EP0323336B1 - Disposable make-up set - Google Patents

Abstract

A makeup set (1) includes a package, formed of two sheets of plastic material (2a, 2b) partially welded together, in which package and applicator is disposed, comprising an element (8) for holding in the hand and a distributor device (9) in a chamber prefilled with the composition to be tested. The package has two separate portions (13, 14): a first portion (13) capable of being opened, the two sheets (2a, 2b) being joined by a perforated welded bead (6), and a second portion (14) in which the sheets (2a, 2b) are welded. A constriction zone (7) is formed in the plastic sheets (2a, 2b) at the level of the welded portion (14) in order to assure the wiping of the distributor device (9) when it is removed from the package. This makeup set may be presented in the form of small plates (15) on which a plurality of packages (1) disposed side by side are disposed together.

Description

The present invention relates to a make-up set intended to be used only once and then to be discarded after use. Such an assembly is intended, in particular, for making up the eyelashes by means of an eyelash enhancing product, also called mascara, or for making up the nails by means of a varnish, or for making up the lips, the eyelids and more generally the face.
Such an assembly is known from patent specification US-A-2,547,779.

A conventional makeup applicator comprises a container containing the product and a removable cap, which is intended to close the container and which constitutes an element making it possible to manipulate a distribution member carried by the end of a rod secured to the cap. In the closed position of the container, the rod and the distribution member, which is associated with it, plunge into the container. When the stem is removed from the container, a certain amount of makeup product is removed from the distribution member, which can then be applied to the surface to be made up. In the case of a nail varnish applicator, the distribution member is a brush; in the case of an applicator for the lips, the distribution member may consist of an area of the associated rod on which a flocking of fibers has been produced; in the case of an applicator for making up the eyelids, the distribution member may be a mass of flexible plastic foam carried at the end of the associated rod; in the case of a make-up of the face with a foundation or a cream, the distribution member can be a flexible spatula fixed at the end of the associated rod.

In the case of making up the eyelashes, the distribution member is preferably a brush which is advantageously cylindrical or conical; in order to remove the excess makeup product removed from said brush, a wiping element constituted by a single lip or a double wringer is incorporated into the container, allowing only the quantity of cosmetic product necessary for good makeup to remain on the brush. The advantage of a spin of this type is also manifested for the applicators intended for other make-ups.

We know that customers very often want to try a makeup product by making a direct test on the support (for example, eyelids, face, eyelashes, nails) which must receive it. Until now, these tests have been carried out using make-up sets identical to those sold and usable successively by several customers. However, for hygienic reasons, and more particularly taking into account the risks of transmission of serious contagious diseases, it is considered that it is no longer acceptable to carry out public tests using, for several people, one and the same makeup set. This is why we have sought to develop makeup sets of reduced size capable of being used for a single test and then being thrown away; of course, in such a case, it is very desirable that these makeup sets have a moderate cost price.

With this in mind, it has already been proposed to manufacture make-up sets that are smaller but have the same structure as conventional make-up sets. The side wall of the container is therefore formed by molding as well as the thread intended to cooperate with the thread of the cap; the bottom of said container is molded separately and fixed on the base of said side wall; the wiper member is then placed at the top of the container thus obtained. These reduced-size makeup sets nevertheless have a certain number of drawbacks; in firstly, given that the container has a height, which only very slightly exceeds the height of the distribution member that it contains, care must be taken to completely fill the container with the cosmetic product so that the member distribution is impregnated with product over its entire length: but, in this case, during manufacture, the introduction of the applicator member into the completely filled container frequently leads to overflows of cosmetic product out of the container; secondly, these test sets constituted like conventional sets, with the same number of parts and according to the same technique, have a high cost price which is hardly compatible with the fact that they must be discarded after the test.

It has also been proposed to form a container of different structure, simpler, obtained by injection or blow molding: it is thus possible to obtain a container formed in one piece and having at its upper part a wiping member constituted by a constriction of the side wall of the container. To reduce the cost price, the reservoir is not filled with cosmetic product, and a distribution member previously supersaturated with cosmetic product is used, the container only playing a protective role for the preloaded distribution member. However, such a makeup assembly has a serious drawback: when the applicator member is introduced into the container during manufacture, said member is wrung out by passage through the neck, and is therefore no longer oversaturated with product; it follows that at the time of the test, the distribution member, which undergoes a second spin during its extraction from the container, is no longer sufficiently loaded with cosmetic product to carry out a satisfactory test. And if we want to remedy this disadvantage by returning to the technique which consists of filling the container with product, the cost is increased accordingly and there is the disadvantage relating to the risk of overflow when the distribution member is put in place in the container filled.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. To this end, it proposes to produce single-dose make-up sets consisting of a distribution member preloaded with product around which a package is formed which comprises a spun-tight. This packaging is carried out by welding and forming two sheets between which the distribution member preloaded with cosmetic product has been previously disposed. The necking, which constitutes the wiping member, is formed by molding in said sheets; it has, as a complement, a positioning function of the rod associated with the distribution member, so that said member is kept inside the volume which contains it and does not come into contact with the plastic which delimits said volume at during the handling of the make-up set. As a result, it is now possible to no longer fill the volume formed around the distribution member with product, the latter being wrung out only when the applicator leaves the packaging and can therefore be oversaturated when it is put in place, before the packaging is formed from the two sheets; the product deposited on the distribution member is not spread over the walls which surround said member since the applicator is held in position by the wiping constriction. In addition, to the advantage of a simple structure making it possible to avoid prior filling of a container, there is that of a very reduced cost price.

Finally, the make-up set according to the The present invention has the additional advantage of being able to be produced in several copies grouped side by side on a single wafer, tearable separation lines allowing the separation of the different test assemblies of the wafer. The same plate can include a plurality of identical test sets or an assortment of test sets corresponding to the different make-ups existing in the range tested for eyelashes, skin, eyelids, lips or nails. Such an assortment of single-dose makeup can, moreover, be provided for advertising purposes.

The present invention therefore relates to the new industrial product that constitutes a make-up assembly, in particular for the eyelashes or the nails, comprising in a package, an applicator consisting of a gripping element and of a distribution member. the composition to be tested, characterized in that said distribution member is charged with the composition to be tested and is packaged between two sheets partially welded together, a constriction zone being formed in said sheets at a level situated between the element handling and the distribution member of said applicator.

The constituent sheets of the packaging can be plastic sheets or thermoformed or stamped metal sheets, the metal sheets being able to be covered or not with plastic material.

Advantageously, the makeup assembly according to the present invention has two separate parts, a first part capable of being opened, for example by separation of the sheets, which form the packaging, and a second part in which the two sheets are welded so to prevent their separation by manual action, the welded areas of this second part delimiting a volume where the two sheets are not welded together, said volume containing the applicator distribution member, the first part comprising a first non-welded zone and a second zone at which the sheets are linked together by a welded bead which delimits a space containing the grip element and which is connected to the second part of the packaging.

According to a first embodiment, the welded bead, which links the sheets together at the level of the first part of the packaging, is connected to the constriction zone formed in the sheets of the packaging.

According to a second embodiment, the first part of the make-up assembly comprises, in the space containing the grip element, a bulge substantially in the form of a bubble of larger diameter than the circular throttling zone at which it is connected, this bulge being capable of constituting a bending zone preventing a deformation from occurring at the level of the circular throttling zone. The welded bead then forms a flare which surrounds the bulge and is connected to the second part of the packaging at a distance from the constriction zone.

Advantageously, the first zone of the first part of the packaging has at least one, and preferably two, corner (s) where one of the sheets is cut to facilitate the separation of the two sheets, with a view to the opening of said first. part.

The packaging may include a pre-weakened area in its first part, just above the bottleneck.

The pre-weakened area can be arranged to so as to allow the separation of the two parts by a twist substantially around the axis of the gripping element. In particular, in the case where the make-up assembly includes a substantially bubble-shaped bulge, as defined above, the pre-weakened zone can be created by two incisions provided on either side of said bulge.

In a first application, the makeup assembly according to the invention is intended for testing the composition of a mascara, the distribution member being a brush, the grip element being constituted by the extension of the twisted wire. which encloses the bristles of said brush; the gripping element can be overmolded in plastic material or covered with a plastic sheath or a shrinkable plastic sheet.

According to a second application, the makeup assembly according to the present invention is intended for testing a composition of nail varnish, and comprises a distribution member consisting of a brush, the grip element being constituted by the rod which are attached the bristles of said brush.

The packaging of the make-up assembly according to the present invention can be formed by sheets made of a polymer chosen from the group formed by polyvinyl chloride, complexes (polyvinyl chloride - polyvinylidene chloride), complexes (polyester - polyethylene), complex lexes (polyvinyl chloride - polyvinyl alcohol - polyethylene) and complexes (polyacrylonitrile - polyethylene). Advantageously, at least one of the sheets from which the packaging is made is metallized or made up of a complex (plastic - aluminum).

The present invention also relates to a plate grouping a plurality of make-up sets as defined above, characterized in that the different packages of said make-up sets are arranged side by side and separated from each other by a line of tearable separation.

To better understand the object of the invention, there will be described below, by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, various embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'un ensemble de maquillage selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de profil selon la ligne II - II de l'ensemble de maquillage de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue analogue à la figure 2, à la différence que, dans cette représentation, le conditionnement est ouvert pour permettre la préhension de l'élément de prise en main ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en élévation d'une plaquette groupant une pluralité d'ensembles de maquillage tels que représentés à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 montre, semblablement à la figure 1, un second mode de réalisation de l'ensemble de maquillage selon l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de profil suivant la ligne VI-VI, de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une coupe suivant la ligne VII-VII, de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 8, enfin, est une vue en perspective illustrant l'ouverture de l'ensemble de la figure 5.

In these drawings:

• Figure 1 is an elevational view of a makeup assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a side view along line II - II of the makeup assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the difference that, in this representation, the packaging is open to allow the gripping of the gripping element;
• Figure 4 is an elevational view of a wafer grouping a plurality of makeup assemblies as shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 5 shows, similarly to Figure 1, a second embodiment of the makeup assembly according to the invention;
• Figure 6 is a side view along line VI-VI of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a section along the line VII-VII of Figure 5;
• FIG. 8, finally, is a perspective view illustrating the opening of the assembly of FIG. 5.

If we refer to Figures 1 to 3, we see designated by 1, a set of disposable make-up intended for testing a mascara composition.

The closed assembly 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is formed by the union of two plastic sheets 2 a , 2 b made of a polymer chosen according to the formulation of the makeup product. Of course, the two plastic sheets, 2b must be chemically compatible with the make-up product, which is carried by the pre-loaded distributor device of the assembly according to the invention. The material constituting these two plastic sheets 2 a , 2 b is also chosen so as to obtain the greatest possible impermeability in order to minimize gas exchange and the possible evaporation of the solvents from the makeup product tested, in order to that the test is carried out satisfactorily with a product which has retained its fluidity and its original properties. In this example, a complex is used (polyvinyl chloride - polyvinylidene chloride), the mascara tested being a mascara whose solvent is water.

The two sheets 2 a , 2 b are welded together by heat or by ultrasound. They may have been preformed in the form of half-shells or be thermoformed around the applicator.

The makeup assembly 1 has a rectangular shape, seen in plan; it consists of two separate parts 13 and 14. The parts 13 and 14 are rectangular and adjacent: they connect to each other parallel to a small side of the rectangle constituting the assembly 1. The part 13 has, from the opposite side to part 14, a first zone 13 a not welded and between zone 13 a , and part 14, a second zone in which the sheets 2 a , 2 b are linked together by a welded bead 6 tearable by simple manual action. This welded bead 6 in the shape of a U delimits between the two sheets 2 a , 2 b a space 3 containing the element for handling an applicator. The distribution member of said applicator is a conical brush consisting of bristles 10 enclosed in a twisted wire. The gripping element 8 is constituted by the extension of the twisted metal wire which encloses the bristles 10 of the brush, said extension being overmolded by a plastic material. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this gripping element 8 is housed in the space 3 delimited by side walls 3 a , 3 b forming approximately half-cylinders having a rounded end on the side of the area 13 a .

The parts 13 and 14 are connected to each other at a throttling zone 7, which closes the space 3 in the direction of the part 14 subject to the passage of the element 8. The zone d throttle 7 is performed by pinching the sheets 2, 2b perpendicular to the mean plane of said leaves; it constitutes a wringer for the brush which is packaged in part 14 of the make-up assembly 1. The welded bead 6 is connected directly to the throttling zone 7.

Part 13a of the assembly 1 of this makeup, at its free end forming a small side of the assembly 1, the corners 11a, 11b where one of the sheets 2, 2b is switched off, which allows easy separation of the two sheets 2 a , 2 b for opening the packaging.

Just at and on either side of the throttling zone 7, the part 13 comprises a pre-weakened line 12 intended to ensure the effortless folding of the sheets 2 a , 2 b .

In part 14 of the assembly 1, the two plastic sheets 2 a , 2 b are welded between them along a wide area 5 having, in plan view, a U-shape. These welded areas define between them a volume 4 defined by side walls 4 a , 4 b in the form of half-shells. This volume 4 houses the brush, which constitutes the distribution member 9 of the applicator.

The volume 4 communicates with the space 3 via the throttling zone 7, which acts as a wringer, the minimum outside diameter of the bristles of the brush being slightly greater than that of the opening delimited by said throttling zone 7 .

The makeup sets according to the invention can be presented to the user in unit form. However, FIG. 4 shows a plate 15 formed by the assembly side by side of several make-up sets 1 according to the invention, each of said sets being separable from its neighbor thanks to the presence of tear-off lines 16 and having a structure corresponding substantially to that which has just been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The make-up set 1 is used in the following way: when the user wishes to test the mascara, he need only detach a make-up set 1 from the wafer 15, then separate the two sheets 2 a , 2 b constituting the packaging, by pulling them at the cut corners 11 a , 11 b in the directions F and F ′. The sheets 2 a , 2 b separate by breaking the welded bead 6 up to the level of the pre-weakened line 12, thus revealing the gripping element 8, the spacing of the half-cylinders 3 a , 3 b , being maintained thanks to the bending of the plastic material at the level of the weakening line 12. The spacing of the half-cylinders 3 a , 3 b is thus effected without effort, the risks of deterioration of the throttling zone are reduced 7. The user then only has to grasp the element 8 and pull it in the direction Z in order to remove the applicator from the packaging. The distribution member 9 of said applicator is wrung out during its passage through the throttling zone 7 and is then impregnated with the exact amount of mascara to be tested which is necessary and sufficient to obtain a satisfactory test.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawings which show a second embodiment making it possible to avoid any deformation of the throttling zone which plays the role of wringer.

Indeed, in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, during the spacing of the two sheets 2 a , 2 b (FIG. 3), the throttling zone 7, the initial section of which is circular, can deform , and ovalize. Therefore, during the extraction of the brush 9, the loading on said brush will not be homogeneous due to the deformation or the crushing of the extraction orifice constituted by the area 7.

The second embodiment of Figures 5 to 8 avoids such a drawback.

In these figures 5 to 8, elements which are similar or playing a role analogous to elements already described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4 have been designated by a numerical reference equal to the sum of the number 100 and the reference used in connection with the Figures 1 to 4. The description of these elements will not be repeated or will be repeated only briefly.

As clearly visible in these figures, the first part 113 of the make-up assembly comprises a bulge 17 substantially in the shape of a bubble, constituted by the union of two half-bulges, turning their concavity towards each other and provided in each sheet 102 a , 102 b . Bulge 17 has a maximum diameter greater than the diameter of the circular throttling zone 107 whose length h is sufficient to create a cylindrical passage. The bulge 17 is connected, at its lower part, according to FIGS. 5 and 6 to the throttling zone 107.

The welded bead 106, in the vicinity of the second part 114, forms a flare 18 which surrounds the bulge 17 and joins the second part 114 at a distance from the throttling zone 107.

If the assembly 101 is opened in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3, that is to say by spreading the sheets 102 a , 102 b , the bulge 17 creates a fold zone where the deformation occurs during the throttling of the sheets 102 a , 102 b , while the throttling zone 107 does not undergo any deformation and remains of circular section. Spinning will therefore occur homogeneously on the brush 109 during its extraction.

It is possible to provide for the opening of the make-up assembly using a twisting movement substantially around the axis of the element 108 for handling, thanks to a pre-weakened zone 112 situated in the first part. 113, in the vicinity of its junction with the second part 114. This zone 112 is preferably created by two incisions 19, 20 provided on either side of the bulge 17 on the long sides of the assembly 101.

Holding the second part 104 with one hand and using the other hand to exert a torsional force on the first part 113, substantially around the axis of the element 108, as shown in FIG. 8 , the zone 112 is ruptured by shearing and the part 113 can be separated from the part 114. The gripping element 108 is then accessible and the brush 109 can be removed from its housing 104, with uniform wiping at level of circular throttling zone 107 which has not been deformed.

It is clear that this mode of separation by torsional shearing could also be used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4.

Whatever the embodiment, the two half-shells 2 a , 2 b or 102 a , 102 b can be obtained by molding or injection which can form a receptacle which can be closed where the tray containing the product and the member d application will be protected, possibly by a reinforcement belt.

To obtain a good seal of the two half-shells, a layer of varnish can be deposited inside the walls in order to thus ensure an excellent conservation of the product, in particular when the latter contains serum or solvents.

The makeup set according to the invention could also be useful for testing a nail polish. To this end, the applicator would no longer include a brush but a conventional nail varnish brush, the other characteristics of the packaging remaining substantially unchanged; the material used to form the plastic sheets can be, for example, a complex (polyvinyl chloride - polyvinyl alcohol - polyethylene).

It is understood that the embodiments described above are in no way limiting and may give rise to all the desirable modifications, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. A makeup set (1, 101) for testing a fluid cosmetic composition comprising, in a package, an applicator constituted by a handling element (8, 108) and a device (9, 109) for distributing the composition to be tested and packaged between two sheets (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) partially welded together, characterized in that the said distributor device (9, 109) is filled with the composition to be tested and that a constriction zone (7, 107) is formed in the said sheets in a region situated between the handling element (8, 108) and the distributor device (9, 109) of the said applicator.
2. A makeup set according to claim 1, characterized in that the package has two separate parts (13, 14; 113, 114), a first part (13, 113) capable of being opened and comprising a first zone which is not welded, and a second zone in the region of which the sheets (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) are interconnected by a welded bead (6, 106) that defines a space (3, 103) containing a handling element (8, 108) and which is joined to the second part (14, 114) of the package, in which second part (14, 114) the two sheets (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) are welded so as to prevent their separation by manual action, the welded zones (5, 105) of the second part (14, 114) defining a space (4, 104) where the two sheets (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) are not welded together, the said space (4, 104) containing the distributor device (9, 109) of the applicator.
3. A makeup set according to claim 2, characterized in that the first part (13) is capable of being opened by separating the two sheets (2a, 2b) which form the package.
4. A makeup set according to claim 3, characterized in that the first zone of the first part (13) of the package has at least one corner (11a, 11b) where one of the two sheets (2a, 2b) is cut to facilitate the separation of the two sheets (2a, 2b) in order to open the said first part (13).
5. A makeup set according to claim 2, characterized in that the first part comprises, in the space (103) containing the handling element (108), a substantially bubble-shaped bulge (17) with a larger diameter than the circular constriction zone (107) to which it is connected, and capable of constituting a folding zone preventing a deformation from occurring at the level of the circular constriction zone (107).
6. A makeup set according to claim 5, characterized in that the welded bead (106) forms a flaring portion (18) which surrounds the bulge (17) and is joined to the second part (114) at a distance from the constriction zone (107).
7. A makeup set according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a pre-weakened zone (12, 112) situated in the first part (13, 113) near its junction with the second part (14, 114).
8. A makeup set according to claim 7, characterized in that the pre-weakened zone (112) is arranged so as to permit the separation of the two parts (113, 114) by a twisting action substantially round the axis of the handling element (108).
9. A makeup set according to the set of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the pre-weakened zone (112) is created by two incisions (19, 20) provided on either side of the bubble-shaped bulge (17).
10. A makeup set for testing a mascara composition according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the distributor device (9) is a brush and the handling element (8) is constituted by the extension of the twisted metallic wire which locks the bristles of the said brush in place.
11. A makeup set according to claim 10, characterized in that the handling element (8, 108) is moulded on in a plastic material or is covered by a plastic sheath or a sheet made of a thermoshrinkable plastic material.
12. A makeup set for testing a composition of nail varnish according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the distributor device (9, 109) is a brush and that the handling element (8, 108) is constituted by the rod to which the bristles of the said brush are attached.
13. A makeup set according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sheets forming the package are sheets made of a plastic material or metallic sheets, thermoformed or stamped sheets, it being possible for the metallic sheets to be covered with a plastic material.
14. A makeup set according to claim 13, characterized in that the sheets (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) forming the package are constituted by a polymer chosen from the group formed by polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride/polyvinylidine chloride complexes, polyester/polyethylene complexes, polyvinyl chloride/polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene complexes and polyacrylonitrile/polyethylene complexes.
15. A makeup set according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one of the sheets (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) from which the package is formed, is metallized or constituted by a plastic aluminium complex.
16. A small plate (15) grouping a plurality of makeup sets (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the different packages are disposed side by side and separated from each other by a tearable separation line (16).

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