A collector-type applicator implement includes: a barrel body having a front barrel and a main barrel on a rear side of the front barrel, the main barrel being fitted with the front barrel; a collector having comb-like fins and arranged in a front part of the barrel body; and, a storage space defined in a rear part of the barrel body for storing an application liquid. The collector is covered by front barrel and the main barrel and configured to be held inside the barrel body.

This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2013-106739 filed in Japan on 21 May 2013 and Patent Application No. 2014-088205 filed in Japan on 22 Apr. 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collector-type applicator implement that stores a low-viscosity cosmetic liquid, in particular, relating to an eyeliner of which stylish appearances are important.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, collector-type applicators have been well-known technologies, and since carriage performance and design are regarded as important factors for the diverse demands on the market, slender applicator implements have been preferred.

The collector-type applicator implement can provide a stable amount of flow from beginning to end of use compared to the applicator implement that uses a sliver in the ink tank. However, since it is necessary to assure a certain amount of ink retention and air replacement, the collector needs to have a certain volume, posing difficulties in producing slender applicator implements.

Under such circumstances, a collector-type applicator implement aiming at solving the problem or providing a configuration with a small outside diameter has been disclosed (Japanese Utility Model Publication H08-10405 (Patent Document 1)).

Also disclosed as to miniaturization has been a collector-type writing implement in which the distance between fins in the collector is 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm (see Paragraph [0017] in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2005-7740 (Patent Document 2)).

There has been also disclosed a writing implement whose collector has an outside diameter of 7 mm to 8 mm and a full length of 20 mm to 28 mm (see Paragraphs [0015] and [0016] in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open H10-119479 (Patent Document 3)).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

Nevertheless, in the collector-type applicator implement of Patent Document 1, since the ink tank needs to be connected, there occurs the problem that the collector becomes thick.

Further, the collector-type applicator implement of a narrow barrel suffers the forward leakage problem and the flooding problem. On the other hand, when a large collector is used, the amount of application markedly decreases so that the distance by which application can be performed becomes short.

That is, it has been difficult to realize an applicator implement of a narrow barrel that has an outside diameter of 9 mm or less and can store a low-viscosity application liquid, as described in Patent Document 3.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collector-type applicator implement that is of a narrow barrel type but free from leakage of application liquid.

The present invention resides in a collector-type applicator implement comprising:

a barrel body comprising:a front barrel; anda main barrel on a rear side of the front barrel, the main barrel being fitted with the front barrel;

a collector having comb-like fins and arranged in a front part of the barrel body; and,

a storage space defined in a rear part of the barrel body for storing an application liquid,

wherein the collector is covered by the front barrel and the main barrel and configured to be held inside the barrel body.

In the present invention, it is preferred that an outside diameter in a rear part of the collector is greater than an outside diameter in a front part of the collector.

In the present invention, it is also preferred that a thick supporting wall abutting an inner surface of the front barrel are formed every plural number of fins of the collector, and the outside diameter of the collector is varied stepwise by the thick supporting wall.

In the present invention, it is preferred that an outer periphery of the front part of the collector is put in hermetic contact with an inner wall of the front barrel.

In the present invention, it is preferred that the collector-type applicator implement further includes a center core disposed inside the collector to lead the application liquid from the storage space to a writing part, and that the center core is not projected from a rear end of the collector into the storage space.

In the present invention, it is preferred that an elastic thin projection is formed in a front end of the collector that abuts the writing part.

In the present invention, it is preferred that the collector-type applicator implement further includes a center core disposed inside the collector to lead the application liquid from the storage space to a writing part, and that a plurality of ribs are provided in a hollow portion of the collector and projected inwardly in the hollow portion, and the center core is inserted in the hollow portion. Also, it is preferred that the hollow portion is connected to a through hole and an ink groove communicating through each ink temporary collecting portion is arranged on the collector at an opposite side of the through hole.

Advantages of the Invention

According to the applicator implement of the invention, in the collector-type applicator implement, the collector is configured to be held by the front barrel and the barrel body so that the collector is projected from the front barrel to thereby secure a necessary amount of ink storage. As a result, it is possible to realize an applicator implement of a narrow barrel that can make the best use of inherent performance of the collector.

Here, use of the collector having a greater outside diameter in the rear part thereof than that of the front part, makes it possible to realize an applicator implement of a narrow barrel that can make the best use of inherent performance of the collector. Further, by providing the thick supporting wall abutting the inner surface of the front barrel every plural number of fins of the collector while varying the outside diameter of the collector stepwise at the supporting wall, it is possible to easily form the tapered shape in the front barrel. Also, provision of the supporting walls makes it possible to improve separation performance in molding.

Further, placing the outer periphery of the front part of the collector in hermetic contact with the inner wall of the front barrel, makes it possible to prevent the application liquid from leaking from the applying part while increasing the volume of the application liquid correction portion inside the front barrel.

In the present invention, use of the capillary member, i.e., the center core that is not projected from the rear end of the collector into the storage space, makes it possible to increase the stored amount of application liquid in the barrel.

Formation of the annular thin elastic projection annularly abutting the rear endface of the writing part along the collector's front end connected to the writing part, makes it possible to flexibly fix the writing part by the elastic force of the elastic projection.

In the present invention, by forming a plurality of ribs projected inwards inside the hollow portion of the collector so as to support the center core that is inserted in this hollow portion while creating clearance between the center core and the inner surface of the hollow portion, this configuration of the clearance facilitates air replacement, hence contributes to improvement in application performance of the application liquid.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thin-barrel applicator implement, especially eyeliner, which can present equivalent performance to that of the conventional thick-barrel applicator implement. When used as an eyeliner, this thin-barrel collector-type applicator implement presents stylish appearances and enables the user to apply thick and clear eye-line until end of use thanks to the adoption of a collector configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A and 1Bare overall illustrative diagrams of a collector-type applicator implement according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIGS. 2A and 2Bare illustrative diagrams showing the collector-type applicator implement with its cap removed;FIGS. 3A to 3Dare part drawings of the writing part side of the collector-type applicator implement;FIGS. 4A to 4Eare part drawings of a front barrel;FIGS. 5A to 5Fare part drawings of a collector; and,FIGS. 6A and 6Bare perspective views of the collector.

As shown inFIGS. 1A to 3D, the corrector-type applicator implement according to the first embodiment is a collector-type applicator implement including: a barrel body14of a front barrel10and a main barrel12on the rear side of the front barrel10, being fitted together; a collector16formed of a plurality of comb-like fins, each of which forms a leaf-like sheet member, arrayed in the axial direction in the front part of barrel body14; a storage space14ain the rear part inside barrel body14for storing an application liquid.

Main barrel12in the rear part of the barrel body14has a pipe-like configuration open at both ends to establish communication therethrough. At the rear end of main barrel12, which is also the rear end of barrel body14, a tail plug14bis fitted to close the rear part of main barrel12. The space inside barrel body14(which is also the space inside main barrel12) defined between the front end of the tail plug14band the rear end of collector16forms the storage space14a.

Freely stored inside this storage space14ais the application liquid without provision of any impregnation material such as a sliver while an agitator (ball or the like)14cfor stirring the application liquid is disposed.

Front barrel10, main barrel12, collector16, cap20, etc. may be formed of resin moldings. Agitator14cmay be a ball part made of metal, resin or the like.

The collector16is covered and supported by front barrel10and main barrel12.

A writing part18of a tapered brush body is projected from the opening at the front end of front barrel10. A cap20that covers the writing part18is removably fitted to the front barrel10. The front barrel10has an approximately frustoconical shape, tapering to the front. The vertex angle of the front barrel10is preferably formed to be approximately equal to the vertex angle of writing part18.

Writing part18is a tapered brush body formed of a resin fabric, a bundle of natural fibers, or a resin porous material. Writing part18has a flange-like large-diametric part in the rear end. This large-diametric part is engaged with the interior of front barrel10so that the writing part will not come off. Here, a brush is preferable as writing part18, but various kinds of applying parts for applying the application liquid may be used.

Inside cap20, a cup-shaped inner cap20acovering writing part18with enhanced airtightness is arranged so as to be movable back and forth while a spring20bthat urges this inner cap20arearwards is disposed.

Inside hollowed and tapered front barrel10, bellows-like collector16is arranged in the rear of writing part18. A center core22is penetrating through a hollow portion16dof this collector16. Center core22can be formed of a capillary member such as a resin fiber bundle, natural fiber bundle, resin porous material, or the like.

As to center core22, the center core22is not projected from the rear end of collector16into storage space14aof barrel body14(seeFIGS. 1A to 2B). The rear endface of center core22is approximately flushed with the rear endface of collector16. This flushness of center core22, or no part of center core22sticking out inside storage space14a, can secure the volume of storage space14a. Further, since the rear end of center core22does not stick out inside storage space14a, in a configuration where agitator14cis put inside storage space14aand if agitator14cis moved inside storage space14a, the agitator will not collide with center core22and deform center core22, hence it is possible to impregnate the center core adequately with the application liquid.

The outer peripheral surface of front barrel10is tapered in the front end, and has a flange10aprojected in its center radially outwards for positioning cap20when it is fitted, and a projection10b1for fitting cap20is formed to swell in the front of flange10aand a projection10b2for fitting main barrel12is formed to swell in the rear of flange10a. Further, air replacement holes10cpassing through the peripheral wall from the inside to the outside are formed in the front of projection10b1of front barrel10(seeFIGS. 3A to 3D).

As shown inFIGS. 5A to 6B, collector16has a bowl-shaped part16aformed at the front end in its front part in the axial direction. Further, a front temporary collecting portion16bof a plurality of comb-like fins spaced at intervals is arranged from the front to the center of collector16with respect to the axial direction while a rear temporary collecting portion16cis formed in the rear part of collector16with respect to the axial direction.

As described, center core22is provided inside collector16. In this embodiment, a wall portion is formed near the axial center of collector16so that hollow portion16dis formed inside the wall portion, penetrating through the center of the wall portion. On the outer peripheral surface of the wall portion defining this hollow portion16d, fins for temporal collection of the application liquid (front temporary collecting portion16band rear temporary collecting portion16d) are formed. These fins are a plurality of thin plates or leaf-like sheet members extending in the radial direction. A through hole24that enables the application liquid to flow between the hollow portion16dand the spacing between the fins are formed through this wall portion in the radial direction from the outer periphery to the inner periphery or hollow portion16d.

The through hole24is formed adjoining to a supporting wall28. Detailedly, through hole24is formed in the wall portion between supporting wall28and the closet fin to the supporting wall28.

As to the relationship with the formed position of an ink groove (slit)26, the through hole24is formed on the opposite side across the shaft of collector16from that of ink groove26.

Further, the aforementioned ink groove (slit)26for leading the application liquid into the fin spacings is formed from the front temporary collecting portion16bto the rear temporary collecting portion16cand the rear end of the groove (slit)26is opened (and is able to be exposed to storage space14ain barrel body14).

Thick supporting walls28that abut the inner surface of front barrel10are arranged appropriately every multiple number of fins or are arranged between the front temporary collecting portion16bhaving a plurality of fines and the rear temporary collecting portion16chaving a plurality of fines.

Specifically, the number of fins of front temporary collecting portion16band rear temporary collecting portion16cis 40 to 60 in total. Among these, front temporary collecting portion16bincludes 75 to 85% of these and rear temporary collecting portion16cincludes 15 to 25%. The spacing between fins may be specified to be 0.15 to 0.3 mm.

The storage capacity of storage space14ais specified to be 0.7 (ml). The outside diameter of barrel body14is 8.5 (mm) and the diameter of collector16is 6.0 (mm).

The aforementioned front temporary collecting portion16bis formed with the same diameter as that of the bowl-shaped part16a, and inserted in front barrel10as shown inFIGS. 3B and 3D. The aforementioned rear temporary collecting portion16cis formed to be greater in outside diameter than front temporary collecting portion16b, and positioned being projected from the rear end of front barrel10, as shown inFIGS. 3A to 3D, and arranged in adjacent to the interior wall surface of main barrel12, as shown inFIG. 1Band others.

The Second Embodiment

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare overall illustrative diagrams of a collector-type applicator implement according to another embodiment (the second embodiment) of the present invention.FIGS. 8A to 8Care state illustrating diagrams showing the collector-type applicator implement with its cap removed. In the collector-type applicator implement according to the second embodiment shown inFIGS. 7A to 8C, the same components as those of the above first embodiment shown withFIGS. 1A to 6Bare allotted with the same reference numerals.

A difference of the collector-type applicator implement according to the second embodiment from the collector-type applicator implement of the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1Bis in that a middle wall30is formed in the approximate center of the length of main barrel12in the rear part of barrel body14as shown inFIGS. 7B and 8B.

Provision of this middle wall30prevents the application liquid from flowing through between barrel body14and tail plug14b. Here, the middle wall30is formed at the radial center thereof with studs projected forward and rearward while a pit is formed on the front endface of tail plug14bthat is fitted to the stud from the rear of barrel body12, so that the stud on the rear side can be prevented from interfering by the pit.

Another difference is in that an annular thin elastic projection32projected forward is formed along the circumference in the front end of collector16, specifically, in the front endface of bowl-shaped part16a. This elastic projection32annularly abuts the rear endface of writing part18so that the writing part18is fixed flexibly by the elastic force of the elastic projection32.

Further, the outer periphery in the front part of collector16is put in hermetic contact with the inner wall of front barrel10. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of bowl-shaped part16aformed in the front part of collector16creates an airtight portion (sealing portion)34with the interior surface of front barrel10by forming recess and projection engagement at a position close to and in front of air replacement hole10c, at the position the outer peripheral surface of bowl-shaped part16abutting the interior surface of the front barrel10. Since this airtight portion34is located in front of air replacement hole10c, the external air passing through air replacement hole10cwill not flow to the writing part18side which is located in front of bowl-shaped part16aof collector16, hence the writing part18becomes hard to dry. It goes without saying that the external air is enabled to readily enter the front temporary collecting part16band rear temporary collecting part16cof collector16.

The Third Embodiment

FIGS. 9A and 9Bare overall illustrative diagrams of a collector-type applicator implement according to another embodiment (the third embodiment) of the present invention.FIGS. 10A to 10Dare state illustrating diagrams showing the collector-type applicator implement with its cap removed.FIGS. 11A to 11Hare part drawings of a collector of the collector-type applicator implement.FIGS. 12A and 12Bare perspective views showing the collector. The same components as those of the above second embodiment shown withFIGS. 7A to 8Care allotted with the same reference numerals.

The collector-type applicator implement according to the third embodiment is different from the collector-type applicator implement according to the second embodiment shown inFIGS. 7A to 8C, in that, as shown inFIGS. 9B and 10B, tail plug14bis shorter than that of the second embodiment and the engagement between barrel body14and tail plug14bis formed only at the rear end of barrel body14, and in that clearance36is created between the supports of center core22in hollow portion16din the center shaft of collector16.

That is, as shown inFIG. 10C, three ribs38(the number of ribs38is preferably plural equal to three or more) are arranged equi-angularly with respect to circumferential direction on the wall position that defines hollow portion16dof collector16and projected inward or toward the axial center from the inner surface of the wall portion.

In the state where center core22is fitted in the hollow portion16d, the aforementioned three ribs38support center core22on their ridges so as to hold the center core22without bending. Specifically, rib38is projected with a short height and a narrow width toward the axis of the hollow portion16dfrom the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion defining hollow portion16din collector16, and elongated (or a series of dots or lines element maybe arranged) in the length direction of collector16. Provision of these three ribs38create clearance36between the inner peripheral surface of hollow portion16dand the outer peripheral surface of center core22and facilitate air replacement, whereby it is possible to improve application performance of the liquid.

In the rear end of collector16, as shown inFIGS. 11E,11H and12B, a cutout16eis formed on the circumferentially opposite side from slit26and connected to the hollow portion16d. When collector16has been assembled, the rear end of collector16faces storage space14aof barrel body14so that both slit26and cutout16eare in contact with the application liquid.

Upon replacement of air, the air outside the applicator implement (the outside air) enters from air replacement hole10cin front barrel10, passing through between the inner periphery of front barrel10and the outer periphery of collector16and through hole24to reach clearance36between ribs38.

The air passing through the clearance36flows into storage space14aof barrel body14from the rear end of collector16such as the aforementioned cutout16e.

In this embodiment, slit26as a passage for liquid and through hole24as an air replacement potion (air/liquid replacement portion) are provided at different positions in collector16.

Accordingly, when the application liquid in storage space14adecreases as the collector-type applicator implement of the embodiment is used, the air channel through the clearance36connects to storage space14aso that air replacement (air/liquid replacement) can be smoothly performed.

As to support of center core22, provision of three or more ribs38enables center core22to be arranged equally apart from the inner peripheral surface of hollow portion16d, so that it is possible to diminish the curving and displacement of center core22. Here, as long as center core22can be supported being less crooked to create clearance36, it is of course possible to form ribs38at any intervals as appropriate.

According to the collector-type applicator implements of the first to third embodiments, collector16is held by front barrel10and barrel body12so that collector16is projected from front barrel10to thereby secure an adequate amount of ink storage in collector16. As a result, it is possible to realize a collector-type applicator implement of a narrow barrel that makes the best use of inherent performance of collector16.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thin-barrel collector-type applicator implement, especially eyeliner, which can present equivalent performance to that of the conventional thick-barrel applicator implement. When used as an eye line, this thin collector-type applicator implement presents stylish appearances and enables the user to apply thick and clear eyeliner until end of use thanks to the adoption of a collector configuration.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The applicator implement of the present invention can be applied to general applicator implements, but especially made use of for eyeliner liquid that is low in viscosity.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS