Fluid application device and uses thereof

Abstract

A fluid application device including a reservoir intended to contain a free fluid and a fluid delivery device, wherein the reservoir is sealed by a valve having a self-healing material. The fluid application device includes a tubular means for piercing the valve and for simultaneously placing fluid from the reservoir in communication with the fluid delivery device.

Claims

1. A fluid application device comprising: a reservoir intended to contain a free fluid and a fluid delivery device, wherein the reservoir is sealed by a valve comprising a self-healing material; a tubular means for piercing the valve and for simultaneously placing fluid from the reservoir in communication with the fluid delivery device; and a displacement means for the relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means, the displacement means for the relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means being actionable by external forces applied to an actuator, whereby the tubular piercing means enables release of the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid application device at each use of the fluid-applying device; and a means, performed by a spring element, enabling the valve to be withdrawn from the tubular piercing means in the absence of the external forces.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is constituted in its entirety by a self-healing material.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is constituted by at least one part made of a self-healing material and by at least one part made of a non-self-healing material, the part consisting of a self-healing material being more specifically arranged in order to be perforated by the tubular piercing means.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a surface area of the valve which is made of a self-healing material represents from 1% to 99% of the total surface area of the valve.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the material of the valve is constituted by a mixture comprising a self-healing material and a non-self-healing material.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the mixture comprises from 40 to less than 100% by weight of self-healing material in relation to the total weight of the mixture, the rest being constituted by one or a plurality of non-self-healing material(s).

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is of multilayer configuration, and wherein the valve includes at least one layer of a self-healing material and at least one layer of a non-self-healing material.

8. A fluid application device comprising a reservoir intended to contain a free fluid and a fluid delivery device, wherein the reservoir is sealed by a valve comprising a self-healing material, the self-healing material is selected from the group consisting of multifunctional fatty acids, acrylic monomers or polymers, polyurethanes, and polyether-based copolymers, a tubular means for piercing the valve and for simultaneously placing fluid from the reservoir in communication with the fluid delivery device; and a displacement means for the relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means, the displacement means for the relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means being actionable by external forces applied to an actuator, whereby the tubular piercing means enables release of the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid application device at each use of the fluid-applying device; and a means enabling the valve to be withdrawn from the tubular piercing means in the absence of the external forces.

9. A fluid application device comprising: a reservoir intended to contain a free fluid and a fluid delivery device, the reservoir being sealed by a valve; a tubular means for piercing the valve and for simultaneously placing fluid from the reservoir in communication with the fluid deliver device; and a displacement means for relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means, the displacement means for the relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means being actionable by external forces applied to an actuator, whereby the tubular piercing means enables release of the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid application device at each use of the fluid-applying device; and a means enabling the valve to be withdrawn from the tubular piercing means in the absence of the external forces, wherein the valve comprises at least one part made of a self-healing material and at least one part made of a non-self-healing material, the non-self-healing material is selected from the group consisting of elastomers, polyolefins, polymethacrylates and styrenic polymers, the part consisting of a self-healing material being more specially arranged in order to be perforated by the tubular piercing means.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the non-self-healing material is selected from the group including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide and polymethyl methacrylate.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular piercing means comprise one or a plurality of needles having a length 1 of between 5 and 30 mm, an internal diameter Di of between 0.1 and 1.2 mm and an external diameter De of between 0.2 and 1.5 mm.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer reservoir for the placing of fluid in communication with the fluid delivery device, which is achieved by the buffer reservoir having a proximal part and a distal part, in which the proximal part of the buffer reservoir is placed in contact with the distal part of the piercing means and the distal part of the buffer reservoir is placed in contact with the proximal part of the fluid delivery device.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is fixed and the piercing means are mobile.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is mobile and the piercing means are fixed.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is used to write, mark, color, highlight, correct and paint.

16. A method of writing comprising a plurality of phases of writing and of resting, wherein a fluid application device according to claim 1 is provided, wherein in order to write, a user proceeds to pierce the valve, by the relative displacement of the valve towards the tubular piercing means, thereby allowing the fluid to exit from the reservoir during the writing phase, and upon cessation of writing corresponding to a resting phase, the tubular piercing means are retracted from the valve, which closes by self-healing in order to close the reservoir.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is a helicoidal spring or a resilient flexible strip.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is situated between the actuator and the fluid delivery device.

Description

(1) The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a longitudinal section of a fluid application device according to an embodiment, in which the valve is mobile and the piercing means are fixed.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a longitudinal section of a fluid application device according to an embodiment, in which the valve is fixed and the piercing means are mobile.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a longitudinal section of a fluid application device according to an embodiment, in which the piercing means have different lengths.

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a longitudinal section of a fluid application device according to an embodiment, in which the actuator is situated on a lateral part of the fluid application device of the invention.

(6) FIGS. 5 to 8 depict a diametrical section of a mixed valve according to different embodiments (FIGS. 5a to 8a) and the corresponding longitudinal section (FIGS. 5b to 8b).

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a fluid application device (1; 11) of the fibrous point marker type comprising a free ink reservoir (6; 16) sealed by a valve (5; 15) installed at an outlet orifice of the said reservoir (8; 18). The valve (5; 15) is made of a self-healing material. The fluid application device (1; 11) comprises as piercing means two tubular needles (3; 13) of a similar type to hypodermic injection needles, exhibiting in FIGS. 1 and 2 an identical length, an identical internal diameter and an identical external diameter. The extremities intended to perforate the valve (5; 15) are tapered. The two pairs of needles (3; 13) are connected to a fluid delivery device (2; 12) via a buffer reservoir (4; 14). The non-tapered parts (distal parts) of the needles (3; 13) are inserted into the proximal part of the buffer reservoir (4; 14), and the proximal part of the fluid delivery device (2; 12) is inserted into the distal part of the buffer reservoir (4; 14).

(8) Each of the devices represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise an actuator.

(9) In FIG. 1, where the valve is mobile and the piercing means are fixed, the actuator is a push button 7a. The actuator is in the form of a conical hat, the point of which is directed towards the exterior. It is made of a resilient plastic material. A pressure, for example applied with the help of the thumb, causes the depression of the cone (see position shown as a dotted line), which springs back when the pressure of the thumb ceases. In order to amplify the return of the cone into the exit position, the device 1 is equipped with a spring 7c.

(10) The conical push button 7a is connected by its center to a stem 7b, which causes the valve 5 to move towards the tapered parts of the needles 3.

(11) The valve 5, like the push button 7a, is installed by force in a circular groove defined by a proximal lip and a distal lip.

(12) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the actuator is the fluid delivery device 12. In this case, the device comprises a spring 17 installed between the distal part of the valve 15 and the proximal part of the fluid delivery device 12. The spring 17 can be supported on the valve 15, as shown here, or not. The spring 17 in this case can be supported on the internal wall of the fluid application device (1; 11), for example on the distal lip of the retaining groove for the valve 15.

(13) In the embodiment represented by FIG. 1, a pressure exerted on the actuator 7 has the effect of displacing the center of the valve 5 until it causes the perforation of the said valve 5 by the needles 3. The ink flows by gravity or capillary action through the said needles in order to supply the fluid delivery device 2 via the buffer reservoir 4.

(14) As soon as the actuator 7 is no longer acted upon by an external force, the retraction of each needle 3 from the valve 5 takes place thanks to the spring 7c. The valve repairs itself almost instantaneously and recovers all of its properties of impermeability to the fluid. The system returns to its state of equilibrium.

(15) In the embodiment represented by FIG. 2, the pressure generated by pressing the fluid delivery device 12 onto a writing surface has the effect of pushing the needles 13 towards the interior. Depending on the exerted pressure, one needle 13 or the pair of needles perforates the valve 15 and permits the ink to flow through the said needles in order to supply the fluid delivery device 12 via the buffer reservoir 14.

(16) When the writing and hence the pressure exerted by the user ceases, the spring 17 repels the fluid delivery device, which results in the retraction of the needles 13 from the valve 15. The valve 15 repairs itself almost instantaneously and recovers all of its properties of impermeability to the fluid. The system returns to its state of equilibrium.

(17) If it is wished to realize a fluid application device for extended use, provision can be made for the two extreme positions to be stable positions. For example, when the fluid application device is in the position shown as dotted lines, in FIG. 1, a pull on the conical push button 7a will cause the fluid application device to return to the position shown as solid lines in FIG. 1. For this purpose, the center of the conical push button 7a can be provided with a longer nipple than that illustrated, in order to make it easier to grip.

(18) FIG. 3 depicts a longitudinal section of a part of the fluid application device, in which the piercing means 23 have a different length but identical external and internal diameters. The exerted force directed towards the bottom in this figure on the stem 27b causes the valve 25 to flex via the spring 27, causing the perforation of the latter by the piercing means 23, as shown by dotted lines.

(19) FIG. 4 depicts a longitudinal section of a part of the fluid application device 31, in which the actuation system 37a is situated on a lateral part of the said device 31. The pressure exerted on the actuation system 37a causes the deformation of the valve 35, as shown by dotted lines, until perforation of the said valve by the piercing means 33 takes place, thereby causing the fluid to flow from the reservoir 31 towards the fluid delivery device (not represented in the figure) via the buffer reservoir 34.

(20) The spring 27c (FIG. 3) or 37c (FIG. 4) contributes to the return to a position of equilibrium in which the valve closes again.

(21) FIGS. 5 to 8 depict a diametrical section of a mixed disk-shaped valve (FIGS. 5a to 8a) and the corresponding longitudinal section (FIGS. 5b to 8b).

(22) In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the mixed valve is constituted by a part made of a non-self-healing material 45b and of two disk-shaped parts made of a self-healing material 45a and intended to be pierced by the piercing means 43. The diameter of the parts 45a is slightly larger than the diameter of the piercing means 43.

(23) FIG. 6 illustrates the case in which the parts made of a self-healing material 65a intended to be perforated by the piercing means 63 enclose the part made of a non-self-healing material 65b, thereby ensuring a better mechanical grip during piercing cycles. They are in the form of a diabolo, for example.

(24) In FIG. 7, it can be seen that the mixed valve is of triple-layer configuration constituted by a part made of a self-healing material 55a held between the disk of the same diameter made of a non-self-healing material 55b.

(25) FIG. 8 illustrates the embodiment in which the mixed valve is constituted by a disk, of which the peripheral part is made of a non-self-healing material 75b and the central part intended to be perforated by the piercing means is made of a self-healing material 75a.