Abstract
The invention relates to the field of manual applicators, and in particular a manual applicator for applying a material on a substrate such as a sheet of paper. The manual applicator comprises a housing, an applicator endpiece projecting beyond a front opening of the housing, and a C-shaped handle. In a first section plane and in at least one section plane different from the first section plane and not parallel with the first section plane, the housing presents the same external outline adapted to be pressed into an internal outline of the handle, thereby enabling the handle to be fastened in a first orientation and alternatively in at least one second orientation different from the first orientation, the handle being oriented in the first section plane in the first orientation and in the second section plane in the second orientation. The first and second section planes are substantially in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the housing.
Claims
1. A manual applicator for applying a material on a substrate such as a sheet of paper, said manual applicator comprising: a housing; an applicator endpiece projecting beyond a front opening of the housing; and a handle that is C-shaped; wherein, in a first section plane and in at least one second section plane different from the first section plane and not parallel with the first section plane, said housing presents the same external outline adapted to be pressed into an internal outline of the handle, thereby enabling the handle to be fastened on said housing in a first orientation and alternatively in at least one second orientation different from the first orientation, the handle being oriented in the first section plane in the first orientation and in the second section plane in the second orientation, said first and second section planes being substantially in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the housing.
2. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein said external outline of the housing is substantially symmetrical.
3. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein said first and second section planes are substantially perpendicular to each other.
4. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator endpiece presents a front edge that is substantially straight.
5. The manual applicator according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said first section plane and said second section plane is substantially parallel to said front edge of the applicator endpiece.
6. The manual applicator according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said first section plane and said second section plane is substantially perpendicular to said front edge of the applicator endpiece.
7. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein said handle has two longitudinal tabs and a transverse link segment, interconnecting the proximal ends of said longitudinal tabs.
8. The manual applicator according to claim 1, including at least one protuberance on one of the handle and the housing, and a recess in the other one of the handle and the housing in order to snap-fasten the handle on the housing.
9. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein said handle includes a cellular portion interposed between said internal outline and a grip surface of the handle.
10. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein said handle is suitable for being releasably fastened on said housing.
11. The manual applicator according to claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a first material that is more rigid and a second material that is more flexible.
12. The manual applicator according to claim 11, wherein the first material forms a core of the handle.
13. The manual applicator according to claim 12, wherein said first material is a metal material.
14. The manual applicator according to claim 11, wherein said first and second materials of the handle are co-injected.
15. The manual applicator according to claim 1, further comprising, inside the housing, a feed spool for feeding a tape carrying a film for transferring onto said substrate, and a pickup spool for picking up the carrier tape.
16. The manual applicator according to claim 15, wherein said film is a correcting film.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention can be well understood and its advantages appear better on reading the following detailed description of two embodiments shown as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of the housing of a manual applicator in a first embodiment of the present invention;
(3) FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of a handle for fastening to the FIG. 1 housing in order to form a manual applicator in the first embodiment of the present invention;
(4) FIG. 3A is a side view of the FIG. 1 housing;
(5) FIG. 3B is a top view of the FIG. 1 housing;
(6) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the first embodiment with the handle in a first orientation on the housing;
(7) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the first embodiment with the handle in a second orientation on the housing;
(8) FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the first embodiment with the handle in a third orientation on the housing;
(9) FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the first embodiment with the handle in a fourth orientation on the housing;
(10) FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of a housing of a manual applicator in a second embodiment of the present invention;
(11) FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view of a handle for fastening on the FIG. 5 housing in order to form a manual applicator in a second embodiment of the present invention;
(12) FIG. 7A is a side view of the FIG. 5 housing;
(13) FIG. 7B is a top view of the FIG. 5 housing;
(14) FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the second embodiment with the handle in a first orientation on the housing;
(15) FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the second embodiment with the handle in a second orientation on the housing;
(16) FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the second embodiment with the handle in a third orientation on the housing; and
(17) FIG. 8D is a perspective view of the manual applicator of the second embodiment with the handle in a fourth orientation on the housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(18) FIG. 1 shows the inside of a housing 3 of a manual applicator configured so as to enable a film to be transferred from a carrier tape 11 to a substrate. For this purpose, the applicator comprises, inside the housing 3, a feed spool 4 and a pickup spool 5 for the carrier tape. The applicator also has an applicator endpiece 6 projecting from a front opening 7 of the housing 3. The feed spool 4 is suitable for turning about a first axis of rotation X.sub.1 in order to unwind the carrier tape. The carrier tape 11 is picked up by the pickup spool 5, which is suitable for rotating about a second axis of rotation X.sub.2 that is substantially parallel to, but offset from, the first axis of rotation X.sub.1. Between the feed spool 4 and the pickup spool 5, the carrier tape is guided in front of a front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece 6. Thus, pressing the endpiece 6 against a substrate (not shown) such as a sheet of paper, for example, causes the film to be transferred from an outside face of the carrier tape onto the substrate. Friction of the outside face of the carrier tape against the substrate exerts traction on the carrier tape between the endpiece 6 and the feed spool 4, thereby causing the carrier tape, which is wound around the feed spool 4, to be unwound progressively. The applicator also has a belt 2 for transmitting rotation from the feed spool 4 to the pickup spool 5, thereby maintaining tension on the carrier tape between the endpiece 6 and the pickup spool. Nevertheless, as an alternative, it is possible to use other transmission means for this function, such as for example gearing.
(19) FIG. 2 shows a handle 8 for releasably fastening on the housing 3. More specifically, the handle 8 is C-shaped with two longitudinal tabs 8e and 8f having proximal ends that are connected together by a transverse link segment 8g, which tabs present an internal outline 9 into which the housing 3 can be pressed. In this first embodiment, the internal outline 9 is formed in an inside portion 8a of the handle that is made of a relatively rigid material, and that is surrounded by an outside portion 8d of a material that is relatively flexible, presenting a grip surface 8c in order to facilitate a user gripping the handle 8. The terms relatively rigid material and relatively flexible material are used to mean that the first material presents a modulus of elasticity that is significantly greater than that of the second material. In this first embodiment, these two different materials may in particular both be thermoplastics, thus enabling the handle to be produced by injection molding, and in particular by co-injection of the two materials. Nevertheless, other materials and other production methods could also be envisaged.
(20) As can be seen in FIG. 2, the internal outline 9 of the handle 8 is substantially symmetrical. The term substantially symmetrical is used in the present context to mean that this outline is as symmetrical as can be obtained at reasonable cost using the manufacturing technologies involved. In contrast, the external outline of the grip surface 8c is asymmetrical in order to make it particularly ergonomic to hold.
(21) It can be seen in FIG. 3A that, in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to the front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece 6, the housing 3 presents an external outline 10 that is complementary to the internal outline 9 of the handle 8 and that is also substantially symmetrical. Thus, the housing 3 can be pressed into the inside of the handle 8 when oriented in this first plane. Nevertheless, and as can be seen in FIG. 3B, the housing 3 presents substantially the same external outline 10 in a longitudinal plane that is in alignment with the front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece 6. The housing 3 can thus also be pressed into the inside of the handle 8 in this second plane, perpendicular to the first. In addition, in both situations, since the external outlines 10 are symmetrical, the handle 8 can be fastened in two opposite alternative orientations in order to match the applicator endpiece 6 to users who are right-handed or left-handed.
(22) In order to ensure that the handle 8 is fastened in stable manner on the housing 3, it presents protuberances 12, 13 respectively on the distal ends of the longitudinal tabs 8e, 8f and on the transverse link segments 8g. These protuberances 12 and 13 are oriented towards the inside of the handle 8 and they are configured so as to co-operate with complementary recesses 14 and 15 in the outside of the housing 3 in order to stabilize the handle 8 on the housing 3 by snap-fastening. Nevertheless, and alternatively, at least one of the protuberances could be situated on the housing and the handle could present a complementary recess.
(23) FIG. 4A thus shows the applicator 1 with the handle 8 oriented in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to the front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece 6. In FIG. 4B, the handle 8 is likewise oriented in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to the front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece, but in an orientation that is opposite to that of FIG. 4A. In contrast, in FIG. 4C, the handle 8 is oriented in a longitudinal plane that is in alignment with the front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece 6. Finally, in FIG. 4D, the handle 8 is likewise oriented in a longitudinal plane that is in alignment with the front edge 6a of the applicator endpiece, but in an orientation that is opposite to that of FIG. 4C. In all four configurations, although the handle 8 is fastened to the housing 3 by forced locking due to its elastic deformation and the pressure it exerts on the external outline 10 and in the recesses 14, 15 of the housing 3, this connection is releasable, making it possible for the housing 3 to be replaced or to change the orientation of the handle 8 depending on the preferences of other users.
(24) FIG. 5 shows the housing 3 of an applicator 1 in a second embodiment. Although different in detail, this housing 3 is substantially analogous to the housing of the first embodiment and equivalent elements are given the same reference numbers in the drawings.
(25) In this second embodiment, the inside portion 8a of the handle 8, shown in FIG. 6, presents a core 8a of relatively rigid material having overmolded thereon a relatively flexible material that also forms a cellular portion 8b and the outside portion 8d presenting the grip surface 8c. In this second embodiment, the core 8a may be formed by at least one metal blade or cord folded into a C-shape with two tabs extending in the longitudinal tabs 8e, 8f of the handle 8. Nevertheless, other materials such as polymers or composites could equally well be considered for the core 8a. The relatively flexible material that is overmolded on the core may in particular be a thermoplastic, thus enabling the handle to be produced by injection molding. Nevertheless, as an alternative, at least one of the protuberances could be situated on the housing and the handle could present a complementary recess.
(26) The remaining elements of the handle 8 in this second embodiment are equivalent to those of the first embodiment and are therefore given the same reference numbers as in the figures showing the first embodiment.
(27) FIGS. 7A and 7B show how the housing 3 in this second embodiment also presents substantially the same external outline in a first longitudinal section plane and in a second longitudinal section plane perpendicular to the first.
(28) In a manner analogous to FIGS. 4A to 4D, FIGS. 8A to 8D show how the handle 8 of this second embodiment can thus likewise be fastened in releasable manner in the same orientations as in the first embodiment.
(29) Although the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, it is clear that various modifications and changes can be made to those embodiments without going the general ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, although the invention is described with reference to a manual applicator having a carrier tape, it is equally applicable to other types of applicator, e.g. including applicators having an internal supply of fluid material and a porous applicator endpiece. In addition, individual characteristics of the various embodiments mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Consequently, the description and the drawings should be considered in a sense that is illustrative rather than restrictive.
