EP1759609B1 - Applicator with teeth - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a zone having a slotted outer circumference, and a base having a passage (13) which permits a communication of a container (16) containing a product with a distribution opening (3) of the base. A set of notches (4) has an end integrated to the base and projects on an external edge (7) of the opening. The base has a tapered portion (23) extending until an external border (9) of the edge (7) so that the passage extends partly inside a volume delimited by the portion. The base has a sealing skirt (22) which is in sealing contact with an internal edge of a neck (19).

Description

The present invention relates to sets for dispensing a product, and in particular a cosmetic product. The invention is particularly suitable for the application to the hair of hair coloring products in the form of foam, gel, paste or cream.

"Cosmetic product" means a product as defined in Council Directive 93/35 / EEC of 14 June 1993.

Numerous sets are known comprising a container and an application part provided with teeth, at the base of which open out openings for dispensing on the hair the product contained in the container. We can cite in particular the patent application French FR-A-2,782,614 describing an example of a device comprising two rows of extreme teeth, rectilinear, with between them an intermediate row of teeth of lesser height.

Documents are also known US-2005184091 and US 6688314 endpieces for mounting on vials, these endpieces having a plurality of dispensing orifices, each dispensing orifice being surrounded by a row of spikes provided to comb the locks of hair when the endpiece is engaged with a wick of hair in order to coat it with the product contained in the bottle.

There is a need to further improve such sets, in particular to allow application of product in locks on a hair to be treated. Indeed, when a user applies itself the product wick, she wants to be able to selectively apply the product on the identified locks, without the product overflowing the rest of the hair. This result is difficult to obtain insofar as a wick consists of a limited number of capillary fibers, which do not allow to retain by capillary a large volume of product between them.

The application devices known from the state of the art do not allow precise dosing of the amount of product released on the hair. It is then frequent that the product drips at the end of the wick or comes to be deposited on areas of the hair adjacent to said wick. Indeed, the product to be distributed is generally contained in a container with compressible walls on which the user exerts pressure to press the product towards its dispensing orifice and ensure distribution. However it is difficult for the user to dose the force it applies to these walls on the one hand to initiate the flow and then regulate.

• une embase comportant un passage pour mettre en communication un récipient contenant ledit produit avec un orifice de distribution de l'embase, et
• une pluralité de dents, chacune desdites dents ayant une extrémité libre et une extrémité solidaire de l'embase, les dents faisant saillie du pourtour de l'orifice de distribution, telles qu'au moins une desdites dents comporte un coude entre son extrémité libre et son extrémité solidaire de l'embase de manière à former un réducteur d'écoulement du produit sortant dudit orifice, et telle que cette extrémité solidaire de l'embase est située à distance d'une bordure intérieure dudit pourtour.

The invention responds to this need with a new application member for applying a product to a support, said application member comprising

• a base including a passage for communicating a container containing said product with a dispensing orifice of the base, and
• a plurality of teeth, each of said teeth having a free end and an end secured to the base, the teeth protruding from the periphery of the dispensing orifice, such that at least one of said teeth has a bend between its free end and its end secured to the base so as to form a flow reducer of the product exiting said orifice, and such that this end secured to the base is located at a distance from an inner edge of said periphery.

One of the advantages of an application member according to the invention is that it is inexpensive to manufacture to the extent that it is easy to mold and unmold. In particular, the tooth or teeth having a bend can be demolded in force, undergoing a slight twist during removal of the mold.

Thanks to such an applicator member, the user can also see the product that begins to flow out of the dispensing orifice, but which is still retained between the teeth protruding around this orifice. The user can thus regulate the product flow in view of this indicator of product presence between the projecting teeth.

In particular, some of the teeth are arranged in a closed curve, such that the free end of one of these teeth extends towards the inside of the curve. The term "curve" must be understood in a broad sense and includes successions of teeth arranged in a path comprising one or more rectilinear segments, this path forming for example a regular polygon or not, in particular a rectangle or a rhombus. In a particular embodiment, the aforementioned curve is circular.

In particular, those teeth which are arranged in a closed curve each have their free end converging towards an axis passing through the center of gravity of the curve.

A tooth may have a non-rectilinear structure between its base portion integral with the base and its free end. In particular, a tooth comprises at least one point of inflection forming said bend.

A basal portion of a tooth having the end integral with the base may extend along a first axis perpendicular to the plane in which the outlet orifice is defined, while an end portion of this tooth, having the free end of the tooth, can extend along a second axis intersecting with the first axis.

In particular, such a basal portion may have a length along the first axis less than one-third, and preferably of the order of 1/10 ^th of a total length of this tooth. The total length of a tooth corresponding to the cumulative length of the length of the basal portion and the length of the end portion, along their respective axes of elongation. In particular, the length of this basal portion is less than 3 millimeters, and preferably of the order of 0.5 millimeters. In particular, this length represents between 2 and 20%, and preferably between 5 and 10%, of the total length of the tooth.

According to a particular embodiment, the second axis forms an acute angle with the first axis. For example, this acute angle is of the order of 30 °, and is alternatively between 20 ° and 90 °. In particular, the higher the acute angle, the greater the length of the basal portion relative to the total length of said tooth.

For example, a tooth may comprise a decreasing section from its integral end of the base to its free end. In particular, in case where the tooth is frustoconical, its cross section is then substantially circular and the diameter of this section then varies for example between 0.6 and 0.4 millimeters from the base to its free end.

In particular, spaces between the teeth may be such that they allow the passage of hair between the teeth, in particular allow a relative movement of translation between said member and a lock of hair with which it is engaged.

According to a particular embodiment, the applicator member comprises an axis of symmetry of revolution.

For example, the applicator member may comprise a plurality of product dispensing orifices, these orifices being surrounded by said plurality of teeth.

The teeth may be made of an elastically deformable material. For example, they are made of natural or synthetic rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer. They can be obtained by injection of a thermoplastic material.

In particular, the teeth can be made in one piece with the base. The fact of being able to use industrial molding techniques, allows the realization of an application member at very low cost.

The teeth may be arranged to define a frustoconical portion such that the free ends of these teeth delimit the smaller diameter section of this frustoconical portion.

In particular, the applicator member may be provided with a removable plug adapted to close the dispensing orifice. This removable cap can be retained by snapping on said applicator member.

• un récipient contenant le produit à distribuer, et
• un organe d'application selon l'invention, l'organe d'application comportant des moyens pour être monté sur ledit récipient de telle sorte qu'une ouverture du récipient soit mise en communication fluidique avec l'orifice de distribution de l'organe d'application.

The subject of the invention is also an assembly for dispensing a product comprising

• a container containing the product to be dispensed, and
• an applicator member according to the invention, the applicator member comprising means for being mounted on said receptacle so that an opening of the receptacle is placed in fluid communication with the dispensing orifice of the dispensing member; 'application.

In particular, the container of such an assembly may be shaped so as to act as a gripping member. It can also comprise a compressible wall so as to facilitate the distribution of product. In particular, in such an assembly, the applicator member may be removably mounted on the container. In this case, the container is first filled with product and then the applicator member is mounted on said container. Preferably the applicator member is already provided with its cap when the applicator member is mounted on the container, the container is then closed.

• Figure 1 : une vue de profil légèrement de dessus d'un organe d'application selon l'invention ;
• Figure 2 : une vue de dessus de l'organe d'application de la Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 : une vue partielle selon un plan de coupe longitudinal de l'organe d'application de la Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 : une vue de profil légèrement de dessous d'un organe d'application selon l'invention ;
• Figure 5 : une vue partielle selon un plan de coupe longitudinal d'un ensemble de conditionnement et d'application selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and on examining the figures which accompany it. These are presented only as an indication and in no way limitative of the invention. The figures show:

• Figure 1 : a profile view from above of an application member according to the invention;
• Figure 2 : a top view of the application body of the Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 : a partial view along a longitudinal section plane of the application member of the Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 : a profile view slightly from below of an applicator member according to the invention;
• Figure 5 : a partial view along a longitudinal sectional plane of a packaging and application assembly according to the invention.

The figure 1 shows an application member 1 according to the invention. This member 1 comprises a base 2 provided with a dispensing orifice 3 and an arrangement of teeth 4 protruding on the outer periphery of the base 2. In particular, these teeth 4 each comprise an end 5 secured to the base and a free end 6.

The teeth 4 are preferably located on the circumference 7 of the dispensing orifice 3. Preferably, the teeth 4 are implanted according to a closed curve C, Figure 2 . According to the embodiment shown, the teeth 4 are equidistributed on this curve, and the closed curve C is circular. Alternatively, the curve may include straight segments and be polygonal or ovoid.

Preferably, the dispensing orifice 3 is defined in a plane P, Figure 3 , so that the curve C is defined in this plane so as to surround the dispensing orifice 3. In particular, the periphery 7 defines an annular zone in said plane P.

The ends 5 of the teeth 4 implanted according to the closed curve C are located at an distance from an inner edge 8 of the periphery 7 delimiting said orifice 3. They are also at a distance from an outer edge 9 of said periphery 7. In the embodiment shown, the borders 8 and 9 are concentric and respectively circular. In particular, the diameter of the edge 8 is between 3 and 8 mm, and preferably between 4 and 5 mm.

The teeth 4 are arranged in such a way that at least one of these teeth 4 has its free end 6 towards the inside of the closed curve C. In particular, all the teeth 4 arranged according to the closed curve C have their free end 6 Preferably, the free ends 6 of the teeth 4 extend above the dispensing orifice 3, so that the projections along the Z axis of the various free ends 6 in FIG. the plane P define points situated inside the orifice 3. These points are preferably equidistributed around the periphery of a circle C ', inscribed inside the inner border 8, the inscribed circle C' having a diameter of between 1.5 and 7 mm.

According to the embodiment shown, the free ends 6 of these teeth 4 all converge towards an axis Z perpendicular to the plane P and passing through a center of gravity of the surface delimited by the inner edge 8.

In particular, as shown Figure 3 , a tooth 4 has a basal portion 10 extending along an axis X perpendicular to the plane P, the basal portion 10 being delimited on the one hand by the end 5 integral with the base 2. The tooth 4 further comprises a end portion 11 extending along a second axis Y and forming a bend 12 with the basal portion 10. The end portion 11 has the free end 6 opposite the elbow 12. The second axis Y is intersecting with the axis X. It forms, in the example shown, an acute angle of the order of 30 ° with the X axis.

The tooth 4 has a length essentially represented by the length between the bend 12 and the free end 6. In this case, the length of the basal portion 10 relative to the X axis is of the order of 0.5 to 1 mm, while the length between the bend 12 and the free end 6 along the Y axis is of the order of 4 to 9.5 mm. Conversely, the tooth 4 could also have a length essentially represented by the basal portion 10, and in this case, the length of the basal portion 10 could then represent up to 95% of the cumulative length of the tooth 4.

For example, the tooth 4 has a circular cross section, such that the outer diameter of the cross section of the tooth 4 decreases as one moves away from the base 2. For example, it is difficult to order of 0.6 mm at the end 5 secured to the base 2 to reach a diameter of 0.4 mm at its free end 6. The free end of the tooth is preferably rounded so that not to be offensive to the scalp. Alternatively; the teeth 4 may be of polygonal or ovoid cross section.

In particular, the teeth 4 arranged according to the closed curve C are identical to each other and are arranged in such a way that their respective end portions 11 define the envelope surface of a truncated cone.

To enable dispensing of product, the base 2 comprises a passage 13 opening at a first end via the dispensing orifice 3 and able to be put into communication, at a second end 14, Figure 4 , with said product. In particular, this passage 13 is of variable section between the orifice 3 and the second end 14, it comprises in particular a chamfer 15 opening at the level of the orifice 3 so as to progressively reduce the cross-section of said passage 13. The flow rate of product that may flow via such an applicator member 1 is, among other things, a function of the smallest cross-section defined by this passage. in particular, the smallest cross section of this passage 13 is defined at the second end 14, and in the case where it is circular, the latter has a diameter of between 0.5 and 5 mm.

The base 2 is intended to be mounted on a container 16, Figure 5 . In particular, it comprises a skirt 17 comprising retention means 18 adapted to cooperate with the container 16. The skirt 17 is preferably designed to be engaged with the outer periphery of a neck 19 defining an opening 20 of the container 16 Preferably, the base 2 is removably mounted on the container 16. For example, the retention means 18 correspond to a thread capable of engaging with a complementary thread 21 presented on the outer periphery of the neck 19.

Moreover, to ensure the tightness of the mounting of this base 2 on the container 16, the base 2 comprises a sealing skirt 22 adapted to come into sealing engagement, in particular by friction, with the inner periphery of the neck 19.

To limit the flow of product that can flow from the opening 20, the base 2 comprises a frustoconical portion 23 connecting the sealing skirt 22 to a lower face 24 of the periphery 7 of the orifice 3, this lower face 24 being opposed to the face of the perimeter 7 of which the teeth 4 project. In particular, this frustoconical portion 23 extends to the outer edge 9 of the periphery 7, so that the passage 13 extends in part to inside the volume defined by this frustoconical portion 23. The flow of product is thus gradually reduced before entering the passage 13.

In the case where the product is packaged in the container 16 for storage before use, preferably the container is equipped with a plugging means 25. In particular, this plugging means is in the form of a plug 25 mounted on the application member 1 so as to close the orifice 3. In particular, this plug 25 comprises a pin 26 adapted to be inserted in the passage 13 to ensure a seal. The chamfer 15 then serves as guide means for the pin 26 in the passage 13. Furthermore, the passage locally comprises an annular groove 27 into which an annular bead 28 engages with the pin 26.

The teeth 4 arranged around the orifice 3 and arranged in such a way that they can deform in a reversible manner when they are subjected to constraints, in particular during the insertion of the pin 26 into the orifice 3.

The plug 25 is removably mounted on the applicator member 1. In particular, it can be retained by snapping. In this case, it comprises a mounting skirt 29 from a bottom 30 of which exceeds the pin 26, this mounting skirt 29 being equipped with reliefs 31, in particular in the form of a grain of rice, capable of cooperating with an annular bead 32 of outer circumference of the frustoconical portion 24 of the base 2.

For the implementation of an assembly according to the invention for the application of a hair coloring product in locks on a head of hair, the applicator member is detached from the container 16, so as to insert the various constituents into said container 16 for forming the product to be applied. For this purpose, to facilitate the handling of the applicator member 1, the latter comprises a zone 33 of its outer circumference crenellated so as to improve gripping and seizure of the fingers around the base 2.

Then, the user closes the container 16 by means of the unit formed by the applicator member 1 and its cap 25 to agitate the assembly so as to homogenize the product. Alternatively, this step can be omitted, if the product to be applied is ready for use and already packaged in the container 16.

To perform the application, the user detaches the cap 25, and grasps the container 16 so as to have the whole "upside down", namely the dispensing orifice 3 located under the mass of product flowing, partly by gravity, and possibly under the effect of stresses exerted on the outer periphery of the container 16, when the latter comprises deformable walls. The product then flows beyond the dispensing orifice 3 and arrives in the form of a drop, due to the widening of the passage 13 between its end 14, in direct fluid communication with the contents of the container 16, and dispensing orifice 3.

This drop of product does not escape from the assembly and is then retained, by surface tension in contact with the teeth 4, in the space defined by the arrangement of these teeth 4. The user then sees the product in the interstices of the teeth 4 and knows that the application can then begin, it then only has to regulate the flow rate according to the inclination given to the container 16 relative to the vertical, and possibly by regulating the pressure it exerts on the walls of the container 16 when the latter are flexible.

To distribute the product on a lock of hair, the user engages one end of the wick between the teeth 4 so as to load the amount of product held by these teeth 4. The teeth 4 are deformable to ensure a smoothing the dispensed product when the assembly is moved along the bit towards its opposite end. During such a relative displacement between the dispensing orifice 3 and the wick, the latter is preferably coated over its entire length, indeed the user ensures by means of such a set a continuous flow of product, by choosing the inclination of the adapted assembly and or by choosing the pressure exerted on the walls of the container 16.

Such an assembly allows a user to easily draw wicks of high precision and finesse directly on her hair.

In a variant that is not shown, the applicator member 1 can comprise several orifices inside the closed curve C, which is particularly useful for limiting the flow of product at the dispensing orifice 3, particularly when the product is very liquid.

Alternatively, the applicator member may include a plurality of tooth arrangements. For example, it may include a second arrangement of teeth protruding from the support 7 and arranged in a second closed curve surrounding the first closed curve C. The teeth arranged according to this second closed curve may be rectilinear and have a main axis of elongation parallel to the axis X.

Preferably, the applicator member 1 is obtained from a single piece of molding of a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. The container 16 is preferably also made of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene.

Throughout the description, the phrase "having one" should be considered synonymous with "having at least one", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (19)

1. Applicator (1) for applying a product to a substrate, said applicator comprising:

   - a base (2) having a duct (13) for communication between a container (16) containing said product and a dispensing orifice (3) in the base, and

   - a plurality of teeth (4), each of which has a free end (6) and an end (5) secured to the base, the teeth projecting from the perimeter (7) of the dispensing orifice, characterized in that at least one of said teeth has an elbow (12) between its free end (6) and its end (5) secured to the base (2) so as to form a flow reducer for the product exiting said orifice and such that this end secured to the base is spaced apart from an internal border of said perimeter (7).
2. Applicator according to Claim 1, characterized in that teeth are arranged in a closed curve (C) such that the free end (6) of one of these teeth extends towards the inside of the curve.
3. Applicator according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that teeth are arranged in a closed curve (C) such that the free end (6) of each of these teeth converges towards an axis (Z) passing through the centre of the curve.
4. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bottom portion (10) of a tooth, comprising the end (5) secured to the base, extends along a first axis (X) perpendicular to the plane (P) in which the outlet orifice is defined, whereas an end portion (11) of this tooth, comprising the free end of the tooth, extends along a second axis (Y) intersecting the first axis.
5. Applicator according to Claim 4, characterized in that the length of the bottom portion (10) along the first axis is less than a third and is preferably around a tenth of the total length of this tooth.
6. Applicator according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the second axis (Y) forms an acute angle with the first axis (X).
7. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of a tooth decreases from its end secured to the base to its free end.
8. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that spaces between the teeth are such as to allow hairs to pass between the teeth, and in particular permit a relative translational movement between said applicator and a lock of hair with which it is in engagement.
9. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an axis of rotational symmetry (Z).
10. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a plurality of product dispensing orifices surrounded by said plurality of teeth.
11. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth are made of an elastically deformable material.
12. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth are obtained by injection moulding a thermoplastic.
13. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth are made in one piece with the base.
14. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth are arranged so as to define a frustoconical portion such that the free ends (6) of these teeth define the section of smallest diameter of this frustoconical portion.
15. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a removable cap (25) able to close off the dispensing orifice.
16. Assembly for dispensing a product, comprising:

    - a container (16) containing the product to be dispensed, and

    - an applicator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the applicator comprising means for mounting it on said container such that an opening (20) in the container is in fluid connection with the dispensing orifice.
17. Assembly according to Claim 16, characterized in that the container is shaped for gripping.
18. Assembly according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the container has a compressible wall.
19. Assembly according to any one of Claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the applicator is mounted removably on the container.

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