GB2268912A

GB2268912A - A ball carrier with a cap for application of fluids,e.g.cosmetics.

Info

Publication number: GB2268912A
Application number: GB9314455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Schneider; Pierre Brugerolle
Original assignee: Cebal SAS
Current assignee: Albea Tubes France SAS
Priority date: 1992-07-23
Filing date: 1993-07-13
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Also published as: GB9314455D0; DE4324824A1; FR2693883A1; FR2693883B1

Abstract

A ball carrier 1 for a "roll on ball" type fluid applicator comprising an annular casing 5 which is capable of holding a rotatable spherical ball 7, a base 6 and apertures 11 for fluid to pass through, and means 17, 18 for connection to a container 4, characterised in that the base 6 is spaced from the ball 7 and is sealed by annular shoulder 8, and in that it is connected to the annular casing 5 by webs 10, said apertures 11 being in the form of arcuate slots 11 which are delimited by the base 6, webs 10 and casing 5. The cap 2 may feature a thread locking device, comprising protuberances on the male thread (23, fig.2) and a rib (24, fig.3) on the female thread, to prevent accidental cap loosening in transit. A rim 20 may be provided below annular shoulder 8, to exert a further scraping effect on the ball. <IMAGE>

Description

22685312 A BALL CARRIER, THE BALL CARRIER WITH A CAP AND USE THEREOF The

invention relates to a ball carrier usually used in a 5 container or dispenser containing a product to be applied by means of the ball, for example a cosmetic fluid or an ink.

The patent US-A-4164377 discloses a ball carrier which comprises an annular casing which can hold a spherical ball by enclosing the major part of its surface, whilst leaving it free to rotate for the purpose of distributing a fluid. this ball carrier comprising at the lower region thereof a base which is provided with through apertures and also with means for connecting it to a container for said fluid. The base acts like a diaphragm, of which the apertures distribute the fluid contained in the container, and the ball presses against the base when the cap is screwed onto the neck of the container. On the inside of the cap, above its thread, there is an annular rib which allows it to be kept around the ball in a preassembled position.

When a ball carrier of this kind is used to apply a cosmetic fluid, such as a deodorant, to a part of the body, small flakes of skin and hairs roll onto the ball and, on the one hand they become incorporated into the fluid on the ball and in the container and on the other hand they partially obstruct the apertures in the base. Moreover, the pre-assembly of the cap and the ball carrier is such as to provide free play. and the skirt of the cap extends downwards beyond the base of the ball carrier, whereby guiding of these units for final assembly is difficult.

The Applicant has tried to provide a ball carrier which avoids the aforementioned drawbacks, that is to say which enables a fluid to be kept cleaner during use, and which preferably provides improved preassembly.

The invention relates to a ball carrier comprising an annular casing which is capable of holding a spherical ball by enclosing the major part of its surface, whilst leaving it free to rotate for the purpose of distributing a fluid, said ball carrier comprising in its lower region a base and apertures for said fluid to pass through and 2 means.for connection to a container for said fluid, characterised in that said base is distanced from the ball and is sealed. and that it is connected to the annular casing by a plurality of webs, said apertures being in the form of annular slots delimited by said base, 5 said webs and said casing.

In this solution, the closed base which is still spaced from the ball, typically by 0.5 to 2.5 mm, collects the waste and debris which are detached from the base of the ball, particularly when the ball dispenser is in use. This base forms a region for the retention of the waste which is separated from the circulation of fluid between the container and ball which occurs during use, and tests have shown that at least 70% of waste and debris is no longer recycled in the fluid. The annular through slots bordering the circumference of the base, which are interrupted only by the webs, distribute the fluid on the ball over nearly 360', more effectively than with the apertures according to the prior art. The gap between the base and the ball is essential in order that the waste adhering to the base by virtue of the fluid with which it is moistened does not stick to the ball again.

According to a particularly advantageous configuration of the ball carrier, in which the annular casing comprises, as is known, an upper end holding the ball substantially tangentially and an annular shoulder which supports the ball. the shoulder is disposed above the aforementioned annular slots and the base has an internal surface which is curved and parallel to the surface of the ball, this surface thus forming a spherical cup.

The efficiency with which the waste and debris is collected by the base is improved by providing the latter, whether it be flat or curved. with a circular rim of low height, the upper end of which is very close to the surface of the ball, that is to say between 0.15 and 0.5 mm from that surface when the latter bears upon the annular shoulder supporting it. More than 80% of waste and debris is then removed. Thus there is a scraping effect on the debris, for example hair fragments which protrude from the surface of the ball.

Typically. the sealed base of the ball carrier, which is usually centrally located, is of a diameter of between 0.5 and 0.65 times the diameter of the ball, and the annular slots have a total 3 passage section of between 0.07 and 0.13 times the diametral section of the ball which is assumed to be solid. The slots are preferably between 1 and 3 mm in width.

Typically also, the ball carrier is made of plastics material and is injection-moulded in one piece at a point which corresponds to the centre of the base, the plastics material thereby having been brought towards the annular casing by channels which define the webs. This method of injecting and conveying the plastics material can be verified by laboratory tests. As a result, the annular casing is extremely regular in terms of its diameter. and also there are no residual stresses such as those caused by asymmetrical moulding or injection. The play of the ball, which is forcibly embedded in the annular casing, is only about 0.2 mm lateral play and about 0.25 mm in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

The ball carrier and the cap are preferably made of fairly hard polyolefin, the cap being made of a harder plastics material than that of the ball carrier, with a melt index which is typically 5 to 15 points lower. In particular, the following selection is preferred: a ball carrier of PP with a melt index of between 15 and 30, and a cap of PP with melt index less than or equal to 10, the ball carrier thus offering a good compromise between adequate elastic deformability and stiffness, and the cap being of sufficient elastic deformability and being suitable for successive forceful engagement of its annular rib.

The ball carrier preferably carries an external thread on the annular casing for screwing on the cap. This thread stiffens the corresponding portion of the annular casing below its upper end portion which has to remain elastically flexible, and it enables the ball carrier and the cap to be pre-assembled without any free play in a reproducible and reliable manner, the lower ends of the two pieces being at the same level and the connecting webs of the base allowing guidance of the preassembled unit.

To facilitate use, it is far preferable to have a plurality of threads for the ball carrier and for the interior of the cap. If it is very easy to screw and unscrew the cap, there is a significant risk of the cap accidentally becoming loosened, particularly during transportation, and such loosening interrupting the sealing between 4 the ball and the ball carrier provided by the seal formed by the cap, so that fluid could flow out or evaporate. To prevent the cap becoming accidentally unscrewed or loosened in this way, at least one, or preferably, at least two, of the individual external threads of the ball carrier each have, at the run-out end of the thread, a protuberance which extends downwards by at least 1 mm, and the inside of the cap, below its thread, has an annular rib engaging in a snapfit manner below the protuberance(s) at the end of the screwing operation. A slight unscrewing force then has to be applied to initiate the unscrewing operation, but unscrewing can no longer be done accidentally. This arrangement is improved if the protuberance(s) is/are between 0.2 and 0.6 mm thicker than the individual thread(s) adjacent to them, said annular rib sliding freely around the external thread of the ball carrier and engaging with force around said protuberance(s).

Thus, screwing the cap on is easy until the end of the screwing operation when friction and a safety snap-shut engagement occur, and the quality of preassembly is improved.

Two arrangements of the ball carrier according to the invention and provided with a cap are particularly advantageous:

- according to a first arrangement, the means for connecting the lower part of the ball carrier permit fixing by direct axial engagement on an open end of the container, such as a rolled edge or a straight abutment, and the cap comprises an outer skirt which conceals this connection means; - according to a second arrangement, the connection means themselves form at least a part of the lateral wall of the container which can be closed off by an encased base after being filled with fluid.

The ball carrier according to the invention, together with its cap, is typically used in a dispenser for a cosmetic fluid, the diameter of the ball being between 6 and 32 mm. It can have other uses as well, such as dispensing ink or also coating with an oval ball, the principles of the seal-tight base of the ball and of the end-of-screwing securing of the cap preventing accidental loosening with the corresponding devices.

Embodiments of the invention can provide:

- a surprising improvement in the cleanliness of the fluid dispensed by means of the ball, and in the good flow thereof; and - secure closure of the screwed on cap, preventing accidental loosening or unscrewing, for example due to shaking during transportation before and after filling.

Embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a first ball carrier according to the invention, provided with a cap and fixed to a container, the cap being shown in axial section, and the ball carrier being shown not in section to the left and in axial section to the right; Figure 2 shows a second ball carrier according to the invention, in isometric projection; Figure 3 shows the cap of the afore-mentioned ball carrier in axial section; Figure 4 shows a plan view of this second ball carrier; Figure 5 shows an axial section of it along the line AA; and Figure 6 shows a third ball carrier which forms the lateral wall of a container with a base which is joined thereto, and with its cap on, in axial section.

1) First Exam "1 Figure 1 shows a ball carrier 1 according to the invention which is provided with a.cap 2 and fixed by direct axial engagement over the rolled edge 3 of the upper open end of a metal container 4. It can be divided schematically into an annular casing 5 and into a central seal- tight base 6 distanced 1 mm from the ball 7 of diameter 25.4 cm (1 inch) in the position shown where the ball 7 is bearing on an internal annular shoulder of rounded profile 8 in the casing 5 disposed at the bottom at 450 to the longitudinal axis 9. The base 6 is joined to the annular casing 5, beneath the annular shoulder 8, by 3 webs 10 spaced at 1200C, one of these webs 10 being disposed just behind the plane of the axial half cross-section, the webs 10, together with the circular circumferences of the base 6 and of the 6 bottom of the annular casing 5, delimiting three annular slots 11 which are 2 mm in width.

The annular casing 5 has an external lateral surface which is substantially cylindrical and which has a triple thread 12. The cap 2 is screwed by virtue of its internal triple thread 13 onto the casing 5, and it has an internal rim 14 which bears on the outside of the upper end 15 of the casing 5, applying it in seal-tight manner to the ball 7, and a top rim 16 which bears upon the top of the ball 7, thereby producing a seal-tight contact between the ball 7 and the annular abutment shoulder 8.

The means for connecting the ball carrier 11 to the container 4 comprise an annular double skirt 17 and 18, the outer skirt 17 being for concealing the assembly and being covered on the outside by the bottom of the cap 2 in the screwed on position, and the internal skirt 18 engaging by snap-shut engagement over 0.5 mm of the diameter of the surface of the rolled edge 3 opposite the axis 9 so as to facilitate a sticking operation, which possibly completes the assembly. The skirts 17 and 18 have an annular rib 19 between them, the rib being of semi- circular cross-section and being slightly hollowed out in the skirt 17, giving excellent application to the rolled edge for sticking. with the clipping engagement effect stated, or allowing such sticking to be avoided.

The ball carrier was injection-moulded at the centre of the base 6, of PP with a melt index of between 20 and 25, and the cap was moulded of PP with a melt index of between 5 and 8.

The main dimensions, used in the other examples, were as follows:

ball carrier of height 22 mm and overall diameter 32.3 mm. internal diameter of annular shoulder 8 at the place where the ball bears on it = 20 mm, diameter of the central seal-tight base 6 = 14 mm, width of each connecting web 10 = 4 mm; cap 2 of external diameter 34.5 mm and height 36.5 mm, support diameter of its rim 14 = 26.2 mm, support diameter of its top rim 15 15.5 mm.

The tests for application of a liquid deodorant which were carried out with this device revealed good regularity of the fluid 7 flow during use and significant retention of waste and debris by the internal surface of the base 6, which no longer became mixed with the fluid dispensed. The rate of retention of this waste or debris was measured and found to be between 70 and 78%.

Additional tests were carried out by adding to the base 6, on its curved surface 60 opposite the ball 7, a circular rim 20 of very low height 0.6 mm and of average diameter 10 mm, the end of which is 0.3 mm away from the surface of the ball 7 when the ball bears upon the annular shoulder 8. Due to this small rim 20 exerting a scraping effect on waste protruding from the surface of the ball, retention rates in excess of 80% were obtained.

2) Second Example The following modifications were made in combination to the annular casing 5 and the cap 2:

- to the thread run-out end 21 of each elementary thread 22 of the triple outer thread 12 of the casing 5 was added an oval protuberance 23 which was between 0.3 and 0.4 mm thicker than the end 21 of the thread 22 and which extended by 4 mm. or 2 mm below the thread (Figure 2); - to the inside of the cap 2 (Figure 3) was added an annular rib 24 disposed 1.5 mm below the ends at the start of the screwthread of the internal triple thread 13.

After the cap 2 has been screwed, with ease, onto the annular casing 5 of the ball carrier 1, rotation with friction occurs over about 90', corresponding to the annular rib 24 engaging over the protuberances 23, and is finally blocked, corresponding to snap-shut engagement of the rib 24 beneath the protuberances 23. Voluntary unblocking and unscrewing is easy, since the cap 2 is provided with lateral gripping protuberances 26. Once friction commences, accidental unscrewing is prevented. However, complete screwing with blocking of rotational movement is important for complete security during transportation and for the preassembly used with automated assembly.

For such assembly, the bottom of each connecting web 10 (Figures 4 and 5) has been provided with a ribbed extension 27 which acts as a reinforcement for the base 6 and which extends downwards 8 f rom this base 6, allowing the ball carrier 1 disposed in the position shown in Figure 5 to be guided, whether it be on its own, provided with the ball, or subsequently when covered by the cap when completely screwed on. The ball carrier thus provided with the ball and the cap, which form an integral assembly, is then delivered to the supplier who then assembles it to the container which is filled with fluid. The first example gives a mode of assembly with a container.

3) Third Example In this example (Figure 6), the means for connecting the 10 lower part of the ball carrier which forms a part of the same moulded piece as the ball carrier is in the form of a lateral wall 28 of the container 40. this container 40 being completed by a base 41 which is encased on it and sealed by sticking or by local fusion after being filled with fluid.

The invention finds particular application in roll-on applicators for various products. particularly cosmetic fluids and inks, cleanliness of the fluid applied being improved and also the means for preventing accidental opening of the applicator. These applicators are easier to assemble in series than known applicators.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. or, for example, to the specific dimensions of those embodiments.

9

Claims

1. A ball carrier comprising an annular casing which is capable of holding a spherical ball by enclosing the major part of its surface, whilst leaving it free to rotate for the purpose of distributing a fluid, said ball carrier comprising at its lower region a base and apertures for said fluid to pass through, and means for connection to a container for said fluid. wherein said base is distanced from said ball and is sealed. and is connected to the annular casing by a plurality of webs, said apertures being in the form of annular slots delimited by said base. said webs and said casing.

2. A ball carrier according to Claim 1, wherein said annular casing comprises an upper end which holds said ball in substantially tangential manner and an annular shoulder which supports said ball, said shoulder being disposed above said annular slots and said base having an inner surface which is curved and parallel to the surface of said ball.

3. A ball carrier according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein said base comprises on its face opposite said ball a circular rim, the end of which is 0.15 to 0.5 mm away from the surface of said ball.

4. A ball carrier according to any one of Claims 1 to 3. wherein said base is of a diameter of between 0.5 and 0.65 times the diameter of said ball and said annular slots have a total passage section of between 0.07 and 0.13 times the diametral section of the ball assuming the latter to be solid.

5. A ball carrier according to any one of Claims 1 to 4. wherein said ball carrier is made of plastics material and in one single piece which is injection-moulded at a point corresponding to the centre of said base. the plastics material thus having been conveyed to the annular casing via channels defining said webs.

6. A ball carrier according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein said annular casing comprises an external thread for screwing on a cap.

7. A ball carrier according to Claim 6, provided with a cap, wherein a plurality of screwthreads are provided on the ball carrier and on the interior of the cap, at least two of the external threads of the ball carrier each having at the run-out end of the thread a protuberance which extends downwards by at least 1 mm, and the inside of the cap comprising below its thread an annular rib engaging in a snap- fit manner below each of said protuberances at the end of the screwing operation.

8. A ball carrier according to Claim 7, wherein each of said protuberances is thicker by 0.2 to 0.6 mm than the individual thread, said annular rib of the cap sliding freely about said external thread of the ball carrier and forceably engaging about said protuberance (s).

9. A ball carrier according to any one of Claims 7 or 8. wherein said connection means enable it to be fixed by axial engagement directly to an open end of the container. and said cap comprises an outer skirt which conceals said connection means when said cap is screwed onto said ball carrier.

10. A ball carrier according to any one of Claims 7 or 8, wherein said connection means of said annular casing include at least a part of the lateral wall of said container.

11. Use of the ball carrier provided with a cap according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, in a cosmetics fluid dispenser, the diameter of the ball being between 6 and 32 mm.

12. A ball carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11

13. A method of assembly of a ball carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.