EP1795086B1 - Product dispenser, particularly for a cosmetic and process to apply the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an applicator element (3) e.g. ball applicator, placed in contact with a surface to be massaged, and movably retained in a body (4). A cooling unit has an expanding unit for expanding a liquefied refrigerant gas, and a can (10) for storing the refrigerant gas in a liquid form. The body is mounted on the can that is equipped with an actuating valve. The valve is fitted with a rod which is actuated by downward axial movement. An outer enclosure (59) is disposed on a plate so as to define a recess inside which the can is concealed. An independent claim is also included for a method of applying a product.

Description

The invention relates to massage devices, and in particular to massage the skin, and devices for dispensing a cosmetic product comprising massage devices.

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a massage means for applying cold in a lasting manner throughout the massage. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a massage device comprising a body and an applicator member intended to be brought into contact with a surface to be massaged, this applicator member being held movable in said body, the device comprising cooling means comprising means for expanding a liquefied refrigerant gas directly in contact with the applicator member.

Document is known DE-10211483 a massage device comprising a body and an applicator member intended to be placed in contact with a surface to be massaged, this applicator member being retained movably in said body.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the cooling means may comprise a gas storage container in liquid form on which the body is mounted. The can can be equipped with an actuating valve. The valve may be provided with an axially depressed rod.
The cooling means preferably comprise a circulation duct of said gas opening opposite the applicator member. The applicator member is for example arranged facing a first free end of the duct. The product diffusion at the free end is centered on the barycenter of the applicator member. Where appropriate, said conduit is in fluid communication with the valve at a second free end of the conduit opposite the first end. The second end of the duct is then for example provided with a head which is mounted on the valve.

The device may include a plurality of movable delivery members retained in the body. Advantageously, in this case, the conduit has as many first free ends as there are application members, each opening facing one of the application members and being in communication with the valve.

The first end may be of generally concave shape complementary to that of the applicator member. According to one embodiment, the applicator member may be a ball applicator. In this case, preferably, the ball of the applicator is made of metallic material.

Advantageously, the device may comprise an outer envelope in which the cooling means are placed. The gripping of the device is thus facilitated and avoids direct contact with the can which can be cold, if any.

More particularly, the invention relates to a cosmetic product dispenser, of the type comprising cooling means for cooling the product during its application.

It is indeed desirable, in some cases, to refrigerate a cosmetic product for its application to increase the effect or give a feeling of freshness and comfort during application.

This is the reason why when a user wishes to apply a previously cooled cosmetic product to his skin, he sometimes keeps it in his refrigerator. But when the product has to be applied externally, the product which has been cooled heats up rapidly, especially when the ambient temperature is high, so that the product no longer gives the desired cooling effect.

Product distributors incorporating a cooling device have been developed to overcome this disadvantage.

In this respect, reference may be made to the international patent application WO 2004/100704 which describes a cosmetic product dispenser equipped with a refreshing device of its own and which makes it possible to apply a product refreshed.

This dispenser comprises a first container containing the product to be applied and a second container containing a refrigerant gas. In the device described in this document, the product to be dispensed circulates along a cooling coil in a conduit disposed in the coil. Both the coil and the conduit are disposed in a push button which serves to actuate two dispensing valves mounted one on the product storage container and the other on the refrigerant storage container.

This type of device allows to refrigerate a dose of cosmetic product during its application but in a cumbersome arrangement and, therefore, inconvenient to use.

In addition, the distributor described in this international patent application WO 2004/100704 is hardly compatible with the use of applicator organs of various kinds.

We can also refer to the document US 4,584,847 which describes an assembly comprising a lipstick stick and a device for cooling the stick. The stick is movably mounted relative to a support so as to be brought from a storage position in which the stick is disposed within the support to a use position in which the stick protrudes from said support. The assembly comprises a closure cap adapted to be mounted on the support when the stick is in the storage position, this closure cap comprising the cooling device.

This assembly poses a problem insofar as the cooling can be obtained only when the stick is in the storage position. Cooling can not be achieved when the stick is in the use position.

In addition, the assembly described in this document is only suitable for cooling a stick of lipstick capped by a hood.

Finally, we can refer to the patent application French No. 0 552 654 unpublished, filed in the name of the applicant, which describes a cooling device of a device for packaging a product.

The cooling device comprises a pressurized container containing a refrigerant and a support for receiving the conditioning device to be cooled. The support is mounted on a valve which is equipped with the pressurized container and is arranged so that the refrigerant is brought against an outer periphery of the conditioning device.

But this cooling device applies essentially only for a device for packaging a product arranged in the form of a cup forming a reservoir filled with the product to be applied. It is unsuitable for cooling a product intended to be applied by means of an applicator such as a ball or a rotating drum.

In view of the foregoing, the invention aims at providing a product dispenser of the aforementioned type, of reduced size, and in which the cooling means are such that they allow the application of a refrigerated cosmetic product using all types of enforcement bodies.

• un réservoir destiné à contenir le produit ;
• un dispositif de massage selon l'invention, dans lequel le réservoir est défini autour d'une partie des moyens de refroidissement, l'organe d'application étant en communication fluidique avec ledit réservoir.

The subject of the invention is thus a product dispenser, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising:

• a reservoir for containing the product;
• a massage device according to the invention, wherein the reservoir is defined around a part of the cooling means, the applicator member being in fluid communication with said reservoir.

According to a general characteristic of the dispenser according to the invention, the cooling means are adapted to directly cool the applicator member.

Thus, thanks to this arrangement, it is no longer necessary to provide a bulky cooling coil, the cooling being essentially implemented by lowering the temperature of the product application member.

The tank, mounted around the gas circulation duct, may be delimited by the body and an attached bottom and provided with an orifice for passage of the duct, a dispensing opening of the tank being defined around the first free end of the duct. .

Advantageously, the body has a first part of radial dimension greater than that of a second part, the parts being separated by a peripheral median shoulder.

The subject of the invention is also a process for applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, contained in a dispenser equipped with a reservoir containing the product, with a product application member that communicates with the product. reservoir and cooling means for cooling the product during its application.

This process is characterized in that during the application, the application member is directly cooled.

• Figure 1 : une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de massage réfrigérant selon l'invention ;
• Figure 2 : une vue en perspective partielle du dispositif de la figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 : une vue en coupe longitudinale du dispositif de la figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 : une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un distributeur de produit conforme à 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 perspective view of a refrigerant massage device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 : a partial perspective view of the device of the figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 : a longitudinal sectional view of the device of the figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 : a longitudinal sectional view of a product dispenser according to the invention.

The figure 1 shows a massage device 1 according to the invention. This device 1 comprises an applicator member 3 and a body 4. The applicator member is retained free to rotate in the body 4, so that it can be rotated when it is brought into contact with the body. a surface to be massaged. Such a device 1 is particularly useful for massaging the skin, and more particularly the scalp.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 , the device 1 comprises three application members such as 3. These application members take the form of metal balls held free to rotate in housings 50 respectively of the body 4.

The device 1 comprises cooling means 51 essentially comprising a can of liquefied gas 10 in which is stored a pressurized cooling gas. For example, a gas having the property of being in the liquid state when it is under pressure in the can and vaporizing and cooling when it relaxes. A hydrocarbon, for example 3.2 butane, dimethyl ether, or a freon, for example HFC 134a may be used to cool the ball.

The can 10 essentially comprises a cylindrical outer wall 52 provided with a closed proximal end 53 and a distal end 54 closed by a cup C crimped on a rolled edge of the body. The cylindrical wall has a longitudinal axis X-X ', which corresponds substantially to an axis of symmetry of the device 1.

The can 10 is also provided with a dispensing valve 11 crimped on the cup C. The valve 11 is advantageously constituted by a depression-actuated valve. It is equipped with a hollow actuating rod for distributing the refrigerant gas when it is depressed.

Note that, preferably, the valve 11 is constituted by a metering valve to allow the dispensing of a dose of refrigerant gas at each pressure of the valve and avoid emptying the container during a single actuation.

A circulation duct 12 is formed between a part 55 mounted on the actuating rod and the body 4. This circulation duct 12 opens out facing the applicator member, and optionally each of the application members. . This part 55 comprises a channel 56 forming part of the circulation duct 12. In the embodiment shown Figures 2 and 3 , this channel 56 opens into three grooves 57 each equilateral and formed in the body 4 and respectively opening into each of the housing 50 to cool the outer periphery of the application members which are respectively housed therein. The face of the body 4 having the grooves 57is applied against a flat face of the part 55 so that the circulation duct branches into three branches.

The part 55 comprises a mounting head 14 configured to be tightly mounted around the actuating rod of the valve 11. This mounting head 14 is defined opposite the channel 56. The mounting head is formed in a plate 58 of 55. An outer casing 59 is erected on the plate 58 so as to define a housing inside which the can 10 can be masked.

The can 10 is mounted free in translation inside the outer casing 59 so that an actuation of the valve 11 is obtained by exerting a pressure on the closed proximal end 53 of the can 10. The actuation is obtained from a relative movement between the can and the outer casing 49. In this case, the closed proximal end 53 protrudes axially from the outer casing 59 by a length corresponding to the stroke in which the actuating rod can be displaced relative to the body of the valve 11.

The use of such a device is preferably carried out in two stages. Indeed, initially, the valve is actuated, refrigerant gas is released and propagates in the circulation conduit 12, the refrigerant gas flow is fed to the application members, which are then gradually cooled. Then, in a second step, the user grasps the outer envelope and exerts a massage of the skin by means of cooled application members, which can be rotated due to this contact. When performing the massage, the refrigerant gas is not dispensed.

As a variant of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 , the outer casing may be shorter so that the outer casing 49 surrounds only an axial portion of the can 10. In such a configuration, depending on the area of the outer casing 49 or the container Emerging, the user may or may not obtain a coolant distribution at the same time as the massage.

On the figure 4 , there is shown a dispenser 100 of cosmetic product according to the invention, in use position. The distributor 100 has a general axis of symmetry XX 'assumed vertical. It is intended to apply a cooled cosmetic product, such as a cream. For this purpose, the dispenser 100 comprises a device 1 according to the invention.

"Cosmetic product" means a product as defined in Council Directive 93/35 / EEC of 14 June 1993. However, the invention may also be applied to other products, depending on the intended application.

The dispenser 100 comprises a reservoir 2 previously filled with the product to be dispensed. The reservoir 2 is formed between the body 4 and the workpiece 55. The workpiece 55 is, in this embodiment, in the form of a tube. The applicator member 3 is mounted on the reservoir 2, between a free end 15 of the piece 55, opposite to the attachment head 14, and an opening defined by the housing 50 formed in the body 4.

The applicator member 3 makes it possible to apply the sampled product to its surface when it is rotated relative to the reservoir 2. The applicator member 3 is here in the form of a ball 8. The dispenser 100 is provided with cooling means for cooling the ball 8 during the application of the product.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the applicator member 3 is a ball-type applicator "roll on". However, the invention also applies to product dispensers provided with any other type of applicator member, such as an applicator roll, which may be made of foam or any other material permeable to the product to be applied.

As we see on the figure 4 , the body 4 internally delimits the storage volume of the product. It comprises a generally cylindrical bulging proximal zone 5 essentially ensuring the storage of the product and a narrowed section distal zone 6 also of generally cylindrical shape and of internal diameter corresponding to that of the ball 8. The housing 50 for the ball 8 is formed in the narrowed distal zone 6.

The proximal and distal regions are separated by a truncated cone-shaped annular medial shoulder 7 of regularly decreasing cross-section from the bulge zone 5 to the narrowed zone 6. As will be indicated later, this shoulder may be used to form a seat receiving a hood. It also has the function of driving the product towards the narrowed zone 6.

The inner peripheral surface of the narrowed distal zone 6 is provided with a concave annular portion 9 of general shape complementary to that of the ball 8 of the applicator 3. The concave annular portion 9 is shaped so as to maintain the ball 8 in the body 4, while allowing a rotation of the ball and a limited axial displacement of the ball. This concave annular portion defines a bottom of the housing 50. It is for example made in the form of a tip fitted into the end distal from the body 4 or be maintained by any other appropriate means. Advantageously, this annular portion 9 promotes the coating of a thin layer of product on the outer periphery of the ball 8.This annular portion 9 extends around the free end 15 of the piece 55 in the form of a tube.

In this embodiment, the inner conduit 12, delimited by the tube 55, and at the end of which the ball 8 rests, is generally rectilinear and coaxial with the body 4. It extends from a bottom 13 attached to the body 4 The bottom 13 cooperates with the outer periphery of the part 55 to ensure a tight closure of the container 2.

The piece 55 extends through the bottom 13 and is extended externally by a head 14 mounted on the valve 11.

The distal end of the piece 55 has a generally concave shape complementary to that of the ball 3. This end thus forms a seat on which the ball 8 rests.

As indicated above, the can 10 is filled with a liquefied gas under pressure able to cool by expansion. The ball, for its part, is preferably made of metal material capable of cooling easily under the effect of the gas coming from the conduit 12. It is able to move in rotation in the annular distal end portion of the body 4.

In use, when the ball 8 is moved on an application surface, that is to say on the epidermis of a user, the ball is rotated. The rotation of the ball causes a sample of product, the side of the internal volume of reservoir 2 and, on the other side, the application of the product taken from the epidermis.

Simultaneously, in contact with the application surface, when a pressure is applied on the ball, the ball being integral in translation with the body 4 and the part 55, an actuation of the valve 11 can be obtained because of a relative displacement of the can 10 relative to the ball 8.

When the force applied to the valve is sufficient to cause its actuation, liquefied gas is delivered and expands in the conduit 12. Under the action of the trigger, the liquefied gas vaporizes and cools. The cooled gas is then led to the ball 8. This ball 8, as well as the product taken at the time of rotation of the latter on the epidermis are then cooled.

As indicated above, the application of the cooled product provides a cooling effect to the application. In addition, when the applied product is a treatment product, for example an anti-wrinkle cream, the immediate effectiveness of the cold applied product is improved, the constituent molecules of the product retracting and penetrating better into the epidermis.

It will be noted that, during the circulation of the cooled gas in the pipe 12, the product filling the tank 2 is in fact simultaneously cooled, in particular at the level of the confined space delimited by the narrowed portion 6, by heat exchange through of the wall of the tube formed by the part 55.

As indicated above, the invention applies to all types of application members. It will be noted however that the use of a cooled ball makes it possible to obtain an increased application precision.

For example, the body 4, as well as the part 55 are made of thermoplastic material. Any type of thermoplastic material can be used in this regard. Thus, acrylics, cellulosics, polycarbonates, polyamides, styrenes, polyolefins, vinyls, PEPTs and mixtures in variable proportions of these materials, expanded or not, may be suitable.

Finally, it will be noted that the invention makes it possible to obtain a cosmetic product dispenser of relatively compact volume.

Thus, the assembly constituted by the reservoir 2 and the can 10 can be arranged in an envelope, for example made of synthetic material, in the form of an applicator pen provided with a removable cap resting on the annular shoulder 7 of the body 4. This gives a particularly compact assembly that can be easily transported.

In this case, the tank 2 will be made in a generally cylindrical form inscribed in the master-couple of the can 10. The can 10 can also be made in the form of a rechargeable element that can be extracted from the envelope to be recharged.

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

Claims (11)

1. Massage device, including

   - a body (4), and

   - an applicator (3) intended to be brought into contact with a surface to be massaged, this applicator being held movably in said body (4),

   characterized in that the device includes cooling means (10, 12) having means for expanding a liquefied refrigerant gas directly into contact with the applicator.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cooling means include a canister (10) for storing the gas in liquid form and on which the body (4) is fitted, the canister being equipped with an actuating valve (11).
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the valve is provided with a rod actuated by axial depression.
4. Device according to either of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the cooling means include a flow duct (12) for said gas emerging opposite the applicator (3), the applicator being arranged opposite a first free end of this flow duct, a second end of this duct being in fluid communication with the valve.
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that it includes a number of movable applicators held in the body, the duct including a number of first free ends each emerging opposite one of the applicators.
6. Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the first end has a generally concave form complementary to that of the applicator.
7. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the applicator is a ball (8) made of metal.
8. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it includes an outer casing in which the cooling means are placed.
9. Product dispenser, in particular for a cosmetic product, comprising:

   - a reservoir intended to contain the product; and

   - a massage device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the reservoir is defined around part of the cooling means, the applicator being in fluid communication with said reservoir.
10. Dispenser according to Claim 9 including a massage device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the reservoir is fitted around the gas flow duct (12), the reservoir being bounded by the body and a base (13) provided with an orifice for the duct to pass through, a dispensing opening in the reservoir being defined around the first free end of the duct.
11. Method of applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, contained in a dispenser (1) according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that during application the applicator (3) is cooled directly.

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