EP2919613B1 - Applicator head for cosmetic products and corresponding device and use method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an application head of a cosmetic product on a body surface of a user.

This head is intended for dispensing and applying a fluid cosmetic product contained in a container.

The cosmetic product is for example a liquid, especially a low viscosity liquid.

The head is intended to be mounted on a container containing the cosmetic product and to deliver the cosmetic product contained sealingly in the container on a body surface of the user, preferably on a keratinous surface such as the hair.

The cosmetic product is for example a care product for keratinous fibers. More generally, the cosmetic product may be a product for coloring keratin fibers, a cleaning product, a solar product or a make-up product.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "cosmetic product" advantageously means a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated November 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

To ensure an effective distribution of the cosmetic product and possibly a simultaneous massage of the body surface receiving the cosmetic product, the head comprises a rotary product application member received in the support sleeve. The rotary member is for example formed by a ball or a roller.

During product distribution, the cosmetic product flows between the side wall and the rotatable member and is deposited on the body surface.

At rest, it is necessary to seal between the side wall and the rotary member. US 3,166,779 and DE 41 09 107 describe dispensing heads providing such a seal.

To improve the effectiveness of the seal, US 5,810,495 or GB 1,515,078 describe heads of the aforementioned type comprising an internal support member of the rotary member and a plurality of helical elastic biasing members adapted to urge the rotary member disposed in abutment on the internal member.

This elastic biasing keeps the rotating member in contact with a lip formed at the free end of the side wall of the sleeve, which closes the downstream opening.

The heads described in US 5,810,495 or GB 1,515,078 do not give complete satisfaction. Indeed, they are difficult to manufacture, especially by molding, which increases their cost.

In addition, the sealing at the lip between the side wall and the rotary member is only guaranteed when manufacturing tolerances on the lip are very low.

US 6,179,505 B1 discloses an applicator comprising a ball inside a dispensing opening and a support means for said ball.

An object of the invention is to obtain a product application head which provides a very effective seal when not in use, while being made at low cost.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a head of the aforementioned type according to claim 1.

The head according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features of claims 2 to 10, taken alone or in any technically possible combination.

The invention also relates to a device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product, according to claim 11.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a head as described above, according to claim 12.

The invention also relates to a method of applying a cosmetic product to a body surface a user, according to claim 13.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de trois-quarts face d'un premier dispositif de conditionnement et de distribution comportant une tête d'application selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue, prise en coupe suivant un plan axial médian, du dispositif de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de la tête d'application de la figure 1, sans organe rotatif d'application ;
• la figure 4 est une vue d'un détail d'un organe de sollicitation élastique de la tête de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue d'une section transversale de l'organe de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 2 de l'extrémité aval de la tête de la figure 2, dans une configuration d'obturation de l'ouverture aval ;
• la figure 7 est une vue analogue à la figure 6, dans une configuration de distribution de produit cosmétique ; et
• la figure 8 est une vue schématique, prise en coupe suivant un plan axial médian, d'un moule de réalisation de la tête de la figure 1.

The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the features according to claim 14, taken alone or in any technically possible combination:
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 perspective view of three-quarter faces of a first packaging and dispensing device comprising an application head according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a view, taken in section along a median axial plane, of the device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a top view of the application head of the figure 1 without rotary application member;
• the figure 4 is a view of a detail of an elastic biasing member of the head of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 is a view of a cross-section of the organ of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 2 from the downstream end of the head of the figure 2 in a shutter configuration of the downstream aperture;
• the figure 7 is a view similar to the figure 6 in a cosmetic product dispensing configuration; and
• the figure 8 is a schematic view, taken in section along a median axial plane, of an embodiment mold of the head of the figure 1 .

In what follows, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the normal direction of flow of a cosmetic product in the device according to the invention. The terms "outside" and "inside" refer to a container containing the cosmetic product.

A first device 10 for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product according to the invention is illustrated by the Figures 1 to 2 .

The cosmetic product is for example a liquid, especially a low viscosity liquid such as alcohol for example. Nevertheless, the cosmetic product used with the packaging device according to the invention can be of the low viscosity shampoo or gel type.

The cosmetic product is, for example, a care product for keratinous fibers, such as a product that prevents the keratin fibers from falling. More generally, the cosmetic product may be a product for coloring keratin fibers, a cleaning product, a solar product or a make-up product.

The device 10 comprises a container 12 containing the cosmetic product, and a cosmetic product application head 14, mounted on the container 12.

In this example, the head 14 is removably and reversibly mounted on the container 12. The container 12 then constitutes a cosmetic product refill that can be replaced when the cosmetic product contained in the container 12 is exhausted.

As illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 , the container 12 has a hollow wall 16 having a neck 18 on which the head 14 is mounted.

The hollow wall 16 defines an interior volume containing cosmetic product. The inner volume 20 opens with a downstream opening 22 defined by the neck 18.

The hollow wall 16 is for example made of glass, metal or plastic

Before assembly of the head 14 on the container 12, the downstream opening 22 is advantageously closed by a lid (not shown), which can be removed by the user of the device or can be pierced directly by the head 14.

With reference to Figures 1 to 7 the head 14 comprises a support sleeve 30 defining an inner product circulation passage 31 extending along an axis AA 'of product distribution. The head 14 comprises a rotatable member 32, mounted axially movable in the support sleeve 30, between a closed configuration of the inner passage 31 and a product distribution configuration.

The head 14 further comprises a resilient biasing assembly 34 of the rotary member 32 towards the closure configuration, and an assembly 36 for axially locking the rotary member 32 upstream.

The head 14 also comprises an outer skirt 38 for mounting on the container 12 and an attachment assembly 40 on the container 12. The head 14 advantageously comprises an inner skirt 42 for guiding the cosmetic product out of the container 12, inserted at least partially in the container 12.

In this example, the support sleeve 30, the biasing assembly 34, the axial locking assembly 36, the outer skirt 38, the fastening assembly 40, and the inner skirt 42 are all made of a single while being made of material, for example by molding, and in particular by injection molding.

These elements are for example made of a thermoplastic material.

As illustrated by figure 2 , the sleeve 30 has a tubular side wall 50 of axis AA 'internally defining the passage 31.

The side wall 50 has, at its downstream end, a lip 52 converging towards the axis A-A 'to a free edge 54 intended here to be applied to the rotary member 32.

The free edge 54 of the lip 52 defines a downstream opening 56 through which the passage 31 opens.

The passage 31 thus has an upstream region 58 of substantially constant cross-section, and a downstream region 60 of decreasing cross-section when moving towards the downstream opening 56.

The minimum cross section of the upstream region 58 is greater than the maximum cross section of the rotary member 32. The maximum cross section of the downstream region 60 is smaller than the maximum cross section of the rotary member 32.

The support sleeve 30 has, externally, or in combination with the outer skirt 38, a recess 61 for gripping the head 14 between the fingers of a user. The recess 61 promotes the gripping of the head 14 for application to a body surface of a user.

In this example, the rotary member 32 is constituted by a ball, rotatably mounted in the sleeve around a plurality of axes of rotation. Alternatively (not shown), the rotatable member 32 is constituted by a roller rotatably mounted about a single axis of rotation, preferably perpendicular to the axis A-A '.

Rotating member 32 is advantageously formed of metal, a plastic material, or a combination of metal and plastic.

As mentioned above, the rotary member 32 is mounted to be movable in translation in the support sleeve 30, along the axis A-A ', between the shutter configuration and the dispensing configuration.

In the shutter configuration, visible on the figure 6 , the rotary member 32 projects partly outside the support sleeve 30 through the downstream opening 56. It is applied in contact with the lip 52 over the entire periphery of the lip 52 and closes downstream the inner passage 31 and the downstream opening 56. The passage of cosmetic product from the inside of the passage 31 to the outside is thus prevented.

In the distribution configuration, visible on the figure 7 , the rotary member 32 has been partially retracted into the support sleeve 30. It partially releases the downstream opening 56. The passage of cosmetic product from the inner passage 31 to the outside is then possible in the intermediate space 62 delimited around the rotary member 32, between the rotary member 32 and the side wall 50.

The intermediate space 62 further has a downstream region of increasing glass section the downstream opening 56, to allow unobstructed flow of the cosmetic product.

In the dispensing configuration, the rotatable member 32 is further rotatable about at least one axis perpendicular to the axis A-A ', advantageously around a plurality of axes perpendicular to the axis A- AT'.

According to the invention, the biasing assembly 34 comprises an internal member 70 for supporting the rotary member 32, disposed in the center of the passage 31 along the axis A-A ', and at least one member 72 of elastic biasing the internal member 70, connecting the side wall 50 to the internal member 70.

The internal support member 70 extends along the axis A-A ', upstream of the downstream opening 56. It is disposed completely away from the inner surface of the support sleeve 30. It presents a maximum cross section less than 50% of the minimum cross section of the passage 31 opposite the member 70.

In this example, the internal support member 70 is formed by a substantially cylindrical body 74. The internal support member 70 delimits a downstream trough 76, of curvature substantially complementary to the outer curvature of the rotary member 32. The bowl downstream 76 emerges opposite the downstream opening 56.

The rotary member 32 is placed in abutment on the internal support member 70, advantageously being partially received in the downstream cup 76. It is not fixed on the internal member 70.

The internal support member 70 is movable in translation along the axis AA 'together with the rotatable member 32 between a downstream position for holding the organ rotary 32 in the shutter configuration and an upstream position of release of the rotary member 32 allowing the passage of the rotary member 32 in the dispensing configuration.

In the example illustrated by the figure 3 , the elastic biasing assembly 34 comprises a plurality of resilient biasing members 72 spaced angularly from each other.

The number of resilient biasing members 72 is for example between 1 and 5. Preferably, this number is between 2 and 4, for example 3 as on the figure 3 .

Preferably, the elastic biasing members 72 are angularly distributed around the axis A-A '.

Each elastic biasing member 72 extends transversely between an inner peripheral surface of the side wall 50 of the sleeve 30, directed towards the axis AA 'and an outer peripheral surface of the internal member 70, directed away from the axis A-A '.

In this example, each resilient biasing member 72 has a curved shape, for example a helix section shape.

With reference to the figure 4 each resilient biasing member 72 includes an arm 80 having an outer end 82 integral with the support sleeve 30 and an inner end 84 integral with the inner member 70.

In this example, the outer end 82 is located axially upstream of the inner end 84. Furthermore, the outer end 82 is angularly offset from the inner end 84 about the axis A-A ', taking into account of the curved shape of the arm 80.

In the example shown on the figure 3 , the angular offset of each outer end 82 relative to the inner end 84 is in the same direction about the axis AA 'for all the arms 80.

As illustrated by figure 5 each arm 80 here has a non-polygonal cross-section taken perpendicular to a local axis of the arm 80. The cross-section of the arm 80 is flared at each end 82, 84.

Each arm 80 has a maximum width less than its length, preferably less than at least twice its length.

Each elastic biasing member 72 is at rest in the downstream position of the internal member 70. It is elastically deformable during the passage of the internal member 70 from its downstream position to its upstream position, to exert an elastic biasing force on the internal member 70, tending to bring the inner member 70 to its downstream position.

The axial locking assembly 36 comprises at least one axial stop 90 for limiting the travel of the rotary member 32 upstream along the axis A-A '.

In this example, the axial locking assembly 36 has a plurality of axial stops 90. Each axial stop 90 is angularly disposed about the axis A-A 'between a pair of adjacent arms 80.

Each axial abutment 90 projects radially towards the axis AA 'from the inner surface of the support sleeve 30. Advantageously, each axial abutment 90 is located axially facing the internal member 70, being located radially at the deviation from internal organ 70.

In the example shown on the Figures 2 and 3 , each stop 90 is formed by an axial wing, of thickness less than its maximum height, taken along the axis A-A '. Its radial extent is smaller than that of the adjacent members 72, advantageously less than 50% of the radial extent of the adjacent arms.

Thus, in section in a transverse plane passing through the internal member 70, the maximum section occupied by each fin is less than 10% of the maximum section of the passage 21.

Each axial abutment 90 thus has a small bulk, allowing the effective distribution of cosmetic product through the passage 31.

Each axial abutment 90 is fixed axially with respect to the sleeve 30. It has a fixed downstream surface 92 for blocking the rotary member 32, advantageously inclined upstream by moving towards the axis AA 'from the inner surface of the side wall 50.

In the dispensing configuration, the rotary member 32 abuts against the downstream surface 92 of each axial abutment 90, which prevents the upstream displacement of the rotatable member 32 beyond this configuration.

The axial position of the downstream surface 92 is advantageously chosen to prevent the deformation of each resilient biasing member 72 beyond the elastic domain. This preserves the elastic properties of each member 72 and ensures that the seal provided by the rotatable member 32 in contact with the side wall 50, continues over time.

The outer skirt 38 extends the support sleeve 30 upstream. It has an upstream region 94 of increasing cross section and a substantially tubular downstream region 96 of substantially constant cross section. It delimits an interior space 98 for receiving the neck 18 of the container 12, which opens through an upstream axial opening 100.

The fastening assembly 94 comprises at least one axial locking projection 102 of the container 12 and a ratchet relief 104 intended to engage the receptacle 12 under the neck 18.

Each locking projection 102 extends in the intermediate space between the inner skirt 42 and the outer skirt 38.

The inner skirt 42 extends in the upstream axial extension of the support sleeve 30, in the outer skirt 38. It has a length, taken along the axis A-A 'less than the length of the outer skirt 38.

In this example, it has a tubular shape of substantially constant section.

The skirt 42 delimits internally a guide duct 110 opening downstream into the internal passage 31, and intended to open upstream in the interior volume 20 of the container 12 when the head 14 is mounted on the container 12.

As previously stated, at least the lateral wall 50 of the support sleeve 30 and the biasing assembly 34 are made in one piece and are integrally formed by injecting material into a mold 120 schematically illustrated in FIG. figure 8 .

Advantageously, the support sleeve 30, the biasing assembly 34, the axial locking assembly 36, the outer skirt 38, the fastening assembly 40, and the inner skirt 42 are all made in one piece in one piece. having come from material in the same mold 120.

For this purpose, the mold 120 comprises a first cavity 122 for forming the internal member 70, a second cavity 124 for forming at least the lateral wall 50, and, for each elastic biasing member 72, an intermediate cavity 126 connecting the first cavity 122 to the second cavity 124.

The mold 120 defines a central supply channel 128, which opens into the first cavity 122 for supplying clean fluid material to solidify, the first cavity 122, then successively, each intermediate cavity 126 and the second cavity 124.

The mold 120 is thus devoid of a supply channel opening directly into the second cavity 124 and / or in each intermediate cavity 126.

To form the head 14, the fluid material capable of solidifying is introduced into the mold 120 through the channel 128. It enters the first cavity 122 and fills the cavity 122 to form the internal member 70. Moreover, the material excess introduced through the channel 128 passes through each intermediate cavity 126 to feed the second cavity 124 and thus form each resilient biasing member 72 and the side wall 50.

The material injected into the mold 120 thus distributes homogeneously in the second cavity 124, especially when a plurality of intermediate cavities 126 angularly distributed around the first cavity 122 are present. This improves the distribution of material in the second cavity 124 and thus the manufacturing quality of the side wall 50 by avoiding the ovalization of the lip 52.

An injection point 130 is thus present on the internal member 70 in the bowl 76 after solidification of the material.

The head 14 thus formed is then extracted from the mold 120. The rotary member 32 is then forcefully introduced into the support sleeve 30 through the downstream opening 56.

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

Initially, the head 14 and the reservoir 12 are advantageously provided separately. The downstream opening 22 of the reservoir 12 is closed, for example by a removable or frangible cap.

When the user wishes to mount the head 14 on the tank 12, it releases the downstream opening 22 of the container 12, in particular by releasing the lid.

Then, the user engages the head 14 around the neck 18 of the reservoir 12. To this end, he introduces the neck 18 into the outer skirt 38 through the upstream opening 98. He moves the head 14 towards the reservoir 12 to introduce the internal skirt 42 in the inner volume 20 of the reservoir through the downstream opening 22, until the attachment assembly 40 engages the neck 18. The inner skirt 42 is forced into the opening downstream 22 of the reservoir 12, thereby sealing between the head 14 and the reservoir 12 during use of the device 10. Alternatively, the head 14 can be screwed or clipped onto the reservoir 12.

This being done, each elastic biasing member 72 maintains the inner member 70 in its downstream position, to push the rotary member 32 into its closed configuration.

The rotary member 32 then bears against the lip 52 of the side wall 50 in at least one circumference about the axis A-A ', which closes downstream the inner passage 31, and in particular the intermediate space 62 located between the side wall 50 and the rotatable member 32.

The rotary member 32 is then located axially away from each stop 90, downstream thereof.

The cosmetic product contained in the container 12 is unfit to flow out of the head 14. The device 10 thus formed can be stored and / or transported with a very limited risk of product leakage.

This risk is even lower than by manufacturing, the quality of the sealing lip 52 and its low ovality greatly limit any sealing defects.

When the user wishes to apply cosmetic product to a body surface, he grasps the head 14 between his fingers, for example at the recess 61.

Then, the user directs the rotary member 32 towards the body surface and applies this member 32 against the body surface.

During this application, the rotary member 32 moves axially upstream with respect to the lateral wall 50, against the biasing force generated by each resilient biasing member 72.

The axial displacement of the rotary member 32 causes the joint movement of the internal member 70 and the elastic deformation of each biasing member 72.

This displacement is possible until the rotary member 32 comes into contact with at least one stop 90. The axial stroke of the rotatable member 32 being limited, the deformation of each resilient biasing member 72 is controlled, for avoid going beyond the elastic domain.

As illustrated by figure 7 , the intermediate space 62 between the rotary member 32 and the side wall 50 is then open, and opens downstream in the downstream opening 56 partially released.

The cosmetic product is then able to flow from the internal volume 20, through the conduit 110 provided in the inner skirt 42, then successively through the inner passage 31, between the stops 90 and in the intermediate space 62 until at the downstream opening 56.

The flow of the cosmetic product is effected with a regulated flow rate proportional to the force applied by the user.

This product is deposited on the body surface. Simultaneously, the user can rotate the rotating member 32 to produce a massage of the body surface, promoting the application of the cosmetic product.

When the user has finished applying the product, he moves the rotatable member 32 away from the body surface. Each elastic biasing member 72 then pushes the internal member 70 downstream and brings the rotary member 32 together in its shutter configuration, spontaneously and without user intervention.

The head 14 according to the invention is therefore particularly easy to use and guarantees an effective seal when not in use.

Advantageously, if the cosmetic product contained in the interior volume 20 of the reservoir 12 is exhausted, or if the user wishes to use another cosmetic product contained in another reservoir 12, the user can disengage the head 14 away from the reservoir 12 and reassemble it on another tank 12.

Claims (14)

1. Head (14) for applying a cosmetic product to a body surface of a user, comprising:

   - a sleeve (30) for receiving a rotary member (32) for applying product, the sleeve (30) having a lateral wall (50) which defines an internal passage (31) opening axially along a product dispensing axis (A-A') through a downstream opening (56) for dispensing product;

   - an internal member (70) for supporting the rotary member (32), which internal member is arranged in the internal passage (31) upstream of the downstream opening (56), the internal member (70) being movable axially between a downstream position for holding the rotary member (32) in a configuration for closing the downstream opening and an upstream position for freeing the rotary member (32);

   - at least one member (72) for resiliently biasing the internal support member (70) towards its downstream position;

   wherein the or each resilient biasing member (72) transversely connects the internal member (70) to the lateral wall (50) in the internal passage (31), and
   wherein the or each resilient biasing member (72) has a curved shape between the lateral wall (50) and the internal member (70).
2. Head (14) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of resilient biasing members (72) spaced angularly around the dispensing axis (A-A'), each resilient biasing member (72) transversely connecting the internal support member (70) to the lateral wall (50) of the sleeve in the internal passage (31).
3. Head (14) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the internal member (70) extends to the centre of the internal passage (31), transversely apart from the lateral wall (50).
4. Head (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internal member (70), the or each resilient biasing member (72) and the lateral wall (50) are formed in one piece, the internal member (70) defining a material injection point (130).
5. Head (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internal member (70) delimits a downstream cup (76) arranged opposite the downstream opening (56).
6. Head (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one stop (90) for blocking the axial movement of the rotary member (32), which stop projects into the internal passage (31) starting from the lateral wall (50).
7. Head (14) according to claim 6, characterised in that the blocking stop (90) is formed by an axial fin.
8. Head (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an external skirt (38) which is to engage around a container (12) for cosmetic product, the external skirt (38) extending downstream as a continuation of the receiving sleeve (30).
9. Head (14) according to claim 8, characterised in that it comprises an internal skirt (42) which is to be inserted into a container (12) for cosmetic product, the internal skirt (42) delimiting an upstream conduit (110) for circulation of product which opens downstream into the internal passage (31).
10. Head (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a rotary member (32) for applying product which is mounted in the receiving sleeve (30) resting on the internal member (70),
    the rotary member (32) being mounted to be movable conjointly with the internal member (70) between a configuration for closing the internal passage (31), in which the rotary member (32) projects partially out of the support sleeve (30) in order to close the internal passage (31) downstream, and a product dispensing configuration, in which the rotary member (32) partially frees the internal passage (31) downstream in order to allow product to flow through the downstream opening (56) between the rotary member (32) and the lateral wall (50).
11. Device (10) for the packaging and dispensing of cosmetic product, comprising:

    - a head (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the head (14) comprising a rotary member (32) for applying product which is mounted in the receiving sleeve (30) resting on the internal member (70),
    the rotary member (32) being mounted to be movable conjointly with the internal member (70) between a configuration for closing the internal passage (31), in which the rotary member (32) projects partially out of the support sleeve (30) in order to close the internal passage (31) downstream, and a product dispensing configuration, in which the rotary member (32) partially frees the internal passage (31) downstream in order to allow product to flow through the downstream opening (56) between the rotary member (32) and the lateral wall (50);

    - a container (12) which is to receive cosmetic product, the head (14) being mounted on the container (12).
12. Method for producing a head (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

    - providing a mould (120) which defines a first cavity (122) for forming the internal support member (70), a second cavity (124) for forming the lateral wall (50), and at least one intermediate cavity (126) for forming a resilient biasing member (72) having a curved shape between the lateral wall (50) and the internal member (70), the or each intermediate cavity (124) transversely connecting the first cavity (32) and the second cavity (124);

    - injecting into the first cavity (122) a fluid material which, after solidifying, is to form the internal member (70), the lateral wall (50) and the or each resilient biasing member (72);

    - successively filling the or each intermediate cavity (126) and then the second cavity (124) with the material injected into the first cavity (122);

    - at least partially solidifying the fluid material to form the head (14).
13. Method for applying a cosmetic product to a body surface of a user, comprising the following steps:

    - providing a device (10) according to claim 11;

    - applying the rotary member (32) to a body surface of a user;

    - conjointly moving the rotary member (32) and the internal support member (70) towards the dispensing configuration, against the resilient biasing member (72);

    - dispensing cosmetic product around the rotary member (32) by the flow of product between the rotary member (32) and the lateral wall (50).
14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that it comprises, after the dispensing step, resiliently biasing the internal support member (70) towards its downstream position by the or each resilient biasing member (72), in order to push the rotary member (32) back into its closing configuration.

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