Applicator

Abstract

Provided is an applicator comprising: a barrel which accommodates therein a coating liquid, and which can deform when a side surface thereof is pressed; an application part which is formed as a brush head and which has a liquid through hole at the rear end thereof; a tip shaft through which the application part is inserted and which is attached to the tip end of the barrel; an application part holding member which is accommodated inside the tip shaft, which holds the rear end of the application part in the tip end direction, and which, at the shaft center, has an insertion hole that is open frontward; a valve mechanism which is accommodated at a tip end portion of the barrel, which is attached between the coating liquid accommodation part and the application part holding member, and which opens along with pressing of the side surface of the barrel; an intermediate core which is a porous body, which is inserted into the insertion hole and the liquid through hole, and which achieves communication between the application part holding member and the application part; a tip shaft insert which is inserted at the tip end of the tip shaft in a state in which the application part is inserted, and a tip end edge of which is exposed from the tip end of the tip shaft; and a cap which covers the tip end of the tip shaft and inside which is provided a level difference, wherein in a state in which the cap is attached to the tip shaft, the level difference presses the tip end of the tip shaft insert rearward.

Description

applicator

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an applicator that includes a valve mechanism inside a barrel and that supplies cosmetic liquid when the barrel is pressed.

[0002] Conventionally, so-called valve-type applicators equipped with a valve mechanism inside the barrel have been known to open the valve by pressing the barrel (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-3686) or by knocking the rear end (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-271710). However, these methods have had issues such as not being able to use soft materials such as brush tips as pen cores and difficulty in controlling the amount of liquid dispensed. On the other hand, an applicator has also been disclosed in which the internal valve mechanism is closed by attaching a cap (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2021-115710).

[0003] In a felt-tip pen that uses a highly elastic blow container as the barrel and has a mechanism that opens the valve by pressing the side of the container to allow the liquid to flow out, the liquid sometimes spurts out when the valve opens. Therefore, an aspect of the present disclosure aims to prevent sudden liquid outflow (so-called gush) in an applicator that has a valve that opens when the main body is pressed, and to make it easy to control the amount of liquid discharged by varying the strength of the pressure.

[0004] The aspects of the present disclosure are as follows.

[0005] <Aspect 1> An applicator of Aspect 1 comprises: a barrel whose internal space is an application liquid storage section that stores application liquid, and which is deformable when its side surface is pressed; an applicator section formed as a brush tip made of bundled fibers, the rear end of which is melted and a liquid passage hole for passing the application liquid toward the tip; a front barrel into which the applicator section is inserted and which is attached to the tip of the barrel; a tubular applicator section holding member that is housed inside the front barrel and holds the rear end of the applicator section in the tip direction; an insertion hole that is formed in the axial center of the applicator section holding member and opens forward; a valve mechanism that is housed in the tip portion of the barrel and is interposed between the application liquid storage section and the applicator section holding member, and which opens when the side surface of the barrel is pressed; a front barrel insert that is inserted into the tip of the front barrel with the applicator section, which is in communication with the applicator section holding member, inserted, and has a tip edge that is exposed from the tip of the front barrel; and a cap that covers the tip of the front barrel and has a step provided inside. With the cap attached to the front barrel, the step presses the front end of the front barrel insert rearward.

[0006] In the applicator of Aspect 1, cosmetic liquid is supplied from the barrel to the writing tip via the valve mechanism, but when the cap is attached, the tip of the front insert abuts against a step inside the cap and is pressed and moved rearward. The applicator retaining member located at the rear end of the front insert then moves rearward along with the movement of the front insert, restricting the valve from opening when the valve mechanism moves forward. In other words, the valve mechanism does not open when the cap is attached. Therefore, even if the barrel is pressed with the cap attached, leakage of cosmetic liquid is restricted.

[0007] <Aspect 2> In addition to the configuration of Aspect 1, an applicator of Aspect 2 further comprises: a valve retaining member; a front spring retaining member attached to a tip of the valve retaining member; a first valve built into the valve retaining member; a second valve built into the first valve; a rear spring retaining member attached to the tip of the first valve and abutting against a tip portion of the second valve; a first spring interposed between the front spring retaining member and the rear spring retaining member and urging the first valve rearward; and a second spring interposed between the first valve and the second valve and urging the second valve forward; when the internal pressure of the application liquid storage section becomes positive with respect to the external air pressure, the first spring is pressed forward by the first valve, thereby allowing the application liquid to flow through a gap generated between the valve retaining member and the first valve, When the internal pressure of the application liquid storage section becomes negative relative to the external atmospheric pressure, the second spring is pressed rearward by the second valve, allowing air to flow into the application liquid storage section through a gap formed between the second valve and the rear spring holding member. In the applicator of Aspect 2, it is possible to separate the outflow path for the application liquid and the inflow path for air within the valve mechanism, allowing smooth air exchange when the application liquid is used.

[0008] <Aspect 3> In addition to the configuration of Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, the applicator of Aspect 3 has a sawtooth groove having a triangular apex at an angle of less than 45° with respect to the axial direction formed on the inner surface of the cap in the vicinity of the step, and the sawtooth groove makes the inner surface of the cap in the vicinity of the step a discontinuous surface.

[0009] In the applicator of Aspect 3, when the cap is attached, the possibility that a part of the applicator portion configured as a brush tip will get caught inside the cap is reduced.

[0010] <Others> Furthermore, the applicator of the present disclosure preferably includes a porous relay core that is inserted into the insertion hole of the applicator part-holding member and the liquid-through hole of the applicator part to communicate with the applicator part-holding member and that can appropriately control the amount of liquid.

[0011] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an applicator having a valve that opens when the body is pressed can prevent sudden liquid outflow (so-called dripping) and makes it easy to control the amount of liquid ejected by varying the strength of the pressure.

[0012] 12B is a front view of an applicator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12C is a rear perspective view showing the applicator with the cap removed. FIG. 12D is a front view showing the applicator with the cap removed. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3. FIG. 12C is an enlarged view of the applicator part holding member and its surroundings in FIG. 4. FIG. 12D is a front perspective view of the applicator part holding member. FIG. 12C is a rear perspective view of the applicator part holding member. FIG. 12D is a front view of the applicator part holding member. FIG. 12C is a bottom view of the applicator part holding member. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 6C. FIG. 12C is a rear perspective view of the cap. FIG. 12C is a top view of the cap. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 7B. FIG. 12C is an enlarged view of a sawtooth groove. FIG. 12D is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism in FIG. 4. FIG. 12C is a rear perspective view of the valve holding member. FIG. 12C is a front view of the valve holding member. FIG. 12C is a side view of the valve holding member. FIG. 12C is a bottom view of the valve holding member. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXa-IXa of FIG. 12C. FIG. 12D is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-X of FIG. 12C. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the application part holding member and its surroundings in Fig. 10 with the cap omitted. Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the application part holding member and its surroundings in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism when the barrel is pressed. Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism when the barrel is released from pressure.

[0013] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. Note that reference numerals commonly used in multiple drawings indicate common components or parts even if no specific explanation is given for each drawing. Furthermore, the dimensions and proportions of each part shown in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to the dimensions and proportions of the actual product. Furthermore, the dimensional relationships and proportions between the drawings may differ.

[0014] In addition, in this disclosure, the side of the applicator where the writing tip is located is referred to as the "tip," the direction toward the tip is referred to as the "forward," the opposite side is referred to as the "rear end," and the direction toward the rear end is referred to as the "rear."

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of an applicator 10 of the present disclosure. A generally cylindrical front barrel 12 of generally the same diameter is attached to the tip of a generally cylindrical barrel 11, and the tip of the front barrel 12 is further covered with a generally cylindrical cap 13 of generally the same diameter. FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, showing the state shown in FIG. 1 with the cap 13 removed. The front barrel 12 is composed of a generally cylindrical covering portion 12A that covers the tip of the barrel 11, an outer peripheral locking portion 12B located at the tip end of the covering portion 12A and having a slightly reduced diameter and a male thread formed on the outer periphery for threading onto the cap 13, and a tapered portion 12C at its tip that tapers forward and opens to the tip. The opening at the tip of the tapered portion 12C exposes the applicator portion 14, which is formed as a brush tip 14A made of bundled fine fibers, and the tip edge of a front barrel insert 15, which is inserted into the tip of the front barrel 12 with the applicator portion 14 inserted. That is, front barrel 12 is attached to the tip of barrel 11 with applicator portion 14 inserted through front barrel insert 15 .

[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator 10 of FIG. 3 taken along line IV-IV. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the applicator holding member 20 and its surroundings in FIG. 4. The barrel 11 is composed of a hollow, approximately cylindrical large-diameter portion 11A and a small-diameter portion 11B whose tip is tapered. The interior space of the barrel 11 forms an application liquid storage portion 11D that stores an application liquid 11C as a cosmetic. The barrel 11 is formed from a relatively soft and flexible synthetic resin (such as polypropylene resin or low-density polyethylene resin) and is deformable inward when its side is pressed. The application liquid storage portion 11D also contains a stirring bar 11E, which is a metal ball.

[0017] Covering portion 12A of front barrel 12 is threadedly engaged with small diameter portion 11B of barrel tube 11. A roughly cylindrical front barrel insert 15 is inserted into the internal space of outer peripheral locking portion 12B and tapered portion 12C of front barrel 12. The internal space of front barrel insert 15 has a smaller diameter on the tip end side, and a step 15A is formed between this tip end side and the rear end side.

[0018] The applicator part 14 is composed of a tapered tip 14A made of a bundle of fine synthetic resin fibers, and a flange 14B with an expanded diameter at its rear end. The base of the tip 14A is melted, and a liquid passage hole 14C is formed in the center of its rear end. When the applicator part 14 is inserted into the front barrel insert 15, the flange 14B abuts against an internal step 15A.

[0019] Applicator portion holding member 20 is further inserted from the rear into front barrel insert 15 with applicator portion 14 inserted therein. Applicator portion 14 is held with flange 14B sandwiched between step 15A of front barrel insert 15 and the front end of applicator portion holding member 20. In other words, applicator portion holding member 20 is housed inside front barrel 12 via front barrel insert 15 and is a cylindrical member that holds the rear end of applicator portion 14 in the forward direction. An insertion hole 27 that opens forward is formed in the axial center of applicator portion holding member 20. The rear end portion of a cylindrical relay core 30 is inserted into insertion hole 27, while the front end portion of relay core 30 is inserted into liquid passage hole 14C of applicator portion 14. Relay core 30 is formed of a porous material such as a fiber bundle, and is inserted into insertion hole 27 and liquid passage hole 14C to connect applicator portion holding member 20 and applicator portion 14. A spring 20A is further inserted into the applicator part holding member 20. This spring 20A is interposed between the applicator part holding member 20 and the valve mechanism 40 (described later), and constantly urges the applicator part 14 and the front barrel insert 15 forward through the applicator part holding member 20. The shear rate of the cone-plate type viscometer (VISCOMETER TV-20, manufactured by TOKIMEC Corporation) was 3.83 s －１ When a coating liquid having a relatively high viscosity of 200 mPa·s or more as measured at 25° C. by the method described above is used, the relay core 30 may be unnecessary.

[0020] 6A to 6F show the applicator part holding member 20 in a front perspective view ( FIG. 6A ), a rear perspective view ( FIG. 6B ), a front view ( FIG. 6C ), a plan view ( FIG. 6D ), a bottom view ( FIG. 6E ), and a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 6C . The applicator part holding member 20 has a structure in which a substantially cylindrical outer wall 21 located on the outside and a substantially cylindrical inner wall 22 located on the inside are connected by four connecting portions 23 near their respective tips. The space between the connecting portions 23 in plan and bottom views is the liquid passage space 28 ( FIGS. 6D and 6E ). The space between the outer wall 21 and the inner wall 22 is the spring accommodating portion 26. The internal space of the inner wall 22 is divided into front and rear portions by a shielding wall 24. The space on the front side is the aforementioned insertion hole 27, and the space on the rear side is the rear recess 29. Four ribs 25 protrude radially inward from the inside of the insertion hole 27.

[0021] 7A to 7D are a rear perspective view (FIG. 7A), a front view (FIG. 7B), a plan view (FIG. 7C), and a cross-sectional view (FIG. 7D) of cap 13 taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 7B. Cap 13 is configured with a cylindrical outer barrel 13A that is open at the rear, and a smaller-diameter inner barrel 13B that is also open at the rear, inserted into it. A cap spring 13C is interposed between the front end face of outer barrel 13A and a step near the rear end of inner barrel 13B. A female thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface at the rear end of outer barrel 13A, which serves as inner peripheral locking portion 13D that threadably engages with outer peripheral locking portion 12B (see FIG. 3) of front barrel 12. Additionally, a step 13F is formed slightly inward from the leading edge of inner barrel 13B. Furthermore, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 7E, the inner surface near this step 13F is formed with sawtooth grooves 13E, which are recessed in a sawtooth pattern with multiple triangular peaks 13E1 arranged at an angle of less than 45° (angle θ) relative to the axial direction. The inner surface of the tip portion of the inner tube 13B is discontinuous due to the bottoms 13E2 of these sawtooth grooves 13E. Because of these sawtooth grooves 13E, when the applicator tip 14 enters the cap 13, the inner surface of the cap 13 comes into non-surface contact (point contact or tip contact) with the applicator tip 14, making it less likely that the bristles of the brush tip 14A of the applicator tip 14 will get caught.

[0022] 4 and 5, a silicone rubber O-ring 16, formed in an annular shape, is inserted into the step between the covering portion 12A and the outer periphery locking portion 12B inside the front barrel 12. Meanwhile, a valve mechanism 40, fitted with a valve mechanism support member 40A, is attached to the tip of the barrel 11. The valve mechanism 40 is housed in the tip portion of the barrel 11 and is interposed between the application liquid storage portion 11D and the application portion holding member 20. The valve mechanism support member 40A includes a cylindrical front abutment portion 40A2 that abuts the tip edge of the barrel 11, and a smaller-diameter cylindrical valve mechanism storage portion 40A1 that protrudes rearward from the front abutment portion 40A2. Two springs, a front first spring 42 and a rear second spring 44, are inserted into the valve mechanism 40.

[0023] Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism 40 in Figure 4. The valve mechanism 40 includes a valve retaining member 50, a front spring retaining member 41 attached to the tip of the valve retaining member 50, a first valve 60 built into the valve retaining member, a second valve 80 built into the first valve 60, a rear spring retaining member 43 attached to the tip of the first valve 60 and abutting against the tip portion of the second valve 80, a first spring 42 interposed between the front spring retaining member 41 and the rear spring retaining member 43 and biasing the first valve 60 rearward, and a second spring 44 interposed between the first valve 60 and the second valve 80 and biasing the second valve 80 forward.

[0024] The front spring retaining member 41 has a cylindrical portion 41B that is inserted into the tip of the valve retaining member 50 and a flange 41A that protrudes outward from the front end of the cylindrical portion 41B. A first front retaining step 41C, which is a circumferential protrusion, is formed in the internal space of the cylindrical portion 41B. The first front retaining step 41C supports the first spring 42 on its tip side.

[0025] 9A to 9H are a front perspective view (FIG. 9A), a rear perspective view (FIG. 9B), a front view (FIG. 9C), a side view (FIG. 9D), a plan view (FIG. 9E), a bottom view (FIG. 9F), a IXa-IXa cross-sectional view (FIG. 9G) of FIG. 9C, and a IXb-IXb cross-sectional view (FIG. 9H) of FIG. 9D of the valve retaining member 50. The valve retaining member 50 includes a flange-shaped leading edge 51, a smaller-diameter accommodating tubular portion 52 at its rear, a smaller-diameter fluid-passing tubular portion 53 at its rear, and a smaller-diameter, annular crown portion 54 at its rear. A pair of first inlet holes 55 are formed in the side surface of the fluid-passing tubular portion 53. The valve retaining member 50 is hollow, and its internal space forms an accommodating hole 56, in which a first valve 60 is accommodated. The inner surface of the accommodating tubular portion 52 forms a first fluid-passing surface 57. A step is formed on the leading edge of the first fluid passage surface 57, and this step serves as a fluid passage step 58. The flange 41A of the front spring holding member 41 (FIG. 8) described above abuts against the leading edge of the valve holding member 50 and is fixed thereto.

[0026] Returning to Figure 8, the first valve 60 includes a front tubular portion 61 located at the front, a fluid passage surface 62 that tapers rearward, a rear tubular portion 63 with a smaller diameter rearward, and a crowned portion 64 that is annularly shaped and has an even smaller diameter rearward. A pair of second inlet holes 65 are formed in the side surface of the rear tubular portion 63. An insertion hole 66, through which the rear end of the second valve 80 is inserted, is formed in the axis center of the crowned portion 64. In addition, a second rear support step 67 that supports the rear end of the second spring 44 is formed in the leading edge of the crowned portion 64.

[0027] The rear spring retaining member 43 includes a cylindrical portion 43B that is inserted into the tip of the first valve 60, and a flange 43A that protrudes outward from its front end and abuts against the tip edge of the first valve 60. A first rear retaining step 43C that supports the first spring 42 on its rear end side is formed on the inner peripheral edge of the flange 43A. A ventilation step 41D, which is a circumferential protrusion, is formed in the internal space near the rear end of the cylindrical portion 41B.

[0028] The second valve 80 is a member housed inside the first valve 60. The second valve 80 includes a substantially cylindrical tubular portion 81, a ventilation surface 82 that tapers toward the tip end, and a small-diameter rod-shaped portion 83 that protrudes rearward from the tubular portion 81. The step between the tubular portion 81 and the rod-shaped portion 83 forms a second front support step 84 that supports the tip end of the second spring 44.

[0029] The first spring 42 is a coil spring composed of an intermediate portion 42A and a leading end portion 42B and a trailing end portion 42C, both of which are located at either end of the intermediate portion 42A and have smaller diameters. The first spring 42 is supported by the first front support step 41C at the step between the intermediate portion 42A and the leading end portion 42B, and by the first rear support step 43C at the step between the intermediate portion 42A and the trailing end portion 42C. On the other hand, the second spring 44 is a coil spring of uniform diameter. The leading end of the second spring 44 is supported by the second front support step 84, and the trailing end is supported by the second rear support step 67.

[0030] The valve mechanism 40 shown in FIG. 8 is constructed as follows. First, the second valve 80, with the second spring 44 mounted on the rod-shaped portion 83, is inserted into the first valve 60 from the front. Next, the cylindrical portion 43B of the rear spring holder 43 is inserted into the first valve 60 from the front, until the flange 43A abuts against the front edge of the first valve 60. Then, the first valve 60 in this state is inserted into the valve holder member 50 from the front. Furthermore, the first spring 42 is inserted into the valve holder member 50 from the front. Finally, the cylindrical portion 41B of the front spring holder member 41 is inserted into the valve holder member 50 from the front, until the flange 41A abuts against the front edge of the valve holder member 50. In this manner, the valve mechanism 40 shown in FIG. 8 is formed.

[0031] 8, the first valve 60 is biased rearward by the first spring 42, which causes the fluid passage step 58 of the valve holding member 50 to abut and closely contact the fluid passage surface 62 of the first valve 60. In addition, the second valve 80 is biased forward by the second spring 44, which causes the air passage step 43D of the front spring holding member 41 to abut and closely contact the air passage surface 82 of the second valve 80.

[0032] Then, valve mechanism support member 40A is inserted from the tip of barrel 11 in a state in which application liquid 11C and stirring bar 11E are accommodated, and valve mechanism 40 in the state shown in Fig. 8 is then inserted. Then, front barrel 12, through which front barrel insert 15, through which application portion 14 and application portion holding member 20 are inserted, is screwed into barrel 11 in this state, to form applicator 10 in the state shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this state, as shown in Fig. 5, application portion holding member 20 and front barrel insert 15 move forward due to the biasing force of spring 20A, and the tip of front barrel insert 15 protrudes to its maximum extent from the tip edge of the front barrel.

[0033] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 1, showing the applicator 10 in the state shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the cap 13 attached. Figure 11 shows the state shown in Figure 10 without the cap 13, and Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the applicator portion holding member 20 and its vicinity in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 10, when the cap 13 is attached to the front barrel 12, a step 13F (see Figures 7A, 7C, and 7D) formed on the inner surface of the cap 13 abuts against the tip of the front barrel insert 15 and presses it rearward. Then, as shown in Figure 12, the front barrel insert 15 compresses the applicator portion holding member 20 against the biasing force of the spring 20A, thereby pressing the applicator portion holding member 20 rearward, causing the valve mechanism 40 to be pressed rearward. In this state, with cap 13 attached, even if sudden pressure is applied, such as by stepping on barrel 11, front barrel insert 15 cannot move forward due to step 13F of cap 13. In other words, the forward movement of valve mechanism 40 is restricted by applicator part holding member 20, preventing the valve from opening, and as a result, applicator liquid 11C will not spurt out from applicator part 14.

[0034] When applicator 10 is not in use, cap 13 can be attached to tip barrel 12 to protect brush tip 14A of applicator part 14. Furthermore, sawtooth grooves 13E having triangular apexes 13E1 are formed on the inner surface of cap 13, which makes brush tip 14A less likely to come apart inside cap 13 when cap 13 is attached.

[0035] When the cap is removed from the state shown in Fig. 10, the restriction on forward movement of the valve mechanism 40 by the applicator holding member 20 is released, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. When the barrel 11 is pressed in this state to pressurize the interior of the application liquid storage portion 11D, the positive pressure relative to the external air pressure overcomes the rearward biasing force of the first spring 42, compressing it and moving the first valve 60 forward. This separates the liquid passage step 58 of the valve holding member 50 from the liquid passage surface 62 of the first valve 60, allowing the application liquid 11C to flow between them. That is, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 13, application liquid 11C in application liquid storage portion 11D flows from first inlet hole 55 into valve holding member 50, passes between liquid passage step 58 and liquid passage surface 62, then passes through the clearance between the outer peripheral surface of front tubular portion 61 of first valve 60 and first liquid passage surface 57 of valve holding member 50, further passes between the leading edge of rear spring holding member 43 and the rear end edge of front spring holding member 41, and reaches application portion holding member 20 shown in Fig. 5. From here, application liquid 11C further reaches application portion 14 via relay wick 30, and can be applied to the object to be applied by brush tip 14A.

[0036] In other words, when the internal pressure of the application liquid storage section 11D becomes positive relative to the external air pressure, the first spring 42 is pressed forward by the first valve 60, allowing the application liquid 11C to flow through the gap created between the valve holding member 50 and the first valve 60.

[0037] At this time, the coating liquid 11C is subjected to flow resistance due to narrow gaps, such as the gap between the liquid passage step 58 and the liquid passage surface 62, the clearance with the first liquid passage surface 57 of the valve holding member 50, and the gap between the leading edge of the rear spring holding member 43 and the rear end edge of the front spring holding member 41. In addition, the coating liquid 11C that has reached the coating part holding member 20 must also pass through the porous relay core 30, and is subjected to flow resistance here as well. These prevent the coating liquid 11C from dripping from the coating part 14.

[0038] When the pressure on the barrel 11 is released from the state shown in FIG. 13 , the volume of the air in the coating liquid storage section 11D increases by the amount lost due to consumption of the coating liquid 11C, and the pressure in the coating liquid storage section 11D becomes negative relative to the external atmospheric pressure. This generates a force that moves the second valve 80 rearward. When this force overcomes the biasing force of the second spring 44, the second valve 80 moves rearward while compressing the second spring 44, as shown in FIG. 14 . This separates the ventilation step 43D of the rear spring holding member 43 from the ventilation surface 82 of the second valve 80, allowing air to flow between them. That is, air from the outside passes through the gap between the ventilation step 43D and the ventilation surface 82, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 14 , and then passes through the second inlet hole 65 of the first valve 60 and the first inlet hole 55 of the valve holding member 50 and enters the coating liquid storage section 11D.

[0039] As described above, the flow path for the coating liquid 11C (see FIG. 13) and the flow path for the air (see FIG. 14) are clearly separated within the valve mechanism 40, so that air replacement is carried out smoothly.

[0040] Furthermore, a first inlet hole 55 and a second inlet hole 65 are formed in the valve holding member 50 and the first valve 60 of the valve mechanism 40, respectively, and the space inside the valve mechanism 40 is open to the outside. Therefore, when the applicator 10 is stored facing downwards, sediment and the like derived from the application liquid 11C that accumulates inside the first valve 60 is easily stirred, making it possible to prevent poor sliding of the first valve 60 and the second valve 80 due to adhesion of sediment and the like.

[0041] The present invention can be used for an applicator that has a valve mechanism inside a barrel and that supplies cosmetic liquid by pressing the barrel.

Claims

1. A pen comprising: a barrel having an internal space which is an application liquid storage section for storing application liquid, and which can be deformed when the side surface is pressed; an application section formed as a brush tip made of bundled fibers, the rear end of which is melted and a liquid passage hole for passing the application liquid in a tip direction is formed; a front barrel into which the application section is inserted and which is attached to the tip of the barrel; a tubular application section holding member which is contained inside the front barrel and which holds the rear end of the application section in a tip direction; an insertion hole which is formed in the axial center of the application section holding member and which opens forward; a valve mechanism which is contained in the tip portion of the barrel and is interposed between the application liquid storage section and the application section holding member, and which opens when the side surface of the barrel is pressed; a front barrel insert which is inserted into the tip of the front barrel with the application section, which is connected to the application section holding member, inserted therethrough, and which has a tip edge which is exposed from the tip of the front barrel; and a cap which covers the tip of the front barrel and has a step formed therein; With the cap attached to the front barrel, the step presses the tip of the front barrel insert rearward.

2. The valve mechanism comprises: a valve holding member; a front spring holding member attached to a tip of the valve holding member; a first valve built into the valve holding member; a second valve built into the first valve; a rear spring holding member attached to the tip of the first valve and in contact with a tip portion of the second valve; a first spring interposed between the front spring holding member and the rear spring holding member and urging the first valve rearward; and a second spring interposed between the first valve and the second valve and urging the second valve forward, wherein when the internal pressure of the coating liquid storage portion becomes positive with respect to the external air pressure, the first spring is pressed forward by the first valve, thereby allowing the coating liquid to flow through a gap generated between the valve holding member and the first valve, 2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein when the internal pressure of the application liquid storage section becomes negative relative to the external air pressure, the second spring is pressed rearward by the second valve, thereby allowing air to flow into the application liquid storage section through a gap generated between the second valve and the rear spring retaining member.

3. An applicator as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a sawtooth groove having multiple triangular apexes arranged at an angle of less than 45° to the axial direction is formed on the inner surface of the cap in the vicinity of the step, and the sawtooth groove makes the inner surface of the cap in the vicinity of the step a discontinuous surface.

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