Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D40/00—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks
  • A45D40/0087—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks for samples
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D34/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
  • A45D34/04—Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a reservoir and applicator system capable of containing a composition of the cosmetic composition type and of allowing its application to the surface of the skin.
• the system is intended, in particular but not exclusively, to contain samples of cosmetic compositions in liquid or pasty form.
• composition samples are generally produced by hermetically enclosing the composition between two plasticized sheets heat-sealed together.
• a notch is generally provided in the welded part so as to allow the tearing of part of the reservoir.
• a first object of the present invention is to provide a reservoir and applicator system integral with said reservoir to avoid to have to apply the composition with the fingers or to use an auxiliary applicator.
• the reservoir and applicator system capable of containing a composition of the cosmetic composition type, is characterized in that it comprises a single element of compressible material in which a cavity is formed forming reservoir capable of receiving said composition, said single element having a first end and, a second end forming said applicator, the application surface of which is constituted by. outer wall of said second end and in that said cavity is extended by a channel opening into said second end, whereby said composition is capable of being transferred from said reservoir to said application surface to be applied.
• said single element of compressible material has an external surface whose properties are compatible with the surface of the skin and the coating of a cosmetic composition.
• the friction of the applicator against the skin must provide a feeling of softness or at the very least not provide any unpleasant sensation.
• An essential characteristic of the invention is therefore to use a material having both the sealing properties necessary for the storage of said composition and the surface properties necessary for the application to the skin of said composition. Furthermore, when the reservoir is formed and it is full, the opening of said channel opening into said second end must be able to be released easily.
• said second end further comprises a piece of peelable protection on said application surface capable of protecting it and of sealing said channel.
• the channel opening directly into the application surface is closed by said protective part which also protects the application surface from dust. It is understood that during use, the protective part is detached from the second end and that the composition of the reservoir is extracted and brought to the application surface by pressure on said single element.
• said second end forming said applicator is sectionable to release said channel and said application surface.
• the application surface appears during the cutting of the second end of said single element, which cutting also frees the channel which extends at least to the cutting plane.
• said cavity is extended to open into said first end so that said composition is capable of being introduced into said reservoir by said first end, and in that said first end further comprises a plug element capable of sealing said tank.
• said single element has a first open end corresponding to the extension of the tank, capable of being closed by a plug after filling the tank.
• the plug-forming element is generally irreversibly sealed on the first end of the single element since the assembly is generally discarded after the first use.
• said single element of compressible material is of cylindrical shape and made of polyurethane foam.
• this material has surface properties capable of allowing its application on the skin and properties intrinsic compressibility and impermeability corresponding to the intended application.
• said second end is defined by a plane that is not orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said single element so as to increase the application surface of said applicator.
• a second object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a reservoir and applicator system capable of containing a composition of the cosmetic composition type, comprising the following steps: - a single element made of compressible material having a first end and a second end;
• a characteristic of the process resides in the production of the reservoir and of the applicator from a single element in which cavities forming reservoir and channel are formed.
• the single element is drilled axially so as to provide a reservoir cavity and to form a smaller diameter channel which extends the reservoir and opens into the second end.
• the method for producing the reservoir and applicator system is characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
• - Said single element is compressed perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in at least part of its volume; - Said single element is longitudinally drilled by means of a drilling tool with constant diameter, at least in said part of its compressed volume, whereby we obtain, after having stopped compressing said element, a cavity whose diameter is greater than said channel which extends it and which opens into said second end.
• the material density of the compressed volume is greater than the density of the other uncompressed volumes, and when the compressed volume is drilled the amount of material extracted is therefore greater than the amount of material extracted from the other volumes.
• the previously compressed cavity is wider than the cavity provided in the uncompressed volumes.
• the method of producing the reservoir and applicator system is characterized in that said single element is drilled longitudinally from said first end by means of a drilling tool having a first part of diameter smaller than a second part, so as simultaneously to form said channel opening into said second end and said reservoir opening into said first end.
• the drilling of the reservoir is carried out at one time by a drill having two parts of different diameters so as to drill both the reservoir and the channel which extends it.
• this characteristic of the process has an advantage in the case where the reservoir is filled from the first end of said single element.
• FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section showing the reservoir and applicator system according to a first embodiment
• FIG. 2 is a partial view in longitudinal section showing a step in producing the system according to the first embodiment
• FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the reservoir and applicator system obtained after transformation of the single element according to the step shown in Figure 2
• - Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the system reservoir and applicator according to a second embodiment
• - Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a step in making the system as shown in Figure 4
• - Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the reservoir and applicator system according to invention according to a third embodiment.
• FIG. 1 to describe the essential constituent elements of the reservoir and applicator system according to the invention.
• the reservoir and applicator system shown vertically, consists of a single element of compressible material 10, of generally cylindrical shape.
• the compressible material is a polyurethane foam or a polyethylene foam.
• These closed cell foams are chosen for their flexibility, compressibility and also for their extreme softness to the touch. This last characteristic is important in view of the fact that said single element is intended to be applied to the face and that it must, preferably, provide a pleasant sensation. Closed cell foams have the advantage of being waterproof. Thus, they are capable of hermetically containing liquid or pasty compositions.
• the single element 10 has a cavity 12 forming a reservoir, the base of which is located near the first end 14 of the single element 10 and containing a composition of the cosmetic composition type.
• the cavity 12 is extended by a channel 16 opening into the second end 18 of the single element 10 which constitutes the applicator.
• the second end 18 forming the applicator has an application surface 20 into which the channel 16 opens and onto which a protective part 22 is glued.
• the protective part 22 consists of a peelable self-adhesive label having the double function of protecting the application surface 20 and of obstructing the channel 16.
• At least part of this composition is transferred via the channel 16 onto the application surface 20 and, while maintaining the second end 18 forming an applicator so as to bring the application surface 20 against the skin, the composition is capable of being spread by actuating the second end 18 along a plane parallel to the mean plane of the surface of the skin.
• FIG. 2 Reference will now be made to FIG. 2 to describe the process for producing the reservoir and applicator system in accordance with the description given above.
• the single element of compressible material 10 is enclosed in a jaw device 24 which compresses it perpendicular to its longitudinal axis in a lower part 26, near the first end 14.
• the single element 10 is drilled longitudinally along its main axis, from its second end, by means of a drilling tool 28.
• the single element 10 is thus drilled over its entire length, including the lower part 26 but with the exception of the first end 14. Obviously, drilling is carried out in the central part of the single element 10 and at a sufficient distance from the external surface to constitute a resistant and impermeable wall to the composition which will be introduced inside the cavity.
• the piercing tool 28 can comprise helical threads with sharp lips and be actuated in rotation in order to drill the single element 10, but it can also consist of a heating part, which causes the piercing by burning the foam.
• the single element 10 is released from the jaw device 24 and has the shape as shown in FIG. 3.
• the cavity 12 corresponds to the lower part 26 which has been compressed and of which larger quantities of material have been removed due to compression.
• the cavity 12 is wider than the upper cavity 16 corresponding to an uncompressed part and forming the channel.
• the reservoir and the channel are produced in a single operation by a drilling tool with constant diameter, which represents a simplification of the process.
• the cosmetic composition is introduced through the channel 16 which opens into the application surface 20 by means of a pipette or a small diameter pipe under pressure so as to fill the reservoir 12.
• the reservoir system and applicator is closed by sticking a label on the application wall 20.
• FIG. 4 Reference will now be made to FIG. 4 to describe the constituent elements of a reservoir and applicator system according to another embodiment.
• the plug member 30 also constitutes a means for vertically placing the system on a surface. Furthermore, it constitutes a good support for sticking any label intended to inform the user about the nature of the composition.
• the plug-forming element could also be inserted in the extension of the cavity 12 to obstruct it, but it would not then fulfill the functions previously listed.
• the second end 18 of the single element 10 is defined by a plane not orthogonal to the axis of said single element 10. This configuration makes it possible to obtain a second end 18 forming an applicator whose application surface 20 is more important than in the case of an orthogonal surface. The increase in the application surface allows in certain cases a better application of the composition to the skin without having to use another applicator.
• the channel 16 is obstructed by a protective piece 22, covering the application surface 20, which, of course, does not have the same shape.
• the single element 10 is drilled longitudinally over its entire length by means of a drilling tool 32 having two parts of different diameters. At its end the tool
• the reservoir 12 is formed by the body 36 of the tool which also passes through the first end 14 of the single element 10.
• the tool can also be a drill or a heating part.
• the second end 18 into which the channel 16 opens is covered with the removable protective part in order to obstruct the channel 16. Then, the reservoir is filled and is then closed by the plug-forming element.
• the method for producing the reservoir and applicator system previously described is suitable for being implemented in order to produce a reservoir and applicator system, in accordance with the invention, according to another particular embodiment as shown in Figure 6.
• Figure 6 we find the single element of compressible material 10 in which the reservoir 12 is hollowed out, the latter extending into the first end 14 and being closed by the plug-forming element 30.
• the reservoir 12 also extends through a channel 16 opening into the second end 18.
• the end of the channel 16 is blind and does not open outside the single element 10.
• the second end 18 has a cut-off primer 38 of which the sectioning plane intersects said channel 16.
• the channel 16 opens into an application surface corresponding to the plane sectioning.
• the composition is extracted and applied in the same way as in the previous embodiments.
• the reservoir and applicator system according to this particular embodiment can be produced according to the method described above.
• the single element is drilled longitudinally from the first end without passing through said element right through and so as to drill a channel in the second end, the end of which is blind. Then, a cut-off primer is made in the second end to allow its cutting.

Landscapes

• Coating Apparatus (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Media Introduction/Drainage Providing Device (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Cosmetics (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8850833

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2000
  • 2000-05-31 FR FR0006985A patent/FR2809602B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-05-30 AT AT01940636T patent/ATE295695T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-05-30 WO PCT/FR2001/001674 patent/WO2001091599A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-05-30 AU AU2001274153A patent/AU2001274153A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-05-30 DE DE60110907T patent/DE60110907D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-05-30 JP JP2001587620A patent/JP4010813B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-05-30 US US10/276,297 patent/US6883992B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-05-30 EP EP01940636A patent/EP1284616B1/de not_active Revoked

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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