FR2628394A1 - Applicator for pastes and creams - has rectangular container with built-in push button pump sponge applicator and handles for holding device - Google Patents

Abstract

The container and applicator for pastes or semi-liquid fluids e.g. cosmetics such as suntan cream or surface treatment for leathers has an outer rectangular vessel (2) the internal volume of which (1) is filled with the fluid to be applied (3). Mounted in the centre of one of the short sides of the vessel is a spring return plunger pump operated by the user's thumb acting on a recessed pushbutton (10). The fluid is drawn in along a tube (16) and discharged through a non-return ball valve (15') and through several small orifices (18,18',18") on to an absorbant distribution pad (4). The pad (4) may be protected by a clip on cover (6) when the applicator is not in use. A foldaway handle may be provided to ease use of the applicator but it is normally held in the palm of the hand with fingers placed under the curved T-shaped handle (7). ADVANTAGE - The applicator allows the user to apply creams or pastes from a compact unit without soiling the hands.

Description

The present invention relates to a device making it possible on the one hand to keep in reserve an active product in particular for body or household use, such as a cosmetic or maintenance product, and moreover making it possible to respond to an application and dispersion on the support for which it is intended.

In general, the invention relates to a container of dimension allowing it to be easily transported and stored in a handbag, a pocket, a beach or sports bag, so that the applicator container can thus be quickly and constantly available, this applicator container allowing, during use, the placement, dispersion and distribution of the product, for example a cosmetic product, sunscreen or the like.

However, the invention is not limited to this application and it generally relates to containers, receptors or the like intended to allow the on-site application of the active product, this by simple automatic means, and without the user has to carry out a manual withdrawal, and a manipulation of the product from the reserve.

Everyone has in fact experienced the reluctance of the user when a product, in particular in liquid or pasty form, must be taken in an appropriate quantity from a reserve (box, tube or the like) to be applied to a support; whatever the precautions and the means used (pad, cloth, brush), the fact remains that this operation systematically leads to deposition of the active product (cosmetic product, body cream, in particular sun protection cream, or even wax, waxing, etc.). .) on the hands, which consequently requires a subsequent cleaning in conditions or a framework which are not always suitable (open air, etc ...).

To overcome this drawback, devices are known which allow the application and distribution of a product on a receiving surface, without direct manual intervention.

This is the case for example of aerosol cans which allow an easy and comfortable dispersion for the user; however, it is known that this form of application is only possible for products which meet determined physical characteristics and which make it possible to be brought into a misting state; and moreover the use of fluorinated or hallogenated vectors is strongly criticized for its drawbacks in terms of atmospheric pollution.

The present invention allows each user to have permanently a reserve of an active product, for use in particular for the body, and the implementation of which allows the distribution, by automatic and simple means, of the active product in particular on the surfaces of the bodies intended to receive the layer of the desired active product.

A first object of the invention is therefore to make available to users, as a new industrial product, a distributor or applicator container therefore allowing the installation of a protective layer on a support surface, for example the appropriate parts. of the body, from a reserve of active product in the form of a cream or paste or in the semi-liquid state; this without direct manual intervention and without the user's hands necessarily being brought into contact with the product.

It will be understood here that an application of the invention can be found in the case of products of an aggressive nature for the body and intended to be applied to an inert support, the applicator according to the invention then allowing the establishment and the distribution of the product, without any contact between the operator's hands and the product.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for containing and applying a product in particular in the pasty or semi-liquid state, and characterized in that it consists of a closed capacity capable of containing the product in bulk, this capacity comprising on one side a pad providing a flexible surface for the distribution of the product on the receiving support, and said capacity. additionally carrying automatic feeding means, and manually moved, for moving the product from its reserve inside of said capacity towards the external face of said buffer.

More specifically, the walls of the capacity form a quadrangular block of generally flattened shape comprising on a large face said applicator pad.

And more specifically this pad is formed from a cell structure mattress from a synthetic material cover.

More specifically, the means for supplying the active product from the internal reserve constituted by said capacity, to the external face of said buffer, consist of a manual pump of known type operated by a pusher, accessible from an external face of the device.

More specifically, the pusher is of the type embedded in a housing, one face of the pusher being offered to the digital action of the operator.

According to a more particular embodiment, the pump consists of a plunger actuated by the digital pusher, against a return spring, the piston moving in a chamber forming the body of the pump of the suction and discharge type, the pump body being for this purpose in communication, with interposition of non-return valves, on the one hand with the internal reserve for the suction phase, during the raising of the piston recalled by its spring, and the chamber being also in communication with the external face of the buffer for the delivery of the product when the piston engages under the action of the pusher against the return spring.

More particularly still, said capacity is provided with dimensions allowing it to be apprehended in the palm of the hand and the pusher, operating the pump, is positioned on a small transverse face of said capacity thus being within reach of the thumb of the 'operator.

And according to yet another characteristic, the large face of said capacity, opposite the application pad, comprises a retaining member in the general shape of a T allowing the insertion under each of the branches of the T of two fingers, in particular of the index finger and middle finger to facilitate gripping of the whole.

According to another characteristic, the capacity or case includes an erasable grip handle capable of being moved between an active position in which it extends one of the faces, and in particular and preferably a small transverse face of the parallelepipedic case, said handle being erasable by insertion into a notch or lateral groove arranged on one face, for example a face corresponding to the edge of the parallelepiped box.

And more especially the erasable grip handle is pivotally mounted thus allowing its angular displacement between the active deployed position and serving as a gripping member, and the folded position inside said receiving notch.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows and which is given in connection with a preferred embodiment presented by way of nonlimiting example.

FIG. 1 represents a view in longitudinal section of the applicator device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the device seen from its application face, the handle being deployed.

FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the housing seen from its face opposite to the application face.

According to all of the figures, the capacity 1 is defined by the interior space of a case 2 containing a product in the liquid or pasty state 3.

The housing is constituted by a block of generally parallelepiped shape and it can for example be obtained by assembling two half-shells of molded synthetic material, in a manner known per se.

Externally and on a large face of the parallelepiped box is provided an applicator pad 4 formed of a mattress positioned on the large face 5 which receives a removable cover 6.

On the opposite face 5 ′ is provided a retaining member in the general shape of a T (with two curved branches).

As seen in particular in Figure 3 the retaining member 7 allows the insertion of two fingers for example the index and middle fingers when holding the housing for the product application phase.

The interior space forming the capacity 1 also comprises the technical devices which will allow the displacement of the active product 3 from said reserve or interior capacity 1 towards the external face of the pad 4.

These devices are formed by a pump of the pressure suction suction type, known per se.

For this purpose in the wall of the housing, and preferably on the small transverse side 8 is provided a housing 9 receiving the pusher 10, thus embedded in this housing, avoiding in this way that during the storage phase of the housing, by example in a bag, an accidental push can be exerted on this push by causing the exit of the product.

The plunger 10 is integral with the displaceable piston 11, against the action of the return spring 12 in the chamber 13 forming the pump body.

An O-ring seal 14 isolates the interior space of the pump body 13.

The pump chamber or body 13 is in communication, in a manner known per se, with the interposition of non-return valves 15 and 15 'respectively on the one hand with the interior space of the capacity 1, through the suction tube 16, and on the other hand with the face 5 of the housing, this by the delivery pipe 17.

The operation of the pump is known and it is understood that under the action of the pusher 10, the piston 11 engages, against the action of the return spring 12 in the chamber 13, filled with the product to be applied; the pressure in the chamber 13 causes the valve 15 to close while on the contrary it opens the valve 15 ′, the displacement of the piston 11 consequently causing the product to escape through the pipe 17, the product thus being brought to the face 5 of the housing comprising the applicator pad 4; small channels, respectively 18.18 ', 18 ", passing through the thickness of the tampon 4 allow the passage of the product on the external face of the tampon 4 to form and constitute the unit dose 19 appearing in FIG. 3.

During the suction phase, corresponding to the return of the piston 11 under the action of the spring 12, the valve 15 'is pressed against its seat by isolating the discharge pipe 17 while the valve 15 is on the contrary in position released thereby allowing the suction of the product from the pipe 16, the product thus being brought to fill the chamber 13 again.

An air inlet can be provided to compensate for the disappearance of the product in capacity 1.

According to a development of the invention shown in particular in Figures 2 and 3, we see that on a side face forming the edge 20 of the housing, there is provided a notch 21 for receiving the handle 22 pivotally mounted along the axis 23 inside of the housing; we see in particular in Figure 2 said handle in its folded position inside the notch 21 while by rotation along the axis of journalling, the handle can be brought into a deployed position by angular release along the arrow 24 .

It can be seen that an easily manageable compact assembly is thus produced, making it possible to have at any time a reserve, associated with a set of applications, for the installation and distribution of a product, in particular pasty, on a support.

The invention will more specifically make it possible to produce a reservoir applicator for a cosmetic product such as a sunscreen; the case kept with its protective cover, in a handbag or in a beach bag, does not at any time risk contaminating neighboring objects by deposits or accidental projection; and after removal of the cover and actuation of the pusher 9, there is a dose (of suitable quantity and conditioned by the number of thrusts exerted on the pusher 9). And this dose can be distributed, spread and put in place from the face of the case comprising the pad 4, without the hand being brought into contact with the product; after spreading and dispersion of the product on the receiving surface, the cover can be replaced by ensuring the protection of the assembly until a new use.

The installation of the handle 22 makes it possible to reach parts of the body, in particular the back which would otherwise be difficult to access while the handle 22 brought back in the folded position and erased in its receiving notch 21, allows the housing to be gripped in the palm with your hand according to FIG. 2, for example for applications on parts of the body that are more easily and directly accessible,
The handle 22 can be locked in its active position by friction or interlocking members and allowing the relative immobilization of the handle or handle 22 in a determined position, the handle being however capable of being released by a movement exerted in the direction of the fold back according to arrow 24, and the locking members being calibrated to yield and allow the movement of the handle beyond a certain pivoting force.

Claims (10)

1 - Device for containing and applying a product in particular to the pasty or semi-liquid being, characterized in that it consists of a closed capacity (1) capable of containing the bulk product (3), - this capacity comprising on one side a buffer (him) providing a flexible surface for the distribution of product on the receiving support, and said capacity furthermore comprising automatic feeding means, and manually moved, for moving the product from its reserve to the inside said capacity towards the external face of said buffer. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the capacity form a quadrangular block of generally flattened shape comprising on a large face (5) said applicator pad (4). 3 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that this pad (4) is formed of a cell structure mattress from a foam of synthetic material. 4 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for supplying the active product (3) from the internal reserve constituted by said capacity (1), towards the external face of said pad (4) are consisting of a manual pump of known type operated by a pusher (10), accessible from an external face of the device. 5 - Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the pusher (10) is of the type embedded in a housing (9), one side of the pusher being offered to the digital action of the operator. 6 - Device according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the pump consists of a plunger (11) operated by the digital pusher (10), against a return spring (12 ), the piston moving in a chamber (13) forming a pump body of the suction and discharge type, the pump body being for this purpose in communication, with interposition of non-return valves (15,15 '), on the one hand with the internal reserve for the suction phase, during the ascent of the piston recalled by its spring, and the chamber being moreover in communication with the external face of the pad (4) for the delivery of the product during the engagement of the piston (11) under the action of the pusher against the return spring. 7 - Device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said capacity (1) is provided with dimensions allowing it to be apprehended in the palm of the hand and the pusher (10), maneuvering the pump, is positioned on a small transverse face (8) of said capacity thus being within reach of the operator's thumb. 8 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the large face (5 ') of said capacity, opposite the application pad (4), comprises a retaining member (7) in the general form of T allowing the insertion under each of the branches of the T of two fingers, in particular the index and middle fingers in order to facilitate gripping of the assembly. 9 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the capacity or housing (1) comprises an erasable grip handle (22) capable of being moved between an active position in which it extends one of the faces, and in particular and preferably a small transverse face of the parallelepiped housing, said handle being erasable by insertion into a notch (21) or lateral groove disposed on one face, for example a face corresponding to the edge of the parallelepiped bolt. 10 - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the erasable grip handle (22) is pivotally mounted 'thus allowing its angular displacement between the active deployed position and serving as a gripping member, and the position folded down to the inside said receiving notch.