CN116268751A

CN116268751A - Device for applying cosmetics

Info

Publication number: CN116268751A
Application number: CN202210914766.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗雷德里克·勒库瑞尔; 马克·埃蒙森
Original assignee: Albea Services SAS
Current assignee: Albea Services SAS
Priority date: 2021-12-21
Filing date: 2022-08-01
Publication date: 2023-06-23
Also published as: FR3130528A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic stick (12), comprising: a cup (30) comprising at least one radial lug (32); a guide (14) comprising a tubular body (16) extending to an upper opening (20), in which a cup (30) is axially slidably mounted; a tubular sheath (40) in which the body (16) is rotatably mounted, rotation of the guide (14) relative to the sheath (40) causing axial movement of the cup (30) between an extreme deployed position through the opening (20) and an extreme retracted position; characterized in that the sheath (40) comprises an elastically deformable upper lip (60) extending radially above the opening (20) of the guide (14), the inner diameter (D1) of the upper lip (60) being smaller than the inner diameter (D2) of the tubular body (16) in the rest condition.

Description

Device for applying cosmetics

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic stick, comprising:

-a cup intended to receive a cosmetic stick and comprising at least one radial lug;

-a guide comprising a tubular body in which the cup is axially slidably mounted, the guide comprising at least one slit which is penetrated by at least one associated lug of the cup;

a tubular sheath in which the body is rotatably mounted, the sheath internally comprising at least one recess for receiving at least one lug of the cup, rotation of the guide relative to the sheath causing axial movement of the cup between the extreme deployed position and the extreme retracted position.

Background

Devices of this type are known from the prior art for packaging cosmetics, such as cosmetic sticks, in particular but not limited to lipsticks. Such cosmetic sticks will be referred to hereinafter and in the claims as "sticks".

The wand is retained by its base in a cup which slides axially between at least one retracted position and a cosmetic application position in which at least a portion of the cosmetic wand extends axially out of the device.

In a known manner, this movement is obtained by a rotation mechanism comprising a guide and a sheath, which are mounted concentrically, one of the guide and sheath comprising at least one runner and the other comprising at least one helical groove through which at least one lug fixed to the cup of the load-bearing bar passes radially, respectively.

The cup generally comprises a pair of lugs arranged diametrically opposite each other, the guide being equipped with two runners and the sheath being equipped with two helical grooves.

Typically, actuation of the mechanism is controlled manually by imparting a rotational motion to the base of the device, which is transmitted to the mechanism, causing axial displacement of the cup containing the cosmetic product.

Various methods of forming cosmetic sticks are known.

One method is to mold the stick by injecting the cosmetic product in a liquid state directly into the cup of the previously installed device. However, this method is complex and time consuming.

Another method is to pre-form the cosmetic stick and then insert the stick into the cup after the device is installed. During this operation, the cup is in its extreme application position. This method makes it possible to increase productivity, since it is no longer necessary to add the formation time of the rod to the installation method of the device, since the rod is already formed when it is inserted into the cup.

Forced insertion of the rod into the cup has been proposed. However, the rod may not be pressed correctly. For example, the rod may be inclined with respect to the sliding axis of the cup. Thus, when the cup is retracted, the rod may rub against the edge of the guide and/or sheath. The stick is then damaged and the device becomes soiled with cosmetic.

Disclosure of Invention

-a cup intended to receive the rod and comprising a tubular wall and at least one radial lug;

-at least one guide comprising a tubular body extending to an upper outlet opening for the rod, in which guide the cup is mounted so as to be axially slidable, the guide comprising at least one slit which is penetrated by at least one associated lug of the cup;

a tubular sheath in which the body is rotatably mounted, the sheath internally comprising at least one recess for receiving at least one lug of the cup, rotation of the guide relative to the sheath causing axial movement of the cup between an extreme deployed position and an extreme retracted position through the opening.

The device manufactured according to the teachings of the present invention is characterized in that the sheath comprises an upper sealing lip intended to be in sealing contact with the cylindrical wall of the cup along an annular contact line in the extreme deployed position, so as to sealingly close the radial annular space between the sheath and the cup.

According to another feature of the device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the sheath comprises an elastically deformable upper lip having a closed annular shape, said upper lip extending radially inwards over the opening of the guide, the inner diameter of the upper lip being smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular body in the rest condition.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, in the extreme deployed position of the cup, the upper lip radially abuts against the cylindrical wall of the section of the cup along an annular contact line in a substantially airtight manner.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, the inner diameter of the upper lip is greater than the inner diameter of the cup in the rest condition.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, the upper lip is made in one piece with the sheath.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, the sheath is made of plastic material.

According to another feature of the device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the device comprises an airtight member radially interposed between the guide and the sheath, below the at least one slit for guiding the guide.

According to another feature of the device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the sealing member is a lower lip having a closed annular shape, said lower lip extending radially outwardly from the guide, the lower lip being tightly mounted in the sheath along an annular contact line.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, the lower lip is made in one piece with the guide.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, the cup comprises at least one upper suction hole, which is located below an annular contact line with the upper lip when said cup occupies the extreme deployed position of said cup.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, the guide comprises at least one lower suction hole located in a lower hub arranged at the lower end of the tubular body and communicating with the interior of the tubular body.

According to another feature of the device made according to the teachings of the present invention, when the cup occupies its extreme deployed position, the sheath has an internal space axially delimited between the lower lip and the upper lip, said space being in communication with the outside only through the lower suction hole and the upper suction hole.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, for purposes of understanding the invention, refers to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in an installed position with a cup of the device occupying an extreme retracted position.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of fig. 1, including a guide, a cup, and a sheath.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a cross section of the element taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the underside of the cup in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 5-5 of fig. 1, with the cup occupying its extreme retracted position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to fig. 5, with the cup occupying its extreme deployed position.

Detailed Description

Conventionally, the "axial" direction in the figures corresponds to the direction of the main axis a of the device (also called mechanism) intended to be mounted on a base for actuating an application container of cosmetic product (for example a cosmetic stick, in particular a lipstick), the "radial" direction being orthogonal to the axial direction by radiating from the main axis.

In the following detailed description of the drawings, the terms "upper" and "lower" or "top" and "bottom" will be used with reference to the axial direction, the upper part of the device corresponding to the part through which the cosmetic stick protrudes from the device for application.

Similarly, the terms "outer or outer" and "inner or inner" are used with reference to the radial direction, the outer element being radially further from the axis a than the inner element.

The figures show a device 10 intended to be mounted on a base for actuating a cosmetic application container.

Preferably, the cosmetic product (as shown in phantom in fig. 5 and 6) is a cosmetic stick 12, more specifically, cosmetic stick 12 is a lipstick, or lip balm, intended to be applied by friction.

The device 10 is designed to spin cosmetic product out through at least one rotational movement.

The device 10 has an axis a referred to as the main axis.

The device 10 comprises at least one first element, generally and hereinafter referred to as a guide 14. In particular, the guide 14 is visible in fig. 2 and 3.

The guide 14 mainly comprises a tubular body 16 extending axially from a hub 18 forming the lower end of the guide 14 to an upper outlet opening 20 intended to be penetrated by the cosmetic stick 12.

For example, the outer surface of the hub 18 may be provided with striations, for example, to facilitate manipulation of the hub when the device 10 is in use.

Preferably, the guide 14 includes at least one slot that extends radially through the wall of the body 16. Each slit forms a chute. Here, the guide 14 includes a first slot 22 and a second slot 24 that pass radially through the wall of the body 16. The

slits

22, 24 are arranged diametrically opposite each other.

The

slits

22, 24 extend axially into the body 16 of the guide 14, the first slit 22 being axially closed at its upper end and the second slit 24 being open. The

slits

22, 24 are closed at their lower ends on the sides of the hub 18.

The

slits

22, 24 each include straight and parallel edges. The first slit 22 comprises an upper recess 26a at one axial end thereof and a lower recess 28a at the other axial end thereof, said

recesses

26a, 28a extending circumferentially.

In both embodiments, the second slit 24 also includes an upper notch 26b and a lower notch 28b.

In conventional systems, the

notches

26a, 26b, 28a, 28b are intended to form end-of-travel locks for the cup 30.

As shown in fig. 5, the device 10 includes a cup 30 that receives the cosmetic stick 12.

Cup 30 is intended to be axially slidably mounted in guide 14 between an extreme retracted position (as shown in fig. 5) and an extreme extended position (as shown in fig. 6).

As shown in fig. 5, the extreme retracted position corresponds to a position in which rod 12 is located within device 10 for protection and storage of the rod and cup 30 is in the end of low travel position.

As shown in fig. 6, the extreme deployed position corresponds to a position in which the rod 12 is deployed axially upward such that the free end of the rod extends out of the device 10 through the opening 20 and the cup 30 is in the high end-of-travel position.

Cup 30 may also be in an intermediate position between its extreme retracted and extreme extended positions, referred to as an intermediate application position.

As shown in fig. 4, the cup 30 comprises at least one lug 32, preferably two lugs 32. Each lug 32 projects radially outwardly, the lug 32 engaging and extending through one of the

slots

22, 24 of the guide 14, respectively, to extend radially outwardly beyond the cylindrical outer surface of the body 16 of the guide 14.

Cup 30 includes an axially extending cylindrical wall 34. The wall 34 defines a receptacle 36 that receives a lower portion of the wand 12. The receiving portion 36 is upwardly opened through the inlet 33. The receptacle 36 is defined axially downwardly by a bottom 37. The inner face of the cylindrical wall 34 is provided with ribs 38 which are intended to firmly attach the rod 12 in the receptacle 36.

The outer face of the cylindrical wall 34 is provided with protrusions 35 which form sliding pads which enable a reduction of the friction surface between the cup 30 and the guide 14 to promote sliding of the cup 30. These protrusions 35 have an elongated shape oriented in the axial direction. The outer face of the upper end section 39 of the cylindrical wall 34 has no protrusions.

The device 10 includes a second element, hereinafter referred to as a sheath 40. As shown herein, the sheath 40 has a cylindrical shape with a major axis a.

The sheath 40 may receive an outer sleeve (not shown) within which the sheath 40 is inserted and rotationally fixed by press fitting or alternatively attaching the sheath 40 and sleeve together, for example using an adhesive.

Preferably, the sheath 40 comprises internally at least one recess which receives the free end of the associated lug 32 of the cup 30. Here, the sheath 40 comprises two diametrically

opposed grooves

42, 44, with which the free ends of the lugs 32 of the cup 30 cooperate in operation. The sheath 40 comprises an inner wall 46 provided with said

helical grooves

42, 44. The

grooves

42, 44 have a spiral shape.

The sheath 40 comprises an upper edge 50 at its upper axial end and a lower edge 52 at its lower axial end, said edges 50 and 52 being circumferentially continuous.

The sheath 40 is intended to be mounted on the guide 14 by snap-fitting to obtain the device 10 shown in particular in fig. 1, 5 and 6 after mounting. In the installed position, the opening 20 of the guide 14 is disposed below the upper edge 50 of the sheath 40.

The guide 14 is rotatably mounted in the sheath 40 about a main axis "a". Thus, the guide 14 is concentrically received within the interior of the sheath 40. To this end, the outer diameter of the body 16 of the guide 14 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the sheath 40.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6, the elastic snap fit is here obtained in a non-limiting way by an annular flange 54 protruding from the lower section of the inner face of the sheath 40. A collar 56 projects radially from the outer face of the body 16, adjacent the hub 18. The collar 56 is intended to resiliently snap-fit over the flange 54 of the sheath 40 as the body 16 of the guide 14 is inserted axially from bottom to top through the lower opening of the sheath 40. The collar 56 then axially abuts the shoulder face 57 of the sheath 40.

The slit 22 of the guide 14 is here opened upwards by a cutout 58 which opens into the upper end edge of the body 16 delimiting the opening 20. Due to the cutout 58, the guide 14 may be radially deformed to facilitate installation of the sheath 40 before returning to the original shape of the guide.

In such a device 10, the guide 14, through rotation of its hub 18 with respect to the sheath 40, causes an axial movement of the cup 30, more precisely an upward or downward movement of the cup 30, depending on the direction of rotation. When the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, the upper portion of the cup 30 extends axially out of the sheath 40 here.

Cosmetic stick 12 is axially displaced with cup 30 between an extreme extended position and an extreme retracted position.

In both embodiments shown, the guide 14, the cup 30 and the sheath 40 are advantageously made of plastic material.

Preferably, the guide 14, the cup 30 and the sheath 40 are made of the same plastic material.

The plastic material may be selected from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyethylene (PE) such as Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and/or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), composite materials, post Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials, and/or the like.

These materials include in particular plastic materials having a hardness between 70 shore a and 90 shore D.

Preferably, the plastic material is polypropylene and/or polyethylene terephthalate, whether recycled polypropylene and/or recycled polyethylene terephthalate or not.

Thus, advantageously, all the components of the device 10 are made of a plastic material, preferably selected from polypropylene and/or polyethylene terephthalate.

Parts made of plastic material can be easily obtained by injection moulding and form a lightweight device 10.

Furthermore, the use of plastic materials for the entire device 10, particularly similar plastic materials, can facilitate recycling. In particular, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate are two plastic materials with well known recovery cycles.

Furthermore, the tubular body 16 of the guide 14 is radially interposed between the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30 and the sheath 40. In addition, a projection 35 is also interposed radially between the inner face of the tubular body 16 and the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30. Thus, in the extreme deployed position of the cup 30, a radial annular gap 59 exists between the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30 and the cylindrical inner face of the sheath 40.

The sheath 40 includes an upper sealing lip 60 that sealingly engages the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30 along a closing contact line 61 in the extreme deployed position to sealingly close the radial annular gap 59 between the sheath 40 and the cup 30.

In this extreme open position, the closing contact line 61 is arranged above the opening 20 of the guide 14.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the upper lip 60 here has a closed annular shape, which extends radially inwards over the opening 20 of the guide 14 when the device 10 is mounted. Here, an upper lip 60 extends from the upper end edge 50 of the sheath 40.

In addition, the lip 60 extends axially below the upper end edge of the cup 30 when in the extreme deployed position of the cup.

In an embodiment of the invention, not shown, the upper lip extends from the cylindrical inner face of the sheath 40.

The upper lip 60 is elastically deformable when bent. In particular, the upper lip 60 is more flexible than the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30. The lip 60 also has greater flexibility than the wall of the sheath 40, for example by having a smaller thickness than the wall of the sheath 40.

Thus, the upper lip 60 has an inner free edge forming a closed circle centered on the main axis a. As shown in fig. 5, in the rest condition, the inner diameter "D1" of the upper lip is smaller than the inner diameter "D2" of the tubular body 16 of the guide 14.

Furthermore, the inner diameter "D1" of the upper lip 60 is smaller than the outer diameter "D3" of the upper end section 39 of the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30. Thus, the cup member flexibly deforms the upper lip 60 upwardly as the cup member 30 slides from its extreme retracted position to its extreme extended position. In the extreme unfolded position of the cup 30, as shown in fig. 6, the free edge of the upper lip 60 is thus radially contracted under the effect of the elastic return force to the rest position of the upper lip, surrounding the cup 30 in a substantially airtight manner along the annular contact line 61. The contact line 61 is shown in phantom in fig. 4 in the extreme deployed position. The contact line 61 is located on the upper section 39 of the cylindrical outer face of the cup 30. This is a smooth section 39 so that the contact line 61 forms a closed circle. Thus, in the extreme deployed position, the upper lip 60 is brought into airtight contact with the cup 30.

Furthermore, in the rest condition, the inner diameter "D1" of the upper lip 60 is advantageously greater than the inner diameter "D4" of the upper section of the cup 30. The rod 12 housed in the cup 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape centred on the main axis a and has an external diameter equal to the internal diameter "D4" of the upper section of the cup 30. This arrangement thus enables the wand 12 to extend from the sheath 40 without being scraped by the free inner edge of the upper lip 60.

Here, the upper lip 60 is made in one piece with the sheath 40.

The device 10 further comprises an airtight member radially interposed between the guide 14 and the sheath 40, below the

slits

22, 24 for guiding the guide 14.

The sealing member is here a lower lip 62 having a closed annular shape, which extends radially outwards from the outer face of the guide 14. The lower lip 62 fits tightly in the sheath 40 along an annular line of contact (not shown). Here, a lower lip 62 is disposed below the collar 56.

The lower lip 62 is made in one piece with the guide 14.

Thus, lip 62 permanently rubs against sheath 40. Thus, the lower lip provides a slight resistance to rotation of the sheath 40 relative to the guide 14. In particular, this enables the cup 30 to be stably maintained in the position selected by the user, without impeding the easy control of the sliding of the cup 30 by the user.

When the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, the inner space 63 between the upper lip 60 and the lower lip 62 is substantially airtight, on the one hand by the contact of the upper lip 60 with the cup 30 and, on the other hand, by the contact of the lower lip 62 with the guide 14. The inner space 63 is radially delimited in a sealing manner by the cylindrical tubular wall of the sheath 40.

The cup 30 includes at least one upper suction orifice 64 which, when in the extreme deployed position of the cup, is located below an annular contact line 61 with the upper lip 60. Here, at least one suction hole 64 is arranged in the bottom 37 of the accommodation portion 36. Here, the cup 30 comprises a plurality (e.g. four) of identical suction holes 64 uniformly distributed around the main axis a. Thus, the accommodating portion 36 communicates with the inside of the tubular body 16 through these upper suction holes 64.

The guide 14 also includes at least one lower suction hole 66 located in the hub 18 of the guide and communicating with the interior of the tubular body 16. Here, the lower suction hole 66 opens axially downwards from the hub 18, coaxially with the main axis a.

Therefore, when the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, the inner space 63 communicates with the outside only through the lower suction hole 66 and the upper suction hole 64.

In particular, the present invention enables easy insertion of preformed cosmetic sticks 12 into cup 30 after installation of device 10. For this purpose, as shown in fig. 6, the cup 30 is controlled in its extreme deployed position. The rod 12 is then brought into contact with the inlet 33 of the receiving portion of the cup 30. The outer diameter of the rod 12 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the inlet 33 of the receiving portion 36. Thus, the rod 12 blocks the inlet 33.

Then, the stick 12 is sucked into the accommodation portion 36 by suction. For this purpose, the lower suction hole 66 of the hub 18 is connected to a low pressure source in a sealed manner. Since the inner space 63 is airtight, low pressure may be propagated into the accommodating portion 36. The inlet 33 of the receptacle is blocked by the rod 12, which is sucked in by the suction cup effect, thus being embedded in the receptacle 36. In this case, the rib 38 snaps into the base of the rod 12 to retain the rod in the cup 30.

This method of mounting the preformed rod 12 in the cup 30 ensures the correct alignment of the main axis of the rod 12 with the main axis a of the device 10.

In addition to its sealing function, the upper lip 60 also enables braking of the cup by friction when the cup 30 reaches its extreme deployed position. This allows the user to avoid feeling abrupt stops when the cup 30 reaches the end of travel in the

slits

22, 24.

Claims

1. Device (10) for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic stick (12), the device (10) comprising:

-a cup (30) intended to receive the rod (12) and comprising a tubular wall (34) and at least one radial lug (32);

-at least one guide (14) comprising a tubular body (16) extending to an upper outlet opening (20) for the rod (12), the cup (30) being mounted in the guide so as to be axially slidable, the guide (14) comprising at least one slit (22, 24) crossed by at least one associated lug (32) of the cup (30);

-a tubular sheath (40) in which the body (16) is rotatably mounted, the sheath (40) internally comprising at least one recess (42, 44) for receiving at least one lug (32) of the cup (30), rotation of the guide (14) with respect to the sheath (40) causing axial movement of the cup (30) between an extreme deployed position and an extreme retracted position through the opening (20);

characterized in that the sheath comprises an upper sealing lip (60) intended to be in sealing contact with the cylindrical wall (34) of the cup (30) along an annular contact line (61) in the extreme deployed position, so as to hermetically close the radial annular space between the sheath (40) and the cup (30).

2. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sheath (40) comprises an elastically deformable upper lip (60) having a closed annular shape, which extends radially inwards over the opening (20) of the guide (14), the inner diameter (D1) of the upper lip (60) being smaller than the inner diameter (D2) of the tubular body (16) in the rest state.

3. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in the extreme deployed position of the cup (30), the upper lip (60) abuts radially against the cylindrical wall (34) of the section (39) of the cup (30) along an annular contact line (61) in a substantially airtight manner.

4. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in a rest condition the inner diameter (D1) of the upper lip (60) is greater than the inner diameter (D4) of the cup (30).

5. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper lip (60) is made in one piece with the sheath (40).

6. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheath (40) is made of a plastic material.

7. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an airtight member radially interposed between the guide (14) and the sheath (40), below the at least one slit (22, 24) for guiding the guide (14).

8. The device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sealing member is a lower lip (62) having a closed annular shape, which lower lip extends radially outwards from the guide (14), which lower lip (62) fits tightly in the sheath (40) along an annular contact line.

9. The device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower lip (62) is made in one piece with the guide (14).

10. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cup (30) comprises at least one upper suction hole (64) located below an annular contact line (61) with said upper lip (60) when said cup occupies the extreme deployed position of said cup.

11. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide (14) comprises at least one lower suction hole (66) located in a lower hub (18) arranged at a lower end of the tubular body (16) and communicating with the interior of the tubular body (16).

12. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheath (40) has an internal space (63) axially delimited between the lower lip (62) and the upper lip (60), said space being in communication with the outside only through the upper and lower suction holes (64, 66), when the cup (30) occupies its extreme deployed position.