FR2855380A1 - DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND APPLYING A PRODUCT, COMPRISING A SPINNER - Google Patents

Abstract

The squeezing- or wringing component (3) is annular (12). It is split longitudinally, its wall having slots (14) extending to its free end (3a). The slot penetrates the entire thickness of the wall. In plan view, where its (3) cross section is at a minimum, the external cross section exceeds that of the applicator (7). The slotted section is deformed radially, to allow the applicator to pass through.

Description

The present invention relates to packaging devices and

  application of a product, in particular a cosmetic product, including a care product, comprising a wiping member.

  French patent application FR 2 562 773 discloses a set of make-up, in particular for the eyelashes, comprising a container provided with a wiping member which defines a threaded neck onto which a plug comprising an applicator can be screwed.

  European patent EP 0 728 426 B1 describes a device for dispensing a liquid or pasty product, comprising a wiping member which is provided with several longitudinal slots formed in a central part in the form of an internal portion of 10 torus.

  Also known from European patent EP 0 627 182 B1 is an assembly for applying a fluid product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a two-stage wiping member consisting of two parts, one of which is covered with fibers. by flocking.

  European patent EP 0 824 329 B1 describes a wiper member comprising a split foam block.

  There is a need to further improve the packaging and application devices for a product, and in particular to benefit from a wiping member capable of satisfactorily wiping a wide variety of application elements, in particular elements application having a non-circular cross section.

  There is still a need to have a wiping member which can be easily mounted on the corresponding container.

  According to one of its aspects, the subject of the invention is therefore a device for packaging and applying a product, in particular for care or make-up, comprising: - a container for containing the product, - an applicator comprising an application element, a wiping member for wiping the application element, this device being able to be characterized by the fact that the wiping member comprises an annular part split longitudinally, having a wall comprising at minus a slit extending to a free end of the wiper member, the slit passing through said wall over its entire thickness, this slit part having in a plane where its internal cross section is minimal a larger external cross section than the largest cross section of the applicator element, the slit portion deforming radially outward when the applicator element passes.

  Thanks to the invention, the wiping member is capable of deforming easily 5 in the passage of the application element, without losing its ability to wring it.

  A slot delimits two sectors arranged on either side of it. Two adjacent sectors separated by a slot thus have facing faces whose spacing defines the width of the slot. When passing through the wiping member, the applicator element can come into contact with these opposite faces, which can contribute to wiping, all the more so as their surface is large. The outer cross-section of the slotted part, because it is greater than that of the applicator element, makes it possible to have a relatively large wall thickness at the level of the slots, which improves spinning.

  The slotted part can comprise at least one relief radially projecting towards the outside, for example an annular bead, which can be located substantially at the free end of the slit part, which allows to benefit from a more thick wall large at the free end of the split part and further improve the performance of the wiper member.

  The above relief may be different from an annular bead.

  The slotted part may for example comprise at least one rib disposed at the level of a slot, this rib possibly extending parallel to the axis of the wiping member.

  The thickness of the wall of the split part can be for example between 0.5 mm and 8 mm, and preferably between 0.8 mm and 6 mm.

  The split part can be produced, in particular by injection, in an elastically deformable material, flexible to semi-rigid, for example of hardness between 15 Shore A and 40 Shore D. This material can be solid and not cellular.

  The split part can in particular be made from one of the following materials: silicone elastomer, EPDM, nitrile, butyl, latex, thermoplastic elastomer, PU, PE, PVC, EVA, SIS, SBS, SEBS, Hytrel, Pebax, this list is not exhaustive.

  The slotted part preferably comprises at least two longitudinal slots, better still at least three longitudinal slots and preferably still more than four longitudinal slots, for example more than six or eight, the slots preferably being distributed evenly over the circumference of the slotted part, the sectors formed between the slits then having the same angular extent.

  The slot (s) may have contiguous edges in the absence of an application element engaged in the wiper member.

  The length of at least one slot, measured along the longitudinal axis of the wiping member, can be for example between 2 mm and 15 mm.

  The wiper member may have at rest, in the absence of an application element, an axial symmetry. The outer envelope of the wiper member may for example have a generally symmetrical shape of revolution. The slotted part may have a circular, oval or polygonal internal cross section, in particular square or triangular. A non-circular interior cross-section may for example be intended for wiping a non-circular cross-sectional application element also, for example of similar shape.

  The internal cross-section of the slotted part, in particular when it has a circular, oval or polygonal shape, can decrease at least over a certain distance as we get closer to the free end of the latter. , 20 so as to facilitate entry of the applicator element into the container.

  The split part may, in particular, have a portion of its inner surface whose general shape is frustoconical.

  The slotted portion may have at least a certain distance an external cross section progressively decreasing towards the free end of the wiper member, converging towards the interior of the container.

  The wiper member may have on its outer surface a groove above the split part. This groove can facilitate the outward deformation of the sectors when the application element passes.

  The wiper member may also have on its outer surface an annular bead above the split part, intended to snap into the interior of the container.

  At least one slit in the slotted part may have opposite faces which are not parallel, and in particular in cross section a shape diverging radially outwards, in particular a V shape. This can in particular facilitate the deposition of a flock coating on the facing faces of the slot.

  In a particular embodiment, the split part is integral with a fixing part mounted on the container, for example engaged in a neck thereof.

  The split part and the fixing part can be made in one piece by molding material.

  As a variant, the split part can be made in one piece and the fixing part constitutes another piece, the two pieces being integral.

  The fixing part may comprise, at one end, a flange intended to come to bear axially against the edge of the neck of the container.

  The fixing part can also include an annular skirt arranged to cover a portion of the neck, outside of the latter.

  The fixing part may also, as a variant, constitute at least the major part of the neck of the container and come to bear around the opening of a container substantially devoid of neck.

  The fixing part and split part can be made of different materials. The fixing part can for example be made of a more rigid plastic than that in which the split part is made. Such a fixing part can make it possible to obtain a satisfactory seal and a fixing on the container facilitated by the rigidity of the material of which it is made. The fixing part can for example be made from one of the following materials: polyolefins, in particular PE or PP, POM, 25 PA, PET.

  The material constituting the fixing part may in particular be impermeable to the solvent (s) present in the product and to water.

  When the split part and the fixing part are not made of the same material by molding, the split part can be joined to the fixing part in different ways and in particular by mechanical assembly, by gluing or welding. The split part can also be linked to the fixing part by overmolding one on the other.

  The split part can be constituted by a portion of a part which covers the fixing part, for example which covers it internally. This portion can become thinner towards an opening for introducing the application element into the wiper member.

  The split part can be produced with a part which comprises a part intended to allow mechanical assembly with the fixing part, for example by snap-fastening, this part then comprising for example a groove or a bead intended to snap on a relief of complementary shape provided on the fixing part.

  The applicator element can have various shapes and in particular a non-circular cross section over at least a portion of its length, for example a flat cross section.

  The application element may include a flock coating.

  The product can be a mascara. The application element can thus be, for example, a brush or a comb, which can extend along a non-rectilinear axis, arranged for the application of a product to keratin fibers, in particular the eyelashes, the eyebrows or the hair. The product can also be intended for application to the eyelids, for example being an eyeliner. The product may also be intended to be applied to the lips.

  The applicator may include a rod at the end of which the application element is fixed. This rod, which may be of circular cross section for example, may comprise a first portion having a first cross section and a second portion having a second cross section smaller than the first, this second portion being positioned at the level of the part split of the wiper member when the applicator is in place on the container. This avoids excessive deformation of the split part of the wiper member during storage. The first portion extends between the applicator member and the second portion.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view , partly in axial section and partly in perspective, of a packaging and application device produced in accordance with the invention, - Figure 2 is a side view, schematic and partial, of the spinning the device of Figure 1, taken separately, - Figure 3 shows in isolation, in schematic and partial perspective, the wiping member, - Figures 4 and 5 illustrate schematically and partially the passage of the element d application of Figure 1 through the wiper member, - Figures 6 and 7 are schematic axial sections of alternative embodiments of the wiper member, - Figure 8 is a bottom view, schematic and partial, according to arrow 10 VIII of the figur e 7, - Figures 9 to 14 show in schematic axial section other alternative embodiments of the wiper member, - Figure 15 is a bottom view, schematic and partial, according to arrow XV of the figure 14, - Figure 16 is a schematic axial section of another alternative embodiment of the wiping member, - Figures 17 to 20 are bottom views, schematic, of alternative embodiments of the split part of the 'wiper member, - Figures 21 to 24 are side views, schematic and partial, of 20 alternative embodiments of the wiper member, - Figure 25 shows schematically an applicator comprising an element of application consisting of a brush, - FIG. 26 schematically and partially illustrates the passage of the application element of FIG. 25 through a wiping member, - FIG. 27 represents, in schematic axial section, another conditioning device and application according to the invention, - Figures 28 and 29 show, schematically and partially, in axial section, two other embodiments of a packaging and application device according to the invention, - Figure 30 is a partial and schematic view, according to arrow XXX of FIG. 2, of an alternative embodiment, and - FIG. 31 partially shows, in elevation, another exemplary embodiment of a wiper member.

  The packaging and application device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a container 2 surmounted by a neck 8 of axis X, open at its upper end and which may contain a cosmetic product P, such as a lip gloss by example.

  A wiping member 3 made of an elastically deformable material, for example a thermoplastic elastomer, is attached to the container 2 and fixed thereon for example by means of a friction engagement in the neck 8. Of course, the member wiper 3 could be fixed otherwise on the container 2, for example by gluing, welding or snap-fastening, or by means of an additional holding piece.

  The device 1 further comprises an applicator 4 which comprises, in the example illustrated, a closure cap 5 on which is fixed a rod 6, at the free end of which is present an applicator element 7 which can be of Every type.

  The wiper member 3 has, in the example considered, an inner cross section 15 smaller than a cross section of the applicator element 7.

  The cap 5 has an internal thread not visible in Figure 1, intended to cooperate with an external thread 9 of the neck 8, to close the container 2. The cap 5 could also be fixed other than by screwing on the neck 8, in particular by snap.

  In the example considered, the wiper member 3 comprises a generally tubular body 10, of longitudinal axis coincident with the axis X of the neck 8, extended at its upper part by a flange 11 resting against the upper end of the col 8.

  This collar 11 participates in obtaining a sealed closure of the container 2, the cap 5 comprising a surface which comes to bear against this collar 11 at the end of its screwing.

  The wiper member 3 comprises, in the lower part, a split annular part 12, which is provided at its end with a bead 13 radially projecting on its outer surface.

  In the example illustrated, the slotted part 12 comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots 14 extending parallel to the axis X as far as the free end 3a of the wiper member 3, these slots 14 being for example eight in number. Still in the example described, the external cross section of the wiper member is circular, as is its internal cross section. The internal diameter of the wiper member 3 is substantially equal, in its narrowest part defined by the slotted part 12, to the external diameter of the rod 6.

  When the application device 1 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 1, 5 the split part 12 of the wiping member 3 presses against the rod 6 of the applicator 4 without appreciable deformation of the split part 12 .

  The slots 14 define between them sectors 15 capable of moving apart when the applicator element 7 passes.

  In the example illustrated, the slots 14 are distributed evenly over the periphery of the split portion 12 and the sectors 15 are of the same angular extent.

  It does not, however, depart from the scope of the present invention when the slots 14 are distributed irregularly around the periphery of the split part 12.

  The application element 7 is in the example considered covered with a flock coating and has a generally flattened shape. Its cross section is non-circular, of oblong shape of larger dimension greater than the diameter of the rod 6, for example by a factor of 1.5, at least, or even of at least 2.

  The passage of the applicator element 7 through the slotted part 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The sectors 15 flex so as to allow the slotted part 12 to substantially match the shape of the element of application 7 on passing thereof, which provides an efficient spin.

  The application element 7 can also be partially wrung out by the faces 14a and 14b opposite at least one slot 14, in particular at the level of the bead 13, as can be seen in FIG. 5.

  The faces 14a and 14b are all the more apt to participate in the wiping as they are capable of coming into contact with the application element 7. If necessary, the product can be retained between them by capillarity. The relatively large thickness of the wall of the split part 12, in particular at the level of the bead 13, makes it possible to obtain faces 14a and 14b having a relatively large surface, therefore suitable for contributing to the dewatering of the element of application 7 and to collect product P by capillarity.

  Given the elasticity of the wiping member 3, once the applicator element 7 has passed through the slit part 12, the slots 14 close again, the sectors 15 being again substantially in contact with each other. other.

  The wiper member 3 may have a slit portion 12 devoid of bead 13 but retaining a relatively thick wall and being for example in the form of a truncated cone whose outer cross section decreases towards the interior of the container. Such a wiper member 3 is shown in FIG. 6.

  The external cross-section of the wiping member 3 can be further increased by the presence, on the external part of the sectors 15, of axial ribs 19 coming in the extension of the faces 14a and 14b of the slots 14, as illustrated in the figures. 7 and 8.

  The wiper member 3 may consist of a single piece, as described above, or of two pieces assembled together.

  This is particularly the case for the wiping members 3 shown in FIGS. 7 to 14, which consist of a fixing part 17 made of a relatively rigid material such as a polyolefin and of an insert on the part fastener 17 comprising the slotted part 12, this part being made of a more flexible material 15 than that of the fastening part 17, a thermoplastic elastomer for example.

  The fixing part 17 and the part comprising the split part 12 can be fixed together in different ways, in particular being glued, welded, snapped on or assembled by means of an additional part. The part comprising the split part 12 fits for example around the fixing part 17 as illustrated in FIG. 9, or inside the fixing part 17, as illustrated in FIG. 10, or even on horseback on the fixing part 17 as illustrated in FIG. 11.

  In FIG. 12, the fixing part 17 and the part comprising the split part 12 are assembled mechanically by snap-fastening, the fixing part 17 comprising a bead 20, the part comprising the slit part 12 having a groove 21 intended to receive the bead 20.

  The fixing part 17 and the slotted part 12 can also be made integral with one another by overmolding, the part comprising the slit part 12 being for example bi-injected on the fixing part 17, as illustrated in FIG. 13. In this example, the part comprising the split part 12 covers the interior of the fixing part 17.

  The slotted part 12 of the wiping member 3 may include ribs 22 disposed substantially in the middle of the outer part of the sectors 15, which can make it possible to have greater rigidity in the slit part 12, as illustrated in the figures. 14 and 15.

  The part comprising the slit part 12 can be provided, as illustrated in FIG. 16, with an annular outer skirt 29 extending around the slit part 12, this outer skirt 29 being in particular intended to retain product.

  The internal cross section of the split part 12 may be circular and of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the rod 6 or be of smaller diameter than that of the rod 6, as illustrated in FIG. 17, to adapt for example to the wringing of an application element having a tapered portion. An internal cross section of the slotted portion 12 can be non-circular, for example in the shape of a star as illustrated in FIG. 14 to effect a partial and selective spinning of the application element by

example.

  The number of slots 14 may vary. By way of example, there is shown in FIG. 18 a wiper member comprising five slots 14, in FIG. 19 four slots and in FIG. 20 six slots.

  When the wiper member 3 comprises a portion of frustoconical shape, of cross section progressively decreasing downwards, the slots 14 may extend over only part of the frustoconical portion as is the case in FIG. 6. The slots 14 can also extend beyond the frustoconical portion as illustrated in FIG. 21 or even extend only over the frustoconical portion, as illustrated in FIG. 22.

  The split part 12 can have a generally tubular shape, as illustrated in FIG. 23.

  The wiper member 3 may have an outer section narrowed in one place, in the form of a groove 25 as illustrated in FIG. 24, intended for example to allow the sectors 15 to move away more easily from the passage of the application element 7.

  FIG. 25 shows another example of an applicator 4, the application element 7 of which consists of a brush, which may be slightly curved. FIG. 26 illustrates the passage of the brush 7 through the wiping member 3.

  In Figure 27, another packaging and application device for applying an eyeliner has been shown. The rod 6 of the applicator 4 has a narrowed portion 6a of cross section smaller than the internal cross section of the slotted part 12, so as to avoid the deformation of the sectors 15 at rest and to facilitate the evacuation of the overpressure. induced inside the container 2 when the applicator 4 is introduced into the container.

  In FIG. 28, the fixing part 17 of the wiping member 3 comprises an annular skirt 35 which overlaps a lip 36 produced at the upper part of the neck 8. The maintenance of the wiping member 4 is thus improved.

  In FIG. 29, the wiper member 3 is produced with a neck, onto which the closure cap 5 can be screwed, for example.

  In the example of Figure 2, each slot 14 has facing faces 14a and 14b which are essentially parallel and contiguous at rest.

  Of course, the slots 14 can be produced otherwise and in particular can be produced with facing faces 14a and 14b which are not parallel at rest, for example diverging radially outwards, as illustrated in FIG. 30.

  In this figure, it can be seen that at least one slot 14 in the slotted part 12 has a width which increases towards the outside. This can make it possible, for example, to cover the faces 14a and 14b more easily with a flock coating 40, which can further improve the performance of the wiper member.

  FIG. 31 illustrates the possibility of producing the wiping member with an annular bead 42 projecting from its outer surface, intended to snap into a corresponding groove in the container, in particular a groove made in the neck of it.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described.

  The application element can have any rounded, elongated shape with angles. The application element may for example be a straight brush, an applicator made of flocked or non-flocked foam, a comb, a brush.

  The applicator element may have a larger cross section less than or equal to the largest diameter of the rod.

  Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression "comprising a" must be understood as being synonymous with the expression "comprising at least one", unless otherwise specified.

Claims (30)

  1. Device (1) for packaging and applying a product (P), in particular for care or make-up, comprising: - a container (2) for containing the product (P), - an applicator (4) comprising an application element (7), - a wiping member (3) for wiping the application element (7), device characterized in that the wiping member (3) comprises an annular part ( 12) split longitudinally, having a wall comprising at least one slot (14) extending to a free end (3a) of the wiping member (3), the slot passing through said wall over its entire thickness, this split part (12) having in a plane where its internal cross section is minimum an external cross section larger than the largest cross section of the applicator element (7), the split part (12) being deformed radially towards outside when the applicator element passes.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the split part (12) of the wiper member (3) comprises at least one relief forming radially projecting outwards, in particular a bead (13) or at at least one rib (19) disposed at a slot (14).   3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall thickness of the split part (12) is between 0.5 and 8 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 6 mm.   4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the split part (12) is made of an elastically deformable material of hardness between 15 Shore A and 40 Shore D. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the split part (12) is made of one of the following materials: silicone elastomer, EPDM, nitrile, butyl, latex, thermoplastic elastomer, PE, PP, PVC, EVA, SIS, SBS, SEBS, Hytrel, Pebax.   6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slotted part (12) comprises at least two longitudinal slots (14), or even at least three longitudinal slots, in particular more than four longitudinal slots, better still six or eight longitudinal slots.   7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the split part (12) has slots (14) distributed evenly over the circumference of the split part (12).   8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, 5 characterized in that the split part (12) comprises at least one slot (14) whose length measured along the longitudinal axis of the wiping member (3 ) is between 2 mm and 15 mm.   9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiping member (3) has at rest, in the absence of application element (7), an axial symmetry, in particular an outer envelope having a generally symmetrical shape of revolution.   10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slotted part (12) has a circular, oval or polygonal internal cross section, in particular square or triangular.   11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least over a certain distance the internal cross-section of the split part (12) decreases as one approaches the free end (3a) of the split part.   12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the split part (12) is integral with a fixing part (17) mounted on the container (2), in particular engaged in a neck (8 ) from the container (2).   13. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing part (17) comprises at one end a flange (11) intended to come to bear axially against the edge of the neck (8) of the container (2).   14. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the split part and the fixing part are made in one piece by molding of material.   15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the split part is made in one piece and the fixing part constitutes another piece, the two pieces being integral.   16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the two parts are made of different materials.   17. Device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the fixing part (17) is made of one of the following materials: polyolefins, in particular PE or PP, POM, PA, PET.   18. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the two parts are assembled by one of the following fixing methods: mechanical assembly, bonding, welding, overmolding.   19. Device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the split part (12) is constituted by a portion of a part which comes to overlap the fixing part (17).   20. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the slotted part (12) is produced in a part which comprises a fixing part arranged to be assembled mechanically with the fixing part (17) by snap-fastening.   21. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiping member comprises an annular bead above the split part, intended to snap inside the container.   22. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one slot has in cross section a shape diverging radially outwards, in particular a V shape. 23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the slot 20 has facing faces (14a, 14b) flocked.   24. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiping member has on its outer surface a groove (25) above the split part (12).   25. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element (7) has a non-circular cross section over at least a portion of its length.   26. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element (7) has a flock coating.   27. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element (7) consists of one of a brush and a comb, the application element ( 7) being arranged to apply a product to the eyelashes or the eyebrows.   28. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product is intended for application to keratin fibers or is intended for application to the lips or the eyelids.   29. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, 5 characterized in that the applicator (4) comprises a rod (6) at the end of which is fixed the application element (7).   30. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rod (6) has a first portion having a first cross section and a second portion (6a) having a second cross section smaller than the first, this second portion coming position themselves at the level of the split part (12) of the wiping member when the applicator (4) is in place on the container (2).