Coating implements with material supply – Including tool with blade-like – pad-like – or apertured... – With flow-regulator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-21
2001-12-25
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Including tool with blade-like, pad-like, or apertured...
With flow-regulator
C401S264000, C401S265000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332729
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pen-shaped applicator for applying a liquid, e.g. glue, to a substrate, which applicator comprises a container out of which said liquid can be pressed and a dosing part arranged on one end face of said container and having a dispensing layer with openings for said liquid inside which a spring-loaded valve body is arranged with which a valve seat is associated.
2. Prior Art
In such commercially available pen-shaped applicators for applying glue a relatively soft tissue of synthetic fibers is used as a dispensing layer which is attached in a ring gap of the dosing part. After long-term use of these pen-shaped applicators, however, said tissue in its holding means in the ring gap may loosen or may even come entirely loose so that the glue to be applied can not be uniformly distributed any more or may even leak out at the side of the loosened synthetic tissue. Moreover, a major disadvantage is that said tissue is an extra component of said pen-shaped applicator for applying glue, which component has to be specially produced and attached in an extra assembly step.
Further, from EP-A 753 465 and EP-A 753 466 application devices for cosmetics are known wherein at the dispensing end a domed, rigid wall with outlets is provided carrying a membrane having staggered openings. This membrane usually closes the outlets in the rigid wall but will be lifted from it if pressure is applied to the cosmetic product contained so that said product may be dispensed through said staggered openings. Thus, these known application devices, too, are rather expensive and complicated to produce, and with regard to the membrane closing mechanism they would not be suitable for dispensing glue because glue would stick the membrane and the wall together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to create a pen-shaped applicator of the type as described above which avoids the disadvantages of the known pen-shaped applicators and devices and which is, in particular, easy to produce.
According to the invention, this object is reached by forming, preferably injection molding the dispensing layer of plastics in a single piece with the dosing part. The dosing part may be produced together with the dispensing layer in a simple manner, e.g. by injection molding, so that the dispensing layer need not be attached separately, and, moreover, as they are formed in a single piece, the dispensing layer can not loosen or become entirely loose. Surprisingly it has been found that uniform application of such liquids as particularly glues may be achieved by means of such a generally grid-shaped dispensing layer. The dispensing layer is formed as a more or less foil-like, grid- or sieve-shaped platelet with openings which is injection molded in a single piece with the dosing part. The dosing part itself may be formed in a single piece with the container, but for easier attachment of the valve body it is preferably a separate e.g.sleeve-shaped part arranged on one end face of or in the e.g. generally cylindrical container as known per se.
In a favorable embodiment a plurality of outward-oriented projections are located on the outside of the dispensing layer. These projections, which may have the shape of burls or small pins, on the one hand allow uniform distribution of the liquid or glue and, on the other hand, being resiliently yielding, they result in a soft touch and good, easy gliding of the pen-shaped applicator on the substrate. For exactly directed application it is also suitable to provide through openings for the liquid between the projections only in a central part of the dispensing layer. Moreover, for a comfortable feeling like “writing” the projections are advantageously of cylindrical or conical shape and have rounded ends.
It is of particular advantage to make the dosing part with the dispensing layer of HDPE. On the one hand, this allows the dispensing layer to deform resiliently when the liquid is applied, and, on the other hand, this ensures mechanical strength for long-time use.
As the platelet-like dispensing layer made of plastics yields slightly inward as a rule due to the pressure of pressing down when the liquid is applied, this inward deformation may be used to operate the valve. Accordingly, and for dispensing exact doses of glue, it is of particular advantage that said valve seat, which e.g. has the shape of a truncated cone, for the spring-loaded valve body designed complementary therewith is formed in a single piece at the inside of the dispensing layer and the valve body has a projection located in the middle of the side facing the dispensing layer, which projection just touches the dispensing layer in the closed position of the valve formed by the valve seat and the valve body. If the pen-shaped applicator with the dispensing layer is pressed down, the dispensing layer will move inward, resulting in the valve body also moving inward over its projection and thus being lifted up from the valve seat so that the valve is opened.
It may also be of advantage that the valve body is formed in a single piece with the spring which is supported by one or more supporting projections in the dosing part. This allows easy production by means of injection molding techniques. Moreover, it is easier to assemble because only one single part has to be handled.
With regard to a useful life for as long as possible it has proven favorable that the valve body and the spring are made of polyacetate. This material shows virtually no signs of fatigue and is therefore particularly suitable for the movable valve body and the spring formed thereon.
Finally, in order to store and distribute the liquid it is advantageous that the dispensing layer has burl-like projections formed on its inside.
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Kores Holding Zug AG
Pillsbury Winthrop LLP Intellectual Property Group
Walczak David J.
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