EP3039988B1 - Refill for hair-treatment device with latching relief - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to devices for treating the hair, and more particularly but not exclusively those for shaping the hair, in particular for smoothing, wrapping or embossing the hair, comprising a refill cosmetic product.

The invention relates more particularly to devices comprising two jaws movable relative to each other, which can take a configuration of introduction of a lock of hair between them and a close configuration, treatment of the wick, the jaws being movable in this configuration close together along the wick. In such devices, the jaws most often carry two heating elements in contact with which the hair is brought during the use of the device.

Background

Many devices of this type, sometimes called straighteners, have already been proposed.

Usually, the hair straighteners consist of two arms connected to each other by means of a hinge which allows the opening and closing of the latter and at least one heating element disposed on the arms. During styling operations of a lock of hair, the latter is introduced between the two arms in the open position, then the two arms are closed manually on the lock of hair. The lock of hair is then subjected, until the opening of the two arms and the extraction of the lock of hair, to the heat emitted by the heating element.

Requirement WO 2009/078046 discloses a styling apparatus comprising two arms interconnected to allow the opening and closing of the apparatus, at least one heating member and at least one receiving seat of a capillary treatment device, the latter allowing dispensing in operation, a hair product. The hair treatment device is composed of a support material impregnated with a hair product and adapted for a single use.

WO 2009/015027 and US 2009/0025247 disclose a device for smoothing the hair, allowing the application of a hair product by contact with the hair. The hair product to be applied is contained in a removable refill allowing its application. This comprises a reservoir containing the capillary product in gelled form and dispensing and application openings of the product, made directly through a wall of the reservoir. The refill is introduced into a housing disposed on one of the two arms of the hair straightener, by sliding.

It is known from the demand WO 2013/045331 an applicator for applying a hair care substance, having a care substance cartridge received in a housing of the applicator. The cartridge has a porous support soaked with the care substance.

Requirement WO 2013/090896 relates to a hair treatment apparatus, especially a styling device, comprising a treatment agent support, in particular a porous impregnated material, to be applied to the hair or the skin. The support is attached to an accessory, itself removably mounted on a hair treatment apparatus. The support has a T-shape for mounting in a groove complementary to the accessory.

There is a need to further improve the devices for applying a hair product to allow the user to easily reload the device into a hair product and / or change the hair product to be applied.

summary

• un corps présentant une cavité formée par au moins partiellement deux parois opposées et un fond, et s'ouvrant vers l'extérieur par une ouverture, et
• un organe d'application inséré selon un axe d'insertion X dans la cavité du corps, et s'étendant hors de la cavité par l'ouverture,

The subject of the invention is, according to a first of its aspects, a refill for a device for treating the hair, comprising:

• a body having a cavity formed by at least partially two opposite walls and a bottom, and opening outwardly through an opening, and
• an applicator member inserted along an insertion axis X into the body cavity and extending out of the cavity through the opening,

At least one of the walls and the bottom of the cavity comprises at least one engaging relief engaging the applicator member to oppose its extraction from the cavity, this attachment relief being asymmetrical by relative to a median transverse plane for the latter so that the insertion force of the applicator member in the cavity is lower than that of extraction.

The applicator member can be easily inserted into the cavity and extracted more easily. This makes it possible to have a good maintenance of the application member in the latter. The asymmetry of the hooking relief allows in particular to have insertion properties of the application member different from its extraction properties.

The insertion and extraction of the application member are here performed in the same direction, but in opposite directions.

The hooking relief can be shaped to damage the application member during the extraction of the latter. Thus, the application member is not reusable, which limits the health risks associated with its reuse.

The hooking relief may be shaped to separate, in particular by means of a break, from the wall or the bottom which bears it during the extraction of the cavity application member, so that the refill is not reusable.

The difference ΔF between the insertion force and the extraction force of the cavity application member may be greater than or equal to 3 N, preferably greater than or equal to 4 N.

Preferably, the applicator member is made of a porous material, in particular synthetic or natural fibers all oriented substantially in the same direction and assembled to form a felt. The applicator member may have a fiber density of between 0.080 g / cm ³ and 0.400 g / cm ³ . Such a material makes it possible in particular to condition and apply the cosmetic product.

Alternatively, the applicator member comprises at least two portions having different fiber densities and / or fiber orientations. For example, one of the two parts may form a product reservoir and the other allow the application of the cosmetic product.

The applicator member is preferably impregnated with a cosmetic product.

Preferably, the applicator member is compressible. During insertion of the applicator member into the cavity, the latter may locally deform in contact with the hooking relief and substantially conform to the shape of the cavity. During the extraction of the application member of the cavity, the hooking relief can retain the applicator member in the latter especially in engagement with the latter, in particular with the fibers of the body of the body. 'application.

The applicator member may include pre-cut areas intended to tear during the extraction of the cavity of the latter, making the applicator member non-reusable.

Preferably, the attachment relief extends from said wall or said bottom in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the fibers of the applicator member. In this configuration, the hooking relief, engaging the fibers of the applicator member perpendicularly to the latter, can tear the fibers, which damages the applicator member and prevents reuse.

Preferably, the cavity has a height H , defined from the opening along the insertion axis X, the attachment relief extending along the insertion axis X over a length l less than this height. H.

• croissante sur toute la longueur l du relief d'accrochage selon l'axe d'insertion X de l'organe d'application, ou
• croissante sur une première portion de longueur l₁ selon l'axe d'insertion X puis décroissante sur une deuxième portion de longueur l₂ selon l'axe d'insertion X, le rapport des longueurs l₂ /l₁ étant inférieur à 1, de préférence inférieur ou égal à 0,5, encore mieux inférieur ou égal à 0,2, ou
• croissante sur une première portion de longueur l₁ selon l'axe d'insertion X puis constante sur une deuxième portion de longueur l₃ selon l'axe d'insertion X, l'épaisseur de la deuxième portion étant inférieure à l'épaisseur maximale e_max de la première portion.

Preferably, the hooking relief has a thickness e , measured in a plane perpendicular to said wall or said bottom, variable along the axis of insertion X. The thickness e is, preferably:

• increasing throughout the length l of the hooking relief along the insertion axis X of the application member, or
• increasing on a first portion of length l ₁ along the insertion axis X and then decreasing on a second portion of length l ₂ along the axis of insertion X, the ratio of the lengths l ₂ / l ₁ being less than 1, preferably less than or equal to 0.5, more preferably less than or equal to 0.2, or
• increasing on a first portion of length l ₁ along the insertion axis X and then constant on a second portion of length l ₃ along the insertion axis X, the thickness of the second portion being less than the maximum thickness e _max of the first portion.

This makes it possible to have an attachment relief having a lower slope in the direction of insertion of the applicator member than that in the direction of extraction. This allows in particular to make the extraction of the application member more difficult.

When the attachment relief is on one of the opposite walls, the opposite walls may, at a height h non-zero from the bottom of the cavity, be devoid of relief hooking. Therefore, the applicator member extends, once introduced into the cavity, at least partially under the hooking relief in the cavity. This allows the snagging relief a better grip on the application member, including its fibers, in the direction of its extraction.

• une première face orientée vers l'ouverture ayant une pente moyenne formant un angle α inférieur ou égal à 45° avec l'axe d'insertion X, et
• une deuxième face orientée vers le côté opposé à l'ouverture ayant une pente moyenne formant un angle β supérieur ou égal à 45° avec l'axe d'introduction X, mieux supérieur ou égal à 80°, encore mieux supérieur ou égal à 90°.

Preferably, the or each attachment relief has:

• a first face oriented towards the aperture having a mean slope forming an angle α less than or equal to 45 ° with the insertion axis X, and
• a second face facing the opposite side to the opening having a mean slope forming an angle β greater than or equal to 45 ° with the insertion axis X, better than or equal to 80 °, more preferably greater than or equal to 90 °.

The first face and the second face may form, at their junction, an angle γ less than or equal to 110 °, better than or equal to 90 ° and / or greater than 45 °.

The hooking relief may have at least one edge, in particular a longitudinal edge and / or a transverse edge at the junction between the first and second faces.

The hooking relief may be, in longitudinal section, of substantially triangular shape, especially when the latter is on one of the opposite walls, or in the form of an arrow, the tip being oriented towards the opening of the cavity, particularly when the hanging relief is on the bottom.

When the hooking relief is on one of the opposite walls, the hooking relief may be, in cross section, of semicircular shape or not, in particular polygonal, in particular rectangular, square or triangular. When the hooking relief is on the bottom, the attachment relief may be, in cross section, of circular shape or not, including polygonal.

The maximum thickness e _max of the attachment relief, measured in a plane perpendicular to said wall or to said base on which it is connected, may be between 0.2 mm and 3 mm, better still between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. .

The hooking relief may extend along the axis of insertion X over a length l of between 1 mm and 30 mm, better still between 5 mm and 15 mm.

The hooking relief may have a maximum width k , taken parallel to said wall, between 0.2 mm and 5 mm, better between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

Preferably, the attachment relief is molded with the body.

Alternatively, the attachment relief is reported in the cavity. The attachment relief may be in a different material of the body.

The attachment relief may comprise a thinned zone, in particular a zone of smaller width, configured to break if the user removes the applicator member from the cavity.

At least one of the walls or the bottom may comprise a plurality of attachment reliefs. At least one wall or the bottom may have fewer than 10 attachment reliefs, better between 3 and 8 hooking reliefs.

All the hooking reliefs may be identical. In a variant, at least one of the attachment reliefs is different from the others.

One of the two opposite walls and / or the bottom may be devoid of hooking relief or the two opposite walls and / or the bottom may each have at least one attachment relief.

The hooking reliefs of one of the opposite walls may be located vis-à-vis the hooking reliefs on the other opposite walls. In a variant, the hooking reliefs of one of the opposite walls alternate with the hooking reliefs of the other of the opposite walls.

One of the two opposite walls may comprise at least one projecting compression relief. The other of the two opposite walls preferably comprises hooking reliefs, the compression relief coming to support the applicator member against the hooking reliefs of the other of the side walls.

Preferably, the opposite walls are flat and parallel to each other. The bottom can be plane.

Preferably, the cavity is elongate in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis.

Preferably, the cavity is closed elsewhere than at the opening.

Preferably, the cavity has substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

Preferably, the body of the refill has, in cross section, a shape of U.

Preferably, the applicator member has a shape complementary to that of the cavity, in particular the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

The cavity may be delimited by a front wall and a rear wall opposite to the front wall, two opposite side walls and a bottom against which the applicator member can abut. At least one of the front and rear walls and the side walls and the bottom has a hooking relief.

The body of the refill may be made of thermoplastic material, in particular polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), elastomer, polypropylene, copolyester, especially Tritan®, or their mixture, in particular a mixture of PBT and PET.

The applicator member is preferably already conditioned in place in the cavity.

• deux bras mobiles l'un relativement à l'autre entre une configuration rapprochée de traitement de la chevelure et une configuration écartée d'engagement entre eux de cheveux à traiter, l'un des bras comportant un logement,
• une recharge selon l'invention, telle que définie précédemment, disposée de façon amovible dans le logement.

The invention further relates to a device for treating the hair, comprising:

• two movable arms relative to each other between a close configuration of treatment of the hair and a configuration apart from engagement between them of hair to be treated, one of the arms comprising a housing,
• a refill according to the invention, as defined above, removably disposed in the housing.

The use of a refill allows the user to easily apply different hair products by simply changing the refill.

This also allows the user to be able to change the refill when it no longer contains enough cosmetics or more.

The opposite arm to that on which the refill is disposed may have a steam outlet, and preferably also a comb.

Preferably, especially when one seeks to smooth the hair, the device comprises a heating element intended to come into contact with the hair, and better two heating elements each arranged on an arm. This or these heating elements may each comprise a plate of a good heat-conducting material, defining a hot surface of contact with the hair, whose temperature is for example greater than or equal to 95 ° C, better between 90 and 230 ° vs.

Preferably, the application of product on the lock of hair introduced into the device is done before the application of steam and / or smoothing by the heating element (s) and / or combing. Thus, the hair introduced between the arms can come into contact with the applicator member before being exposed to the steam and the heating elements during movement of the wick between the arms of the device.

Preferably, the hair treatment device according to the invention is a straightener with flat heating elements, in particular coming into contact in close configuration of the arms.

• la figure 1 représente, en perspective, un exemple de dispositif de traitement de la chevelure,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 illustre, en perspective, un exemple de corps de la recharge,
• la figure 4 est une vue du dessus selon IV de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale selon V-V des figures 3 et 4,
• la figure 6 représente, en section transversale selon VI-VI de la figure 5, un relief d'accrochage selon les figures 3 à 5,
• la figure 7 est, en perspective, une variante de corps de la recharge,
• la figure 8 est une vue du dessus selon VIII de la figure 6,
• la figure 9 représente une vue en coupe transversale selon IX-IX des figures 7 et 8,
• la figure 10 représente, en coupe selon X-X de la figure 9, un relief d'accrochage des figures 7 à 9,
• les figures 11A à 11M sont des vues en coupe transversale de variantes de corps de la recharge,
• les figures 12A à 12E représentent, en vue du dessus, des variantes de relief d'accrochage, et
• les figures 13A à 13C sont des vues de dessus de variantes de corps de la recharge.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• the figure 1 represents, in perspective, an example of a device for treating the hair,
• the figure 2 is a sectional view along II-II of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 illustrates, in perspective, an example of the body of the refill,
• the figure 4 is a view from above according to IV of the figure 3 ,
• the figure 5 is a cross-sectional view according to VV of Figures 3 and 4 ,
• the figure 6 represents, in cross-section according to VI-VI of the figure 5 , a hooking relief according to the Figures 3 to 5 ,
• the figure 7 is, in perspective, a variant of the body of the refill,
• the figure 8 is a view from above according to VIII of the figure 6 ,
• the figure 9 represents a cross-sectional view along IX-IX of Figures 7 and 8 ,
• the figure 10 represents, in section according to XX of the figure 9 , an attachment relief of Figures 7 to 9 ,
• the Figures 11A to 11M are cross-sectional views of body variants of the refill,
• the Figures 12A to 12E represent, in view from above, variations of hooking relief, and
• the Figures 13A to 13C are top views of body variants of the refill.

In the remainder of the description, identical elements or identical functions bear the same reference sign. For the sake of brevity of the present description, they are not described with respect to each of the figures, only the differences between the embodiments being described.

Representatives figures 1 and 2 the handpiece 2 of an example of a device for treating the hair of the invention.

This handpiece 2 has two jaws 3 and 4 movable relative to each other between a spaced configuration (not shown) of introduction between them of a lock of hair and a close configuration of treatment.

The jaws 3 and 4 are carried by respective upper 5 and lower arms 6, which are, in this example, interconnected at one end by a hinge 8, the handpiece 2 thus forming a clamp.

The upper and lower arms 6 each preferably have a total length of between 22 cm and 37 cm, preferably 31 cm, and define, between the hinge 8 and the jaws 3 and 4, respective half-handles 10 and 11 on which the user can press to bring the jaws 3 and 4 closer together.

An elastic return member (not apparent) is preferably provided to return the jaws 3 and 4 in the spaced configuration, this elastic return member being for example a spring disposed about an axis of the hinge 8.

The invention is not limited to a particular way of connecting the upper and lower arms 6 to each other and the jaws 3 and 4 can be made mobile otherwise without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of a joint is widely preferred for the ergonomics it brings.

The jaws 3 and 4 define between them a hair treatment zone intended to receive a strand of hair to be treated, along which the handpiece 2 is moved during the treatment, for example in the direction from the root towards the tip of the hair.

In the example considered, the handpiece 2 is configured to apply a cosmetic product, provide treatment of the hair with steam, and then heat treatment of the hair by contact with two hot surfaces 15 and 16.

The direction D of movement of the handpiece 2 on the hair, illustrated on the figure 4 , is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 5 and lower 6.

The handpiece 2 is connected by a cord, in the example considered, to a base station not shown, fixed during the treatment, connected to the sector.

This base station provides power to the handpiece 2 and its water supply for steam generation and can also perform ancillary functions for processing electrical signals received from the handpiece 2. The cord 18 which connects the handpiece 2 to the base station can thus include various electrical conductors and a water supply pipe.

A user interface, not shown in the figures, may be present on the handpiece 2 to allow the user for example to start or not certain components thereof.

The application of the cosmetic product is ensured by a refill 20 carried by one of the two arms, 5 or 6, here, the upper arm 5 which comes into contact with a pressing element 21. The latter can be removable.

The refill 20 comprises a body 23 and an applicator member 26 arranged to come into contact with the hair extending through the treatment zone.

The refill 20 can be fixed on the arm 5 or 6 by any means, in particular, as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 , not sliding a rib of the body 23 in a groove of complementary shape.

The body 23 has a cavity 30 opening outwards through an opening 31 into which, along an insertion and extraction axis X (hereinafter insertion axis X), the body application 26 during the manufacture of the refill. The body 23 has hooking reliefs 32 extending into the cavity 30.

The body 23 is illustrated in more detail on the Figures 3 to 6 .

The body 23 has substantially the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and is elongate along a longitudinal axis Z. In cross section, the body 23 has, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 , a U shape.

The body 23 has a front wall 38 and a rear wall 40 opposite, connected by two side walls 34 and 36 and a bottom 42.

The hooking reliefs 32 are each asymmetrical with respect to their median axis M.

The hooking reliefs 32 extend from the two opposite side walls 34 and 36 of the body 30 and are all identical. Each side wall 34 or 36 has five hooking reliefs but it may be otherwise. The attachment reliefs 32 of one of the two walls 34 and 36 are arranged vis-à-vis the attachment reliefs 32 of the other of these walls.

The hooking reliefs 32 are elongate along the insertion axis X and have, in longitudinal section as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 , a substantially triangular shape. In cross section as illustrated on the figure 6 these latter have a substantially rectangular shape, their maximum width k being smaller than their maximum thickness e _max .

Each attachment relief 32 has a first flat face 46 facing the opening 31 and parallel to the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 30 and a second flat face 48 facing towards the bottom 42.

The first face 46 forms an angle α with the insertion axis X, substantially equal to 10 °, and extends over the entire length l of the hooking relief 32. The second face 48 is substantially perpendicular to the axis The first face 46 and the second face 48 have a common edge 49. The first and second faces 46 and 48 form an angle γ between them equal to β-α , that is to say substantially equal to 80 °. The hooking relief 32 can thus have, as illustrated, an increasing thickness e along its entire length 1 .

The first flat face 46 is connected to the wall from which it extends 34 or 36 by two flat faces 50 and 52 forming the sides of the hooking relief 32. The faces 50 and 52 form with the longitudinal axis X an angle equal to the angle α that forms the first face 46.

The attachment reliefs 32 are molded with the body 23.

The body 23 and the attachment reliefs 32 are made of thermoplastic material, in particular polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene, copolyester, especially Tritan®, in elastomer or in their mixture, in particular in a mixture of PBT and PET.

The attachment reliefs 32 extend over a length l of the opening 31 to the bottom 42, here equal to about 10 mm. The maximum thickness e _max of the hooking reliefs 32 from the wall 34 or 36 is here equal to about 1.5 mm. The maximum width k of the attachment reliefs 32, taken parallel to the wall 36 is here equal to about 1 mm.

The cavity 30 has a width K equal to about 8 mm, a length L equal to about 90 mm and a height H equal to about 15 mm.

The side walls 34 and 36 do not have attachment reliefs 32 over a height h from the bottom equal to H - 1, here about 5 mm.

Alternatively, the first and second faces 46 and 48 are connected by a rounded portion 49.

The applicator member 26 is of substantially rectangular parallelepipedal shape, in particular of dimensions equal to those of the cavity 30.

• de forme complémentaire de celle de la cavité 30,
• formé de fibre orientées toutes sensiblement selon l'axe longitudinal Z de la cavité 30 et
• présentant une densité de fibres comprise entre 0,080 g/cm³ et 0,400g/cm³.

Such a refill 20 is particularly suitable when the applicator member 26 is a felt:

• of complementary shape to that of the cavity 30,
• formed of fiber all oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 30 and
• having a fiber density of between 0.080 g / cm ³ and 0.400 g / cm ³ .

The example of Figures 7 to 10 differs from that of Figures 3 to 6 by the shape of the attachment reliefs 32. In cross-section as illustrated on the figure 10 , the hooking reliefs 32 have a shape of a right triangle. Each hooking projection 32 has two first flat faces 46a and 46b extending longitudinally along the entire length l of the hooking relief 32 and a second face 48. The latter is identical to that described above. The first two faces 46a and 46b extend from the wall 36 to a common longitudinal edge 60. They form between them an angle λ substantially equal to 45 °. The edge 64 and the first two faces 46a and 46b form an angle α with the insertion axis X substantially equal to 5 °. The angle γ between the first 46a and 46b and the second face 48 is substantially equal to 85 °. The first face 60 is perpendicular to the wall 36.

The maximum thickness e _max and the maximum width k of the hooking reliefs 32 are here substantially equal to 0.8 mm.

• de forme complémentaire de celle de la cavité 30,
• formé de fibre orientées toutes sensiblement selon l'axe longitudinal Z de la cavité 30 et
• présentant une densité de fibres comprise entre 0,080 g/cm³ et 0,400 g/cm³.

Such a refill 20 is particularly suitable when the applicator member 26 is a felt:

• of complementary shape to that of the cavity 30,
• formed of fiber all oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis Z of the cavity 30 and
• having a fiber density of between 0.080 g / cm ³ and 0.400 g / cm ³ .

Examples of Figures 11A to 11M differ from those of the preceding figures by the shape, in longitudinal section, and / or the position of the attachment reliefs 32.

The example of figure 11A has hooking reliefs 32 in the form of half-fir in longitudinal section. Each attachment relief 32 has a plurality of ridges 49 oriented towards the bottom 42 of the body 23.

The example of Figure 11B has hooking reliefs 32 attached to the walls 34 and 36 of the body 23 and extending over the entire height H of the cavity 30.

The example of figure 11C has hooking reliefs 32 each having an edge 49 oriented towards the bottom 42. The second face 48 forms an angle β greater than 90 °, better than or equal to 135 °. The attachment reliefs 32 deform elastically. During the insertion of the applicator member 26, the attachment reliefs 32 deform by curving more towards the bottom of the cavity 30, so that the angle β increases and the distance from the edge to the wall 34 or 36 decreases. During the extraction of the application member 26, the attachment reliefs 32 may deform towards the opening 31 so that the angle β decreases, the distance from the tip 70 to the wall 34 or 36 increases and , deforming, further compresses the applicator member 26, making its extraction more difficult.

As a variant, the hooking reliefs 32 as described above are not deformable. The hooking reliefs 32 can extract the applicator member 26 to hook in the latter to prevent its extraction.

The example of figure 11D has hooking reliefs 32 reported on the walls 34 and 36 of the body 23. The hooking reliefs 32 are formed by cutting and folding plates 72 and 74 fitting on the side walls 34 and 36 of the body 23. The The hooking reliefs are formed of portions of the plates 72 and 74 folded towards the inside of the cavity. The attachment reliefs 32 are oriented downwards and form an angle θ with the walls 34 or 36 from which they extend, the angle θ is less than or equal to 90 °.

The first face or faces 46 or 46a and 46b of each attachment relief 32 of the figure 11E are convex outward.

The second face 48 of each attachment relief 32 of the figure 11F forms an angle β with insertion axis X that is less than 90 °. The attachment relief 32 thus comprises a first portion 32a increasing toward the bottom 42 and of length l ₁ and a second portion 32b decreasing towards the bottom 42 and length l ₂ . The ratio of lengths l ₂ / l ₁ is less than 0.2.

The first face 46, 60 or 62 of each attachment relief 32 of the figure 11G is concave towards the outside.

The example of figure 11H has hooking projections 32 in the form of tab perpendicular to the insertion axis X disposed in a recess 74 of the wall 34 or 36. The latter are elastically deformable. During the insertion of the applicator member 26, the attachment projections 32 may bend towards the bottom of the cavity 30 so that the angle β becomes greater than 90 °. During the extraction of the applicator member 26, the attachment reliefs 32 may deform towards the opening 31 so that the angle β decreases and, by deforming, further compress the application member. 26, making its extraction more difficult.

In the example shown on the figure 11I , the body 23 comprises, vis-à-vis the attachment reliefs 32, compression reliefs 76. These allow during the insertion of the applicator member 26 into the cavity 30 to compress the latter against the engaging relief 32 which faces it to further improve the retention of the applicator member 26. Here, the compression reliefs 76 extend over the entire length H of the cavity 30 and have a symmetrical shape according to their median and pillow-shaped axis.

In the examples illustrated on the Figures 11J to 11M , the hooking relief 32 is a relief of the bottom 42 which is in the form of an arrow having the tip 80 facing the opening 31 of the cavity 30. The distal end 82 of the boom, extending over a length l ₁ , is carried by a foot 84 of constant thickness. The latter widens from the tip 80 towards the bottom 42. The foot 84 is of constant thickness and is thinner than the largest thickness e _max of the distal end 82. Starting from the tip 80 towards the base the foot 84, the thickness is increasing along the length l ₁ of the distal end 82 and constant over the length l ₃ corresponding to at least a portion of the foot 84. The distal end 82 may be inverted V-shaped, as illustrated on the figure 11J , in the form of a triangle, as illustrated on the figure 11K , or inverted V-shaped with flanges parallel to the bottom 42 at each end of the V, as shown in FIG. figure 11L . The distal end can, as illustrated on the figure 11M present, at the tip 80, a recess 86.

Examples of Figures 12A to 12E differ from those Figures 3 to 10 by the shape, in cross section, of the hooking reliefs 32. The hooking reliefs 32 may be in the form of an isosceles triangle, as shown in FIG. figure 12A , in the shape of a semicircle, as shown on the figure 12B , of the form of a half-polygon, in particular a half-hexagon, as illustrated on the figure 12C , or of a rectangle having a maximum width k larger than its maximum thickness e _max , as illustrated in FIG. figure 12D . In the example shown on the figure 12E , the engaging relief 32 has a thinned zone 90, in particular at its junction with the wall 34. This thinned zone 90 can break when the user tries to remove the applicator member 26.

Examples of Figures 13A and 13C differ from those Figures 3 to 10 by the position of the attachment reliefs 32 on the body 23.

In the example of the figure 13A , the body 23 has two hooking reliefs 32 respectively disposed on the opposite front walls 38 and rear 40.

In the example of the Figure 13B , the body 23 has attachment reliefs 32 on only one of the side walls 34 or 36.

In the example of the figure 13C , the body 23 has hooking reliefs 32 on the bottom 42.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, the characteristics of which can be combined within non-illustrated variants.

For example, the body may comprise hooking reliefs on the opposite side walls, the front wall and the rear wall.

The applicator member may comprise at least two parts of fiber density and / or different fiber orientation

The phrase "with one" should be understood as synonymous with "comprising at least one".

Claims (14)

1. A refill (20) for a device for treating the hair, comprising:

   - a body (23) having a cavity (30) that is formed at least partially by two opposite walls (34, 36; 38, 40) and a bottom (42) and opens towards the outside by way of an opening (31), and

   - an applicator member (26) that is inserted into the cavity (30) in the body (23) along an insertion axis (X) and extends out of the cavity (30) through the opening (31), the applicator member preferably being impregnated with product,

   at least one of the walls (34, 36; 38, 40) and the bottom (42) comprising at least one coupling relief (32) that engages with the applicator member (26) in order to prevent it from being extracted from the cavity (30), this coupling relief (32) being asymmetrical relative to a median transverse plane for the latter such that the force for inserting the applicator member into the cavity is weaker than the extraction force, the insertion and extraction of the applicator member (26) being done in the same direction, but in opposite senses.
2. The refill according to Claim 1, wherein the difference ΔF between the force for inserting the applicator member into the cavity and the force for extracting it therefrom is greater than or equal to 3 N, preferably greater than or equal to 4 N.
3. The refill according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the cavity (30) has an elongate shape in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis.
4. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (30) has a height H, defined along the insertion axis (X) from the opening (31), the coupling relief (32) extending along the insertion axis (X) along a length 1 less than this height H.
5. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling relief (32) projects into the cavity (32) and has a thickness e, measured perpendicularly to said wall (34, 36; 38, 40), which is variable along the insertion axis (X), the thickness e

   - increasing along the entire length l of the along coupling relief (32), or

   - increasing along a first portion of length l₁ the insertion axis (X) and decreasing along a second portion of length l₂ along the insertion axis (X), the ratio between the lengths l₂ /l₁ being less than 1, better still less than or equal to 0.5, even better still less than or equal to 0.2, or

   - increasing along a first portion of length l₁ along the insertion axis X and then being constant along a second portion of length l₃ along the insertion axis X, the thickness of the second portion being less than the maximum thickness e_max of the first portion.
6. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each coupling relief (32) has:

   - a first face (46; 46a; 46b) that is oriented towards the opening (31) and has an average slope forming an angle α less than or equal to 45° with the introduction axis (X), and

   - a second face (48) that is oriented towards the side away from the opening (31) and has an average slope forming an angle β greater than or equal to 45° with the introduction axis (X), better still greater than or equal to 80°, even better still greater than or equal to 90°,

   the first face (46; 46a; 46b) and the second face (48) preferably forming an angle γ less than or equal to 110°, better still less than or equal to 90° and/or greater than 45°, at their meeting point.
7. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum thickness e_max of the coupling relief (32), measured in a plane perpendicular to the wall (34; 36; 38; 40) or to said bottom (42) to which it is attached, is between 0.2 mm and 3 mm, better still between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.
8. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling relief (32) extends along the insertion axis (X) along a length l of between 1 mm and 30 mm, better still between 5 mm and 15 mm.
9. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the walls (34; 36; 38; 40) or the bottom (42) comprises a plurality of coupling reliefs (32).
10. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the two opposite walls (34; 36; 38; 40) and/or the bottom (42) does not have a coupling relief (32).
11. The refill according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the two opposite walls (34; 36; 38; 40) each have at least one coupling relief (32), the coupling reliefs (32) on one of the opposite walls (34; 36; 38; 40) preferably being situated facing the coupling reliefs (32) on the other of the opposite walls (34; 36; 38; 40).
12. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator member (26) is made of a porous material, in particular of synthetic or natural fibres that are all oriented substantially in the same direction and moulded to form a felt, the coupling relief(s) (32) preferably extending from said wall (34, 36, 38, 40) in a direction generally perpendicular to that of the fibres of the applicator member (26).
13. The refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator member (26) has a fibre density of between 0.080 g/cm³ and 0.400 g/cm³.
14. A device for treating the hair, comprising:

    - two arms (3, 4) that are able to move relative to one another between a moved-together configuration for treating the hair and a spaced-apart configuration for inserting hair to be treated between said arms, one of the arms (3; 4) comprising a housing,

    - a refill (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is disposed in a removable manner in the housing.

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