EP2225964B1 - Device for dispensing a cosmetic product and associated storage method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a cosmetic product, according to the preamble of claim 1.

"Cosmetic product" means in particular a product as defined in Council Directive 93/55 / EEC of 14 June 1993.

Such a device is intended to dispense a cosmetic product for application to the skin or keratin fibers of a user.

It generally comprises a container receiving the cosmetic product and a product dispensing head which comprises a rotary applicator member, such as a ball or a roller, mounted in a yoke at one end of the container.

The cosmetic product is applied by rotating the rotary applicator member in the yoke by contact with the user's skin or keratin fibers. The product leaves the container passing between the rotary applicator member and the yoke.

When the user has finished using the device, he places a cover on the container around the dispensing head to close it.

WO 2006/007987 and US 6,511,243 describe dispensing devices.

In these devices, the container and the cover are shaped so that the device is stored vertically on a horizontal support with its dispensing head directed downwards.

The container is thus shaped with a bottom wall which prevents the stable holding of the head-up device, while the cap defines a stable holding wall upside down of the device on a horizontal support.

In these devices, the cosmetic product is likely to flow between the rotary applicator member and the yoke during storage, which can lead to sagging and product losses unpleasant and expensive for the user.

To overcome this problem, WO 2006/007987 and US 6,511,243 provide to provide the rigid lugs with application of the rotary applicator member against a sealing seat defined by the yoke. However, these tabs are effective only when the cap is screwed firmly into a locked position on the container.

By cons, cosmetic product leaks out of the container can still occur if the user closes the hood badly, especially for lack of time or strength.

US 2,719,997 describes another dispensing device.

An object of the invention is therefore to obtain a cosmetic product dispensing device comprising a rotary applicator member, which can be stored upside down with a very limited risk of cosmetic product leakage during storage.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the biasing member is elastically deformable relative to the cover between a rest configuration that it occupies in the product distribution position and a elastically deformed configuration that occupies in the closed position of the container.

The device according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 2 to 10.

The invention also relates to a method according to claim 11.

• la Figure 1 est une vue de côté en élévation d'un premier dispositif d'application selon l'invention disposé en appui stable tête en bas sur un support;
• la Figure 2 est une vue prise en coupe suivant le plan vertical médian II de la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue analogue à la Figure 1 lors de l'application de produit cosmétique, le capot de protection occupant la position de distribution ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue de dessus du volume intérieur du capot du dispositif de la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 5 est une vue analogue à la Figure 2 d'un deuxième dispositif selon l'invention, dans une position d'engagement du capot sur le contenant ; et
• la Figure 6 est une vue analogue à la Figure 5, le capot occupant sa position d'obturation verrouillée.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a first application device according to the invention disposed in a stable support upside down on a support;
• the Figure 2 is a view taken in section along the median vertical plane II of the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 3 is a view similar to the Figure 1 when applying a cosmetic product, the protective cover occupying the dispensing position;
• the Figure 4 is a top view of the interior volume of the hood of the device of the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 5 is a view similar to the Figure 2 a second device according to the invention, in a position of engagement of the cover on the container; and
• the Figure 6 is a view similar to the Figure 5 , the hood occupying its locked shutter position.

A first device 10 for applying a cosmetic product according to the invention is represented on the Figures 1 to 4 .

This device 10 comprises an elongated container 12 receiving the cosmetic product to be applied, an application assembly formed by a dispensing head 14 visible on the Figure 2 , a cap 16 for closing off the head 14 and a mechanism 18 for locking the cover 16 on the container.

The cosmetic product contained in the container is advantageously a liquid, an emulsion, a cream, or a gel. Alternatively, this product is a fluid powder.

This product is advantageously an antiperspirant, anti-odorant and / or perfuming product to constitute a deodorant or a perfume.

As illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 , the container 12 is elongated along an axis of the container A-A ', vertical on the Figure 1 .

The container 12 has, from top to bottom on the Figure 1 , a bottom wall 20, a side wall 22, and a neck 24 for mounting the head 14 opening through an opening 26 of product distribution, visible on the Figure 2 .

The bottom wall 20, the side wall 22, and the neck 24 define internally a reservoir 28 of cosmetic product which opens exclusively through the dispensing opening 26.

The bottom wall 20 is shaped to prevent the stable holding head 14 at the top of the device 10, with the axis A-A 'of the substantially vertical container, when the bottom wall 20 is placed on a horizontal support.

For this purpose, the bottom wall 20 is rounded or curved with a concavity directed away from the dispensing opening 26. It does not extend in a horizontal plane.

In this example, the side wall 22 is of divergent shape away from the bottom wall 20. It defines with the collar 24 an outer peripheral shoulder 30 for locking the cover 16. The side wall 22 is adapted to be gripped by the hand of a user for the application of a cosmetic product.

The neck 24 protrudes from the shoulder 30 along the axis AA 'to the cover 16. It has a maximum width, taken perpendicular to the axis AA' less than the maximum width of the side wall 22 to vicinity of the shoulder 30.

The neck 24 internally defines a peripheral annular groove 32 for mounting the head 14 in force.

The application head 14 comprises a rotary applicator member 40 for the application of product, and a yoke 42 for retaining the rotary applicator member 40 rotatably receiving this member 40.

In this example, the rotary applicator member 40 is formed by a rotating ball. Alternatively, the rotary applicator member 40 is formed by a roller or a roller rotatably mounted in the yoke 42.

The rotary applicator member 40 has an outer portion 44 protruding from the yoke 42 to be applied to the skin and / or the keratinous fibers of a user, and an inner portion 46 received in the yoke 42.

The applicator member 40 is freely rotatably mounted about at least one axis perpendicular to the axis A-A 'in the yoke 42.

In this example, the rotatable applicator member 40 formed by a ball is freely rotatably mounted along a plurality of axes of rotation perpendicular to the axis A-A '. It forms with the yoke 42 a ball joint.

The diameter of the rotary applicator member 40 is slightly smaller, for example by at most 20%, than the diameter of the neck 24.

The cap 42 comprises, from top to bottom on the Figure 1 , an inner sleeve 50 for mounting on the neck and an outer skirt 52 for retaining the rotary applicator member 40. The sleeve 50 and the skirt 52 define a central product distribution channel 54 of axis A-A ', in which is inserted the rotary applicator member 40.

The sleeve 50 is substantially cylindrical axis A-A '. It has externally a bead 56 for mounting force in the neck 24, and a support rib 58 on the outer edge of the neck 24. The sleeve 50 internally has an annular seal seat 60 for receiving the inner portion 46 of the rotary applicator member 40.

The mounting bead 56 is engaged in force in the groove 32. The support rib 58 rests on the outer edge of the neck 24, externally with respect to the bead 56. Thus, the yoke 42 is secured to the container 12. In a variant, the cap 42 is integral with the container 12.

The annular seat 60 defines a peripheral shoulder 62 of identical contour to the outer contour of a cross section of the lower portion 46, this section cross-section being less than the maximum cross section of the rotary applicator member 40.

The seat 60 projects radially towards the axis A-A 'in the central channel 54.

The outer skirt 52 projects outwardly from the sleeve 50 along the axis AA 'to a height less than the height of the ball 40. It extends to a free edge 64 converging in a curved manner towards the axis A-A '.

The outer skirt 52 is solid on its periphery and defines along the free edge 64 a passage opening 66 of the rotary applicator member 40.

The outer cross section of the through opening 66, taken perpendicular to the axis A-A ', is smaller than the maximum cross section of the rotary applicator member 40.

The channel 54 extends axially between the reservoir 28 and the passage opening 66 into which it opens.

The rotary applicator member 40 is freely rotatably mounted in the channel 54. The inner portion 46 of the rotary applicator member and the skirt 52 opposite define between them an annular passage 68 of product distribution located at the periphery of the channel 54.

The rotary applicator member 40 is movable along the axis A-A 'in the channel 54 between an inner position of closing the annular passage 68 and an external position of liquid distribution through the passage 68.

In the internal position, the lower portion 46 of the rotary applicator member 40 is disposed in abutment on the shoulder 62 of the seat 60 to substantially seal the reservoir 28 towards the outside and prevent the passage of cosmetic product through the passage 68.

In the outer position, the cosmetic product is free to flow at the periphery of the rotary applicator member 40 in the passage 68 which is then clear, from the reservoir 28, through the channel 54, until the opening 66.

The cover 16 comprises a base wall 80 and a side wall 82 which projects towards the container 12 from the base wall 80, the walls 80 and 82 defining an interior volume 84 for receiving the head 14.

The cover 16 further comprises, according to the invention, a resiliently deformable member 86 for biasing the rotary applicator member 40 against the seat 60.

The base wall 80 delimits an outer bearing surface 88 extending at the periphery of this wall 80.

This surface 88 is shaped to allow the head 14 to remain stable at the bottom of the device 10, with the axis AA 'substantially vertical, when the bearing surface 88 is applied on the horizontal support, as shown on the Figure 1 . The base wall 80 thus forms a stable holding wall 14 at the bottom of the device 10.

The side wall 82 has a height, taken along the axis A-A 'greater than the maximum height of the head 14.

The side wall 82 projects around the axis AA 'from the base wall 80 to an inner edge 90. It defines, in the vicinity and spaced axially from the base wall 80, spacers 92. The struts 92 are integral with the wall 82 and protrude radially towards the axis AA 'in the interior volume 84.

The free edge 90 defines an insertion opening of the head 14 of greater cross section than the maximum cross section of the head 14. The free edge 90 has an outer contour slightly smaller than the outer contour of the side wall 22 in the vicinity of the shoulder 30.

As illustrated by Figures 2 and 4 , the biasing member 86 comprises an annular base 100 integral with the side wall 82 and at least one resiliently deformable biasing tab 102 which projects radially towards the axis AA 'with respect to the base 100.

More generally, the number of tabs 102 is greater than or equal to 1 and is advantageously between 1 and 6.

In this example, the biasing member 86 is attached in the cover 16 to the side wall 82. In a variant, the member 86 is integral with the cover 16.

This member 86 is advantageously formed of acetal or other material to ensure the appropriate spring effect.

In a variant, this member 86 is a metal spring.

The base 100 is fixed in the wall 82 by insertion between the spacers 82. It is fixed axially along the axis A-A '.

The tab 102 has at its free end 104 an application pin on the rotary applicator member 40.

The tab 102 is flexibly deformable between a rest configuration, represented in dotted lines on the Figure 2 in which it protrudes away from the base wall 80 towards the free edge 90, and a deformed configuration in which it protrudes away from the free edge 90 towards the base wall 80.

In the rest configuration, the tab 102 projects towards the free edge 90 with respect to the mean plane of the base 100.

In the deformed configuration, the free end 104 is located substantially in the middle plane of the annular base 100.

The locking mechanism 18 is of the "bayonet" type. It thus comprises a plurality of locking pins 110 distributed around the periphery of the cover 16 and for each pin 110, a corresponding guide 112 disposed at the periphery of the container 12 on the neck 24.

The pins 110 project radially towards the axis A-A 'with respect to the lateral wall 82 in the vicinity of the edge 90.

In the example shown on the Figure 2 , the number of pions is 3. More generally, this number is between 2 and 4.

The guides 112 are distributed around the periphery of the neck about the axis A-A 'defining between them spaces 118 for axial insertion of the pins 110. The number of guides 112 is equal to the number of pins 110.

Each guide 112 comprises a circumferential rib 120 and a bottom stop 122.

The rib 120 extends substantially parallel to the shoulder 30 facing it. It projects radially away from the axis A-A 'from the neck 24. Each rib 120 defines, at a free end, located in a space 118, an inclined cam surface 124 adapted to cooperate with the pin 110.

The bottom stop 122 connects the rib 120 to the shoulder 30 extending axially.

The rib 120, the bottom stop 122 and the shoulder 30 define between them a circumferential groove 126 for insertion of the pin 110, of a height substantially equal to the height of the pin 110.

The cover 16 is movable relative to the container 12 and to the head 14 between a product dispensing position 10, shown in FIG. Figure 3 , an initial engagement position of the head, an intermediate position of closure engaged around the head 14, and a locked position of closure of the container 12, shown on the Figures 1 and 2 .

In the position of use, the cover 16 is disposed completely away from the head 14 and the container 12. The head 14 has been extracted from the inner volume 84. The biasing member 86 occupies its rest configuration.

In the initial engagement position, the head 14 has been introduced at least partially into the volume 84 along the axis A-A '. The biasing member 86 occupies its rest configuration. The free end 104 is applied against the rotary applicator member 40.

In the intermediate shutter position, the cover 16 has been moved along the axis AA 'to pass the biasing member 86 from its rest configuration to its distorted configuration. The biasing member 86 then maintains the rotary applicator member 40 in its inner position, applied against the seat 60.

In the locked shutter position, the pins 110 are passed through the spaces 118 and the cover 16 has then been pivoted about the axis A-A 'to insert the pins 110 in the grooves 116 defined by the guides 112.

Each pin 110 is thus movable about the axis AA 'during the rotation of the cover 16 along the rib 120 and the cam surface 124 to a position in abutment against the bottom stop 122. The cooperation between each pin 110 and the cam surface 124 axially connects the cap 16 and the shoulder 30, further increasing the deformation of the biasing member 86.

The head 14 and the neck 24 are received in the interior volume 84. The cover 16 is flush with the side wall 22 of the container 12 along the shoulder 30.

Note that regardless of the total weight of the container 12 including the product it contains, the deformation will be the same in the locked position shutter. In the intermediate position of closure, the rate of deformation of the biasing member 68 will depend on the weight applied by the container 12, and therefore on the evolution of the volume of product contained in this container 12 on the biasing member 68 .

The operation of the first device 10 according to the invention will now be described.

Initially, as depicted on the Figure 3 , the cover 16 is placed in the dispensing position, away from the container 12. The outer portion 44 of the rotary applicator member 40 is placed in contact with the skin or keratin fibers of a user and is moved to enable product application.

Thus, the rotary applicator member 40 rolls on the skin or the keratinous fibers. During this rolling, the rotary applicator member 40 is placed away from its internal position, which allows the passage of cosmetic product from the reservoir 28, through the dispensing opening 26, then into the channel 54, to the passage opening 66.

When the user has finished the product application, he passes the cover 16 successively in its initial engagement position and then in its intermediate position shutter.

For this purpose, it inserts the head 14 and a portion of the neck 24 into the inner volume 84 by placing the pins 110 opposite the spaces 118 of axial passage. Then, it moves the cover 16 axially toward the container 12 by bringing the free edge 90 closer to the shoulder 30.

During this movement, the free end 104 of the deformable lug 102 of the biasing member 86 is applied to the rotary applicator member 40 in the initial engagement position and is deformed elastically towards the deformed configuration in the position intermediate shutter.

The biasing member 86 then exerts via the tab 102, a biasing force of the rotary applicator member 40 towards its internal position applied against the sealing seat 60. This closes the annular passage 68 of circulation cosmetic product.

This closure occurs just after the elastic biasing member 86 comes into contact with the rotary applicator member 40 without the need for the cover 16 to be completely locked on the container 12. Thus, even if the user locks insufficient cover 16 on the container 12, the risk of product leaking out of the tank 28 through the head 14 is very limited.

This is particularly true when the user places the container 12 upside down in the cover 16, the cover 16 being stably disposed on a horizontal surface, whatever the angular position of the dispensing head relative to the cover 16 around the axis A-A '. Thus, the biasing member 68 is deformed even when the pins 110 are placed angularly apart from the spaces 118 abut axially above the ribs 120 out of the groove 126.

Then, the user rotates the cover 16 about the axis AA 'to make the pins 110 penetrate into the grooves 126 defined by the guides 112. During this passage, the pins 110 cooperate with the cam surface 124, which causes an axial displacement of the cover 16 towards the container 12 and thus a firmer locking of the cover 16 on the container 12.

During this movement, the deformation of the elastic tab 102 of the biasing member 86 continues to reach the deformed configuration. The cover 16 is then fixed relative to the container 12.

The device 10 is then rotated head 14 downwards to stably apply the bearing surface 88 of the base wall 80 of the cover 16 to a flat support, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 . The axis AA 'of the container then extends substantially vertically in a stable manner. The base wall 80 of the container 12 is disposed away from the planar support.

The weight of the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir 28, for example between 50 g and 75 g generates a downward force that applies to the assembly formed by the container 12 and the head 14. This force further promotes the locking the container 12 on the cover 16.

This force prevents the exit of the product when the container 12 is not yet locked on the cover 16, the container being presented upside down.

The presence of the biasing member 86, which opposes this force, ensures proper maintenance of the seal at the seat 60, which prevents leakage of cosmetic product through the head 14 during storage head below.

A second device according to the invention 140 is represented on the Figures 5 and 6 .

Unlike the first device 10, the member 86 for biasing the second device 140 comprises a base formed by a resiliently deformable dome 142 and an annular support sleeve 144 on the rotary applicator member 40 which is not necessarily deformable .

The dome 142 is attached at its periphery to the side wall 82. The sleeve 144 projects from the dome 142 to the free edge 90 about the axis A-A '. In this example, it is integral with the dome 142. It defines a continuous edge 146 on a circumference for contact with the rotary applicator member 40.

In the rest configuration, represented on the Figure 5 , the dome 142 protrudes away from the base wall 80 with a concavity directed towards the free edge 90.

In the deformed configuration, represented on the Figure 6 , the dome 142 has been deformed towards the base wall 80 and has a substantially planar configuration in a plane perpendicular to the axis A-A '.

The operation of the second device 140 is moreover analogous to that of the first device.

In a variant of this embodiment, the sleeve 144 is replaced by at least one discontinuous tab on a circumference about the axis A-A '.

In a variant of the first device 10 and the second device 140, the cover 16 is formed of several parts, for example a part forming the base wall 80 and another part forming the side wall 82, the parts being assembled together.

In another variant, the biasing member 86 is formed by a deformable portion of the base wall 80.

More generally, the locking mechanism 18 may be screw or snap, the cover 16 is not necessarily rotatable about the axis A-A 'to pass into the locked position shutter.

Claims (11)

1. Device (10; 140) for dispensing a cosmetic product, of the type comprising:

   - a container (12) which extends along an axis (A-A') and which delimits, for the cosmetic product, a reservoir (28) which opens via a dispensing opening (26),

   - a head (14) which is for dispensing cosmetic product and which blocks the dispensing opening (26), the head (14) comprising a rotary application member (44) and a retention cap (42) which receives the rotary application member (44) so as to rotate freely about at least one axis of rotation;

   - a blocking cover (16) which delimits a space (84) for receiving the head (14), the cover (16) being able to be moved between a position for blocking the container (12) in which the head (14) is received in the receiving space (84) and a position for dispensing the product,

   the container (12) being shaped so as to prevent the device (10) from being retained in a stable manner on a horizontal support with the head (14) in an upward position,
   the cover (16) comprising a wall (80) for stable retention of the device (10) on a horizontal support with the head (14) in a downward position and a member (86) for urging the rotary application member (40) against a sealing seat (60) which is delimited by the cap (42) in the position for blocking the container;
   wherein the urging member (86) can be resiliently deformed relative to the cover (16) between an idle configuration which it occupies in the position for dispensing the product and a resiliently deformed configuration which it occupies in the position for blocking the container, and wherein the urging member (86) is at least partially deformed as soon as the container (12) is arranged with the head in a downward position in the cover (16), when the cover (16) occupies a stable position on a horizontal support, regardless of the angular position of the dispensing head (14) relative to the cover (16) about the axis (A-A').
2. Device (10; 140) according to claim 1, wherein the urging member (86) is arranged in the inner space (84), axially remote from the retention wall (80).
3. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the urging member (86) comprises a base (100) which is fixedly joined to a wall (82) of the cover and at least one resiliently deformable lug (102) which protrudes relative to the base (100).
4. Device (140) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the urging member (86) comprises at least one resiliently deformable base (142) and a member (144) for contact on the rotary application member (40) which is fixedly joined to the base (100).
5. Device (140) according to claim 4, wherein the base (142) is formed by a dome.
6. Device (10; 140) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the urging member (86) is attached to a wall (82) of the cover (16).
7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the urging member (86) is integral with at least one wall (82) of the cover (16).
8. Device (10; 140) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a mechanism (18) for locking the cover (16) in a locked blocking position.
9. Device (10; 140) according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism (18) comprises at least one pin (110) which is fixedly joined to one of the cover or a fixed element which is formed by one of the container (12) or the head (14), the locking mechanism (18) comprising a guide (112) for receiving the pin (110) which is fixedly joined to the other of the cover (16) or the fixed element, the cover (16) being mounted rotatably about the axis (A-A') of the container relative to the fixed element when the cover (16) moves from the dispensing position to the locked blocking position thereof.
10. Device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the guide (112) or the pin (110) delimits a cam surface (124) which is capable of axially moving the cover (16) relative to the container (12) along the axis (A-A') of the container when the cover (16) is rotated relative to the container (12) about the axis (A-A') of the container.
11. Method for storing a device (10; 140) for dispensing a cosmetic product, comprising the following steps:

    - providing a device (10; 140) according to any one of the preceding claims, the cover (16) being in the dispensing position of the device;

    - moving the cover (16) from the dispensing position to the blocking position thereof, the movement involving pressing the urging member (86) against the rotary application member (40) and resiliently deforming the urging member (86) between the idle configuration and the deformed configuration thereof in order to press the rotary application member (40) against the sealing seat (60);

    - arranging the retention wall (80) on a support, the device (10; 140) being held in a stable manner on the support with the head (14) in a downward position.

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