FR2836345A1 - Rolling ball applicator e.g. for cosmetic product has linked lower and upper chambers linked by channel with one-way flow - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator (1) consists of a body (2) with a main or lower reservoir (20) and a secondary or upper reservoir (30) in a head (3) with one or more balls (4) held in place by circular lips (310). The two reservoirs are linked by a channel in a transfer member (6) in which a one-way flow is produced by manual action, delivering a predetermined quantity of the product to the ball(s) in readiness for application. The applicator (1) consists of a body (2) with a main or lower reservoir (20) and a secondary or upper reservoir (30) in a head (3) with one or more balls (4) held in place by circular lips (310). The two reservoirs are linked by a channel in a transfer member (6) in which a one-way flow is produced by manual action, delivering a predetermined quantity of the product to the ball(s) in readiness for application. A variant of the design uses a piston to propel the product towards the upper reservoir.

Description

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DOSING APPLICATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of dispensers for fluid products, typically ball dispensers or applicators.

STATE OF THE ART Ball dispensers or applicators are already known.

Thus, US Pat. No. 5,810,495 describes a dispenser, typically of low viscosity liquid product, comprising a head with a ball mounted on a spring, as well as an annular valve.

Similarly, GB 2 044 683-A discloses a tube whose head comprises an application ball.

PROBLEMS POSED On the one hand, distributors of the state of the art do not include means for applying, typically on the face in the case of a cosmetic product, a predetermined quantity of the product contained in the dispenser.

On the other hand, these dispensers can not separate the application of the ball from the flow of the product, while it may be necessary or useful to perform a massage or the penetration of a predetermined amount of product.

Finally, the distributors according to the state of the art seem to be applied if not restricted, at least adapted to products of very specific viscosity, typically low.

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 The object of the invention is to solve all of these problems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the applicator with ball for fluid product, typically a cosmetic product, intended to ensure a localized deposit of said product on a support, typically on a part of the face, comprises a body forming a main reservoir "upstream" of said product at least one application ball, a head, typically covered with a removable cover, forming a secondary reservoir "downstream" and comprising an upper portion having as many circular lips as application balls, said main and secondary communicating via a passage or conduit, and transfer means allowing, through manual activation, an irreversible flow of a predetermined amount of said product from the main reservoir "upstream" to the secondary reservoir "downstream" for application said predetermined amount of said product on said support, said application being typically subsequent to said flow.

Thanks to all these means, the applicator according to the invention solves all the problems posed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES All the figures correspond to applicators according to the invention.

Figures la to Id represent a first applicator mode (1) of the invention with three balls (4).

Figure la is a sectional view along the vertical axis (10) of the applicator.

Figure 1b is a reduced scale view of Figure la.

Figure 1b, to the scale of Figure 1b, shows a top view, the cover (9) being removed.

Figure Id, at the scale of Figure 1b, shows a side view.

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Les figures 2a à 2f représentent une seconde modalité d'applicateur (1) de l'invention à une bille (4).

Figures 2a to 2f show a second applicator mode (1) of the invention to a ball (4).

Figure 2a is similar to Figure la.

Figure 2b is similar to Figure 1b.

Figure 2c is similar to Figure 1c.

Figure 2d is a side view of the shank (6), Figure 2e is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the shank (6).

Figure 2f is a schematic view of a variant of the bottom (23), in section similar to that of Figure 2a.

Figures 3a to 3b show a third applicator mode (1) with three balls (4).

Figure 3a is similar to Figure la.

Figure 3b is a top view of the applicator spring (40).

Figure 3c is an axial sectional view of the applicator spring (40) of Figure 3b.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a fourth applicator mode (1).

Figure 5 comprises, in its upper part, a sectional view of a variant of the closure means of the passage or duct (5) in said fourth applicator mode (1). The lower part corresponds to a sectional view in a horizontal plane.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a fifth applicator mode (1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Advantageously, said head (3) may comprise a said applicator spring (40) holding said ball (4) applied against said lip (310), so as to allow a reversible axial displacement of said ball (4) during said application and so

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 allowing said product to flow from the secondary reservoir to said support. This applicator spring (40) also acts as a damper, which also allows a comfortable application, while being effective, regardless of the local relief of the support.

According to the invention, said transfer means may comprise a closure means (50) for said passage (5), said closure means possibly comprising a valve (51) with axial displacement closing said passage (5) and allowing an opening said passage (5).

According to a first family of applicators according to the invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 3c, said transfer means may comprise a gravity flow of said product from said main reservoir (20) to said secondary reservoir (30), said applicator (1)) being returned with said head (3) placed below said body (2) and said valve being in "open" position following said axial displacement.

As also illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 3c, said valve (51) can be integral with a rod (6), capable of being displaced axially, comprising a return spring (60) or cooperating with a return spring (60). , so that said passage or duct (5) is in the "closed" position when said rod (6) is not actuated manually.

According to the variant of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 3c, said body (2) can be typically rigid and comprise an upper arch (21) comprising an orifice (210) forming said passage (5) and typically forming a seat ( 52) for said valve (51), a side skirt (22) and a bottom (23) comprising a movable portion (24) in contact with a lower end (64) of said rod (6), so that manual pressure on the movable or flexible portion (24) of said bottom, constituting said manual activation, causes an axial displacement of said rod (6) and said valve (51), and thus the opening of said passage (5).

The bottom (23) may be formed of a typically snap-fit piece at the bottom of the side skirt (22), which may be formed of a flexible central portion (24) and a stiffer annular portion (25). ).

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As illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 2f, said return spring (60) can be formed by one or more flexible arms integral with said rod (6) and bearing against said arch (21) or against said head, or by said movable portion of said bottom, said lower end (64) then being secured to said movable portion (24).

But, as illustrated in Figures 3a to 3c, said applicator spring (40) may be formed by a flexible tongue (41), typically metal or plastic or by any similar means fulfilling the same function.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 2f, said rod may comprise, in said secondary reservoir (30), at least one flexible main arm (61) bearing against said head and forming said return spring (60), and at least a flexible secondary arm (63) forming said applicator spring (40), so that when said rod (6) is moved axially and manually operated to open said valve (51) and constitute said manual activation, each ball (4) is applied against its corresponding lip (310) through said secondary arm (63), thus forming a tight connection between ball (4) and lip (310), and so that during said application, said manual activation having ceased and said valve being closed, said secondary arm (63) continues to exert on said ball an axial force allowing, as a function of an application pressure, a limited axial displacement of said ball relative to said lip ensuring in particular the passage of said product on said support.

According to a second family of applicators (1) according to the invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, said body (2) can be rigid, and said transfer means can comprise a movable piston (7) with axial displacement in said main tank (20) thanks in particular to a threaded screw (70) cooperating with said piston (7) and integral with a manual rotation button (72), said predetermined quantity corresponding to a given manual rotation of said knob (72), with a signal or location, typically by means of a sound signal or a threshold of rotational effort alerting the user.

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 According to a modality not illustrated in the figures, said head (3) can form said rotation button (72), said screw (70) then being integral with said head.

Advantageously, said button (72) can form a snap-fitting piece to said body (2) and serving as a bottom (23) for said body (2).

As shown in FIG. 4, said closure means (50) may be a flexible lamella (53) located in said secondary reservoir (30) closing off said passage (5) except during said rotation when said product is transferred by said axial displacement of the piston (7), or any similar device, typically ball, providing a valve function.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, said screw may comprise an upper end (71) which cooperates in rotation with an orifice (54) of the passage (5), so that said passage (5) is open during said rotation and closed when said signal appears.

Typically, said signal may correspond to a relative rotation of said button (72) 360 or a half rotation of 180.

According to a third family of applicators, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, said body (2) forming said main reservoir (20) may be a flexible tube (80), said transfer means being a manual pressure exerted laterally on said tube flexible (80).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, but this could also be illustrated in FIG. 4, a double spring element (42) located in said secondary reservoir can simultaneously exert its action on said ball (4) and on said valve (51, 53), so as to increase the pressure exerted on said ball (4) when said valve (51, 53) is raised during said irreversible flow, and so as to increase the pressure exerted on said valve (51, 53) during said application considering the axial displacement of said ball (4) during said application.

Thus, the reaction of the support on the ball during its application, is transmitted to said valve through the double spring (42), so that the axial manual pressure exerted on the tube does not lead to a complementary flow of the product

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 contained in the tube, that can flow to the secondary reservoir that when the ball is not applied against said support.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2a to 2f, said applicator (1) may comprise a single ball (4). But it may comprise two balls (4), or three balls (4) typically arranged in a triangle, as shown in Figures la to Id, or four balls (4) arranged in a square or diamond.

3 de 0, 5 à 5 cm3. According to the invention, said main tank (20) can have a capacity ranging from 5 to 250 cm3 and, likewise, said secondary tank (30) can have a capacity ranging from

3 from 0.5 to 5 cm3.

According to a variant of the invention, said body (2) forming said main reservoir (20) may comprise a narrowed upper part (25) typically forming a shoulder or a neck closed by said head (3), said neck and said head being of the same section, typically round, said cover cooperating with said shoulder so that said applicator with its cover (9) has a uniform section uniformly over its entire height.

As illustrated in Figures lb and 2b, said body (2) and said cover (9) or said head typically have a same section, said section being round, or oval, or triangular, or square, or diamond.

Advantageously, said head, and possibly said bottom, can be snapped to said body, typically by axial snapping, so as to make said applicator including said ball and said transfer means, in particular after filling said main tank with the product to be packaged.

Another subject of the invention is the use of the applicator according to the invention for the packaging of liquid, pasty products, creams, products in the form of powder or microbeads, typically cosmetic products, hygiene, toilet or facials, or pharmaceutical or dermatological products.

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Indeed, the invention makes it possible to control the flows of products through the openings which, successively, put into communication, at first, said main reservoir with said secondary reservoir, then, in a second step, said secondary reservoir with said support.

Thus, the invention makes it easy to adapt the dimensions of the orifices or spaces formed between fixed parts and moving parts, to any type of product and therefore any type of product viscosity, whether it be the most fluid products or the most viscous products or powders, insofar as these products can flow as soon as said manual activation is exerted.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS The figures constitute exemplary embodiments.

The 3-ball applicator according to Figs. 1a to 1d of applicator 22 mm in diameter and 65 mm in height was manufactured.

The following parts were manufactured by thermoplastic molding: the body (2), the bottom (23), the rod (6), the head (3), the cover (9), the balls (4).

The rod (6) and the balls (4) were assembled in the body (2) via the orifice (210) and then the head (3) was latched. After filling the product body, the bottom (23) is latched.

The ball applicator according to FIGS. 2a to 2f was similarly manufactured.

The three-bead applicator according to FIGS. 3a to 3c has been manufactured in a similar manner. In this case, a spring piece (40) is provided. The assembly of this piece (40) is immediate: after placing the rod (6), the piece (40) is placed then the balls (4), and finally the head (3) is snapped.

An applicator according to FIG. 4 has also been manufactured.

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The following parts were manufactured: a body (2), a rotation knob (72) integral with a threaded screw (70), a piston (7) whose threaded central part cooperates with the screw (70) and whose edge cooperates with the skirt (22) of the body so as to ensure the axial displacement of the piston, a head (3), a spring (41), balls (4), a tongue or strip (53).

 These pieces were assembled in the following manner: - the edge of the lamella (53) was glued to the upper edge of the orifice (5) with an adhesive (530), then the spring (41) was placed, the balls (4), the spring being perforated to cooperate with the balls and keep them in position in the horizontal plane, and the head (3) has been snapped to the body.

 - The piston (7) and the screw (70) were secured, then, after having filled the main reservoir with product, the bottom (23) was assembled to the body (2).

The rotation button comprises a rib (720) cooperating with the bottom of the skirt (22), so as to form a sound signal or a rotation indicator to identify a rotation of 360, which allows to transfer the main tank to the secondary reservoir a predetermined amount of product.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has also been manufactured. In this figure, the pieces have been shown apart for the sake of clarity, but it goes without saying that the product to be transferred can pass only as indicated by the arrow.

The applicator according to FIG. 6 has also been manufactured in a manner analogous to that of the applicator according to FIG.

Note that, in the case of Figure 6, the upper part of the main tank is constituted by the head itself.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The invention has many advantages.

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On the other hand, it makes it possible to manufacture applicators economically, typically by axial assembly of parts.

Finally, the invention opens the way to many alternative embodiments, which can contribute to the desired differentiation between products, particularly in the field of packaging of cosmetic products.

LIST OF REFERENCES

<Tb>
<tb> Applicator ........................................ <SEP> 1
<tb><SEP> axis of <SEP> the applicator ........................ <SEP> 10
<tb> Body <SEP> forming <SEP> tank <SEP> main <SEP> 2
<tb> Tank <SEP> main <SEP> 20
<tb> Arch <SEP> Upper <SEP> 21
<tb> Orifice <SEP> 210
<tb> Lateral <SEP> skirt <SEP> 22
<tb> Background <SEP> 23
<tb> Part <SEP> mobile <SEP> or <SEP> flexible <SEP> 24
<tb> Rigid <SEP> ring <SEP> part <SEP> 25
<tb> Head .............................................. .... <SEP> 3
<tb> Tank <SEP> Secondary <SEP> 30
<tb> Part <SEP> Upper <SEP> 31
<tb> Hare <SEP> 310
<tb> Part <SEP> Lower <SEP> 32
<tb> Ball <SEP> Application <SEP> 4
<tb> Spring <SEP> Applicator <SEP> of <SEP> 4 <SEP> 40
<tb> Flexible <SEP> Tab <SEP> 41
<tb> Hole <SEP> central <SEP> (cooperates <SEP> with <SEP> 65) .... <SEP> 410
<tb> Passage <SEP> or <SEP> leads <SEP> 5
<tb> Medium <SEP> shutter <SEP> of <SEP> 5 .................... <SEP> 50
<tb> Valve <SEP> 51
<tb> Seat <SEP> of <SEP> valve <SEP> 52
<Tb>

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<Tb>
<tb> Flap valve <SEP> flexible <SEP> 53
<tb> Adhesive <SEP> of <SEP> fixation <SEP> 530
<tb> Port <SEP> of <SEP> closing "valve <SEP> to <SEP>bushel" ... <SEP> 54
<tb> Stem <SEP> for <SEP> Medium <SEP> of <SEP> Transfer <SEP> 6
<tb> Spring <SEP> of <SEP> Reminder <SEP> 60
<tb> Bras <SEP> main <SEP> 61
<tb> End <SEP> upper <SEP> forming <SEP> valve ... <SEP> 62
<tb> Secondary <SEP> arm <SEP> forming <SEP> 41 ............... <SEP> 63
<tb> Bottom <SEP> Bottom <SEP> 64
<tb> End <SEP> Upper <SEP> cooperating <SEP> with <SEP> 410 .. <SEP> 65
<tb> Piston <SEP> mobile <SEP> 7
<tb> Screw <SEP> threaded <SEP> 70
<tb> End <SEP> upper <SEP> for <SEP> 54 ................. <SEP> 71
<tb><SEP> button of <SEP> rotation <SEP> 72
<tb><SEP> co-operating <SEP> rib with <SEP> 22 ............. <SEP> 720
<tb> Portion <SEP> of <SEP> tube <SEP> of <SEP> 21 <SEP> or <SEP> 32 <SEP> forming <SEP> 5 ...... <SEP> 73
<tb> Port <SEP> 730
<tb> Medium <SEP> of <SEP> transfer <SEP> with <SEP> flexible <SEP> tube ................. <SEP> 8
<tb> Flexible <SEP> tube <SEP> as <SEP> tank <SEP> 20 ............. <SEP> 80
<tb> Edging <SEP> Welded <SEP> 81
<tb> Element <SEP> Spring <SEP> on <SEP> 4 <SEP> and <SEP> 53 .................. <SEP> 82
<tb> Cover .............................................. ...... <SEP> 9
<Tb>

Claims (25)

1. Applicator ball (s) (1) for fluid product, typically a cosmetic product, intended to provide a localized deposition of said product on a support, typically on a part of the face, comprising a body (2) forming a main reservoir " upstream "(20) of said product, at least one ball (4), a head (3), typically covered with a removable cover (9), forming a" downstream "secondary reservoir (30) and comprising an upper part (31) ) having as many circular lips (310) as application balls (4), said main (20) and secondary (30) reservoirs communicating via a passage or duct (5), a transfer means (6, 7) 8) allowing, by manual activation, an irreversible flow of a predetermined amount of said product from the "upstream" main reservoir (20) to the "downstream" secondary reservoir (30) for application of said predetermined amount said product on said support, typically from an application subsequent to said flow. 2. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said head (3) comprises a said applicator spring (40) maintaining said ball (4) applied against said lip (310), so as to allow a reversible axial displacement of said ball (4) during said application and thus allow said product to flow from the secondary reservoir to said support. 3. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein said transfer means comprises a closure means (50) of said passage (5). 4. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said closure means comprises a valve (51) axial displacement closing said passage (5) and allowing an opening of said passage (5). An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said transfer means comprises a gravity flow of said product from said main reservoir. <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  (20) to said secondary reservoir (30), said applicator (1)) being returned with said head (3) placed below said body (2) and said valve being in "open" position following said axial displacement.  6. Applicator according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein said valve (51) is integral with a rod (6), adapted to be displaced axially, comprising a return spring (60) or cooperating with a return spring ( 60), so that said passage or duct (5) is in the "closed" position when said rod (6) is not actuated manually. An applicator according to any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein said body (2) is typically rigid and comprises an upper arch (21) comprising an orifice (210) forming said passage (5) and typically forming a seat (52) for said valve (51), a side skirt (22) and a bottom (23) including a movable portion (24) in contact with a lower end (64) of said shank (6), such that manual pressure on the movable or flexible portion (24) of said bottom, constituting said manual activation, causes an axial displacement of said rod (6) and said valve (51), and thus the opening of said passage (5). 8. Applicator according to claim 7 wherein said return spring is formed by one or more flexible arms secured to said rod and bearing against said vault (21) or against said head, or said movable portion of said bottom, said lower end. (64) then secured to said movable portion (24). 9. Applicator according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein said applicator spring (40) is formed by a flexible tongue (41), typically metal or plastic. 10. Applicator according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein said rod comprises, in said secondary reservoir, at least one flexible main arm (61) bearing against said head and forming said return spring (60), and at least one <Desc / Clms Page number 14>  flexible secondary arm (63) forming said applicator spring (40), so that when said rod (6) is moved axially and manually operated to open said valve (51) and constitute said manual activation, each ball ( 4) is applied against its corresponding lip (310) through said secondary arm (63), thereby forming a sealed connection between ball (4) and lip (310), and so that during said application, said manual activation having ceased and said valve being closed, said secondary arm (63) continues to exert on said ball an axial force allowing, as a function of an application pressure, a limited axial displacement of said ball relative to said lip ensuring in particular the passage said product on said support.  11. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said body (2) is rigid, and said transfer means comprises a movable piston (7) axially displaced in said main tank (20) thanks in particular to a threaded screw ( 70) cooperating with said piston (7) and integral with a manual rotation button (72), said predetermined quantity corresponding to a given manual rotation of said knob (72), with a signal or marking, typically by means of a sound signal or a threshold of rotational effort. 12. Applicator according to claim 11 wherein said head (3) forms said rotation button (72), said screw (70) then being secured to said head. 13. The applicator of claim 11 wherein said button (72) forms a snap-in piece to said body (2) and serving as a bottom (23) for said body (2). An applicator according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said closure means (50) is a flexible blade (53) located in said secondary reservoir (30) closing said passage (5) except during said rotation when it takes place. transfer of said product by said axial displacement of the piston (7). 15. An applicator according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said screw comprises an upper end (71) which cooperates in rotation with a hole (54) of <Desc / Clms Page number 15>  passage (5), so that said passage (5) is open during said rotation and closed when said signal appears.  An applicator according to any one of claims 11 to 15 wherein said signal typically corresponds to a relative rotation of said button (72) of 360 or a half rotation of 180.  An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said body (2) forming said main reservoir (20) is a flexible tube (80), said transfer means being a manual pressure exerted laterally on said flexible tube (80) .  The applicator of claim 17 wherein a dual spring member (42) located in said secondary reservoir simultaneously exerts its action on said ball (4) and said valve (51,53), so as to increase the pressure exerted on said ball (4) when said valve (51,53) is raised during said irreversible flow, and so as to increase the pressure exerted on said valve (51,53) during said application in view of the axial displacement of said ball (4) during said application. 19. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 18 comprising a single ball (4). 20. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 18 comprising two balls (4), or three balls (4) typically arranged in a triangle, or four balls (4) arranged in a square or rhombus. An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said main reservoir (20) has a capacity of from 5 to 250 cm 3 and wherein said

 3 secondary reservoir (30) has a capacity ranging from 0.5 to 5 cm3. <Desc / Clms Page number 16> 22. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein said body (2) forming said main reservoir (20) comprises a narrowed upper portion (25) typically forming a shoulder or a neck closed by said head (3), said neck and said head being of the same section, typically round, said cover cooperating with said shoulder so that said applicator with sin bonnet (9) has a typically uniform section over its entire height. 23. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein said body (2) and said cover (9) or said head typically have a same section, said section being round, or oval, or triangular, or square, or diamond. 24. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein said head, and possibly said bottom, are snapped to said body, typically by axial snapping, so as to make integral said applicator including said ball and said transfer means. 25. Use of the applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 24 for the packaging of liquid products, pastes, creams, products in the form of powder or micro-beads, typically cosmetic products, hygiene, toiletry or facials, or pharmaceutical or dermatological products.