EP0933040A2 - Improved cover for a lip stick - Google Patents

Abstract

Fixed to the cover (5), a ring (6) with a flexible free edge (16) forms the coupling with the collar (4). The ring has a circular cheek (9) defining an annular clearance (10) between the free edge and the cover. The ring can be deformed resiliently during coupling onto the collar, to seal the tube tightly. A reverse arrangement (ring on the collar) is feasible.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of lipstick.

STATE OF THE ART

As is known, the lipstick tubes are usually composed of a basic body, support of the lipstick pencil or stick, can be projected outside by means of a drive mechanism helical, this set being completed by a cover can be coupled, by pressure, to the mouth of the body, cover which basically protects the lipstick holder and the pencil itself, while aesthetically finishing the tube as a whole.

PROBLEM

There is a need for lipstick tubes, designed and structured to achieve closure absolutely tight cover and tube body in order to avoid the loss of components as well volatiles participating in the formulation of red to lips that contamination of the latter by airborne particles causing odors that could affect negatively the benefits of said lipstick.

To obtain the appropriate stability of the cover by relation to the body, the latter generally includes the receiving area of the mouth of the lid, small external projections which force said cover to undergo a slight elastic deformation with the resulting "clamp" effect on the body, which stabilizes the union between the two elements.

This fixing system implies that there remains, between the aforementioned protrusions, hollows which, although they are reduced in size, establish the communication between the inside and the outside of the tube, with the previously exposed problem concerning loss of volatile components involved in the formulation of lipstick and contamination of said lipstick by its environment.

A seemingly obvious solution to this problem would be to establish a perfect fit between the cover and body, solution which, in addition to being difficult to achieve in practice, would require exert excessive force during operations extracting and replacing said cover, which in turn would make tubing an inconvenient product to use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the lipstick tube (20) comprises a cover (5) to be coupled by pressure to a neck (4) emerging axially from the body (1) of the tube, and is characterized in that it comprises a ring (6), fixed to said cover (5) or to said neck (4), having a free, flexible end (16), constituting the coupling means, respectively, to said neck (4) of the tube body or to said cover (5) made of a rigid material, said ring (6) comprising a circular rebate (9) defining a space annular (10) between the free end (16) of said ring (6) and, respectively, said cover (5) or said collar (4), towards which said ring can be elastically deformed when it mates, respectively, to said neck (4) or to said cover (5), to effect a sealed closure of said tube (20).

The lipstick tubes proposed by the invention constitute an improvement solving the problem previously exposed, allowing coupling completely sealed between the cover and the body and without implying manufacturing problems or subsequent handling, and allowing a very simple coupling and uncoupling of said cover, the level of tightness remaining for the entire duration of use of said tube, despite a very large number of mating cycles / uncoupling during this time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows, according to a projection view lateral and in diametral section, a tube of red to lips whose cover is made in accordance with improvements which are objects of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the previous figure, at the coupling zone from the cover to the body. In this modality of the invention, the ring (6) is integral with the cover (5).

Figure 3, similar to Figure 2, shows a tube variant in which the tight closure is provided by circular ribs (18).

Figure 4, similar to Figure 2, shows a another modality of the invention in which the ring (6) is integral with the body (1) of the tube, said ring (6) can be located either outside or inside the body (1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, said ring (6) can be fixed to said cover (5), typically inside said cover, the free, flexible end (16) of said ring (6) constituting the means for coupling to said neck (4), said ring (6) comprising an external circular rebate (9), near its free end, which defines an annular space (10) between said ring (6) and said cover (5) of rigid nature, towards which the free end (16) of said ring (6) can be elastically deformed when it is coupled to the neck (4) of the body of the tube (1), to produce a sealing of said tube (20).
Said coupling between the free end (16) and the neck (4) takes place over a height typically between 3 and 20 mm.

Said rebate (9) determines a deformation margin sufficient for the end (16) of said ring (6), the diameter of which can be perfectly adjusted, or slightly smaller than the collar (4) of the tube body, deforms when coming into contact with the latter, undergoing a very slight increase in diameter, but quite sufficient so that the coupling between the two parts is perfectly waterproof.

The ring (6) can also be fixed outside the cover (5). In this case, the ring is tightly fixed to the cover.
This alternative embodiment has not been shown in a figure. However, it would correspond to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, by reversing the references (1) and (5) on the one hand, and (4) and (17) on the other hand, that is to say by making play the body (1) the role of the cover (5) and vice versa.

According to the invention, the flexible end (16) of said ring (6) may have an internal diameter slightly lower than that of the neck (4) of the body (1), so that its coupling to the latter causes a deformation radial of said ring (6), since the edge (11) of the neck (4) is rounded and that the end (7) of the flexible part (16) of the ring (6) has a flared mouth (12) to facilitate the start of said coupling, as shown in Figure 2.

Said ring (6) can fit snugly in a staggered and circular rebate (13) of the internal surface of the cover (5), affecting the latter over a greater or lesser length (typically over a length ranging from 15 to 40 mm).
The ring (6), which remains perfectly stable inside the cover (5), in a staggered rebate (13) of said cover, can extend to a greater or lesser distance from the closed end of the cover , said ring also being able to be closed by one of its ends, by adapting as well to the side wall as to the wall of the bottom of the lid proper, without this affecting the essence of the invention , in the same way that the embodiment of the sealed fixing between the two elements, the cover itself and the ring, does not affect it either, fixing which can be carried out simply by adjustment and pressure, with the collaboration of an adhesive, a heat seal or by any other means.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, said ring (6) can be fixed to said neck (4) of said body (1), inside or outside of said neck (4), the free end (16) , flexible, of said ring (6) constituting the coupling means to said cover (5), said ring (6) comprising a circular rebate (9), near its free end, which defines an annular space (10) between said free end (16) and said neck (4), towards which said free end (16) can be resiliently deformed when it is coupled to said cover (5), in order to produce a tight closure.
This method is shown in Figure 4.
In a manner analogous to that which was indicated for the preceding modality, the flexible end (16) of said ring (6) may have a diameter chosen with respect to that of said cover (5), so that its coupling to the latter causes a radial deformation of said flexible end (16) of said ring (6), since it has been provided that the edge (110) of the cover is rounded and that the end (7) of the flexible end (16) has a flared or bevelled mouth (12) to facilitate the start of mating.
Similarly, said ring (6) can fit snugly in a circular rebate (15) of the internal or external surface of said neck (4), the latter possibly extending over a more or less long length of said body (1 ).
When said ring (6) is housed in an outer rabbet of said neck, it is then fixed in leaktight manner to said neck, typically by force fitting.
Typically, said neck (4) can extend over a length, or height of tube between 10 and 40 mm.
According to a variant of this modality, said cover (5) may have a thinned end (17), but not flexible, cooperating during said coupling with a coupling rebate (90) of said ring, said thinned end (17) and said coupling rabbet (90) being typically of the same thickness, so as to obtain surface continuity, interior or exterior, depending on whether said circular rebate (15) is located, respectively, inside or outside said neck (4). This method has been shown in Figure 4.

It is important to note that, in particular according to desired aesthetic effects, the ring (6) may be either substantially hidden if it is placed at inside the tube, the rebate (15) being at the inside of said neck (4), which is largely visible if it is placed outside the tube, and in this case, it may, in particular by its color clean contribute to the aesthetics of the tube.

Whatever the method of the invention, the thickness of said free end (16) of said ring can range from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, the seal decreasing if said end is too rigid or too stiff.
This thickness range makes it possible to ensure both the tightness of the tube and an opening / closing of the tube which requires only the usual minimal effort with this type of tube.
Said flexible material constituting said ring can be chosen from PE, PP, polyacetals, but preferably from polyacetals.
Said rigid material can be chosen from ABS, SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer).

According to a variant of the invention, said end flexible (16) may include circular ribs (18) ensuring said tight closure, as shown in Figure 3. It is also possible to place said rib (18), not on said flexible end (16), as shown in the figure 3, but on the part of the neck (4) or of the cover (17) cooperating with said flexible end (16) in view to ensure said tight closure.

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

• d'une part la variante dans laquelle ladite bague (6) est située à l'intérieur du tube,
• d'autre part, la variante dans laquelle ladite bague (6) est située à l'extérieur du tube.

Dans tous ces essais, les corps de tubes (1), dotés d'un fond (3) et contenant le mécanisme de support (2) et de déplacement du tube de rouge à lèvres (non représenté sur les figures), présentaient le même diamètre intérieur, de manière à pouvoir utiliser les mêmes mécanismes intérieurs.Tubes were made according to Figure 1, 70 mm high.
Tubes were produced on the one hand according to said first method illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Two variants of tubes were also produced according to said second method illustrated in FIG. 4:

• on the one hand, the variant in which said ring (6) is located inside the tube,
• on the other hand, the variant in which said ring (6) is located outside the tube.

In all these tests, the tube bodies (1), provided with a bottom (3) and containing the mechanism for supporting (2) and moving the lipstick tube (not shown in the figures), had the same internal diameter, so that the same internal mechanisms can be used.

Said ring (6) was chosen from polyacetal with a thickness of the end (16) chosen equal to 0.5 mm. The body (1) and the cover (5) have been made in ABS.

Tests performed with lipstick sticks containing volatile products have shown that indeed the lipstick sticks had not tend to dry like those packaged in standard tubes according to the prior art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

• d'une part elle résout d'une manière simple et efficace le problème de l'étanchéité des tubes de rouge à lèvres,
• d'autre part, elle divulgue un concept ouvert sur un grand nombre de variantes et de modalités pratiques qui permettent une grande différentiation des tubes chez les clients tout en conservant le même effet technique relatif à l'étanchéité du tube,
• enfin, elle résout le problème posé sans avoir à modifier les mécanismes de support des bâtons de rouge à lèvres, de sorte que l'invention peut utiliser des mécanismes standards.

The invention has several advantages:

• on the one hand it solves in a simple and effective way the problem of the sealing of the lipstick tubes,
• on the other hand, it discloses a concept open to a large number of variants and practical methods which allow great differentiation of the tubes for customers while retaining the same technical effect relating to the tightness of the tube,
• finally, it solves the problem posed without having to modify the support mechanisms for the lipstick sticks, so that the invention can use standard mechanisms.

Claims (13)

Lipstick tube (20) including a cover (5) to be coupled by pressure to a neck (4) emerging from axially of the body (1) of the tube, characterized in that it comprises a ring (6) fixed to said cover (5) or to said neck (4), having a free end (16), flexible, constituting the coupling means, respectively, to said neck (4) of the body of the tube or to said cover (5) made of a rigid material, said ring (6) comprising a circular rebate (9) defining a annular space (10) between the free end (16) of said ring (6) and, respectively, said cover (5) or said collar (4), towards which said ring can be elastically deformed when coupling, respectively, to said neck (4) or to said audit cover (5), for sealing of said tube (20). The tube of claim 1 wherein said ring (6) is fixed to said cover (5), typically at the interior of said cover, the free end (16), flexible, of said ring (6) constituting the means coupling said cover (5) to said neck (4) rigid, said end (16) of said ring (6) comprising an outer circular rebate (9), close its free end (7), which defines a space annular (10) between said ring (6) and said cover (5) of rigid nature, towards which the end free (16) of said ring (6) can be deformed by elastic manner when coupled to the neck (4) the body of the tube (1), to make a closure sealed from said tube (20). Tube according to claim 2 wherein the flexible end (16) of said ring (6) has an internal diameter slightly smaller than that of the neck (4) of the body (1), so that its coupling to it last causes a radial deformation of the end (16) of said ring (6), since it has been provided that the edge (11) of the neck (4) is rounded and that the ring has a flared mouth (12) for facilitate the start of said coupling. Tube according to any of claims 2 to 3 wherein said ring (6) fits snugly in a staggered and circular rebate (13) of the inner surface of the cover (5), affecting the latter over a greater or lesser length, said ring (6) may extend to the bottom of the cover (5), or even close its background, like the latter, by configuring a bowl. The tube of claim 1 wherein said ring (6) is fixed to said neck (4) of said body (1), inside or outside of said neck (4), the end free (16), flexible, of said ring (6) constituting the means for coupling said tube body (1) to said rigid cover (5), said ring (6) comprising a circular rebate (9), near its free end, which defines an annular space (10) between said free end (16) and said neck (4), towards which said free end (16) can be deformed by elastic way when it mates to said audit cover (5), for sealing. Tube according to claim 5 wherein the flexible end (16) of said ring (6) has a diameter chosen relative to that of said cover (5), so that its coupling to the latter causes a radial deformation of said end (16) of said ring (6), since it has been provided that the edge (110) of the cover is rounded and that the end (7) of the ring has a mouthpiece flared or beveled (12) to facilitate the start of mating. Tube according to any of claims 5 to 6 wherein said ring (6) fits snugly in a circular rebate (15) of the surface internal or external of said neck (4), the latter possibly extend over a greater or lesser length of said body (1). The tube of claim 7 wherein said cover (5) has a tapered end (17) cooperating during said coupling with a rebate coupling (90) of said ring, so as to obtain surface continuity, internal or external, depending on whether said circular rebate (15) is housed, respectively, inside or outside said collar (4). Tube according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the thickness of said free end (16) of said ring ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm. Tube according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the flexible material constituting said ring, is chosen from PE, PP, polyacetals. The tube of claim 10 wherein said flexible material is preferably chosen from polyacetals. Tube according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said rigid material is chosen from ABS, SAN. Tube according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said flexible end (16) includes circular ribs (18) ensuring said closure waterproof.

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