EP1193186A2 - Device for the reversible fixation of a container on a support and container equipped with such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus has sleeve (11) open at one end (12) to receive a container (1) and its other end has openings (21-24) extending from its center and a peripheral airtight lip (26). When a container is in the sleeve, it and the lip together form a suction cup for attaching the apparatus to a support surface. Independent claims are included for the following: (a) A container for a cosmetic product, etc fitted with the above apparatus. (b) Making the above apparatus by injection molding, the injection point being at the geometric center of the base. Preferred Features: The base has three or four identical openings.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of containers, in particular of the type aerosol containers, pump containers, vials, or tubes, as used commonly, especially for the packaging of cosmetic products, such than hair products (hairsprays, styling foams, gels, shampoos, etc.). More specifically, the invention relates to a device capable of reducing the risk such containers fall, when they are placed upright on a support, including plan.

Many cosmetic products are packaged in containers, the dimension is such that, their "reversibility", when placed on a plane work for example is relatively large. Indeed, such packages are generally cylindrical in shape, and are tall relatively large compared to their cross section. This "reversibility" is perceived as a sensitive problem, particularly in the world of hairdressing salons, major consumer of such packaging. In this universe, where the power cords of hair dryers "fly" at above the work surfaces on which the sprays or other containers are placed aerosols, falls are frequent. In addition to the noise caused by such the risk of deterioration of the container, in particular of its distribution, is not inexistent.

We know from document US-A-2 908 473, a bottle, in particular of nails, the bottom of which is equipped with an immobilization device in the form of a annular element of which a peripheral lip is capable of forming a suction cup.

Such a device, when produced by injection, requires having the injection point located on the periphery of the object, that is to say substantially offset by relation to the geometric center of the suction cup device. Therefore, it Opposite the injection point, a weld line results, which line of welding constitutes a zone of weakness. The problem is all the more critical when the material forming the device is a flexible material, and when the device is intended to work under constant mechanical stress (in particular by elastic clamping).

A solution to the problem mentioned above consists in making the device in the form of a cylindrical skirt of which a first end is open, and of which a second end, opposite the first, has a closed bottom. Arises then the problem of demolding the device automatically, the latter forming suction cup effect on the mold core, to the point that it is difficult to separate it from the core.

Document DE 31 44 061 A1 describes a tube, in particular of a cosmetic product the plug of which is configured so as to form a suction cup. Such a solution forces the container to be immobilized upside down, which for many of products, is not desirable. In addition, essentially arises the same problem than that mentioned with reference to document US-A-2,908,473.

Documents US-A-4,955,493 and US-A 4,756,497 are known to the devices immobilizer with suction cup effect, made of at least two pieces mounted one on the other. Such devices are expensive to produce, and relatively complex to position on the container for which they are intended.

Document US-A-2 968 888 describes a support for objects such as soaps or drinks, comprising a part intended to receive said object, and a suction cup part. The suction cup is formed in its entirety by a part of the support. Thus, the support acts as a suction cup, regardless of the presence or absence of the object it is intended to receive. Then arise support handling problems, especially on the production lines or industrial packaging. Indeed, the suction cup tends to adhere on any surface it meets. In addition, there is also the problem of demolding, the solid surface forming a suction cup also tending to adhere to the mold surface.

Also, is it an object of the invention to make a device reversible immobilization of a container on a support, and which resolves all or part of the drawbacks discussed with reference to the documents cited above.

It is in particular an object of the invention to produce such a device, which can be manufactured by injection, and which withstands mechanical stress necessary for mounting and maintaining it on the container for which it is intended.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device allowing significantly improve the stability of a container without having to modify the container itself.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device which is simple and economical to produce.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a stable container improved, equipped with a device according to the invention.

Still other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a device for reversibly immobilize a container, in particular a cosmetic product, on a support (S), said device comprising a portion for mounting the device on the container and a perforated bottom including an edge, in particular peripheral, forms a lip capable of being applied in a sealed manner on the support (S), so as, in cooperation with a portion of the container, to form a suction cup on the support (S), and immobilize the container reversibly on said support (S), said openwork bottom defining at least one opening, each of said openings extending away from the geometric center of said background.

The geometric center means the geometric center or barycenter of the section transverse of the bottom of the device. Preferably, such a bottom is of section circular.

The "suction cup" effect designates the depression generated inside a volume whose a reduction is caused, in particular by compression, thus driving out a corresponding air volume, which, in particular by elastic return of the material forming the walls which delimit it at least in part, tends to resume its state initial in a waterproof universe.

Thus, due to the opening (s) which cross (es) the bottom, the demolding of the device is not a problem. Indeed, it is only when the device is mounted on the container that it is able to form a suction cup. In addition, due to the non-perforated portion opposite the geometric center of the bottom, the injection of the material constituting the device can be done via said geometric center, which allows the material, when injected into the mold, to distribute uniformly and simultaneously all around the injection site without forming weld line subject to break when the device is under mechanical stress permed.

Furthermore, the mounting of the device on the container for which it is intended, is at the both simple and effective. It does not require any special tool. The assembly of the device on the container is reversible, which allows successive use of the same device for multiple containers. The adjustment of the different device parameters (including dimensions and choice of material used) depends to a large extent on the dimensions of the container to be fitted, the surface condition of its outer walls, the solidity required for hanging of the container on the support. Still other elements can be taken into account. consideration for the determination of these performance parameters.

The fact of using a part of the container, in particular the bottom, to delimit in part the volume in which the suction cup effect is achieved, (as opposed to a suction cup which would be delimited in its entirety by the device) makes it possible to reduce appreciably the amount of material necessary for the realization of such device, thereby significantly improving the cost price of the device. In furthermore, it is only once mounted on the object to be stabilized that the device is able to to be fixed, by suction effect, on a support with which it is brought into contact. From this makes, in addition to demolding, the manipulation of the device, in particular on chains industrial production can be facilitated. Finally, the suction cup effect on the support being obtained only by the continuity of the device with the portion container, any propensity for the container to separate from the immobilizer removes this continuity, and by the same token the effect suction cup. Under these conditions, the suction cup device cannot therefore be separate from container.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion comprises a sleeve of which a free edge delimits an opening through which the device is intended to be mounted on the container, one end of the sleeve opposite the free edge forming said perforated bottom. Maintaining the device on the container can be obtained by tightening, in particular elastic, the sleeve on the container.

Very preferably, the openwork bottom delimits at least two openings. The presence of at least two openings creates a "symmetry" around the geometric center. When the latter is used as an injection point, the material is distributed much more evenly, which improves the mechanical resistance of the device.

Preferably, said sleeve is able to grip, in particular by tightening elastic, the container over part of its axial height. Typically, such height is of the order of a few centimeters. Alternatively, the sleeve could be glued, snapped or screwed onto the container.

According to a possible embodiment, the bottom delimits three separate openings by three legs or bridges of material spaced regularly, and arranged at 120 ° relative to each other.

However, preferably, the bottom delimits four separate openings by four legs or bridges of material spaced regularly, and arranged at 90 ° to each other. The more the number of legs or bridges of material the greater the risk of generating lines of weakness, the lower the risk.

Preferably, the device is made at least partly of a material elastomeric whose hardness is between 20 Shore A and 40 Shore D, and preferably between 40 Shore A and 75 Shore A, and the elasticity between 0.5 to 5 MPa, and preferably 0.8 to 2 MPa (tensile stress at 100% elongation).

Advantageously, said elastomeric material is a mixture formed in part of a metallocene catalysis polyethylene, in particular a polyethylene of very low density catalysis. Surprisingly, the plaintiff has discovered that a mixture formed from such a material, in combination with a other base material, examples of which will be given below, allows a automatic demolding of the device. The hardness and elasticity of the material base, with which the metallocene catalysis polyethylene is mixed, are not significantly altered, so that the functionality of the device molding remains as good. In addition, the tear resistance is improved significantly compared to that of the base material (s). Finally, the appearance properties of the base material, in particular its transparency or color, are unchanged.

Preferably, said mixture contains from 5 to 30% of said catalyzed polyethylene metallocene, and preferably from 10 to 20%. As a specific example we use a very low density catalysis polyethylene (0.902), known as trade name EXACT ™. Such a material being less expensive than some of the basic materials that will be discussed below, the overall cost of device is thereby reduced by the same amount.

a) d'EPDM (copolymère d'éthylène de propylène et d'un diène), éventuellement en mélange avec un polypropylène (ex : Santoprène™) ;

b) de SBS (styrène-butadiène séquencé), ou de SEBS (styrène-éthylène-n-buthène séquencé), éventuellement en mélange avec un polypropylène (ex : Téfabloc™ ou Multiflex™) ;

c) de PEBA (polyéther block amide) ou de COPE (élastomère de polyéthylène téréphtalate) ; ou

d) de TPU (polyuréthane thermoplastique).

As examples of materials to be used in combination with metallocene catalyzed polyethylene, mention may be made of materials based on:

a) EPDM (copolymer of ethylene of propylene and a diene), optionally in admixture with a polypropylene (ex: Santoprene ™);

b) SBS (block styrene-butadiene), or SEBS (block styrene-ethylene-n-buthene), optionally in admixture with a polypropylene (eg Tefabloc ™ or Multiflex ™);

c) PEBA (polyether block amide) or COPE (polyethylene terephthalate elastomer); or

d) TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).

Such materials, when used alone are relatively tacky, and therefore done, unmold very automatically. In addition, once removed from the mold, they deform sensibly. Finally, they offer little resistance when are under mechanical stress, and therefore are subject to tearing. Once mixed with the metallocene catalysis polyethylene mentioned above, all of these problems are largely solved.

Advantageously, the container comprises a body, one end of which ends by a bottom, the portion of the container suitable, in combination with the device, for form a suction cup, consisting of all or part of said bottom of the container. according to another possibility, of particular interest in the case of a container consisting of a tube, intended to be placed on a support in upside down position, via a flat surface formed by a plug of the tube, the part of the container capable, in combination with the immobilizer, to form a suction cup, is constituted all or part of the plug.

Preferably, the immobilization device is formed in one piece, made in the same elastomeric material, and obtained by injection of said material elastomeric.

Advantageously, the sealing lip, when it is applied to the support (S), has an outside diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the body of the container. This ensures better stability of the container.

Preferably, the bottom of the device has a profile, in particular concave, capable of follow the profile of the bottom of the container. In practice, such a concave bottom corresponds to a common configuration for aerosol containers, in particular for reasons of resistance to pressure inside the container.

According to another aspect of the invention, a container is also produced, especially a cosmetic product, equipped with a suction cup device according to the invention. Preferably, such a container comprises a body forming a reservoir for said product, and one end of which is closed by a bottom, said bottom, in cooperation with the device, being able to form a suction cup on a support (S).

Such a container can be formed of a tube, a bottle, a pump container, or an aerosol container, in particular for hair product.

a) prévoir un moule dont au moins une empreinte est de géométrie adaptée à la géométrie du dispositif ; et à

b) injecter ledit matériau élastomérique dans ledit moule depuis un point d'injection correspondant au centre géométrique du fond du dispositif.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is carried out for producing the immobilization device according to the invention, and consisting in:

a) providing a mold of which at least one imprint is of geometry adapted to the geometry of the device; and to

b) injecting said elastomeric material into said mold from an injection point corresponding to the geometric center of the bottom of the device.

The resulting part shows a perfect distribution of the material, and is free from brittle lines subject to rupture when the part is under stress mechanical.

• la figure 1 représente une vue éclatée en perspective d'un récipient et d'un dispositif à effet ventouse selon un mode de réalisation préférentiel;
• la figure 2 représente l'ensemble de la figure 1, partiellement coupé, en position immobilisée sur un support ; et
• la figure 3 représente une vue de dessous du dispositif à effet ventouse utilisé dans l'ensemble illustré aux figures 1 et 2.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a container and a suction cup device according to a preferred embodiment;
• Figure 2 shows the assembly of Figure 1, partially cut, in the immobilized position on a support; and
• FIG. 3 represents a bottom view of the suction cup device used in the assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In Figure 2, there is shown an aerosol container 1 resting on a flat surface S, including a worktop in a hair salon. Container 1 includes a cylindrical body 2, surmounted by a valve 3. The valve is equipped a push button 4, able to allow its actuation and the diffusion of the produced through, in particular, an outlet nozzle. The product can be a lacquer styling or spray. The end of the container 1, opposite the valve 3, is closed by an attached base 5 which, for reasons of resistance to pressure prevailing inside the container, is concave in shape. The container can be made in thermoplastic material, in particular in PET or in metal, in particular in aluminum or tinplate. A device is mounted on the bottom of the container invention 10, the function of which is, as will now be seen in detail, to prevent the container 1 from spilling on the surface S.

The device will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1, which shows the assembly of FIG. 2 in an exploded manner, as well as with reference to Figure 3. The device 10 is an element obtained by injecting a material including 20% EXACT ™ and 80% Santoprene ™. The device is opaque, white in color.

According to this particular embodiment, the device is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve of revolution 11, one end of which has a free edge 12 delimiting an opening 13 so as to allow the mounting of the container 10 of the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The internal diameter of the sleeve 11 is, in the absence of stress, slightly lower (of the order of 1 to several mm in material elasticity) to the outside diameter of the container 1 of so as to allow a tight fitting of the sleeve 11 on the body 2 of the container 1. As an indication, the thickness of the walls of the device 10 is approximately 1 mm.

The end of the sleeve, opposite the end of the opening 13 has a bottom 14 of circular cross section. The bottom 14 has an annular portion 15, of concave profile, similar to the profile of the bottom 5 of the container 1, and intended, in position mounted on the container, to match the profile of an annular part correspondent of the bottom 5, with which it comes in intimate engagement. AT the interior of the annular portion 15 is formed a cross part 16, constituted four legs 17, 18, 19, 20, arranged at 90 ° to each other, and delimiting four openings 21, 22, 23, 24. The geometric center of the bottom 14 is located at the junction 25 of the four legs 17-20, and, therefore, is at a distance from the openings 21-24.

The annular element 15 forms at its periphery an annular sealing lip 26, larger in diameter (for example, about 5 mm) than the outside diameter of the sleeve 11. A surface 27 of the sealing lip 26 is intended to be tightly applied to the support S. The surface 27 of the lip 26 forms a curvature of the same orientation as the curvature formed by the annular portion 15 from the bottom 14. The sealing lip 27 is separated from the internal annular wall 15 by an intermediate annular portion 28, forming a U-shaped groove, intended to receive the peripheral edge of the container 1.

The suction cup device 10 appears in more detail in Figures 1 and 3. In these figures, the device 10 is not mounted on a container.

The device 10 is mounted on the container 1 by inserting the bottom of the container 1 through the opening 13 of the sleeve 11, and this, until the peripheral edge of the container 1 comes into engagement in the bottom of the groove in U, 28 of the device 10. A tongue (not shown) can extend the free edge 12 of the sleeve 11 so as to form a grip zone to facilitate the mounting the device 10 on the container 1. In this position, the sleeve 11 is slightly tightening on the body 2 of the container. The tightening achieved by the sleeve 11 on the body 2 of the container, ensures good hold of the device 10 on the container 1.

After mounting the device 10 on the container 1, the operator supports the surface 27 on the support S, thus causing deformation of the lip sealing 26, and the expulsion of a corresponding volume of air. Under the effect of elastic restoring force generated by the elasticity of the material forming the device 10, the deformed portion of the lip 26 tends to return to its initial shape, despite of the seal prevailing inside the volume delimited by the support S, the bottom 14 of the device 10, and the central part of the bottom 5 of the container 1. This creates a depression inside said volume, which depression generates the suction effect suitable for reversibly immobilizing the container 1 on the support S.

To use the container 1, the operator grasps it by the body 2, and rotates it by direction of the support S. The behavior of the device 10 on the support being less than the clamping force of the device 10 on the container, the wall 27 of the lip 26 of the device 10 comes off the support. Device 10 remains integral with the container 1. The latter can then be used in a conventional manner.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (18)

Device (10) for reversibly immobilizing a container (1), in particular of cosmetic product, on a support (S), said device comprising a portion (11) intended to allow the mounting of the device (10) on the container, and an openwork bottom (14), one edge of which forms a lip (26) capable of being applied from sealingly on the support (S), so that, in cooperation with a portion (5) of the container (1), form a suction cup on the support (S), and immobilize reversibly the container (1) on said support (S), said perforated bottom (14) delimiting at least one opening (21-24), each of said openings (21, 24) extending away from the geometric center (25) of said bottom (14). Device (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that the mounting portion (11) comprises a sleeve (11) of which a free edge (12) delimits an opening (13) through which the device is intended to be mounted on the container, one end of the sleeve (11) opposite the free edge (12) forming said perforated bottom Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the perforated bottom (14) delimits at least two openings (21-24). Device (10) according to claim 2 characterized in that said sleeve (11) is capable of enclosing, in particular by elastic clamping, the container (1) over part of its axial height. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said bottom (14) delimits three openings (21-24) separated from each other by three legs (17-20) arranged at 120 ° relative to each other to others. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said bottom delimits four openings (21-24) separated from each other by four tabs (17-20) arranged at 90 ° relative to each other. Device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is made, at least in part, of an elastomeric material whose hardness is between 20 Shore A and 40 Shore D, and preferably, between 40 Shore A and 75 Shore A, and an elasticity between 0.5 to 5 MPa, and preferably, 0.8 to 2 MPa (tensile stress at 100% elongation). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is produced at least in part, in a material consisting of a mixture formed in part of a polyethylene of metallocene catalysis, in particular of a polyethylene very low density catalysis. Device (10) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the said mixture contains from 5 to 30% of the said polyethylene of metallocene catalysis, and preferably from 10 to 20%. Device (10) according to claim 8 or 9 characterized in that said mixture further comprises at least one material based on EPDM (copolymer of ethylene of propylene and of a diene), optionally in mixture with a polypropylene; SBS (block styrene-butadiene), or SEBS (block styrene-ethylene-n-buthene), optionally in admixture with polypropylene; PEBA (polyether block amide); COPE (polyethylene terephthalate elastomer); or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) comprises a body (2) one end of which ends in a bottom (5), the portion of the container (1) suitable, in combination with the device (10), to form a suction cup, consisting of all or part of said bottom (5) of the container (1). Device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is formed from the same material, and obtained by injection of the same material. Device (10) according to claim 11 characterized in that the sealing lip (26), when applied to the support (S), has an outside diameter greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the body (2) of the container (1). Device (10) according to claim 11 characterized in that said bottom (14) has a profile, in particular concave, capable of matching the profile of the bottom (5) of the container (1). Container (1), in particular of cosmetic product, characterized in that it is equipped with a device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims. Container (1) according to claim 15 characterized in that it comprises a body (2) forming a reservoir for said product, and one end of which is closed by a bottom (5), said bottom, in cooperation with the device (10 ), being able to form a suction cup on a support (S). Container (1) according to claim 15 or 16 characterized in that it is formed of a tube, a bottle, a pump container, or an aerosol container, in particular for hair product. Method for manufacturing a device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it consists in: a) providing a mold of which at least one imprint is of geometry corresponding to the geometry of the device (10); and to b) injecting an appropriate material into said mold from an injection point corresponding to the geometric center (25) of the bottom (14) of the device.

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