Patent Application
20140360525
The present invention relates to an applicator implement that is used in association with making up of fingertips of the hands, in particular, in the nail art field for French nails (painting of the application liquid on the nail front ends) for applying the manicure liquid around nail tips, aiming at easy and exact application of the liquid mainly around the nail tips (from one side through the front end to the other side) of the hands in a short time, and that enables application of drawing lines of a fixed width along the shape of the front end of the nail without regard to the dominant hand and experience.
Examples of the applicator implements for taking out the application liquid from a container by using an applicator body to apply the liquid on a target site, include manicure products for applying a manicure liquid.
In manicuring, the French nail manicure for painting the manicure liquid around the tips of the nails in association with making up of fingertips of the hands, has been known.
This French nail manicure is a typical example when nails are painted by oneself. Right before French nail painting, a base liquid is applied over the whole surface of the nails. Then after French nail painting, an additional coat liquid for protection is applied. Since the French manicure thus needs many steps, there have been demands for a method of painting that enables quick and fine finishes as easy as possible.
Conventionally, generally known application methods of French nails can be classified into following four types.
1. Painting with Brushes and Pen Cores
This is the most typical application method of French nails, and application is performed by painting along the tips of the nails with an applying part (brush or pen core) similar to that for the base liquid. In this process, a special sheet for shaping French nails and/or a fixing jig for fixing the fingers for easy application may be used (see, for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2004-59035: Patent Document 1).
2. Painting with a Special Pattern-Shaped Brush
This special brush has a brush shape similar to the round shape of the nail with its front part U-shaped similar to the front curved surface of the nail. It is possible to perform French nail manicure by painting the nails directly with the shape of the special brush (see, for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2004-8826: Patent Document 2).
3. Painting by Abutting a Shaped Pen Core on the Nail
An approximately key-shaped applying part (fabric pen core) is pressed and fixed against the tip edge of the nail and moved left and right using the edge as a guide, whereby French nail manicuring can be performed without regard to the dominant hand (see, for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2006-204332: Patent Document 3).
4. Applying a Pattern-Shaped Stickers
Instead of using a liquid, it is possible to produce French nails by nipping a thin sticker with a pair of tweezers or the like to apply the sticker to the nail tip (see, for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 2006-296620: Patent Document 4).
However, the applicator implement disclosed in Patent Document 1 is designed to paint the nail tips with a brush or pen core in a usual freehand drawing manner. Because of the freehand drawing, the finish depends on the individual user's skills and experience, so that it is difficult for a beginner to stably position the applicator and perform fine painting. Even if skills and experience are enhanced, there occur many cases where the finish cannot bring satisfaction.
Similarly to the above case, the applicator implement disclosed in Patent Document 2 is difficult to position to the applied place, needing time for practice. The same can be said for application to the dominant hand. Since the brush is fixed in a rounded shape, this configuration is not suited to flat nail tips. Further, since the brush is U-shaped in plan view, the application liquid flows downward so that the application liquid in the middle part of the nail is prone to be thin.
Though the applicator implement disclosed in Patent Document 3 enables stable painting on the nails of the left and right hands without regarding to whether or not the hand is the dominant one, there frequently occurs the problem that the applicator body, which should be fixed to a position by being pressed against the nail tip, is displaced out of the position if the pressing force is strong. Particularly, at the side of the nail, the applying part is liable to partially come off the position to be fixed when it comes to the side of the nail, soiling the nail. Further, since the pen core is pressed against the nail tip every time it is used, the maintenance (endurance) of the pen core's shape is the problem to be solved.
Since the applicator implement disclosed in Patent Document 4 needs to set a sticker by peeling off the sticker from the base by the pair of tweezers or the like, the sticker is prone to displace in the longitudinal and transversal directions with respect to the nail tip, producing poor appearances. Accordingly, time is needed for practice. Further, once the adhesive surface is polluted, the adhesion is degraded, producing the problem that the sticker is likely to drop. Moreover, a step corresponding to the thickness of the sticker is necessarily formed from the nail to the sticker surface, causing a sense of discomfort. Still more, since the sticker is markedly brittle, it is vulnerable, resulting in poor endurance. Further, stickers are inherently expensive.
The present invention has been devised in view of solving the above problems, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an applicator implement, which enables the user to perform easy, fast and stable drawing without regarding the user's experience and skills, and to draw a line parallel to the front edge of the nail and paint easily and exactly in a short time without the curved surface of the nail, in other words, which enables the individual to do a French nail manicure with a feeling of satisfaction of the finish. It is also an object to provide a low-cost applicator implement that will not stain nails.
The present invention is an applicator implement that enables application of an application liquid to a target object by bringing an applying part of an applicator body impregnated with the application liquid into contact with the target object, comprising:
an applicator body formed with a flat applying surface in an applying part; and,
an applicator cover that is attached to the applicator body to cover the applying part, formed with a slit that creates communication from an outside to an inside,
wherein under a condition in which the applicator cover covers the applying part, the applying surface of the applying part is positioned inside the slit so that the applying surface can apply an application liquid to a predetermined portion of a target object by inserting a target object through the slit.
In the present invention, it is possible to perform stable application in a simple manner. Formation of the applying surface of the applying part in, for example, a U-shaped inner surface configuration, enables a nail to insert thereinto and be painted with a drawing line by moving the applying part in a direction the user wants to paint the nail.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the applicator body for paining the target object is formed by a fabric body by shaped by using fibers and resin.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the applicator implement is one for French nails, in which a front end part of the applicator body is formed with a flat applying surface extending in an axial direction of the applicator body so that a tip of a nail can be placed through the slit and applied with the application liquid in a predetermined width by means of the applying surface.
Accordingly, the fabric body forming the applicator body is configured in a U-shape so as to limit the insert of the nail, hence the nail can be positioned when the nail tip is inserted up to the insert limit. As result, the nail is fixed relative to the applying part while the nail tip which is to become the applied surface abuts the applying part of the applicator body, hence is applied with the liquid, whereby it is possible to paint a stable drawing line by just moving the applying part or the nail in the direction the user wants to paint.
Further, changing the depth of the U-shaped depression in the front end of the applicator body makes it possible to change the width of painting in nail tips.
Changing the width of the U-shape in the front end of the applicator body assures suitable width without regard to the thickness of nail tip.
Moreover, the top and bottom surfaces of the U-shape in the front end of the applicator body assume straight lines (the surfaces themselves are flat surfaces) when viewed from the front side of the applying surface, or curved lines of R10 or greater (the cross sections are flat surfaces), so that it is possible to smoothly paint nails if individual fingers have different curvatures.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the applicator implement is one for French nails, in which the front end part of the applicator body is formed with a flat applying surface extending in the axial direction of the applicator body so that the tip of a nail can be placed through the slit of the applicator cover and applied with the application liquid in a predetermined width by means of the applying surface.
In this way, the applicator cover is formed with a hole to which the applicator body is inserted from the rear so as to cover the applicator body while a slit is provided on the front end. Thus, by providing the cover that enables the applicator body to be partly exposed through the slit when the applicator body is inserted into the cover, it is possible to expose the applying surface of the applicator body from the top surface of the slit in the applicator cover and paint the surface to be applied with the top surface. Further, a wide enough clearance that allows insertion of the nail is formed between the exposed surface and the bottom surface of the applicator cover.
The slit configuration in the applicator cover is formed of a flat surface or a curved line of R10 or greater when view from front side of the slit, so that it is possible to smoothly paint nails even if individual fingers have different curvatures.
As the depth of the slit in the applicator cover is changed, so the insert limit of nails is also changed. Accordingly, it is possible to change the width of the painted line on the nail which is to become applied portion.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the approximately central part of the applicator body in its axial direction is reduced in diameter compared to the outside diameter of the front and rear portions and the reduced diametric part is accommodated inside the barrel cylinder in a states that the applicator body is covered by the applicator cover and is assembled.
This structure enables temporal retention of the application liquid in the reduced diametric portion and hence can prevent liquid flooding even if an excess amount of the liquid exceeding the saturated absorption of the applicator body made of fabric body and the like is delivered to the applicator body.
In the present invention, it is preferable that in addition to the slit, another hole for exposing an external surface of the applicator body is provided for the applicator cover so that the exposed external surface of the applicator body can be used for application when the applicator cover is fitted on the applicator body.
This hole that exposes the external surface of the applicator body enables painting of the target object, so that this arrangement is highly convenient.
In the present invention, it is preferred that the applicator cover has a rear opening through which the applicator body can be inserted, and two slits different in depth, formed on a front end, the front end of the applying part of the applicator body is cut out, forming two applying surfaces opposing inwardly each other, the applying surfaces appear from respective slits of the applicator cover when the applicator body is inserted in the applicator cover, wide enough gaps that allow a nail to be inserted through the slit between the applying surfaces are formed, whereby only one side of a nail tip can be painted by the appeared applying surface, and, by selecting one of the two slits, lines having different widths from each other for French nails allows to be drawn.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the applicator cover has a rear opening through which the applicator body can be inserted, and two slits different in depth, formed on a front end, outsides of the front end of the applying part of the applicator body are formed with two applying surfaces having a distance between each other, the applying surfaces appear from respective slits of the applicator cover when the applicator body is inserted in the applicator cover, wide enough gaps that allow a nail to be inserted between a U-shape and an exposed fabric body are created, whereby only one side of a nail tip can be painted by the appeared applying surface, and, by selecting one of the two slits, lines having different widths from each other for French nails allows to be drawn.
As described above, since two slits are formed in the front end of the applicator cover so as to have different slit depths, the applicator body is exposed from one side surface of the surfaces in the slit, with respect to the width direction, of the applicator cover, hence a wide enough gap that allow a nail to be inserted between the fabric body which is to become applicator body and the lower surface of the slit is created. Accordingly, one surface of the nail tip alone can be painted by the exposed surface. Since the two slits are different in depth (insert limit), it is possible to draw lines of different line widths.
It is preferable in the present invention that the applicator body is covered by a front barrel located in front and the applicator cover in front of the front barrel, the applicator cover is removable from the front barrel, and the applicator body is also removable.
It is preferable in the present invention that the applicator body is covered by a front barrel located in front and the applicator cover in front of the front barrel, and the applicator cover and the front barrel are formed integrally. This configuration makes it possible to decrease the number of parts and reduce the cost.
In the present invention, the material of applicator cover 56 is preferably high-polymer plastics such as PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), POM (polyoxymethylene), and PA (polyamide) or metals, and the material is further preferable if it presents chemical resistance against the organic solvent liquids that are used for French nails.
The present invention is an applicator implement that enables application of an application liquid to a target object by bringing an applying part of an applicator body impregnated with the application liquid into contact with the target object, comprising: an applicator body formed with a slit on a surface of an applying part, wherein a front end part of the applicator body is formed with an applying surface extending in an axial direction of the applicator body so that a tip of a nail can be placed through the slit and applied with a application liquid in a predetermined width by means of the applying surface.
According to the applicator implement of the present invention, the application liquid in, for example, a container is fed to the applying part by twist-up, clicking or any other operation so as to allow the applying part to paint a target object. The front end of the applying part is shaped with a U-shape, so that the applying surface of the applying part is positioned in the slit in a state that the applying part is covered with the applicator cover. When a target object such as a nail or the like is inserted into the slit and the applying body is moved left and right as sliding along the nail shape, the applying surface can easily apply a line of the application liquid of uniform width to a predetermined part of the target object, for example, the tip of the nail.
The thus achieved simple operation makes it possible to improve the conventional dissatisfactions or time consumption (for the time for practice, painting skills for non-dominant hand, unstable painting of drawing lines, soiling of nails due to failures and the like) remarkably. In particular, since this invention is featured by the quick and beautiful finish, the user can enjoy nail art all the more.
Further, since insertion of the applicator body into the slit-equipped applicator cover for covering the applicator body of a fabric body and the like enables exposure of the applicator body from the slit of the applicator cover, it is possible to paint one surface of the nail by inserting the nail up to the insert limit of the slit of the applicator cover and fixing thereat.
Also, by changing the depth of the slit, it is possible to change the width of application on the nail.
Further, provision of two slits having different depths in the applicator cover produces an excellent advantage for the user to make choice from two application widths.
In the present invention, the applicator implement is constructed such that includes an applicator body formed with a slit on the surface of an applying part, and is constructed such that the front end part of the applicator body is formed with an applying surface extending in the axial direction of the applicator body so that the tip of a nail can be placed through the slit and applied with the application liquid in a predetermined width by means of the applying surface. As a result, without use of an applicator cover, it is possible to bring the nail tip into contact with the applying surface through the slit on the surface of the applicator body, thereby apply the application liquid in a predetermined width on the nail tip. Omission of the applicator cover makes the structure simpler.
Next, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
[Overall Configuration of Applicator Implement]
The whole of the applicator implement of the embodiment will be described.
As shown in
Front end part 10a of outer barrel 10 is made small stepwise in diameter. Abutted on the front face of the front end part 10a is the outer periphery (spreading flange-like) of bowl-shaped front end part 18a of an ink feed pipe (a pipe passage for flowing the application liquid from valve mechanism 14 to the applicator body 50 side) 18. The rear part of applicator body 50 is inserted into front end part 18a of the ink feed pipe 18 with a seal ring 20 therebetween. Hollow-tubular tapering front barrel 22 is fitted on the outer barrel front end part 10a, enclosing by the hollow of front barrel 22, the applicator body 50 from its middle part to the rear, seal ring 20 and the front end part 18a of ink feed pipe 18, so as to fix applicator body 50, seal ring 20 and the front end part of ink feed pipe 18 to outer barrel 10. A cap 24 that encloses and protects applicator body 50 is removably fitted on outer barrel front end part 10a. Cap 24 has an inner cap 24 therein, which is urged by a spring 24b so as to press front barrel 22.
The inner barrel 12 is closed at rear end 12b to form a liquid reserving space 12c for reserving the application liquid therein (in which an agitator ball 12d may be held). On the other hand, the valve mechanism 14 is mounted in front end part (the front end part of the inner barrel) 12a and fixed inside by inner front barrel 26. Detailedly, in a state where valve mechanism 14 is mounted inside the front small-diametric part of inner barrel 12, or front end part 12a, rear end part 18b of ink feed pipe 18 is slidably connected to valve mechanism 14 while inner front barrel 26 is fixed to front end part 12a of the inner barrel by screw-fitting or any other means with a packing 28 inserted between itself and the front end part of valve mechanism 14.
Herein, the valve mechanism 14 allows and stops supply of the application liquid toward applicator body 50 when a valve seat 30 and valve rod 38 relatively move in the axial direction, on the communication path between the liquid reserving space 12c for reserving the application liquid and applicator body 50.
Valve seat body 30 of valve mechanism 14 is an approximate cylinder that is open at both ends in the axial direction and has liquid-tight portions that are formed therein on the front side (front side valve member 32) and on the rear side (rear side valve member 34) and come in sliding contact with valve rod 38. The rear side opening faces liquid reserving space 12c while the front side opening faces the applicator body 50 side.
Projected radially inward from the interior wall of rear side valve member 34 of valve seat body 30 is a rib that extends from the approximate longitudinal center of the wall to the rear side to guide valve rod 38. The valve rod 38 is accommodated in the hollow of front side valve member 32 and rear side valve member 34 of valve seat body 30 so as to be movable forward and rearward. A spring member 36 that is fit on the valve rod 38 is disposed inside the same hollow so as to urge the valve rod 38 forward.
Specifically, front valve member 32 overall has an approximately cylindrical shape with a large-diametric flange at the front end and the rear side interior peripheral surface greater in diameter than the front interior peripheral surface. This rear side interior peripheral surface forms the front side liquid-tight portion. On the other hand, rear side valve member 34 has a hollowed, approximately cylindrical shape with large-diametric flange at the front end and the rear end reduced stepwise in diameter. The interior peripheral surface of this reduced-diametric portion forms the rear side liquid-tight portion. The front side valve member 32 is concentrically inserted overlappedly into rear side valve member 34 from the front side until the aforementioned flanges abut each other. Further, in a state that packing 28 is placed in front of the flanges, inner front barrel 26 is screwed and fixed to cover front end part 12a of the inner barrel. Here, the front face of the reduced-diametric portion at the rear side end of rear side valve member 34 serves as a seat for the spring member 36.
Formed on the outer periphery of valve rod 38 are a front side piston part 38a that liquid-tightly slides on the front side liquid-tight portion of front side valve member 32 in the valve seat body 30, and a rear side piston part 38b that liquid-tightly slides on the rear side liquid-tight portion of rear side valve member 34 in the valve seat body 30 while a space 40 that allows communication of the application liquid is formed between the outer periphery in the approximately center of the valve rod 38 and the interior surface of the valve seat body 30.
Specifically, front side piston part 38a of valve rod 38 is formed with a flexible large-diametric umbrella-like flange. Rear side piston part 38b is formed with a smooth outer peripheral surface tapering rearwards. When valve rod 38 moves rearwards, the small-diametric rear end part passes through the opening of the rear side valve member 34, then the large-diametric middle part closely contacts to and slides on the liquid-tight portion on the rear side of rear side valve member 34.
An annular projection 42 is formed on the inner wall of outer barrel 10. When inner barrel 12 moves rearwards by a certain distance or greater, inner front barrel 26 abuts this annular projection 42 so as to prevent inner barrel 12 from moving to the rear further and coming off.
Further, rear end part 18b of ink feed pipe 18 communicating with applicator body 50 is inserted into the front side opening of valve seat body 30. Inserted into this ink feed pipe 18 is an induction rod 44 for inducing the application liquid toward applicator body 50.
As to materials for individual parts of the applicator implement, applicator body 50 may use a fabric body of acryl, nylon, polyester, polyacetal (POM) or the like.
The inner barrel and output barrel 10 may use polypropylene (PP), polybutylene naphthalate (PET), nylon (PA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN); front barrel 22, cap 24, inner cap 24a and inner front barrel 26 may use polybutyl-terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), nylon (PA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN); packing 28 may use EPDM, silicone, NBR (nitrile rubber), IIR (polyisobutylene rubber) and fluorine; the seal ring may use low-density polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP); front side valve member 32, rear side valve member 34 and valve rod 38 of valve seat body 30 may use high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE), polypropylene (PP); and, spring 24b of cap 24 and spring member 36 may use stainless steel (SUS).
Induction rod 44 is preferably formed of a material presenting good wettability to the application liquid, for examples including, metals such as stainless steel (SUS), resin such as polyacetal (POM), fiber bundle core or sintered compact of polyester, acryl or the like, or synthesized resin molding core having liquid flow channels in the axial direction such as polyacetal (POM).
Next, examples of applicator body 50 and applicator cover 56 of the applicator implement will be described.
The applicator implement is preferably used for French nails, or applying the application liquid to nails tips. The application liquid for French nails should have a viscosity that enables applicator body 50 made of fibers to absorb/apply and apply the liquid on nails. It is preferably that the viscosity falls within a range from 50 mpa·s to 200 mpa·s.
The material of applicator cover 56 may be high-polymer plastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polybutyl-telephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), and nylon (PA), or metals, and preferably presents chemical resistance against the organic solvent liquids used for French nails.
[Applicator Body According to Example 1]
Next, example 1 of the applicator body arranged in the above applicator implement will be described.
The applicator implement used in example 1 has the same outside diameter with that of applicator body 50 of the applicator implement of
As shown in
This fabric body was assembled in the applicator implement of
To begin with, the nail was put into the fabric body up to the insert limit, and the nail was fixed at the point of the insert limit of the fabric body. In this condition, the nail was painted by sliding the fabric body along the top edge of the nail. As a result, it was possible to draw a line of 1.5 mm wide easily and beautifully.
Example 2 relates to an applicator cover.
In example 2, as shown in
Specifically, the slit 54 is 1.5 mm wide with the nail insert limit set at 1.8 mm. The outside diameter of applicator cover 56 is 5.3 mm. The cover has a key-like inner hollow similar to the shape of the applicator body and establishes communication.
On the other hand, applicator body 50 of example 2 is formed such that, as shown in
Further, in order for temporal collection of the liquid, the middle part is annularly cut out to be reduced to 4 mm in diameter, forming a depressed portion 60.
The fabric body having a porosity of 50% or more was used as applicator body 50.
In the example 2, as applicator body 50 is fitted into applicator cover 56, applying surface 58 is exposed 0.5 mm relative to slit 54 as shown in
[Variational Example 1 of Example 2]
Variational example 1 of example 2 gives a configuration in which applicator cover 56 shown in
[Assembly of Applicator Cover 56 of Example 3 with Applicator Body 50]
This example 3 is a further improved version of the assembly of example 2. Another hole 56a is formed in the top of applicator cover 56, separately from slit 54, so that the outer peripheral surface of applying part 52 is exposed from the hole 56a.
In this example 3, similarly to example 2, it was possible to easily paint a drawing line of uniform width simply and beautifully. In addition, it was possible to perform a correction of applying and point making by use of applying part 52 exposed through the top hole.
[Assembly of Example 4]
In example 4, the applicator body 50 shown in
In application work, the same result as in the example 2 could be obtained. Further, since slits 54a and 54b were different, two kinds of drawing lines of different line widths could be formed.
[Assembly of Example 5]
In example 5, the applicator cover 56 of example 4 shown in
As shown in
In this case, similarly to example 4, two kinds of drawing lines of different line widths could be formed.
[Variational Example 2 of Example 2]
This variational example 2 gives a configuration in which, as shown in
This variational example 2, when used for the applicator implement shown in the embodiment of
[Assembly of Applicator Cover 56 of Example 6 in Applicator Body 50]
Example 6 will be described.
Example 6 is a further improved version of example 3 described with
As shown in
In the assembled condition, as shown in
According to example 6, as shown in
According to the applicator implements including applicator body 50 and applicator cover 56 of the above examples 1 to 6, variational examples 1 and 2, in the applicator implement using applicator body 50 that can absorb and apply a liquid to paint the tips of nails by dispensing a content liquid in liquid reserving space 12c of inner barrel 12 to applicator body 50 by means of valve mechanism 14 that supplies the content liquid as rear end part 12b of inner barrel 12 is clicked, when the portion for painting nail tips is formed in a U-shape, a nail inserted into slit 54 up to the insert limit of the U-shape can be positioned and fixed, whereby it is possible to provide an applying part for nail art that enables easy application of the liquid dispensed from the container to applicator body 50, to the nail, by moving applying part 52 left and right along the top edge of the nail.
Here, the applicator body 50 may be formed with a curved surface. It is also possible to omit applicator cover 56 if application can be done with applicator body 50 alone. Omission of applicator cover 56 enables easy application with a simple configuration.
The applicator implement of the present invention is not only suitable for French nails, or painting around nail tips in association with making up of fingertips of the hands, but can also be used when lines of uniform width need to be drawn on a tip of a small object like nail tips.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-004760 | Jan 2012 | JP | national |
| 2013-003512 | Jan 2013 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2013/050572 | 1/15/2013 | WO | 00 | 7/11/2014 |
