CA1302348C

CA1302348C - Liquid applicator

Info

Publication number: CA1302348C
Application number: CA000533721A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Yasuyuki Iwase; Yoshiaki Akaishi; Masaomi Muranishi
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd
Priority date: 1986-04-03
Filing date: 1987-04-02
Publication date: 1992-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-02
Also published as: JPS62233298A; IT8719945A0; JPH0615278B2; DE3711236A1; GB2189688A; GB8708024D0; IT1203427B; US4789261A; GB2189688B

Abstract

LIQUID APPLICATOR
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A liquid applicator composed of a stem cylinder body enclosing a liquid supply vessel, a knocking member at a rear end and a brush part at a top.
The liquid supply vessel is composed of a pressure-tight container having a specific quantitative valve and containing a liquid which contains a raw liquid and an ejecting agent.
An adapter is interposed between an ejecting nozzle of a valve in the liquid supply vessel and the brush part. A liquid is leaked from the brush part by a knocking on the knocking member.

Description

1,1~1111) Al'l'l.lCA'I`OR
I~ACKGR()lJNI) 01~`'1'111, INVrN'I'ION
1~ ie I (l Or t,he Invellti oll 'I`he presellL invelltioll relates ~o an applicator for liquid such as all ink, an oil., a cosmetic li.qui.d, etc. Particularly, tlle present invenl:ioll rela~es to so-called an ai.r-sol type liquid applicator which contains a liqui.d havillg higll viscosity as a raw liquid, such as an ink mainly comprising a pigment in high density, an ink having high viscosi.ty, a qlJi.ck-dryable ink, a cosmetic liquid, a lubricating oil, an adhesive, and the li.ke (hereillafter referred to simply as "a liquid").
Description of the Prior Art llitllerto, as an applicator for such a viscous liquid, there is provided a various type of tlle applicators, which include a composite ink type, an ink and pressurized gas type, etc. The composite ink type of the applicator comprises a tube body having a valve means at A brush part, which contains a mixture of an ink and a volatile solvent.
In the tube body, a pressure due to a evaporation of the volatile solvent is always applied on the liquid mixture so that the ink may be leaked out when the valve is opened by, for example, pushing the brush part.
The ink and pressurized gas type of the applicator i5 composed of a similar constitution to of the composite ink type except that a ink is pressed by pressurized gas which stores in the tube body separated from the ink.
In the prior known applicator, there is a drawback that if a brush part is too soft to withstand knocking action, a liquid cannot be supplied to the brush part. If a brush part csn withstand in som extent, the brush part may be easily broken.
Regarding as a pressurized type prior known applicator, there is also drawbacks such that a remained liquid at the brush part after application is liable to be solidified to harden the brush part. The hardened brush part should be treated with, for example solvent, to soften thereof before next application, which is required relatively long ti.me.
The liquid such as ink is hard to be supplied throughout the brusll part and is liable to form narrow passage in the brush part by dissolving a resin i.n a specific di.rection. Under such a circumstances, if tlle i.nk is supplied excessively, a drop of ink will come out of a ~4 13V~3~8 I)r~l~sl~ t ~19 (Ir~ ts.
Iurtl)crmore, whell a liqui(l contail)ing a pigment having large paticle si~.e, or having higll density is used in the applicator, the pigmcnt mny l)e easily sedimented in the liquid supply vessel aJter storage therel)y suffering from a troublesome treatment for dispersing thereof. The pressure of the ejection gas becomes lower if an amount o the liquid becomes lesser.
l'he present invention is proposed new liquid applicator withollt having these drawbacks as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF TIIE INVENTION
According to ~he present invention there is to provide a liquid apl)licator which comprises a cylindrical stem body having a brush part at a top and a knocking member at a rear end, and a liquid supply vessel having a valve which is detachably assembled in the stem body with an adapter provided between a noz~le of the valve and the brush part, wherein the valve of the liquid supply vessel is capable of being opened by action on the knocking member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~lE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a cross section of the tube stem according to Examples 1 and 3;
Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the tube stem according to Example 2;
Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the valve portion of the liquid supply container according to Examples 1, 2 and 3; and Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the prior known valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A liquid supply vessel in the liquid applicator of the present invention supplies liquid to the brush part by acting on the knocking member at a rear end of the stem body. When the knocking member is knocked, a liquid supply vessel is pushed and moved forward thereby counter actively pushing a stem attached to an adapter in order to open the valve. Accordingly, the mixture of the viscous liquid and a solvent is ejected due to a pressure of the solvent and supplied to the brush part through a passage in the adapter.
The viscous liquid to be contained in the applicator of the present invention may be selected depending on a utility, and even a high viscous liquid such as those containing a resin in a high concentration, containing a pigment of high density and the like, may be ~3~3~8 succesive]y used wi~h an aid oL dispersible force of the ejecting agent or due to a property of tllc ejecting agent for dissolution and ejection.
A viscous liquid for writing or painting comprises, for example, from 5 to 50 parts by weigllt of a resin SUCll as a nitrocellulose, an acrylic resin, an alkid resin, an urethane resin, a butyral resin, a styrol resin, a natural resin, etc. or a mixture thereof, from 20 to 70 parts by weight of an organic solvent sucll as an alcohol, hydrocarbons, an ether, an esters, etc. or a mixture thereof, from 0.1 to 10 parts by weigllt of a colored pigment sucll as a titanium oxide, a zinc oxide, an iron oxide, a carbon black, an indigo-blue, an aluminum powder, a bronz powdcr, a syntllesized silica flour, etc., and from 0.01 to 3 parts by weight of additives such as a plasticizer, a dispersant, a sedimentation inhibiter, etc., to form the solution of 100 parts by weight in total.
As for the ejecting agent, a mixture comprising from 15 to 50 parts by weight of a dimethylether, and from 50 to 80 parts by weight of gases such as a liquified petro]eum gas, a dichlorofluoromethane, a trichloromonofluoromethane, a dichlorotetrafluoromethane, etc., or a mixture thereof, and to form a gas of 100 parts by weight in total, may be used.
A mixture which comprises from 10 to 60 parts by weight of the viscous liquid and from 40 to 90 parts by weight of the ejecting agent to form 100 parts by weight of a mixture in total is charged into a pressure-tight vessel to form a liquid container.
A valve to be assembled in a pressure-tight vessel may be of a conventional type which is capable of eject'ing a constant specific amount of a liquid at each time. For example, a pressure tight vessel is preferably constracted as follows. A valve is attached on the vessel through a gascket so that one end of a stem which is used for opening the valve, is projected into a valve housing and the other end of the stem is projected outside of the vessel through a center hole of a mountain cup of the valve. The stem is always pushed outward by a spring which is provided in the housing, wherein a stem orifice which is interconnected between a passage in the stem and the housing is closed by a stem rubber. At the bottom of the housing a hole to the pressure vessel is also provided.
When one end of the stem is pushed against a spring force, the orifice is released from the stem rubber, and an opening of the housing is closed with another end of the stem simultaneously to allow ~3~)~3~8 the liqlli(l in thc hOIISillg iS ejecte(l through tl)e orifice. When tlle pllsllillg force is release(l, the s~em returns to the initial position to close the orifice witll t:lle stem rubber and the liquid runs into tl-e housi ng throllgll the hole inllerently.
An amount of the liquid to be ejected at each knocking is preferably designed as from 20 to 200 mg for a writing or a cosmetic liquid such as a manicure.
A liquid supply vessel is formed by assembling the valve on the pressure-tight vesse] containing the liquid. At the top of the cylinder which holds the liquid supply vessel, there is provided with a coating member sucll as a pen-point, a brush, etc~ in a conventional manner, which is not limited.
A material of the coating member at the brush part is not limited in terms of a forms, proper~y, etc. A soft fibrous material, such as wool, may be available.
An adapter which is placed between the coatiing member and the valve of the liquid supply vessel is so designed that allowing the liquid passing through a liquid passage in the stem to the brush part, and allowing the vessel taking a position so that the vessel may be attached to the top of the stem. The adapter is to be withstood a knocking pressure for supplying the liquid from the vessel. In order to prevent objectionable feeding of the liquid, a buffer to hold the liquid, such as a sponge, may be conventionally provided in a passage of the liquid.
A knocking member which is provide at a rear end of the stem body is not restricted with respect to a constitution, provided that it is capable of attaching at the rear end of the liquid vessel and allowing the vessel pussing forward. For example, a spring for returning the knocking member may be either commonly used for acting the valve in the vessel, or exclusively provided.
The applicator of the present invention ejects the liquid by knocking operation on a knocking member which is provided at the rear end of the stem sylinder. When the knocking member is knocked, the vessel moves forward to push the stem which is attached to the adapter thereby allowing the valve opened to eject the liquid from the vessel with an aid of the ejecting agent to the application part through the passage of the adapter. The ejecting agent which is supplied to the application part with the liquid is almost vaporized and the liquid may ~L3~Z3~8 be use(l for al~l)licatioll purpose.
A ]iquid solution is preferably composed of from 10 to 60 parts by weight of the raw liquid and from 40 to 90 parts by weight of the ejecting agent. If the raw liquid is used in an amount of less than 10 parts by weight, tlle object of the applicator is not attained at all, while if the raw liquid is used in over 60 parts by weight, the liquid cannoL be sprayed satisfactory. On the other hand, if the ejecting agent is contained in an amount of less than 40 parts by weight, an ejection cannot be effected satisfactorily, while if the ejecting agent is contained in over 90 parts by weight, the applicator is not attained in its object since the liquid becomes too thin.
As an ingredient of the ejecting agent, a dimethylether is preferably contained in an amount of from 15 to 50 parts by weight since a dimethylether is effective for disolving a hardened ingredients of the liquid at the applicating part or for dispersing the liquid in the vessel. With an amount of less than 15 parts by weight it does not exhibits as solvent, while with an amount of over 50 parts by weight it is not desirable due to an inflammability.
Other ingredients thar. dimethylether to be contained in the ejecting agent may be selected so as to be possessed as a pressure controlling aid to maintain an inner pressure of the vessel at 8Kg/cm or less at 35C.
Preferable embodiment of the raw liquid comprises from 5 to 50 parts by weight of a resin, from 20 to 70 parts by weight of an organic solvent, from 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of 'a pigment, and from 0.01 to 3 parts by weight of an aditive.
With an amount of less than 5 parts by weight of the resin the liquid becomes flowable on a coated surface, while with an amount of over 50 parts by weight the liquid is liable to solidify at a brush part to be difficult to redissolve thereof when it is used again.
With an amount of less than 20 parts by weight of an organic solvent the resin and the pigment may be neither dissolved nor dispersed, while with an amount of over 70 parts by weight the liquid becomes liable to flow on a coating surface.
With an amount of less than 0.1 parts by weight of the pigment the desired color may not be obtained, while with an amount of over 10 parts by weight the pigment is too much to obtain the desired color.
Accordingly, the additives should be inherently within the weight range ~3~;Z3~6~

ns specir:ie(l al)ove.
Wherl tlle al)l)licator of ~lle present inVentioll is to be used as a wri~illg instrulllcllt, or a cosmetic brush, an amount oL the liguid to be e~jec~e(l eDch time is preferably in a range of from 20 to 200 mg. With an amoullt of ]ess than 20 mg oL the liquid it is not enough to accomplisll an ol)ject and is required several knockings, while with an amount of over 200 mg the liquid is sprayed with so strong force that a spatted liquid may be unpreferably dispersed broadly to contaminate the area.
~ n adapter which is placed between the valve of the liquid vessel and the brush part, is so functioned that the liquid supplied from the vessel may be buffered. If a material, such as a sponge, is placed in a liquid passage, the buffer becomes more effective.
A valve of the present invention is illustrated more in detail with referring to the attached drawings.
In Fig. 3, a mountain cup 1 which is secured in a housing 1 is fixed on a neck of a pressure-tight vessel, not shown, having an open end. A gasket 3 is placed between the housing 2 and the neck part of the pressure-tight vessel. The housing 2 has an inner cavity capable of inserting a base part 5 of a stem 4 which may be explained more fully hereunder, and a cylinderical valve seat 8 which provides with a passage hole 7 interconnected with the pressure-tight vessel at a bottom thereof 6. The stem 4 has a top of cylinder part 9 which is projected outwardly tllrough a center hole of the front face and has an opening at the top, and a base part 5 which is to be inserted into the inside of the housing 5. At the base part 5, a valve rod 10 which is detachably inserted into the cylindrical valve seat 8 in the housing 2 is provided to maintain the valve seat 8 in an opening state by withdrawing thereof from the valve seat with the aid of a coil spring 11 provided between the base part 5 and a bottom face 6 of the housing 2 (refer to left half part oE
Fig. 3). ~t this state, a stem orifice formed in close proximity of the base part of the top cylinder part 9 in the stem 4 keeps in their closed state with a stem rubber 13 which is secured at between the top face of the mountain cup 1 and the housing 2. Said valve is opened by releasing the stem rubber 13 from the stem orifice 12 when a top of the stem is pushed downward. Simultaneously, the valve rod 10 closes the valve seat 8 (refer to a right half part of ~ig. 3) so that a liquid in a vacant cavity in the housing 2 may be ejected througll the stem orfice 12.

13~23'~3 'lhlls, an amollllt Or ~he liqllid to be ejected is depend on a cavity vo]ume in tlle housillg 2 an(l is constallt.
A detail of a quan~itative type valve which is wide]y use(l in commercial app]ica~ion may be explained with referring to the attached ~ig. 4.
To a mountain cup 1' which is to be attached to a pressure-tight vessel (rlot shown) a housing 2', a gasket 3', and stem rubber 13' are assembled together as similar to the valve of Fig. 3.
I~owever, tl-e housing 2' does not provide a valve seat 8 of Fig. 3, but provides O-ring 15 at a passage hole 14 through which a rod like stem 4' penetrates. The O-ring is also attached with an outer surface of the stem 4' which forms a liquid passage grooves 16 on it outer surface. A
coil spring 11' is also placed between the stem 4' and a bottom face 6' of the housing 2' to maintain the stem so that both ends of the passage groove 16 may be positioned at each sides of the O-ring respectively in a free state due to compression of the coil spring 11' to let the liquid pass through from the inside of the housing to the pressure tight vessel. In this position, a stem orifice formed at a top cylinder part 9' of the stem 4' is projected out of the mountain cup 1', and is not in a contacting state with the stem rubber 13' (refer to a left half part of Fig. 4). When a top of the stem 4' is pushed downwards, the stem 4' moves downwards to project the passage groove 16 on the stem 4' outside of the O-ring 15 thereby closing a passage from the vacant cavity of the housing to the pressure-tight vessel. The stem orifice 12' is pushed into inside under the stem rubber thereby opening a passage from the vacant cavity of the housing to the outside of the applicator to eject a specific amount of the liquid in the housing.
The present invention is further explained more in detail by way of the working examples, which are not limited the scope of the present invention. Percent shown in the examples is based on the weight .

~ raw liquid of a silver ink was formed with a resin comprising 8 parts by weight of SS 1/2 type nitrocellulose which was dissolved in 30 % alcohol in, and 10 parts by weight of an acryl resin;
an organic solvent comprising 4 parts by weight of an ethylacetate, 15 parts by weight of triol and 1 part by weight of a butyl cellusolve; and a pigment of 2 parts by weight of aluminum powder.

13~Z3~8 All iuk ].i(lui(l w~ prel)are(l by addi.llg an injectillg agent compl-isillg 15 parts by weigllt o~ dimetllyletller and 45 parts by weight of lichlo1o~.etrarluoroethalle, illto ~he raw liquid and charged in a pressllre-tight vessel. A valve as shown in Fig. 3 was assembled on a contailler to form a liqui.d vessel, which was placed in a stem cylinder bo(ly as shown in Fig. 1.
In lig. 1 an outer cyl.inder 18 encloses tlle liquid supply vessel 17 detachal)ly along an axial di{ecti.on, and provides a tail plug 20 having a center hole 19 detachably at a rear end thereof. The liquid supply vessel may be reely removed for replacing from the rear opening of the outer cylinder 18. An adapter 21 is placed in the outer cylinder 18 at a top thereof, and has a passage hole 23 from liquid passage to the valve stem in the liquid vessel 17. In the intermidiate passage 22 a sponge 24 having conti.nuous pores is placed. Said adapter 21 is fixed at a top of the outer cylinder 18 by interposing a flange part 27 thereof between a brush receiver 26 and the outer cylinder 18. The brush receiver is attached to an inner steps of front shaft which is fastened with screw at the top of the outer cylinder 18. In a concave surface of a front face in the brush receiver 26, a rear flange part 29 of the brush part 28 is placed, and the brush part 28 is secured by interposing a flange part 29 between an inner steps 30 of a front shaft 25 and the brush receiver 26. At an outer top part of the front shaft 25 a cap 31 to cover over the brush part 28 is detachably provided. An outside diameter of a cap 31 is little smaller than an inside diameter of the center hole 19 in a tail plug 20, tHerefore, the cap 31 may freely pass through the center hole 19. When the liquid supply vessel 17 is assembled in the outer cylinder 18, a top of the stem 4 is inserted water-tightly into the passage hole 23 of the adapter 21 to complete tlle passage 22 from the front cylinder part 9 of the stem 4 to the adapter 21. The liquid supply vessel 17 is fixed by attaching a front face of the tail plug 20 against the rear end thereof.
The applicator having such a construction is practically app].ied as follows.
After taking cap 31 off from a front shaft 25 and taking a plug body 32 out of the center hole 19 in the tail plug 20, the cap 31 is inserted into a center hole 19 in the tail plug 20 so as to engage and fit the top thereof with the rear concave part 33 of the liquid supl)~y vesse]. 17.

X;~

Ihol), on knockillg the cap 31, the ]iquid supl)ly vessel 17 moves forward ~herel)y coullteractively moving the stem 4 backward with respect to the li~lui(l supl)ly vessel body since tlle stem 4 positioned at a front part Or t:he liquid supply vessel is fixed with attaching to the adapter 21. The movement of tlle stem 4 makes the stem orifice 12 free from the stem lever 13 to eject a specific amount of the liquid in the cavity of the housing 2 to the front cylinder part 9 through the orifice 12.
The liquid ejected then passes through the passage 22, the sponge body 24, and a passage hole 30 and groove 35 in the brush receiver 26 to the brush 28.

A raw manicure liquid was prepared with a resin comprising 5 parts by weight of SS 1/2 type nitrocellulose, which was dissolved in 30 % alcohol, and 7 parts by weight of an acrykl resin; an organic solvent comprising 5 parts by weight of ethyl acetate, 3 parts by weight of buty] acetate and 28 parts by weight of triol; a pigment comprising O.S
parts by weight of titan oxide and 0.05 parts by weight of Lake Red BA0;
and an additive comprising 0.95 parts by weight of a plasticizer.
A manicure liquid was prepared by adding an injecting agent comprising 20 parts by weight of dimethyl ether, 25 parts by weight of trichloro-monofluoromethane and 5 parts by weight of dichlorodifluoromethane, into the raw manicure liquid, and charged in a pressure-tight container. A
valve as shown in Fig. 3 was assembled on the container in the same manner as in Example 1 to form a liquid ve~sel, which was placed in a stem cylinder body as shown in Fig. 2.
In Fig. 2, the knocking member 36 is exclusively provided without utilizing a coil spring 11 for setting the valve of the liquid supply vessel 17. The knocking member 36 is placed at the rear end part of the outer cylinder 18' so as to be attached with the back face of the liquid supply vessel 17', and an exclusive coil spring 37 for setting the knocking member back to the initial position is provided between the tail plug 20' and the bottom of the knocking member 36. In an adapter 21' provided at the top of the outer cylinder 18', a vacant room 38 is formed at a middle of the liquid passage 22' without providing with the sponge body.
In the adapter 21', the inserting hole 23' is of course provided for the stem 4. Other constitutions are the same as those in 13~1~Z;~8 l :i ~ . 1 .
I.XAMI'l.E 3 A raw clear coat li.q-li.(l was prepared by mixing with a resin compr;si.llg 12 parts by weigllt of butyral resi.n and 3 parts by wei.ght of resin; an organic solvent comprising 20 parts by weight oE xylol and 15 parts by weight of triol; and an additive comprising 5 parts by weight of a soybean oil. A clear coat liquid was prepared by addi.ng an injecting agent comprising 10 parts by weight of dimethylether and 25 parts by weight of a liqui.d petroleum oil gas (buthane), into the raw clear coat liquid, and charged in a pressure-tight container. A valve as shown in Fig. 3 was assembled on the container, in the same manner as in Examples 1 and 2 to form a liquid vessel, which was placed in a stem cylinder body as shown in Fig. 1 in the same maner as in Example 1.
~ he construction of the applicator is as shown in Example 1.

Claims

1. A liquid applicator which comprises:
(a) a cylindrical stem body having a knocking member at its rear end; (b) a brush point having a plurality of fibers tapering to a point and detachably mounted in said stem body and projecting therefrom; (c) a liquid supply vessel detachably assembled in said stem body, said vessel having a valve capable of being opened by said knocking member, said vessel also having a liquid propellant under pressure to force the liquid therefrom; (d) said valve being of the type to cause a flow of a metered quantity of liquid therethrough on each operation of said knocking member; (e) an adapter to connect said valve to a sponge buffer in a cavity in the stem body; and (f) a passage to conduct liquid from said buffer to said brush point, whereby pushing the knocking member causes a measured quantity of liquid to flow to said brush point for application.

2. The liquid applicator according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is an ink.

3. The liquid applicator according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is a cosmetic liquid.