Refillable cosmetic pen

Abstract

The invention relates to a refillable cosmetic applicator having a cartridge which accommodates a refill stick which is movable in relation thereto, and a main applicator part to which the cartridge can be fixed, characterized in that the cosmetic applicator comprises two couplings, specifically a first coupling by means of which a rotation generated by the user on the main applicator part is transmitted to the cartridge in such a way that the refill stick is moved relative to said cartridge, and a second coupling (which differs from the first coupling) which prevents the rotation from continuing to be transmitted to the cartridge as soon as the cartridge can no longer follow this rotation.

Description

[0001] REFILLABLE COSMETICS PENCIL

[0002] The invention relates to a refillable cosmetic pencil and an associated cartridge.

[0003] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0004] Cosmetic pencils are often designed as so-called lead pencils. Lead pencils have a lead made of the material to be applied. The consistency of the lead is typically adjusted—often by using a corresponding amount of fat or wax—so that, upon application, the tip of the lead is drawn with the necessary pressure over the area of ​​skin to be treated, and then the required amount of the material to be applied is drawn from the lead and deposited on the skin.

[0005] Mechanical pencils, in which the leads are held in a wooden tube, similar to colored pencils, have proven very successful. The wooden tube can be sharpened with a sharpener similar to a pencil sharpener. This allows the user to repeatedly bring the tip of the cosmetic pencil back to its optimal shape until the pencil is used up. Plastic tubes have also been used recently. The disadvantage of this type of cosmetic pencil is that a relatively large portion of the lead is lost during the reconditioning of the tip and thus ultimately remains unused.

[0006] To remedy this, many pencil systems are available with mechanisms for advancing the corresponding leads, eliminating the need for wasteful sharpening of the aforementioned type. With such pencils with advancing mechanisms, the lead can be used much more effectively.

[0007] Some systems, such as those designed in the same way as glue sticks for paper crafts, use a threaded spindle that penetrates the middle of the hollow lead in order to be able to spin the piston plate running on it, which supports the lead from the back, forwards.

[0008] Typically, with such systems, the entire pen, including the feed mechanism, is discarded as soon as the lead is used up—similar to the glue stick. For hygienic reasons, it is unthinkable in the cosmetics sector to simply reinsert the spindle, still contaminated with residue from the old, used lead, into the new lead as it is.

[0009] However, there is currently a very strong trend toward sustainability, and growing environmental awareness has already significantly changed everyday consumer behavior in a wide variety of areas in recent years. Some consumers are already questioning their entire consumer behavior and are paying attention to, for example, more conscious consumption, supporting recycling cycles, or reducing unnecessary packaging.

[0010] Solutions in which the entire pin, including the sophisticated spindle feed mechanism, is discarded after exhaustion are therefore hardly an option.

[0011] Rather, there is currently growing interest in the possibility of replacing the refill easily and in a way that saves resources. Various manufacturers have therefore already toyed with the idea of ​​accommodating the refill in a separate housing section forming a cartridge, which is detached from the rest of the cosmetic applicator and can be discarded when the refill it contains is exhausted. Some prototypes of this type have been presented. However, the need to intervene in the feed mechanism when removing the housing section containing the used refill turned out to be a serious shortcoming. Previous designs required the feed mechanism to be restarted with dexterous fingers when fitting the housing section with the fresh refill.

[0012] Another, quite clever system is known from the European patent application EP 3 332 667 A1.

[0013] However, this system has an operating mechanism that partially ignores the practical needs of the user: the lead can be extended using the operating mechanism, which consists of a simple push rod. However, it cannot be easily retracted if it has been extended further in order to temporarily work with an application technique that requires this, and then it is desired to return to working with a lead that has only been extended for a short time. This option is also not available if the user has accidentally extended far too much lead. To retract the lead again, the operating mechanism must be turned back. The lead must then be moved back in by carefully applying pressure to its tip. This can often result in unintentional deformation of the lead, which prevents it from being pushed back any further.

[0014] An internally developed variant of the

[0015] The design known from EP 3 332 667 A1 provided that the lead was held in such a way that it could be re-spun in the same way as it was unscrewed - by simply turning it in the opposite direction. Internal practical tests, however, have shown that in practice it often happens that the user inadvertently turns the lead too far when quickly re-spinning it, and the relatively sensitive spindle mechanism - which in disposable products is made entirely of plastic - is damaged. This - just like an overly complicated cartridge changing process - quickly leads to a lack of product acceptance. The same problem arose during the practical tests where spontaneous attempts were made to spin out an actually exhausted lead a little further in order to be able to apply the lead again and then obtain a fresh lead during the course of the day.

[0016] TASK

[0017] In view of this, the object of the invention is to create a cosmetic applicator with a movable refill that can be easily replaced with a fresh refill after its refill has been exhausted and that has a robust mechanism for moving the refill that can withstand even careless misuse without damage. SOLUTION

[0018] As a first solution to the problem, a refillable cosmetic applicator having the features of claim 1 is proposed.

[0019] The cosmetic applicator has a cartridge that houses a refill that can be moved relative to it. The cartridge can be designed in a variety of ways. A cartridge within the meaning of the invention is present not only, but in any case, when the refill is housed in a housing that protects it from external access and enables its installation in the cosmetic applicator without the user coming into direct contact with the refill. The outer shell of the cartridge is preferably a fixed housing part, relative to which the refill can be moved translationally during use.

[0020] The cosmetic applicator has a main applicator part to which the cartridge can be attached

[0021] According to the invention, the cosmetic applicator comprises two couplings, namely a first coupling designed such that a rotary movement generated by the user on the applicator's main body is transmitted to the cartridge in such a way that the refill is displaced relative to it. Furthermore, a second coupling, distinct from the first coupling, is provided. It is designed such that a rotary movement is prevented from being transmitted to the cartridge for any further time once the cartridge can no longer follow this rotary movement. This protects the sensitive spindle mechanism from inadvertent, spontaneous misoperations.

[0022] Ideally, there is only one coupling, preferably the first one, which forms the separation point between the cartridge to be replaced and the main part of the applicator during the replacement process.

[0023] The main part of the applicator can be formed by a handle which is, for example, specially decorated or elaborately designed in some other way and is therefore intended to be used again and again. As a rule, the first coupling is located closer to the lead in the direction of the operating axis of rotation than the second coupling, which is preferably arranged at a contamination-safe distance from the lead. It is therefore particularly advantageous to design and operate the first coupling in such a form-fitting manner that its function is not impaired even if something unexpected happens, namely the coupling becomes more than just insignificantly “contaminated” with cosmetic product over the comparatively long period of use and is then “lubricated” as a result.

[0024] According to the invention, users preferably have the possibility of varying their creativity very easily during a single make-up process and of using leads of different colours to create mixed tones or to work with leads of different diameters in quick succession.

[0025] OPTIONAL OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPING THE INVENTION

[0026] Also claimed on its own and / or in conjunction with other claims is a refillable cosmetic applicator 1 with a cartridge which accommodates a refill which is displaceable relative to it, and an applicator main part to which the cartridge can be secured, and which is characterized in that it has a coupling which is a form-locking coupling consisting of two completely separable coupling halves which are positively coupled and uncoupled from one another in a rotationally fixed manner by a (purely) translational movement along their operating axes of rotation. The coupling halves as such do not lock with one another in the direction of their operating axes of rotation. Instead, the coupling halves can carry out relative movements to one another in the direction of the operating axis of rotation, even under load.One of the coupling halves is an integral part of the cartridge, while the other is an integral part of the main applicator body. Such a design of the first coupling, for example, may actually make it possible for the second coupling to engage when needed, as it thus has the necessary freedom of movement.

[0027] Also claimed, on its own and / or in conjunction with other claims, is a refillable cosmetic applicator comprising a cartridge housing a refill that can be moved relative to it, and a main applicator body to which the cartridge can be secured. The cosmetic applicator is characterized by having a clutch that is an overload clutch. This clutch is designed to slip whenever the main applicator body is about to transmit a destructive torque to the cartridge. Ideally, the overload clutch is designed to re-engage automatically once the overload is resolved.

[0028] It is particularly advantageous if the overload clutch is fully integrated into the main applicator body. It is preferably formed entirely within the main applicator body. 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-locking coupling assigned to the main applicator body simultaneously forms a coupling half of the overload clutch in one piece. This high degree of integration significantly reduces the component complexity.

[0029] It is particularly advantageous if the overload clutch is not a purely frictional clutch, but rather an at least partially positive-locking clutch, the positive-locking elements of which are designed such that in the event of an overload they force the clutch halves apart in the direction towards and / or against the operating rotation axis, i.e. they "release" or at least "translate" the clutch. It is particularly preferred if one clutch half of the frictional clutch is a driving plate (optionally provided with positive-locking elements) which is rotatable relative to the rest of the applicator main part and which bears frictionally against an inner driving collar of the applicator main part (optionally provided with complementary positive-locking elements).

[0030] The following design, which enables particularly easy installation and removal of the cartridge, is also claimed on its own and / or in conjunction with other claims:

[0031] A cartridge is then provided, preferably one having a threaded feed mechanism for the lead, which accommodates a lead that can be moved relative to it. A main applicator part is also provided to which the cartridge can be secured. 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 being pushed telescopically into one another completely from the end of the tube - generally in such a way that the non-telescopically engaged part of the cartridge and the non-telescopically engaged part of the applicator main body together form a mostly rotationally symmetrical pin in the manner of a lead pencil.Preferably, the locking to one another occurs 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 rotating the applicator main body relative to the cartridge with the other hand.

[0032] Due to the corresponding design of the relevant parts, the cartridge 15 together with the lead guide tube 21 and the closure cap 7 forms an airtight unit.

[0033] Further modes of operation, effects and possible embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiment described below and in particular from the figures which are enlarged but to scale.

[0034] LIST OF FIGURES

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows the applicator according to Fig. 1 in different stages of assembly.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a central longitudinal section through the applicator shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a section rotated 90° around the

[0038] Operating rotation axis 19 rotated central longitudinal section.

[0039] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail from Fig. 3.

[0040] Fig. 6 shows an enlarged detail from Fig. 4.

[0041] FROM A LEADERSHIP EXAMPLE

[0042] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the cosmetic applicator 1 according to the invention, here in the form of a pen-shaped eyeliner.

[0043] The main applicator body 2 is clearly visible, of which only its one-part or multi-part outer sleeve 3 and its rear cap 4, which is sometimes attached separately, can be seen here. A cartridge 5 is inserted into the main applicator body 2, of which only the optionally present radial outer collar 6 can be seen here, which acts as a stop limiter and specifies how far the cartridge 5 can be pushed into the main applicator body 2 or its outer sleeve 3. Then you can see the closure cap 7, which is pushed over the part of the cartridge 5 protruding from the main applicator body and is preferably locked in this position.

[0044] The structure of the cosmetic applicator 1 can be seen in even greater detail when looking at Figure 2. Here, the cosmetic applicator can be seen 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 its disassembled state in the manner of an exploded view.

[0045] The applicator main body 2 with its one-piece outer sleeve 3 and its rear cap 4 is clearly visible. The outer sleeve 3 forms a completely hollow tube and houses the spring element 8, designed here as a compression spring. In this case, this spring has the shape of a helical spring, but could also be a resilient plastic element. Furthermore, the outer sleeve 3 also houses the coupling component 9.

[0046] As can be clearly seen, the coupling component 9 here consists of a cup 13 with a front opening and a pin extension 10. A locking member 25, preferably designed in the manner of a locking hook, is provided at the free end of the pin extension. This cup 13 forms a coupling half 11b of the first coupling 11a, 11b. On its annular surface facing away from the front opening, the cup 13 forms a coupling half 28a of the second coupling 28a, 28b.

[0047] The structure of the cartridge 5 can also be clearly seen; in the exploded view, this cartridge is shown in a position removed from the applicator main body 2. The cartridge 5 comprises a casing tube 15 which forms an outlet opening on one end thereof, through which the refill 16 can be pushed outwards, preferably guided by the said outlet opening, into a position in which cosmetic mass can be pulled off its tip. The casing tube 15 here 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 which runs exclusively in the direction of the operating rotation axis 19.Ideally, the solid tube section 17 forms a first locking member 20 on its peripheral outer surface, which can be locked to a second locking member (not shown here in the figure) on the peripheral inner surface of the outer sleeve in such a way that the cartridge 5 is ideally held in its fully operational position on the applicator main body 2 by this alone, and preferably rotatable relative to the latter.

[0048] The jacket tube 15 of the cartridge 5 houses a lead guide tube 21 within it. The lead guide tube is predominantly or even substantially slotted, cf. the slot of the lead guide tube 21 provided with the reference number 22. The lead guide tube 21 is rotatably mounted in the jacket tube 15 relative to the jacket tube 15.

[0049] The lead guide tube 21, in turn, has the lead base 23, such that the lead base can perform a translational sliding movement relative to the lead guide tube. The lead base 23 has a partially threaded block 24 that projects radially outward beyond its remaining circumferential surface. This partially threaded block 24 projects radially outward through the slot 22 and can thus interact with the internal thread of the casing tube 15 (not shown in this figure).

[0050] Figures 3 and 4 show what the whole thing looks like in the central longitudinal section when fully assembled.

[0051] First, the reader may turn to Figure 6 .

[0052] Particularly clearly visible in both figures is the coupling component 9 with its pin extension 10, which is distinguished by its strikingly close hatching. As can be roughly seen from Figure 2, the pin extension 10 forms a locking member 25 at its free end, in particular in the manner of a double-pronged barb or catch hook. This locking member 25, or its spaced-apart tongues, are not directly shown in Figure 5.

[0053] The locking member 25 is locked to the spring support pot 26, which preferably does not interact directly with the outer sleeve 3.

[0054] This allows the spring element 8 to be supported on the one hand on the spring support cup 26 and on the other hand on the inner collar 27, which projects radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve. The spring element 8 is held compressed between these two components.

[0055] The inner collar 27 simultaneously forms, on its side facing away from the spring element 8, the second coupling half 28b of the second coupling 28. The corresponding first coupling half 28a of the second coupling 28 forms the rear side of the pot 13.

[0056] As soon as you see this, you will see 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.

[0057] The second clutch 28 can be a purely frictional clutch. Preferably, the second clutch is a clutch whose clutch halves each carry a spur gear or a type of spur gear. The two spur gears can transmit a torque as long as a certain limit torque is not exceeded. In this way, a rotational movement that the user applies to the outer sleeve 3 or a part thereof can initially be transmitted to the clutch component 9 as long as the torque of this rotational movement is not too great.

[0058] As soon as the torque is too high, one coupling half 28a of the second clutch 28 slips on the second coupling half 28b of the second clutch. If the coupling halves carry the spur gearing described as preferred, this results in the clutch component 9 being pushed to the left along the operating rotational axis 19 against the preload of the spring element 8, so that the spur gearing is geared and thus cannot transmit an impermissibly high torque.

[0059] The structure of the first clutch 11 with its first clutch half 11a and its second clutch half 11b is now interesting. This is illustrated in Figure 5.

[0060] As can be clearly seen from Figure 5, the coupling component 9, which is again identified by its particularly close hatching, has a cup 13 at one end. This cup 13, which is open here on its left-hand end, forms the second coupling half 11b of the first coupling 11. It has an inner circumferential surface which has at least one, preferably several, driving projections which project radially inwards. The lead guide tube 21 forms a first coupling half 11a of the first coupling 11 at its end facing away from the lead 16. The latter projects in the direction of the operating rotation axis 19 into the cup 13 forming the second coupling half 11b. As a result, it is positively driven by the driver(s) of the second coupling half. What is also noteworthy here is the preferred and space-saving very high degree of integration of the construction.The lead guide tube 21 forms a guide skirt 29, which preferably extends slightly beyond the outside of the cup 13. The guide skirt 29 forms a sliding bearing, with which the lead guide tube 21 is held rotatably and in a defined position on the casing tube 15 of the cartridge.

[0061] It is particularly noteworthy that the first coupling half 11a of the first clutch 11 and the second coupling half 11b of the first clutch 11 can, even during operation, perform a (usually small) movement relative to each other in the direction of the operating rotation axis. This movement may be necessary to activate the second clutch in the event of an overload.

[0062] This becomes apparent when you consider how the entire ensemble works.

[0063] In order to push the refill 16 forwards to the left (in the figures here) out of the cartridge 5, the user preferably holds the cartridge 5 firmly with one hand and rotates 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 said second coupling. As a result, the coupling component 9 rotates in the outer sleeve 3. Its cup 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 a component of the refill guide tube 21, the refill guide tube 21 also rotates. Due to the rotational movement of the lead guide tube 21, the threaded members of the partially threaded block 24 of the lead base 23 interact with the internal thread on the inner circumferential surface of the casing tube 15.As a result, the lead base 23 moves with the lead 16, which is normally held in a form-fitting manner by it, to the left, i.e. the lead 16 is pushed out.

[0064] If one considers Figures 5 and 6 simultaneously alongside Figures 3 and 4, one can see that the first coupling 11 is designed in such a way that the two coupling halves 11a and 11b connect or release with each other automatically without further action by the user as soon as the cartridge 5 is pushed into or pulled out of the outer sleeve 3 by a movement essentially in the direction along the operating rotation axis 19.

[0065] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0066] 1 cosmetic applicator

[0067] 2 Applicator main body or applicator main part

[0068] 3 Outer sleeve

[0069] 4 rear cap

[0070] 5 cartridges

[0071] 6 radial outer collar

[0072] 7 Cap

[0073] 8 spring element

[0074] 9 Coupling component

[0075] 10 pin process

[0076] 11 first clutch

[0077] 11a Coupling half of the first clutch

[0078] 11b Coupling half of the first clutch

[0079] 12 front opening of the pot

[0080] 13 pot

[0081] 14 not assigned

[0082] 15 jacket pipe

[0083] 16 mines

[0084] 17 male solid tube section for securing the cartridge to the applicator main body

[0085] 18 female solid tube section for securing the cartridge to the applicator main body

[0086] 19 Operating rotation axis

[0087] 20 first locking organ

[0088] 21 Mine guide tube

[0089] 22 slot

[0090] 23 mine bases

[0091] 24 Partial thread block

[0092] 25 locking device

[0093] 26 Spring support element or pot

[0094] 27 Inner collar of second coupling a first coupling half of the second coupling b second coupling half of the second coupling guide apron

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) with a cartridge (5) which accommodates a refill (16) which can be moved relative to it, and an applicator main part (2) to which the cartridge (5) can be fixed, characterized in that the cosmetic applicator (1) comprises two couplings (11, 28), namely a first coupling (11) by means of which a rotary movement generated by the user on the applicator main part (2) is transmitted to the cartridge (5) in such a way that the refill (16) is moved relative to it, and a (different) second coupling (28) by means of which it is prevented that a rotary movement is transmitted to the cartridge (5) for any longer as soon as the cartridge (5) can no longer follow this rotary movement.

2. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) with a cartridge (5) which accommodates a refill (16) which is displaceable relative to it, and an applicator main part (2) to which the cartridge (5) can be fixed, preferably according to claim 1, characterized in that the cosmetic applicator (1) has a coupling (11) which is a form-locking coupling which consists of two completely separable coupling halves (11a, 11b) which are connected by a (purely) translational movement along their Operating rotation axes (19) are positively coupled and uncoupled with each other, wherein the coupling halves (11a, 11b) as such do not lock with each other in the direction of their operating rotation axes (19), but can also carry out relative movements to each other in this direction under load, and wherein one of the said coupling halves (11a) is an integral part of the cartridge (5) and the other of the coupling halves (11b) is an integral part of the applicator main part (2).

3. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) with a cartridge (5) which accommodates a refill (16) which can be moved relative to it, and an applicator main part (2) to which the cartridge (5) can be fixed, preferably according to claim 2, characterized in that the cosmetic applicator (1) has a clutch (28) which is an overload clutch which is designed such that it slips in any case when the applicator main part (2) is about to transmit a destructive torque to the cartridge, wherein the clutch (28) is preferably designed such that it re-engages automatically after the overload has ended.

4. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling (28) is completely a component of the applicator main part (2) and is preferably formed completely within the applicator main part (2).

5. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) according to one of claims 3 or 4 in conjunction with claim 2, characterized in that the coupling half (11b) of the form-fitting coupling (11) assigned to the applicator main part (2) simultaneously also integrally forms a coupling half (28b) of the coupling (28).

6. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that one coupling half of the frictional coupling is a brake disc which is rotatable relative to the rest of the applicator main part (2) and which bears frictionally against an inner brake collar of the applicator main part (3).

7. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the brake disc forms a conical friction surface which bears against a complementary conical friction surface of the inner brake collar (thereby centering).

8. Refillable cosmetic applicator (1), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a cartridge (5) - preferably carrying a threaded feed mechanism for the refill (16) - which accommodates a refill (16) which is displaceable relative to it, and an applicator main part (2) to which the cartridge (5) can be secured, characterized in that the cartridge (5) has a male (17) or female (18) solid tube section which can be fastened to a female (18) or male (17) solid tube section by being pushed completely into one another from the tube end face, preferably in that one tube section has a locking bead on its outer circumferential surface and the other tube section has a locking recess on its outer circumferential surface.

9. Cartridge (5) suitable for installation in an applicator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 with features related to the cartridge (5) from the preceding claims and / or from the description and / or from the figures.

10. Refillable cosmetic applicator system comprising a cosmetic applicator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and at least two cartridges (5) according to claim 9.

Images