EP0664976B1 - Package for stick-form products, especially cosmetic or pharmaceutic products and process for assembling this package - Google Patents

Abstract

Applicator for cosmetic or pharmaceutical prods. consists of a hollow elongated housing (1), closed at one end and open at the other, and contg. a holder (4) for the stick prod. (6) in the shape of a socket (5) on the end of a strip. The strip is made from a flexible material and its edges are able to slide in grooves (26) along the inside of the housing which pass round curves (30) at the back and extend beneath an elongated port (18) in the housing's upper wall. Part of the surface of the strip has a series of projections (46) which form a grip for the thumb, allowing the stick to be extended from the housing or retracted by sliding the strip along the grooves. The far end of the strip covers the open end of the housing when the stick is fully retracted.

Description

The invention relates to a case for a stick of products. pasty, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical pastes, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling a such a case.

Cases for sticks of pasty products, of this type, are already known. In the case of these cases, the means the ribbon displacement control are formed by a button which is slidably mounted on the outside corresponding to the case and is connected to the ribbon by a connecting part of small dimension. The window of passage of the connecting element is then carried out under form of a relatively narrow slot. To allow the placement of the ribbon inside of the case, the latter consists of two shells which are assembled after the ribbon is inserted and fixed to each other for example by welding.

Another example of a case of this type is described in FR-A-721 239.

These known cases have the major drawback that assembly is relatively complex and not easy to achieve. In particular the insertion of the ribbon provided with the actuation button is a delicate operation, difficult to implement manually and again more problematic if it had to be done automatically.

The present invention aims to provide a case of type indicated above, which has a structure allowing faster and easier mounting, both manually than automatically.

To achieve this object, the case according to the invention is characterized in that the guide grooves open in the opening for passage of the stick and extend in the open end wall to a depth in the direction of the width, which is greater than the width in this direction, of that of said opening so that the ribbon may be introduced into the assembled housing after the bucket has been attached to the ribbon.

The method of assembling the case according to the invention is characterized in that first of all the housing as a whole and then introduces the ribbon into the housing through the opening of passage of the stick and the grooves open in said opening.

The invention will be better understood and other aims, features, details and benefits of it will appear more clearly during the description explanatory which will follow made with reference to attached schematic drawings given only as a example illustrating an embodiment of the invention and in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case for stick of pasty products according to the invention, before the introduction of the carrier bucket displacement tape stick.

Figure 2 is a perspective view in the state assembled, the bucket occupying its withdrawn position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the case according the invention after assembly, the bucket occupying its position of use where the stick is out.

Figure 4 is a top view of the case according to the Figure 1, the two shells making up the case being separated.

Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrow V of Figure 4, the two shells being in the assembled state.

Figure 6 is a view in the direction of arrow VI of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view along line VIII-VIII in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a side view of the ribbon shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the figures, it can be seen that the case according to the invention essentially comprises a housing 1 composed of two parts 2, 3, each in the form of a shell, and a ribbon 4 which in the state introduced into the housing 1 constitutes the means of displacement of a bucket 5 suitable for receiving a stick of a pasty product cosmetic, pharmaceutical or the like. This stick is indicated in 6. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the two parts 2 and 3 in the form of shells of the case 1 have a structure which is symmetrical with respect to in the middle plane P. The ribbon 4 is made of a material flexible in its axial direction, perpendicularly to its width.

Referring to Figures 4 to 8 will be described below in more detail the structure of the two shells 2 and 3 of the case, which are identical, except for the means assembly of the shells, which are complementary and of the tenon type and receiving hollow.

It appears from the figures, that each shell 2 and 3 generally comprises a bottom wall 8, a side wall 9 and an upper wall 10. The three walls extend substantially perpendicularly to each other and form a profile in the form of a U to delimit, when assembled to the other shell the internal space 11 in which the bucket 5 carrying the stick 6 is axially movable. An extremity bearing the reference 13 of each shell is closed, while the other end indicated at 14 is pierced and has an opening in the shape of a half-ellipse 15. Consequently, in the assembled state, the case is closed at one end and has a shaped opening 16 an ellipse allowing the stick to exit 6.

In the upper wall 10 is cut 17 of a predetermined width and open towards the plane opening P of U. The cut has a shape substantially rectangular. In the assembled state, the cutouts 17 of the two shells form a window 18 of rectangular shape in the upper wall of the case, which extends in the longitudinal direction of this last over most of the length and has a width occupying substantially half of the width of a case shell.

As can be clearly seen in particular in FIG. 7, each shell comprises, below the cutout 17, at a predetermined distance from the remaining part of the upper wall 10, indicated at 20, a wall 21 which extends from the side wall 9, parallel to the wall part 20 up to the opening plane P of shell. The walls 20 and 21 delimit between them a groove 22 for guiding a longitudinal edge of the ribbon 4, as will be explained later.

At a certain distance from the bottom wall 8, each shell has two walls 24, 25 which are parallel to each other and to the wall 8. The two walls 24 and 25 extend from the side wall 9, the wall lower 24 substantially to the middle of the wall 8, the wall 25 being shorter. The two walls define between them a groove 26 which constitutes also a lateral edge guide groove corresponding tape 4. The upper surface 27 of the wall 24, which is free, constitutes a surface of ribbon support. The guide groove 26 opens towards the outside in the end 14 of the hull and is open to the opening hole 15. Referring in Figure 5, we see that the guide groove 26 is relatively close to the bottom wall 8, but extends into the end wall 14 to a depth in the direction of the width, which is greater than the width in this direction, that of the hole 15.

As is clear from Figure 6, at the level of the closed end 13 of each case shell, the wall upper 21 is extended by a curved wall 28 of the same width 21, which joins the narrower lower wall 25. Another curved wall 29 substantially parallel to the wall 28 and the same height as this extends from the appropriate transverse edge from cutout 17 to the lower guide wall 24. Thus, the walls 28 and 29 delimit between them a curved profile slot 30 which communicates at its ends respectively with the guide grooves 22 and 26. As can be seen, then obtains at the end 13 a groove of continuous guidance.

Returning to the end 14 of the case shells, we see that the end wall indicated at 32, in which is performed the opening hole 15 extends obliquely by relative to the bottom wall 8 by forming with it a angle less than 90 °, advantageously around 60 ° in the example shown. Parallel to this wall 32 which constitutes the outer wall, extends inside a parallel wall 33 in extension of the wall 21, up to the bottom wall 8. The opening hole 15 extends also through this wall 33. The walls 32 and 33 are distant from each other so as to form around the opening 15 a groove 35 whose width is chosen such that it can constitute a guide groove for the corresponding longitudinal edge of the ribbon 4. This groove 35 communicates at one end with the guide groove upper 22 and extends at the other end to the bottom wall 8 obliquely crossing the groove of guide 26.

The two shells 2 and 3 are advantageously made by plastic molding, which explains the presence of certain ribs such as those indicated in 37 and 38 and some walls of reinforcement such as the wall 39 arranged at the level of the curved inner wall 28 and delimiting at end level 13 internal space 11. We still recognizes in the figures, that the end 13 is configured to make a grommet suspension or support 40.

To complete the description of the two hulls 2 and 3, we see in Figure 4, they are provided elements of complementary shapes, ensuring their assembly, by the engagement of each other. Thus, the shell 3 has projecting elements 41 engaging in recessed portions 42 provided for in level of the opening plane P of the other shell 2.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, we below will describe the ribbon 4 in greater detail. that the bucket 5 carrying the stick 6, which has, in the example shown, an elliptical shape, is fixed on one end of the ribbon. On the other portion end of the latter are delimited two zones axially aligned, which bear the references 45 and 46. Zone 45 which constitutes the means of closing off the opening 16 of the case, as shown in FIG. 2, has roughness elements on its underside 47 on an elliptical area, while zone 46 door on the underside of projecting elements 48 which extend perpendicular to the direction length of the ribbon and thus provide application of a pushing force without risk of slip of the fingers of a user of the case. In indeed, FIG. 9 shows that the profile of the projections 48 is adapted to the user's fingers, the projections being higher at the ends of the grip 46 than at its center.

The structure of the shells 2 and 3 of the case and the configuration of the ribbon 4, which have just been described, allow easy assembly of these components of case. Indeed, at first, we assemble the two shells 2 and 3 by interlocking tenons assembly 41 in the complementary recesses 42. Then, the two shells are fixed to each other by ultrasonic welding. After the constitution of housing, from the two shells 2 and 3, we introduce the ribbon 4 in the housing, the elements 47, 48 oriented towards the bottom, through the opening 16 and the guide grooves 26 as shown in FIG. 1. Since the ribbon is made of a material flexible but of a certain rigidity, the tape can be inserted by pushing it in the direction of the arrow F. Because the guide grooves of each shell, which are indicated by dashed lines on the Figures 1 and 3 constitute a guideway without discontinuity, the flexibility of the ribbon allows it follow the curves of the guideway. he it should also be noted that the opening 16 of the housing is slightly larger than the dimensions of bucket 5 for allow the passage of it when inserting the ribbon. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, on which the bucket occupies its extreme positions removed and pulled out, respectively, the length of the ribbon 4 is chosen so that in each of the positions, the gripping area 46 is at the level from one end of the window 18 of the case. In the extreme position of withdrawal of the bucket, zone 45 is found in the front end (Figure 2) while in the position of use, zone 45 is at the level of the other end. When the profile is in its retracted position, the front zone 45 of the ribbon close the opening 16, the front edge of the ribbon down into the front guide groove 35 (figure 6), to the bottom wall 8, even crossing the grooves 26. It should also be noted that the width of the grip area 45 is slightly less than the window width 18.

To fix the tape in each of the two positions, practiced in the upper face of the wall upper guide in the area of each end from window 18 or cutout 17 in the wall upper 21 of each shell a transverse groove 51, 52 into which engages a rib 53 provided on the upper side of the ribbon.

Of course various modifications can be to the case structure and to the process which have just been described with reference to the figures. For example, the movement control means of the ribbon could be made as an element attached to the ribbon after its insertion in the housing, in any suitable known manner. In this case, the width of the longitudinal window could to be weaker.

Claims (7)

1. Package for stick of cosmetic, pharmaceutic or the like pasty products, of the type comprising a hollow casing (1) of an elongated shape, closed at one end and opened at the other and having a bottom wall (8), an upper wall (10) and two side walls (9), a socket (5) that carries the stick (6), mounted axially movable in said casing (1) between a position that is retracted therein and a position of use of the package, in which the stick (6) protrudes through the opening (16) of the casing (1), a device for moving the socket (5) between these two end positions, comprising a tape (4) in a flexible material, the socket being fixed at one end of the tape (4), the tape being guided by its longitudinal edges in guiding grooves (26) extending on each side wall along the edges thereof, and carrying, at the other end, outer control means (46) associated with the tape (4) for moving the tape thanks to a longitudinal window (18) in the upper wall (10) of the casing, the length of which corresponds at least to the length of stroke of the socket (5), the free end of the tape being shaped as a means (45) for closing the opening of the casing when the casing occupies its end retracted position, the grooves (26) along the lower edge of the casing open outsidely at the opened end (14) of the casing, the tape (4) being made of a flexible material having a stiffness in its longitudinal direction, which is sufficient for enabling its introduction through this opening by a pushing force (F) exerted on the tape in its insertion direction, characterized in that the guiding grooves (26) open in the passage opening (16) for the stick (6) and extend in the opened end wall (14) up to a depth in direction of the width, which is greater than the width, in this direction, of that of said opening (16) so that the tape (4) can be introduced in the casing (1) after the socket (5) has been fixed thereon.
2. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the tape moving control means is formed by protruding elements (48) on the face of the tape which is visible through the window (18), at the free end of the tape, the window (18) having a width enabling a finger of the package user to attack this area (46) provided with prehensive protruding elements (48).
3. Package according to claim 2, characterized in that the end area of the tape (4) forms the means for closing the opening (16) of the casing, by extending from the upper wall (20) of the casing to the bottom wall (8) behind the opening (16) of the casing.
4. Package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each guiding groove (26) opens outwardly at a place above the bottom wall (8) of the casing, is extended parallel to said bottom wall and opens in the passage opening (16) for the stick.
5. Package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing comprises, beneath the window (18), a wall (21) that extends parallel to the upper wall (20) by delimiting, with the upper wall (20), the upper guiding groove (22) for the tape, the upper face of this wall (21) forming a bearing face for the tape.
6. Package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end wall (32, 33) of the casing, in which is made the passage opening (16) for the stick (6), is advantageously rectilinear but inclined with respect to the bottom wall (8) according to an angle that is smaller than 90°, for facilitating movement of the closing end area (45) of the tape behind this opening (16).
7. Process for assembling the package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in assembling first the casing from two shells (2, 3) and introducing then the tape (4) in the casing through the passage opening (16) for the stick, and the guiding grooves (26) being opened in said opening (16) and extending in the opened end wall (14) up to a depth in direction of the width, which is greater than the width, in this direction, of that of said opening (16).

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