Applying device

An applying device is described comprising a container 10 for liquid applying medium the filling opening 40 thereof is provided with an applying element 34. A ball 40 is located in the outlet opening 38 partially extending beyond the outlet opening. The outlet opening is connected to the internal space 20 of the reservoir 10 through a central hollow space 36. A spring element 48 located in the central hollow space 36 of the applying element 34 urges the ball 40 against the outlet opening for a closure thereof. The spring element 48 includes a rod-like portion 50 which is adapted to be laterally resiliently arched if a pressure is exerted on the ball. The rod-like portion 50 of the spring element 48 engages the ball 40 by an end portion. The opposite second end portion of the spring element 48 is secured in the central hollow space 36 of the applying element 34.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention refers to an applying device. 
Such applying devices could be embodied as writing or painting devices, 
applying means for cosmetics or the like, the liquid applying medium being 
provided with a lower or higher viscosity in dependence on the application 
of the applying device. The liquid applying medium could include pigments, 
and its viscosity could be adjusted by a solvent. The applying medium 
could also be a varnish. 
In an applying device of the kind mentioned above a spring element is 
defined by a coil spring engaging a ball within a central hollow chamber 
of the applying element. The coil spring has one end engaging the ball and 
its other end engaging the filling opening for the reservoir receiving the 
liquid applying means. An applying device with such a spring element has 
the disadvantage that the assembly of the applying device is relatively 
expensive due to the handling of the coil spring. A considerable 
disadvantage of such applying device can be seen in the fact that the 
central hollow space of the applying element wherein the spring element 
defined by a coil spring is located must not reach a predetermined minimum 
value in order to provide a space for the spring element. Due to the 
relatively large volume of the central hollow space in the applying 
element no capillary effect for the liquid applying medium is prevailing 
in the central hollow space. As a result, the liquid applying medium flows 
back from the central hollow space to the inner space of the reservoir 
after usage of the applying device and after turning the applying device 
in a vertical position. For this reason the liquid applying medium has to 
flow again from the interior of the reservoir to the central hollow space 
in the applying element and from there through the gap between the ball 
and the outlet opening before the next usage of the applying device. 
Because of the necessity of the flow of the liquid medium into the central 
hollow space of the applying element after a pressure against the ball has 
been exerted and the outlet opening is opened the liquid applying medium 
is discharged with delay. Due to the fact that the central hollow space of 
the applying element is not continuously completely filled with a liquid 
applying medium the danger occurs that the remaining thin liquid coating 
which is formed on the inner wall of the central hollow space of the 
applying element after usage of the applying device dries up. Further, the 
spring element in form of a coil spring is coated with a layer of liquid 
applying medium after usage of the applying device, and the layer dries up 
after a longer non-usage of the applying device. The dried liquid 
adversely affects the spring effect of the spring element. 
Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide an applying device 
which is simply structured and can be simply assembled and which 
discharges the liquid applying medium within a reservoir at any time 
without delay. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This problem is solved by providing a capillary space. 
By the provision of the capillary space the liquid applying medium is 
continuously discharged without time delay during use of the applying 
device, i.e. upon a pressure against the ball closing the outlet opening. 
The capillary space can be simply structured by the central body. By using 
the interspace between the central body and the inner wall of the central 
hollow space of the applying element to define a capillary space the 
liquid applying means does not flow back into the inner space of the 
reservoir after usage of the applying device. Rather, the interspace 
remains filled with the liquid applying medium so that upon a further 
usage of the applying device a predetermined amount of liquid applying 
medium is available at once to be discharged through the outlet opening 
upon opening the outlet opening. With such an applying device the flow of 
liquid applying medium is also not cut when the applying device is moved 
relatively rapidly along a ground because the liquid applying medium is 
fed through the outlet opening due to the capillary effect. By defining 
the mentioned interspace as capillary space wherein liquid applying medium 
is always contained, the danger of drying out the interspace and thus the 
danger of drying the portions adjacent the outlet opening of the applying 
element is reduced to a minimum. The central body can be defined as spring 
element having its front portion engaging the ball that closes the outlet 
opening of the applying element. By designing an applying device in such a 
manner the manufacturing and assembling costs are lower than with an 
applying device provided with a coil spring. 
The spring element can include a rod-like portion which is laterally 
resiliently arched upon a pressure on the ball portion. The rod-like 
portion has its second end portion attached in the central hollow space of 
the applying element. By this structure the spring element can be arranged 
and secured within the central hollow space of the applying element before 
the applying element is assembled with the reservoir for the liquid 
applying medium. The spring element including a rod-like portion can be 
preferably made of plastic material with the resilient properties of the 
spring element being defined by the cross-sectional dimensions and by the 
length of the rod-like portion. Such a spring element is essentially more 
simply structured than a spring element in the form of a coil spring which 
normally is made of resilient metal. 
The central hollow chamber within the applying element preferably includes 
a space for the ball. A portion joining to the ball receiving space has a 
smaller cross section and a main hollow space joining to this narrower 
portion and facing the reservoir. The rod-like portion extends through the 
narrow portion of the central hollow space of the applying element. The 
narrow portion of the central hollow space is preferably designed such 
that the rod-like portion of the spring element is not only designed to 
arch in the ball receiving space or in the main hollow space if a pressure 
is exerted on the ball but also along the narrow portion. The ball 
receiving chamber, the narrow portion and the main hollow chamber have 
such dimensions that they define a capillary space in conjunction with the 
spring element. The dimensions of the interspace defining a capillary 
space between the resilient element and the central hollow space are 
dependent on the liquid applying medium which is filled in the reservoir 
according to the invention. In an applying device according to the 
invention these dimensions are 0, 4 mm to the maximum for a correction 
liquid containing colour pigments. The last-mentioned dimension is the 
linear distance between an arbitrary point on the surface of the spring 
element and the inner wall of the central hollow space of the applying 
element. If this distance is larger than the mentioned value then the 
capillary effect for the correction liquid containing colour pigments and 
having a defined viscosity does not occur. 
The portion of the central space including the narrow cross section is 
provided with recesses extending in the longitudinal direction of the 
applying element and connecting the ball receiving chamber with the main 
hollow chamber. Because of these recesses the narrow cross section of the 
central hollow space is provided with resilient properties so that the 
rod-like portion of the spring element may resiliently arch or be bent 
also in the range of the narrow portion upon a pressure against the ball. 
By this the rod-like portion of the spring element can be bent along its 
total length whereby good spring properties with an optimum spring 
constant for the spring element is achieved. This means that the ball can 
be pressed towards the reservoir with a relatively small pressure in order 
to relieve the outlet opening for the discharge of the liquid medium 
within the reservoir. The rod-like portion of the spring element may 
return to its straight initial position and the ball returns against the 
outlet opening to close the outlet opening when the ball is removed from 
the substratum or the like. The recesses can be defined as slots which 
form capillary spaces for the liquid applying medium. These slots can be 
open towards the center of the applying element so that they may extend 
radially from the portion of the central hollow space having the narrow 
cross section. The first end portion of the resiliently deformable 
rod-like portion of the spring element can include an enlargement for the 
support of the ball. By this design of the rod-like portion including the 
enlargement, a secure support for the ball on the rod-like portion is 
achieved and an effective centering of the ball relative to the rod-like 
portion and to the outlet opening of the applying element is obtained. A 
further advantage of the enlargement can be seen in the reduction of wear 
of the rod-like portion caused by rotation of the ball during the usage of 
the applying device so that the life of the applying device is further 
improved. The second end portion of the resiliently bendable rod-like 
portion of the spring element is preferably designed as retaining body 
which is provided with transverse ribs. The spring element being attached 
to the inner wall of the main hollow space of the applying element through 
the transverse ribs. The transverse ribs have dimensions with reference to 
the inner wall of the main hollow space of the central hollow space of the 
applying element such that a pressure seat is formed between the 
transverse ribs and the inner wall of the main hollow space. The spring 
element is slided or introduced in the central hollow space of the 
applying element until the retaining body is also within the main hollow 
space of the central hollow space of the applying element and jammed in 
the main hollow space by the transverse ribs. The retaining body of the 
spring element has such an axial dimension that it does not extend out of 
the main hollow space i.e. beyond the applying element. This is of 
particular advantage if the filling opening of the reservoir is provided 
with a known type of valve element. If the filling opening of the 
reservoir is not provided with a valve then the main body of the spring 
element may selectively extend beyond the applying element, i.e. extend 
out of the main hollow space of the central hollow space of the applying 
element towards the reservoir. By the provision of transverse ribs to the 
spring element a simple structure for the simply manufacturable spring 
element is achieved as well as a simplification of assembling of the 
spring element with the applying element saving time by simply inserting 
the spring element in the central hollow space. 
The mouth piece is preferably mounted on the filling opening of the 
reservoir, the applying element including the outlet opening with the wall 
extending from the mouth piece, and a closure cap being preferably slipped 
on the mouth piece. The mouth piece, the applying element or the closure 
cap, respectively, can consist of score-safe plastic material, the mouth 
piece preferably having an internal thread by which the mouth piece can be 
threaded on a thread extension of the reservoir defining the filling 
opening of the reservoir. 
According to an embodiment of the applying device of the invention, the 
applying element is fixedly connected to the mouth piece. The connection 
of the applying element with the mouth piece can be made by an adhesive. 
It is also possible to mold the mouth piece and the applying element 
integrally by injection molding. In such an applying device the filling 
opening of the reservoir for the liquid applying medium is not closed by a 
known valve. Rather the central hollow space of the applying element is 
always immediately in communication with the inner space of the reservoir. 
According to another embodiment of the invention the filling opening of the 
reservoir is provided with a valve element for closing the reservoir, and 
the applying element is adapted to open the valve element by providing an 
axial displacement thereof relative to the mouth piece. In the applying 
device last-mentioned, the valve closing the filling opening or the 
reservoir is opened by the applying element being axially displaceable 
with respect to the mouth piece if the applying device is used. As already 
mentioned the main body of the spring element in this embodiment does not 
extend beyond the applying element so that the valve is solely opened by 
the axially displaceable applying element. Such a structure of the 
applying device including a valve closing the filling opening of the 
reservoir has the particular advantage that the storage properties of the 
applying device are considerably improved because the liquid applying 
medium is discharged through the valve in the central hollow space of the 
applying element and from there between the ball and the outlet opening to 
a substratum or the like not before the first usage of the applying 
device. This is particularly advantageous if the liquid applying medium 
affects the material of the applying element and/or the material of the 
spring element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows a partially illustrated reservoir 10 or container for liquid 
applying medium. The reservoir 10 consists for instance of aluminum sheet 
and includes a threaded extension 12 which defines the filling opening 14 
through which liquid applying medium is filled into the reservoir 10. The 
housing 16 of a known valve is inserted in the filling opening 14 of the 
reservoir 10. The housing 16 has openings 18 through which the inner space 
20 of the reservoir is in communication with the filling opening 14. A 
mouth piece 22 is connected to the reservoir 10 which mouthpiece is for 
instance made of score-safe plastic material. The mouth piece 22 includes 
a portion 24 having an internal thread 26 which corresponds to the thread 
on the threaded extension 12. The mouth piece 22 with its portion 24 is 
threaded on the threaded extension 12 such that the housing 16 with its 
circumferentially extending flange 28 is axially secured between the 
threaded extension 12 and the mouth piece 22. The outer contour of the 
mouth piece 22 and the inner contour of a closure cap 30 correspond to 
each other so that the closure cap 30 can be slipped onto the mouth piece 
22 in order to close the applying device. 
The sleeve-like mouth piece 22 includes a central opening 32 wherein an 
applying element 34 is attached. The applying element 34 includes a 
central hollow space 36 and an outlet opening 38 which is sealingly closed 
by a ball 40. The central hollow space 36 of the applying element 34 
includes a ball receiving chamber 42, a portion 44 of smaller cross 
section joining the ball receiving space 42 and a main hollow space 46. 
The main hollow space 46 joins with the portion 44 and faces the reservoir 
10. A spring element 48 is located within the central hollow space 36 of 
the applying element 34, the spring element 48 including a rod-like 
portion 50 and a retaining body 52. The retaining body 52 is located at 
the second end portion of the rod-like portion 50 which faces the 
reservoir 10. The first end portion of the rod-like resiliently bendable 
portion 50 is provided with an enlargement 54 by which the rod-like 
portion 50 engages the ball 40. By the enlargement 54 the pressure per 
area unit by which the ball 40 urges against the rod-like portion 50 
during the usage of the applying device is reduced so that the wear of the 
first end portion of the rod-like portion 50 is reduced. Further the ball 
receiving space 42 is reduced due to the enlargement 54 whereby the 
capillary effect in the ball receiving space 42 is improved. The portion 
44 with narrow cross-sectional area is provided with recesses 56 which are 
star-shaped with respect to the longitudinal center line 58 of the 
applying device. The slot-like recesses 56, the annular space between the 
rod-like portion 50 and the portion 44 having the narrow cross-sectional 
area have such dimensions that they form a capillary space as is the case 
with the ball receiving space 42 for the applying medium within the 
reservoir 10. By the slots or recesses 56 the ball receiving space 42 is 
in communication with the main hollow space 46 of the central hollow space 
36 of the applying element 34. 
The spring element 48 is connected to the applying element 34 by transverse 
ribs 60 which radially extend from the main body 52 of the spring element 
48. The main body 52 is inserted with its transverse ribs 60 in the main 
hollow space 46 whereby the transverse ribs 60 are jammed at the inner 
wall 62 of the main hollow space 46 forming a pressure seat. The main body 
52 has a dimension with respect to the inner wall 62 of the main hollow 
space 46 such that the tube-like space between the applying element 34 and 
the main body 52 of the spring element 48 also defines a capillary space. 
Due to the fact that the spaces 42, 44, 36 and 46 are defined as capillary 
spaces these spaces remain filled with liquid applying medium even if the 
applying device is in a vertical position as illustrated. By this not only 
a drying of the applying device after a longer non-usage is prevented but 
also the liquid applying medium is discharged through the outlet opening 
38 of the applying element along the ball 40 immediately after the use of 
the applying device. 
In use of the applying device the closure cap 30 is removed from the mouth 
piece 22, and the applying device is pressed against a substratum e.g. a 
blotting pad with its ball 40 so that the ball 40 moves a small extent 
towards the reservoir 10. By this the rod-like portion 50 of the spring 
element 48 is laterally bent out of the position in alignment with the 
central longitudinal axis 58 because the main body 52 of the spring 
element 48 is axially secured with respect to the applying element 34. As 
soon as the applying device is removed from the ground the rod-like 
portion 50 of the spring element 48 is mechanically relieved whereby the 
rod-like portion 50 returns to the straight position as shown, and presses 
the ball 40 again against the outlet opening 38 so that the outlet opening 
38 is sealingly closed by the ball 40. 
64 defines an annular extension molded to the applying element 34 by which 
the applying element 34 engages the mouth piece 22. 
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of an applying device; the reservoir 10 
for the liquid applying medium thereof is only partially shown. 22 
designates a mouth piece which has a portion 24 including an internal 
thread by which it may be threaded on a threaded extension 12 of the 
container 10. A closure cap 30 is slipped on the mouth piece 22. The 
filling opening 14 defined by the threaded extension 12 of the container 
10 is closed by a known valve 66, the housing 16 thereof being axially 
secured by an annular radial extension 28 between the threaded extension 
12 of the container 10 and the mouth piece 22. 68 designates a valve 
actuating element by means of which the valve 66 can be opened in order to 
establish a communication between the inner space 20 of the container 10 
to the central hollow space 36 of the applying element 34 through the 
openings 18 in the valve housing 16. 
In order to open valve 66 it is necessary that the valve actuating element 
68 is pressed in the direction of arrow 70 against the valve housing 16 or 
the reservoir 10, respectively. This is achieved by an axial displacement 
of the applying element 34 which to this purpose is axially displaceably 
located in the central opening 32 of the mouth piece 22. An extension 64 
annularly surrounding the applying element 34 serves for limiting the 
displacement of the applying element 34. The central hollow space 36 of 
the applying element 34--in correspondence with the applying device 
according to FIG. 1--is divided into a ball receiving space 42, a portion 
44 of narrow cross-sectional area and a main hollow space 46. The spring 
element 48 includes a rod-like portion 50 and a main portion 52 which is 
provided with transverse ribs 60. By ribs 60 the main body 52 of the 
spring element 48 is jammed in the main hollow space 46 of the applying 
element 34 and secured against axial movement. 
In order to avoid with this embodiment that the valve actuating element 68 
is solely actuated by the applying element 34 without an axial movement of 
the spring element 48 with respect to the applying element 34 it is 
necessary that the end face 72 of the main body 52 does not extend beyond 
the annular base surface 74 of the applying element towards the container 
10. 54 designates the enlargement of the rod-like portion 50 which is 
engaged by the ball 40 closing the outlet opening 38. 56 designates 
recesses which extend longitudinally of the portion 44 having the narrow 
cross section and establishing a communication of the ball receiving space 
42 with the main hollow space 46. 
As in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the ball receiving space 42, the portion 44 
of narrow cross section, the recesses 56 and the main hollow space 46 of 
the central hollow space 36 of the applying device 34 and the spring 
element 48 including the rod-like resiliently bendable portion 50 and the 
main body 52, respectively, have such dimensions that the hollow space 
between the applying element 34 and the spring element 48 defines a 
capillary space. The liquid applying medium is also stored in this 
capillary space when the applying device after usage is brought to an 
upright position as shown. By this a drying up of the mentioned capillary 
space is avoided so that upon a reusage of the applying device the amount 
of liquid applying medium stored in the capillary space is immediately 
available to be applied to a substratum. During the usage of the applying 
device also sufficient liquid applying medium is fed by the capillary 
effect so that an uninterrupted application of the liquid applying medium 
through the outlet opening 36 is obtained if the ball 40 is pressed 
against the substratum. The ball 40 can be made of metal or plastic 
material, the surface thereof having a predetermined roughness. A slightly 
roughened ball surface causes a rotation of the ball during the usage of 
the applying device whereby the feed of liquid applying medium from the 
capillary space through the outlet opening 36 is supported. 
FIG. 3 shows the rod-like portion 50 of the spring element 48 in cross 
section as well as portion 44 of the applying element 34 having a reduced 
cross section. Also the recesses 56 can be clearly seen in this Figure 
which are positioned in a star-like arrangement with respect to the 
rod-like portion 50 of the spring element 48 and are uniformly 
distributed. 30 is a closure cap of the applying device. 
FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the retaining body 52 of the spring 
element 48. Radial transverse ribs 60 extend from the retaining body 52 by 
which the retaining body 52 is jammingly secured in the main hollow space 
56 of the central hollow space 36 of the applying element 34. 22 
designates a mouth piece having a central bore 32 allowing an axial 
displacement of the applying element 34, i.e. perpendicularly to the 
drawing plane. 30 designates also in this Figure the closure cap. 
According to a further development of the applying device of the invention 
the pin-like portion 50 terminates at a distance from ball 40, i.e. 
without contacting ball 40. By this embodiment of the applying device the 
pin-like portion 50 does not need an enlargement 54. The pin-like portion 
50 is surrounded by a coil spring which resiliently engages the ball 40 
with one end portion thereof. The second end portion of the coil spring 
engages the main body 52 of the central body 58. In this case, the central 
body 58 is not a resilient element but a body by which the capillary space 
36 is precisely confined. On the other side the capillary space 36 is 
confined by the inner contour of the central hollow space of the applying 
element 34. The central hollow space in this embodiment according to the 
invention can also provide a ball receiving space 42, a portion 44 with 
reduced cross section and a main hollow space 46. The last-mentioned 
embodiment secures a more uniform flow of liquid applying medium through 
the capillary space 36 and through the outlet opening 38 than in the case 
of the one-sided arching of the spring element 48 having a rod-like 
portion 50 engaging ball 40. Since the spring element in form of a coil 
spring is slipped onto the rod-like portion 50 of the central body 48 
prior to the central body 48 being secured in the central hollow space 36 
of the applying device 34 the assembling of the applying device according 
to the invention is also more simply than with known applying devices.