FR2904517A1 - INTEGRATED WIPER APPLICATOR DISPENSER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser applicator (1) of a cosmetic product, typically a mascara, has an axial direction (10) and comprises a body (2) comprising a neck (20) typically threaded and a container (21) for said cosmetic product , said neck (20) being integral with a wiper (3), and an applicator (4) comprising: a) a manual gripping means (40), b) an axial rod (41) oriented in said axial direction (10) ), c) an application means (42), said axial rod (41) being integral with said manual gripping means (40) at its upper end (410), and said application means (42) at its end said lower (411) .It is characterized in that said wiper (3) is a said monobloc wiper (3 ') forming with said body (2) a one-piece piece (5) molded plastic.

Description

 INTEGRATED WIPER APPLICATOR DISPENSER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of applicator dispensers for cosmetic products, typically mascaras.

STATE OF THE ART

The dispensing applicators of cosmetics and mascara in particular comprise a container forming a reservoir for said cosmetic product or said mascara with a threaded neck equipped with a wiper, and an applicator comprising an axial rod endowed at one end with a threaded cap, and at the other end, a means of application, typically a brush, the threaded cap cooperating with the neck to seal the reservoir, and the wiper being of diameter chosen to allow the passage of the rod and to spin the application means, for example brush loaded with product to be applied each time the applicator is removed from the tank.

The applicator is generally formed by assembling at least three parts: a piece forming an outer cap, a one-piece piece of plastic material comprising said rod provided at one end with an insert or a snap-fit part in said outer cap, and an application means, for example a brush, for attachment to the other end of said rod.

Typically, the reservoir is a plastic part generally formed by molding, the wiper being a separate part, typically elastomer, snapped into the neck. However, it is already known from French Patent No. 2,733,734 in which the reservoir container comprises a truncated conical inner neck so as to obtain a narrowing portion of the neck intended to dewater the brush of the applicator.

PROBLEMS POSED

On the one hand, the traditional containers comprise a body for said cosmetic product having a typically threaded neck, and a wiper attached to the neck, the body and the wiper being two separate molded parts typically assembled by snapping, welding or gluing. The problem that arises with regard to traditional applicator dispensers is the manufacturing cost of these containers since such manufacture requires the supply or manufacture of two separate parts, the body and the wiper, then their integral assembly. On the other hand, the solution disclosed by the French Patent No. 2,733,734 to do without drainer has not replaced traditional containers despite its lower cost, because in practice, the solution disclosed in this patent could only be used for low capacity bodies, typically bodies intended to dispense samples, since the molding of these bodies requires a small diameter core corresponding to the diameter of the wiper orifice.

The plaintiff has therefore sought a way to solve all these problems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the applicator dispenser of a cosmetic product, typically a mascara, has an axial direction and comprises a body comprising a typically threaded neck and a container for said cosmetic product, said neck being integral with a wiper, and an applicator comprising: a) manual gripping means, b) an axial rod oriented in said axial direction, c) an application means, said axial rod being integral with said manual gripping means at its so-called upper end, and said application means at its lower end. It is characterized in that said wiper is a so-called monoblock wiper forming with said body a one-piece molded piece of plastic material.

This dispenser applicator solves the problems posed since, on the one hand, the body comprises a wiper, the word "wiper" retaining here the usual meaning of this word in traditional applicator dispensers, and that, on the other hand, this wiper and said body forms a one-piece molded part.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to obtain the performance of use of traditional dispensing dispensers, while reducing the number of parts to be molded and assembled, which presents a great advantage in practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figures la to 9b relate to the invention, Figure 10 being relative to the prior art.

Figures la and lb are axial sections in the axial direction (10). FIG. 1a schematically represents a molding device (8) comprising a two-part blank mold (80) (80a, 80b) cooperating with a central core (81) provided with a plurality of axial projections (810), to form a mold cavity with an orifice (800).

FIG. 1b represents said first body blank (6) obtained by molding a thermoplastic material with the aid of the molding device (8) of FIG.

Figures 2a to 2g relate to the central core (81) used for testing. Figure 2a is an axial section of the central core (81) comprising a plurality of parts.

Figure 2b is a side view of the central core (81).

Figure 2c is a partial side view of the lower portion of the central core (811) obtained after removing the peripheral ring (810) from the core (81).

Figure 2d is an enlarged view of the portion of Figure 2a circled with a dashed line.

FIG. 2e is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 2c surrounded by a dotted line, the central core (81 1) comprising a plurality of recessed portions (812) facing said peripheral ring (810), to form a plurality of blank tabs (62) by molding.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1a, wherein, said first blank (6) having been formed, the blank mold (80) has been replaced by the finishing mold (82) to form by blowing said second blank (7), a pressurized fluid being introduced through an axial conduit (813) as schematically shown by a dark line arrow to obtain said container (2).

FIG. 4 is a view in axial section of said second blank (7) obtained after blowing said first blank (6) with the device of FIG. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are axial sectional views illustrating the overturning of the plurality of upwardly projecting tabs (62) in said second blank

(7) to form the one-piece wiper (3 ') according to the invention. On the right side of Figure 5, similar to the right part of Figure 4, has been shown the annular piece (90) in the upper position for initiating the reversal of the plurality of blank tabs (62).

On the left side of Figure 5, the annular piece (90) has been shown in the down position and abutting against the neck, so as to obtain an inclined draft tab (62a). In FIG. 6, the center piece (91) of the turning punch (9 ') has been introduced into the annular piece (90) so as to obtain a plurality of downwardly turned roughing tongues (62b).

Figure 7 is a view of the annular piece (90), a lower portion being shown in axial section, and an upper portion being shown in side view.

Figure 8a is an axial sectional view of the body (2) according to the invention obtained after removal, in Figure 6, of the various parts (90, 91) of the turning punch (9 '). Figure 8b is a bottom view of the one-piece wiper (3 ') formed by a plurality of contiguous radial tongues (30) in the form of a truncated cone.

Figures 9a and 9b show an applicator dispenser (1), open in Figure 9a and closed in Figure 9b, the applicator (4), unscrewed, being opposite the body (2) in Figure 9a.

Figure 10 is a partial section of a wiper (3) assembled to a body (2) according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said wiper (3 ') may comprise a plurality of N radial tongues (30), said radial tongues (30) being typically identical and regularly arranged around said axial direction (10), two successive radial tongues forming between they an angle of 360 ° / N, as illustrated for example in Figure 8b.

The number N of radial tongues (30) can range from 2 to 10, and typically from 3 to 8, and is preferably 6. As illustrated in FIG. 8a, said radial tabs (30) can form a substantially frustoconical wall (31). ) with an apex angle equal to 2.β ranging from 50 ° to 140 °, said frustoconical wall (31) forming at its lower part an orifice (310) of diameter D1 and connecting to said neck (20) at its upper part by its base (311) of diameter D2> D1, the diameter D2 typically corresponding to the diameter inside said neck (20). The diameter D1 can be between 0.3. D2 and 0.8. D2, and typically between 0.4. D2 and 0.7.D2.

Typically, said radial tabs (30) can be connected to said neck (20) by said base (31 1) of said frustoconical wall (31). In addition, said radial tabs (30) can be connected to said neck (20) by its lower end (200).

According to the invention, said radial tongues (30) may be at least partly contiguous, typically at said orifice (310), so as to ensure self-locking of said radial tongues (30) between them and thus to prevent any risk of overturning. said tabs outwardly of said body when said applicator (4) is separated from said body (2), said manual gripping means (40) of said applicator (4) forming a cap adapted to close said body (2) by screwing to said neck threaded (20). As illustrated in FIG. 8b, said radial tabs (30) may be radial tabs that are typically contiguous over their entire radial length.

As illustrated in FIG. 8a, said one-piece wiper (3) may have a flexibility with respect to said axial direction (10), typically a resilient flexibility, said radial tongues (30) being able to deviate from said axial direction (10). ) under a stress when said application means (42) of said applicator (4) is introduced into said body (2) and cooperates with said wiper (3 '), so as to form a pseudo-frustoconical angle wall at vertex 2.β '<2.β, said tongues taking up their position and forming said substantially frustoconical wall (31) with an apex angle equal to 2.β when said stress ceases. Another object of the invention is constituted by the method of manufacturing a body (2) of an applicator dispenser (1) according to the invention.

In this method, using a molding device (8), and in order to form said one-piece molded part (5): a) forming a said first body blank (6) comprising a container blank (60) and a typically threaded neck (61) comprising a plurality of N blank tabs (62) disposed within said neck (61) and oriented outwardly of said container blank (60), by hot molding of a thermoplastic material by cooperation of a two-part blank mold (80) (80a, 80b) and a molding core or punch (81) typically comprising a plurality of N axial cavities (812) capable of molding said plurality of N blank tabs (62), b) forming a second body blank (7) comprising said container (21) of said body (2) by blowing, into a finishing mold, said first body blank (6), said container (21) of said body (2) typically comprising a bottom (210), a lateral upe (21 1) and a shoulder (212) connecting said side skirt (211) to said neck (20), c) and then, typically using a turning device (9), is rotated to the interior of said container (21) said plurality of N blank tabs (62), for orienting said N blank tabs (62) inwardly of said body (2), said body (2) then being at a so-called inversion temperature, lower than the molding temperature of said blank, chosen low enough so that said tongues remain integral with said neck and high enough to have sufficient flexibility of said plurality of tongues relative to said neck allowing pivoting of the tongues; blank (62) so as to form said one-piece piece (5) provided with said one-piece wiper (3 ') comprising said plurality of N radial tongues (30) typically forming said frusto-conical wall (31).

Said plurality of N axial cavities (812) can be arranged in such a way that said plurality of N radial tongues (30) is connected to the neck (20) at its lower end (200) by an annular connection zone (22). As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, said plurality of blank tongues (62) can be pivoted by introducing into said neck (20) a punch (9 ') forming said turning device (9), so as to make inwardly swinging said body (2) said plurality of blank tabs (62).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, said turning punch (9 ') may comprise an annular piece (90) and a central piece (91) slidable in said annular piece (90).

As illustrated in FIG. 7, said annular piece (90) may comprise an outer ring (900) intended to abut against said neck (20) and an inner ring (901) having a lower end (902) forming a bevel forming an angle α typically ranging from 10 ° to 70 °, such that said lower end (902) directs said plurality of draft tongues (62) inwardly of said body (2).

To implement said turning device (9), and as illustrated in FIG. 5, said annular piece (90) can be introduced first into said neck (20), said inner ring (901) of said annular piece ( 90) having an axial height greater than the distance d between said connection zone (22) of said tongues and the upper end (201) of said neck, so that said outer ring (900) abuts against said neck (20), said inner ring (901) cooperates with said blank tabs (62) by turning them inwardly of said body (2), and then sliding said central piece (91) into said annular piece (90) to form a plurality of blank tabs (62b) rotated by an angle γ close to 180 °, and to form, after removal of said turning device (9), said radial tabs (30), said draft tabs (62b), nota by their elastic memory, turning in the opposite direction to their angular locking point formed by their side contact edge to edge, forming said frustoconical wall of angle 2.β ranging from 50 ° to 140 °. According to the invention, said one-piece piece (5) may be formed of a plastic material typically selected from a polyolefin, for example PE or PP.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

One-piece pieces (5) molded in PE were produced according to the process of the invention:

the first body blanks (6) with 6 blank tabs (62), as illustrated in FIG. 1b, have first been formed by means of the molding means generically illustrated in FIG. 1a and in detail in Figures 2a to 2e with respect to the core (81). In Fig. 1a, the arrow symbolizes the injection of PE into the closed cavity formed by cooperation of the two-part blank mold (80) (80a, 80b) and the core (81).

said first body blanks (6) are then blown to form said second blanks of body (7), as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,

finally, the flanging tongues (62) were turned over, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, so as to obtain the one-piece pieces (5) as illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b. In Figure 7, the dimensions are expressed in mm.

These one-piece pieces (5) had an outer diameter of 16 mm corresponding to the outside diameter of the cylindrical container (21), and a total height of 88 mm with a container height (21) of 80 mm and a neck height (20). 8 mm.

These one-piece pieces (5), by addition of applicators (4), were used to form applicator dispensers (1) mascara as shown in Figures 9a and 9b, a height of 124 mm and an outer diameter 16 mm constant over the entire height. These applicator dispensers (1) of mascara have been tested by people using mascara. It has been found that the one-piece squeezers (3 ') according to the invention have performances similar to those of the traditional squeezers (3) illustrated in FIG. (10), both as regards the quality of the squeezing and the permanence this quality of spinning throughout the life of the product. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The invention makes it possible to replace the manufacture and assembly of two separate molded parts, the body (2) and the wiper (3) by the manufacture of a single piece (5) forming the body (2) and the 'monoblock wiper (3'), and this for bodies (2) of any capacity. The one-piece pieces (5) may have an outer diameter ranging from 12 mm to 25 mm, and a height ranging from 40 mm to 100 mm.

It therefore has great economic advantages since it concerns the industrial manufacture of manufactured articles of large capacity and very large series.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Dispenser applicator 1 Axial direction 10

Body of 1 2

Threaded neck of 1 20

Bottom end 200

Container of 2 21 Bottom of 21 210

Side skirt 211

Shoulder 212

Annular connection area of 3 'and 20 .. 22

1 3 Wiper Wringer 1 '

Radial tongue 30

Frustoconical wall 31

Orifice 310

Base 311 Applicator 1 4

Manual gripping means 40 Axial stem 41

Upper end 410

Bottom end 41 1

Means of application 42

Monobloc piece formed by 2 + 3 '5

First draft of body 6

Container Rough 60

Neck of 6 61

Draft tab of 6 62

Inclined draft tongue 62a

Roughing tongue turned down 62b

Second draft of body 7

Molding device 8

Two-part blank mold 80, 80a, 80b

800 port

Core - punch 81

Peripheral Crown 810

Central core 811

Cavity 812

Part of 811 recessed next to 810 .... 812 '

Axial duct 813

Finishing mold 82

Turning device 9

Reversing punch 9 '

Annular piece 90

Outer crown 900

Inner crown 901

Bottom end of 901 902

Central piece 91

Claims (5)

An applicator dispenser (1) for a cosmetic product, typically a mascara, having an axial direction (10) and comprising a body (2) comprising a typically threaded neck (20) and a container (21) for said product cosmetic, said neck (20) being integral with a wiper (3), and an applicator (4) comprising: a) a manual gripping means (40), b) an axial rod (41) oriented in said axial direction ( 10), c) an application means (42), said axial rod (41) being integral with said manual gripping means (40) at its so-called upper end (410), and from said application means (42) to its so-called lower end (411), characterized in that said wiper (3) is a so-called monoblock wiper (3 ') forming with said body (2) a one-piece piece (5) molded of plastic material. 2. Applicator dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said wiper (3 ') comprises a plurality of N radial tongues (30), said radial tongues (30) being typically identical and regularly arranged around said axial direction (10), two tabs successive radials forming an angle of 360 ° / N between them. 3. Applicator dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the number N of radial tongues (30) ranges from 2 to 10, and typically from 3 to 8, and is preferably 6. 4. applicator dispenser according to claim 2 wherein said radial tongues (30) form a substantially frustoconical wall (31) with an apex angle equal to 2.β ranging from 50 ° to 140 °, said frustoconical wall (31) forming a its lower part an orifice (310) of diameter D 1 and connected to said neck (20) at its upper part by its base (311) of diameter D2> D1, the diameter D2 typically corresponding to the inner diameter of said neck (20). 5. Dispenser applicator according to claim 4 wherein the diameter Dl is between 0.3.D2 and 0.8. D2, and typically between 0.4. D2 and 0.7.D2. 6. dispenser applicator according to any one of claims 4 to 5 wherein said radial tongues (30) are connected to said neck (20) by said base (311) of said frustoconical wall (31). An applicator dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said radial tongues (30) are connected to said neck (20) by its lower end (200). 8. Applicator dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein said radial tongues (30) are at least partly contiguous, typically at said orifice (310), so as to ensure a self-locking of said radial tongues (30). between them and thus to prevent any risk of flipping said tabs outwardly of said body when said applicator (4) is separated from said body (2), said manual gripping means (40) of said applicator (4) forming a cap adapted to closing said body (2) by screwing to said threaded neck (20). 9. applicator dispenser according to claim 8 wherein said radial tongues (30) are radial tabs typically contiguous over their entire radial length. 10. Dispenser applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said monobloc wiper (3 ') has a flexibility with respect to said axial direction (10), typically a resilient flexibility, said radial tongues (30) being adapted to s' away from said axial direction (10) under a stress when said application means (42) of said applicator (4) is introduced into said body (2) and cooperates with said wiper (3 '), so as to form a pseudo-frustoconical wall with an apex angle 2.β '<2.β, said tongues taking up their position and forming said substantially frustoconical wall (31) with an apex angle equal to 2.β when said stress ceases. 11. A method of manufacturing a body (2) of an applicator dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein, with the aid of a molding device (8), and to form said one-piece molded part (5): a) forming a said first body blank (6) comprising a container blank (60) and a typically threaded neck (61) comprising a plurality of N blank tabs (62) disposed at inside said neck (61) and outwardly of said container blank (60) by heat-molding a thermoplastic material by cooperation of a two-part blank mold (80) (80a); 80b) and a molding core or punch (81) typically comprising a plurality of N axial cavities (812) moldable to form said plurality of N tabs (62), b) forming a second blank body (7) comprising said container (21) of said body (2) by blowing, in a finishing mold, of the said first body blank (6), said container (21) of said body (2) typically comprising a bottom (210), a side skirt (211) and a shoulder (212) connecting said side skirt (21 1) to said neck ( 20), c) and then, typically with the aid of a turning device (9), said plurality of N blank tabs (62) are turned inwardly of said container (21) so as to orient said N blank tongues (62) inwardly of said body (2), said body (2) then being at a so-called inversion temperature, lower than the molding temperature of said blank, chosen low enough for said tongues remain integral with said neck and high enough to have sufficient flexibility of said plurality of tongues with respect to said neck allowing pivoting of the blank tabs (62), so as to form said one-piece piece (5) provided with said monobloc wiper (3). ') comprising said plurality of N tabs s radial (30) typically forming said frustoconical wall (31). The method of claim 11 wherein said plurality of N axial cavities (812) is disposed such that said plurality of N radial tabs (30) are connected to the neck (20) at its lower end (200) by a annular connection area (22). Method according to any one of claims 11 to 12 wherein said plurality of blank tongues (62) are pivoted by introducing into said neck (20) a punch (9 ') forming said turning device (9), in such a way as to tilt inwardly of said body (2) said plurality of blank tabs (62). 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said turning punch (9 ') comprises an annular piece (90) and a central piece (91) slidable in said annular piece (90). The method of claim 14 wherein said annular piece (90) comprises an outer ring (900) for abutment against said neck (20) and an inner ring (901) having a lower end (902) forming a bevel making an angle α typically from 10 ° to 70 °, such that said lower end (902) orients said plurality of blank tongues (62) inwardly of said body (2). 16. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 15 wherein, to implement said turning device (9), said annular piece (90) is first introduced into said neck (20), said inner ring (901). of said annular piece (90) having an axial height greater than the distance d between said connection zone (22) of said tongues and the upper end (201) of said neck, so that said outer ring (900) abuts against said neck (20), said inner ring (901) cooperates with said blank tabs (62) by turning them inwardly of said body (2), then said central piece is slid (91) in said annular piece (90) so as to form a plurality of blank tabs (62b) rotated by an angle α close to 180 °, and so as to form, after removal of said turning device (9 ), said radial tabs (30), said blank tabs (62b), in particular by virtue of their elastic memory, turning in the opposite direction to their angular locking point formed by their side-to-side contact, forming said frustoconical wall of angle 2.β ranging from 50 ° to 140 °. 17. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein said one-piece piece (5) is formed of a plastic material typically selected from a polyolefin, for example PE or PP.