FR2770105A1 - Make-up case with airtight joint under lid - Google Patents

Abstract

The case (1a) has a body (2a) which holds the product (P) and a lid (4a). An airtight joint (6), between the body and the lid, has an elastically deformable lip (9) whose base (7) is held in a groove (8) in the body. It passes over an annular projection (10) on the body and under an annular rib (11) in the lid.

Description

 The present invention relates to a make-up case comprising a body intended to accommodate a reserve of product, a cover and a seal capable of interposing between the body and the cover when the latter is in the closed position, said seal comprising an elastically deformable lip.

 The seal prevents evaporation of the solvents contained in the product.

 French patent 2,412,474 discloses a makeup case in which the sealing lip is applied when the container is closed, in the manner of a suction cup, on a flat surface of the cover.

 This type of housing is not entirely satisfactory, in particular because dirt deposited on the sealing lip or on the cover can hinder the adhesion of the lip on the cover and obtaining a hermetic seal.

We also know from US Patent 3,144,167 and from the patent
US 5,186,318 make-up boxes comprising a seal whose lip is directed towards the outside and curved towards the body of the box in order to bear on it by its free edge.

 In these known cases, the free edge of the lip is applied firmly against the body of the case, which increases the contact pressure with the cover and the seal obtained.

 However, the sealing lip deforms quite significantly, and it can, in the event of prolonged storage, lose the memory of its initial shape.

 I1 then results in a reduction in the seal obtained.

 There is a need to further improve the tightness of the makeup cases, without this improvement being made to the detriment of the aesthetics of the case or the cost price.

 The makeup case according to the invention is characterized in that the seal comes to bear, when the case is closed, on the body of the case or on the cover, without appreciable compression of the free end of the lip sealing against the cover or the housing body.

 Thanks to the invention, a very hermetic seal can be obtained even during prolonged storage. The support of the seal can be made on the cover or on the housing body in various ways without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.

 Preferably, means are provided to promote the deformation of the sealing lip around a hinge-forming area. Thus, part of the seal retains substantially the same shape regardless of the open or closed position of the cover, while the rest of the seal can pivot around said hinge area when the housing is closed.

 In a particular example of implementation of the invention, the body of the housing has an annular bearing and the cover comprises at least one annular rib, said bearing and said rib being positioned relative to the sealing lip so that the latter is pushed against the bearing surface of the housing body by the rib of the cover.

 In another particular implementation of the invention, the sealing lip is fixed by its base in a groove in the body of the housing and extends inwards.

 In another embodiment of the invention, the seal is fixed in a groove in the body of the housing, respectively of the cover, and comprises two sealing lips each coming to bear against the cover, respectively the body of the housing , when the case is closed. Preferably, the seal has in section the general shape of a T, said lips being raised upwards when the housing is open and capable of bending downwards when the housing is closed.

 In another particular implementation of the invention, the seal is integral with a cup mounted in the body of the housing and containing the reserve of product.

 Still according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the seal comprises a lip comprising a rising portion extending radially outward away from the body of the housing and a descending portion extending radially outward closer to the housing body. The body of the housing further comprises an annular bearing on which the sealing lip bears, in the hollow formed by said rising and falling parts, when the housing is closed. Preferably, the cover has an annular rib which is applied to the descending part of the sealing lip when the cover is in the closed position.

 In another embodiment, the seal comprises a part having the general shape of an inverted U, comprising two branches housed in a groove in the body of the housing, and connected by a rounded part convex towards the outside.

 The cover may then include a projecting element, for example another seal, which comes to bear, at one end, on said rounded part.

 In another implementation of the invention, the seal has in section a corrugated shape. Preferably, the seal then defines two annular grooves facing the body of the housing, said grooves being located on either side of a central annular groove facing the cover when the housing is closed. Preferably, the seal comprises, at the bottom of the grooves facing the body of the housing, supports coming from molding with the seal, these supports resting on the body of the housing. Preferably also, the cover comprises an annular rib coming to engage in said central annular groove when the case is closed.

 In another particular embodiment, the seal comprises a part having in section a semi-circular shape concave towards the body of the housing, respectively towards the cover, and there is provided in the concavity of the seal one or more stiffening elements. These stiffening elements can extend radially. Alternatively, the seal may include a stiffening element in the form of a continuous or discontinuous annular rib, extending over the entire height of the portion of the seal having in section a semicircular shape.

 Another subject of the invention is a housing as mentioned above, characterized in that one of the cover or of the body of the housing comprises at least one kidney-shaped lumen and in that the other of the cover or of the body of the housing comprises a hinge pin engaged in said lumen, the arrangement of said lumen and said hinge pin being such that when the lid is closed, the hinge pin can move in said lumen so that the lid come to press the seal in a substantially uniform manner.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a make-up box according to a first embodiment of the invention,
FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial schematic sections of a make-up box according to a second embodiment of the invention, respectively when the cover is open and when it is closed,
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a make-up box according to a third embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 5 represents a detail of the housing according to the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4,
FIGS. 6 and 7 show other ways of achieving sealing in accordance with fourth and fifth exemplary embodiments of the invention,
FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial schematic sections illustrating a sixth way of achieving sealing,
FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the sealing member shown in FIG. 8,
- Figures 11 to 13 illustrate a seventh way of achieving sealing,
- Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an eighth way of achieving sealing,
FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a seal in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 17 illustrates a first alternative embodiment of the sealing member shown in FIG. 16,
FIG. 18 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the sealing member shown in FIG. 16,
FIG. 19 shows a make-up box fitted with the seal shown in FIG. 17,
FIGS. 20 and 21 represent a seal in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the invention, respectively when the case is open and when it is closed,
FIG. 22 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the sealing member shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, and
- Figures 23 to 25 illustrate a particular embodiment of the hinge by which the cover is articulated on the body of the housing.

 The make-up box shown in FIG. 1 comprises a body 2a, made of plastic, this body having a housing 3a for receiving a reserve of product, for example a make-up product P such as a foundation or a cream. care.

 A cover 4a is articulated on the body 2a by means of a hinge, not shown in this figure.

 Of course, one can provide means other than a hinge for mounting the cover 4a on the body 2a, without departing from the scope of the invention.

 The cover 4a is provided on its inner face with a mirror 5a.

 The housing 1a may also include a housing, not shown, for receiving an applicator, such as a puff, for example.

 An annular seal 6 is secured to the body 2a.

 This seal 6 has an enlarged base 7 which serves for its fixing, housed in an annular groove 8 of the body 2a, which extends around the housing 3a.

 The base 7 thins out by extending out of the groove 8 to form a flexible sealing lip 9, which is directed towards the inside of the body 2a.

 This lip 9 rests against an annular surface 10, projecting from the upper face of the body 2a when the cover 4a is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1.

 This annular surface 10 has a radius less than that of the groove 8 but greater than that of the cylindrical wall defining the housing 3a inside the body 2a.

 The cover 4a comprises around the mirror 5a an annular rib 11 which is shaped to be applied, when the cover 4 is in the closed position, on the lip 9 in the vicinity of its free end, as shown in FIG. 1.

 The cover 4a has on the outside of the rib 11 an annular recess 13 to receive the back of the lip 9 when the latter is folded down in the direction of the housing 3a by the rib 11.

 It will be noted on examining FIG. 1 that the bearing surface 10 is applied to the lip 9 elsewhere than at its free end, at a distance from the latter substantially equal to half the difference between the average radii of the groove 8 and the rib 11.

 An annular groove 12 is produced in the body 2a to allow the lip 9 to flex without coming to bear by its free edge against the body 2a.

 This groove 12 is delimited radially outside by the annular surface 10 and is located under the rib 11 when the housing is closed, as shown in FIG. 1.

 In this first exemplary embodiment, the lip 9 is in a certain way taken in pincers between the bearing 10 and the rib 11, and pivots around a zone forming a hinge corresponding to the zone 9a by which the lip 9 presses the range 10, which allows to obtain a good seal even during a very long storage period.

 By varying the height of the bearing surface 10 and that of the rib 11, as well as possibly also their width, it is possible to obtain a greater or lesser tightening of the sealing lip 9 between the bearing surface 10 and the rib 11 .

 Note that the rib 11 is applied tightly on the lip 9 even if there is a slight clearance between the cover 4a and the body 2a, due to the tendency of the lip to rise slightly to resume its initial shape. , by elasticity.

 In addition, because the rib 11 and the surface 10 are located at different radii, the lip 9 is not pinched between them but simply deformed by bending.

 The lip 9 is thus preserved from damage by shearing or from too much deformation which could cause it to lose the memory of its initial shape.

 Finally, it will be noted that a high contact pressure is obtained at the level of the contact line between the lip 9 and the rib 11.

 In the following description, identical reference numbers will be assigned which are simply assigned a different letter as an index to designate similar constituent elements.

 There is shown in Figures 2 and 3 an alternative embodiment in which the body 2b of the housing comprises around the housing 3b containing the reserve of product P an annular recess 20 whose bottom is provided with two concentric ribs 21, 22 defining therebetween a groove 23 open upwards, serving to receive the base 24 of a seal 25.

 This seal 25 has, when the housing is closed, as shown in Figure 3, the general shape of a T whose base 24 is used for fixing in the groove 23 above and whose branches constitute lips of tightness 26 and 27.

 The cover 4b has an annular groove 28 which is separated from the housing in the bottom of which the mirror 5b is fixed by a rib 29, intended to come to bear on the lip 26, radially innermost.

 The lip 27, radially outermost, comes into contact with the edge of the groove 28 which is located opposite the rib 29, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

 The lips 26 and 27 are initially slightly raised and they flex downwards when the cover 4b is lowered onto the body 2 ~.

 Double sealing is obtained, which is favorable for good preservation of the product.

 In addition, due to this double seal, it is not necessary for the lips 26 and 27 to bend very much because one can be satisfied for each lip with a more moderate contact pressure, not requiring a significant bending of the lip. sealing.

 Thus, the deformation of the seal 24 being relatively small, the latter is all the less likely to lose its elasticity in the long term.

 The annular grooves formed in the recess 20 outside the ribs 21 and 22 receive the free end of the lips 26 and 27 when the housing is closed.

 The lifts 26 and 27 can therefore flex downwards without coming to bear at their ends on the upper face of the body of the housing.

 There is shown in Figure 4 a housing lc according to a third embodiment of the invention.

 This housing comprises a body 2c and a cover 4c connected to the body by a hinge 30.

 The body 2c houses a cup 31 containing a reserve of product P.

 This cup 31 is fixed to the body 2c by any means, for example by snap-fastening or by force fitting. It could also be retained on the body 2c by a cover attached to the upper face of the housing body.

 The cup 31 is produced for example by bi-injection of a relatively rigid plastic material and an elastomer and comprises a cylindrical wall 32 of hard plastic material, which is used for fixing to the body 2c, a bottom 33 made of elastomer and a sealing lip 34 made of elastomer, which extends radially outwards the wall 32 at its upper end.

 FIG. 5 shows the sealing lip 34 in greater detail, which has a rising part 39 and a falling part 45.

 An annular bearing surface 35 protrudes from the upper face of the body 2c and comes into contact with the descending part 45 of the sealing lip 34 at a point relatively distant from the free end 36 thereof.

 The cover 4c has a rib 37 which is applied to the sealing lip 34, set back from its free end 36, when the casing lc is closed.

 The bearing surface 35 and the rib 37 have different radii, so that the descending part 45 of the sealing lip 34 is taken in pincers between the bearing surface 35 and the rib 37, as in the case of the exemplary embodiment described with reference to Figure 1.

 The body 2c of the housing further comprises an annular groove 38 which is located under the free end 36 of the sealing lip 34.

 This prevents the free edge 36 of the sealing lip 34 from pressing against the body 2c of the housing.

 A fourth embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in FIG. 6.

 The sealing lip is substantially the same as that of the previous embodiment example and the same reference number 34 will be kept.

 The body 2d has an annular surface 40 which forms a projection on the upper surface of the body 2d, and comes to bear in the hollow of the sealing lip 34.

 The cover 4d comprises two concentric ribs 41 and 42, coaxial with the bearing surface 40 when the case is closed, and which come to bear on the sealing lip 34 on either side of the bearing surface 40, respectively on the parts down 45 and up 39.

 The range 40 is high enough for the free end 36 of the lip 34 not to press on the body 2d of the housing.

 In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the body 2e of the housing is identical to the body 2d previously described, as is the sealing lip 34.

 The cover 4e differs from the cover 4d previously described in that the rib 41 is replaced by a cylindrical skirt 43 located at the periphery of the cover.

 In this embodiment, the sealing lip 34 comes to bear on the radially inner face of the skirt 43 when the housing is closed.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the sealing lip is referenced 50.

 The body 2f of the housing has an annular groove 51 of rectangular section and the sealing lip 50 has an anchoring part in this groove 51, having the general shape of an inverted U, the branches of which are applied against the sides of it.

 The radially innermost branch, referenced 55, and the back of the U, referenced 53, are connected to the cylindrical wall 32 of the cup 31 by an annular part 54, which rests flat on the body 2f.

 The seal is obtained, when the case is closed, by means of a protruding element of the cover which presses on the back 53 of the U.

 In the embodiment described, this element consists of an elastomeric seal 56, fixed in an annular groove 57 of the cover 4f, this seal 56 having in cross section the shape of a U.

 When the case is closed, the seals 50 and 56 come back to back in contact with one another.

 This embodiment has the advantage of not forming on the body of the recess housing where dirt could accumulate, which would detract from the aesthetics.

 Alternatively, the seal can be produced by bringing the back 53 into contact with a flat surface of the cover and no longer with a projecting element.

 There is shown in Figure 10 an alternative embodiment of the seal 50, which is here referenced 50 '.

 The joint 50 'differs from the joint 50 previously described in that the radially outermost branch, referenced 52', has a length less than the radially innermost branch, so that the branch 52 'no longer presses by its lower edge against the bottom of the annular groove 51.

 As a result, the back 53 ′ of the seal 50 ′ can flex more when the cover is in the closed position, the junction region of the back 53 ′, of the radially innermost branch 55 ′ and of the annular part 54 constituting in sort of a hinge around which the back 53 'and the branch 52' pivot.

 Preferably, when the case is closed, the branch 52 ′ does not come to bear in the bottom of the groove 51 but remains at a short distance from it.

 FIGS. 11 to 13 show a seventh exemplary embodiment of the invention.

 The sealing lip 60 shown in this figure has in section a wavy shape, defining two grooves 61 and 62 concave downward, separated by a central groove 63 concave upward.

 The central groove 63 is defined by a central part 64 having a V-shaped section, the lower end of which is received in an annular groove 65 in the body 2g of the housing.

 This groove 65 is delimited radially by two concentric annular bearings 66 and 67 of rectangular section, on the top of which come to rest supports 68, formed in one piece by molding with the lip 60.

 These supports 68 extend discontinuously in the bottom of the grooves 61 and 62 as illustrated in FIG. 12.

 The cover 4q has a rib 69 which engages in the groove 63 against the branches of the part 64, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

 The free edge of the lip 60 lies flat on the body 2g when the case is opened.

 In this exemplary embodiment, a double seal is obtained, by contacting the rib 69 on each of the sides of the central part 64.

 In addition, when the rib 69 comes to engage in the central groove 63, the part of the seal which is radially outermost tends to pivot slightly upwards around a hinge zone situated substantially in line with the supports 68 radially. the outermost.

 In all the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 13, the sealing lip is produced in one piece by bi-injection with the cylindrical wall 32 of the cup 31 containing the cosmetic product P.

 Of course, it is not going beyond the ambit of the present invention to produce the sealing lip in isolation and then to attach it to the body of the housing.

 It is also possible to produce the sealing lip in one piece with a support piece attached to the rest of the housing, this support piece being constituted for example by a removable cover intended to retain a cup housing a reserve of product.

 There is shown in Figures 14 and 15 an eighth embodiment.

 The body 2h of the housing has an annular groove 74 of rectangular section.

 A seal 71, having a U-shaped section, the concavity of which faces upwards, is fixed by its base 70 in the groove 74.

 The two branches of the U constitute sealing lips 72 and 73 against which a boss 75 of the cover in the closed position is applied, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

 The lips 72 and 73 then flex slightly, moving away from one another.

 In this embodiment, a double seal is obtained.

 FIG. 16 shows a seal 80 in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention.

 The body 2i of the housing has, around the housing containing the cup filled with product, a flat surface.

 The seal 80 has a part having in cross section a shape of a semicircle whose concavity is turned towards the body 2i.

 Rigidating webs 81 are formed in the concavity of this part of the seal 80 to prevent it from being crushed when an element of the cover comes to bear on it to ensure the sealed closure of the housing.

 These sails 81 each extend along a plane containing a radius and the axis of the joint 80, and are roughly evenly distributed angularly around the axis of the joint.

 The seal 80 is produced in the example described in one piece by bi-injection with the cylindrical wall 32 of the cup 31.

 The semicircular part of the seal 80 is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical wall 32 by a flat annular part 82.

 Thanks to the stiffening webs 81, the descending portion of the radially outermost seal 80 which constitutes a deformable lip is not substantially compressed against the body of the housing when the latter is closed.

 There is shown in Figure 17 an alternative embodiment of the seal, referenced here 80 '.

 The joint 80 'differs in particular from the joint 80 previously described in that the stiffening webs 81' extend only over only part of the width of the joint, being truncated at their radially outermost end.

 In addition, the descending part of the seal 80 'is shorter than the rising part, so that this descending part does not bear on the body 2 of the housing.

 This results in increased flexibility of the descending part of the seal 80 ′ which can pivot slightly inwards under the pressure of an element of the cover when the case is closed.

 FIG. 18 shows another alternative embodiment of the seal, referenced 80 ".

 In this variant embodiment, the stiffening sails, referenced 80 ", are hollowed out in their central part from their lower edge in a triangular cut.

 This again results in a certain flexibility of the descending part of the joint 80 "which can pivot around a hinge zone situated at the top of the triangular cutout.

 FIG. 19 shows the make-up box li equipped with the seal 80 'described with reference to FIG. 17.

 A housing is provided next to the seal 80 'to receive an application element E.

 The cover has, on its inner face, an annular rib 85 which is applied to the descending part of the seal 80 'when the housing is closed. A foam pad 86 is attached to the cover to flatten the surface of the product when the housing is closed.

 FIG. 20 shows a seal 90 which differs from seals 80, 80 'and 80 ", by the shape of the means used to stiffen it.

 The reinforcing webs 81 of the previous example are replaced by an annular support leg 91 extending continuously in the concavity of the joint.

 Alternatively, this rib 91 could be discontinuous.

 The leg 91 comes by its lower edge in contact with the upper surface of the body 2i to prevent the seal 90 from crushing when an element 93 of the cover is applied to it.

 As in the previous embodiment, the semi-circular section portion of the seal 90 is connected to the cylindrical wall 32 of the cup 31 by a flat annular portion 92.

 The seal is obtained, when the case is closed, by pressing the element 93 of the cover on the top of the seal as illustrated in FIG. 18.

 The element 93 of the cover is constituted for example, as shown, by an annular rib tapered downwards.

 There is shown in Figure 22 an alternative embodiment of the seal 90. In this variant, the seal, referenced 90 ', differs from the seal 90 in that its downward portion 94' is shorter than the downward portion 94 of the seal 90 Furthermore, in this example, the cover does not have a rib 93 and is applied only to the descending part, causing it to flex slightly radially inwards.

 There is illustrated in Figures 23 to 25 an advantageous way of making the hinge which allows the articulation of the cover on the housing body.

 Preferably, a pin 100 is used fixed on the body 2 of the housing and the ends of which protrude from this body to act as a pivot for the cover.

 More precisely, said ends are engaged in two kidney-shaped slots 101 of the cover 4, these slots 101 being produced in flanges 104 generally oriented perpendicular to the plane of the cover.

 A clasp 105 is provided on the side opposite to the flanges 104 to hold the cover in the closed position, in a manner known per se.

 When the case is open, as shown in FIG. 19, the ends of the axis 100 are located in the vicinity of the ends 102 of the slots 101 which are closest to the top of the cover.

The axis 100 remains in the same position relative to the lights 101 during the start of the ph

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described.

 The invention applies generally to all cases containing a cosmetic or other product as soon as one seeks to avoid the evaporation of the solvents and the drying out of this product during storage.

 In the embodiments described, the seal is carried by the body of the housing but it is possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to mount the seal on the cover.

Claims (22)

 1 - Housing, comprising a body intended to house a reserve of product (P), a cover and a seal capable of interposing between the body and the cover when the latter is in the closed position, said seal comprising a elastically deformable lip, characterized in that the seal (6; 25; 34; 50; 60; 71; 80.90) comes to bear, when the housing is closed, on the housing body or on the cover without significant compression of the free end of the sealing lip against the cover or the housing body.  2 - Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that means are provided to promote the deformation of the sealing lip around a zone forming a hinge.  3 - Housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (2a; 2c; 26; 2e) of the housing has an annular bearing (10; 35; 40) and the cover (4a; 4c; 4d; 4th ) at least one annular rib (11; 37; 41; 42; 42,43), said bearing surface and said rib being positioned relative to the sealing lip (9; 45) so that the latter is pushed against the carried by the housing body by the rib of the cover.  4 - Housing according to any one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that said sealing lip (9) is fixed by its base (7) in a groove (8) of the body of the housing or of the cover and s 'extends inward.  5 - Housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal (25) is fixed in a groove (23) of the body (2b) of the housing, respectively of the cover, and has two sealing lips (26,27) each coming to bear against the cover, respectively the body of the housing, when the housing is closed.  6 - Box according to claim 5, characterized in that said seal (25) has in section the general shape of a T, said lips (26,27) being raised upwards when the box is open and able to flex down when the case is closed.  7 - Box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the seal (34; 50; 60; 80; 90) is integral with a cup (31) mounted in the body of the box and containing the reserve of product (P).  8 - Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 7, characterized in that the seal comprises a lip (34) comprising a rising portion (39) extending radially outwardly away from the body of the housing and a descending part (45) extending radially outwards in proximity to the body of the housing, and by the fact that the body of the housing has an annular bearing (35; 40) on which comes to bear the sealing lip in the hollow formed by said rising and falling parts when the cover is in the closed position.  9 - Housing according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover comprises an annular rib (37) which is applied to the descending part (45) of the sealing lip (34) when the cover is in the position of closing.  10 - Housing according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover comprises two annular ribs (41,42) concentric whose radii are respectively less and greater than that of the annular surface (40) of the body (2d; 2e) of housing.  11 - Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that that of said ribs which is radially outermost is constituted by a cylindrical skirt (43) located at the periphery of the cover.  12 - Housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal comprises a part having the general shape of an inverted U, comprising two branches (52,55) housed in a groove (51) of the body of the housing and connected by a rounded part (53) convex towards the outside.  13 - Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cover has a projecting element, preferably a seal (56), which comes to bear by its lower end on said rounded portion (53).  14 - Housing according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal (60) has in section a corrugated shape.  15 - Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the seal defines two annular grooves (61,62) facing the body of the housing, said grooves being located on either side of an annular groove ( 63) central unit facing the cover when the case is closed.  16 - Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the seal comprises at the bottom of said grooves (61,62) facing the body of the housing supports (68) coming from molding with the seal, these supports resting on the housing body.  17 - Housing according to one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the cover has an annular rib (69) engaging in the central groove (63) when the housing is closed.  18 - Housing according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal (71) has the general shape of a U, being fixed by its base in a groove (74) of the body (2h ) of the housing, respectively of the cover, and comprising two lips (72, 73) constituting the branches of the U, these lips being able to move apart in contact with an annular boss (75) of the cover, respectively of the housing, when the case is closed.  19 - Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (80; 90) comprises a part having in section a semicircular shape concave towards the body of the box, respectively towards the cover, and by the fact that one or more stiffening elements (81; 91) are provided in its concavity.  20 - Housing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the seal (80) comprises in said part having in section a semi-circular shape a plurality of stiffening elements (81) extending radially and coming from molding with the rest of the joint.  21 - Housing according to claim 19, characterized in that the seal (90) comprises a stiffening element in the form of an annular rib (91) continuous or discontinuous, extending over the entire height of the part of the joint having in section a semi-circular shape.  22 - Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the cover or of the box body comprises at least one kidney-shaped lumen (101) and in that the other of the cover or of the body housing has a hinge pin (100) engaged in said lumen, the arrangement of said lumen and said hinge pin being such that when the cover (4) is closed, the hinge pin can move in said light so that the cover comes to press on the gasket in a substantially uniform manner.