where provided, at the end of the conveying means, which can be a hose or a movable tubular piece, has a clearly higher density than the liquid so that in the horizontal position through to the vertical position with the applicator element pointing upwards it continually presses the opening into the liquid. As a result, liquid is constantly conveyed into the storage space, until the last remaining amount, and no air comes out of the interior space. Bending of the hose by approximately 180 would be necessary in the case of an applicator to be used with its applicator element pointing downwards. That is possible structurally, yet not required for the purposes of the object which has been set.

One to two pressure movements normally suffice in order to fill the storage space and as a result a saturation line sets in with cosmetic liquid. If, nevertheless, so much liquid is to be pumped up that additionally the outer annular space is also filled, liquid which rises above the level of the upper edge of the sealing ring can flow through a gap between applicator element and sealing ring and by way of the conveying means back into the container again. The gap is produced by the action of a simple, stroke-limited pressure spring or elastic fingers on the sealing ring. The stroke is kept small, whereby the application is not hindered. The spring elements are pressed down when the cap is screwed down or engaged thereon in each case so that the seal remains guaranteed by means of the sealing sleeve.

A functionally secure embodiment, which is elegant in terms of design, of a partially elastic container is created-in which a plastics container which is rigid per se has an elastic area with clearly rediiced wall thickness over which a highly flexible rubber-like jacket is arranged. This permits a cylindrical shape of the container and easily signals to the user the pressure area and that which is actually new in respect 1 of this applicator. This embodiment is functionally reliable, because no additional openings which have to be sealed are necessary in comparison with conventional applicators.

c The simplest solution is presented by a uniformly elastic container, for example of PE or PP. The wall thickness thereof can, if applicable, be reduced in areas marked as being close to the applicator head, whereby a type of desired pressure point develops.

In a further embodiment, in the upper area, a highly flexible, thin-walled bellows is pre-formed on the container so that axial pressure on the applicator element conveys the liquid into the storage space. It is technically possible to realize a highly flexible sleeve, which is mounted in a sealing manner onto a rigid container portion made of metal, glass or plastics material. A head with the applicator element is connected in a sealing manner with the upper opening of this sleeve.

Comparatively rigid containers, in a further development of the invention, have a transverse break through, for example in the form of a transverse bore, into which, in each case, a small highly flexible plate is snapped or glued.

The conveying means can be constructed as a separate rubber or PE hose, as an articulated hose, which is known from bath fittings, or even as a tubular piece which is injection-moulded in one piece with the bearing for the applicator element. An adaptei: tube, which is pre-formed on the Intermediate bottom of the bearing, in a further development of the invention has a tight joint which receives a lower tubul&t piece which in the case of density which is too low, as is the case with plastics materials, bears a mass piece at its end. It is crucial for marketing that sealing of -6 the interior space of the container, which has been well tried a million times, is not dispensed with.

The pressure of a sleeve in the cap on the applicator element, when screwed down, effects an axial pressure of the element on the sealing ring. The conveying means basically ends in the capillary storage space which can be sealed by the applicator element. The element, as it were, forms a valve plunger on the sealing ring which opens with cap removed and container compressed and closes in an hermetically tight manner with cap screwed on.

Extending from the base of the intermediate bottom axially there are several short capillaries which advance either a remainder of liquid from the last use or liquid, which has been newly pumped in, to the ball which rolls it on account of its roughness beyond the sealing ring onto the skin section.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure I is a cross section through a cosmetic applicator in the position for use in a first form with conveying means and pressure area; 25 Figure 2 is a cross section through the lower portion of a container, with rubber jacket, for a cosmetic applicator; Figure 3 is a cross section through a rigid container with rubber sleeve; Figure 4 Is a cross section---through a transversely bored container with small pressure plates; Figure 5 is a cross section through a.bontainer with bellows-like upper portion; and Figure 6 is a cross section through a cap with pressure sleeve of a cosmetic applicator.

!':

f Referring first to Figure 1, a head 30 is snapped in a sealing manner on a container 1, which accommodates a cosmetic liquid 29. The head 30 carries remote from the container 1 a bearing 4 with an undercut which delimits an applicator element in the form of a ball 2 axially in its longitudinal play.

In contrast with wide-spread rollers, the head 30 does not bear an inwardly open bore, but an intermediate bottom 8 which only by way of a break- through 10 and an opening at the end 14 of a conveying means 7 establishes a connection from an interior space 34 of the container 1 to a storage space 11 in the head 30.

The storage space 11 is formed by the intermediate bottom 8, laterally by a sealing ring 5 and towards the top by the ball 2 acting as valve plunger. Extending on the inner wall of the sealing ring 5 starting in a base 12 axially there are several capillaries 13 which irrespective of the position of the container 1 advance liquid 29, proceeding from a pumping process, to the ball 2 which receives it in its surface roughness and transfers it to the respective section of skin.

The conveying means 7, in a preferred embodiment, is a thin PE or rubber hose which is plugged in a sealing manner onto an adapter tube 21 extending from the intermediate bottom 8 and on the end 14 of which, reaching as far as the bottom 15 of the container, a mass piece 16 of brass, VA-steel or ceramics is secured. The mass piece 16 in terms of its density lies some 103 kg/m3 above that of -the liquid, whereby it is guaranteed that the end 14 of the conveying means 7 is always located below the liquid level l'. An increase in pressure in the interior space 34 effects the conveyance of liquid 29 irrespective of whether the applicator is held with the ball 2 towards the top or at the side.

The conveying means 7 Is provided in further structural developments as an articulated hose which is known from bath fittings or as a small metal tube 17 (Figure 3) with a sealing joint 18 at the adapter tube 21i In each of these cases the mass piece 16 Is inapplicable. The joint 18 is formed in Figure 3 as a rubber hose piece.

It is thus possible to fill the storage space 11 in part shortly before or during the wetting of the ball 2 by slight pressure of a finger on the elastic portion 22 of the container 1 and to wet the ball 2 by way of the capillaries 13.

As a result of the hermetic sealing of the storage space 11 with a cap 6 (Figure 6) closed by means of axial pressure of a pressure sleeve 35 on the ball 2, liquid 29 once pumped in can remain there for months without the danger of thickening. Excess liquid 29 which has been pumped up in error and which collects in an annular space 38 in the head 30, flows during non- working times through a gap 39 (Figure 4) produced by elastic fingers 36 (Figure 1) or a pressure spring 37 (Figure 4) between sealing ring 5 and ball 2 by way of the storage space 11 in the inner bore 9 of the conveying means 7 back into the container 1. The supply of the storage space 11 and of the annular space 38 with liquid 29 is dependent upon the height h of the sealing ring 5.

Figure 2 shows a plastics container 1, which consists of PC or ABS, having an elastic annular area 23 which is a few tenths of a miliimetre thin and which is surrounded by a rubber-like jacket 24. It shows to the user the ergonomically advantageous prqssure area at the jacket 24. Compared with conventional applicators in the case of this solution no additional point of separation develops in the container 1 which could lead to leakage losses. Moreover, plastics materials such as ABS or PC can be printed better than PP or PE. An annular bead 20 locates the head 30 in position on the container 1.

Referring to Figure 3, if a rigid metal or glass container portion 25 is to be connected in a sealing manner with a highly flexible sleeve 26 of rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, a solution according to Figure 3 is applied in an advantageous manner. The sleeve 26 bears the head 30 with bearing 4 and ball 2 on the outside in a sealing manner. The seal can be effected by known snap, glued or compression connections.

Referring to Figure 4, a rigid container portion 25 of metal has a transverse bore 27 into which a small highly flexible pressure plate 28 is snapped and glued in a sealing manner. Figure 4, moreover, shows the gap 39 which is produced by the plastics spring 37 between ball 2 and sealing ring 5. The conveying means 7 is represented here by a tubular piece 33 which is injection-moulded in one piece with the bearing 4 and the intermediate bottom 8 and over a slit end 14 of which a mass piece 16 is snapped.

In Figure 5 a container 1 of highly flexible plastics material is represented, which container has a bellows 32 which is pre-formed thereon and which is compressed by means of an axial force on the bottom of the container.

Figure 6 shows the screw cap 6 with the pressure sleeve 35 which is arranged on the inside and which exerts axial pressure on the ball 2 in the screwed-down state and therewith hermetically'Closes the storage space M

Claims

A cosmetic applicator comprising a container having an applicator element, a bearing for the applicator element with a sealing ring and hollow spaces arranged in between, and a closing cap, there being in the container on an intermediate bottom of the bearing a moveable conveying means, the end of which reaches as far as the bottom of the container, an inner bore of the conveying means being connected, by way of a break-through, with a storage space which is laterally delimited from an annular space by the sealing ring and on the inner side of which axial capillaries extent from the base of the intermediate bottom as far as the applicator element.
2. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 1, wherein the conveying means is formed as an articulated hose and is connected with an adaptor tube on which there is arranged a joint as a moveable receiver for a small tube.
3. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 13 wherein the conveying means is formed with the bearing as a tubular piece which is shaped in one piece.
4. A cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 1 ot- 21 wherein the conveying means is provided with a mass piece, the density of which is grea ter than that of the liguid to be conveyed by the conveying means.
5. A cosmetic applicator according to any'one of the preceding claims, wherein a gap is formed during nonworking times or In the case of expansion of the container between the sealing ring and the applicator element.
6. A cosmetic applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein spring elements are arranged in the storage space and in the annular space.
7. A cosmetic applicator according to any one of the' preceding claims, wherein the supply of the storage space and of the annular space with liquid is dependent upon the height of the sealing ring.
8. A cosmetic applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator element is a roll or a ball.
9. A cosmetic applicator having a container that has an elastic area of comparatively little wall thickness over or on which there is arranged a highly flexible jacket.
10. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 9, wherein there is connected with a container portion which is rigid per se, a highly flexible sleeve which for its part is connected with a head in a sealing manner.
11. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 10, wherein the rigid container portion has at least one transverse break-through which is sealed by a small elastic pressure plate.
12. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 9, wherein,an axially elastic bellows is pre-formed in the upper area of the container.
13. A cosmetic applicator according to claim 9, wherein the container has one or several visible pressure areas.
14. A cosmetic applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.