EP1673997A1 - Device for storing and applying a product - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a gripping unit (50) defining a housing (47) for a product applicator unit. The unit (50) is connected to a support (40) by an elastically deformable transversal wall (60) in a manner that the support is displaced with respect to the gripping unit, when a force is exerted on the applicator unit. The support is moved to its initial position, when the force is not exerted. An independent claim is also included for a method for applying a product on a surface to be treated.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for packaging and applying a cosmetic product, especially makeup or care. The product is fluid and preferably liquid.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "cosmetic product" means a product as defined in Directive 93/35 / EEC of 14 June 1993 amending Directive 76/768 / EEC.

Patent application EP 0 506 564 discloses a device for packaging and applying a cosmetic product comprising a receptacle on which is fixed a support housing a ball. The support carrying the ball is mounted on the container via a spring which allows it to slide inside the container. When the ball is applied to the skin, the support slides which opens a valve allowing the passage of the product contained in the container to the ball. When the application stops, the support housing the ball is returned by the spring to its initial position in which the valve is closed.

US Pat. No. 6,132,126 discloses a packaging and application device comprising a container and a ball. The device is configured to easily apply product to different parts of the body, particularly those that are difficult to reach. The container has indeed a bellows that allows to tilt the portion of the container bearing the ball relative to the rest of the container in different directions. Once the device has the inclination chosen to fit the area on which the product is to be applied, the user can apply the ball.

There is a need to improve the packaging and application devices, and in particular those with a ball, in particular to provide the user with a greater feeling of comfort during the application.

There is also a need to offer a user several gestures to apply the product with the same packaging device and application.

• un récipient, contenant le produit, d'axe longitudinal X,
• un organe d'application destiné à venir au contact d'une surface à traiter pour appliquer le produit, l'organe d'application étant en communication fluidique avec le récipient lorsqu'il est au contact de cette surface à traiter ;
• un support définissant un logement pour l'organe d'application, le support étant au moins à position axiale fixe par rapport au récipient.
  Le dispositif comporte en outre un organe de préhension relié au support par un élément de liaison élastiquement déformable de manière telle que, en réponse à une contrainte exercée sur l'organe d'application alors que l'on tient le dispositif par l'organe de préhension, le support est apte à se déplacer relativement à l'organe de préhension, le support étant apte à reprendre sa position initiale lorsque cesse la contrainte.

The invention meets this need by means of a device for packaging and applying a product comprising:

• a container, containing the product, of longitudinal axis X,
• an applicator member intended to come into contact with a surface to be treated in order to apply the product, the applicator member being in fluid communication with the container when in contact with this surface to be treated;
• a support defining a housing for the applicator member, the support being at least in fixed axial position with respect to the container.
  The device further comprises a gripping member connected to the support by an elastically deformable connecting element in such a way that, in response to a stress exerted on the applicator member while the device is held by the gripping, the support is able to move relative to the gripping member, the support being able to return to its initial position when the stress ceases.

The invention makes it possible to offer the user, during the application, a feeling of comfort thanks to the fact that the pressure exerted by the application device on the skin is transmitted to the application member by the elastically deformable connecting element, when it holds the device by the gripping member.

In addition, the application member can more easily follow the application of the relief of the body, including the face, because of the mobility of the support relative to the gripping member.

The container may comprise a gripping external surface which thus constitutes a second gripping zone of the device for applying the product. The user therefore has the choice of applying the product by holding the device by the container or by the gripping member. In the first case, he can apply the product in a classic way and in the second case, he gets a softer application. The device according to the invention thus offers the user two gestures to apply the product.

The support may be adapted to tilt about an axis of rotation Z relative to the gripping member.

The connecting element may comprise a wall that extends over less than half of the periphery of the support so as to define the Z axis of rotation.

The support may also be able to move parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the device.

The connecting element may then comprise a helical spring. The spring may, if necessary be made in one piece by molding plastic material with the gripping member and / or with the support. The spring can still be metallic. The connecting element may in particular comprise a pair of bridges of elastically deformable material.

According to another example, the connecting element may comprise a wall made of elastically deformable material. The elastically deformable material may be chosen from a very low density polyethylene, the elastomers of propylene / ethylene copolymers, polyether blockamides, polyvinyls, terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM), polymers of sequenced styrene-butadiene (SBS), sequenced styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS), thermoplastic polyurethanes, polypropylene blends with one of the elastomers selected from styrene-ethylene-butadiene sequenced polymers (SEBS) -SIS), terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS).

The gripping member may surround a portion of the container, the other portion of the container being grippable.

The gripping member may be disposed at a sufficient distance from the container to allow relative movement of the gripping member relative to the container.

In particular, it is sufficiently spaced laterally from the outer surface of the container to allow sufficient angular movement allowing a tilting movement about the Z axis.

The support may define a housing to be traversed by the product from the container.

The applicator member may be non-rotatable in the housing, or be rotatable in the housing. The applicator member may in particular be mobile in rotation about a point in the housing, or around a geometric axis, in particular an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device.

The applicator member may have a substantially spherical shape. Alternatively, the applicator member may have a cylindrical, ovoid, discoid or annular shape.

The support may have a spherical portion shape that conforms to the shape of the applicator member.

The applicator member may be substantially non-deformable during use.

The applicator member may be made of porous material so as to allow the flow of the product through the applicator member.

• fournir un dispositif de conditionnement et d'application d'un produit tel qu'il vient d'être décrit,
• appliquer l'organe d'application sur la surface à traiter en tenant, soit le récipient, soit l'organe de préhension de manière à obtenir une application plus douce. Le procédé peut en outre comporter l'étape d'entraîner en rotation l'organe d'application par rapport au support pour appliquer le produit.

The invention also relates to a method for applying a product to a surface to be treated comprising the following steps:

• provide a device for packaging and applying a product as just described,
• applying the applicator member to the surface to be treated holding either the container or the gripping member so as to obtain a softer application. The method may further include the step of rotating the applicator member relative to the carrier to apply the product.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement et partiellement, en coupe axiale, un exemple d'un dispositif de conditionnement et d'application conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente en coupe le dispositif de la figure 1 selon le plan II-II,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique du dispositif de la figure 1, lors de l'application de produit sur la peau selon une première gestuelle,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique du dispositif de la figure 1, lors de l'application de produit sur la peau selon une deuxième gestuelle, et
• les figures 5 à 9 représentent schématiquement des variantes de réalisation de dispositifs de conditionnement et d'application selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 diagrammatically and partially, in axial section, an example of a packaging and application device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 along plane II-II;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the device of FIG. 1, during the application of product to the skin according to a first gesture,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the device of FIG. 1, during the application of product to the skin according to a second gesture, and
• Figures 5 to 9 show schematically alternative embodiments of packaging and application devices according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a device for packaging and applying a cosmetic product P, for example a make-up or care product, comprising a container 20 containing the product P, for example a deodorant, and an organ application 30 to distribute it.

The container 20 has a longitudinal axis X and comprises a side wall 21 connecting a bottom 22 to a neck 23 extending along the axis X. The side wall 21 has a first shoulder 24 about halfway up the wall and a second shoulder 25 at its upper end which connects to the neck. The upper end of the neck 23 defines an opening 26 which allows the passage of the product.

The applicator member 30 is received in a housing 47 defined by a support 40 fixed in the example described by snapping onto the neck 23 of the container 20. Indeed, the support 40 comprises a fixing skirt 41 having a relief 42 on its inner surface which cooperates with a relief 27 provided on the outer surface of the neck 23. The support is in axial position fixed relative to the container. It can also be immobile in rotation relative to the container.

The support also comprises a sealing lip 43 intended to be sealingly applied to the inner surface of the neck 23.

An outer covering skirt 44 surrounds the fixing skirt 41 and has a thread 45 on its outer surface for screwing a cap 70 provided to seal the product to the container surmounted by the applicator member.

The housing 47 is traversed by the product from the container, the latter being able to circulate in a space formed between the applicator member 30 and the support 40. The applicator member may come into contact with the support in places.

In the example described, the applicator member 30 has a substantially spherical shape so as to form a ball.

The housing 47 is also generally spherical. The housing 47 is open in its lower part so as to allow communication with the interior of the container. In addition, the housing 47 allows to exceed an upper portion 31 of the ball 30 for the application. The ball 30 may be placed in the support by elastic deformation of the latter, for example.

The ball 30 is retained with a possibility of rotation in the support 40 around its center O, its rotation may contribute to causing the product P to pass through the housing more easily. It is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the applicator member is non-rotating, being for example tight in the housing.

In another variant, it is possible for the applicator member 30 to be mounted on two studs 46 which define an axis of rotation Y, as illustrated in FIG. Figure 5. The applicator member is thus rotatable about the Y axis, perpendicular to the X axis of the neck.

The ball 30 is substantially non-deformable during application. It may for example be carried out in a sintered material, in particular a sintered thermoplastic material. The largest dimension of the applicator member is for example between 5 mm and 65 mm, in particular between 7 mm and 50 mm.

The ball 30 can be flocked and be made of various materials, including a load of particles intended to exert an effect on the product or on the surface treated with the product. This effect can be a magnetic field or the release of a substance, for example ions.

A gripping member 50 in the form of a cylindrical skirt of revolution surrounds the upper part of the container. The skirt extends over a relatively long length so that it can be easily grasped by a hand. According to the illustrated example, the lower end 51 of the skirt is located just above the shoulder provided on the wall of the container. The skirt 50 may surround the container around its entire periphery, or alternatively only at a portion of its periphery so as to leave a larger portion of the outer surface of the gripper container.

The shape of the side wall 21 of the container, and in particular the presence of the shoulder 24, allows the skirt 50 to extend in the axial extension of the wall 21 of the container located under the shoulder 24.

The skirt 50 is connected, in its upper part, to the lower edge of the covering skirt 44 by a transverse wall 60. The transverse wall extends over an angular portion only of the periphery of the covering skirt 44. in particular, it extends over a portion that is less than half the circumference of the dressing skirt so as to allow a tilting movement about an axis Z defined by its two ends as can be seen in FIG. annular 61 extends transversely the wall 60.

In the example considered, the distance between the inner surface of the gripping member 50 and the outer surface of the container 20 that it surrounds is non-zero, being sufficient to allow the container 20 to move relative to the body 50 around the geometric axis of rotation Z defined by the transverse wall 60.

In this example, the gripping member is obtained by molding from a single piece with the support.

In the closed position of the device illustrated in Figure 1, the cover is in place on the container, to close it tightly. A support skirt 71 is provided on the inner surface of the cover to bear against the ball which tends to apply the ball against the concave wall of the support, the contact between the two tending to prevent the flow of product P to the outside of the tank.

The device can be used as follows. The user returns the container to allow the flow of product P in the housing retaining the ball which can then be loaded with the product P.

Depending on the type of application desired, the user can choose to hold the device by the gripping portion of the container 20, as illustrated in Figure 3 for a conventional application. The support 40 being fixed on the container, it is stationary when the ball is applied to the skin by holding the device by the container. During the application, the user rolls the ball on the skin S so as to return the product to the skin.

If the user wants a softer application, he holds the device by the gripping member 50. During application, the user can roll the ball on the skin S, the wall 60 can be deformed depending on the relief of the latter, as shown in Figure 4. The support 40 carrying the ball can indeed tilt about the Z axis. The possibility offered to the ball 30 to move relative to the gripping member 50 improves the comfort to the application.

It is not beyond the scope of the present invention using a connecting element other than the wall 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the support 40 housing the ball may be connected to the gripping member 50 via an annular wall 63 made of an elastically deformable material. For example, the elastically deformable material may be chosen from a very low density polyethylene, the elastomers of propylene / ethylene copolymers, polyether blockamides, polyvinyls, terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers (SEBS-SIS), thermoplastic polyurethanes, polypropylene blends with one of the elastomers selected from styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers sequencing (SEBS-SIS), terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS).

According to this embodiment, the skirt forming the gripping member 50 may be made of the same material as the connecting element. The skirt 50 then preferably has a greater thickness than the thickness of the connecting element which allows it to substantially not deform when held.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, seen from above of the connecting element provided between the gripping member 50 and the support 40, and alternatively of FIG. 8, the connecting element is here in the form of one or more bridge (s) of material 64, and preferably at least one pair of material bridges such as 64. For this purpose, the support 40 comprises an annular ring 65 to which are connected the material bridges 64 protruding from said member 50. The annualire fret 65 can be confused with the skirt 44. In particular, an even number, in particular between 2 and 6, of material bridges 64 is provided to ensure this connection. In particular, these material bridges 64 are evenly distributed around the inner periphery of the gripping member 50.

Preferably, the material bridge or bridges 64 are made to allow axial clearance between the support 40 and the gripping member 50. They are for example made of a material chosen from polyolefins, especially polyethylene or polypropylene. . The material bridges 64 are configured to allow an axial play of less than 10 mm, and preferably between 2 and 6 mm. In particular, these material bridges 64 are elastically deformable and can be obtained by thin tabs extending, in part circumferentially around the annular band 65, so that a point of attachment 66 of the tongue on the gripping member 50 is not radially aligned with its point of attachment 67 to the annular ring 65. For example, the tongue extends over an angular arc of between 15 ° and 60 °, for example 30 °, around of the gripping member 50. A width of a tongue 64 between its attachment points 66 and 67 respectively is between 1 mm and 10 mm, and preferably between 2 and 6 mm. Preferably, the gripping member 50, the material bridges 64 and the annular band 65, and possibly the support 40, are obtained in one piece from the same material.

In another variant, the support 40 housing the ball 30 may be connected to the gripping member 50 by means of a helical spring 62 of axis X. This spring may be constituted by an insert as shown in FIG. 7, or be made by molding plastic material.

In these three examples, the support 40 carrying the ball can move parallel to the axis X of the device when the user applies the ball to the skin and holds the device by the gripping member 50.

Instead of being a ball, the applicator member may have any other shape, in particular a cylindrical, ovoid, discoid or annular shape.

In Figure 6, there is illustrated a device which comprises a cylindrical application member 30 '. The applicator member 30 'is not rotatable in the housing 47, and in particular it is fixed inside the housing. In the example shown, the applicator member 30 'is porous. The application member is for example made of sintered material. The product then passes through the applicator member to reach its outer surface instead of passing around, as in the example described above.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variations can be made without departing from the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Claims (23)

- Device (10) for packaging and applying a product comprising: a container (20) containing the product, of longitudinal axis X; an applicator member (30; 30 ') intended to come into contact with a surface to be treated in order to apply the product, the applicator member being in fluid communication with the container when in contact with this surface; treat; - a support (40) defining a housing (47) for the applicator member, the support being at least in axial position fixed relative to the container; the device being characterized in that it comprises a gripping member (50) connected to the support (40) by an elastically deformable connecting element (60; 62; 63, 64) so that, in response to a constraint exerted on the applicator member while the device is held by the gripping member, the support is able to move relative to the gripping member, the support being able to return to its initial position when the constraint ceases . - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (20) has a gripping external surface. - Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support (40) is adapted to tilt about an axis of rotation Z relative to the gripping member (50). - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (40) is adapted to move parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the device. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting element comprises a wall (60) which extends over less than half of the periphery of the support. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting element comprises a spring (62). - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting element comprises at least one pair of resiliently deformable material bridges (64). - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting element comprises a wall (63) made of elastically deformable material. - Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the elastically deformable material is selected from a polyethylene of very low density, the elastomers of propylene / ethylene copolymers, polyether blockamides, polyvinyls, terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and diene (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers (SEBS-SIS), thermoplastic polyurethanes, polypropylene mixtures with one of the elastomers selected from the group consisting of sequenced styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS), terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS). - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping member surrounds a portion of the container. - Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the gripping member (50) is disposed at a sufficient distance from the container to allow relative movement of the gripping member relative to the container. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (40) defines a housing (47) to be traversed by the product from the container. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator member (30 ') is non-rotating in the housing (47). - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the applicator member (30) is rotatable in the housing. - Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the applicator member (30) is rotatable about a point (O) in the housing. - Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the applicator member (30) is rotatable about a geometric axis (Y) in the housing. - Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axis of rotation (Y) is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (X) of the device. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator member (30) has a substantially spherical shape. - Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the support (40) has a spherical portion shape which matches the shape of the applicator member (30). - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator member (30) is substantially non-deformable during use. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator member (30 ') is made of porous material. - A method for applying a product to a surface to be treated comprising the following steps: provide a device for packaging and applying a product according to any one of the preceding claims, - Apply the applicator member on the surface to be treated by holding either the container or the gripping member so as to obtain a softer application. - Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises the step of rotating the applicator member relative to the support for applying the product.

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