JP5822222B2 - Liquid applicator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid applicator used for applying a liquid to an object.

  As a conventional technique related to a liquid applicator used for applying a liquid to an object, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The document describes an applicator for applying the composition to a surface such as the skin, lips or nails. This applicator has a main body that acts as an applicator at an applicator end located at the tip of the applicator. The body includes a proximal first portion and a distal second portion including an application surface. Between the first part and the second part, there is a thin area forming a hinge between these parts. This thin area allows the second part to pivot relative to the first part while the application surface provided in the second part is pressed against the application object surface. . The second part is capable of pivoting with respect to the first part about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator.

JP 2007-21230 A

  The applicator described in Patent Document 1 uses an application surface provided in the second portion under a state in which the second portion is pivotally rotated as described in, for example, FIG. 3 of the same document. It is intended to apply the composition. Therefore, this applicator is suitable for applying a composition to lips, nails, etc., but suitable for applying a composition that draws a line on a fine part, for example, applying eyelash cosmetics to the root of the eyelashes. I can't say that.

  Therefore, the subject of this invention is providing the liquid applicator which can eliminate the fault which the prior art mentioned above has.

The present invention is a liquid applicator having a support shaft and an applicator connected to the tip of the support shaft and having an elongated shape in the extending direction of the support shaft,
The application part is elastically deformable by an external force applied to the application part during the liquid application operation,
The application part is inclined such that the axis along the extending direction intersects the axis of the support shaft,
The application portion has a first surface that is substantially flat or slightly convex, and a second surface located on the opposite side of the first surface,
When the application portion is viewed from the first surface side, the application portion has the narrowest width portion, gradually becomes wider from the narrowest width portion toward the tip, and gradually becomes narrower toward the tip. And
When the application part is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plane passing through the axis of the support shaft and the axis of the application part, the application part has a minimum thickness part, and the minimum thickness part and the tip of the application part The second surface protrudes between the maximum thickness portion and the coating portion further decreases in thickness from the maximum thickness portion toward the tip of the coating portion. An applicator is provided.

  According to the liquid applicator of the present invention, it becomes easy to apply a liquid to a fine part. Moreover, it is difficult for the liquid to drop.

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing an embodiment of a liquid application apparatus provided with the liquid application tool of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the application portion of the liquid applicator as seen from the first surface side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the application portion as seen from the second surface side. FIG. 3A is a front view of the application unit in the liquid applicator, FIG. 3B is a side view of the application unit, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line cc in FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view taken along line dd in FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view taken along line ee in FIG. 3B. FIG. 4 is a front view (corresponding to FIG. 3A) of the application part in the liquid applicator. FIG. 5 is a side view (corresponding to FIG. 3 (b)) of the application part in the liquid applicator. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are explanatory views sequentially showing a state when the applicator in the liquid applicator is pulled out from the container. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a usage state of a liquid application apparatus including the liquid application tool of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the application portion pivots with the narrowest width portion of the application portion in the liquid applicator as a pivot rotation axis.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of a liquid application apparatus provided with the liquid application tool of the present invention in a partially broken state. The liquid application apparatus 1 shown in the figure includes an applicator 2 for applying the liquid 4 and a container 3 for storing the liquid 4. Hereinafter, each of the applicator 2 and the container 3 will be described.

  First, the container 3 will be described. The container 3 has an elongated cylindrical shape with a bottom. The container 3 can accommodate the liquid 4 therein. The container 3 has a mouth 33 facing the bottom. The mouth portion 33 opens upward. A screw portion 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 33. The screw portion 32 can be screwed with a screw portion (not shown) provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lid body 23 of the applicator 2 to be described later.

  The mouth 33 in the container 3 has an iron valve 31 in the vicinity thereof. The ironing valve 31 has a funnel-like shape with a diameter reduced from the mouth 33 to the bottom of the container 3, and has a ironing hole 31A at the lower end thereof. The ironing hole 31 </ b> A can freely pass through the application unit 21 and the support shaft 22 in the applicator 2 described later. The ironing hole 31 </ b> A is formed in a substantially central portion of the ironing valve 31 in a cross-sectional view of the container 3. The ironing hole 31A is a circular hole. However, the shape of the ironing hole 31A is not limited to this. The ironing hole 31 </ b> A has such a size that the application part 21 positioned at the tip of the applicator 2 can be inserted into the container 3 and extracted from the container 3. The squeezing valve 31 is used to moderately squeeze out an excessive amount of the liquid 4 adhering to the application part 21 and the support shaft 22 of the applicator 2. For this purpose, the ironing valve 31 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber. In FIG. 1, the ironing valve 31 is located slightly below the mouth 33, but instead, the ironing valve 31 may be arranged at the mouth 33. The vicinity of the mouth portion 33 of the container body 3 includes a portion from a location slightly away from the mouth portion 33 to the mouth portion 33.

  The applicator 2 used in combination with the container 3 has an applicator 21 and a support shaft 22. These members can freely enter and leave the container 3 through the mouth 33 of the container 3. The application unit 21 is used to apply the liquid 4 to the application target site. The support shaft 22 is connected to the application unit 21 at the tip thereof. The application part 21 and the support shaft 22 may be integrally configured from the same material, or may be configured by joining two members manufactured in advance by a predetermined means. In any case, the application unit 21 can be elastically deformed by an external force applied to the application unit 21 during the application operation of the liquid 4. For this purpose, various elastomers such as natural rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, silicone resin, and polyurethane can be used as the material of the application portion 21. In particular, the use of a thermoplastic elastomer is preferable because the application portion 21 can be manufactured by injection molding.

  When the application part 21 and the support shaft 22 are separately manufactured and coupled, it is preferable to couple them together. As a method for coupling, there is a method in which the application portion 21 or the support shaft 22 is plastically deformed and fixed by punching or the like. Moreover, you may employ | adopt well-known techniques, such as adhesion | attachment by an adhesive agent suitably.

  The applicator 2 further has a lid 23. The lid body 23 is connected to the rear end of the support shaft 22. As described above, the lid body 23 has a screw portion (not shown) on its inner peripheral surface. This screw portion can be screwed with the screw portion 32 of the container 3 described above. In a state where the lid body 23 is screwed with the screw portion 32 of the container 3, the coating device 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape. In this state, the application unit 21 is located slightly above the bottom of the container 3.

  2A and 2B are enlarged views of the application unit 21. FIG. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the vertical relationship of the application part 21 is reversed. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the application unit 21 viewed from the first surface 21A side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the application unit 21 viewed from the second surface 21B side. is there. The application part 21 has an elongated shape in the direction in which the support shaft 22 extends. Specifically, the application unit 21 has a longitudinal shape having a longitudinal direction X in a direction in which the support shaft 22 extends and a width direction Y in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X.

  The application unit 21 has a first surface 21A and a second surface 21B located on the opposite side. The first surface 21A is substantially flat or slightly convex. The convex surface here means a convex surface along the longitudinal direction X of the application part 21 and / or a convex surface along the width direction Y of the application part 21. On the other hand, the second surface 21B is an uneven surface having irregularities.

  The application unit 21 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the support shaft 22. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the coating portion 21 is inclined so that an axis a along the extending direction intersects an axis b along the extending direction of the support shaft 22. In the state where the applicator 2 is inserted into the container 3, as shown in FIG. 1, the applicator 21 is supported so that the first surface 21 </ b> A of the applicator 21 faces the bottom of the container 3. It is inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft 22. By applying the applicator 21 and the support shaft 22 in such an inclined relationship, it is possible to easily apply the liquid 4 using the applicator 2.

  The application part 21 has been subjected to flocking treatment on its surface. The fibers used for the flocking treatment preferably have a length of 0.1 to 3 mm and a thickness of 0.5 to 5 dtex. It is also possible to use a combination of two or more different fibers within this range in length and thickness. As the material of the fiber, an appropriate material is selected according to the type of the liquid 4 and the type of the application target part. When the body surface of the human body, for example, skin or nails is used as the application target site, a preferable soft feel can be obtained by using a polyamide resin. In order to perform the flocking process on the surface of the application unit 21, a known technique such as an electrostatic flocking method may be appropriately employed.

  3A to 3E show a front view, a side view, and a cross-sectional view of the application unit 21 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As described above, the surface of the application part 21 is subjected to a flocking process. However, depending on the type of the liquid 4 and the type of application target part, the flocking process may not be performed. Regardless of whether or not the flocking treatment is performed, the application unit 21 is preferably formed so that the entire exposed surface in a state before the flocking treatment is formed with only a curved surface. In other words, it is preferable that the application part 21 in a state before the flocking treatment is smooth and has no corners.

  Furthermore, as for the application part 21, the exposed surface in the state before a flocking process may be smooth. In other words, the application part 21 in a state before the flocking treatment does not have to have various fine irregularities such as a wrinkle shape, a textured shape, and a satin shape on the exposed surface. Instead of adopting such a surface state, the exposed surface may have various fine irregularities such as a saddle shape, a textured shape, a satin shape, or the exposed surface becomes porous. It may be. What state should be selected as the surface state of the exposed surface may be determined according to the type of liquid 4 and the type of application target site. For example, when the body surface of a human body such as skin or nails is used as a site to be applied, the application unit 21 in a state before the hair transplantation treatment is “smooth” and “smooth” is smooth. It is preferable in terms of feeling.

  As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the application part 21 has the narrowest width part 21C, when this is seen from the 1st surface 21A side. The width here refers to the length in the Y direction in FIG. The narrowest width portion 21C is located closer to the tip than the position at which the application portion 21 is divided into two in the longitudinal direction. Further, the narrowest width portion 21 </ b> C is located away from the tip 21 </ b> D of the application portion 21. The narrowest width portion 21 </ b> C shown in the figure is only one place, but it may be present at two or more places, or may exist over a certain length. The application portion 21 gradually becomes wider from the narrowest width portion 21 </ b> C toward the tip 21 </ b> D of the application portion 21. Then, after passing through the wide portion 21E, the width gradually decreases toward the tip 21D. Further, when viewed from the first surface 21A side, the application portion 21 gradually becomes wider from the narrowest width portion 21C toward the rear end of the application portion 21. The width of the application portion 21 is substantially the same at the connecting portion 24 between the application portion 21 and the support shaft 22. Between the narrowest width portion 21 </ b> C and the connecting portion 24, there is no constricted portion where the width of the application portion 21 is narrowed. In addition, although the application part 21 shown to Fig.2 (a) is drawn symmetrically, the application part 21 does not necessarily need to be symmetrical.

  As shown in FIG. 3D, in the narrowest width portion 21C, the width Wc of the narrowest width portion 21C is smaller than the thickness Tc of the narrowest width portion 21C. Because of this and the application part 21 being elastically deformable, the application part 21 has a first in-plane direction (in the drawing) rather than a direction orthogonal to the first surface 21A in the narrowest width part 21C. 3 (d), it is easy to bend in the direction indicated by reference sign D1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the coating part 21 is viewed from the first surface 21A side, the extent to which the coating part 21 gradually becomes wider from the narrowest part 21C toward the wide part 21E is a straight line. It is preferable that the range of the angle α1 formed by c1 and the axis a of the application portion 21 is 5 ° <α1 <60 °, particularly 10 ° <α1 <45 °. By setting the angle α1 within this range, when the applicator 2 is pulled out from the container 3, the applicator 21 is less likely to be caught by the ironing valve 31, so that the applicator 2 can be easily pulled out from the container 3. Further, the vicinity of the narrowest width portion 21 </ b> C is effectively squeezed, and it becomes difficult for excess liquid to remain in the application portion 21. For the same reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the range of the angle α2 formed by the straight line c2 and the axis a of the application portion 21 is preferably 5 ° <α2 <60 °, particularly 10 ° <α2 <45 °. The angle α1 and the angle α2 may be the same value or different. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the angle α3 formed by the straight line c1 and the straight line c2 is 60 ° <α3 <150 °. By setting the angle α3 within this range, the vicinity of the narrowest width portion 21C is effectively squeezed. Further, it is difficult for the liquid to remain in the narrowest width portion 21C. Furthermore, the application portion 21 is easily bent to the left and right in the figure with the narrowest width portion 21C as the pivot axis. A straight line c1 is a contour line R1 between the narrowest width portion 21C and the wide width portion 21E in the contour line when the coating portion 21 is projected onto a plane parallel to the first coating surface 21A of the coating portion 21. It is a tangent at the middle position. The straight line c2 is a tangent at an intermediate position in the contour line R2 between the narrowest width portion 21C and the widest portion located near the connecting portion 24 from the narrowest width portion 21C. It is. When the slope of the tangent line changes greatly depending on the position where the tangent line is drawn, such as when the contour line R1 or R2 is not smooth (irregularity or discontinuous line), the curve profile is about 50% near the middle of the entire path of the contour line R1 or R2. The straight lines approximated to a straight line by the least square method or the like may be used as the straight lines c1 and c2. Specifically, assuming that the total road is 100, an approximate straight line is obtained by a least square method or the like using a curve function or point group coordinate data of about 25 to 75 sections. When the contour lines R1 and R2 have an inflection point near the center of the entire road, tangent lines passing through the inflection points may be straight lines c1 and c2. In FIG. 4, the straight line c1 and the straight line c2 intersect on the axis a, but the intersection position of the straight line c1 and the straight line c2 is not limited to this.

  2 and 3, as shown in these drawings, the application unit 21 is a plane passing through the axis b of the support shaft 22 and the axis a of the application unit 21, specifically, FIG. 3 (b). When the coating portion 21 is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a plane parallel to the plane of the paper (that is, a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3B), the coating portion 21 has a minimum thickness portion 21F. . The thickness referred to here is a straight line perpendicular to the axis a of the application part 21 when the application part 21 is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a plane passing through the axis b of the support shaft 22 and the axis a of the application part 21. Is the length across the coating portion 21.

  The application portion 21 has a substantially conical protruding portion with the second surface 21B protruding between the minimum thickness portion 21F and the tip 21D of the applying portion 21. And the maximum thickness part 21G of the application part 21 exists in the position of the vertex of this substantially cone-shaped protrusion part. Although the illustrated maximum thickness portion 21G is only one place, it may be present at two or more places, or may exist over a certain length. The thickness of the coating part 21 gradually decreases from the position of the maximum thickness part 21G toward the tip 21D. On the other hand, the thickness of the application part 21 gradually increases from the position of the minimum thickness part 21F toward the position of the maximum thickness part 21G. Furthermore, the thickness of the application part 21 gradually increases from the position of the minimum thickness part 21F toward the rear end of the application part 21. The contour of the coating portion 21 is substantially the same as the contour of the support shaft 22 at the connecting portion 24 between the coating portion 21 and the support shaft 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3E, in the minimum thickness portion 21F, the width Wf of the minimum thickness portion 21F is larger than the thickness Tf of the minimum thickness portion 21F. By this and the application part 21 being made elastically deformable, the application part 21 has a direction perpendicular to the first surface 21A rather than the first in-plane direction in the minimum thickness part 21F (FIG. 3). In (e), it is easy to bend in the direction indicated by symbol D2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the application part 21, the narrowest width part 21C is located closer to the tip 21D of the application part 21 than the minimum thickness part 21F. However, the positional relationship between the narrowest width portion 21C and the minimum thickness portion 21F is not limited to this, and the narrowest width portion 21C may be located closer to the rear end of the application portion 21 than the minimum thickness portion 21F. Alternatively, the narrowest width portion 21C and the minimum thickness portion 21F may be at substantially the same position.

  On the other hand, regarding the positional relationship between the narrowest width portion 21C and the maximum thickness portion 21G, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the narrowest width portion 21C and the maximum thickness portion 21G are substantially at the same position. However, the positional relationship between the two is not limited to this, and the narrowest width portion 21C may be positioned closer to the tip 21D of the application portion 21 than the maximum thickness portion 21G, and conversely the narrowest width portion 21C is the maximum thickness portion. You may be located near the rear end of this application part 21 rather than 21G.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the application unit 21 is viewed from the first surface 21A side, the tip 21D of the application unit 21 is tapered and rounded. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the application unit 21 is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a plane passing through the axis b of the support shaft 22 and the axis a of the application unit 21, The tip 21D is tapered and rounded. Thus, the tip 21D of the application part 21 is rounded when viewed from any direction. In other words, the tip 21D has a tapered shape, but is not sharp when viewed from any direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the coating part 21 is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a plane passing through the axis b of the support shaft 22 and the axis a of the coating part 21, the coating part 21 is separated from the minimum thickness part 21F. To the extent that the width gradually increases toward the maximum thickness portion 21G, the range of the angle β1 formed by the straight line d1 and the axis a of the application portion 21 is 5 ° <β1 <60 °, particularly 10 ° <β1 <45 °. It is preferable that By setting β1 within this range, when the applicator 2 is pulled out from the container 3, the applicator 21 is less likely to be caught by the ironing valve 31, so that the applicator 2 can be easily pulled out from the container 3. Further, the vicinity of the minimum thickness portion 21F is effectively squeezed, and it becomes difficult for excess liquid to remain in the application portion 21. For the same reason, as shown in FIG. 5, the range of the angle β2 formed by the straight line d2 and the axis b of the support shaft 22 is preferably 0 ° <β2 <60 °, particularly 5 ° <β2 <45 °. The angle β3 formed by the straight line d1 and the straight line d2 is preferably 60 ° <β3 <150 °. The angle β1 and the angle β2 may be the same value or different. A straight line d1 indicates that the coating unit 21 is in a plane parallel to the plane when the coating unit 21 is viewed from a direction orthogonal to a plane passing through the axis b of the support shaft 22 and the axis a of the coating unit 21. In the contour line when projected, it is a tangent at an intermediate position in the contour line R3 between the minimum thickness portion 21F and the maximum thickness portion 21G. The straight line d2 is a tangent at an intermediate position in the contour line R4 between the minimum thickness portion 21F and the thickest portion located near the connecting portion 24 from the minimum thickness portion 21F in the contour line. . When the slope of the tangent line changes greatly depending on the position where the tangent is drawn, such as when the contour line R3 or R4 is not smooth (uneven or discontinuous line), the curve profile is about 50% near the middle of the entire path of the contour line R3 or R4. And the straight lines approximated to the straight line by the least square method or the like may be used as the straight lines d1 and d2. Specifically, assuming that the total road is 100, an approximate straight line is obtained by a least square method or the like using a curve function or point group coordinate data of about 25 to 75 sections. When the contour lines R3 and R4 have an inflection point near the center of the entire road, tangent lines passing through the inflection points may be straight lines d1 and d2.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B show a state where the applicator 2 in the liquid applicator 1 having the above structure is pulled out from the container 3. In the state before use, as shown in FIG. 1, the applicator 21 of the applicator 2 is located slightly above the bottom of the container 3. When the applicator 2 is pulled up from this state, the second surface 21B side of the applicator 21 is connected to the lower end of the squeezing valve 31 as shown in FIG. The excess liquid that comes into contact and exists on the second surface 21 </ b> B side is squeezed out by the squeezing valve 31. When the extraction is further advanced, as shown in FIG. 6B, the maximum thickness portion 21 </ b> F that protrudes like a hump in the application portion 21 approaches the lower end of the squeezing valve 31, so that the extraction becomes difficult. By the way, as described above, the minimum thickness portion 21F is in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 21A rather than the first in-plane direction in the application portion 21 (the direction indicated by reference sign D2 in FIG. 6B). It is easy to bend. Therefore, when further extraction is performed from the state shown in FIG. 6B, the position of the maximum thickness portion 21F becomes the pivot rotation axis, the application portion 21 bends in the direction indicated by the arrow (that is, pivots), and the application portion. 21 and the contact with the ironing valve 31 are alleviated. As a result, the application part 21 can be pulled out without requiring excessive force. At the same time, the maximum thickness portion 21F protruding in the shape of a hump in the application portion 21 and the vicinity thereof are effectively squeezed by the squeezing valve 31, so that excess liquid adhering to the application portion 21 is successfully squeezed off. be able to. As a result, the liquid can be effectively prevented from dripping from the application section 21 during the liquid application operation.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a usage state of the liquid coating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment having the above structure. This figure shows a state in which the eyelash cosmetic liquid is applied to the root of the eyelash, which is a very fine part, as the application target part. In order to apply the eyelash cosmetic liquid to the root of the eyelashes, first, the operation shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B described above is performed to remove the excessive eyelash cosmetic liquid adhering to the application part 21 and apply the eyelash cosmetic liquid. Prevent the cosmetic liquid from dropping off during operation. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the tip of the application part 21 is brought into contact with the root of the eyelashes to apply the cosmetic liquid to the root of the eyelashes. As described above, the tip 21D of the application part 21 of the applicator 2 has a tapered shape, so that even when the application target portion is fine, the cosmetic liquid can be applied successfully. Moreover, since the tip 21D of the application part 21 is not sharp but rounded, it gives the user a sense of security when the tip 21D is brought close to the eyes.

  As described above, the application portion 21 is inclined so that the axis line a along the extending direction intersects the axis line b of the support shaft 22. When the cosmetic liquid is applied so that the first surface 21A faces upward and the second surface 21B faces downward, the application part 21 in such an inclined state is subjected to an application operation. There is an advantage that visibility of the user is secured. There is also an advantage that it can be applied to the edge of the eyelid without being blocked by the eyelashes. When the application unit 21 is in the above-described inclined state, the user can apply the application tool 21 to the eyelashes as shown in FIG. 7, and as a result, the direction in which the application unit 21 is moved (along the edge of the eyelid). Direction) and the bending direction (left-right direction) of the application part 21 can be made to correspond naturally. From these viewpoints, it is preferable to set the angle θ (see FIG. 5) between the axis a along the direction in which the application part 21 extends and the axis b of the support shaft 22 to 80 degrees or less, particularly 5 to 45 degrees.

  When performing the coating operation shown in FIG. 7, the coating unit 21 is moved left and right along the edge of the ridge. By the way, as described above, the application portion 21 is more easily bent in the first in-plane direction than in the direction orthogonal to the first surface 21A in the narrowest width portion 21C. Accordingly, when the application unit 21 is moved left and right along the edge of the eyelid with the first surface 21A facing upward and the second surface 21B facing downward, As shown in FIG. 8, the position of the narrowest width portion 21 </ b> C serves as a pivot rotation axis, and the application portion 21 bends in the direction indicated by reference numeral D <b> 1 (that is, pivots). This bending makes it easier to apply the cosmetic liquid even in a narrow area such as the edge of the eyelid. Moreover, since the force when the application part 21 contacts a target part is relieved by this bending, even when the application part 21 contacts a sensitive part such as the edge of the eyelid, physical stimulation given to the eyelid is caused. The user can apply the eyelash beauty serum easily and at ease. From these viewpoints, the application unit 21 bends with a softness so that the user does not feel pain even when the application unit 21 is pressed against the edge of the heel and bent at an angle of about 90 °, for example. That is good. Further, it is preferable that the coating unit 21 has a restoring property that returns to the initial shape after separating the coating unit 21 from the ridge, since it is easy to aim at the coating position when performing the next coating operation. Furthermore, the time until restoration to the initial shape (recovery speed) is not too long (not too slow), and it is easier to recognize the touch when the application unit 21 is touching the heel, and push It is convenient for the user to use the applicator 2 in terms of ease of adjusting the contact force. The softness and resilience of the bending may be determined by appropriately selecting the width and thickness of the narrowest width portion 1C, the type of material constituting the application portion 21, the rubber hardness, and the like.

  In order to more effectively cause bending with the narrowest width portion 21C as the pivot axis, the application portion 21 has a force that causes the application portion 21 to bend in the first in-plane direction at the narrowest width portion 21C. Is preferably smaller than the force of bending in the direction perpendicular to the first surface in the minimum thickness portion 21F. For the same reason, the pivot rotation shaft in the narrowest width portion 21C and the pivot rotation shaft in the minimum thickness portion 21F are preferably in a twisted position. In particular, both rotation shafts are in the direction of the axis a of the application portion 21. It is preferable that it intersects at 90 degrees when viewed from the side. In this way, when applying the eyelash cosmetic liquid by moving the application part 21 left and right along the edge of the eyelid, the application part 21 bends only in the direction (left and right direction) along the traveling direction, It becomes more difficult to bend in the direction. Therefore, while the eyelash cosmetic liquid is applied to the eyelashes, the applicator 21 unexpectedly comes off the edge of the eyelid and protrudes from the application target site, so that the eyelash cosmetic liquid does not adhere to the eyelashes or the eyeball. Can be applied to small parts with ease and peace of mind.

The description of the usage state of the liquid application apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 7 is for the case where the eyelash cosmetic liquid is used as the liquid, but the liquid to be applied using the liquid application apparatus is limited to the eyelash cosmetic liquid. I can't. Further, the application target part is not limited to the edge of the eyelid. The liquid to be applied by the liquid applying apparatus 1 is not limited to a liquid in a narrow sense, but widely includes substances that have fluidity in a use environment and have properties that can be applied to a target site. Examples of such substances include fluids called creams, pastes, viscous bodies and the like in addition to liquids in a narrow sense. Specifically, in addition to the mascara serum described above, various cosmetics such as mascara, nail polish, concealer, liquid lipstick, glazing cosmetics for finishing called lip gloss and lip color, automobiles, etc. Paints such as touch-up paint used for repairing the body and bumpers, adhesives, and correction fluids used to erase typographical errors. These liquids can be applied to the surface of the human body, automobile bodies and bumpers, various solids and semi-solids that require adhesion and correction fluids (various metals, plastics, rubber, glass, ceramics, concrete and stones) Wood, leather, fiber / cloth, paper, etc.). Since the liquid application apparatus 1 is suitable for applying a liquid to a fine part, the application target part is a linear object having a line width of about 0.3 to 5 mm, or a planar shape. It is preferable to have an area of about 0.1 to 25 mm ² .

  Moreover, although the liquid application device 1 is suitable for applying a liquid to a fine part, for example, by using the first surface 21A which is substantially flat or slightly convex, it is possible to obtain a wide surface portion. The liquid can also be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid application apparatus 2 Application tool 21 Application part 21A 1st surface 21B 2nd surface 21C Narrowest width part 21D Tip 21E Wide part 21F Minimum thickness part 22 Support shaft 23 Cover body 3 Container 31 Ironing valve 31A Ironing hole 33 Mouth Part 4 Liquid

Claims (5)

A liquid applicator having a support shaft and an applicator portion connected to the tip of the support shaft and having an elongated shape in the extending direction of the support shaft,
The application part is elastically deformable by an external force applied to the application part during the liquid application operation,
The application part is inclined such that the axis along the extending direction intersects the axis of the support shaft,
The application portion has a first surface that is substantially flat or slightly convex, and a second surface located on the opposite side of the first surface,
When the application portion is viewed from the first surface side, the application portion has the narrowest width portion, gradually becomes wider from the narrowest width portion toward the tip, and gradually becomes narrower toward the tip. And
When the application part is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plane passing through the axis of the support shaft and the axis of the application part, the application part has a minimum thickness part, and the minimum thickness part and the tip of the application part The second surface has a maximum thickness portion formed so as to protrude between the ends, and the application portion further gradually decreases in thickness from the maximum thickness portion toward the tip of the application portion ,
The narrowest width part is located closer to the tip of the application part than the minimum thickness part,
The application portion is more easily bent in the first in-plane direction than in the direction orthogonal to the first surface at the narrowest width portion,
The application portion is more easily bent in the direction perpendicular to the first surface than in the first in-plane direction at the minimum thickness portion,
The liquid applicator is used together with a container for containing a liquid, and can be freely entered and exited from the mouth of the container.
As container, the mouth or in the vicinity thereof, ironing liquid applicator are use those flexible ironing valve is provided with holes. Application part, liquid applicator of claim 1 that is a wider gradually brought toward its rear end from the narrowest section. 3. The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the coating portion has a thickness that gradually decreases from the maximum thickness portion toward the minimum thickness portion, and that the thickness gradually increases from the minimum thickness portion toward the rear end. Applicator. When the application unit is viewed from the first surface side, the tip of the application unit is rounded, and the application unit is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane passing through the axis of the support shaft and the axis of the application unit. The liquid applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when viewed, the tip of the applicator is rounded. The liquid applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the application section has a flocking treatment applied to a surface thereof.