EP0838177A1 - Applicator unit for nail varnish - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator device (30) comprises a reservoir (4) with a neck (10) delimiting an opening (16) sealed by a removable obturator (26). The neck has a loop portion forming a wiping part (22). The loop portion has an edge (25) which is pivoted by a return spring between two positions. In the first position, under constraint of the obturator the loop is inside the neck. The second inclined position is obtained during withdrawal of the obturator. The obturator is connected to applicator by a rod (34). In the first position the rod is located inside the loop. During withdrawal of the applicator the loop pivots from the first position to the second and its edge wipes the applicator and the rod.

Description

The invention relates to an applicator assembly for a liquid or viscous product usable in particular in the fields of cosmetics, paints or glues. In the field of cosmetics, the product can be a composition of nail polish or a nail care composition, or a red liquid lips.

Typically, a set of nail polish application includes a varnish reservoir provided with an opening and a member for applying this varnish, such as a brush with a tuft of bristles, attached to a first end a rod, the rod being fixed by its other end in a cap serving gripping element for closing the container, so that the tuft of hair is immersed in this varnish when the application assembly is closed.

To ensure proper closure of the assembly, the tank has a neck provided with a first thread which cooperates with a second thread provided in the cap. The neck is generally thick and flat, and fitted with a rod sealing. The rod is held in the cap via a support which includes a sealing plate. This sealing plate is in contact with the neck sealing ring when the application assembly is closed.

To apply the varnish on the nail, the user takes the brush out of the reservoir. impregnated with product. Generally, the brush contains an excess of product. It is therefore necessary to proceed with the elimination of this surplus and for this, the user spins the brush by wiping it on the free end of the neck of the tank. The end of the neck being flat and thick, product will remain on the neck and flow along its outer wall and thus soil its thread. When the user screws the cap back on to close the tank, the product spills onto the neck and in the thread. The product thus forms a fouling after drying of the cap-neck assembly. In future uses, it is then difficult, even impossible, to unscrew the cap of the tank. Of more, the product which is on the neck no longer allows a good sealing of the entire application, because the sealing plate is no longer in sealed contact with the sealing ring on the neck. In addition, due to the range of the plate on the neck, it is no longer possible to make up for the play that forms between the neck and the worn after the first use which further reduces the tightness.

To wipe the brush, before use, it was proposed in document GB-A-2 198 423, to have tabs in the neck which form a collar brush wiping. According to document FR-A-1530702, it has been envisaged to arrange in the neck an annular bowl provided with a central chimney in which the brush is inserted, the brush being wiped on the end free from the chimney. However, these wiping devices are arranged in the bottleneck and are bulky. However, in the sets of application of varnish to commonly used nails, the neck has a small diameter opening which which does not accommodate these wiping devices. Certainly it would be possible increase the diameter of the neck but this would involve modifying the aesthetics vials of varnish, also requiring adapting accessories such as cap with new neck dimensions.

In addition, document US-A-2 815 146 describes a pot intended to contain a liquid such as a paint, a wiping member in the form of an annular loop being arranged in the opening of the pot, loop having a part capable of emerging from opening by elasticity, when the pot lid is removed. So an organ application such as a brush can be wiped on the loop and avoid soiling the edge defining the opening of the pot.

The pot, according to US-A-2 815 146, is not designed to form a ready-to-use assembly. the job, and does not include, in particular associated closing member a enforcement body.

Document DE-A-15 57 355 describes a wiping device for vials of nail polish. According to one embodiment, a wiping tube is suspended elastically in the neck of the bottle, the free end of the tubing emerging from the neck in the open position. In the closed position, the plug pushes said tubing, by axial translation, inside the neck. These measures has the disadvantage that the user, after extracting the brush, must iron the latter in an inclined position relative to the axis of the tubing on the free edge of the tubing. Easy wiping of the brush or the stem of the brush, cannot be ensured by this device. Indeed, to wring out the brush, you must either proceed with a gesture separate from the gesture aimed at removing the brush of the bottle, or significantly modify the extraction gesture to limit switch, wipe the brush between the wiping edge.

The present invention therefore aims to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above.

The object of the present invention is, in particular, to provide a set which allows better wiping of the applicator while avoiding to soil the tank neck, which would inevitably lead to sticking of the cap on the tank neck. The invention allows, in particular, wiping the applicator member, and possibly its stem, with a single gesture when they are extracted from the tank. In addition, thanks to the invention, it is possible to wipe the rod of the brush over substantially all of its length. It also aims to propose means of wiping little bulky, easily accommodated in the neck of the tank, while allowing the user to dose the amount of product he wishes to apply.

The Applicant has discovered, unexpectedly and surprisingly, that such results could be obtained by placing in the neck a loop whose edge upper to wipe the applicator.

The set of applications according to the invention, although recommended for the packaging of nail polish, may be suitable for the application of any other liquid or viscous product, and in particular paints, especially paints and inks for models and for drawings, and glues.

The present invention therefore relates to a set of application of a product liquid or viscous, comprising a reservoir, comprising an axis neck delimiting an opening closed in a removable manner by a shutter member, the neck comprising a wiping member integral with the neck in at least one point by means of an elastically deformable connecting means, said wiping member forming at least one loop portion having an edge able to allow the wiping of an application member, the wiping member being able to pivot by elastic return, from a first position in which, under the constraint of the shutter member, said loop portion is located substantially inside the neck, at a second, inclined position, obtained during the withdrawal of the obturation member, and in which at least a portion of the edge substantially approaches the axis of the neck, According to the invention, the member shutter is connected to the applicator member by a rod which, in the first position, is located inside the loop portion, so that upon removal of the applicator member by a movement substantially in the axis of the neck, in pivoting from the first position to the second, said edge portion causes the wiping of the applicator member, and possibly of the rod.

This wiping member allows the excess product removed from the application member, when wiping on the edge of the loop, to flow into the tank without defile the neck. Furthermore, the loop is not bulky and, thanks to the flexible connection means, can be accommodated in the opening of the neck without obstructing this one. In addition, the arrangement of the loop allows the user to see and control the wiping operation, and therefore to dose the quantity of product in front stay on the applicator after wiping, to obtain an application precise without burrs.

Advantageously, in the second position when the application assembly according to the invention is open (i.e. the applicator member has been removed from the tank and the wiping member is in the rest position), the wiping member is located substantially in an inclined plane, so that an angle is formed between said plane and the normal of the axis of the neck, advantageously ranging from 10 ° to 60 °, and preferably from 30 ° to 50 °.

The elastically deformable connection can allow a spring effect to the organ wiping, then oscillates between a closed position and an open position. This elastic connection also allows automatic wiping of the applicator member loaded with product during the extraction of said applicator member from the neck. he it should be noted that when the applicator member has come out of the neck with a single gesture by said substantially axial movement, the wiping of the rod and the organ application is carried out so that it is not necessary to carry out a separate wiping gesture from extraction gesture.

According to the invention, the wiping member can be a ring or a portion of Ring. This shape allows for a small wiping member and easily fit into the opening of the neck, while occupying a low space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the neck is provided with an edge upper part and at least part of the wiping member is located above the upper edge of the neck. The user will preferably wipe the organ of application on the highest part of the wiping member, which makes the easier and more precise wiping operation, advantageously, said part the highest being located near the longitudinal axis of the assembly. This arrangement allows easy wiping under good ergonomic conditions. In particular, the wiping operation is carried out without appreciable modification of the movement of extraction of the applicator member.

When the application assembly is closed, that is to say when the organ application is maintained on the tank, the wiping member is then located in a plane perpendicular to the X axis.

Advantageously, the wiping member can be linked, by the connecting means elastically deformable, to holding means fixed on the neck. he can include, for example, a tube forcibly mounted in the opening of the neck. According to another variant, the holding means, in the form of a tube, can be produced by winding of a rigid wire. In this case, the wiping member can be formed by a loop of said rigid wire, in continuity with the winding forming the tube.

The means for holding the wiping member may comprise, on its part upper, a rim intended to bear on the upper edge of the neck, thus ensuring good fixing of the holding means and of the wiping member in the opening of the neck.

The applicator member can be a brush, a foam, a feather, a plastic flocked or molded plastic.

When the applicator member is a brush, this consists of a tuft of bristles, the bristles being capable of being made of any known material and in any known form of the skilled person.

The application set of the invention is perfectly suited to the conditioning of a nail polish. Also, the invention also relates to a set of application of a nail varnish comprising a reservoir, comprising a neck and a gripping element carrying a submerged applicator member, in the storage position, in the product contained in the tank, the neck defining an opening of the tank, characterized in that the neck comprises in the opening a wiping member as defined above.

La figure 1 est une vue éclatée d'un ensemble d'application conforme à une première variante de l'invention ;

La figure 2 est une vue partielle axiale du goulot de l'ensemble d'application de la figure 1 ;

La figure 3 est une vue partielle axiale du goulot de l'ensemble d'application de la figure 1 ;

La figure 4 est une vue partielle éclatée du goulot d'un ensemble d'application conforme à une deuxième variante de l'invention ;

La figure 5 est une vue en élévation d'un ensemble d'essuyage conforme à une troisième variante de l'invention ;

La figure 6 est une vue en élévation d'un ensemble d'essuyage conforme à une quatrième variante de l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be more explicitly discussed below, with reference to examples of embodiments described with reference to the appended figures, which are not in no way limiting.

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an application assembly according to a first variant of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial axial view of the neck of the application assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial axial view of the neck of the application assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial exploded view of the neck of an application assembly according to a second variant of the invention;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a wiper assembly according to a third variant of the invention;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a wiper assembly according to a fourth variant of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 attached, we can see a set application designated by reference 2, comprising a reservoir 4 having a longitudinal axis X of symmetry and a cap 6. The reservoir substantially cylindrical contains a liquid or viscous product 8 to be applied, which can be example a composition of nail polish. The tank is usually in glass.

The reservoir 4 comprises a neck 10 provided with an internal wall 12, a wall external 13 comprising a thread 14, and an opening 16 which comprises a wiping element 18. This element 18 comprises a cylindrical skirt 20 open at its two ends 21, 23 and a ring 22. The skirt 20 is mounted at force in the opening 16 of the neck 10. The ring 22 includes an upper edge 25 and is connected to the upper end 21 of the skirt 20 by a tongue 24 constituting an elastically deformable flexible connection means. The element wiping 18 is made in one piece, in particular plastic or metal.

As best seen in Figure 2, the ring 22 is in the form of a flat circular ring located substantially in a plane P and has an edge higher 25.

The cap 6 includes a cylindrical sleeve 26 serving as a grip whose internal wall is provided with a thread 28 complementary to the thread 14 of the neck 10. The cap 6 also includes a member application 30 which is in the present case a brush comprising a tuft of bristles 32 fixed to the free end 34a of a rod 34. The other end 34b of the rod is fixed to a bottom 7 in the cap 6.

When the application assembly is closed as shown in Figure 3, the cap 6 is screwed onto the reservoir 4. The ring 22 is held by the bottom 7 of the cap 6 so that the plane P of the ring is substantially perpendicular to the X axis of the tank. The ring 22 fits entirely in the opening 16 of the neck 10. Thus, it does not protrude from the neck 10 when application assembly 2 is closed.

When the user wishes to apply product 8, he unscrews the cap 6 and takes the brush 32 out of the reservoir. The ring 22 is no longer in contact with the bottom 7 of the cap. The tongue 24 being flexible and elastically deformable, it allows the ring 22 a pivoting movement by bending of this tab 24 so that the ring 22 thus released is then in a position such that the plane P is inclined at an angle α with the axis X, as visible on Figure 2. For example, α can advantageously be equal to 40 ° for a neck 10 mm in diameter.

The brush 30 taken out of the reservoir contains an excess of product. To eliminate this excess, the user wipes the brush on the upper edge 25 of the ring 22, this edge being advantageously located near the X axis, and therefore near of the brush rod during its extraction. During this wiping operation, the brush remains substantially oriented along the X axis, which is an advantage of ergonomics point of view (see also figure 2). The excess product removed then goes flow into the tank. Thus, the excess eliminated does not flow along the outer wall of the neck 10 and does not contaminate the thread 14. In addition, the emergence of the ring 22 of the reservoir allows the user to see the wiping operation: the user can therefore visually dose the quantity of product which remains on the brush after wiping.

When the user has finished applying the product to the surface to be treated, he re-screws the cap 6 on the neck 10 of the tank. The ring 22 is then in contact with the bottom 7 of the cap 6 and pivots by bending the tongue 24 so that when the cap 6 is screwed onto the neck 10, the plane P of the ring 22 is substantially perpendicular to the X axis. Thus, the ring 22 returns to the position before it used application set 2, when it is closed.

Figure 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the wiping element according to the invention. The differences relate essentially to the embodiment.

Thus, the skirt 20 of the wiping element 18 is formed by a winding cylindrical of a wire 36, for example of metal or plastic. The ring 22 is formed in continuity of the winding by a turn 23 of said wire and connected to it by a small portion of wire 24, this portion forming a connecting means 24 flexible and elastically deformable. The wiping element 18 operates from the same way as that described for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, one can see other alternative embodiments of the wiping element of the application assembly according to the invention. The differences relate essentially to the shape of the wiping member.

Thus, the wiping member 22 of FIG. 5 comprises a core 38, one of which first end 38a is fixed to the flexible tongue 24 and elastically deformable, the second end 38b comprising a hoop 40 provided with an edge upper 25 allowing the wiping of the brush. The core 38 and the arch 40 are arranged substantially in the plane P.

In FIG. 6, the wiping member 22 is formed by a portion of the ring of the Figure 1. This shape reduces the size of the wiping member in the opening of the neck.

The wipers shown in Figures 5 and 6 work the same as that described for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Claims (11)

Application set for a liquid or viscous product (8), comprising a tank (4), comprising a neck (10) of axis (X) delimiting an opening (16) removably closed by a closure member (26), the neck comprising a wiping member (22) integral with the neck (10) in at least one point by means of an elastically deformable connecting means (24), said wiping member (22) forming at least one loop portion (22, 40) having an edge (25) capable of allowing the wiping of an applicator member (30), the wiping member (22) being able to pivot by elastic return, of a first position in which, under the constraint of the shutter member (26), said loop portion is located substantially inside the neck (10), at a second position, inclined, obtained during removal of the shutter member, and in which at least a portion of the edge (25) approaches substantially the axis (X) neck, characterized in that the closure member (26) is connected to the member application (30) by a rod (34) which, in the first position, is located the inside of the loop portion, so that when removing the organ application (30) by a movement substantially in the axis (X) of the neck, in pivoting from the first position to the second, said edge portion causes the wiping of the applicator member, and possibly of the rod. Application assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second position, the loop portion (22, 40) is located substantially in a plane (P), inclined at an angle a ranging from 10 ° to 60 °. Application set according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle α ranges from 30 ° to 50 °. Application set according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the neck is provided with an upper edge and at least part of the wiping member is located above the edge top of the neck. Application set according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that in the first position, the organ wiping is located substantially in a plane (P) perpendicular to the axis (X). Application set according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that the wiping member is linked, by the means of elastically deformable connection, to holding means (20) fixed on the neck. Application set according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding means comprise a tube (20) forcibly mounted in the opening of the neck. Application set according to claim 7, characterized in that the tube is formed of a wire (36) wound and that the wiping member is formed by the extension (23) of the wire. Application set according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that the elastically connecting means deformable is a tongue (24). Application set according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that the applicator member is a brush. Assembly for applying a nail varnish, characterized in that it is according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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