ES2640166T3 - Touch effect device - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging and application device, comprising: - a first piece (2; 64), - a second piece (10; 40; 62) that can rotate with respect to the first around an axis of rotation (X), where a of the pieces comprises an elastically deformable leg (16; 46), made in the thickness of a tubular skirt of the corresponding piece, and the other piece comprises a relief (8; 45; 66), the leg and the relief being configured to cooperate so that the rotation of the second piece with respect to the first leads the leg to cross the relief by bending, with a flexion component parallel to the axis of rotation, where this franking is accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation that can Be perceived by the user.

Description

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Touch effect device

[0001] The present invention relates to conditioning and application devices, particularly those used in cosmetics.

[0002] These may be, for example, devices that contain a makeup or care product.

[0003] It is known to manufacture mascara conditioning and application devices with a relief in the container at the base of the neck and, in the closing capsule, with a tooth that can overcome the relief by elastic deformation with the in order to generate a tactile sensation, which the consumer perceives as a confirmation of the closure of the container.

[0004] It turns out that the plastic material is used and deformed after multiple successive openings of the container, so that said sensation tends to decrease in intensity, even to become imperceptible.

[0005] A solution that consists in increasing the size of the tooth to compensate for its wear is not completely satisfactory, because it increases the effort that is necessary to exert for the opening or closing of the container, which can be perceived negatively by the consumer .

[0006] There is, therefore, a need to further improve the devices that allow a hard point to be created in the screwing or unscrewing of a container and, more generally, a tactile sensation in any packaging, distribution or packaging device. application, where one piece can rotate with respect to another.

[0007] Some devices with tactile effect are described in US 5 992 656, EP 732 271 and FR 2 646 066. Application FR 2 697 506 describes a locking device for closing a cap screwed into a container. In addition, US 5 411 157 and WO 91/18799 are known, which describe containers comprising a neck in which a closure organ is placed.

[0008] The object of the invention is, according to one of its aspects, a packaging and application device, comprising:

- a first piece,

- a second piece that can rotate with respect to the first around a rotation axis,

where one of the pieces comprises an elastically deformable leg and the other piece comprises a relief, the leg and the relief are configured so that they cooperate in such a way that the rotation of the second piece with respect to the first leads the leg to cross the embossing folding, with a flexion component parallel to the axis of rotation, this postage that is accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation that can be perceived by the user.

[0009] By "bending component" in one direction, a displacement of at least one portion of the flexible leg in this direction must be understood.

[0010] The flexible leg according to the invention is different from an inviolability tongue and can be folded without damage and reversibly, including in the first use of the device.

[0011] Thanks to the use of a flexible leg in the invention, the problem of tooth wear or deformation of the plastic material found in the state of the art is avoided, and the production of a satisfactory tactile sensation can be obtained for longer , without on the other hand hinder the rotation of a piece with respect to the other.

[0012] For example, a substantially constant closure assembly can be obtained during the life span of the device.

[0013] The flexible leg can be made with a free end or, alternatively, be connected at its two ends to the piece that carries it and, in that case, have for example a medium portion that moves during the leg flexion , with a component parallel to the axis of rotation in this displacement. The movement can only be carried out in parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0014] The length of the leg is, for example, greater than or equal to 0.3 mm.

[0015] The piece that includes the flexible leg can also contain a stop end of travel in rotation, which can be supported on said relief. The latter may have an inclined surface, against which the

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leg when the relief is in contact with the stop. This can contribute to immobilizing the second piece at the end of the rotation path in a predetermined position.

[0016] The first piece may belong to a container, even be constituted by a container, and the second piece may belong to a closing organ of this container, even be constituted by a closing organ of the container, and carry the flexible leg .

[0017] For example, the second piece may be configured to be screwed onto the first. The second piece may, therefore, contain a threaded skirt configured to be screwed into a threaded neck of a container.

The leg is formed, for example, on a mounting skirt, for example internally threaded, of a closing capsule and the relief can be made at the base of the neck of the container, into which the mounting skirt is screwed.

[0018] The second piece may also constitute or belong to a push button that is operated by the user to act on a pump or an aerosol canister valve, this push button being for example axially movable with respect to the first piece, in addition to the rotatory motion.

[0019] The push button is, for example, mobile between a first position that allows its actuation to distribute the product and a second position that prevents this distribution. The relief can prevent the operation of the push button while it is not in the first position. The push button can contain a notch to receive the relief and allow the push button to be activated when it is in the first position. The second piece may contain an end stop in rotation, adjacent to the aforementioned notch.

[0020] The push button can contain two flexible legs made according to the invention, associated with two corresponding reliefs, to generate a first tactile sensation at the time of arrival at the position that allows the actuation and a second tactile sensation at the time. from the arrival to the position that prevents distribution.

[0021] The second piece can also be mobile, with respect to the first, between a distribution position in which a passage is opened that allows product distribution and a closing position in which said passage is closed by the second piece.

[0022] The second piece includes, for example, a hole that is in front of a product transport channel of the first piece, when the second piece is in said distribution position. The second piece can close the channel in the closed position. The second piece may contain two flexible legs, respectively associated with the distribution and closing positions. In this way, one of the flexible legs generates a tactile sensation when arriving at the closing position and the other when arriving at the distribution position.

[0023] For any embodiment, the flexible leg or each flexible leg made in one piece may have an inclination towards the other piece at rest.

[0024] The flexible leg or each flexible leg can be made in the thickness, for example between 0.4 and 2 mm, of a tubular skirt of the corresponding piece, for example of the second piece. In other words, the flexible leg can have two opposite faces that are cylindrical of revolution and coaxial. This tubular skirt can define a grip surface that allows it to be rotated.

[0025] The tubular skirt can support, directly or indirectly, a rod carrying an application organ, for example a mask brush. Said rod can be molded in one piece with the aforementioned tubular skirt, in some examples.

[0026] The tubular skirt can be inserted into an external capsule that defines a grip surface that allows the user to manipulate it.

[0027] The tubular skirt can be made with two flexible legs, diametrically opposite. These two legs can be symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis of rotation.

[0028] The displacement of the flexible leg during the relief of the relief may be greater than 0.1 mm, for example, and be particularly comprised between 0.1 and 2 mm.

[0029] The flexible leg can be made with or without thickening at its free end. The height of the relief can be between 0.1 and 1 mm.

[0030] The flexible leg or legs can be molded in one piece with the aforementioned tubular skirt, of the same material.

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[0031] The relief can be molded in one piece with the neck of the aforementioned container.

[0032] Independently or in combination with the foregoing, the invention relates, according to another of its aspects, to a packaging and application device, comprising:

- a first piece,

- a second piece that can rotate with respect to the first around a rotation axis,

where one of the pieces comprises an elastically deformable leg and the other piece comprises a relief, the leg and the relief are configured so that they cooperate in such a way that the rotation of the second piece with respect to the first leads the leg to cross the embossing bending, with a flexion component parallel to the axis of rotation, this franking that is accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation that can be perceived by the user, where the displacement of the leg is only carried out in parallel to the axis of rotation .

[0033] Independently or in combination with the foregoing, the invention relates, according to another of its aspects, to a packaging and application device, comprising:

- a first piece,

- a second piece that can rotate with respect to the first around a rotation axis,

where one of the pieces comprises an elastically deformable leg and the other piece comprises a relief, the leg and the relief are configured so that they cooperate in such a way that the rotation of the second piece with respect to the first leads the leg to cross the embossing folding, with a flexion component parallel to the axis of rotation, this postage that is accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation that can be perceived by the user, where the second piece belongs to a push button that is operated by the user to act on a pump or an aerosol canister valve, where this push button is mobile between a first position that allows the push button to be operated to distribute the product and a second position that prevents this distribution.

[0034] The invention may be better understood by reading the following detailed description, the non-limiting examples of this and by observing the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 represents in elevation a device according to a first example of embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1,

- figure 3 represents in elevation, in isolation, the container of the device of figures 1 and 2,

- figure 4 depicts, in perspective, the container of figure 3,

- Figure 5 represents, in elevation, schematically and partially, the applicator of the device of Figures 1 and 2,

- Figures 6 and 7 are views analogous to Figure 5, of embodiments of the applicator,

- Figure 8 represents, in perspective, schematically and partially, the applicator of the

device of figures 1 and 2,

- Figure 9 represents, in perspective, a variant embodiment of a device according to the invention,

- figure 10 represents the device of figure 9 after actuation of the push button,

- Figures 11 and 12 are elevation views corresponding respectively to Figures 9 and 10,

- Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of a device made according to another example of embodiment of the invention,

- figure 14 is a longitudinal section of the device of figure 13,

- figure 15 is a cross section according to XV-XV of figure 14,

- figure 16 represents the device of figure 13 in closed position,

- Figure 17 is a longitudinal section analogous to Figure 14, of the device in closed position,

- Figure 18 is a cross section according to XVIII-XVIII of Figure 17, and

- Figure 19 represents a variant embodiment of the flexible leg.

[0035] The packaging and distribution device 1 shown in Figure 1 includes a container 2 and an applicator 3 that can be detachably attached to the container 2.

[0036] The latter can, as illustrated in Figure 3 or 4, be carried out with a body 5 and a neck 6, which is, for example, externally threaded. The container 2 may contain, at the base of the neck 6, a projection 7, from which a relief 8 can protrude.

[0037] In the example considered, the container 2 has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis X and is

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It can be done by injection molding or by injection-blow molding, among other possible techniques. In this way, the relief 8 can be molded with the neck 6 and of the same material.

[0038] The applicator 3 may contain, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 in particular, a closure capsule 10 and a rod 11 bearing an application organ 12 which is, for example, an eyelash mask brush , but it could be of any type, for example a foam nozzle, a brush or a product retention nozzle by capillarity.

[0039] The rod 11 can be molded into a single piece of thermoplastic material with the closure capsule 10 or can be made by molding with a subcapsule inserted in an outer capsule defining a grip surface that allows the applicator 3 to rotate .

[0040] The capsule 10 may contain, as illustrated, a tubular skirt 14 that is configured to at least partially cover the neck 6 when the applicator 3 is screwed into the container.

[0041] The skirt 14 can be made with an internal thread or it can support a subcapsule carrying said thread.

[0042] The skirt 14 can be made, as can be seen in Figure 8, with two flexible legs 16, diametrically opposed, and two teeth 17 also diametrically opposed, these teeth each having a right side 18 parallel to the longitudinal axis And of the applicator 3. Alternatively, the skirt 14 is made only with a single flexible leg 16 and a single tooth 17.

[0043] The skirt 14 is made, for example, with two flexible legs 16 and two teeth 17 when there is no angular positioning with the container.

[0044] The number of reliefs 8 is equal, in embodiments, to the number of teeth 17 and flexible legs 16.

[0045] The X and Y axes are confused when the applicator 3 is fixed on the container. Each leg 16 and tooth 17 protrude downwardly from the edge 20 of the closure capsule 3 that extends between the legs and the teeth, and which is, for example, circular in a plane perpendicular to the Y axis.

[0046] In the example of Figures 5 and 8, each leg 16 extends obliquely with a slight downward inclination when the applicator is observed while being held vertically with the application organ 12 below.

[0047] Each leg 16 protrudes, for example, downwards, with respect to the edge 20, a distance d which is for example greater than or equal to 0.1 mm, and which is for example between 0.1 and 2 mm.

[0048] The tooth 17 may project a distance h greater than the distance d, the distance h being for example greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, and for example between 0.5 and 3 mm.

[0049] The width w of the groove 25 present above the leg 16 is for example greater than or equal to 0.4 mm, and is for example between 0.4 and 2 mm.

[0050] The free edge 24 of the leg 16 is, for example, inclined upwards and towards the tooth 17 when the applicator is observed while being held vertically, with the application organ 12 facing down.

[0051] The leg 16 is made in the thickness of the skirt 14, that is, the radial dimension of the leg 16 can be the same as a radial dimension of the skirt 14 outside the leg 16.

[0052] The width w of the groove 25 is sufficient to allow the leg 16 to be raised elastically upwards to clear the relief 8, during the screwing or unscrewing of the applicator 3.

[0053] The relief 8 is made with an inclined flank 30 on one side and, on the opposite side, a vertical flank 31 that rests against the vertical flank 18 of the tooth 17, at the end of the curling of the applicator 3, as shown in figures 1 and 2.

[0054] The free edge 24 of the leg 16 can then be supported on the inclined flank 30, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. Alternatively, the leg 16 does not remain in contact with the relief 8 at the end of the screwing.

[0055] During unscrewing, the inclination of the oblique flank 30 facilitates the lifting of the leg 16.

[0056] During the curling, the postage by the leg 16 of the relief 8, just before the flank 18 collides with the flank 31, generates a tactile sensation that is perceived by the user.

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[0057] In Figure 6 a variant embodiment is shown in which the groove 25 is shorter, with for example a length z less than or equal to 1 mm and for example between 0.3 and 1 mm.

[0058] As a comparison, in the example of Figure 5 the length z is for example greater than 1 mm and is for example 2 mm.

[0059] Figure 7 illustrates the possibility of making the leg 16 without a free end, for example with two ends 34 that connect to the skirt 14.

[0060] The leg 16 has, for example, an arcuate shape downwards and the draft 25 present on top of the leg 16 allows it to be elastically deformed upwards to cross the relief 8 during the application of the applicator.

[0061] The invention is not limited to an applicator that can be screwed into a container and, by way of example, a variant embodiment in which the invention is applied to a push button has been shown in Figures 9 to 12.

[0062] These figures show a packaging and distribution device 1 that includes a push button 40, movable with respect to a container 2, which is for example a dispensing bottle or an aerosol bottle.

The push button 40 can be made with a tubular skirt 42 which carries a distribution nozzle 43, which can be communicated, for example, with a pump or valve rod.

[0063] Push button 40 can rotate about an X axis between a distribution position and a locked position, which prevents distribution.

[0064] The skirt 42 includes a notch 44 and the container 2 is made with a relief 45 that can be engaged in the notch 44 when the push button 40 sinks when displaced along the X axis, as illustrated in the figure 10, to operate the pump or valve that causes the distribution of the product.

[0065] The push button 40 is also made with a tooth that serves as a stop 17, as well as with at least one first flexible leg 16 associated with a groove 25 and a second flexible leg 46 associated with a groove 47. The dimensions of the legs and grooves may be the same as those in the example of figure 1.

[0066] Flexible legs 16 and 46 extend obliquely downward when the device is observed with the push button 40 raised, as in Figures 9 to 12, and also extend circumferentially towards each other, on each side of the stop 17.

[0067] The relief 45 has an inclined flank 48, against which the end of the leg 16 can be supported or approximated, when the push button is in the open position, which allows distribution, as seen in Figures 9 and 11 , with support of the stop 17 against the flank 49 of the relief 45.

[0068] To bring the push button 40 to the locked position, from the distribution position shown in Figure 11, the user rotates the push button around the X axis, allowing the relief 45 to clear the flexible leg 16 , generating a tactile sensation perceptible by the user. When the rotational movement is followed, the relief 45 can collide with the opposite vertical flank 50 of the tooth of the push button, after breaking the leg 46, which is accompanied by a tactile sensation perceptible by the user.

[0069] In the locked position, the edge of the skirt 42 prevents, when hitting the relief 45, the sinking of the push button in a path along the X axis sufficient to cause product distribution. In this way, the relief 45 can exert in the exemplary embodiment of Figures 9 to 12 a double function, namely on the one hand a push button lock and on the other hand the production of a tactile sensation.

[0070] In the variant embodiment of Figures 13 to 18, the device 1 includes a container 2 and a distribution head 60 which can rotate about a rotation axis X relatively to the container 2.

[0071] The distribution head 60 includes a distribution hole 61 which is formed, for example, by a hole made in a tubular skirt 62 of the distribution head.

[0072] The distribution head 60 may contain an inner part 64 provided with a product transport channel 65 and the skirt 62 may adopt a distribution position, represented in Figures 14 and 15, in which the hole 61 overlaps to the channel 65, which allows the distribution of the product, and a sealing position in which the hole 61 is displaced from the channel 65, which prevents the distribution of the product, as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18.

[0073] The skirt 62 can be made with flexible legs 16 and 46 that allow to generate a tactile sensation and immobilize the skirt 62 in the distribution and closing positions respectively. In this example, the legs 16 and 46 are made so that they extend obliquely downwards away from each other, in the thickness of the skirt 62, from a common portion 69 of the skirt 62.

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[0074] The skirt 62 is made with two stops 64 and 65 that can rest against a relief 66 of the container, respectively in the closed and distribution positions. The legs 16 and 46 are arranged between these stops 64 and 65.

[0075] In the distribution position illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, the relief 66 is positioned between leg 16 and

the stop 65. In the closing position, illustrated in figures 16 to 18, the relief 66 is housed between the stop 64 and the leg 46. The relief of the relief 66 by one or the other of the legs 16 and 46 allows generating a tactile sensation

[0076] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It can

make the leg 16 or 46 with a different shape and, particularly, as illustrated in figure 19, with a rounded protuberance 70 protruding downwards at its free end. The groove 25 can extend, as can be seen in this figure, not obliquely but substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the piece carrying the flexible leg 16.

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[0077] The expression "comprising a" should be understood as a synonym for "comprising at least one", unless otherwise specified.

Claims (15)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 1. Packaging and application device, comprising: - a first piece (2; 64), - a second piece (10; 40; 62) that can rotate with respect to the first around an axis of rotation (X), where one of the pieces comprises an elastically deformable leg (16; 46), made in the thickness of a tubular skirt of the corresponding piece, and the other piece comprises a relief (8; 45; 66), the leg and the relief being configured to cooperate so that the rotation of the second piece with respect to the first leads the leg to cross the embossing, with a flexion component parallel to the axis of rotation, where this postage is accompanied by the production of a tactile sensation which can be perceived by the user. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible leg (16; 46) is made with a free end. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length (z) of the flexible leg is greater than or equal to 0.3 mm. 4. Device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the piece carrying the flexible leg comprises a stop (17; 64; 65) at the end of the rotation path, which can be supported on said relief. 5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the relief (8) has an inclined surface (30), against which The flexible leg is supported when the relief is in contact with the stop. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first piece belongs to a container (2) and the second piece preferably comprises the flexible leg belonging to a closure organ of this container. 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the second part is configured to be screwed into the first and the second part comprises a threaded skirt arranged to be screwed into a threaded neck of the container. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second piece belongs to a push button (40) that is operated by the user to act on a pump or an aerosol canister valve, where this push button is mobile between a first position that allows the push button to be operated to distribute the product and a second position that prevents this distribution. 9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the second piece comprises two flexible legs (16; 46), respectively associated with the first and the second position of the push button. 10. Device according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the second piece comprises a notch (44) to receive the relief and allow actuation of the push button when it is in the first position. 11. Device according to claims 4 and 10, wherein the stop is adjacent to the notch. 12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second part (69) may be in a distribution or closing position and comprises a hole (61) that is in front of a product transport channel (65) of the first piece, when the second piece is in the distribution position, where the second piece closes the channel (65) when it is in the closed position. 13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the second part comprises two flexible legs respectively associated with the closing and distribution positions. 14. Device according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flexible leg or each flexible leg has an inclination towards the other part at rest. 15. Device according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the displacement of the flexible leg during the relief of the relief is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.