U.S. patent application number 10/558027 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-03 for coater used also as wiper.
Invention is credited to Atsushi Miyaoka.
Application Number | 20070098478 10/558027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33487265 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070098478 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miyaoka; Atsushi |
May 3, 2007 |
Coater used also as wiper
Abstract
A coater used also as a wiper used to apply a liquid solution
such as a functional solvent onto glass panes and construction
materials, wipe off water and stain, and stick film on the smooth
surfaces of the glass panes, comprising a holding part and a thin
plate-like spatula part. Since the spatula part comprises a folded
part formed at the tip part thereof and the folded part is elastic,
even if a member to be coated has curved surfaces and
irregularities, the spatula part is flexibly fitted to the surface
thereof. If a cloth-like coating member (or wiping cloth) soaked
with a coating agent is detachably installed on the entire outer
periphery of the spatula part, a same coater body can be used by
changing the material and thickness of the coating member according
to the types and coating purposes of the coating liquid solution
and the members to be coated and the purpose of coating.
Accordingly, the coater can have such an advantage that the
required number of coater bodies is only one.
Inventors: |
Miyaoka; Atsushi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RADER FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
LION BUILDING
1233 20TH STREET N.W., SUITE 501
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
33487265 |
Appl. No.: |
10/558027 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 25, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/07440 |
371 Date: |
December 1, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05C 17/00 20130101;
B05C 17/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/129 |
International
Class: |
A46B 11/00 20060101
A46B011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2003 |
JP |
2003-152667 |
Claims
1. An applicator combined with a wiper comprising: a rod-like grip
portion; and a thin plate-like spatula portion, wherein said
spatula portion extends approximately in the same direction as an
axis of the grip portion, a folded portion directed in a direction
of an acute angle is formed in a leading end portion of said
spatula portion, and at least said folded portion itself has an
elasticity.
2. An applicator combined with a wiper as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a cloth-like application member impregnated with an
application agent or a wiping cloth is detachably installed to an
outer periphery of said spatula portion.
3. An applicator combined with a wiper as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a plurality of folded portions are provided in said spatula
portion.
4. An applicator combined with a wiper as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said spatula portion is formed by overlapping a plurality
of plate members.
5. An applicator combined with a wiper as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a spring member is bridged between the folded portion of
said spatula portion and a base end portion.
6. An applicator combined with a wiper as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the folded portion of said spatula portion is constituted
by separated bodies, and the folded portion is bridged to the
spatula portion main body by said spring member.
7. An applicator combined with a wiper as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a plurality of minute through holes are provided in said
spatula portion.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority based on Japanese
Patent Application No. 2003-152667, filed May 29, 2003, the
entirety of which being incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an applicator combined with
a wiper used at a time of applying a liquid agent such as a
functional liquid solution or the like, for example, to a glass, a
building material or the like, wiping out a water, a soil or the
like, or pasting a film on a smooth surface such as a glass or the
like.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In conventional, as a tool for uniformly applying a solvent,
for example, to a glass or the like or wiping out the water, the
soil or the like, there has been used a wiper 51 having a spatula
52 provided with a leading end portion made of an elastic material
such as a rubber, a soft synthetic resin or the like as shown in
FIG. 11.
[0004] Further, as an applicator used in the case of applying a
coating liquid solution such as a water repellent agent, a
hydrophilic agent or the like, for example, to a glass, as shown in
FIG. 12, there is used an applicator 61 in which a core-like
spatula 62 provided in a leading end is covered by an application
member 30 constituted by a non-woven fabric or the like, and an
application work is executed by impregnating the water solution in
the application member 30.
[0005] However, in the wiper 51 as shown in FIG. 11, there is a
case that the spatula 52 is hard to be sufficiently contacted
closely to the surface if the surface of a member to be applied has
a curved surface or a concavity and convexity.
[0006] Further, with regard to the applicator 61 shown in FIG. 12,
since the application member 30 such as the non-woven fabric or the
like is not firmly fixed to the spatula 62 by an adhesive layer 63
or the like, it is necessary to prepare the applicator 61 to which
the suitable application member 30 is attached, in correspondence
to a kind of the applied liquid agent, a purpose of application or
the like. Further, when the application member 30 is soiled, it is
hard to entirely wash the application member 30 by a machine, and
it is troublesome to wash. Further, in the case that the
application member 30 is damaged on the basis of a component of the
liquid agent, a duty-cycle operation or the like, it is necessary
to dispose an entire of the applicator 61 so as to replace the
applicator 61 by a new one, and this is uneconomical. In addition,
since the spatula 62 is hard and an elasticity in the leading end
is inferior as mentioned above, there have been generated problems
that the application member 30 is not closely contacted along an
application surface, a usability is deteriorated, and it is hard to
achieve a glossy finish.
[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an applicator combined with a wiper which is easily
contacted closely to an applied member having a curved surface and
a concavity and convexity, can employ a plurality of application
members such as an application member or a wiping cloth in
correspondence to an intended use, can be easily washed, is
economical, and can structure a more user friendly spatula portion
by using an appropriate raw material in each of portions in
correspondence to an intended use.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, the structure is
made such that a grip portion and a thin plate-like spatula portion
are provided, a folded portion is formed in a leading end portion
of the spatula portion, at least the folded portion has an
elasticity, and a bending angle of the folded portion is
variable.
[0009] A rigidity of the spatula portion is improved by forming the
folded portion, and it is possible to press the spatula portion
strongly to the applied member. In addition, since the folded
portion has the elasticity, the folded portion has a buffer action.
Accordingly, even if the applied member has a curved surface or a
concavity and convexity, the spatula portion can easily follow the
surface of the applied member by appropriately changing a folded
angle at a time of applying. In the case that the folded portion
does not have the elasticity, the same effect can be obtained by
bridging the folded portion and a base end portion by a spring
member.
[0010] Further, in the case that a cloth-like application member
impregnated with an application agent is detachably installed to an
entire of an outer periphery of the spatula portion, it is possible
to use the same applicator main body while changing a kind of a
material, a thickness or the like of the application member in
correspondence to a kind of an applied liquid agent or an applied
member, a purpose of application, and the like. Further, in the
case that the application member is soiled or damaged, it is
possible to use the applicator by replacing only the application
member. Further, since the detached application member can be
washed as a whole by a washing machine, a washing work is easy and
a small waste is generated even if the application member may be
disposable. Since the cloth-like application member is freely
attached and detached, only one main body can employ a plurality of
application members in correspondence to an intended use.
[0011] Further, since the application member can be detached so as
to be easily washed, and the main body can be continuously used by
disposing only the application member in the case that the
application member is damaged, the structure is economical.
[0012] Further, it is possible to intend to achieve an efficiency
of an application work by forming the spatula portion by a
plurality of plate members or forming a base end portion and a
folded portion as independent bodies made of different materials,
in correspondence to the material of the applied member, the
intended use or the like. In this case, the applicator can be used
as a wiper by employing the same wiping cloth as the application
member in place of the application member mentioned above.
[0013] Further, in the case that the spatula portion is provided
with a plurality of minute through holes through which a water or
an application agent can pass, an extra water or application agent
can slip from the through holes to a back side, and does not stay
in the application surface, the applied member or the like.
Accordingly, it is possible to uniformly apply the whole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in
accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which an
application member is attached in the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional partial view showing
a different embodiment of a spatula portion in accordance with the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional partial view showing
a different embodiment of the spatula portion in accordance with
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross sectional partial view showing
a different embodiment of the spatula portion in accordance with
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross sectional partial view showing
a different embodiment of the spatula portion in accordance with
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment
in accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross sectional partial view of FIG.
8;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross sectional partial view showing
a different embodiment of the spatula portion in accordance with
the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a prior art; and
[0025] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a different prior
art.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] In order to explain the present invention in detail, a
description will be given with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a view showing one of best modes for carrying out
the present invention. An applicator main body 2 has a spatula
portion 21 made of a rigid material in a leading end side, and is
provided with a fastener portion 23 and a grip portion 24 in a base
end side of the spatula portion 21. The applicator main body 2
constituted by the spatula portion 21, the fastener portion 23 and
the grip portion 24 is structured by an impermeable material which
is not impregnated with a water, a functional water solution or the
like corresponding to an application agent.
[0028] As a material of the spatula portion 21, there can be used a
rigid synthetic resin having an elasticity, a rubber material, a
metal thin plate or the like, and a folded portion 22 is formed by
bending an approximate length, for example, about one third of an
entire length from a leading end. Further, an end line of the
folded portion 22 is not fixed, but has an elasticity that a
bending angle can be freely changed. Further, the folded portion 22
is provided with a plurality of minute through holes 20 through
which the application agent such as the water, the functional water
solution or the like can pass.
[0029] The fastener portion 23 has an attaching and detaching means
which can easily attach and detach the application member 3, for
example, a hook-and-loop fastener or the like. Further, the
application member 3 is formed as a cloth-like structure made of a
material which has a flexibility and can impregnate a fixed amount
of application agent in accordance with an intended use, for
example, a felt or pile (including a towel cloth) cloth, an
non-woven fabric, a micro fiber, a resin foam, a paper or the like,
approximately employs a raw material in correspondence to a king of
the application agent, a nature of the applied member, a purpose of
application, or the like, and is attached so as to cover an outer
periphery of the spatula portion 21 including at least the folded
portion 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0030] At a time of using the applicator 1 mentioned above, the
application member 3 having a suitable raw material, thickness and
the like is first selected in correspondence with a hardness and an
area of the applied member, a kind and an intended use of an
applied water solution such as a coating water solution, for
example, a water repellent agent, a defogger agent or the like, and
the application member 3 is attached to the fastener portion 23 of
the applicator main body 2. In the case of applying the functional
water solution to the applied member, an application work is
executed by impregnating the water solution in the application
member 3 while holding the grip portion 24, and moving the
applicator 1 along a surface of the applied member, for example, an
automotive glass or the like.
[0031] Further, the application member 3 is formed as the
cloth-like structure made of the material which has the flexibility
and can impregnate the fixed amount of application agent in
accordance with the intended use, for example, the felt or pile
(including the towel cloth) cloth, the non-woven fabric, the micro
fiber, the resin foam, the paper or the like. The application
member 3 can be used as a wiper by using the application member 3
as a wiping cloth.
[0032] Since the folded portion 22 in the spatula portion 21
forming a core member of the application member 3 has an
elasticity, the folded portion 22 tends to move along a shape of
the surface even if the applied member is formed in a curved
surface such as the automotive glass.
[0033] Accordingly, it is possible to apply the water solution
without recoating. Further, since the leading end of the spatula
portion 21 is folded and the folded portion 22 is formed, the
spatula portion 21 is hard to be folded even if the spatula portion
21 is strongly pressed, whereby it is possible to strongly contact
the folded portion 22 closely with the applied member.
[0034] Further, since the through hole 20 is provided in the folded
portion 22, an extra water solution slips to the back surface
through the through hole 20, and the water solution can be
uniformly applied without being stored at one position in the
application member 3 or the applied surface.
[0035] Further, in the case that the application member 3 is soiled
or damaged, the application member 3 may be detached from the
fastener portion 23, and may be replaced by a new application
member 3 so as to be used. Further, at a time of executing an
application work under different conditions, the same applicator
main body 2 can be used by replacing only the application member 3.
The detached application member 3 is washed so as to be reused or
is disposed in correspondence to a state of the application member
3. Since the application member 3 detached from the applicator main
body 2 can be easily washed by a washing machine or the like, and
the applicator main body 2 can be reused at many times even if the
application member 3 is disposable, it is possible to restrict an
economic and resource loss to a small level.
[0036] In this case, in the case of being used as a wiper, for
example, a cutwater or the like, the applicator 1 may be used in a
state in which the application member 3 is attached as shown in
FIG. 2, or may be used as only the applicator main body 2 without
attaching the application member 3. In this case, since the folded
portion 22 is formed, it is possible to press by a strong force
without forming the spatula portion 21 by a rigid material or a
thick plate. Accordingly, it is possible to closely contact without
damaging the surface to be wiped.
[0037] FIGS. 4 to 10 show different embodiments in the spatula
portion 21 in accordance with the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a thin plate 22a made of
an elastic material, for example, a rubber or the like is arranged
in the folded portion 22 such as a conventional wiper, and a wiping
effect is mainly improved. Further, in a state in which the
application member 3 is attached, as shown in FIG. 2, the thin
plate 22a achieves a slip resisting effect of the application
member 3.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the spatula portion 21
is structured by overlapping two thin plates. In this case, the
spatula portion 21 may be structured by using a plurality of thin
plates made of different materials in accordance with a purpose of
application or the like, for example, an outer thin plate is made
of a soft material so as to prevent the applied member from being
easily damaged at a time of applying, and a rigid material is
employed for an inner side so as to make an elastic force of the
folded portion 22 strong. The number of the thin plates is not
limited to two, but the spatula portion 21 may be structured by
using a plurality of thin plates made of a suitable material in
correspondence to the required performance.
[0040] Further, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a spring member
4 is bridged between the folded portion 22 of the spatula portion
21 and a base end portion 25, and FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in
which the folded portion 22 of the spatula portion 21 and the base
end portion 25 are formed as separated bodies, and the spring
member 4 is bridged so as to couple them. In both the embodiments,
the folded portions 22 and 22 have an elasticity on the basis of
the spring member 4, and it is possible to adjust an elasticity on
the basis of the kind of the spring member 4. In the case of FIG.
7, for example, the folded portion 22 contacted with the applied
member may be made of a soft material so as to be hard to be
damaged, and the base end portion 25 to which the force is applied
in an axial direction may be formed by a rigid material.
[0041] Further, FIGS. 8 and 9 shows an embodiment in which the
folded portion 22 of the spatula portion 21 and the base end
portion 25 are formed as separated bodies, and a pair of spring
members 4 constituted by a folded leaf spring are bridged between
the folded portion 22 and the base end portion 25 by using locking
screws 41 and 41 so as to be coupled.
[0042] Further, an embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is structured such
that the folded portions 22 and 22 of the spatula portion 21 are
folded to a plurality of sections, it is possible to form while
selecting a finer elasticity in comparison with the embodiment
having the once folded portion shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, and it is
possible to provide the structure which is suitable for the
intended use. Of course, it goes without saying that the present
embodiment can be used together with the embodiments shown in FIGS.
1 to 6.
[0043] In this case, even in the case of having the spatula portion
21 in accordance with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, it is
possible to use as the wiper without attaching the wiping cloth
(the application member) 3 or by attaching the wiping cloth 3, in
the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 mentioned
above, or it is possible to use as the applicator applying the
liquid agent by attaching the application member 3.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0044] As mentioned above, the applicator combined with the wiper
in accordance with the present invention can be used at a time of
applying the liquid agent such as the functional water solution or
the like, for example, to the glass, the building material or the
like, wiping out the water, the soil or the like, and pasting the
film on the smooth surface such as the glass or the like.
* * * * *