The invention relates to an applicator system according to the generic term of claim 1.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

An applicator system in the sense in question here usually comprises all the parts required for applying a - preferably cosmetic, otherwise also medical - mass to a surface to be applied. The masses just mentioned will be referred to in the following as "mass".

Thus, such an applicator system regularly comprises a mass container for storing the mass to be applied and an applicator with which the mass is applied. Typically, such an applicator system also comprises a wiper which frees the applicator from excessive loading when it is pulled out. Usually, this includes a cap, which is usually fixed to the mass container when the applicator system is closed. The latter typically by the cap being slipped onto or screwed to the mass container. In addition, the cap in many cases also carries the applicator, very often on the stem protruding from the cap. This results in an essentially two-part system consisting of the mass container with the stored mass and the cap with the applicator attached to it.

In general, however, almost all such applicator systems present the same problem:

At present, as soon as the mass in the mass container is used up, the entire applicator system with all its parts is usually disposed completely and a new applicator system is purchased to take the place of the previous one.

In the course of the increasing shift away from a throwaway society, the completely thoughtless discarding of a complete applicator unit, which actually contains many components that are still usable even after the original mass supply has been depleted, no longer seems appropriate.

Therefore, a manual refilling of the mass container by the user was considered at an early stage.

For example, the mass to be applied with the application unit could be provided to the user in a refill container, which the user then refills into the mass container itself. However, users find this cumbersome and too difficult. Additional aids (e.g. funnels) are often required for refilling. In addition, there is a risk that the attempt to force the refill mass into the delicate mass container of the application unit will result in unwanted mass leakage and thus annoying contamination or soiling.

For this reason, it has already been considered to equip the applicator system with a two-part mass container: Namely, a sleeve that visually forms the usual container and a cartridge that is more or less invisibly received by it and contains the mass. When the cartridge is depleted, it can be exchanged for another cartridge filled at the factory without having to discard the rest of the applicator system.

Even with such solutions, however, two problems arise: Changing the cartridge is still too inconvenient and it cannot be ruled out that a user will continue to use a new cartridge even though the performance of the applicator has already deteriorated too much. In the end, there may be unreflected disappointment that the application properties of the applicator system do not seem to meet the high expectations raised by the applicator systems used to date.

The latter problem is circumvented by making the applicator into a part of the refill cartridge, so that a new applicator is used for each refill.

However, other problems arise with this: Refreshing the applicator system becomes more demanding because now not only a new cartridge but also a new applicator have to be mounted. On the other hand, the number of components to be discarded with each refresh increases, which is critical from an environmental point of view.

THE UNDERLYING TASK

The invention is therefore based on the task of creating a refill unit comprising an exchangeable applicator, which can be installed and removed as conveniently and intuitively as possible in an applicator system, which requires a refresh, and yet keeping the number of components to be discarded in the course of a refresh as small as possible.

THE SOLUTION ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

To solve this problem, a refillable applicator system with at least one exchangeable cartridge is proposed. The exchangeable cartridge itself consists of at least one mass container, which, when new, contains a mass supply for a large number of future applications, and an applicator unit. One end of the applicator unit projects into the area of the mass supply and is used for the subsequent removal of mass from the mass container and for its subsequent application. With its other end, it forms a closure of the recipient that receives the applicator unit. This "recipient" is the already addressed mass container.

The applicator system then comprises a mostly cylindrical, but otherwise often square or polygonal sleeve, in which the exchangeable cartridge can be fixed. Furthermore, the applicator system includes a cap, which can be fixed to the sleeve in order to close the removal side of the sleeve and to protect the mass supply from drying out even after opening. This removal side is the side from which the applicator unit can be taken by the user.

The applicator system according to the invention is characterized in that the applicator unit provides a coupling element at the end with which it forms the closure of the mass container. Said coupling element is so designed and positioned that it - on its own - enters into a generally permanent connection with a counter-coupling element of the cap, if the exchangeable cartridge is completely or substantially completely inserted into the sleeve while the sleeve is completely or substantially completely closed on its removal side with the cap.

In any case, it is preferred that said coupling element is not formed by a more or less complete inner cap, which in turn is inserted into the actual cap for coupling in such a way that it fills it completely or at least predominantly. In most cases, too much material would be needed for that. Instead, a coupling element in the sense of the invention is optimally one that is implemented directly at the end of the rodlike bristle carrier or the rod-like stem that holds the bristle carrier. In many cases, the coupling element is embodied as a localized thickening of the stem or as a latch undercut of the stem that can be gripped and retained by an often claw-like counter-coupling element.

This means that the cap of the applicator system can be used several times. It is therefore not discarded with each refresh. This is despite the fact that the cap also becomes part of an applicator in the applicator system according to the invention, which consists of the applicator unit and the cap as usual and can therefore be handled during application in exactly the same way as usual. In most cases, the applicator unit consists of the actual applicator member (e.g. a bristle carrier) and a stem. The latter provides the connection to the cap, which serves not only as a closure for the reservoir but also, and above all, as a handle piece for the applicator.

The reuse of the cap on the new applicator unit in the course of the refresh does not result in any additional effort. This is because the new applicator unit, which is used together with the fresh exchangeable cartridge, has a coupling element that is designed and positioned in such a way that it forms a permanent connection with the cap on its own.

"On its own" in this context ideally means "inevitably", so that, when the cap is screwed or placed on the sleeve and preferably afterwards receives the fresh exchangeable cartridge, the user cannot do anything other than create a permanent connection between the cap and the applicator unit. In any case, "on its own" means that the user can create a permanent connection between the cap and the applicator unit without first having to acquire a more detailed understanding of how the coupling mechanism works, i.e. , without having to "think" his or her way into the coupling mechanism.

In this context, permanent means "uninterrupted for the entire period until the next exchangeable cartridge is installed at will" .

PREFERENTIAL FURTHER DESIGN OPTIONS

Preferably, the cap according to the invention has an ejector which is in operative connection with the rest of the cap in such a way that the coupling element and the counter-coupling element can be disengaged again, i.e. uncoupled, by forcing the ejector to move relative to the rest of the cap, arbitrarily.

The background to this is that the decoupling of the cap from the applicator unit by merely unscrewing the cap from the sleeve does not work according to the invention. This is precisely because this is not intended to result in uncoupling. Instead, it should be possible to separate the cap after unscrewing it from the sleeve - without thinking or special manipulation - together with the applicator unit from the sleeve and the mass container built into it in order to be able to apply as usual.

Ideally, said ejector is a press piston, preferably in the form of a threaded rod, that can be rotated out of the cap in the direction toward the exchangeable cartridge or can be moved within the cap in such a way as to apply the compressive force necessary for uncoupling, ideally completely, without requiring any additional effort on the part of the user.

Preferably, the cap comprises a cap base body and a rotatably mounted cap top, which is rotatable in relation to the cap base body. The cap top has a thread, usually a nut thread. Preferably, this is a steep thread that slides back into its initial position under external pressure. This pushes the threaded rod forward when said cap top is rotated. If the press piston is forgotten to be retracted afterwards and returned to its previous ready position, this lapse does not hinder the screwing of the cap onto the newly filled sleeve section because the steep thread is not self-locking and therefore the press piston is pushed back into its original position on its own.

Ideally, the counter-coupling element is a single- or multiple- slotted tube section of the cap that, when coupled, overlaps the coupling element and is latched to it.

It is particularly advantageous if the press piston, in particular the threaded rod, can be advanced inside or in the center of the counter-coupling element, in particular the slotted tube section, in order to release the coupling from the snap-in connection with the counter-coupling element. This results in a particularly compact design with high functional reliability.

It is useful for the sleeve to have an insertion and ejection opening for the exchangeable cartridge on its end face facing away from the cap. This is the easiest way to implement the aforementioned aids for automatic coupling and decoupling. Preferably, the exchangeable cartridge has either an external thread or, particularly preferably, no thread but at least one latching element by means of which it can be anchored to the sleeve in its position of use. Ideally, the at least one latching element is designed in such a way that it can only be disengaged again by an axial pressure force that is greater than the axial pressure force required to couple the coupling element to its counter-coupling element. This prevents the exchangeable cartridge from being unintentionally pushed out of the sleeve when attempting to couple the cap to the new applicator unit brought along by the exchangeable cartridge during a refill instead of coupling its applicator unit to the cap.

For ideal anchoring of the exchangeable cartridge to the sleeve, the coupling and the counter-coupling as well as the ejector are designed in such a way that when the ejector is fully actuated as intended, not only are the coupling and the counter-coupling disengaged from each other, but the exchangeable cartridge is also pushed out of the sleeve at least a little way.

Independently of the applicator system, protection is also claimed for an exchangeable cartridge as such, which has one or more features relating to the exchangeable cartridge from at least one of the claims set out for the applicator system and/or the description and/or the Figures.

Ideally, a sealing and/or freshness seal is attached between the mass container and the applicator unit of the exchangeable cartridge, which is automatically destroyed in the course of the first removal of the applicator unit from the mass container without requiring a separate act of removal or destruction of said seal. This may be a thin spot or sufficiently weakly dimensioned weld which breaks off in due course.

FIGURE LIST

Figure 1 shows a lateral, partially cut view of an exchangeable cartridge according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a with Fig. 1 comparable view of the complete applicator system, i.e. an exchangeable cartridge which is installed in a sleeve and to which a cap is coupled.

Figure 3 shows a section during insertion of an exchangeable cartridge into a sleeve of the applicator system, immediately before the exchangeable cartridge begins to latch into place in the sleeve.

Figure 4 shows a section during the insertion of an exchangeable cartridge into a sleeve of the applicator system, after the exchangeable cartridge has been fully inserted into the sleeve and latched place in the sleeve.

Figure 5 shows the applicator unit with handle in applicationready position, pulled out of the sleeve with the mass container.

Figure 6 shows the uncoupling of the cap from an applicator unit with subsequent ejection of the mass container from the sleeve.

Figure 7 shows the press piston for pressing the applicator unit in lateral, partially cut view. Figure 8 shows the embodiment of Fig. 7 in partially cut front view.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment with an ejector with spring function with latched exchangeable cartridge and unactuated e ector .

Figure 10 shows the embodiment of Fig. 9 with actuated controller and the exchangeable cartridge being pressed out of its latched state .

Figure 11 shows the ejector from Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 in three- dimensional view.

EXAMPLES

Figure 1 first shows - in isolated representation - the exchangeable cartridge 1 of the refillable applicator system 35 according to the invention.

The exchangeable cartridge 1 comprises a mass container 2 and a handle-free applicator unit 3. Handle-free does not necessarily mean that there is no possibility of gripping at all. Handle-free can also be fulfilled if, as in this embodiment example, there is an area in the form of the coupling element 4 at which the applicator can be gripped and guided by hand. However, the area is so designed and in particular so narrow and often with a diameter reduced to such an extent that precise application is not possible, at least not in the usual finger position. Therefore, the applicator unit 3 is de facto handle-free. The applicator unit 3 consists of said coupling element 4, preferably a sealing cone or sealing section 5, preferably a stem 6, and an applicator member 7 then attached to the latter. In the embodiment example described here, the applicator member is designed with a bristle carrier 8 (cf . Fig. 5) . Ideally, this bristle carrier 8 is extended on one side beyond the bristle trim 9. This allows the bristle carrier 8 to be firmly connected to the stem 6, for example by pressing or snapping said part of the bristle carrier 8 into a slightly smaller opening in the stem 6. The bristle trim 9 preferably consists of injection-molded bristles. However, it can also be designed as a wire core applicator with filaments held between its twisted wires 10.

As can be seen, it is particularly advantageous if the mass container 2 has the shape of a classic bottle. It then has a larger-diameter bottle body 11 for storage purposes and a bottle neck 12 adjoining it on one end and drawn relative to the bottle body 11. The bottle body 11 and the bottle neck 12 are connected to one another to form a stop collar 13a.

The bottle body 11 and its neck 12 are usually made of plastic.

At least the bottle body 11 is usually designed to be particularly thin-walled, typically with a wall thickness of less than 1.2 mm, in many cases even less than 0.6 mm. The bottle body 11 can be so thin-walled because it is not even expected to have the dimensional stability that the previously common cosmetic containers of this type (for mascara, for example) have - because they are gripped and held by the user as they are during use and otherwise often tend to be carried in a handbag, more on this shortly . A wiper 13 is usually inserted into the neck of the bottle. In some cases, the wiper 13 is pressed in. In most cases, however, it is latched or even latched in addition to its frictional press-fit. The wiper 13 is usually made of a softer material than the bottle neck 12 and the bottle body 11.

Typically, the wiper 13 has a sealing section 14. In some cases, the sealing section 5 of the stem 6 is elastically expanded into this sealing section 14. In this way, the exchangeable cartridge 1 is sealed in an airtight and leak-proof manner until it is broken open.

An optional but very useful special feature is that the sealing section 5 of the stem 6 in unbroken new state, as long as it is not yet wetted with friction-reducing cosmetic mass, is pressed so tightly into the sealing section 14 of the wiper that the stem 6 cannot be pulled out of the bottle body 11 unhindered - at least as long as the person who intends to do so has nothing else to touch but the coupling element 4.

This is to dampen the incentive that users may be encouraged to purchase only the lower-priced refill units from the start and use only these to accomplish the desired application of mascara or the like.

This is not necessarily to say that pulling the stem out with bare hands, by gripping and pulling the coupling element 4 correspondingly firmly, is completely impossible. However, things behave preferably in such a way that the attempt to pull the stem out of the bottle body 11 when it is new requires considerable force and then ends abruptly with a jerk. The latter certainly also conveys the feeling that some of the contents of the exchangeable cartridge might be inadvertently splashed, and that it is therefore impractical to use the exchangeable cartridge on its own, without installing it anywhere, for makeup. This quite intended effect can be supported by the thinness of the bottle body 11. For anyone who cannot grip the bottle body 11 firmly without squeezing it noticeably, it is readily apparent that it is a considerable risk if, under these conditions, they attempt to grasp the coupling element 4 and forcibly pull the stem out of the bottle body 11 in order to use the exchangeable cartridge and its applicator element contrary to its intended purpose, namely for application without having previously acquired the sleeve and the cap into which the exchangeable cartridge is actually to be installed before the start of application.

It can also be seen clearly in Figure 1 that the stem has a press ring 15 or press member with which it can press from above onto the circular face of the bottle neck or the collar of the wiper 13 located there. What this means will be explained in more detail in a moment.

Finally, it can also be clearly seen from Figure 1 that the exchangeable cartridge is secured by a sealing cap 16. In many cases, the sealing cap will be designed in such a way that it has a passage in the center of its closed end face for the coupling element 4, which can freely project outward from the sealing element as a result. With the other end, the sealing cap is, for example, snapped onto a radially outwardly projecting latching projection 18 of the bottle neck. This latching projection is in many cases a feature typical of the invention. It is in fact attached directly to the free end of the bottle neck on the opening side - where it would form an obstacle to the fitting of a cap for closing the bottle body 11 when the cap is pushed on and would therefore severely interfere with use.

The sealing body preferably has one or more handles which usually project outwards and act as a seal breaker 17, i.e. make it very easy to remove the seal from the bottle neck. However, the seal is usually destroyed in the process. In this way, it can perform its guaranteed function. In other variants, it is not the seal itself that is destroyed but, for example, a seal label that is affixed to the seal on the one hand and to the bottle neck or bottle body exposed underneath on the other.

Quite typically for the invention, the bottle neck 12 does not carry a thread for fastening a cap to be attached to the bottle body 11. Instead, the bottle neck is often provided with an additional latching element 19. It is preferably implemented in the vicinity of the stop collar 13a. This latching element 19 is also not used for latching a cap, but has another function which will be explained later.

Figure 2 shows the refillable applicator system 35 in the ready- to-use filled state.

Here, it can be seen that the exchangeable cartridge is inserted into a bottle sleeve 20, which preferably accommodates it completely .

The bottle sleeve 20 is preferably bottomless on its end face facing away from the cap. It forms a front opening here.

After unsealing, the exchangeable cartridge 1 can be inserted into the bottle sleeve 20 with its neck first via the front opening. On the inside, the bottle sleeve 20 is essentially based on the shape of the bottle body 11 and the bottle neck 12. Typically, the bottle sleeve 20 therefore has a bottle sleeve neck at its end facing the cap 23.

In the left part of Figure 2, one can see this exchangeable cartridge 1 that has just been described in detail. In the right part, one can see the particular cap 23 that here cooperates with the exchangeable cartridge 1. It can be clearly seen that the bottle sleeve neck 21 is provided with a screw thread on its outer side. Typically, this screw thread here is an external thread 22 onto which a cap 23 can be screwed because it has a corresponding internal thread 24.

If you look more closely in Figure 2, you will see that the bottle sleeve neck 21 is retracted slightly inward in the area of its free, front opening. This recess 25 of the bottle sleeve neck is optional. In many cases, it can be used to accommodate the relatively soft collar of the wiper 13. If the dimensions and tolerances are correctly designed, the radially outwardly projecting collar of the wiper seals the gap between the bottle neck 12 and the bottle sleeve neck 21. In this way, the wiper prevents cosmetics from penetrating into the area between the bottle sleeve neck and the bottle neck 12 in the course of repeated use and either sticking there or causing contamination when the now empty exchangeable cartridge is removed again. At the same time, the described accommodation of the collar of the wiper 13 in the recess 25 of the bottle sleeve neck can optionally serve to produce an anti-rotation device between the bottle sleeve neck 21 and the bottle body 11. Such an antirotation device can also be produced otherwise, for example by means of a corresponding longitudinal groove in the bottle sleeve 20 and a corresponding projection on the bottle body 11 engaging therein .

The special structure of the cap 23 can also be seen clearly in Figure 2. The cap 23 consists of a cap base body 26 on the bottle sleeve side and a cap top 27, which forms the end of the cap 23 facing away from the bottle sleeve.

The cap base body 26 forms a gripping section 28 at its end facing away from the bottle sleeve side. This gripping section 28 is connected here to the actual, externally visible cap base body 26 via a radially extending disc section 29. The disc section 29 merges into a tube section 30 which is preferably tubular in design here and acts as a gripper. This tube section extends from the disc section 29 again parallel to the longitudinal axis in the direction of the bottle neck 12 and the cap base body. In many cases, the tube section 30 is traversed by one or more slots not shown in Figure 2 in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis - so that it forms radially outwardly resilient gripper arms .

The cap top 27 is rotatably mounted on the cap base body 26, more details of which will be provided later.

Preferably in its interior, the cap top 27 has a tube stub 31.

The tube stub 31 projects from the inside of the end face of the cap top 27, where it is tied, in the direction of the bottle neck 12. The tube stub 31 carries a thread, preferably a tube stub internal thread 32. Into this tube stub internal thread 32 a press piston is screwed, which is provided with an external thread over at least part of its longitudinal axis extension, as deep as possible in the view provided by Figure 2. If we look at Figures 1 and 2 laid side by side, we can easily understand from the following description how a fresh exchangeable cartridge is installed in the bottle body 11 and the bottle neck 12.

The exchangeable cartridge shown in Figure 1 is inserted into the bottle sleeve 20 through the open end face facing away from the bottle sleeve neck 21. The cartridge is inserted until the bottle neck 12 reaches the bottle sleeve neck 21.

Figure 3 depicts the situation just before the exchangeable cartridge 1 reaches its final position in the bottle sleeve 20, and Fig. 4 depicts the situation as it appears when the exchangeable cartridge has reached its final position. In any case, when the bottle sleeve 20 and bottle body 11 have substantially the same axial length, the bottle body 11 can be easily moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to the final position shown in Figure 4 by pressing with the thumb on the open face of the bottle sleeve 20. As can be seen well from Figure 4, an additional latching projection 18 on the bottle neck 12 has at this moment passed over a corresponding latching element on the inner surface of the bottle sleeve neck 21. Thus, the bottle neck 12 and the bottle sleeve neck 21 are now locked together by latching. They are thus snapped into one another. It is preferred that the cap 23 is in the state of being screwed onto the bottle sleeve neck 21 during this whole process.

In the course of pushing the exchangeable cartridge 1 into the bottle sleeve 20, the gripping section 28 or its mostly tubular section 30 and therefore the counter-coupling element 36 is forced to pass over the coupling element 4 of the stem 6. This continues until a positive connection is established between the coupling element 4 and the counter-coupling element 36, in particular its gripping section 28, i.e. until the coupling element 4 is engaged in the gripping section 28. As soon as this has occurred - without any conscious action on the part of the user - the cap 23 and the applicator unit 3 are joined together to form a single part. They have then become a cap holding a handle at the end of which is an applicator - just as the user has been used to for many years. This situation is shown in Figure 5, where it can be clearly seen that the familiar image of a conventional cosmetic applicator with cap and style is now presented .

As soon as the cosmetic supply stored in the mass container 2 is depleted, the applicator system 35 must be refilled by installing a new exchangeable cartridge 1. For this purpose, the depleted exchangeable cartridge must first be removed. According to the invention, the cartridge can be removed without the use of any tools. The user does not need to use a knife, screwdriver, hairpin or any other foreign object to remove the cartridge.

Instead, nothing more is required than the ejector 37. In order to use this ejector 37, the user only has to rotate the cap top 27, preferably in a clockwise direction relative to the cap base body 26. In doing so, the cap base body 26 provides a comfortable, wide holding surface. For this purpose, its extension in axial direction is preferably at least 45%, better at least 55% larger than the extension of the cap top in the same direction. The cap base body can therefore be gripped and held securely during installation and removal of the exchangeable cartridge . As a result of said rotating of the cap base body, the press piston 33 is pushed out of the collar or tube stub 31 of the cap top 27 due to its threaded connection with the cap base body 26. In the process, the collar or tube stub 31 begins to rest with its end face against the corresponding end face of the coupling element 4. Further rotation then causes the press piston 33 to further press against the coupling element 4 and causes it to disengage from the gripping section 28 and forces it out of the counter-coupling element 36. This is shown in the corresponding snapshot shown in Figure 6.

However, it does not stop there.

By keeping the press piston 33 in its screwed out position, considerable pressure is also exerted on the bottle neck 12 and the bottle body 11 of the exchangeable cartridge 1 via the coupling element 4 and the press ring 15. As a result, the bottle neck 12 thereof also comes free from an engagement with the bottle sleeve neck 21. This can also be seen in the illustration in Figure 6. The same applies, of course, if the necks 12 and 21 are not pressed or latched together, but the bottle body 11 is latched to the bottle sleeve 20.

Usually, the press piston 33 finally pushes the bottle body 11 out again a little way on the underside of the bottle sleeve 20 through its front opening there. The bottle body 11 can now be conveniently grasped and easily pulled completely out of the bottle sleeve 20 by hand to be finally discarded. The whole thing is done very neatly and conveniently. This is because the ejection process just described causes the stem to seal the mass container 2 tightly again, since it is pressed firmly into it during ejection. It is therefore - at least virtually - impossible for cosmetic material to escape unintentionally when the bottle body 11 is pulled out of the bottle sleeve 20, or when the mass container 2 is transported further for the purpose of its discarding.

A further design option of the invention is shown in Figure 6 und Figure 8.

This embodiment example is distinguished from the embodiment example described so far by two things: The press piston 33 is designed in two parts here. It has a first piston section. This is guided against rotation by at least one longitudinal rib 34b in conjunction with at least one groove 34a. The thread-bearing second piston section acts on it, which can rotate about itself. Therefore, the press piston 33 can be screwed back into the thread of the tube stub 31 with just applying pressure to the press piston 33 on the end with which it points to the direction of the exchangeable cartridge 1. In this case it is preferred to use a steep thread in the tube stub 31.

Furthermore, Fig. 6 shows a special feature which was also present in the first embodiment, although this was not shown there. Preferably, the cap base body 26 has, at its end facing away from the container neck, a tube stub, usually slotted, or several retaining arms onto which the cap top 27 can be rotatably latched on.

Another example of the applicator system 35 and especially the ejector 37 is shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Most of the elements of this example of the applicator system 35 are identical to those of the previously described examples and are therefore not explained in detail. Fig. 9 also shows, in contrast to the previous examples, that the counter-coupling element 36 or the cap base body 26 can also be designed, often even preferably, in such a way that several small arms project downwards from the disc section 29 and thus form the tube section 30. The resulting structure is the aforementioned tube section 30, which is slotted once or more times.

The ejector 37 shown comprises the press piston 33, the press button 38 and the spring rings 39. The spring rings 39 at least partially surround the press piston 33. The upper end of the ejector is formed by the press piston 33 merging with the press button 38. On the other end, the press piston 33 protrudes from the bottom of the spring rings 39.

The press piston 33 is preferably designed in such a way that its wall thickness decreases towards the end on the side facing away from the push button. This forms an outer mold bevel, which facilitates manufacture by ejection molding. The ejector 37 is preferably manufactured as a single part.

Fig. 9 shows the ejector 37 in the non-actuated state. Here, the centering and positioning of the ejector in the cap 23 is shown. The press button projects from a recess of the cap top 27 and the spring rings 39, or at least one of them, are guided by a projection of the cap base body 26. In this case (Fig. 9) , the exchangeable cartridge 1 is inserted and the coupling element 4 and the counter-coupling element 36 are latched together.

If the press button is now pressed down by the user (see Fig.

10) , the press piston 33 is also moved down. This press piston pushes on the coupling element 4 and thus the counter-coupling element 36 is pressed apart. The coupling element 4 is pushed down even further by pressing the press button down even further until the latching is finally released and the entire exchangeable cartridge is preferably pushed down at least a small distance and can thus be removed.

The ejector 37 springs back to its original position and state by spring action when it is no longer pressed. This means that a new exchangeable cartridge can be inserted immediately without having to manipulate the ejector again.

An example of the ejector 37 is shown in Fig. 11. The spring rings 39 are preferentially circumferential rings lying one below the other and each having at least two recesses, the recesses of two directly adjacent rings being offset from one another.

OTHER

Protection is also claimed, independently or in conjunction with claims already established, for an applicator system and/or an exchangeable cartridge in which:

The bottle neck 12 has a larger diameter than the coupling element 4 and/or wherein the cap base body 26 is at least 50% longer in the axial direction than the cap top 27, the cap top 27 and the cap base body 26 having substantially the same outer diameter and/or in which the cap base body forms a radially inwardly projecting annular flange on its end face facing away from the applicator unit, on which flange the cap top can slide during its rotation.

Protection is also claimed, independently or in conjunction with claims already established, for an applicator system and/or an exchangeable cartridge for:

A method for coupling and/or decoupling an exchangeable cartridge 1 of a refillable applicator system 35, wherein the exchangeable cartridge 1 consists at least of a mass container 2, which in the new state contains a mass supply, and an applicator unit 3, which in any case projects with one end into the region of the mass supply and with its other end forms a closure of the recipient, which is the mass container 2, and a sleeve 20, in which the exchangeable cartridge 1 can be fixed, and a cap 23, which can be fixed to the sleeve 20 in order to close the removal side of the sleeve 20 from which the applicator unit 3 can be removed, wherein the coupling of the exchangeable cartridge 1 is caused by inserting the exchangeable cartridge 1 into an opening of the sleeve 20, preferably located on the bottom of the sleeve 20, and pushing through the sleeve 20 until a coupling element 4 of the applicator unit 3 engages with a counter-coupling element 36 of the cap 23 and the decoupling is caused by operating an actuating mechanism in the cap 20 that pushes down a press piston 33 onto the coupling element 4, causing the coupling element 4 to be decoupled from the counter-coupling element, whereby the exchangeable cartridge 1 can be removed from the opening of the sleeve 20. REFERENCE LIST

1 Exchangeable cartridge

2 Mass container

3 Applicator unit

4 Coupling element

5 Sealing section

6 Stem

7 Applicator member

8 Bristle carrier

9 Bristle trim

10 Wires twisted together

11 Bottle body

12 Bottle neck

13 Wiper

13a Stop collar

14 Sealing section of the wiper

15 Press ring

16 Sealing cap

17 Seal breaker

18 Latching projection at the free end of the bottle neck on the opening side

19 Additional latching element on the bottle neck in the immediate vicinity of the stop collar 13a

20 Bottle sleeve

21 Bottle sleeve neck

22 External thread

23 Cap

24 Internal thread

25 Recess in the neck of the bottle sleeve

26 Cap base body 27 Cap top

28 Gripping section

29 Disc section

30 Tube section 31 Tube stub

32 Internal thread of tube stub

33 Press piston

34a Longitudinal groove

34b Longitudinal rib 35 Applicator system

36 Counter-coupling element

37 Ejector

38 Press button

39 Spring ring