Abstract:
An applicator device for a fluid, pasty, gel-like, wax-like or powder product, comprising an applicator means having a working region, a first conveyor means having a first conveyor element, a second conveyor means having a second conveyor element, a first adjusting element and a second adjusting element which are rotatable relative to each other, wherein at least in a first operating position the first conveyor means responds to rotation of the two adjusting elements relative to each other and at least in a second operating position the second conveyor means responds to rotation of the two adjusting elements relative to each other, and actuation of the second conveyor means causes axial displacement of the second conveyor element with respect to the first and second adjusting elements, more specifically by equal distances.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention concerns an applicator device for a fluid, pasty, gel-like, wax-like or powder product, comprising an applicator means having a working region, a first conveyor means having a first conveyor element, a second conveyor means having a second conveyor element, a first and a second adjusting element which are rotatable relative to each other, wherein at least in a first operating position the first conveyor means responds to rotation of the two adjusting elements relative to each other and at least in a second operating position the second conveyor means responds to rotation of the two control means relative to each other, and actuation of the second conveyor means causes axial displacement of the second conveyor element with respect to the first and second adjusting elements, more specifically by equal distances.  
         [0002]     An applicator device of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification is known, for example from EP 1 273 245 A1. In that arrangement the first control element is formed by a cartridge and the second control element is formed by a shaft. In a first operating condition (initial condition prior to first use) the cartridge is not completely filled with the product. Rather, there is a dead space. The first conveyor means serves to overcome the dead space wherein the second conveyor means serves for fine metering. The first conveyor element is identical to the second conveyor element. It is a piston which is axially slidable in the cartridge. When the piston is moved axially by actuation of the second conveyor means, it moves in the axial direction, more specifically by equal distances, with respect to both the cartridge and also the shaft. Therefore the cartridge and the shaft are not moved relative to each other in the axial direction.  
         [0003]     The situation is different upon actuation of the first conveyor means for overcoming the dead space. More specifically in that case the piston is moved axially only with respect to the cartridge but not with respect to the shaft, and for that reason in that case the cartridge is moved axially with respect to the shaft. That therefore entails a reduction in the length of the overall applicator device.  
         [0004]     Such a reduction is not desirable because an applicator device of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification needs a given minimum length in order to be suitably handleable.  
         [0005]     Therefore the object of the present invention is to develop the applicator device known from EP 1 273 245 A1 in such a way as to avoid a reduction in overall length upon actuation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with the invention the stated object is attained in that actuation of the first conveyor means causes axial displacement of the first conveyor element with respect to the first and the second adjusting element, more specifically by equal distances.  
         [0007]     In other words, measures are taken whereby actuation of the first conveyor means results in displacement of the first conveyor element both with respect to the first adjusting element and also with respect to the second adjusting element so that the adjusting elements are not displaced axially relative to each other. The axial length of the applicator device is accordingly maintained.  
         [0008]     To simplify the applicator device it is provided in accordance with the invention that the first conveyor element is identical to the second conveyor element. It can be for example a piston.  
         [0009]     As the first conveyor means preferably serves to overcome a dead space, it is preferably provided in accordance with the invention that the first conveyor means has a screwthread with a first screwthread element and a second screwthread element, wherein the two screwthread elements come out of engagement upon mutual displacement beyond a predetermined amount. In that case the predetermined amount is so selected that the two screwthread elements come out of engagement when the dead space has been overcome.  
         [0010]     In this case the first screwthread element can be a helical groove adjoined by an annular groove. In such a case, upon displacement beyond the predetermined amount, the second screwthread element will travel out of the helical groove into the annular groove so that further displacement does not cause any further axial displacement of the two screwthread elements relative to each other.  
         [0011]     In accordance with the invention the second conveyor means preferably (also) has a screwthread, more specifically with a third screwthread element and a fourth screwthread element.  
         [0012]     In order further to simplify the applicator device according to the invention it is preferred that the third screwthread element is integral with the first screwthread element.  
         [0013]     It can further be provided that the fourth screwthread element is integral with the conveyor element.  
         [0014]     It can also be provided in accordance with the invention that the second screwthread element is integral with the first adjusting element.  
         [0015]     In addition a simplification in the overall structure of the applicator device according to the invention is afforded if the second screwthread element is connected to the first adjusting element by way of a film hinge.  
         [0016]     In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the third screwthread element comes into engagement with the fourth screwthread element only when the first screwthread element is displaced with respect to the second screwthread element beyond a predetermined amount.  
         [0017]     That achieves substantial independence for the two conveyor means from each other.  
         [0018]     As the dead space, once it has been overcome, is not to recur again, there is preferably provided in accordance with the invention a device for securing the first conveyor means against return movement.  
         [0019]     Comparable purposes are served by an elastic device which is preferably provided for biasing the first conveyor element and/or the second conveyor element in the conveyor direction.  
         [0020]     As already mentioned above the first control element can be a cartridge while the second control element is preferably a shaft.  
         [0021]     Finally in accordance with the invention there is preferably provided a protective cap which is rotationally coupled to the first adjusting element or the second adjusting element and screwed to the second or the first control element in such a way that unscrewing the cover cap leads to actuation of the first conveyor means and/or the second conveyor means.  
         [0022]     It is possible in that way to provide that unscrewing the protective cap already leads to the product being conveyed in such a way that the dead space is overcome.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The invention is described in further detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0024]      FIGS. 1 through 9  each show diagrammatic views in longitudinal section of preferred embodiments of the applicator device according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes a protective cap  10  which is fitted on to a shaft  12 . A cartridge  14  is inserted into the shaft  12 . The shaft  12  and the cartridge  14  are rotatable relative to each other, more specifically about the longitudinal axis of the illustrated applicator device. At its front end the cartridge  14  carries an applicator means  16  with a working region  18 . The working region  18  is communicated with the interior  20  of the applicator means  16  by way of passage openings. One of the passage openings is denoted by way of example by reference numeral  22 .  
         [0026]     Disposed in the shaft  12  at the rear end is a sleeve  24  which is rotationally coupled to the shaft  12  by way of ribs  26 ,  28  but is axially displaceable with respect to the shaft  12 . The sleeve  24  carries a male screwthread in the form of a helical groove  30 . The helical groove  30  is adjoined by an annular groove  32 , see in particular  FIG. 1   b . Engaging into the grooves  30  and  32  respectively are screwthread elements  34 ,  36  which are provided on a sleeve  38 . The sleeve  38  is coupled non-rotationally to the cartridge  14 .  
         [0027]     A spindle  40  is integrally joined to the sleeve  24  and bears a male screwthread  42 , see in particular  FIG. 1   b . A female screwthread  44  on a piston  45  meshes with the male screwthread  42 .  
         [0028]     The spindle  40  is disposed in a storage means  48  which is delimited at its rear end by the piston  46  and which is formed by the interior of the cartridge  14 . The storage means  48  serves to accommodate a pasty cosmetic product, such as for example lipstick.  
         [0029]     In production, firstly the spindle  40  with the piston  46  carried thereon is inserted into the cartridge  14 . Thereupon the cartridge  14  is filled with the cosmetic product. Therefore, the applicator means  16  is not filled with the cosmetic product, prior to the first use of the applicator device shown in  FIG. 1 . Rather, disposed in front of the storage means  48  is a dead space which firstly has to be overcome in order to make the applicator device ready for use.  
         [0030]     The screwthread combination comprising the screwthread element  34  and the helical groove  30  serves to overcome that dead space. More specifically, when the cartridge  14  is rotated with respect to the shaft  12 , that results in corresponding rotation of the sleeve  38  with respect to the sleeve  24 , which, by virtue of the axial fixing of the sleeve  38  with respect to the cartridge  14 , results in an axial movement of the sleeve  24 , directed upwardly in  FIG. 1 , both with respect to the shaft  12  and also the cartridge  14 . That axial movement in turn results in a corresponding axial movement of the piston  46  whereby the product in the storage means  48 , overcoming the dead space, is conveyed into the interior  20  of the conveyor means  16 , in the direction of the working region  18 .  
         [0031]     This mechanism which is of a particular kind and to which the initial stroke movement of the first and/or second conveyor means is always specific is also particularly suited to urging a sealing element which seals off the material supply container out of its rest position and thus opening the supply container.  
         [0032]     As the above representation shows, the dead space is overcome by axial movement of the piston  46  both with respect to the cartridge  14  and also with respect to the shaft  12 , so that axial movement of the cartridge  14  with respect to the shaft  12  does not occur. The axial length of the applicator device is therefore maintained while the dead space is being overcome.  
         [0033]     The same applies for operation of the applicator device after the dead space has been overcome. More specifically, when the screwthread elements  34  and  36  reach the end of the helical groove  30 , they pass into the annular groove  32 . As soon as they are in the annular groove  32  further rotary movement of the cartridge  14  with respect to the shaft  12  no longer produces any further axial movement of the sleeve  24 . Rather, this only involves axial movement of the piston  46  with respect to the cartridge  14  because the spindle  40  is rotated by way of the ribs  26  and  28  with the shaft  12  with respect to the cartridge  14  whereas the piston  46  is rotationally coupled with respect to the cartridge  14 , for example by suitable biasing of the piston in the cartridge or by virtue of the piston being of an external contour which differs from a circular shape and the cartridge being of an internal contour which differs from a circular shape, in which respect in particular oval contours may be considered. It is however also possible to provide corresponding rib configurations, for example as in the case of the ribs  26  and  28 . As the male screwthread  42  and the female screwthread  46  are of a considerably smaller pitch than the helical groove  30 , fine metering of the cosmetic product takes place after the dead space has been overcome and after the screwthread elements  34  and  36  have moved into the annular groove  32 . Accordingly the above-described mechanisms cause the cosmetic product to pass gradually from the storage means  48  by way of the interior space  20  and the passage openings  22  into the working region  18 .  
         [0034]     Although this is not shown in  FIG. 1 , nonetheless there may be provided a screwthread for coupling the protective cap  10  to the shaft  12 , with the protective cap  10  being rotationally coupled at the same time to the cartridge  14  (for example by way of a rib configuration). In such a situation unscrewing of the protective cap  10  from the shaft  12  would already entail rotation of the cartridge  14  with respect to the shaft  12  so that the above-described dead space would thus be overcome.  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  also does not show the structure in which the bottom of the shaft is for example open and it is thus possible to push the sleeve  28  and the piston coupled thereto forwardly by the volume of the dead space, by just the pressure of the fingers. In that case an abutment in the cartridge stops further forward movement after the dead space has been overcome and the device can be used for fine metering by subsequent rotary movement of the two adjusting elements.  
         [0036]     The applicator device shown in  FIG. 2  substantially corresponds to that shown in  FIG. 1 , and for that reason it will not be described in detail here. Rather, attention will be directed hereinafter only to the differences: instead of the sleeve  38 , the device has arms  50 ,  52  on which the screwthread elements  34 ,  36  are provided. The arms  50 ,  52  are connected to the cartridge  14  by way of film hinges  54 ,  56  and can therefore be formed integrally with the cartridge  14 . The arms  50 ,  52  project into the cartridge  14  through windows  58 ,  60  so that the screwthread elements  34 ,  36  can come into engagement with the helical groove  30  and the annular groove  32  respectively.  
         [0037]     The configuration shown in  FIG. 2  has the advantage that the sleeve  24  can be pushed into the cartridge  14  without having to be screwed in because it is only after it has been pushed in that the arms  50 ,  52  are pivoted inwardly through the windows  58 ,  60 .  
         [0038]     In addition that makes it possible to save on a component.  
         [0039]     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 3  the sleeve  24  is of a larger diameter in comparison with the configurations of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , whereby it is possible for the screwthread elements  34 ,  36  to be provided directly at the inside wall of the cartridge  14 .  
         [0040]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  has a piston  62  formed integrally with a spindle  64 . A female screwthread on an arm  66  on the sleeve  24  meshes with a male screwthread (not shown in detail in the drawing) on the spindle  64 . A further arm  67  on the sleeve  24  does not have a screwthread. That again achieves the advantage that the spindle  64  can be pushed into the sleeve  24  without having to be screwed in.  
         [0041]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 —similarly to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 —a piston  68  is again axially coupled to a spindle  70  even if not formed integrally therewith. In comparison the spindle  70  is formed integrally with a sleeve  72  which, from the point of view of its function, corresponds to the sleeve  24  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . Upon actuation firstly the spindle  70  together with the sleeve  72  will move upwardly in  FIG. 5  in the axial direction. This time, the screwthread elements  34 ,  36  do not pass into an annular groove but come out of the screwthread element of the sleeve  72 . In the course of that upward movement projections  74  and  76  on a sleeve  78  snap over projections  80 ,  82 . In that way the screwthread elements for the second conveyor means are axially fixed. As the sleeve  78  is rotationally coupled to the cartridge  14  by way of a rib configuration  84 ,  86 , further rotary movement of the cartridge  14  with respect to the shaft  12  has the result that the spindle  72  is moved upwardly in  FIG. 5  by virtue of the sleeve  78  engaging into a male screwthread  88  on the spindle  70  and thus cosmetic product is conveyed by means of the piston  68  to the working region  18 .  
         [0042]     Axial fixing of the screwthread elements for the second conveyor means serves to make the device more robust, for example in the event of its being dropped.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 5 , in contrast to the previous concepts, for the first time the third screwthread element also implements an axial displacement. As a result forward displacement of the piston takes place independently of its biasing in the cartridge.  
         [0044]     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 a  sleeve  90  carries a female screwthread which meshes with a male screwthread  92  on a spindle  94  only after the spindle  94  is raised to overcome the dead space. The spindle  94  is biased axially upwardly in  FIG. 6  by means of a coil spring  96 .  
         [0045]     The configuration shown in  FIG. 7  substantially corresponds to that shown in  FIG. 1  but represents a mechanical reversal in a number of respects. More specifically, the male screwthread groove  30  of  FIG. 1  is replaced by a female screwthread groove  98  into which engage male screwthread elements  100 ,  102 . Ribs  104 ,  106  are provided in addition to the ribs  26 ,  28 .  
         [0046]     There is no counterpart in  FIG. 7  to the annular groove  32  shown in  FIG. 1 . Rather the screwthread elements  100 ,  102  remain in engagement with the annular groove  98 , even after the spindle  40  has been pushed axially out of engagement with the ribs  104 ,  106 . The higher pitch angle between the piston  46  and the cartridge  14  and the frictional forces that this entails cause a torque to be applied to the spindle which can now rotate freely and thus causes the advance movement of the piston  46  which is non-rotationally fixed with respect to the cartridge  14 .  
         [0047]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  has ribs  108 ,  110 . A screwthread element  112  serves together with a screwthread  114  for displacement for overcoming the dead space. In comparison fine metering is afforded by a screwthread element  116  in conjunction with a screwthread  118 . Otherwise the conditions essentially correspond to those shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0048]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  substantially corresponds to that shown in  FIG. 8  but with the difference that the pairs of screwthreads  120 / 122  and  124 / 126  are on a notional common peripheral cylindrical surface.  
         [0049]     The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and in the drawing can be essential both individually and also in any combinations for implementing the invention in the various embodiments thereof.