US20070017049A1

US20070017049A1 - Connecting part for applicators

Info

Publication number: US20070017049A1
Application number: US11/472,619
Authority: US
Inventors: Gunter Jenner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: JFA FLOCK APPLIKATIONEN GmbH
Priority date: 2005-06-24
Filing date: 2006-06-22
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: EP1736245A2; EP1736245A3; DE202006007492U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting arrangement for applicators, particularly for applicators which are used for applying liquid or pasty media, comprising a connecting part (1) and a sleeve-shaped holding portion (4), said connecting part (1) being equipped with a head and a stem (3) which is arranged on said head (2), said stem being formed along a stem axis (7) and having a free end, and said holding portion (4) being intended to receive said stem, said stem (3) and said holding portion (4) comprising at least one locking element (10, 11), respectively, which locking elements cooperate for the purpose of obtaining a connection when said stem (3) is inserted into said holding portion (4) in order to make it difficult to pull out said stem (3) from said holding portion (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a connecting arrangement for applicators, particularly for applicators which are used for applying liquid or pasty media, and to a special connecting part.
From the prior art, applicators are known which comprise a head and a stem. While the head (which may advantageously be flocked) is used for the actual application of the media, the stem arranged on the head serves to hold the head or to fix it to a carrier. In the prior art, a carrier of this kind, which may be arranged inside the screw cap of a phial for cosmetics, for example, comprises a sleeve-shaped end section into which the stem of the connecting part with the head arranged on it may be inserted and, as the case may be, fixed.
Various kinds of connecting parts are known from the prior art, in which the different profile of the respective stem for attachment in the associated holding portion is to be taken into account individually. This results in the disadvantage that different requirements are to be taken into account in order to fix the different stems in the sleeves of the holding portions, which leads to increased technical complexity in view of a large diversity of connecting parts or heads.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a simple and sufficiently strong connection between the connecting part and the sleeve. Another object is to provide a connecting part for applicators which makes the connection with the associated holding portions particularly easy.
This object is achieved with an arrangement according to claim 1 and a connecting part according to claim 7.
The invention is based on the idea that particularly simple and secure fixing of the stem in the holding portion is guaranteed by the fact that the stem and the holding portion comprise at least one locking element, respectively, which locking elements cooperate when the stem is inserted into the holding portion to obtain a connection therebetween in such a way that pulling out the stem from the holding portion is made more difficult. The respective locking elements may engage one behind the other or may cooperate in any other positive-locking way so that a relative movement between the holding portion and the stem is made more difficult or even prevented entirely.
According to the invention, the locking elements cooperating with each other may have different shapes. For example, a projection inside the mostly tubular holding portion, which is approximately pin-shaped, may engage a corresponding groove or recess in the stem. In this case, the locking element or elements of the stem has/have a different shape than that of the locking element or elements of the holding portion. Inversely, the locking elements cooperating, respectively, may have principally the same shape, so a substantially triangular projection on the stem may cooperate with a triangular projection of the same kind inside the holding portion, for example. Advantageously, the possible cooperation of differently shaped locking elements on the stem or the holding portion allows to use a particularly large diversity of locking elements, and optimum, fast and cost-efficient manufacture thereof may serve as a criterion of choice here.
The locking elements on the stem and/or in the holding portion may be configured to fully extend along the periphery in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, individual locking elements may also be distributed over the periphery, which is preferably done at equal distances in the circumferential direction. For example, four projections which are displaced by 90 degrees, respectively, and which only have a small width, respectively, may be formed on the stem. This makes it possible to push the stem (perhaps with partial plastic deformation of the projections) through beneath a locking element inside the holding portion. This associated locking element inside the holding portion may be bead extending towards the inner side and over the entire periphery, for example, behind which the four locking elements of the stem engage when the stem has been inserted. What is also conceivable, however, is to use four recesses on the inner side of the holding portion which are distributed in the same way and in which one of the locking elements of the stem may engage, respectively. This will also guarantee a non-rotative connection between the stem and the holding portion.
Several locking elements arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction are conceivable both on the stem and on the holding portion, too. For example, a profile of several peripheral grooves formed one behind the other in the stem in the axial direction may cooperate with one or several knobs which project from the inner side of the holding portion. The knobs may engage in one of the peripheral grooves of the stem when the stem is pushed into the holding portion. Here, the depth of insertion may be chosen freely, and depending on the depth of insertion the knobs formed in the holding portion may engage in a different groove of the stem.
Principally, both the locking elements of the stem and those of the holding portion may extend entirely around the respective axis or may be uniformly or non-uniformly distributed over the periphery.
According to a particularly simple and effective embodiment of the connecting arrangement according to the invention, elevations and impressions are provided as locking elements on the stem and in the receiving portion which have wedge-shaped, partially circular, knob-shaped, triangular, polygonal or irregular cross-sections. Depending on the shape, particularly effective engagement portions can be achieved, which optionally make it easier, more difficult or not possible at all to pull the stem and the holding portion apart.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a fixture between the stem and the receiving portion which is variable regarding the depth of insertion and yet stable is achieved by providing peripherally extending impressions or elevations as convolutions, parallel, axially spaced grooves, or portions of the stem or the receiving portion with a larger or smaller cross-section which extend in the form of waves, as a locking element on the stem and/or a locking element in the receiving portion. Such peripherally extending impressions or elevations may cooperate with other locking elements which engage in the impressions. The locking elements cooperating with each other, respectively, may be configured to be complementary to each other so that, in the state in which they engage, the respective cross-sections of the locking elements supplement each other to a large extent or even completely to form a continuous surface. A stem, for example, whose locking element is chosen to be a wave-shaped profile, and a correspondingly complementary, wave-shaped inner profile of the receiving portion may be assigned to each other. This results in multiple positive locking and thus in a particularly stable connection. In order to facilitate the action of inserting the stem, it is also possible to provide only one circumferentially extending groove or only one locking element which is not configured to extend circumferentially and which cooperates with a locking element that is configured to be complementary thereto.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is intended that at least one locking element comprises an insertion slope so as to facilitate the action of inserting the stem and so that a locking element can engage behind it after the stem has been inserted. For this purpose, a profile with a triangular cross-section is particularly suitable, with one side of the triangle rising from the surface of the stem or the inner wall of the receiving portion in an inclination and then abruptly falling back again towards the original diameter. An insertion slope of this kind facilitates the insertion of the stem into the receiving portion (potentially with a slight deformation of the stem or the receiving portion). As soon as the two cooperating locking elements are pushed past one another, they engage one behind the other, whereby it is made difficult to pull the stem and the holding portion apart. Here, the process of engagement of one element behind the other may be supported by the material of the stem or the holding portion jerking back elastically as soon as the locking elements are locked in their position forming the engagement portion.
Furthermore, the invention deals with the specific configuration of a connecting part which can be used for the arrangement described above or independently of it. The invention is based on the idea that a simple and standardized connection between the connecting part and the holding portion can be achieved if the stem has the shape of a peg at least along a section of the stem, which peg comprises impressions at regular distances in the radial direction along the axis of the stem although the maximum outer diameter remains substantially constant.
With such a shape, the stem may be introduced into the sleeve of every holding portion and may be fixed in such a way that the potentially variable depth of the respective sleeve is of minor importance only.
The stem of the connecting part according to the invention can be fixed in the sleeve particularly in such a way that, once the stem has been introduced into the sleeve, it is achieved that the stem gets stuck in the sleeve as a result of the sleeve being compressed from outside by a specific amount in at least one predetermined place. In case of a permanent deformation of the sleeve in the area in which it is compressed, at least a frictional connection is created between the sleeve and the stem.
It is particularly advantageous if the stem gets stuck in a place in which the stem inside the sleeve comprises one of the aforesaid impressions. In this case, the material of the sleeve can be partially pushed into the impression of the stem in such a way that, apart from a frictional connection, a positive-locking connection, too, is created between the stem and the sleeve, which results in a particularly firm connection.
Alternatively, fixing can also be effected if the sleeve comprises, on its inner side, at least one projection, peg, nipple or the like projecting inside, which will rest in one of its aforesaid impressions when the stem is inserted. The projection then exerts a positive-locking resistance against an axial relative movement of the stem and the sleeve so that the stem will be safely and sufficiently fixedly locked inside the sleeve. Thus, the stem is pressed into the sleeve and is pushed along or past the projection inside the sleeve with one or several of its radial impressions. In this situation, the sleeve may be temporarily widened and/or the at least one projection may give at least to such an extent that inserting and locking of the stem in the depth of the sleeve chosen is possible without jeopardizing the desired stability and strength of the connection.
As compared to the first variant of a connection mentioned, it is possible here to refrain from allowing the sleeve and the stem to get stuck by exerting an external clamping force onto the sleeve, which saves time and money.
The at least one projection inside the sleeve may also be configured as a continuous or periodically discontinuous, ring-shaped bead on the inner wall of the sleeve. However, only a few projections or even only a single projection, which may be dot-shaped, for example, may be sufficient, as well. Furthermore, several projections may be spaced apart from one another along the inner wall of the sleeve in the axial direction in such a way that their distance corresponds to the distance of the regular impressions of the stem. This increases the strength of the connection since, in this case, several projections may engage in different impressions and together achieve an increased holding effect.
Advantageously, the regular distances of the impressions according to the invention make it possible to variably fix the stems in the sleeves as far as the depth of insertion is concerned. Namely, the above-mentioned stable fixture can be made by clamping the sleeve or by engagement using inner sleeve projections in the area of one or several arbitrary impressions of the stem, which principally makes different depths of insertion of the stem in the sleeve of the holding portion possible. Thus, according to the invention, the stem—which in this respect may be called standardized—makes it possible to fix different heads in sleeves of different depths largely irrespective of the respective depth of the sleeve or the length of the head arranged on the stem, whereby a large number of different shapes of the stem known from the prior art can advantageously be avoided and manufacturing different applicators can be simplified to a large extent. The standardized shape of the stem according to the invention makes it possible for different heads and different depths of the sleeve to flexibly adjust to a desired overall length of the applicator into which the stem of the connecting part in the sleeve can be inserted with substantially variable depth.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the impressions are provided as troughs of an imaginary wave which is directed in parallel to the axis of the stem and extends peripherally about the axis. Thus, the stem has the shape of a peg which, in the axial direction, periodically varies between a maximum and a minimum as far as its outer diameter is concerned. The wave shape is particularly advantageous in that the transition between an impression and a corresponding elevation is smoother or has a gradient that can be chosen. The sharp edges in the transition area between the impression and the elevation which are avoided thereby advantageously make it possible to obtain a particularly firm connection between the stem and the surrounding sleeve since the sleeve compressed from the outside can be pressed into such a wave-shaped impression more easily than in case of a sharp-edged groove, for example. Furthermore, it is easier to press the sleeve into a trough of a wave than to actually deform the sleeve, whereas pressing the sleeve into a sharp-edged groove rather has the character of a deep-drawing process in which the flow of material inside the sleeve is necessary and the connection is thereby rather weakened. In case of projections arranged inside the sleeve, the wave shape also simplifies the process of engagement since there are no sharp edges on the transitions.
Furthermore, with the wave shape, the existing material of the stem can be utilized optimally, while sharp-edged transitions and thus zones which are likely to break can advantageously be avoided.
The peg which comprises the radial impressions or the wave shape may have—perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis—a substantially rotationally symmetrical cross-section, which has the effect of a particularly good inner stability of the stem. Principally, however, all bodies which are substantially longish are conceivable whose cross-sectional shape it not necessarily circular or rotationally symmetrical. In particular, as cross-sectional shapes, rectangular, square, triangular or principally every polygonal shape are to be mentioned here, which may also be irregular, i.e. with sides of different lengths. Also, a body having a cross-section in the form of a star (ridges extending outwardly from a center) constitutes a suitable cross-section, just like elliptical shapes. Not entirely symmetrical cross-sections are conceivable, as well, such as U-shaped or Z-shaped cross-sections. Furthermore, a polygonal cross-section does not have to be filled and can be hollow inside. What is always decisive in the substantially free or arbitrary cross-sectional shape of the peg is that it has the impressions according to the invention in its longitudinal direction and that the stability connected with the material required and with the weight is chosen to be optimal.
In case of connecting parts which are not round in their cross-section (or in the area of the peg to be fixed), a wave shape—which is not absolutely necessary—may be formed by combining the (for example, polygonal) shape of the peg with a peripherally extending wave.
According to the invention, an advantageous embodiment of the connecting part is configured such that the wave profile is formed by at least two successive impressions and elevations. With these two impressions, the variable depth of insertion or fixture inside the sleeve of the holding portion is already possible while, at the same time, only the minimum amount of material that is required for the stem is used. For this reason, this embodiment constitutes a most simple variant of the invention.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the free end of the stem rests in an impression. The free end of the stem which is remote from the head can be introduced into the sleeve of the holding portion particularly easily if the outer diameter at this free end is reduced as compared to the inner diameter of the sleeve. This makes it easier to introduce the stem into the sleeve, which is particularly useful if the axis of the sleeve is slightly displaced from the axis of the stem. If the final impression at the free end of the stem is a trough of a wave, the gradient towards the first wave crest simultaneously acts as a centering means when the stem is further introduced into the sleeve.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the axial distance of the regular impressions along the stem is preferably one to two millimeters. With this distance, the required number of possibilities of fixing or of clamping points on the sleeve can be achieved without the stem itself being configured to be too filigreed.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ratio of the maximum outer diameter to the minimum outer diameter of the stem in the area of the stem section provided with the impressions is chosen to be 3:2. This ratio turned out to be particularly suitable in practice, so, with a core diameter in the area of the impression and its 1.5-fold value of the maximum outer diameter, the stem is formed to be sufficiently stable on the one hand and offers sufficient scope of impression to press in the sleeve. A maximum outer diameter of the stem to be chosen advantageously is currently 2.6 mm or 3.0 mm since this corresponds to the commonly used sleeve diameters. However, this does not exclude other sizes.
Advantageously, the stem is formed of plastics, although other materials are principally conceivable, too. A certain flexibility of the material is useful in so far as, during clamping, the sleeve compressed there can be optimally adjusted to the stem if the stem is configured to be pliable or flexible at least to a small extent, too.
Below, an embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail with the aid of an example shown in the Figures.
FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic side view, a part of an applicator 1. The applicator comprises a head 2, which is arranged on a stem 3, and the head and the stem form the connecting part according to the invention. The stem 3 extends from the head substantially along an axis 7 and projects into a sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 is part of a holding portion and may be integrally formed with a screw cap of a container, such as a phial for cosmetics, for example, which is not shown in FIG. 1.
As is apparent, the stem 3 has a wave-shaped profile which is formed rotationally symmetrically about the axis 7. Hereby, peripheral impressions 5 and elevations 6 are created on the stem, which—seen in the axial direction—blend smoothly.
Outside the sleeve 4, two plungers 8 are indicated, which can be pressed into the sleeve 4 from outside in the radial direction so as to obtain a clamping connection in such a way that the material of the sleeve is pressed into one of the peripheral impressions 5 of the stem 3 in the area of the point of compression.
As will be easily visible, the wave-shaped design of the stem allows to realize arbitrary depths of insertion into the sleeve 4; advantageously (but not necessarily), the point of clamping by the plungers 8 is to be chosen such that clamping is effected in the area of an impression 5 of the stem 3, respectively.
FIG. 2 shows a connecting part 1 with the wave-shaped stem 3 that has already been described. What is visible here are the impressions 5 and elevations 6 along a peg-shaped section of the stem 3. Here, however, the sleeve 4 is not intended to be used for clamping from outside. Rather, it comprises two peripheral projections in the form of beads (9) radially projecting inwardly on its inner side. When the stem has been inserted, they engage in two impressions (5) of the stem (3) and thus avoid a relative movement between the stem and the sleeve, hereby making a firm connection possible.
FIG. 3 shows, as an example, six different embodiments of the connecting part 1, with the respective stem 3 showing different locking elements 10. Only connecting element a) is provided with reference numerals, but the reference numerals analogously apply to the other embodiments b) to f), too.
The stem 3 according to embodiment a) shows, in a sectional view, a wave profile in which both a wave trough and a wave crest is to be understood as a locking element 10, respectively. An associated locking element 11 arranged inside a receiving portion (see FIG. 4) may then engage in a wave trough 10 and may form a positive-locking fixture particularly with an adjacent wave crest 10.
The embodiment according to FIG. 3 b shows locking elements which are created by peripheral grooves on the stem 3. Although the bottom of the grooves is chosen to be round here, it is principally possible to also choose any other suitable groove cross-section.
The embodiment according to c) shows locking elements which are created by an outer thread on the stem 3. A thread of this kind may principally also be used to screw the stem into an associated holding portion. However, it is intended that pushing the stem in without any rotary movement is possible according to the invention, too; again, associated locking elements of the receiving portion may engage in the individual impressions of the thread.
The embodiment according to d) in FIG. 3 shows a slightly increasing wedge profile; this profile can be a peripherally extending, broadened portion or wedge-shaped elements which are uniformly distributed over the periphery. When the variant d) is inserted into the receiving portion (not shown), the receiving portion or the locking elements arranged in the receiving portion are widened a little to then engage behind the sharp-edged shoulder of the wedge-shaped locking elements of the stem 3.
The embodiment according to e) shows a bead-like, widened portion whereas according to f) a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile is configured as a locking element. Other profiles are conceivable, too, in order to create a stable connection to be formed easily between the stem and the holding portion.
In FIG. 4, sectional views of variants a) to j) of holding portions 4 are shown, with reference numerals for the associated locking elements 11 being included in variant f) only. In variant a), a wedge-shaped narrow portion is visible, which may cooperate with variant d) of FIG. 3, for example, in such a way that a sharp-edged engagement portion is created. In principal, however, all the inner profiles of receiving portion 4 shown can be combined with outer profiles or locking elements 10 of a stem 3 which are not configured to be identical or complementary to each other. According to the invention, this results in a particularly large and practical diversity of possible combinations.

Claims

1. A connecting arrangement for applicators, particularly for applicators which are used for applying liquid or pasty media, comprising a connecting part (1) and a sleeve-shaped holding portion (4),

a) said connecting part (1) being equipped with a head and a stem (3) which is arranged on said head (2), said stem being formed along a stem axis (7) and having a free end, and

b) said holding portion (4) being intended to receive said stem, characterized in that

c) said stem (3) and said holding portion (4) comprise at least one locking element (10, 11), respectively, which locking elements cooperate for the purpose of obtaining a connection when said stem (3) is inserted into said holding portion (4) in order to make it difficult to pull out said stem (3) from said holding portion (4).

2. A connecting arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner side of said holding portion (4) and/or the outer side of said stem (3) comprises several locking elements (10, 11) which are uniformly distributed over the periphery and/or are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction.

3. A connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that elevations and impressions which have wedge-shaped, partially circular, knob-shaped, triangular, polygonal or irregular cross-sections are provided as a locking element (10) on the stem (3) and/or a locking element (11) in the receiving portion (4).

4. A connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, as a locking element (10) on the stem (3) and/or a locking element (11) in the receiving portion (4), peripherally extending impressions or elevations are provided as

a) convolutions,

b) parallel, axially spaced grooves or

c) portions with a larger or smaller cross-section which extend in the form of waves

of the stem (3) or the receiving portion (4).

5. A connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one locking element (10) of said stem (3) is configured to be complementary to the at least one locking element (11) in the receiving portion (4) in such a way that the respective cross-sections of the locking elements supplement each other to a large extent or even completely.

6. A connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one locking element (10, 11) comprises an insertion slope so as to facilitate the action of inserting the stem (3) and so that a locking element (10, 11) can engage behind it after the stem (3) has been inserted.

7. A connecting part (1) for applicators, particularly according to one of the preceding claims, said connecting part (1) being equipped with a head and a stem (3) which is arranged on said head (2), said stem being formed along a stem axis (7) and having a free end, and said stem (3) being intended to be received in a sleeve-shaped holding portion (4), characterized in that said stem (3) has the shape of a peg at least along a section of the stem, which peg comprises impressions (5) at regular distances in the radial direction along the axis (7) of said stem.

8. A connecting part according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cross-section of said peg has the shape of

a) a regular or irregular polygon

b) an ellipse

c) a U or a Z or

d) a star having at least two ridges which extend outwardly from a center.

9. A connecting part according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that said impressions (5) are the troughs of an imaginary wave directed in parallel to said axis (7) and extending peripherally about said axis.

10. A connecting part according to claim 9, characterized in that said wave profile is formed by at least two successive impressions (5) and elevations (6).

11. A connecting part according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that said free end of said stem (3) rests in an impression (5).

12. A connecting part according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the axial distance of the regular impressions is 1 mm.

13. A connecting part according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the ratio between the maximum outer diameter and the minimum outer diameter of said stem (3) in the area of said peg is chosen to be 3:2.

14. A connecting part according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that it is made of plastics.

15. A connecting part (1) and a sleeve-shaped holding portion (4) for a connecting part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said holding portion (4)

a) can be deformed permanently after the stem has been inserted by exerting radial external forces onto the holding portion in such a way that the stem (3) present inside can be fixedly connected with said holding portion (4), or

b) that said holding portion comprises, on its inner wall, at least one projection (9) extending radially inwardly or outwardly, which cooperates with at least one radial impression or elevation (5) of said stem (3) inserted so as to prevent a relative movement of the holding portion (4) and the stem (3).