Patent Application
20120055278
The present disclosure is generally related to mechanical applicators and, more particularly, to mechanical applicators suitable for use in the hand-held, small scale work.
Various types of mechanical type applicators allow the user to propel a mass or instrument out of a tip portion for application. After the mass or instrument is utilized, the user can then retract the mass or instrument back into the applicator to protect it from becoming damaged. Such applicators conventionally include a barrel portion that contains the majority of the mechanical mechanism for propelling and retracting the mass or instrument, and a nose portion from which the mass or instrument is propelled and retracted. It is common for the nose portion and barrel portion to be rotated relative to each other to effectuate propelling and retraction of the mass or instrument. It is also common for such mechanical type applicators to be generally linear in design.
One aspect of the present disclosure provides an applicator including a barrel portion, a nose portion, a pivoting joint, a threaded screw, a flexible driveshaft, and a cup. The nose portion is connected to the barrel portion. The pivoting joint is disposed at the connection between the nose portion and the barrel portion, and optionally is rotatable along the applicator's axis. The threaded screw is disposed in the barrel portion and threadably engages a plurality of threads carried inside of the barrel portion. The cup is disposed in the nose portion and is adapted to carry a mass or instrument. The cup is rotationally fixed to the nose portion and the threaded screw such that rotation of the nose portion relative to the barrel portion causes axial displacement of the cup and the screw relative to the barrel portion. The flexible driveshaft extends between and is rotationally fixed to the threaded screw and the cup. The flexible shaft extends across the pivoting joint disposed at the connection between the nose portion and the barrel portion.
In one type of embodiment, the pivoting joint can include a ball-and-socket type joint, to effectuate pivoting and rotational translation of the nose portion and barrel portion with respect to each other.
In one type of embodiment, the barrel portion can include a ball while the nose portion comprises a socket retaining at least a portion of the ball to form the rotating and pivoting joint.
In one type of embodiment, the ball-and-socket joint can include a through-bore and the flexible driveshaft can extend through the through-bore.
In one type of embodiment, the through-bore can include a chamfered opening portion to facilitate bending of the flexible driveshaft.
In one type of embodiment, the applicator can further include a one-piece drive member comprising the threaded screw, the cup, and the flexible driveshaft.
In one type of embodiment, the applicator can further include a mass or instrument carried in the cup.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an applicator including a barrel portion, a nose portion, a pivoting joint, a screw fitting, and a one-piece drive member. The nose portion is connected to the barrel portion. The pivoting joint is disposed at the connection between the nose portion and the barrel portion. The screw fitting is fixed to the barrel portion in between the barrel portion and the one-piece drive member. The screw fitting engages with the one-piece drive member allowing for axial displacement relative to the barrel portion. The pivoting joint optionally is rotatable along the applicator's axis. The one-piece drive member extends from the barrel portion, through the pivoting joint, and into the nose portion. The one-piece drive member includes a flexible drive shaft extending through a through-bore defined in the pivoting joint. The flexible driveshaft facilitates pivoting of the nose portion and the barrel portion relative to each other.
In one type of embodiment, the one-piece drive member can include a threaded screw, a cup, and the flexible driveshaft. The threaded screw can be disposed in the barrel portion and threadably engage a plurality of threads carried inside of the barrel portion. The cup can be disposed in the nose portion and adapted to carry a mass or instrument. The cup can be rotationally fixed to the nose portion and the threaded screw such that rotation of the nose portion relative to the barrel portion causes axial displacement of the cup and the screw relative to the barrel portion. The flexible driveshaft can extend between and be rotationally fixed to the threaded screw and the cup. The flexible driveshaft can also include a plurality of flexible fins so as provide a seal within the nose portion.
In another embodiment, the threaded screw can include a non-threaded edge at end farthest from the nose portion and joint. This non-threaded edge effects the rotation of the one-piece drive member without axial displacement upon full displacement of the drive member relative to the barrel portion.
In another embodiment, the threaded screw, flexible driveshaft, and cup can be hollow.
In one type of embodiment, the pivoting joint can include a ball-and-socket type joint, to effectuate pivoting and rotational translation of the nose portion and barrel portion with respect to each other. The rotational translation can also effectuate rotation of the mass without axial movement relative to the nose and barrel portions of the applicator.
In one type of embodiment, the nose portion can include a ball and the barrel portion can include a socket retaining at least a portion of the ball to form a rotating and pivoting joint.
In one type of embodiment, the bail-and-socket joint can includes a through-bore and the flexible driveshaft can extend through the through-bore.
In one type of embodiment, the through-bore can be defined in a rotating and pivoting joint and can include a chamfered opening portion to facilitate bending of the flexible driveshaft.
In one type of embodiment, the applicator can further include a mass or instrument carried in the cup.
In one type of embodiment, the threaded screw is rotationally fixed to the barrel portion and configured with a geometry which would allow the screw to be longitudinally looped back on it. The two arms of the looped screw would be secured in channels on opposing sides of the barrel portion.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of one embodiment of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the legal scope of the disclosure is defined by what a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand is encompassed by the content of this description. The detailed description is to be construed as illustrating an example only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the disclosure or the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this document using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this document. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this document is referred to in the description in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
Turning now to
As illustrated, the barrel portion 12 and the nose portion 14 are connected together via a joint 16. The barrel portion 12 includes a central axis A, around which the barrel portion 12 has rotational symmetry. Similarly, the nose portion 14 has a central axis B, around which the nose portion 14 has rotational symmetry. In the disclosed embodiment, the joint 16 includes a ball-and-socket type joint 16. So configured, the nose portion 14 and barrel portion 12 can pivot through an angle relative to each other, as shown in
With reference to
The screw 20, the flexible driveshaft 22, and the cup 24 can be constructed from a single piece of material such as plastic by injection molding, for example, thereby defining a one-piece drive member. Preferably, the one-piece drive member is constructed of a material having a high tensile strength and good rigidity. The geometry of the drive member would allow good flexibility without compromising rigidity requirements along certain portions of the drive member. In alternative embodiments, the screw 20, the flexible driveshaft 22, and the cup 24 can constitute separate components fixed together at their respective ends.
In another embodiment, the screw 20, the flexible driveshaft 22, and the cup 24 can define through-bores 21, 23, and 25 along the applicator's axis. This would allow for storage of additional mass product or instrument within the applicator or for use of the applicator as a guide along its axis for the movement of further mass or instrument unto a substrate or surface.
Still referring to
The nosecone 30, the cup 24, the mass or instrument 26, the flexible driveshaft 22, and the screw 20 are all rotationally fixed with respect to each other. As mentioned, the socket 21 of the nosecone 30 receives the ball 19 of the second portion 17b of the barrel 17 in a manner that allows the ball 19 and socket 21 to rotate and pivot relative to each other. Preferably, the partially spherical socket 21 extends just beyond the great circle (e.g., the equator) of the ball 19 such that a terminal end of the socket 21 retains the ball 19 therein by snap-fit, for example. In optional embodiments, an additional sealing ring or other component can be inserted into the socket 21 and/or around the ball 19 to retain the ball 19 in the socket 21.
The sealing cap 28 is sized and configured to fit over the nosecone 30 and preferably seal against an outer sidewall portion thereof at a location along the nosecone. This preferred seal (not shown) prevents air from entering the sealing cap 28, preventing any air-related damage of optional mass or instrument 26, as is known in the art. In addition to the seal between the sealing cap 28 and the nosecone 30, one embodiment of the flexible driveshaft 22 of the presently disclosed marking applicator 10 can include a plurality of flexible fins 38 just below the cup 24 on the flexible driveshaft 22. The radial fins 38 could include a cross-section that is generally similar to the cross-section of the internal wall of the through-bore 32 (e.g., hexagonal) of the nosecone 30 such that the fins 38 would provide a fluid tight seal between the flexible driveshaft 22 and the nosecone 30. So configured, the fins 38 could prevent air from penetrating the joint 16, thereby working in cooperation with the sealing cap 28 to prevent any damage of the optional mass or instrument 26.
As further shown in
With the applicator 10 constructed as described, a user can propel the mass or instrument 26 out of the nosecone 30, or retract the mass or instrument 26 into the nosecone 30, by rotating the nosecone 30 relative to the barrel portion 12 or vice versa. For example, as a user applies a rotational torque to the nosecone 30, the socket 21 of the nosecone 30 rotates relative to the ball 19 of the second barrel portion 17b. The torque applied to the nosecone 30 is transferred through the corresponding internal and external sidewalls of the through-bore 32 and cup 24, respectively, to rotate the cup 24 relative to the barrel portion 12. Rotation of the cup 24 causes the flexible driveshaft 22 and screw 20 to also rotate relative to the barrel portion 12, which causes the screw 20 to rotate relative to the screw fitting 18. Rotation of the screw 20 relative to the screw fitting 18 causes the screw 20 to axially displace relative to the screw fitting 18. Axial displacement of the screw 20, in turn, causes axial displacement of the flexible driveshaft 22, the cup 24, and finally the optional mass or instrument 26. Whether the optional mass or instrument 26 propels from, or retracts into, the nosecone 30 depends on the direction of relative rotation between the nosecone 30 and the barrel portion 12.
While the applicator 10 has thus far been described as including the cup 24, the flexible driveshaft 22, and the screw 20 as being rotationally fixed to the nosecone 30 via the corresponding hexagonal sidewalls, other embodiments can include the cup 24, the flexible drive shaft 22, and the screw 20 rotationally fixed to the first portion 17a of the barrel 17. This could be achieved by providing a hexagonal nut, for example, on the screw 20 to correspond with an inner hexagonal surface of the first barrel portion 17a. In this embodiment, the nosecone 30 would be rotationally fixed to the screw fitting 18, and the screw fitting 18 would be freely rotatable relative to the first barrel portion 17a. As such, rotation of the nosecone 30 would cause rotation of the screw fitting 18 relative to the first barrel portion 17a and the screw 20, which in turn would cause the threads 18a on the screw fitting 18 to drive the screw 20, the flexible driveshaft 22, the cup 24, and the optional mass or instrument 26 in the axial direction, as desired. In such an embodiment, the through-bore 32 formed in the nosecone 30 would not necessarily have to have a hexagonal cross-section, but rather, it could have a circular in cross-section. This would further enable any flexible fins 38 formed on the flexible driveshaft 22 to also be circular, which could advantageously provide a more consistent fluid tight seal between the fins 38 and the nosecone 30.
Another embodiment can include the cup 24, the flexible drive shaft 22, and the screw 20 rotationally fixed to the first portion 17a of the barrel 17 with the screw 20 configured with a geometry which would allow the screw 20 to be longitudinally looped back on itself to provide a significantly shorter finished unit. The two arms of the looped screw would be secured in channels on opposing sides of the barrel 17A. The advantage of this configuration is a significantly shorter finished unit which is easier for the consumer to use and which will allow display of the pencil at Retail in a significantly smaller space.
In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the construction of the device 10 advantageously enables a user to pivot the nose portion 14 and barrel portion 12 relative to each other at the joint 16. Such pivoting is facilitated by the flexible driveshaft 22 extending between the screw 20 and the cup 24 and spanning the joint 16. In this regard, the flexible driveshaft 22 should be flexible enough that it is easy to bend when a user pivots the nose portion 14 relative to the barrel portion 12, but also rigid enough to transfer torque from the cup 24 to the screw 20 during operation of the applicator 10. Thus, the term flexible generally refers to the ability of the driveshaft 22 to bend under the typical pivoting loads applied by a user, and not the ability of the driveshaft 22 to twist in response to the application of torque.
Pivoting of the nose portion 14 is further facilitated by the chamfered opening portion 34a of the through-bore 34 in the ball 19 of the joint 16. In the disclosed embodiment, the chamfered opening 34a allows the flexible driveshaft 22 to bend in a gradual curve in response to pivoting of the nosecone 30. Such gradual curvature can help increase the useful life of the driveshaft 22. Nevertheless, in alternative embodiments, the through-bore 34 in the ball 19 can be constructed without the chamfered opening portion 34a.
While the foregoing has described various embodiments, features, and components of an applicator, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specifics described, but rather is intended to include all logical extensions that a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand is included herein and in the possession of the named inventor(s).
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61363057 | Jul 2010 | US |
