CN111526756A

CN111526756A - Wiping device for a cosmetic applicator

Info

Publication number: CN111526756A
Application number: CN201780098040.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埃里克·迪·巴都内; 亨里克·亨伯特
Original assignee: Xin Mupu
Current assignee: Xin Mupu
Priority date: 2017-12-29
Filing date: 2017-12-29
Publication date: 2020-08-11
Also published as: JP2021516073A; EP3731695C0; JP7118157B2; EP3731695B1; WO2019129935A1; US20200397122A1; EP3731695A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a one-piece wiping device for an applicator assembly for applying a cream cosmetic product, the applicator assembly comprising: -an applicator (10) provided with a gripping bar (11) and with means for applying the cosmetic product; a container (13) having a neck (14), the applicator sliding in the neck (14) along an axis XX, called the longitudinal axis. The wiping device has a substantially cylindrical shape that can be mounted inside the neck and is provided with a first flange (2) for attaching it to the rim of the neck, a second flange (3) for attaching it on the inner shoulder of the neck and a lip (3) projecting inside the container. The device according to the invention also comprises an external protrusion (30) which externally supports at least one additional element (31, 32, 33) suitable for coming into contact with the internal surface of the shoulder of the neck when the device is engaged on the neck.

Description

Wiping device for a cosmetic applicator

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wiping device for an applicator assembly for applying a liquid, pasty or powdery cosmetic product, such as mascara or eyeliner.

Background

Generally, this type of applicator assembly comprises a bottle intended to contain the cosmetic product, which is provided with a threaded neck to be screwed with a cap. This cover is provided with a rod, the end of which is provided with an applicator for applying the product. Thus, the applicator is immersed in the product contained in the bottle, and preferably such an applicator assembly further comprises a wiping means for wiping (or wringing out) the rod and/or the applicator when it is removed from the bottle.

Generally, the efficiency and primary function of a wiper is related to the geometry of the wiper. The external geometry of the wiper must be such that it can be easily mounted on the holder or neck of the container while firmly holding the wiper in place during the movement of inserting or removing the applicator from the container. The internal geometry of the wiper must be adapted both to the external geometry of the applicator and to its mechanical properties and to the characteristics of the product to be applied. In addition, the efficiency of the wiper is related to the material from which it is made.

The wiper member or wiper used in this type of applicator assembly must wipe off the excess product from the wand and applicator while keeping the product loaded on the applicator. Typically, such wipers take the form of a somewhat flexible sleeve which is fixed in the neck of the bottle and has an inner wall which defines, at the end, a small, constant diameter channel for the wiping rod. The wiper may be somewhat deformable to allow the applicator to pass through. Such applicators can be found in particular in documents EP 1066771, EP 1221874 or EP 1275322 or FR 3016274.

EP 1275322 discloses a wiper which is characterized in that it comprises an outer lip which can be attached under the inner shoulder of the neck. The protruding rim holds the wiper at the outer edge of the neck. The co-action of these two elements allows the wiper to be maintained in position both axially and radially on the neck of the container. The problem is to keep the wiper in place as the rod, in particular the applicator device, passes through the narrow opening of the wiping lip, causing it to deform significantly, thus being subjected to tensile stresses. Therefore, a compromise must be found and various solutions have been developed for this purpose. The wiper disclosed in this case has a lip, also referred to as a "hoop" or "prong," which is circular or partially circular. This geometry must be flexible, flatten out as the wiper is in the opening of the container neck, and then return to its natural state under the shoulder within the container neck. Thus, holding the wiper securely on the neck of the container is related to the ability of the outer lip to resist the removal force applied to the wiper by the applicator as it exits the container.

FR 3016274 describes a wiper having a special opening lip in the part of the container interior below the shoulder of the neck. These lips are particularly flexible and advantageously allow the rod to be effectively wiped when passing through the neck.

Thus, all current wiper devices disclosed in these patent applications or patents have an external lip, the effectiveness of which will be closely related to the internal geometry of the neck of the container in which it will be used.

Another problem encountered relates to differences in container shape, particularly at the neck, regardless of the material from which the container is made. These irregularities are essentially caused by manufacturing and can be quite different in size. Furthermore, the surface state may change; some containers may have smooth interior surfaces and some may be rough. These anomalies may result in the wiper being held less firmly on the neck.

More specifically for bottles or containers made of glass, these bottles have a very irregular internal geometry in the shoulder of the neck, whatever the quality of production. The vertical position of the stop (inner shoulder) relative to the reference surface (upper surface of the neck) is never exact and may vary by more or less a few millimeters. The overhanging surface of the inner shoulder is not flat. Furthermore, the fillet radius between the neck opening and the shoulder is very similar and its size cannot be guaranteed in this type of process.

Plastic containers, in particular containers made by blow moulding, do not guarantee a regular position of the shoulders inside the neck, regardless of the quality of production. These bottles have a very irregular internal geometry at the shoulders of the neck. The vertical position of the stop (inner shoulder) relative to the reference surface (upper surface of the neck) is never exact and may vary by more or less a few millimeters. The overhanging surface of the inner shoulder is not flat. Furthermore, the fillet radius between the neck opening and the shoulder is very similar and its dimensions cannot be guaranteed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular to strengthen the attachment of the wiper on the neck of the container. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a one-piece wiping device for an applicator assembly for applying a cream cosmetic product, the applicator assembly comprising: at least one applicator provided with a gripping bar and an applicator for applying the cosmetic product; container with a neck in which the applicator slides along an axis XX, called the longitudinal axis, the wiper device having a substantially cylindrical shape which can be mounted inside the neck and being provided with a first flange for attaching it to the edge of the neck of the container, a second flange for attaching it on the internal shoulder of the neck and a lip projecting inside the container.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the second outer flange comprises an annular outer protrusion, arranged substantially near the inner lip and externally carrying at least one additional element able to come into contact with the inner surface of the shoulder when the device is engaged on the neck, so that the wiper means has a maximum optimal contact with the inner surface of the neck whatever this surface is.

The external protrusion associated with the additional element advantageously makes it possible to compensate for dimensional irregularities inside the neck, while ensuring that the wiper is optimally held in position on the neck.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the additional element comprises a first set of tabs extending in a plane at an acute angle to the axis XX and located at a first distance from the edge of the neck. The tongue achieves a surface contact that is perfectly adapted to the shoulder even if the shoulder has surface or dimensional irregularities.

According to another possibility, the additional element comprises an undulating flexible annular strip. Such a flexible strip lies completely against the inner surface of the neck.

According to a further feature, the additional element may also comprise a second set of tabs offset along the axis XX with respect to the first set of tabs. The second set of tabs may have a similar orientation to the first set of tabs.

According to a further feature of the present invention, a ring is provided at the free end of the first tongue.

The wiper may further comprise studs or protrusions projecting upwardly from the surface of the additional element and intended to come into contact with the inner surface of the shoulder of the neck. This aspect allows for a better grip of the wiper at this level.

Preferably, the first set of tabs and/or the second set of tabs comprises between two and sixty-four tabs.

Advantageously, the tabs are regularly angularly distributed about the axis XX.

By way of example, the device according to the invention may be made of vulcanisable rubber or silicone or thermoplastic elastomer or of any other flexible material used for machines produced "by adding material", such as 3D printers.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show:

figure 1A, a side view of a wiper device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

figure 1B, a top view of a wiper device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

figure 1C, a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

figure 2A, a side view of a wiper device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2B, a top view of a wiper device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2C, a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

figure 3A, a side view of a wiper device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

figure 3B, a top view of a wiper device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

figure 3C, a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

figure 4A, a side view of a wiper device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

figure 4B, a top view of a wiper device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

figure 4C, a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing the wiper device according to the invention on the neck of the container;

fig. 6, a perspective view of a device according to a first embodiment, with studs on the fins;

figure 7, a perspective view of a device according to the first embodiment, with protrusions on the fins.

For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Detailed Description

FIG. 5 shows a wiper device and a cosmetic applicator assembly; the assembly comprises in particular an applicator 10 provided with a gripping bar 11 and an applicator for applying a cosmetic product 12, and a container 12, the container 12 having a neck 14 in which the applicator 10 slides. The applicator 12 may resemble a brush densely packed with bristles or spikes that are in contact with keratin fibers for cosmetic purposes. Furthermore, the container 13 is closed and filled with a more or less viscous, in particular pasty, cosmetic product. The container 13 is substantially axisymmetric, thus having a longitudinal axis XX along which the applicator 10 slides; the applicator may of course be rotated in the container. When the applicator 12 comes into contact with the cosmetic present inside the container 13, the applicator thus takes or loads the cosmetic. When the user removes the applicator 12 from the container 13, the applicator passes through the neck 14 of the container 13, which is equipped with a generally cylindrical or substantially cylindrical wiper device 1, which wiper device 1 can be mounted on the neck 14 of the container 13.

In a known manner, the wiper device 1 has, at a first end, a first annular flange 2 for attaching the wiper device to the outer rim of the neck 14. The first flange allows the wiper device 1 to be axially retained in the neck 14 when the applicator 10 is inserted in the container 13. The wiper device has, near its second end, a second outer flange 3 capable of interacting with a shoulder 15 formed on the neck 14 of the container 13; the purpose of the second flange 3 is to axially retain the wiper means when the applicator 10 is removed from the container 13.

The applicator or brush 12 is dimensioned such that the ends of the bristles or spikes are flush with the inner wall of the wiper 1 at the neck. In order to limit the amount of cosmetic product taken up on the stem 11, it is usual to provide at least one internal lip 4 of diameter close to that of the stem 11, so as to wipe the stem each time the applicator 10 passes through the wiper 1 in one direction or the other. Naturally, various shapes, orientations and dimensions of the inner lip 4 are known.

According to the invention, the second flange 3 comprises or is formed by a flexible annular external protrusion arranged substantially in the vicinity of the inner lip 4. Preferably, similar "heights" are chosen for the second flange 3 and the inner lip 4. If no lip 4 is present, the second flange 3 is located near the inner end of the wiper, for example between one quarter and one third of its height measured along the longitudinal axis XX.

Fig. 1 to 4 show different variants of the invention, more particularly the second flange 3, which comprises a "circular collar" or "annular external protrusion" 30. Advantageously, this ferrule 30 carries externally at least one additional element, which can have several shapes. The annular collar may be continuous or discontinuous around the periphery of the body of the wiper 1.

Fig. 1A, 1B and 1C show an embodiment according to which the annular collar 30 is continuous and carries a first set of tabs 31 extending in a circular plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis XX. In other words, the tongue 31 is oriented towards the first flange 2 of the wiper.

Fig. 2A, 2B and 2C show the annular band 30 not continuously surrounding the wiper; each angular segment of the ferrule 30 carries a tab 31. Furthermore, a second set of tabs 32 may be provided around the body of the wiper 1. The second set of tangs 32 is axially offset relative to the first set of tangs 31; the tongue 32 is arranged closer to the upper flange 2 than the tongue 31. Furthermore, the first set of tabs and/or the second set of tabs are selected to be angularly offset based on the fact that the tabs are regularly angularly distributed for each set of tabs.

Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C differ from fig. 2A, 2B and 2C in that a ring 33 is present at the free end of the first tongue 31. It can be seen that the ring 33 is located at substantially the same height as the second tongue 32. The aim is to increase the contact surface between the second flange 3 and the shoulder 15 even and in particular if its inner surface has irregularities or there are significant dimensional differences at the shoulder.

Fig. 4A, 4B and 4C also show advantageous contact surfaces. In the absence of contact, that is to say when the wiper is not properly mounted on the neck, the additional element is in this case in the form of an undulating flexible annular strip, for example an undulating collar-or crepe (ruff) -in particular, but not exclusively, capable of fitting closely to all the above-mentioned surface and/or dimensional defects. Once in contact with the inner surface of the shoulder, whatever it may be, the collar is pressed completely against this surface.

FIG. 6 shows a modified form of the embodiment according to FIG. 1; the improvement comprises a set of studs 310 projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the first set of tangs 31. "stud" means that kind of spike, the number of which varies according to need. These studs help the tongue to better grip on the irregular surface of the shoulder 15 of the neck 14. Therefore, the density of the studs 310 can be freely selected by those skilled in the art. The "upper surface" of the tongue refers to the surface of the tongue 31 facing the first flange 2.

FIG. 7 also relates to a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1; in this case, a protrusion or stiffener 320 is provided on the upper surface of the tongue; the protrusion improves and enhances the contact between the tongue 31 and the surface of the oppositely placed shoulder. The same type of protrusion may be provided on the annular outer protrusion or ferrule 30.

With respect to the number of tabs, the first set of tabs and/or the second set of tabs preferably comprises two to sixty-four lugs.

The following table shows the tensile test results for various wipers made of NBR (nitrile rubber), NBR 70 shA.

The first row of the table relates to a wiper according to the prior art, that is to say without the features of the invention. The second row of the table relates to the wipers according to fig. 1A, 1B and 1C, while the third row of the table relates to the wipers as shown in fig. 3A, 3B and 3C. The value is the pull force in newtons before the wiper is removed. Column B1 corresponds to bottles or containers with variable neck height; column B2 corresponds to a commonly obtained bottle with manufacturing defects. In each category, three bottles were tested, all from the same mold. Note that the bottles, "fins and teeth" and "rings" equipped with wipers according to the invention have better tensile strength than the bottles according to the prior art.

The plastics most commonly used for containers are PP (polypropylene), PA and PETG (polyethylene terephthalate), chosen for their chemical compatibility with the cosmetic product contained in the container.

As for the wiper itself, it is known in industrial manufacture that the wiper member is made of a vulcanizable rubber such as NBR (nitrile rubber). Also used are silicone or thermoplastic elastomers belonging to the classes TPE-S (SEBS, SBS, etc.), TPE-V (PP and EPDM), and TPE-U (thermoplastic polyurethane).

Claims

1. A one-piece wiping device for an applicator assembly for applying a cream cosmetic product, the applicator assembly comprising: -at least one applicator (10) provided with a gripping bar (11) and with an applicator device (12) for applying the cosmetic product; -a container (13) having a neck (14) in which the applicator (10) slides along an axis XX, called longitudinal axis, the wiping device having a substantially cylindrical shape which can be mounted inside the neck (14) and being provided with a first flange (2) for attaching it at the edge of the neck of the container, -a lip (3) for attaching it on an internal shoulder (15) of the neck (14) to project inside the container, characterized in that the second flange (3) comprises an annular external protrusion (30) arranged substantially near the lip and is externally provided with at least one additional element (31) able to come into contact with the internal surface of the shoulder (15) of the neck (14) when the device is engaged on the neck, 32, 33) so that the wiping device has the greatest degree of optimum contact with the inner surface of the neck.

2. A wiping device according to claim 1, in which the additional element comprises a first set of tongues (31) extending in a plane at an acute angle to the axis XX.

3. A wiping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional element comprises an undulating flexible annular strip (34).

4. A wiping device according to claim 2, in which the additional element comprises a second set of tabs (32) offset along the axis XX with respect to the first tabs (31).

5. A wiping device according to claim 2, characterized in that a ring (33) is provided at the free end of the first tongue (31).

6. A wiping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a stud (310) or a projection (320) which projects upwards from the surface of the additional element and/or of an annular external projection (30) and is intended to come into contact with the inner surface of the shoulder of the neck.

7. A wiping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first set of tabs (31) and/or the second set of tabs (32) comprises two to sixty-four tabs.

8. A wiping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tongues (31, 32) are regularly angularly distributed about the axis XX.

9. A wiping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of vulcanizable rubber or silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer.