Conveniently refillable applicator system

Abstract

A refillable applicator system includes an exchangeable cartridge including a mass container containing a mass supply, when in a new state, and an applicator unit with a first end projecting into an area of the mass supply and a second end forming a closure of the mass container, a sleeve configured to have the exchangeable cartridge fixed therein, and a cap configured to be fixed to the sleeve to close a removal side of the sleeve from which the applicator unit is capable of being removed. The applicator unit includes, at the second end, a coupling element designed and positioned so as to enter into a connection with a counter-coupling element while the exchangeable cartridge is completely inserted into the sleeve, and while the sleeve is closed on a removal side with the cap.

1 . A refillable applicator system, comprising:
 an exchangeable cartridge including a mass container containing a mass supply, when in a new state, and an applicator unit with a first end projecting into an area of the mass supply and second end forming a closure of the mass container;   a sleeve configured to have the exchangeable cartridge fixed therein; and   a cap configured to be fixed to the sleeve to close a removal side of the sleeve from which the applicator unit is capable of being removed,   the applicator unit including, at the second end, a coupling element designed and positioned so as to enter into a connection with a counter-coupling element while the exchangeable cartridge is completely inserted into the sleeve, and while the sleeve is closed on a removal side with the cap.   
     
     
         2 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap has an ejector operatively connected thereto such that the coupling element and the counter-coupling element are disengageable by imparting relative movement to the ejector with respect to a remainder of the cap. 
     
     
         3 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ejector is a press piston configured to be moved out of the cap in a direction toward the exchangeable cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 3 , wherein the cap comprises a cap base body and a rotatably mounted cap top having a nut thread configured to advance or retract the press piston upon rotation of the cap top. 
     
     
         5 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein the counter-coupling element is a tube section of the cap and is configured to act as a tubular gripper, and is slotted once or several times and which, in the coupled state, engages over the coupling element and is latched thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 5 , wherein the press piston is configured to be advanced inside the tube section to disengage the coupling element from the tube section. 
     
     
         7 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has an insertion and ejection opening on an end face facing away from the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 2 , wherein the exchangeable cartridge has an external thread or a latching element by which the exchangeable cartridge is configured be anchored to the sleeve in a position of use. 
     
     
         9 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 8 , wherein in anchoring of the exchangeable cartridge to the sleeve, the coupling element and the counter-coupling element as well as the ejector are configured such that, when the ejector is fully actuated, the coupling element and the counter-coupling element are disengaged from one another and the exchangeable cartridge is at least partially pushed out of the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein the ejector includes an actuator and a spring element, the press piston configured to be moved in a direction towards the exchangeable cartridge by pressing the actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 4 , wherein a spring element is configured to contact the cap base body and when moved further into a direction towards the exchangeable cartridge unfold a spring action, through which the press piston is pushed back into a direction away from the exchangeable cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 10 , wherein the spring element at least partially encloses the press piston. 
     
     
         13 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 10 , wherein the spring element comprises spring windings spiraling around a center or spring rings. 
     
     
         14 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 13 , wherein the spring rings are circumferential rings lying one below another and each spring ring of the spring rings has at least two recesses, the recesses of two directly adjacent rings of the spring rings being offset from one another. 
     
     
         15 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a press button at least partially protrudes from the cap top or being accessible to a user so as to be capable of being pushed downwards by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 15 , wherein the ejector is centered in the cap through a matching recess in the cap top through which the push press button projects outwards or a guide protruding out of the cap base body with which the spring element is at least partially guided. 
     
     
         17 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ejector includes a press piston, spring rings and a press button, and is configured as a one-piece part. 
     
     
         18 . The refillable applicator system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ejector includes a press piston, spring rings and a press button, is formed from plastic. 
     
     
         19 . An exchangeable cartridge for an applicator system, comprising:
 a mass container containing a mass supply, when in a new state; and   an applicator unit with a first end projecting into an area of the mass supply and a second end forming a closure of the mass container,   the exchangeable cartridge configured to have a sleeve fixed thereto, and configured to have a cap fixed to the sleeve to close a removal side of the sleeve from which the applicator unit is capable of being removed,   the applicator unit including, at the second send, a coupling element designed and positioned so as to enter into a connection with a counter-coupling element while the exchangeable cartridge is completely inserted into the sleeve, and while the sleeve is closed on a removal side with the cap.   
     
     
         20 . An exchangeable cartridge, comprising:
 a mass container containing a mass supply, when in a new state; and   an applicator unit with a first end projecting into an area of the mass supply and a second end forming a closure of the mass container,   the exchangeable cartridge configured to have a sleeve fixed thereto, and configured to have a cap fixed to the sleeve to close a removal side of the sleeve from which the applicator unit is capable of being removed,   the applicator unit including, at the second send, a coupling element designed and positioned so as to enter into a connection with a counter-coupling element while the exchangeable cartridge is completely inserted into the sleeve, and while the sleeve is closed on a removal side with the cap,   the cap having an ejector operatively connected thereto such that the coupling element and the counter-coupling element are disengageable by imparting relative movement to the ejector with respect to a remainder of the cap,   the ejector being a press piston configured to be moved out of the cap in a direction toward the exchangeable cartridge.   the cap comprising a cap base body and a rotatably mounted cap top having a nut thread configured to advance or retract the press piston upon rotation of the cap top,   the ejector including an actuator and a spring element, the press piston configured to be moved in a direction towards the exchangeable cartridge by pressing the actuator, and   a tightening or freshness seal is disposed between the mass container and the applicator unit, the tightening or freshness seal automatically destroyed in a course of first removal of the applicator unit from the mass container without requiring a separate act of removing or destroying tightening or freshness the seal.