WO2010086532A1

WO2010086532A1 - Device for applying, spreading and polishing with shoe polish or wax

Info

Publication number: WO2010086532A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/000075
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christophe Galan
Original assignee: Christophe Galan
Priority date: 2009-02-02
Filing date: 2010-02-01
Publication date: 2010-08-05
Also published as: FR2941597A1

Abstract

The invention relates to device for applying and spreading shoe polish or wax on surfaces and for polishing the latter with the former, said device comprising: (a) a container capable of being blocked (1) and containing semi-solid or pasty shoe polish, said container comprising a cap (9) and being arranged such that the bulk of shoe polish (6) can be driven towards the opening using a pushing device (3) or manually; (b) at least one brush (10) or any other spreading member attached or attachable to said container and/or to the blocking cap (9) thereof; and (c) at least one sponge (12) or any other polishing member attached or attachable to at least one of the walls of the container (1) and/or of the cap (9) thereof or of the pushing device (3). The invention can be used for polishing any surface, in particular shoes.

Description

DEVICE FOR APPLICATION, SPREADING AND BRUSHING

CIRAGE OR WAX

The present invention relates to the application of waxing or waxing on surfaces, in particular on shoes or on articles or furniture, as well as the polishing of wax or waxing applied. The invention particularly relates to a device comprising a wax dispenser reservoir or wax, an applicator such as a brush for spreading, and a sponge or equivalent for polishing the surface on which the wax or wax is applied.

For the sake of simplicity, the terms "waxing" or wax will be used interchangeably. "Unless otherwise indicated, either of these terms must then be regarded as designating one or other of these products, or Both will also be referred to shoe polish, although it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other articles as well, such as bags, armchairs, jackets, etc.

By "waxing application or wax" is meant here as well the application on an entire surface, as the application on a surface part, for example for localized treatments or retouching.

More or less sophisticated devices are known for the application of polishing on shoes, comprising a liquid wax or pasty tank, accessory means for spreading a quantity of wax extracted from the tank, and separate means. for polishing surfaces on which waxing has been applied.

The most common is a box with, separately, a shoebox, a brush and a cloth.

It has been proposed to motorize shoe polishing operations

(see GB 2.439.275, FR 2.572.643), to distribute a liquid with a rotary applicator (see FR 2.630.713, FR 2.608.071 and FR 2.596.674), to use a housing comprising a plurality of electrically driven brushes ( see FR

2,572,643), to gather a sponge and a brush for the cleaning of the shoes on the same base plate fixable on a wall (see FR

2,697,987), or to distribute a wax with a stick-type tube (see patent application US 2003/0111360). 00075

None of these devices allows to combine on the same support all the functional elements necessary for the application, spreading and polishing wax on surfaces, such as shoes.

On the basis of the state of the art described above, there is the problem of providing simple means for easy application of waxing, in all places and in all circumstances, without electrical energy.

It has now been found that these and other problems can be solved and provide a particularly ergonomic device for the application, spreading and polishing of waxing or waxing on surfaces to be treated, especially shoes, clothing, furniture, waxed floors, etc., by providing a device comprising:

(a) a closable reservoir containing semi-solid or pasty wax, said reservoir having a stopper and being arranged in such a way that the waxing mass can be driven to the orifice by means of a stuffing device or manually,

(b) at least one brush or other spreading member, fixed or attachable to said reservoir and / or the closure cap thereof, and

(c) at least one sponge or other conventional polishing member, fixed or fixable on at least one of the walls of the tank and / or its cap or the stuffing device.

The combination of means according to the invention allows the elements thus functionally combined with each other to play their respective roles under particularly remarkable conditions of facility, and to contribute to an overall improved result, particularly in terms of practicality, ergonomics, saving material and saving space.

In a first aspect, the device according to the invention comprises a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical reservoir, and is advantageously of the stick or stick type.

Those skilled in the art know such sticks, which are preferably constituted by a tube open at one end, forming a wax tank (a) and having at the other end a piece forming a wheel, able to act on a threaded rod disposed longitudinally in the center of the tube and around which is placed on a movable plate in translation the material, here the polish, to out of the tube by longitudinal thrust. 75

In a simplified version, the bottom of the tank can be arranged to allow a manual push of the shoe polisher. In such an embodiment, the geometry of the cross section of the reservoir and the other parts of the stick relating thereto may be arbitrary (for example triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, oval, elliptical, or other).

In one embodiment, the brush and / or any equivalent spreading piece (b) is fixed or releasably attached to the reservoir orifice, and this brush or equivalent spreading member is in turn advantageously covered by a removable cap, screwable or snap-on.

Although it is preferred that the wax spreading brush (b) is disposed on or in the closure cap of the reservoir, said brush may also be disposed on the outer face of the waxing push wheel. In this case, said brush is turned outwardly and preferably comprises a screw-on or snap-on protective cap; alternatively, it can be housed, fixedly or removably, in the bottom of a cap screw or snap on said wheel.

According to another embodiment, said sponge and / or said brush is fixed or fixable by means of an adhesive or otherwise on the outer side wall of the wax dispenser tube. In this variant, the sponge or the brush may take the form of a sleeve that can be fixed or slidable along the wall or a portion of said external lateral wall of the applicator, alternatively via a piece with a face that marries such a geometry and whose other face is substantially flat or slightly curved. In this variant also, a cap for covering the sponge and / or the brush by sliding or clipping is a preferred option.

The reservoir further advantageously has an external thread which is connected with a corresponding internal thread on the cap. In this way, simply screw the cap to ensure that the tank is closed. When a plastic tank is used, the external thread can be integrated in the tank, whereas when an aluminum or other metal tank is used at one end, a piece or insert made of plastic having an external thread. Polypropylene can be used as a plastic material. Polypropylene is also suitable as a material for the cap and / or the cap.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the brush or the equivalent spreading member (b) is arranged in the bottom of a cap itself forming a cap, so as to have its bristles or other spreading elements facing the dredging reserve contained in the tank when the cap carrying this brush is repositioned on said tank to seal it. In this variant, the bristles or other spreading elements must have their free ends or their end surface which significantly exceed the volume defined by said cap. Advantageously, the securing of the cap on the reservoir can be made by screwing between an external screw thread located around the periphery of the end portion of the reservoir, on the opening side thereof, and a no corresponding screw, located in appropriate position on the inner face of said cap.

More preferably, the cap and the reservoir are arranged and provided with conventional members for snap closure and for holding the cap free to rotate. In this way, the brush is allowed to rest on the surface of the shoe polish contained in the reservoir, and to lick this shoe surface when the brush is rotated in one direction or the other. Then simply lift and extract this cap to have a waxed brush that remains to be applied to the footwear or other surface waxing. The device according to the invention also comprises an integrated or integrable polishing member (c), consisting of a sponge or any other element such as a fabric or a nonwoven shaped to be fixed permanently or removably. on at least one of the outer surfaces of said tank. Said polishing element is advantageously provided with a protective cap, which must be removed to clear this element during use.

In advantageous embodiments of the various aspects of the invention as described above, one or other of the following provisions / terms may be used, separately or in combination: the rise of the shoe polish in the stick is controlled by a device such as a ratchet and an escapement or the like, arranged to make it possible to advance the waxing mass step by step, while the advancing step provides a quantity of waxing substantially desired for an application, adapted to be taken by friction and / or rotation of the brush on this end of the polishing mass. the sponge is fixed on the face of the plug or cap opposite that on which the brush is attached, and optionally a second cap removably covers, on the side of the sponge, the first cap thus equipped; the sponge is a soft sponge, or any equivalent such as chamois, chamois, non-woven, etc .; the cap on which are disposed respectively inside the brush and outside the sponge is snap-on, dipsable or screwable on the control wheel of the advance of the polishing mass in the tube; the sponge and / or the brush is fixed to the peripheral side wall of the tube by means of a double-sided adhesive; an additional piece forms, between the peripheral side wall of the tube and the sponge and / or the brush, a bridge having a flat outer surface so as to maintain its linearity therewith; the plug of the tube is fixable by clipping or snapping and constitutes a hood enclosing a brush whose bristles protrude from the peripheral edge of said cap in the longitudinal direction; the sponge, or equivalent shine, is attached to the outer upper face of said cap; on the cap cap for closing the tube, there is optionally provided a second cap which protects against any contamination from a contact with the sponge aforesaid; on its external face, the tank optionally has one or more distinctive marks, in particular color indications concerning the waxing contained in the tank; the removable members are provided with a clipping / disengaging system activatable by simple rotation of said member relative to the part of the device on which they are clipped or latched; 010/000075

the body of the tube or a part thereof is transparent or translucent, or has a transparent or translucent window, so as to display the color of the polish and / or the level thereof in the tube. The invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended figures, which represent:

1 is a diagrammatic and exploded sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention without the sponge (FIG IA) and a longitudinal section (FIG IB) and transverse section (FIG IC) of the sponge and its fastener on the body of the tube, and

Figure 2 a schematic and exploded sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention with the sponge in a cap attachable to the outer face of the knob of the stick.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tube 1 comprises a hollow body 2 and a wheel 3 adapted to push in a traditional manner a plate 4 and a threaded rod 5 causing a waxing mass 6 under the effect of the rotation of the wheel. Rotation in one direction causes the mass of waxing to rise towards the opening, while rotation in the other direction causes it to descend.

Alternatively, the pushing of the waxing mass can be carried out manually, for example by means of a suitable pusher.

By a suitable securing means, the cap 9 can be fixed on the tube 1 (here an external screw thread 7 on the tube 1 and an internal thread 8 on the plug 9, in correspondence with each other ). This plug carries a brush 10, and a cap 11 adapted to cover it.

Figures IB and IC show the sponge 12 and the support part 13 thereof, for fixing the assembly on the side wall of the tube 1, as well as the removable cap 14, intended to cover the sponge 12. In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, the position of the brush 10 in the plug 9 is reversed. The brush 10 is fixed in the bottom of the plug 9, which also forms in itself a first cap 9-11. The lid of the cap 9-11 thus formed may optionally comprise (not shown) a sponge 12, itself advantageously protected by a removable cap 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. R2010 / 000075

7

2, the sponge is housed in a cap 14 detachably removable, for example by screwing or splicing, on the outer face of the wheel 3 of the stick.

In another embodiment (not shown) of the device according to the invention, it implements a double stick, advantageously comprising a single wheel, able to activate at the same time the advance of the polishing mass on one side and the output of a fixed or removable brush and / or a sponge of the other. Such a device is then composed of two tubes of the stick type as described above, placed head to tail, made integral with the two faces of the same wheel by their respective bottoms, and whose internal screw has respective pitches of opposite directions . The length of the respective tubes is preferably different because the stroke of the displacement of the polishing mass is higher than that of the brush and / or the sponge, with equal diameter. In this embodiment, it is convenient in practice to increase the effect of the wheel on the brush and / or sponge, so that the stroke thereof is shorter and / or slower than that of waxing. This is advantageously done by means of a shorter screw pitch or progressively shortened and / or through a threaded rod of larger diameter, the side of the brush and / or the sponge.

In this embodiment, the diameters of the two tubes may be equal or different.

In yet another embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises at the open end of the stick a cap pierced with holes and / or provided with nozzles, while said cap (or end plate) is itself covered by a pivotable ring having a second cap where plate corresponding to the previous and comprising perforations adapted to be, suitably, is matched with the holes and / or nozzles of the first cover, or offset from them of such so that the plate comprising them closes said perforations and / or said nozzles. In practice, such an embodiment uses a technology such as that conventionally used for pouring containers of salt or powdered sugar. R2010 / 000075

The arrangement of said holes can be arbitrary, especially at the periphery, in a star, along n branches of a star with n = 3-6 branches, and / or along n rays, with n = 3-6 preferably .

Said second seal can thus ensure the scraper function of the wax extracted from the stick and not used.

This assembly is advantageously surmounted by a cover having a brush on the inner face of its bottom, and screwable or preferably end-clampable on the ring and the second cap above, with rotational faculty. In an alternative embodiment, it is the plug of the stick

(Advantageously aluminum and / or plastic), which has holes opening on the outer face of said cap by end caps that allow the exit of the wax, and on which can be clipped a brush integral with a plate. This plate, preferably aluminum, has holes for passing the tufts of bristles of the brush and holes in correspondence with the aforementioned tips.

Alternatively, the plug. The aforesaid may itself comprise, in its mass, the perforations for the passage of the waxing and those for fixing the base of the bristles of the brush, while the aforesaid plate retains its usefulness as a plate cleaning.

In this respect, the device allows:

• to impregnate the waxing brush when waxing is mounted in the stick, so through the holes of the first seal, and when the holes of the second seal are in correspondence with them, and that one rotates the lid including the brush, and

• to clean the brush and / or the first cap and / or the nozzles thereof, when they are rotated relative to each other while the holes of the two aforementioned lids are not in correspondence.

The invention also relates to waxing refills having a volume and geometry appropriate to allow their insertion into the stick described here, replacing an initial charge or a used refill, intended to be extractable.

To use the device according to the invention in its most general aspect, the user: • removes the cap 9 of the stick and rotates the knob 3 to advance the waxing 6 in the hollow body 2 of the tube 1;

• polishes (either directly or by taking it by means of the brush 10, possibly after removing the cap 11 thereof) on the shoe or other item to wax;

• if necessary, close the cap 9 of the stick;

• uses the brush 10, to spread the polish on the article to be polished, but also to remove large pieces of polish or other materials, such as dirt, which would have lodged in the corners; • rests the cap 11 on the brush 10;

• removes the cap 14 of the sponge 12 and passes it on the surface of the article to be polished, then rests the cap 14 on the sponge 12.

As shown in the foregoing description, the device according to the invention is not limited to a particular geometrical shape; it can also be made of any materials and materials, for example, but not limited to: plastics, metal, wood, coated cardboard, etc.

The size and proportions of the various elements of the device according to the invention can be chosen to suit, provided that they are compatible with each other for the elements that cooperate with each other. On the basis of the foregoing indications and his own knowledge, the skilled person is able to suitably adjust the consistency and pasting of waxing, to optimize the use of it. Shoe polish, which is too hard, is difficult to remove from the stick, whereas a shoe polish that is too soft tends to be removed more easily and consumed more quickly. Between these two extremes, a substantially consistent and pasty waxing is preferred because it allows even spreading on the surface to be waxed.

Claims

claims

1. Device for applying, spreading and polishing wax or wax on surfaces, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a closable reservoir (1) containing semi-solid or pasty wax, said tank having a plug (9) and being arranged in such a way that the polishing mass (6) can be driven towards the orifice by means of a stuffing device (3) or manually,

(b) at least one brush (10) or any other spreading member, fixed or attachable to said reservoir and / or the closure cap (9) thereof, and

(c) at least one sponge (12) or other polishing member, fixed or fixable on at least one of the walls of the tank (1) and / or its plug (9) or the stuffing device (3) .

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir (1) is of the stick type and is a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical tube.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the tank (1) is arranged to allow manual thrust of the wax mass (6).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the reservoir (1) has a triangular cross-section, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, oval or elliptical.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush (10) is fixed or removably placed on the orifice of the tank (1), and this brush is in turn advantageously covered by a cap (11) removable , screwable or snap-on.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush (10) is disposed on or in the cap (11) for closing the reservoir or on the outer face of the wheel (3) for pushing the shoe polish.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush (10) is housed, fixedly or removably, in the bottom of a cap (14) screwable or snap on said wheel.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sponge (12) and / or the brush (10) is fixed or fixable by means of an adhesive (13) on the outer side wall of the tank (1), in particular in the form of a fixable or sliding sleeve along the wall or a portion of said outer side wall of the reservoir (1), while the sponge (12) or the brush (10) further comprises a cap (14).

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush (10) is disposed in the bottom of a plug (9) forming itself cap (11), so as to have its bristles or other spreading elements turned to the polish supply (6) contained in the reservoir (1) when the cap carrying this brush is repositioned on said reservoir to close it.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sponge (12) is fixed on the face of the plug (9) or the cap (11) opposite that on which is fixed the brush (10), and optionally a second cap removably covers, on the side of the sponge, the first cap (11) thus equipped.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap on which are disposed respectively inside the brush (10) and outside the sponge (12) is snap-in, clip-on or screwable on the wheel (3). ) for controlling the advance of the wax mass (6) in the tube (1).

12. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that an additional piece (13) forms, between the peripheral side wall of the tank 1 and the sponge (12) and / or the brush (10), a bridge having a surface external plane so as to maintain its linearity to them.

13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug (9) is fixable by dipsage or snap and constitutes a cap (11) enclosing a brush (10) whose bristles protrude from the peripheral edge of said cap in the longitudinal direction.

14. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a double stick, advantageously comprising a wheel (3) single, able to activate at the same time the advance of the polishing mass (6) on one side and the output of a fixed or removable brush (10) and / or a sponge

(12) on the other.

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises two stick-type tubes, placed head to tail, made integral with the two faces of the same wheel (3) by their respective bottoms, and whose internal screw has respective steps in opposite directions.

16. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises means for reducing the effect of the wheel on the brush (1) and / or the sponge (12).

17. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the two tubes have different diameters.

18. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the open end of the reservoir (1) comprises a first cap provided with holes, while a pivotable ring around it comprises a second operculum. provided with holes and / or nozzles and adapted to be matched with the holes of the first operculum.

19. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cap of the stick has holes opening on the outer face of said cap by end pieces which allow the exit of the polish, and on which can be clipped a brush in solidarity with plate, while said plate has holes for passing the tufts of bristles of the brush and holes in correspondence with the aforementioned tips.

20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the plug itself comprises, in its mass, the perforations for the passage of the wax and those for fixing the base of the bristles of the brush, while the aforesaid plate keeps its usefulness as a cleaning plate.

21. Refills polished, characterized in that they have a volume and geometry suitable for their insertion in the device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, replacing an initial charge or a used refill , intended to be extractable.