Patent Description:
Applicators for dosing self-adhesive products by means of a device with a syringe-like movement are widely known. One example of such an applicator can be seen in <CIT> which discloses a dispensing device for a viscous active substance preparation, particularly a gel-type active substance, comprising a receiving cylinder that provided with an open face and a face that encompasses a port for dispensing the active substance preparation, while being otherwise closed. This dispensing device further comprises a handling flange that is embodied on the outside of the open face, a piston that can be inserted into the receiving cylinder and provided with an advancing front face which runs inside the receiving cylinder when the piston is inserted and a rear pressure-generating face which exerts advancing pressure on the piston. The piston optionally encompasses a piston head which is disposed on the pressure-generating face and exerts pressure. The cross section of the piston essentially corresponds to the cross section of the receiving cylinder, such that the cross section of the piston can be modified to a limited extent, while the piston is plugged onto the receiving cylinder in the state preceding utilisation of the dispensing device.

Another document describing an applicator for automatically dispensing self-adhesive products is <CIT>, and relates to a device employed by a user for applying a self-adhesive product to a surface, which may include an outer housing configured to be gripped by the user using only one hand, the outer housing having a distal end and a volume of self-adhesive product disposed within the outer housing. An automatic dispensing mechanism is disposed within the outer housing and operatively coupled to the outer housing and the volume of self-adhesive product, the automatic dispensing mechanism being configured to advance at least one part of the self-adhesive product volume through the outer housing at the distal end in response to a manual force applied to the outer housing.

Document <CIT> is equally important in order to define the state of the art, which discloses a device for applying a self-adhesive product, wherein the device operates with at least a first step and a second step. The first step and second step being temporally separate. A device for application of a flowable product includes a first section and a second section, the first section being sized such that at least a portion of the first section fits within the second section, the first section being slidable relative to the second section. A device includes a first section having a protrusion extending from its outer surface that fits through a slot in the second section.

The applicators mentioned above as prior art operate as a syringe, wherein a fixed portion receives a sliding portion in inside of it. When pressing the portion that slides inside the fixed portion, the contents in the applicator are poured. In a syringe, the material to be applied remains in the fixed portion, while the movable portion is pressed to expel this material. In applicators for cleaning products, such as those described in the prior art, the material to be applied may be in the fixed portion or in the movable portion, and how the two parts cooperate with each other varies. Another aspect already known is the application of fractioned amounts. This can be seen in the applicators described in documents <CIT> and <CIT>.

The operation of the applicators of <CIT> and <CIT> is based on a staggered element that is disposed in the outer section, wherein such applicators act in the same manner, that is, the outer section is pushed, such that the inner section enters the outer section in order to dispense the product; it can be said that this movement is contrary to that of a syringe, although the result is the same, that is, the product is dispensed. Document <CIT> also operates as such, however it admits the staggering of the inner portion, thus operating inversely of the other two, that is, the outer portion remains fixed, while the inner portion moves. This type of movement is identical to a syringe and can be seen in document <CIT>.

The product dosing system described in <CIT> is quite complex, being provided with a spring, actuating button, guide rod, inner cap and plunger.

In document <CIT>, the dosing system for the product to be dispensed is not practical, being provided with horizontal tears and resistance shoulders, such that the user uses both hands to actuate the device.

Document <CIT> employs a product dosing system with outer staggering. This system is more practical than the ones described in the previous documents. However, the staggering is external with the locking button being exposed and, depending on the pressure exerted on the second section, the locking comes off. Further devices are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a dispenser having a base body in the form of a hollow cylinder, in which a piston is supported in a sealed and slidable manner. The piston is formed opposite to a discharge opening in the base body end. An active agent is arranged between the discharge opening and the piston in the base body. A piston rod is attached at the piston on its side facing away from the discharge opening. The piston rod is provided with a part of the base body. <CIT> discloses a pushing cylinder which comprises an outer cylinder body and an inner cylinder body. The inner cylinder body is inserted into the outer cylinder body. The inner cylinder comprises a partition board and a pipe, the partition board divides the inside of the pipe into at least two cavities, and each cavity is used for storing one kind of gel. The outer cylinder body comprises at least two push rods, and each push rod moves in the corresponding cavity in the length direction of the cavity so that the gel can be pushed out from the at least two cavities. A clamping pin is matched with a limiting groove, the release amount of the gel is precisely controlled, and the pushing cylinder is simple in structure and convenient to use.

Thus, taking the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art into consideration, one of the objects of the present invention is the development of a device according to claim <NUM> for applying self-adhesive cleaning products, the device comprising a first section called the doser, said doser being provided with an internal staggering, a second section called the applicator, the product to be dosed being placed in said second section, an internal plunger that is in contact with the product to be dosed and a protective cap.

The staggering is said to be internal since it is disposed in the doser. As the device is used, the doser is inserted into the applicator and the staggering is hidden.

The side surface of the applicator tube remains smooth without slots or openings, as occurs in the prior art patent documents. The fractioning system of the product to be dispensed is obtained by means of inner projections existing in the tube of the applicator.

The first section (doser) is characterised in a tube having a defined, cylindrical, hollow, and elongated perimeter being closed at one of the ends. It is formed by a base which is flat and open at one of the ends and a support closed in the opposite portion, characterised in a round handle to facilitate the application of manual force. The cylinder has an exact outer circumference in order to favour the engagement thereof into the second section. The cylinder base is flat in order to form an engagement serving as a support for the internal plunger which is positioned inside the second section (applicator). The support grip in the opposite portion facilitates handling the doser and the application of manual force by the user. In the body of the first section, two channels (grooves) extend in opposite sides in the cylinder, shaped as a guide, showing dosing and stop sections, and extend longitudinally and transversely around the body of the first section.

The second section (applicator) is characterised in a tube having a defined, cylindrical, elongated perimeter being open at the ends, one of the ends being characterised in an inverted cup-type opening having a larger diameter than the diameter of the second section itself. Between the second section and the larger opening of the second section (inverted cup), an orifice appears (herein called the dispensing tip) having a size which is smaller than the diameter of the second section, through which the material (product) will be applied. In the opposite portion, wherein a perimeter defines an internal volume, an internal plunger is inserted with one of the faces being in contact with the material (product) and, in the opposite face, there is a holding point to receive the engagement of the doser of the first section. Also in the opposite portion, in relation to the larger diameter of the second section (inverted cup), the cylindrical tube has two supports (herein called guide support) inside the tube and located on opposite sides, the shape thereof enabling the guide-shaped engagement into the two channels (grooves) of the first section. The internal diameter of the cylindrical tube of the second section is adjusted to exactly receive the cylindrical tube of the first section.

The internal plunger is inserted into the second section (applicator), defining an internal volume and, in one of the faces, makes contact with the material (product) to be inserted into the second section. It is positioned so as to ensure the safety (quality) of the internal volume (product) and is the part responsible for expelling the volume (product) after being actuated by the first section (doser). In the external circumference (lateral), two to three rings are provided which exert the highest pressure and make contact with the internal wall of the second section in order to ensure sealing of the internal chamber. On the rear, on the side making contact with the material, the internal plunger has a coupling holding point with the first section.

The protective cap is applied on the larger opening (inverted cup) of the second section (applicator). The protective cap, together with the internal plunger, ensures the safety (quality) of the internal material (product). The protective cap has a finishing for an effective engagement into the larger opening (inverted cup) of the second section, and also supports the protective cap base around the dispensing tip.

The present invention is characterised by means of representative drawings of the device for applying self-adhesive cleaning products, such that the product can be integrally obtained by an appropriate technique, thus allowing the full characterisation of the functional nature of the requested object.

The description is based on the figures created to express the best or preferential way to manufacture the product now envisaged, by means of a detailed and consecutive numbering that clarifies aspects which can be inferred by the representation adopted, so as to clearly determine the protection now sought.

These figures are merely illustrative, and may show variations, provided that they remain within the scope initially claimed.

The first section or doser (<NUM>) is inserted into the second section or applicator (<NUM>), wherein the guides of the second section will be engaged into the two channels of the first section.

The first section or doser (<NUM>), after being inserted into the second section or applicator (<NUM>), can move in two directions, that is, rotational and longitudinal.

The longitudinal movement angle of the first section or doser (<NUM>) relative to the second section or applicator (<NUM>) is <NUM> degrees, while the rotational movement will be <NUM> degrees.

In the second section (<NUM>), with the internal plunger (<NUM>) being properly housed already, the material or product is inserted through the larger diameter opening or inverted cup (<NUM>) and through the dispensing tip (<NUM>) into the internal perimeter (<NUM>) with the internal volume being defined.

According to cross section A-A, the inner projections or guide members (<NUM>) of the second section or applicator (<NUM>), shaped as a guide, cooperate with channel (<NUM>) disposed in the first section or doser (<NUM>). The projections or guide members (<NUM>) will be responsible for guiding the first section (<NUM>) during the application of the respective doses contained in the second section (<NUM>). This application occurs by means of the longitudinal sliding (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>) of the first section (<NUM>) by means of the guide members of the second section (<NUM>). The doses will be expelled (applied) together (doser and applicator) by the longitudinal movement (<NUM>) to the next safety stop/stop position (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>) of the first section (<NUM>).

According to <FIG>, the first section (<NUM>) has seven doses properly marked on the body of the first section (<NUM>) by means of a channel (<NUM>) for applying the material (product). According to <FIG>, on the outer body of the first section (<NUM>), the channel (<NUM>) extends longitudinally and transversely around the first section (<NUM>) and having dosing sections (<NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>) with longitudinal movement and stop. The engagement occurs through the beginning of the channel (<NUM>) having a depth slightly deeper than the rest of the channel, thus allowing a "click" sound upon the engagement into position zero (<NUM>). In this position (<NUM>), the guide support of the second section (<NUM>) is in the initial and safety position.

For the application of the first dose (and subsequent doses) of material, the user has to make a circular movement, transversal displacement (<NUM>) in the first section (<NUM>) relative to the second section (<NUM>) in order to displace it to the free position (<NUM>). In the next step, the user has to apply force (<NUM>) on the first section (<NUM>) and displace it longitudinally in relation to the second section by means of the dosing channel (<NUM>) to the stop position (<NUM>). For a new application, the user has to place it in the free starting position of the next dose (<NUM>). Thus, the user has to follow the same steps until all the doses contained inside the second section are applied.

According to <FIG>, the doses (<NUM>) are marked on the body of the first section (<NUM>) and may show measures (sizes, weights, dimensions) that are different from each other, as follows: the first dose (<NUM>) to be applied being numbered as (<NUM>) in the applicator and the last dose (<NUM>) being numbered in the applicator as (<NUM>) having a volume <NUM>% and <NUM>% higher, respectively, when compared to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth doses (<NUM>).

The first section (<NUM>), in the opposite portion relative to the portion in contact with the internal plunger (<NUM>), has a curvature (<NUM>) for improved support during the material application movement. Additionally, it has cavities and grooves (<NUM>) for improved support during the circular movement of the first section relative to the second section.

The material deposited in the chamber of the first section (<NUM>) is expelled through the dispensing tip (<NUM>) which can have different construction designs. The application of material is carried out by resting the second section (<NUM>) on the surface that will receive the material (<NUM>). During the application, the material inside the chamber expands on the surface and the inside of the inverted cup (<NUM>). After this movement, the user may remove the assembly from the surface on which it was resting. The material will be deposited on the applied surface (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
A device for applying self-adhesive cleaning products, comprising a first section or doser (<NUM>) in the shape of a cylinder, a second section or applicator (<NUM>) containing a plunger (<NUM>) and a protective cap (<NUM>), a self-adhesive cleaning product to be dosed and a staggered dosing system for dispensing doses (<NUM>), wherein said staggered dosing system:
a) is disposed within said doser (<NUM>) provided with a set of positions disposed as steps and disposed so as to form two channels (<NUM>) extending in opposite sides in the cylinder, shaped as a staggered guide showing dosing and stop sections, and extending longitudinally and transversely around the body of the doser (<NUM>) wherein each of said steps corresponds to a dose (<NUM>) to be dispensed;
b) is provided with guide members (<NUM>) disposed in said applicator (<NUM>) and cooperating with the steps of the channels (<NUM>), said guide members (<NUM>) being responsible for dosing said self-adhesive cleaning product disposed within internal chamber (<NUM>) of doser (<NUM>), wherein said self-adhesive cleaning product is dispensed by a dispensing tip (<NUM>); wherein doser (<NUM>) is inserted in applicator (<NUM>) and said device can perform rotational and longitudinal movements.