EP2696721B1 - Cosmetic dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cosmetic dispenser in pen form. Such a cosmetic dispenser has a housing extending in a main extension direction and a discharge opening at a front end of the housing. Furthermore, such a generic dispenser has a disposed within the housing liquid reservoir and a pumping device which can be actuated via an arranged on a lateral surface of the housing actuating handle and having a pumping chamber, which at an input side with the liquid storage and at an output side with the discharge connected is.

A generic cosmetic dispenser has a salient feature a special outer shape. This outer shape has the shape of a pin, ie corresponds in length and diameter about the dimensions of a conventional fountain pen or the like. This type of cosmetic dispensers, which are adapted to a pen in terms of their external shape, plays a special role among the cosmetics dispensers, since donors of this genus particularly portable and in particular can be stored there, where usually pens are kept. More significant, however, is that when they are manually guided in a manner similar to a pen, it allows a particularly high degree of accuracy in applying the cosmetic medium. Such media discharged by means of a generic dispenser may include, for example, cover media, lip gloss or eye shadow liquid. They can also be used as eyeliners.

Generic discharge devices are known from the prior art. For example, from the US 6,200,055 a donor in stick form, in which a pivotable handle is provided on a lateral surface of the housing. This acts via a bevel on a spring-loaded piston and deflects it when actuated. As a result, a discharge of liquid is effected.

Although such a design is satisfactory in terms of handling. However, it goes hand in hand with a rather high production cost and high production costs. Especially for disposable products, such a complex design is disadvantageous. Also, the required mechanics are difficult to reduce sufficiently far to provide a slim and therefore elegant dispenser available.

From the US 2006/0065677 A1 An elongate fluid dispenser with a laterally disposed handle is known. This has an outlet valve, which is formed by a hose-like body which interrupts an outlet channel together with a rigid inner member for conditioning the tubular body until the liquid pressure is sufficient to lift the hose from the inner member.

From the US 2743042 A is a toothbrush with an integrated toothpaste storage known. The toothbrush has pressure surfaces on both sides on the outside of an elastic hollow body, by the application of force toothpaste is passed through a likewise formed by the hollow body outlet valve to a brush head.

Task and solution

The object of the invention is to further develop a generic cosmetic dispenser pen shape to the effect that this combines the requirements of small external dimensions, high dosing accuracy and low production costs.

This object is achieved by claim 1.

According to the invention this is achieved by a generic cosmetic dispenser in the form of a pen, the pump chamber is at least partially limited by a formflexible wall, the outside of which forms the actuating handle.

According to the invention, it is accordingly provided that the pumping chamber, which is preferably bounded on both sides by valves relative to the liquid reservoir and the discharge opening, is variable in terms of its internal volume in that it is limited at least in sections by a flexible wall which is flexible and elastically deformable in order to reduce the pumping chamber volume is. This deformation is made possible by the fact that the outside of the flexible wall itself forms the actuating handle and thus is directly accessible to the user. A flexible wall is understood to be a wall whose modulus of elasticity is less than 0.5 kN / mm ² , preferably less than 0.25 kN / mm ² .

The features describing the dispenser according to the invention are to be understood as follows. The cosmetic dispenser according to the invention has a stick shape. This means that it has a length of at least 90mm in the direction of its main extension direction. Preferably this length is even greater and is at least 100mm, more preferably preferably at least 120mm. The maximum diameter of the cosmetic dispenser is 18mm, but preferably below, especially below 14mm. The ratio of length to maximum diameter is preferably between 14: 1 and 8: 1.

These dimensions and relationships allow handling similar to that of a stylus intended for writing. The cosmetic dispenser can be guided with thumb and forefinger, while at the same time it lies in the crook between thumb and forefinger. This makes it possible to perform the discharge of the dispenser very accurately, which is of great importance depending on the cosmetic medium.

On an outer surface of the cosmetic dispenser, the actuating handle is provided, which is formed by the outside of the inside of the pump chamber limiting form flexible wall. The pumping chamber as the main component of the pumping device is provided separately from a liquid reservoir for receiving the cosmetic medium and connected thereto via a channel, which preferably has an inlet valve. The reduction of the volume of the pumping chamber for the purpose of discharging the medium takes place via the deformation of the actuating handle, ie via the impressions of the actuating handle in the direction of a central axis of the cosmetic dispenser. In accordance with another provision, provision is made in particular for the actuating handle to be actuated with the index finger. It is therefore at least partially preferably between 20mm and 40mm away from the discharge opening. This corresponds to the usual position of the index finger when guiding a pen.

The cosmetic dispenser according to the invention is particularly inexpensive to produce due to its very simple design. In addition, it is the pump device with a volumetrically variable by means of the actuating handle pumping chamber particularly suitable to allow a small construction of the cosmetic dispenser, especially with regard to a particularly slim shape of the dispenser.

According to the invention, a design is provided in which the form-flexible wall circumferentially surrounds the pumping chamber and has openings only at the inlet side and the outlet side. With such a design, the wall surrounding the pumping chamber is thus made entirely of that elastic material which also forms the actuating handle. The wall of the pumping chamber is thus to be compared with an open only on the input side and the output side hose. This design eliminates some problems in terms of sealing the pumping chamber.

On the input side and the output side overpressure valves are provided, wherein on the output side a valve which opens in the pumping chamber in the event of overpressure is arranged, and wherein a valve opening at negative pressure in the pumping chamber is arranged on the inlet side. According to the invention, the housing sections of the housing, which are provided on both sides of the actuating handle relative to the main extension direction and thus define the discharge opening on the one hand and limit the liquid storage on the other hand, are designed as rigid housing sections and connected to one another by a likewise rigid connecting section.

In the context of this invention, a housing section is considered to be rigid if its modulus of elasticity is greater than 0.5 kN / mm ² , in particular greater than 1.0 kN / mm ² . By such a rigid connecting portion is achieved that the cosmetic dispenser from the outside one with the exception of the actuating handle has largely invariable shape. This is for the precise discharge of liquid advantage.

The connecting portion forms a counter-force surface, which is arranged in the circumferential direction on the side opposite the actuating handle side of the housing. This counter-force surface facilitates the metered application of force to the actuating handle, since the cosmetic dispenser is supported directly opposite the actuating handle provided on the lateral surface by means of a finger, in particular by means of the thumb. Thus, in the use of the dispenser, the user's thumb preferably rests against the opposing force surface, while the actuating handle is pressed in by means of the user's forefinger.

According to the invention, it is provided that the rigid connecting portion circumferentially surrounds the preferably tubular shape-flexible wall and has a recess through which the actuating handle can be actuated. The form-flexible wall designed as a tubular wall is arranged within a sleeve formed by the rigid connecting section, which preferably occupies a larger part of the lateral surface of the dispenser than the actuating handle itself. For actuation of the actuating handle, only one recess is provided, through which the actuating handle forms shape-flexible wall can be achieved. In such a configuration, the portion of the flexible wall which is inaccessible due to the connecting portion and which consequently is not deformed during actuation, is nevertheless understood as part of the flexible wall in the sense of this invention.

The connecting portion, in particular also in its shape as the formflexiblen wall surrounding sleeve, as a separate component be formed, in which the formflexible wall is inserted during assembly. As advantageous, a design has been found in which the formflexible wall and the connecting portion are formed as one-piece two-component injection molded part made of different materials. As a result, the assembly is facilitated and reduces the risk of malfunction of the donor.

According to the invention it is provided that at least one of the valves which separate the liquid storage and the pumping chamber or the pumping chamber and the discharge opening from each other, is formed by integrally formed with the flexible wall valve surfaces. Thus, the flexible wall, which also forms the actuating handle, takes on a further function by forming the outlet or inlet valve of the pumping chamber. On separate components can thus be partially omitted. According to the invention, a design is provided in which the flexible wall has two adjacent pressure equality on both sides of the valve abutting lips, which detach from each other at overpressure or negative pressure in the pumping chamber and thus allow outflow or inflow of medium.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

einen erfindungsgemäßen kosmetischen Spender in einer Gesamtdarstellung,

Fig. 2a und 2b

die Pump- und Austrageinheit des Spenders der Fig. 1 in einer geschnittenen Darstellung und einer Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 3

die bestimmungsgemäße Handhabung des Spenders der Fig. 1 und 2 und

Fig. 3a bis 3e

die Funktionsweise des Spenders der Fig. 1 bis 3.

Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which will be explained below with reference to the figures. Showing:

Fig. 1

a cosmetic dispenser according to the invention in an overall presentation,

Fig. 2a and 2b

the pumping and discharging unit of the donor Fig. 1 in a sectional view and an exploded view,

Fig. 3

the proper handling of the donor the Fig. 1 and 2 and

Fig. 3a to 3e

the way the donor works Fig. 1 to 3 ,

Detailed description of the embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a cosmetic dispenser according to the invention in an overall view. This cosmetic dispenser 10 has a pin-shaped, slim shape. Its length is about 120 mm. Its widest diameter is about 12 mm. The majority of the donor makes a liquid storage housing 20, which is formed by a hollow tubular housing portion 22 and a slidable piston 24 arranged therein displaceably and which surrounds a liquid reservoir 26. At this liquid storage housing 20 includes in the Fig. 2a and 2b separately shown pumping and discharge unit 30 at. As can be seen in particular Fig. 2b can be seen, this pumping and discharging unit 30 has a main body 40, an inlet valve unit 50 and a secured by means of a securing member 62 on the main body 40 application tip 60 with discharge opening 64. The main body 40 consists of two sub-components, which integrally connected as a two-component injection molded part are. The outer of these subcomponents is a housing sleeve (connecting portion) 42 made of a rigid plastic. This roughly sleeve-shaped subcomponent has at its end facing the application tip 60 a latching thickening 42a for fixing the securing component 62. At its opposite end facing the liquid reservoir 26, it has on the one hand via a Locking device 42b for coupling the hollow tubular member (housing portion) 22 of the liquid storage 26. On the other hand, it has here an inwardly facing locking groove 42c, which serves to receive the intake valve unit 50.

This inlet valve unit 50 consists of an insert 52, not shown, which is designed to produce the latching connection with a circumferential latching ring 52a. In this insert, an elastically deformable umbrella-shaped valve body 54 can be latched, which closes the passage channels, not shown, until by a negative pressure within the main component (main body) 40 is a deformation of the valve body 54 and thereby opening the through channels.

Within the housing sleeve (connecting portion) 42, a hose-like component (form-flexible wall) 44 is inserted, which consists of an elastically deformable plastic and which is formed in one piece with the housing sleeve (connecting portion) 42 in the aforementioned manner. This component (form-flexible wall) 44 is open only at its front ends (input side and output side) 44a, 44b, wherein the front end (input side) 44a points in the direction of the inlet valve 50 and wherein the front end (output side) 44b points in the direction of the application tip 60 , This tubular body (shape-flexible wall) 44 surrounds a pumping chamber 46. For the purpose of pumping liquid by means of this pumping chamber 46, the internal volume of the pumping chamber 46 can be reduced. For this purpose, a recess 42 d is provided in the sleeve body (connecting portion) 42, through which the elastically deformable tubular body (form-flexible wall) 44 in the in Fig. 2 dashed lines indicated manner can be deformed. The outer surface of the body (flexible wall 44) which can be reached through the recess 42d forms the actuating handle 44c of the dispenser 10.

An outlet valve 48 is provided on the outlet side of the pumping chamber 46 facing the application tip 60, which is formed by two valve ribs formed as an integral part of the hose body (flexible wall) 44, these valve ribs abutting each other until the pumping chamber 46 closes, until due to overpressure be separated from each other in the pumping chamber 46 and thereby release access from the pumping chamber 46 in the application tip 60 and thus to the discharge opening 64.

FIG. 3 shows the handling of the dispenser 10 according to the invention. This is held in the same manner as a pen, being guided by index finger 3, thumb 2 and middle finger 4. He lies at the same time in the crook 5 between the thumb 2 and index finger 3 at. This type of holding ensures that the discharge opening 64 can be guided safely, so that a precise discharge of the cosmetic medium is possible. As based on the Fig. 3 is clearly seen, in the position of the actuating handle 44c chosen so that it can be easily operated with the index finger, while the pin is supported by the thumb 2 and middle finger 4.

The functioning of the donor is based on the Fig. 4a to 4e explained. Fig. 4a shows a delivery state of the dispenser, in which the pumping chamber 46 is still empty. To use the dispenser, this is grasped in the manner described above, so that the index finger 3 rests on the actuating handle 44c. To start up the dispenser 10, liquid must first be conveyed into the pumping chamber 46. This is done in the in Fig. 4b illustrated manner, the actuating handle 44c through the opening (recess) 42d pushed through, so that the volume of the pumping chamber 46 is reduced. This results in an opening of the outlet valve 48, so that the air flows in part from the pumping chamber 46. When releasing the actuating handle 44c, the tubular body (form-flexible wall) 44 relaxes again and thereby generates This results in a closing of the outlet valve 48 and an opening of the inlet valve 50, whereby liquid from the liquid reservoir 26 is sucked into the pumping chamber 46. At the same time there is a shift of the drag piston 24. The thus obtained state is in Fig. 4c shown. By repeatedly repeating such an initial operation, the pumping chamber 46 is gradually filled with liquid.

Fig. 4d shows a state of the dispenser 10, in which this already has a completely filled with fluid pumping chamber 46. If, starting from this state, the operating handle 44c is pressed with the index finger, with the inlet valve 50 closed, the respective amount of liquid is discharged through the discharge opening 64. The immediacy between the volume reduction of the pumping chamber 46 and the liquid discharge leads to an easy way to dispense the liquid through the discharge port 64 in a very metered manner, whereby due to the pen-like handling of the dispenser 10, it is quite easy to dispense not only exactly the desired amount, but rather these also at the desired location, in particular the desired area of the skin to discharge.

Claims (2)

1. Cosmetics dispenser (10) in the shape of a pen for discharging a cosmetics medium, wherein the dispenser is intended to be handled like a pen in order to be able to discharge the precisely required quantity of the medium at the desired location, with

   - an elongate housing (20) extending in a main direction of extent,

   - a discharge opening (64) at a front end of the housing,

   - a liquid reservoir (26) arranged inside the housing, and

   - a pump mechanism arranged inside the housing, which pump mechanism can be actuated via an actuating button (44c) arranged on a jacket surface of the housing and has a pump chamber (46) which is connected to the liquid reservoir (26) at an inlet side and to the discharge opening (64) at an outlet side,

   wherein

   - the pump chamber (46) is delimited at least in parts by a dimensionally flexible wall (44), of which the outer surface forms the actuating button (44c),

   characterized in that

   - the dimensionally flexible wall (44) surrounds the pump chamber (46) circumferentially and has openings only at the inlet side (44a) and the outlet side (44b),

   - housing sections (22) of the housing, provided on both sides of the actuating button (44c) in relation to the main direction of extent (1), are designed as rigid housing sections and are connected to one another by a likewise rigid connecting section (42),

   - the connecting section (42) surrounds the dimensionally flexible wall (44) circumferentially and has a recess (42d) through which the actuating button (44c) can be actuated, and forms a counterforce surface (42e) arranged in the circumferential direction on the side of the housing opposite the actuating button (44c), and

   - an inlet valve (50) designed as a pressure relief valve is provided between the liquid reservoir (26) and the pump chamber (46) and an outlet valve (48) designed as a pressure relief valve is provided between the pump chamber (46) and the discharge opening (64), wherein the inlet valve (50) or the outlet valve (48) is formed by valve surfaces (48a) configured integrally with the flexible wall, wherein the flexible wall has two lips which bear on each other when the pressure on both sides of the valve is equal and which disengage from each other in the event of overpressure or negative pressure in the pump chamber, and thus permit an outflow or inflow of medium.
2. Cosmetics dispenser (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the dimensionally flexible wall (44) and the connecting section (42) are designed as an integral two-component injection moulded part.

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