The invention/innovation relates to a sharpener, in particular a cosmetic pencil sharpener with the additional features of the preamble of claim 1.
Such a sharpener, as finds application in particular in connection with cosmetic pencils, has a sleeve-like sharpener housing, the inside diameter of which is for rotatable guidance dimensioned to be slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pencil to be sharpened. Its internal length is selected in such a way that the pencil end portion can be sharpened conically by a sharpening blade projecting into the internal cross section at an angle.
Such a sharpener is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,090 B2 and is disadvantageous inasmuch as there is a risk, when the sharpener is used as tip protection for the sharpened cosmetic pencil, of the sharpened region of the cosmetic pencil being damaged by blade of the sharpener touching it and-of the pencil lead drying out owing to only inadequate sealing.
The invention/innovation is based on the object of designing a sharpener, in particular a cosmetic pencil sharpener, in such a way that better protection of the sharpened pencil, in particular of a cosmetic pencil, is ensured. This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, and advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.
The core of the invention/innovation is considered to be to arrange a further sleeve-like housing portion, which is separated from the sharpener housing by a partition and the interior of which is designed in the manner of a tight blind hole bore, on that end of the sharpener housing facing away from the insertion end. The inside diameter of this further housing portion, which serves as a protector, is to correspond to the outside diameter of the pencil to be sharpened and to be capable of being pushed onto the pencil sealingly with a press fit. Two functions are thus combined in a preferably one-piece sharpener housing, namely a housing portion which seals in relation to the pencil outer wall and, as a pencil protector, protects the tip of the pencil against mechanical damage and drying out. Moreover, this lengthening sharpener housing portion has an advantageous effect during the actual sharpening operation because it can be used as a grip of the sharpener.
In order that the protector is held securely and firmly on the pencil tip, the further housing portion has in its interior conically tapered portions or at least one clamping element which acts resiliently on the outer surface of the pencil in order to prevent the pencil protector slipping down off the pencil.
The insertion end of the sharpener housing can be closed by a closure element. This prevents sharpening residues located in the interior of the sharpener housing coming out and resulting in dirtying of the surrounding environment, for example the interior of a handbag. If the region of the sharpener housing provided with the sharpening blade can be sealed by a lid element, protection against dirtying of storage utensils for the sharpener is improved still further. The lid element is advantageously arranged pivotably about the longitudinal central axis of the sharpener housing as then in the open position it does not project appreciably from the sharpener during the sharpening operation and the sharpener is thus easy to operate. This can be achieved mechanically by holding elements of ring-like design which are mounted on sliding surfaces of the sharpener housing portion.
In order to avoid the lid element being opened unintentionally and releasing sharpening waste, it can be locked in a sealing position.
The sharpener housing and the further sharpener housing portion can be formed by a one-piece molded part made of plastic or metal. The outside diameter of the sharpener housing should correspond approximately to the outside diameter of the protector portion, and the length of the sharpener housing and the length of the protector housing can be approximately the same.
The sharpener has a particularly slender shape if the sharpener housing is overall of cylindrical design and the lid element is as a hollow cylinder mounted rotatably on the sharpener housing. If the hollow cylinder of the lid element is of thin-walled design, the lid element is barely noticeable and does not increase the diameter of the sharpener housing unnecessarily.
In order for it to be possible to empty the sharpener housing of the sharpening waste, a cutout is provided in the lid element, the shape of which is adapted to the shape of a cutting chamber receiving the sharpening blade, the cutout is arranged in a central region of the lid element, and a lower end portion and an upper end portion surround the sharpener housing completely, by virtue of which secure retention of the rotatable lid element on the sharpener housing is ensured.
The grip of the closure element, with which the insertion opening of the sharpener housing can be closed, corresponds essentially to the diameter of the lid element, so that the closed sharpener as well has a slender cylindrical shape overall.
In order to mount the lid element rotatably and in a simple way on the sharpener housing, a circumferential groove, in which a spring-like projection of the lid element engages in the manner of a snap catch connection, is arranged in the region of the insertion end of the sharpener housing. To support this snap catch connection, that end of the lid element surrounding the insertion end of the sharpener housing is drawn around the end portion of the sharpener housing, so that the lid element overlaps the wall of the sharpener housing at least partly.
The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to illustrative embodiments in the drawing figures, in which
The sharpener 1 has a sleeve-like sharpener housing 2, in which a sharpening blade projecting into the internal cross section at an angle is arranged. The inside diameter 4 of the sharpener housing 2 is, for guiding the pencil to be sharpened, dimensioned to be slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pencil. A further sleeve-like housing portion 7, which is separated from the sharpener housing 2 by a partition 8 and the interior 9 of which is designed in the manner of a tight blind hole bore, is arranged on that end 6 of the sharpener housing 2 facing away from the insertion end. The inside diameter 10 of the housing portion 7 corresponds to the outside diameter of the pencil to be sharpened, so that the housing portion 7 can be pushed onto the pencil with a press fit as a pencil protector.
The interior 9 of the housing portion 7 has a conically tapered portion which ensures secure clamping of the pencil in the interior 9.
Alternatively or additionally, a clamping element can be arranged in the interior 9 of the housing portion 7.
A closure element 11 can be inserted into the insertion end 5 of the sharpener housing 2 in order to close the sharpener housing 2 to prevent sharpening waste falling out. A cleaning pin 12, which projects into the interior of the sharpener housing 2 when the closure element 11 has been inserted, is arranged on the closure element 11. The closure element 11 engages in the insertion opening of the sharpener housing 2 or is retained there with a press fit.
The outer portion 13 of the sharpener housing 2 provided with the sharpening blade 3 is provided with a lid element 14 which in closed position seals a receiving chamber 15 which is arranged outside the sharpening blade. The lid element 14 is pivotable about the longitudinal central axis 16 of the sharpener housing, and holding elements 17 which are claw-like or of ring-like design, surround the sharpener housing 2 and are mounted on sliding surfaces 18 of the sharpener housing 2 are arranged on the lid element 14 for this purpose.
The lid element 14 can be locked in a closed position in which it covers the sharpening blade. The sharpener housing 2 and the housing portion 7 are designed in one piece and consist of a metal or plastic molded part. The outside diameter 20 of the sharpener housing 2 and of the housing portion 7 are approximately the same, as are the respective lengths 21, 22.
The housing portion 7 is designed as a grip element and can for this purpose have a knurled textured exterior (not illustrated in greater detail in the drawing figures). The lid element 14 is provided with a flat outer portion 25, to which impressed or printed advertising can be applied.
The embodiment illustrated in
The diameter 40 of a grip 41 of the closure element 11 corresponds to the outside diameter of the lid element 24.
As can be seen clearly in particular from
For visual reasons and in order to support the snap catch connection when the lid element is pushed onto the sharpener housing, that end of the lid element 24 surrounding the insertion end 5 of the sharpener housing 2 is drawn in in such a way that it overlaps the wall of the sharpener housing 2 at least partly.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2004 005 040.4 | Apr 2004 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE04/01813 | 8/11/2004 | WO | 00 | 11/20/2006 |