Patent ID: 8292534
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: B43K,B43L

Abstract:
1. A liquid applicator, comprising: a tip unit for a liquid applicator comprising a tubular member having therein a through-bore with an axis and a valve member arranged within and being movable in the through-bore, the through-bore having a distal opening and a proximal opening, wherein the tubular member and the valve member each has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the valve member is accompanied with a biasing member, so as to be biased toward the distal end of the tubular member to be in close contact with and to seal the distal opening, with part of the valve member protruding from the distal opening of the through-bore, wherein the liquid applicator has a reservoir for containing an application liquid, the reservoir being communicated with the proximal opening of the through-bore of the tubular member, so that the application liquid is applied to an object by pressing the part of the valve member protruding from the distal opening against the object to move the valve member back so as to release sealing of the distal opening, wherein the distal opening has a first tapered surface and a second tapered surface formed at a proximal side of the first tapered surface, the first and the second surfaces each being of an inwardly-facing tapered shape with its diameter decreasing toward the distal end, the second tapered surface having a taper angle larger than that of the first tapered surface, and wherein the valve member comprises a main body having a tapered area with an inclined surface over a first axial extent and an elastically deformable ring located at a proximal side of the tapered area, the ring and the second tapered surface being in close contact with each other and the ring elastically deformed so as to seal the distal opening, wherein the tapered area has a taper angle having a difference of 10 degrees or less from the taper angle of the first tapered surface of the tubular member, so that there is not a large gap over an axial distance that the tapered area and first tapered surface coincide, wherein the main body has a circumferential groove and the ring is a discrete component joined to the main body by being engaged within the circumferential groove, wherein the ring is sandwiched between a surface bounding the circumferential groove and the second tapered surface, wherein the main body does not directly contact the second tapered surface.