CN108851469B

CN108851469B - Applicator housing for cosmetic products and assembly for such a housing

Info

Publication number: CN108851469B
Application number: CN201810394844.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗兰克·塞金; 麦洛迪·巴辛瓦尔
Original assignee: Albea Services SAS
Current assignee: Albea Services SAS
Priority date: 2017-05-12
Filing date: 2018-04-27
Publication date: 2022-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-27
Also published as: CN108851469A; FR3066081B1; FR3066081A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator housing for a cosmetic product and to an assembly designed to be fitted in such an applicator housing comprising at least one seat, the at least one base comprising a first element of a magnetic system, said assembly comprising at least one mechanism for dispensing said cosmetic product and an intermediate part, the mechanism is provided with an operating knob, the intermediate part comprising a second element of said magnetic system designed to reversibly couple said knob to the base, which enables the replacement of said mechanism, characterized in that the intermediate part is configured to have a dimension in the radial direction smaller than or equal to the outer diameter of the knob, said intermediate part being arranged axially below the knob, and the intermediate part comprises fastening means to fasten by elastic fit, so as to axially couple said intermediate part with the knob of the mechanism.

Description

Applicator housing for cosmetic products and assembly for such a housing

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cosmetic applicator housing and an assembly for such a housing.

In particular, the invention relates to a combination designed to be mounted in an applicator housing for a cosmetic product, the applicator housing comprising at least one seat comprising a first element of a magnetic system, said combination comprising at least one mechanism for dispensing said cosmetic product, equipped with an operating knob, and an intermediate section comprising a second element of said magnetic system, the magnetic system being designed to attach said knob to the seat in a reversible manner so as to enable replacement of said mechanism.

The invention also relates to an applicator housing for a cosmetic product, comprising at least one cover, a base and such a combination.

Background

The prior art shows examples of applicator housings for cosmetic products comprising dispensing mechanisms known as "interchangeable".

Such a housing is characterized by its ability to be reused, in other words, the housing is designed to include, but not be limited to, enabling the mechanism to be replaced after the cosmetic product has been used up, as compared to a single use applicator housing.

The interchangeable nature of the dispensing mechanism enables the same housing to be used, independently of the end of use, equally with a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each comprising, for example, a different cosmetic product (such as a given type of lipstick).

This design enables the cover and base of the housing to remain covered with a decoration, which is particularly advantageous in the case where these parts are made of valuable and/or decorated material, which may be a more expensive part to manufacture than ever.

Furthermore, the cover and the base are externally visible parts of the casing, which determine the overall aesthetic and therefore the originality of the casing.

In this case, the exchangeable dispensing mechanism of the cosmetic product comprises, in particular, a freely exchangeable cartridge or refill.

In the prior art, different solutions have been proposed to ensure a detachable reversible coupling between the base of such a housing and the operating knob of the dispensing mechanism of the cosmetic product.

According to a first solution, the reversible coupling is ensured by a mechanical system that enables the disassembly of the mechanism and of the base.

According to a second solution, more particularly related to the invention, the reversible coupling is ensured by a magnetic system that uses magnetic attraction forces to couple the base and the mechanism together, more precisely, the operating knob that couples the base to the mechanism.

From the prior art, magnetic systems are known which comprise an intermediate piece which is designed as a sleeve having magnetic properties. The sleeve is designed to be associated with a magnet attached to the base to link the mechanism and the base of the housing in a reversible manner to enable replacement of the mechanism.

In this magnetic system, the fastening of the sleeve to the mechanism knob is carried out by screwing or bonding the tubular section of said sleeve around the knob.

The mechanism is then formed as a unified whole with the sleeve thus fixed to the knob of the mechanism.

This magnetic system, which comprises a sleeve mounted around the knob, has the following drawbacks: a specific sleeve must be provided for each dispensing mechanism.

Therefore, the manufacture of the system cannot be standardized, and in particular the manufacturing costs cannot be reduced. Thus, such a magnetic system thus requires as many special sleeves as there are dispensing mechanisms with different outer diameters.

In addition, the fact that the sleeve surrounds the mechanism knob results in an increase in the outer diameter of the mechanism to that of the knob.

Fastening the sleeve to the mechanism knob by screwing or bonding also makes the sleeve unusable for reuse, especially after the cosmetic product dispensed by the mechanism is used up.

The aim of the present invention is in particular to propose a new magnetic system design for replacing the mechanism in the applicator housing which makes it possible to solve the drawbacks of the prior art and more particularly to enable the use of an intermediate joint section with a plurality of mechanisms having different diameters.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to propose a combination of the type described previously, characterized in that the intermediate part is configured with a radial dimension less than or equal to the outer diameter of the knob, said intermediate part being arranged axially below the knob, and in that the intermediate part comprises fastening means to fasten by elastic fit for axially joining the intermediate part with the knob of the mechanism.

According to the invention, the intermediate part of the magnetic system has a radial dimension less than or equal to the radial dimension of the mechanism (in particular of the operating knob).

Advantageously, since the intermediate coupling part does not extend radially beyond the outer diameter of the mechanism, more particularly of the knob, said part is configured to be attached to the inside of the knob.

Thus, an intermediate coupling component implemented in accordance with the teachings of the present invention may be used with mechanisms having the same outer diameter, but may also be used with all other mechanisms having a larger outer diameter. Thus, the intermediate parts are standardized.

Advantageously, the intermediate part comprises fastening means designed to allow disassembly with respect to the mechanism knob, with which said parts form the assembly according to the invention, in such a way that the intermediate part can be used with another mechanism as such.

According to other features of the invention:

-the intermediate part comprises at least one housing in which the second element of the magnetic system is mounted;

-the intermediate part comprises blocking means, such as pins, to axially retain the second element in the housing;

the fastening means comprise at least two pins designed to be axially introduced into the holes of the knob, preferably three pins;

the intermediate part is configured to form an air gap in the axial direction between the first and second elements of the magnetic system;

-the intermediate part comprises engagement means designed to cooperate with complementary means of the knob to rotationally couple said intermediate part to the mechanism knob;

the engagement means are different from the fastening means of the intermediate part;

the engagement means of the intermediate part comprise a tooth, formed for example by three toothed regions.

The invention also proposes a cosmetic applicator housing comprising at least one cap, a base and a combination according to the invention, characterized in that said combination is joined to the base by magnetic attraction between a first element associated with the base and a complementary second element associated with an intermediate part.

Advantageously, the interchangeable assembly according to the invention is easy to disassemble. More specifically, the magnetic system enables the dispensing mechanism of the cosmetic product to be replaced at will and in a reliable manner.

Preferably, the intermediate part is fixed to the mechanism knob in a non-detachable manner to obtain a uniform whole after the intermediate part is fastened, thereby facilitating the replacement of the existing mechanism in the housing.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing, in exploded form, an exemplary embodiment of an applicator housing for a cosmetic product, and showing a magnetic system enabling the dispensing mechanism mounted in such a housing to be replaced;

fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the housing according to fig. 1 and 2 and showing, in axial section, the main components of the housing, including the cover, the mechanism, the intermediate components of the magnetic system and the base;

fig. 4 is an axial section showing the casing according to an exemplary embodiment, and showing said main components of the casing after assembly, the assembly of which is formed by the mechanism and the intermediate section;

figure 5 is a perspective view showing, in section, the cover of the casing and showing the cavity of the base designed to receive the intermediate part and the housing (made transparent) in which the magnets of the magnetic system are mounted;

fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the intermediate connection between the base and the mechanism knob, and showing the base, the fixing tabs and the meshing teeth in the form of a polygon;

fig. 7 is a perspective view showing, in section, the intermediate part and showing the housing in which the piece of ferromagnetic material of the magnetic system is fixed;

fig. 8 is a perspective view showing, in axial section, the intermediate part (without mechanism) mounted on the base, and showing the magnetic system formed by the magnets and the plates separated by an air gap in the axial direction.

Detailed Description

By convention, the "axial" direction corresponds to the direction of the main axis a shown in the figures, while the "radial" direction is orthogonal to the axial direction.

In the following detailed description of the drawings, the terms "upper" and "lower" or just "high" and "low" with respect to the axial direction will be used in a non-limiting manner.

In the same way, using the terms "outer or outer" and "inner or inner" with respect to the radial direction, the outer element is radially further from the axis a than the inner element.

An exemplary embodiment of an applicator housing 10 for a cosmetic product 12 is shown in fig. 1-4.

In an exemplary embodiment, cosmetic 12 is a lipstick designed to be applied by friction, a variation of which is lip gloss.

The housing 10 comprises at least one cover 14 associated with a base 16 having a complementary form. The housing 10 has a main axis a which extends in the axial direction.

In a non-limiting manner, the cover 14 and the base 16 of the casing 10 have the form of a circular cylinder, in particular as shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Preferably, the lid 14 is removable. The lid 14 may occupy at least an open position, in which the lid 14 is spaced from the base 16 to enable the cosmetic product 12 to be applied, and a closed position, in which the lid 14 and the base 16 rest against each other.

The lower part of the cover 14 comprises at least one (here two) annular ring 18 on the inside, which axially moving ring is designed to cooperate with the cylindrical outer surface of the upper part of the base 16.

Advantageously, annular ring 18 maintains lid 14 in the closed position on base 16 and participates in obtaining an airtight closure to ensure good preservation of cosmetic product 12.

The base 16 comprises a retaining wall 17 extending radially to the point where the upper portion of the base 16 meets the lower portion with a larger diameter. The lid 14 comprises a lower edge 19 which, in the closed position, can abut against said catch wall 17.

The housing 10 includes a mechanism 20 for dispensing the cosmetic product 12. The means 20 are formed by means of a standard type, for example with an outer diameter D having a value of 12.7 mm.

Mechanism 20 is designed to be replaceable, particularly but not exclusively after cosmetic product 12 has been used.

The dispensing mechanism 20 is well known in the art. However, the mechanism 20 described below is given as a non-limiting example.

In the exemplary embodiment, mechanism 20 includes an inner guide 22 that rotates relative to an outer sleeve 24 to axially displace a cup 26 that holds cosmetic product 12.

In the mechanism 20, the cup comprises at least one detent (spur)23, preferably two diametrically opposed detents 23.

The claws 23 cooperate with respective runners 25 of the inner guide 22, said runners 25 extending axially in a straight manner. Advantageously, each slide 25 comprises, at each of its upper and lower ends, a notch forming an end stop for the detent 23 of the cup 26.

An outer sleeve 24 surrounds the inner guide 22. The sleeve 24 internally comprises two helical grooves 27, into which the free ends of the claws 23 respectively cooperate, each claw 23 radially traversing the slide 25 associated with the guide 22 to engage the groove 27.

The outer sleeve 24 of the mechanism 20 here further comprises a bushing (liner)28 pushed or pressed against the outside of the sleeve 24, which bushing is rotationally connected to said sleeve 24.

The inner guide 22 includes a knob 30. The knob 30 is axially positioned with respect to the lower end of the guide portion 22.

The knob 30 is designed so as to enable the mechanism 20 to be activated, the rotation of the guide 22 by the knob causing, depending on the direction of rotation, an axial ascending or descending movement of the cup 26, by which the cosmetic product 12 is caused to undergo an axial ascending or descending movement.

Preferably, the knob 30 is realized in a single piece with the internal guide 22 of the mechanism 20. As a variant, the knob 30 is a separate component fixed to the inner guide 22.

In such a housing 10, the knob 30 of the mechanism 20 is activated by the base 16 after the cover 14 has been removed.

As a result, the knob 30 and the base 16 must be coupled together axially on the one hand and rotationally on the other hand, to ensure that each rotational movement applied to the base 16 is transmitted to the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

In a housing 10 where the mechanism 20 is replaceable, the link between the knob 30 and the base 16 must also be able to be disassembled to enable such replacement of the mechanism 20.

As explained in the preamble, the casing 10 comprises a magnetic system 32 for the purpose of reversibly connecting the base 16 to the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

Such a magnetic system 32 enables the mechanism 20 to be freely replaced by: a force greater than the magnetic attraction force is applied in an opposite direction in the axial direction to disengage the mechanism 20 from the base 16 of the housing 10.

In the exemplary embodiment, the magnetic system 32 comprises an intermediate component 34 designed to ensure the coupling between the base 16 of the casing 10 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

More precisely, the intermediate part 34 of the magnetic system 32 ensures, on the one hand, an axial coupling between the seat 16 and the knob 30 and, on the other hand, a play-free (play-free) rotational coupling between the seat 16 and the knob 30.

The intermediate member 34 is essential to ensure that the rotational coupling functions reliably and to ensure that torque is transmitted between the base 16 and the operating knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

As shown in fig. 4, the intermediate coupling member 34 is disposed axially below the knob 30 of the mechanism 20. After assembly of the intermediate part, the intermediate part 34 is axially interposed between the knob 30 and the base 16 of the casing 10.

The magnetic system comprises at least one first element 36 associated with the base 16 and a complementary second element 38 associated with the intermediate part 34.

Preferably, the magnetic attraction is exerted axially on the first element 36 and the second element 38 is designed to ensure only axial coupling.

The intermediate part 34 comprises a support for the second element 38 of the magnet system 32.

The intermediate coupling member 34 has a size smaller than or equal to the outer diameter D of the knob 30 in the radial direction.

Advantageously, the intermediate linking member 34 can be associated with several means 20, i.e. means 20 having different outer diameters, i.e. means having a diameter greater than or equal to the outer diameter D corresponding to the maximum radial dimension of the intermediate member 34.

Preferably, the first element 36 of the magnetic system 32, which is advantageously formed by at least one permanent magnet, is magnetic.

Advantageously, the permanent magnet 36 forming the first element of the magnetic system 32 has the form of a disk.

The base 16 includes a cavity 40 having a receptacle 42 in a lower portion thereof for fitting the at least one magnet 36.

In the exemplary embodiment, magnet 36 is spring-fit into a receptacle 42 that is open axially upward and closed at an opposite end by a bottom 44 of base 16.

Advantageously, the seat 16 comprises blocking means to block in position said magnet 36 in the axial direction.

The receptacle 42 includes a recess 45 disposed radially in the base 16, which is penetrated by a peripheral portion of the magnet 36 after assembly of the magnet.

The notches 45 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction. The recess 45 is configured to have dimensions in the axial direction substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the magnet 36 to block the magnet 36 in position in the receptacle 42 in the axial direction.

Alternatively, the blocking means 36 in the housing 42 of the base 16 are formed by tabs.

In the exemplary embodiment, a second element 38 of magnetic system 32 that is complementary to the first element formed by the at least one magnet 36 is an element made of a ferromagnetic material.

Preferably, the second element 38 is formed from a sheet made of ferromagnetic material.

The sheet 38 made of ferromagnetic material has the form of a disc similar to the form of the magnet 36, although here it has a slightly smaller outer diameter.

Preferably, the sheet 38 made of ferromagnetic material is made of steel, which sheet, as a variant, is of any other alloy or suitable material with ferromagnetic properties.

In a variant, the intermediate part 34 is made of ferromagnetic material or of plastic material loaded with ferromagnetic material. The second element 38 of the magnetic system 32 is thus formed by the component 34 itself.

The intermediate component 34 includes a receptacle 46 in the interior of the component and in which the sheet 38 forming the second element of the system 32 is mounted.

Preferably, the sheet 38 is resiliently fitted into the receiving portion 46. The intermediate part 34 comprises blocking means 48 to axially hold the sheet 38 in position in the housing 46.

As a variant, the second element 38 is magnetic, which is formed by at least one permanent magnet. Thus, as described in the embodiment with respect to the magnet 36 shown in the figures, the second element 38 is associated, for example, with the first element 36 formed by an element made of ferromagnetic material or another permanent magnet.

In a variant not shown, the magnetic system 32 therefore comprises two magnets, the base 16 carrying one and the part 34 carrying the other, the magnets of the magnetic system being arranged to exert an axially oriented magnetic attraction force to couple together the base 16 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

However, the magnetic system 32 comprises a first magnetic element 36 formed by a magnet, said magnet 36 then preferably being associated, for reasons of cost, with a second element 38 made of ferromagnetic material (and not with another magnet).

As will be realized, the first element 36 and the second element 38 of the magnetic system 32 are selected to exert a magnetic attraction force axially therebetween.

Advantageously, the value of the attraction force is determined so as to guarantee the reliability of the axial coupling between the base 16 and the intermediate part 34 against which the mechanism 20 rests, but at the same time without exerting too much force to overcome this attraction force when it is desired to replace the mechanism 20.

When the magnetic system 32 therefore comprises magnetic elements associated with elements made of ferromagnetic material, it is then advantageous, as in the exemplary embodiment, to carry the magnetic elements by the base 16 and the elements made of ferromagnetic material by the intermediate part 34.

Advantageously, the first magnetic element 36 is retained with the base 16 of the housing 10 during replacement of the mechanism 20. The magnet 36 may then be secured to the base 16 in a permanent manner, such as being a resilient fit or being trapped as described above.

In the exemplary embodiment, the intermediate member 34 has a form that includes a base plate 50. The base plate 50 forms a radially oriented section that determines the radial dimension of the intermediate member 34.

Advantageously, and more particularly shown in fig. 3, the base piece 50 is comprised within a circle whose diameter corresponds to the outer diameter D of the knob 30 of the dispensing mechanism 20.

The housing 46 for fitting the plate 38 made of ferromagnetic material is realized in a base plate 50 of the base 16 and of the intermediate connection member 34 of the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

The blocking means 48 of the tabs 38 in the housing 46 are formed, for example, by tabs which extend radially towards the interior of the housing 46, while the tabs 38 in the housing 46 are axially immovable, in this case open axially downwards.

Preferably, the blocking tab 48 is configured to facilitate the elastic fit of the tab 38 in the housing 46, the tab 48 being provided, for example, with a truncated surface.

As shown in particular in fig. 6 and 7, the base sheet 50 comprises layered outer edges 52. The edge 52 comprises an outer surface 54 which, in axial section, has a section in the form of a truncated cone joining two straight sections, respectively an upper section and a lower section.

The base plate 50 is mounted axially in the cavity 40 of the base 16 above the housing 42 of the magnet 36, said cavity 40 comprising a pressing (imprint)56 having a form complementary to the form of the edge 52 of the base plate 50 of the intermediate member 34.

Advantageously, the rotary coupling of the intermediate part 34 to the base 16 is obtained by means of a form fit.

The base plate 50 of the intermediate member 34 has a rim with a non-circular form. In an exemplary embodiment, the outer edge 52 of the base plate 50 has a rim in the form of a polygon.

The press 56 of the cavity 40 of the base 16 is configured to engage the rim 52 and rotationally couple the base 16 and the intermediate member 34.

As shown in the figures, the cavity 40 comprises a pressing 56 having a complementary form (i.e. advantageously polygonal).

As a variant, the rotary coupling between the seat 16 and the intermediate part 34, produced by form-fitting, is obtained by means of complementary channels with axial orientation arranged on each part.

The magnetic system 32 has an air gap E axially between a first element, here a magnet 36, and a second element, here formed by a sheet 38 of ferromagnetic material.

Advantageously, the value of the air gap E is determined by the design of the intermediate part 34, in the example the configuration of the base plate 50 and the configuration of the cavity 40 of the base 16 receiving said base plate 50 being in a complementary manner.

As shown in the section in fig. 8, the air gap E is determined in particular by the positioning of the edge 52 of the base plate 50 in the depression 56 of the cavity 40, which is likewise determined by the blocking tab 48 of the plate 38, which determines the position of the plate in the axial direction relative to the lower end of said edge 52.

The air gap E corresponds to the distance that the upper face of the magnet 36 mounted in the housing 42 of the base 16 is axially spaced from the lower face of the plate 38 mounted in the housing 46 of the base plate 50 of the intermediate member 34.

Advantageously, the presence of air gap E makes it possible to avoid all direct contacts with magnet 36. The magnets 36 are then protected from impacts, such as those that may be generated, inter alia, by the magnetic coupling of the intermediate part 34 with the base 16 or by the separation of the intermediate part from the base.

In the exemplary embodiment, air gap E is formed by a space disposed axially between sheet 38 and magnets 36 of magnetic system 32.

As a variant, the air gap E is formed by a lower section of the intermediate part 34, for example by a seat that closes axially the housing 46 for the fitting tab 38. The air gap E is thus determined by the physical dimensions of said lower section of the component 34.

The intermediate coupling member 34 comprises fastening means 58 to axially couple said member 34 with the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

The axial coupling between the intermediate part 34 and the knob 30 is obtained by elastic fitting.

In an exemplary embodiment, the fastening means 58 by virtue of the resilient fit is not designed to allow disassembly once the coupling between the component 34 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20 is made.

As a variant, the fastening means 58 can allow such disassembly to enable the intermediate part 34 to be used with a plurality of mechanisms 20.

The axial coupling between the intermediate part 34 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20, which allows disassembly, can be obtained in different ways, for example magnetically following the example of reversible coupling with the base 16.

Such a detachable connection can be realized, for example, using a mounted device which can be moved between a fixed position and a free position, for example against a spring mechanism.

As shown particularly in fig. 6, the fastening means 58 comprise at least two, preferably three, tabs which extend axially upwards from the base plate 50 of the intermediate part 34.

The three tabs 58 of the member 34 are angularly distributed in a uniform manner, i.e. 120 deg.. The tab 58 is inserted into a complementary hole 60 arranged in a central manner in the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

The free end of each tab 58 is configured to form a hook 62 that engages an upper edge 64 of the aperture 60 of the knob 30 to block the intermediate member 34 in an axial direction.

The hooks 62 of the fastening tabs 58, which engage with the edges 62, enable the intermediate part 34 with the sheet 38 of the magnetic system 32 to be axially retained, thus resisting the attraction of the magnets 36, or also the separation force applied axially to perform the replacement of the mechanism 20.

To replace the mechanism 20, a force greater than the magnetic attraction exerted by the magnet 36 on the tab 38 must be exerted to separate the base 16 with the magnet 36 from the part 34, the part 34 with the tab 38 resting against the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

The securing tabs 58 enable the intermediate member 34 to be axially coupled to the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

To ensure that the knob 30 rotates when the base 16 is manually rotated, the intermediate member 34 must also be rotationally coupled to the knob 30.

As described above, the rotational coupling between the intermediate member 34 and the base 16 is advantageously achieved by a form fit (here polygonal) between the edge 52 of the base plate 50 and the pressing 56 of the cavity 40 of the base 16.

Advantageously, the rotary coupling between the intermediate part 34 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20 is also achieved by form-fitting.

The part 34 comprises engagement means 66, distinct from the fastening means 58, which cooperate with complementary means 68 of the knob 30 to rotationally couple said part 34 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20.

The engagement means 66 of the intermediate part 34 comprise teeth designed to cooperate with the teeth of the knob 30 forming said complementary means 68.

Preferably, the teeth 66 of the member 34 comprise a toothed segment that is axially disposed at the bottom of the tab 58 at the junction of the tab with the upper face of the base plate 50.

As shown in the figures, the teeth 66 of the part 34 comprise, for example, three toothed segments, each of which is arranged between two adjacent tabs 58, which are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction.

The teeth 68 of the knob 30 of the mechanism 20 are disposed within the bore 60.

Preferably, the teeth 68 are axially disposed away from the edge 64 and at the entrance to the aperture 60 to mate with the teeth 66 carried by the intermediate member 34. The teeth 68 extend in a continuous manner in the circumferential direction.

The cooperation of the teeth 66 of the part 34 with the complementary teeth 68 of the knob 30 ensures a play-free rotational coupling by engaging the intermediate part 34 with the knob 30.

Thus, the transmission of the rotary motion applied to the base 16 is ensured, since the part 34 is also coupled in rotation to the base 16.

Advantageously, the

teeth

66 and 68 are rotational coupling means which do not require a particular angular indexing (indexation) between the intermediate member 34 and the knob 30.

In a variant not shown, the rotational coupling between the intermediate part 34 and the knob 30 of the mechanism 20 is achieved by friction between the tabs 58 and the knob 30.

In such a variant, advantageously, the

teeth

66 and 68 are eliminated and then the tabs 58 ensure a double function, respectively an axial coupling function and a rotary coupling function.

In the example described above, the part 34 is preferably fixed beforehand to the knob 30 of the mechanism 20, to form a unified whole ready for use, assembled directly in the casing 10.

In the above description, the replacement of the mechanism 20 is not intended to be a limiting illustration, but also means the replacement of such a unified entity which, in addition to the mechanism 20, also comprises said intermediate part 34.

According to the example of use, the unified whole comprising the mechanism 20 and the component 34 forms a cartridge or a refill designed to replace another unit fitted in the casing 10 after the cosmetic product 12 dispensed by the mechanism 20 has been used up.

As indicated above, once the assembly of the part 34 is carried out by axially introducing the fastening tab 58 of the part inside the hole 60 of the knob 30, the intermediate part 34 according to the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures cannot be disassembled here.

According to another example of use, housing 10 is used with multiple assemblies (or mechanisms 20) without depending on whether cosmetic 12 is used up.

In fact, the magnetic system 32 enables the replacement of the assembly housed in the casing to be performed freely, for example it may be desirable to replace the tint of the cosmetic product 12 in the form of lipstick in the casing.

Advantageously, therefore, such a casing 10 can be marketed together with a plurality of assemblies or mechanisms 20, each containing a different cosmetic product 12, designed to be shown in an interchangeable manner in the casing 10.

The invention can be used industrially, in particular in the cosmetic field, for example in an applicator housing for a cosmetic product 12 comprising at least one cap 14 associated with a base 16 and a mechanism 20 for dispensing said cosmetic product 12, in which the base 16 is coupled in a reversible manner to a knob 30 of the mechanism by means of a magnetic system 32, so as to enable the mechanism to be replaced, said magnetic system 32 comprising at least one magnetic element 36 associated with the base 16 and a complementary second element 38 associated with an intermediate coupling section 34 between the base 16 and the knob 30.

Preferably, the mechanism 20 for dispensing the cosmetic product 12 is of the type comprising an internal guide 22 comprising said knob 30, the rotation of which with respect to the external sleeve 24 causes an axial movement of the cup 26 that holds the cosmetic product 12.

Claims

1. Assembly designed to be fitted in an applicator housing (10) of a cosmetic product (12), comprising at least one seat (16) comprising a first element (36) of a magnetic system (32), comprising at least one mechanism (20) for dispensing the cosmetic product (12) provided with an operating knob (30) and an intermediate part (34) comprising a second element (38) of the magnetic system (32), the magnetic system being designed to reversibly join the knob (30) to the seat (16) so as to enable the mechanism (20) to be replaced, characterized in that the intermediate part (34) is configured so as to have a size in the radial direction that is less than or equal to the outer diameter (D) of the knob (30), the intermediate part (34) being arranged axially below the knob, and the intermediate part (34) comprises fastening means (58) to fasten by elastic fit, so as to axially couple the intermediate part (34) with the knob (30) of the mechanism (20).

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate part (34) comprises at least one housing (46) in which the second element (38) of the magnetic system (32) is fitted.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate part (34) comprises blocking means (48) to axially retain the second element (38) in the housing (46).

4. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fastening means (58) comprise at least two tabs designed to be axially introduced into the holes (60) of the knob (30).

5. A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the intermediate part (34) is configured to form an air gap (E) in the axial direction between a first element (36) and a second element (38) of the magnetic system (32).

6. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the intermediate part (34) comprises engagement means (66) designed to cooperate with complementary means (68) of the knob (30) to rotationally couple the intermediate part (34) and the knob (30) of the mechanism (20).

7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the engagement means (66) are distinct from the fastening means (58) of the intermediate part (34).

8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the engagement means (66) of the intermediate part (34) comprise teeth.

9. A combination according to claim 3, wherein the blocking means is a tab.

10. A combination according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises three tabs.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the teeth are formed from three toothed segments.

12. An applicator housing (10) for a cosmetic product (12), comprising at least one cap (14), at least one base (16) and at least one assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said assembly (20, 34) is joined to said base (16) by a magnetic attraction force exerted between a first element (36) associated with said base (16) and a complementary second element (38) associated with said intermediate part (34).