REFILLABLE COSMETIC PEN

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a refillable cosmetic pen and an associated cartridge.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Cosmetic pens are often designed as so-called refillable pens. Refillable pens have a refill consisting of the material to be applied. The consistency of the refill is typically adjusted-often by using an appropriate amount of grease or wax-so that during application, the tip of the refill is drawn across the skin area to be treated with the necessary pressure, and then the required amount of the material to be applied is removed from the refill and deposited on the skin area.

Lead pencils in which the leads are held in a wooden sleeve, similar to colored pencils, have proven to be very effective. The wooden sleeve can be sharpened with a sharpener similar to a pencil sharpener. In this way, the user can repeatedly sharpen the tip of the cosmetic pencil to its optimal shape until the pencil is used up. More recently, plastic sleeves have also been used. The disadvantage of this type of cosmetic pencil is that a relatively large part of the lead is shaved off when the tip is reconditioned and thus ultimately remains unused.

To remedy this, many pencil systems are available with mechanisms for advancing the corresponding refill, which eliminate the wasteful sharpening mentioned above. With such pencils with an advance mechanism, the refill can be used much more effectively.

Some systems, such as those designed in the same way as glue sticks for paper crafts, use a threaded spindle that penetrates the hollow refill in the middle in order to be able to spindle the piston plate running on it, which supports the refill from the rear, forward.

Usually, with such systems, the entire pen, including the feed mechanism, is discarded as soon as the refill is used up-following the example of the glue stick. This is because, for hygienic reasons, it is unthinkable in the cosmetics sector to simply reinsert the spindle, which is still contaminated with residues from the old, used refill, into the new lead as it is.

However, there is currently a very strong trend towards sustainability, and growing environmental awareness has already brought about significant changes in consumer behavior in a wide variety of areas in recent years. Some consumers are already questioning their entire consumption behavior and are paying attention to more conscious consumption, supporting recycling cycles, and reducing unnecessary packaging, for example.

Solutions in which the entire pen, including the sophisticated spindle feed mechanism, is discarded after use are therefore hardly an option anymore.

Instead, there is currently growing interest in the possibility of simple and resource-saving refill replacement.

Various manufacturers have therefore already toyed with the idea of housing the refill in a separate cartridge-like casing that is separated from the rest of the cosmetic applicator, which can continue to be used, and can be discarded when the refill it contains is exhausted. Partially corresponding prototypes have been presented. However, the need to interfere with the feed mechanism in order to remove the housing part containing the used refill residue proved to be a serious drawback. Previous designs required the feed mechanism to be restarted with dexterous fingers during the installation of the housing part with the new refill.

Another, already quite clever system is known from European patent application EP 3 332 667 A1.

However, this system has an operating mechanism that partly fails to meet the practical needs of the user: the refill can be extended by means of the operating mechanism, which comprises a simple push rod. However, if it has been extended further in order to work temporarily with an application technique that requires this it cannot be retracted easily if then it is necessary to switch back to working with a refill that has only been extended slightly. This option is also not available if the user has accidentally extended the refill too far. To retract the refill, the operating mechanism must be turned back. The refill must then be moved back by carefully pressing on its tip. Especially with softer leads, this often results in unintentional deformation, which prevents the refill from being pushed back further.

An internally developed variant of the design known from EP 3 332 667 A1 provided for the refill to be held in such a way that it could be retracted in the same way it was extended-simply by turning in the opposite direction.

However, internal practical tests showed that in practice, users often accidentally turn the spindle too far when quickly reinserting the refill, damaging the relatively sensitive spindle mechanism, which is made entirely of plastic in disposable products. This, just like a cumbersome cartridge replacement process-quickly leads to a lack of product acceptance. The same problem was also evident in practical tests where spontaneous attempts were made to spin out a refill that was actually exhausted a little further in order to be able to apply it once more and then obtain a fresh refill during the course of the day.

Object of the Invention

In view of this, the task of the invention is to create a cosmetic applicator with a sliding refill that can be easily equipped with a fresh refill once the old one has been used up and that has a robust mechanism for sliding the refill, which can withstand even careless misuse without damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As a first solution to the problem, a refillable cosmetic applicator is proposed.

The cosmetic applicator has a cartridge that houses a refill that can be moved relative to it. The cartridge can be designed in many different ways. A cartridge within the meaning of the invention is not only but in any case when the refill is housed in a casing that protects it from external access and allows it to be installed in the cosmetic applicator without the user coming into direct contact with the refill. The outer shell of the cartridge is preferably a fixed part of the casing relative to which the refill can be moved in a translational manner during use.

The cosmetic applicator has an applicator main part to which the cartridge can be attached.

According to the invention, the cosmetic applicator comprises two couplings, namely a first coupling which is designed in such a way that a rotational movement generated by the user on the applicator main part is transmitted to the cartridge in such a way that the refill is displaced relative to it. In addition, a second coupling, which is different from the first coupling, is provided. It is designed to prevent rotational movement from being transmitted to the cartridge any longer once the cartridge can no longer follow this rotational movement. This protects the sensitive spindle mechanism from inadvertent spontaneous malfunctions.

Ideally, only one coupling, preferably the first coupling, forms the separation point between the cartridge to be replaced and the main part of the applicator during the replacement process.

The main part of the applicator can be formed by a handle that is, for example, specially decorated or otherwise elaborately designed and is therefore intended to be used repeatedly. As a rule, the first coupling is located closer to the refill in the direction of the operating axis than the second coupling, which is preferably arranged at a contamination-proof distance from the refill. It is therefore particularly advantageous to design the first coupling in such a way that its function is not impaired even if the unexpected happens, namely that the coupling becomes “contaminated” with cosmetics to a degree that is more than insignificant during its comparatively long period of use and is thus “lubricated.” According to the invention, users have the option of easily varying their creativity during a single makeup application and using refills of different colors to create mixed tones or working in quick succession with refills of different diameters.

Optional Possibilities for the Construction of the Invention

Alone or in combination with other embodiments is a refillable cosmetic applicator 1 with a cartridge that accommodates a refill that can be moved relative to it, and an applicator main body to which the cartridge can be attached, and which is characterized in that it has a coupling that is a form-fit coupling consisting of two completely separable coupling halves that are form-fittedly coupled and uncoupled with each other in a rotationally fixed manner by a (purely) translational movement along their operating axes of rotation. Thereby the coupling halves do not lock together in the direction of their operating axes of rotation. Instead, the coupling halves can also perform relative movements to each other in the direction of the operating axis of rotation under load. One of the coupling halves is an integral part of the cartridge and the other coupling half is an integral part of the applicator main body. Such a design, e.g., of the first coupling, may, under certain circumstances, make it possible for the second coupling to respond when required because it thus has the necessary freedom of movement.

Alone or in combination with other embodiments is a refillable cosmetic applicator with a cartridge that houses a refill that can be moved relative to it and an applicator main part to which the cartridge can be attached. The cosmetic applicator is characterized in that it has a coupling that is an overload coupling. This is designed in such a way that it slips in any case when the applicator main part is about to transmit a destructive torque to the cartridge. Ideally, the overload clutch is designed in such a way that it re-engages automatically after the overload has ended.

It is particularly advantageous if the overload clutch is an integral part of the main part of the applicator. It is preferable for it to be formed completely within the main part of the applicator. It is then particularly well protected, even in the long term, e.g., against contamination.

It is particularly advantageous if the coupling half of the form-fit coupling assigned to the main part of the applicator also forms an integral, single-piece coupling half of the overload coupling. This high degree of integration significantly reduces the number of components required.

It is particularly advantageous if the overload coupling is not a purely friction-locking coupling, but at least a partially form-locking coupling whose form-locking elements are designed in such a way that, in the event of overload, they push the coupling halves apart in the direction of and/or against the operating axis of rotation, i.e., they “vent” or at least “translate” it. It is particularly preferred if one coupling half of the friction coupling is a drive disc (possibly provided with form-fit elements) that can rotate relative to the rest of the applicator main part and rests in frictional engagement against an inner drive collar of the applicator main part (possibly provided with complementary form-fit elements).

The following design, which enables particularly easy insertion and removal of the cartridge, this design may be used alone or in combination with other embodiments:

A cartridge is then provided, preferably with a threaded feed mechanism for the refill, which accommodates a refill that can be displaced relative to it. Furthermore, an applicator main part is provided to which the cartridge can be attached. The design is characterized in that the cartridge has a male or female solid tube section which can be attached to a female or male solid tube section by means of a telescopic sliding into a female or male solid tube section-usually in such a way that the non-telescopic part of the cartridge and the non-telescopic part of the applicator main body together form a mostly rotationally symmetrical pin similar to a refill pin. Preferably, the locking takes place by one tube section having a locking bead on its outer circumferential surface and the other tube section having a locking recess on its outer circumferential surface. It is particularly advantageous if the cartridge or its outer casing remains rotatable relative to the applicator main body, preferably in such a way that the refill can be inserted and/or removed by the user holding the cartridge with one hand and turning the applicator main body relative to the cartridge with the other hand.

Due to the corresponding design of the relevant parts, the cartridge 15 together with the refill guide tube 21 and the cap 7 forms an airtight unit.

Further modes of operation, effects, and design options of the invention are apparent from the following embodiment and, in particular, from its enlarged but true-to-scale figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the applicator according to FIG. 1 in different stages of assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a central longitudinal section through the applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a central longitudinal section rotated by 90° around the operating axis of rotation 19 compared to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the cosmetic applicator 1 according to the invention, here in the form of a pen-shaped eyeliner.

The main body 2 of the applicator is clearly visible, of which only its single or multi-part outer sleeve 3 and its rear cap 4, which in some cases is attached separately, can be seen here. A cartridge 5 is inserted into the main body 2 of the applicator, of which only the optional radial outer collar 6 is visible here, which acts as a stop limiter and specifies how far the cartridge 5 can be inserted into the main body 2 of the applicator or its outer sleeve 3. Next, you can see the closure cap 7, which is pushed over the part of the cartridge 5 protruding from the applicator main body and is preferably locked in this position.

The structure of the cosmetic applicator 1 can be seen in more detail in FIG. 2. Here, the cosmetic applicator is shown on the left side of the drawing in its assembled state with the closure cap 7 removed. Next to it, i.e., in the center of the image and on the right side of the drawing, this cosmetic applicator 1 is shown in a disassembled state in the form of an exploded view.

The main body 2 of the applicator with its one-piece outer sleeve 3 and rear cap 4 is clearly visible. The outer sleeve 3 forms a continuously hollow tube on the inside and houses the spring element 8, which is designed here as a compression spring and, in this specific case, has the shape of a coil spring, but could also be a springy plastic element. In addition, the outer sleeve 3 also houses the coupling component 9.

As can already be clearly seen, the coupling component 9 here consists of a pot 13 with an opening at the front and a pin extension 10. A locking device 25, preferably designed as a locking hook, is provided at the free end of the pin extension. This pot 13 forms one half 11b of the first coupling 11a, 11b. On its ring surface facing away from the opening at the front end, the pot 13 forms one half 28a of the second coupling 28a, 28b.

The structure of the cartridge 5, which is shown in the exploded view in a position removed from the applicator main body 2, is also clearly visible. The cartridge 5 comprises a casing pipe 15, which forms an outlet opening on one of its end faces, through which the refill 16—preferably guided by said outlet opening—can be pushed outwards into a position in which cosmetic mass can be removed from its tip. The casing pipe 15 forms a male solid tube section 17, which can be pushed telescopically into a complementary female solid tube section 18 of the applicator main body, preferably by a movement that runs exclusively in the direction of the operating axis of rotation 19. Ideally, the solid tube section 17 forms a first locking member 20 on its outer circumferential surface, which can be locked with a second locking element (not shown here) on the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve in such a way that, ideally, the cartridge 5 is held in its fully operational position on the applicator main body 2 solely by this means, preferably rotatably relative to the latter.

The casing pipe 15 of the cartridge 5 houses a refill guide tube 21 inside it. The refill guide tube is predominantly or even essentially slotted, cf. the slot of the refill guide tube 21 marked with reference number 22. The refill guide tube 21 is fixed in the casing pipe 15 so that it can rotate relative to the casing pipe 15.

The refill guide tube 21 in turn has a refill base 23 such that the refill base can perform a translational sliding movement relative to it in the refill guide tube. The refill base 23 has a partially threaded block 24 that protrudes radially outward beyond its remaining circumferential shell surface. This partially threaded block 24 protrudes radially outward through the slot 22 and can thus interact with the internal thread of the shell tube 15, which is not shown in this figure.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show what the whole assembly looks like in a central longitudinal section when fully assembled.

The reader may first turn to FIG. 6.

The coupling component 9 with its pin extension 10 is particularly easy to see in both figures due to its strikingly dense hatching. As can already be roughly seen in FIG. 2, the pin extension 10 forms a locking device 25 at its free end, in particular in the manner of a double-tongued catch or hook. This locking mechanism 25 or its spaced-apart tongues are not directly shown in FIG. 5.

The locking mechanism 25 is locked with the spring support pot 26, which preferably does not interact directly with the outer sleeve 3.

This allows the spring element 8 to be supported on the one hand by the spring support pot 26 and on the other hand by the inner collar 27, which protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve. The spring element 8 is held compressed between these two components.

The inner collar 27 also forms the second coupling half 28b of the second coupling 28 on its side facing away from the spring element 8. The associated first coupling half 28a of the second coupling 28 forms the rear side of the pot 13.

Once this is understood, it becomes clear that the spring element has the function of pressing the first coupling half 28a and the second coupling half 28b of the second coupling 28 against each other and thus keeping them closed.

The second coupling 28 can be a purely friction-locking coupling. Preferably, the second coupling is a coupling whose coupling halves each have a spur gear or a type of spur gear. The two spur gears can transmit torque as long as a certain limit torque is not exceeded. In this way, a rotational movement applied by the user to the outer sleeve 3 or a part thereof can initially be transmitted to the coupling component 9 as long as the torque of this rotational movement is not too great.

As soon as the torque becomes too great, one coupling half 28a of the second coupling 28 slips on the second coupling half 28b of the second coupling. If the coupling halves have the preferred spur gearing, this causes the coupling component 9 to be pushed to the left along the operating axis of rotation 19 against the preload of the spring element 8, so that the spur gearing is translated and thus cannot transmit an impermissibly high torque.

The structure of the first coupling 11 with its first coupling half 11a and its second coupling half 11b is now of interest. This is illustrated in FIG. 5.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 5, the coupling component 9, again indicated by its particularly dense hatching, has a pot 13 at one end. This pot 13, which is open on its left end face, forms the second coupling half 11b of the first coupling 11. It has an inner circumferential surface which has at least one, preferably several, drive projections which protrude radially inwards. The refill guide tube 21 forms a first coupling half 11a of the first coupling 11 at its end facing away from the refill 16. The latter protrudes in the direction of the operating axis of rotation 19 into the pot 13 forming the second coupling half 11b. This causes it to be driven by the driver or drivers of the second coupling half in a form-fitting manner.

The preferred and space-saving very high degree of integration of the design is also noteworthy here. The refill guide tube 21 forms a guide skirt 29, which preferably overlaps the pot 13 to a certain extent on the outside. The guide skirt 29 forms a slide bearing with which the refill guide tube 21 is held rotatably and in a defined position on the casing pipe 15 of the cartridge.

It is particularly noteworthy that the first coupling half 11a of the first coupling 11 and the second coupling half 11b of the first coupling 11 can also perform a (usually small) movement relative to each other in the direction of the operating axis during operation. This movement may be necessary in order to activate the second coupling in the event of an overload.

This becomes apparent when one considers how the entire assembly functions.

In order to push the refill 16 forward to the left (in the figures here) out of the cartridge 5, the user preferably holds the cartridge 5 with one hand and turns the outer sleeve 3 of the applicator main body opposite it. This rotational movement is transmitted from the outer sleeve 3 to the coupling component 9 via the aforementioned second coupling. This causes the coupling component 9 to rotate in the outer sleeve 3. Its pot 13, which forms the second coupling half 11b of the first coupling 11, transmits this rotational movement to the first coupling half 11a of the first coupling 11. Since the latter coupling half is part of the refill guide tube 21, the refill guide tube 21 also rotates. Due to the rotational movement of the refill guide tube 21, the threaded elements of the partial thread block 24 of the refill base 23 interact with the internal thread on the inner circumferential surface of the casing pipe 15. As a result, the refill base 23 moves to the left with the refill 16, which is normally held in a form-fitting manner by it, i.e., the refill 16 is pushed out.

Looking at FIGS. 5 and 6 together with FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the first coupling 11 is designed in such a way that the two coupling halves 11a and 11b connect or disconnect from each other automatically without any further action on the part of the user as soon as the cartridge 5 is inserted into or pulled out of the outer sleeve 3 by a movement essentially in the direction along the operating axis of rotation 19.