ES2371696T3 - APPLICATION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Application device for applying a fluid or low-viscous substance, comprising - an outer bushing (12) having an outer peripheral wall (14) and an outer bottom (16),. an inner bushing (18) which has an inner peripheral wall (20) and an inner bottom (22), and which is sealed in the outer bushing (12) and which can be moved between a closed position and a position of release, the inner bottom (22) of the inner sleeve (18) having at least one hole (32) which in the closed position of the inner sleeve (18) is closed by a closing device (34) and in the position release of the inner bushing (18) gives way at least partially to the fluid or low viscosity substance, where moving the inner bushing (18) from the closed position to the releasing position fills an inner space of the inner bushing (18 ) by displacement with the fluid or low viscosity substance housed in the closed position in a housing space (38) located between the outer bushing (12) and the inner bushing (18), characterized in that at the bottom (16) of the casq outer nail (12) a pin (34) is formed which in relation to the outer bushing (12) has an axial orientation and in the closed position of the inner bushing (18) seals the hole (32) located at the bottom (22) of the inner sleeve (18).

Description

Application device

The invention relates to an application device for applying a fluid or low viscous substance.

For example, from EP 1 743-700 A1 an application device is known in the form of a pipetting device that is formed by an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is made in the form of a tube closed at one end and comprises a closed bottom and a peripheral wall provided with several holes. The inner bushing is further sealed in the inner wall of the outer bushing, being able to move between a closed position and a release position. In the closed position, a fluid or slightly viscous substance is contained in the inner sleeve. By moving the inner bushing to the release position the substance in the inner bushing can flow through the holes in the peripheral wall to the outer bushing to be applied from there.

An application device having the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 1 293 448 A2.

The invention aims to provide an application device of compact construction and in which it is possible to carry out a simple application.

This objective is solved according to the invention by the application device that has the characteristics of claim 1.

According to the invention, an application device for applying a fluid or low-viscous substance is proposed, comprising an outer sleeve having an outer peripheral wall and an outer bottom, an inner sleeve having an inner peripheral wall and an inner bottom and which is sealed in the outer sleeve and that can be moved between a closed position and a release position, an applicator that penetrates at least partly in the inner sleeve, the inner bottom of the inner sleeve having at least one hole that in the closed position of the inner bushing it is closed, and that in the releasing position of the inner bushing it gives way at least partly to the fluid or low viscosity substance filling an inner space of the inner bushing by moving the inner bushing from the position closed to the position of release by displacement with the fluid substance or low vis cosity housed in the closed position in a housing space located between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve.

According to the invention, a pin having an axial orientation in relation to the outer sleeve is formed at the bottom of the outer sleeve. This pin or pivot mainly serves to seal the hole at the bottom of the inner sleeve in the closed position of the inner sleeve. The pin thus forms the closing device for the hole. When the application device is activated, the pivot moves through the hole located at the bottom of the inner sleeve, so that the substance contained in the housing space can flow into the inner space of the inner sleeve.

The essence of the invention therefore consists in providing an application device in which the inner bushing acts as a displacement piston, so that by sliding the inner bushing and the outer bushing the substance contained in the space of Housing can flow through the hole located at the bottom of the inner sleeve to the inner space of the inner sleeve. In the closed position, that is, the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve extended apart from each other, the hole at the bottom of the inner sleeve is closed so that liquid cannot flow from the housing space to the inner space of the inner sleeve. Upon activation, the hole is released.

In an preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention there is provided an applicator that penetrates at least partly into the inner sleeve. By moving the inner bushing from the closed position to the release position, it is loaded by displacement with the fluid or low viscosity substance housed in the closed position in a housing space between the outer bushing and the inner bushing.

In order to effectively seal and also release the hole located at the bottom of the inner sleeve, the pin preferably has at its end away from the bottom of the outer sleeve a widened section whose sectional area essentially corresponds to the sectional area of the hole. In the closed position of the inner sleeve, the widened section seals the hole. The widened section or section of larger diameter may naturally also be an intermediate section of the spike. In this case, the hole is also completely pierced by the pin in the closed position.

In the area located in the closed position at the height of the hole, that is to say in the widened section, the spike can have a sealing lip or other different sealing means. The sealing lip whose realization may itself give rise to the widened section or area of greater diameter of the spike and which can be housed in an annular throat of the spike, can act in conjunction with an annular throat located at the bottom of the inner sleeve which is located in the area of the perimeter of the hole of the inner sleeve and into which the sealing lip penetrates into the closed position of the inner sleeve. Alternatively, there may also be a sealing lip that is made in the bottom of the inner sleeve which in the closed position seats in the widened section, that is to say in the area of greatest diameter of the spike. There the corresponding annular throat can then be made in which the sealing lip fits or penetrates the closed position.

In an alternative embodiment, the closure device is formed by an area of the bottom of the inner sleeve made as a controlled breakage zone. By moving the inner sleeve from the closed position to the release position to at least partially free the hole, it is penetrated by the pin. Thus, by activating the device made according to the invention the fluid or low viscosity substance can flow from the housing space to the interior space of the inner sleeve.

The controlled breakage zone is preferably formed by a weakening or thinning of the inner sleeve material in the corresponding bottom area of the inner sleeve.

In order to provide activation of the application device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve is provided with a clamping device.

The fastening device is formed, for example, as a skirt that at least partially covers the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the inner sleeve, at least in the release position. The skirt can also have a concave flange in its outer wall with respect to the device, for the placement of a user's fingers. Then the inner sleeve can be held, for example, between the index finger and the middle finger of one hand. Pressing the thumb on the bottom of the inner sleeve then activates the application device.

In order to prevent fluid or low viscosity substance from accidentally leaving the device according to the invention in the closed position, it is advantageous if a sealing device is located between the inner bushing and the outer bushing. The sealing device comprises, for example, a sealing lip that acts together with at least one annular throat. The sealing lip is for example located on the inner wall of the outer sleeve and the annular throat is located on the outer wall of the inner sleeve.

In order to allow the user to obtain a perceptual impression of the closing position and / or the release position, the device according to the invention can have an interlocking device defining the closed position and / or the release position. This interlocking device may be formed by the above described set of sealing lips / annular throat.

The application device according to the invention is especially suitable for use in the field of medicine and / or cosmetics. A medication for the treatment of a skin condition, for example a liquid for the treatment of acne, may be contained in the accommodation space. But it can also be imagined that the low-viscous substance is a substance applicable in the dental sector, for example dental bleach.

The applicator can be made in particular in the form of a sponge, brush or the like. But you can also imagine that the applicator is made as a pipette. In this case, the applicator can also be made in one piece with the inner sleeve of the application device according to the invention.

Especially in the case of the applicator being made as a sponge or as a brush, it is advantageous if in the closed position of the inner sleeve the applicator is fully housed inside the inner sleeve and in the release position it protrudes at least partly from a front surface of the inner cap. By means of this design it is possible to prevent the applicator from getting dirty or suffering damages in the closing position of the application device according to the invention that represents the transport position.

In order to be able to move the applicator with respect to the inner sleeve and therefore slide it out of the inner sleeve when activating the device according to the invention is advantageous if the applicator has a bottom surface on which it can attack the pin or pivot. But the applicator can also be connected directly with the pin, which is made in the outer bottom of the outer sleeve and acts together with the hole located in the inner bottom of the inner sleeve.

In order to avoid in the closed position of the device according to the invention that the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve slide together unintentionally, a safety device may be provided. This is formed, for example, by a tear flange which, in the closed position, is located around the inner bushing between an annular shoulder of the outer bushing and an annular shoulder or a skirt of the inner bushing.

In the inner sleeve, a cover can also be provided which in the closed position of the device according to the invention covers and protects the applicator disposed in the inner sleeve. The cover is preferably made of the same piece with the inner sleeve, and articulated by means of a film hinge or the like. The cover is preferably made as a bistable element that up to a certain opening angle is prestressed in the closing direction, and from the determined opening angle, it is in the opening direction. In this way, when the opening angle is reached, the lid pops open automatically.

Other advantages and advantageous embodiments of the object of the invention can be deduced from the description, the drawing and the claims.

Two exemplary embodiments of the application device according to the invention have been schematically and simplified in the drawing, which are explained in greater detail in the following description.

In the drawing they show:

fig. one

a perspective view of an application device for applying a liquid;

fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the application device according to fig. 1; Y

fig. 3

a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the device for

application.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 an application device 10 made in the form of a bar is represented and which serves to apply a liquid substance such as an anti-acne medication on the skin of a patient.

The application device comprises an outer sleeve 12 made of plastic, essentially in the form of a tube closed at one end, which has an outer peripheral wall 14 and an outer bottom 16. On the side away from the bottom 16, the cylindrical outer sleeve 12 is open.

The application device 10 further comprises an inner bushing 18 made of plastic also made essentially in the form of a tube closed at one end, which is placed inside the open end of the outer bushing 12 and is movably driven therein.

The inner sleeve 18 has an inner peripheral wall 20 and an inner bottom 22 of the application device 10.

In the inner bushing 18 a skirt 24 is formed, connected to the inner bushing 18 by the side away from the bottom 22, and partially covering the peripheral wall 14 of the outer bushing 12. The skirt 24 and the inner peripheral wall 20 of the inner bushing 18 they constitute an annular housing for an end zone of the peripheral wall 14 of the outer bushing 12. On the skirt 24 an annular flange 26 is provided concavely with respect to the outer bushing 12, which serves as an aid for the grip.

In addition there is an interior space 28 of the inner sleeve 18 which is surrounded by the inner peripheral wall 20, occupied by an applicator 30 made as a sponge by means of which the corresponding liquid can be applied to the skin.

The inner bottom 22 of the application device 10 has a circular hole 32 in the center that acts together with a pin 34 protruding from the outer bottom 16 of the outer sleeve 12, such that a final section 36 of greater thickness of the pin 34 seals hole 32 in a closed position that is shown in figure 2. In a release position in which the inner bushing 18 is displaced further into the outer bushing 12 compared to the closed position, the shank 34 completely crosses the hole 32, so that between the bottom 22 and the pin 34 an annular surface is free through which a fluid or low-viscous substance can flow.

In the closed position represented in Figure 2, the fluid or low-viscous substance or the medicine against the

5 acne is housed in a housing enclosure 38 limited by the inner bottom 22, the outer bottom 16 and the outer peripheral wall 12. By moving the inner sleeve 18 to the release position, the inner sleeve 18 acts as a displacement piston that it displaces the fluid or low viscosity substance contained in the housing enclosure 38 through the hole 32 to the sponge 30, so that by means of this fluid or low viscosity substance can be applied over the diseased area of the skin.

10 When the release position is established, the end area of the sponge 30 is pushed outwards at the same time by means of the pin 34 beyond the front side of the inner sleeve 18, so that the application of the fluid or low substance is comfortable viscosity.

An alternative embodiment of an application device for applying a fluid or low viscosity substance is shown in Figure 3. The application device 40 essentially corresponds to the device 15 according to Figures 1 and 2, but differs from these in that the pin 34 does not serve as a closing device for the hole 32, but the hole 32 is formed by a zone 41 of the inner bottom 22 of the inner sleeve 18 made thinner as a controlled breaking point. When closing the application device 40, that is to say when establishing the release position, then the cylindrical pin 34 in the form of a pusher made without an area of greater diameter, crosses the controlled breaking point or the area 41 of smaller wall thickness, so that the

20 orifice 32 is partially released and the liquid housed in the housing 38 may flow by displacement to the sponge 30.

The outer peripheral wall 14 of the outer sleeve 12 also has on its inner face a sealing lip 42 made as an annular flange, which acts together with two annular throats 44 and 46 located on the outer face of the peripheral wall 20 of the inner sleeve 18. The annular throat 44 defines the closed position of the

25 application device 40 and the annular throat 46 defines the position released from the application device 40. In addition to their sealing function, the annular throats 44 and 46 also have an interlocking function for the sealing lip 42, so that the user of the device according to the invention perceives a sensory impression upon reaching the release position.

References

30 10 Application device

12 outer cap

14 peripheral wall

16 Background

18 Inner Bushing

35 20 Peripheral wall

22 Fund

24 Skirt

26 Annular Flange

28 Interior space

40 30 Applicator

32 Hole

34 Tang

36

 Final stretch

48

Accommodation enclosure

40

Application device

41

Lower wall thickness zone

5

42 Sealing lip

44

 Ring throat

46

 Ring throat

Claims (17)

1. Application device for applying a fluid or low-viscous substance, comprising

-

 an outer sleeve (12) having an outer peripheral wall (14) and an outer bottom (16),

. an inner bushing (18) which has an inner peripheral wall (20) and an inner bottom (22), and which is sealed in the outer bushing (12) and which can be moved between a closed position and a position of release, the inner bottom (22) of the inner sleeve (18) having at least one hole (32) which in the closed position of the inner sleeve (18) is closed by a closing device (34) and in the release position of the inner bushing (18) gives way at least partially to the fluid or low viscosity substance, where moving the inner bushing (18) from the closed position to the release position fills an inner space of the inner bushing (18) by displacement with the fluid or low viscosity substance housed in the closed position in a housing space (38) located between the outer bushing (12) and the inner bushing (18), characterized in that at the bottom (16) of the outer bushing ( 12) a pin (34) is formed which in relation to the outer bushing (12) has an axial orientation and in the closed position of the inner bushing (18) seals the hole (32) located at the bottom (22) of the inner bushing(18).

2.

 Application device according to claim 1, characterized by an applicator (30) that penetrates at least partially into the inner sleeve (18).

3.

 Application device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pin (34) has at its end away from the bottom (16) of the outer bushing (12) a return section (36) whose sectional area essentially corresponds to the sectional area of the hole (32).

Four.

 Application device according to claim 1, characterized in that the closing device is formed by an area of the bottom (22) of the inner sleeve (18) made as a controlled breaking point, the breaking point controlled by the pin (34) being perforated move the inner sleeve (18) from the closed position to the release position to at least partially release the hole (32).

5.

 Application device according to claim 4, characterized in that the controlled breaking point is formed by a weakening of the material.

6.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the inner sleeve (18) is provided with a clamping device (24).

7.

 Application device according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping device (24) is made as a skirt covering at least partially the outer surface of the peripheral wall (14) of the outer sleeve (12), at least in the release position .

8.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that between the inner sleeve

(18) and the outer sleeve (12) a sealing device (42, 44, 46) is located.

9.

 Application device according to claim 8, characterized in that the sealing device comprises a sealing lip (42) which acts together with at least one annular throat (44, 46).

10.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has an interlocking device that defines the closed position and / or the release position.

eleven.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the applicator (30) comprises a sponge.

12.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the applicator comprises a brush.

13.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the applicator is made as a pipette.

14.

 Application device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the applicator (30) is fully housed in the inner sleeve (18) in the closed position, and in the release position protrudes at least in part from a surface front of the inner sleeve (18).

15. Application device according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator (30) is connected to the pin (34) which is made in the outer bottom (16) of the outer sleeve (12). 16. Application device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in the closed position there is a safety device preferably made as a tear flange located between the inner sleeve (18) and the outer sleeve (12). 17. Application device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it has a cover for the applicator, which is preferably articulated in the inner sleeve by means of a film hinge.