FR2945714A1 - Cosmetic product e.g. powder, storing and distributing device, has cup comprising annular zone that connects another annular zone and open zone with each other and defines slope failure with respect to latter annular zone - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a cylindrical container (3) for storing solid particles, and comprising an opening (13). A cup (5) is connected to the container, and extends into the opening. The cup includes an annular zone (17) comprising distribution orifices (19) of particles and an open zone (21) forming a middle container to collect the solid particles flowing from the annular zone towards the open zone by gravity. The cup has another annular zone (23) connecting the former annular zone and open zone with each other and defining slope failure with respect to the former annular zone. The former annular zone and open zone are planar or hollow concave in shape.

Description

Device for storing and dispensing cosmetic products in the form of solid particles The invention generally relates to cosmetic product dispensing storage devices, in particular for cosmetic products in the form of solid particles. By "cosmetic product" is meant herein in particular a product as defined in Council Directive 93 / 55CE of 14 June 1993. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for storing and dispensing a cosmetic product which is in the form of a cosmetic product. the form of solid particles, of the type comprising: - a solid particle storage container having an opening; a cup attached to the container and extending into the opening, said cup comprising first and second zones, the first zone having at least one solid particle distribution orifice, the second zone being solid and forming an intermediate reservoir adapted to collect solid particles flowing by gravity from the first zone to the second zone. Such a device is known from GB 628 118 which describes that the first and second zones are two regions of the same spherical cap. In this device, it is difficult to seal the dispensing orifices by sticking an adhesive film on the cup. Such an adhesive film is generally affixed to the cup at the time of manufacture of the device, so as to prevent the penetration of debris or moisture inside the container, and to prevent solid particles of cosmetic product from leaving the container during transportation from the manufacturing plant to the retailer. The user removes the adhesive film at the first use. In addition, some cosmetic product particles must be crushed before use. It is convenient to perform this crush with a pestle in the second zone. With the device of GB 628 118, part of the cosmetic product is removed during crushing to the orifices, and falls inside the container. In this context, the invention aims to provide a storage and distribution device that is more convenient to use.

To this end, the invention relates to a storage and dispensing device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the cup comprises a third zone connecting the first and second zones to one another and defining a slope break by compared to the first zone.

The device may also have one or more of the following characteristics, considered individually or in any technically possible combination: The opening extends substantially in a given plane, the first zone forming with said determined plane a first average slope less than 20 °. The third zone forms with said determined plane a third average slope greater than the first average slope and less than or equal to 90 °. The third zone has at least one inflection line arranged such that each continuous line connecting the first zone to the second zone intersects said inflection line at a point of intersection, said intersection point constituting a point of intersection. inflection for said continuous line. The third zone has at least first and second slope failure lines arranged such that each continuous line connecting the first zone to the second zone intersects said first and second slope failure lines at first and second intersection points. said first intersection point constituting a first break point of slope for said continuous line, said second intersection point constituting a second break point of slope for said continuous line. The opening extends substantially in a predetermined plane, said continuous line having with respect to said determined plane a slope which increases at the first point of intersection and which decreases at the second point of intersection, when following said continuous line of the first zone to the second zone. The first zone is flat or concave concavity facing the container, the second zone being flat or concave concavity turned to the opposite of the container. The opening has a normal axis, the second zone being shifted inwardly of the container along the axis normal to the first zone.

The first zone is an annular zone extending at the periphery of the opening, the second zone extending in the center of the opening. The first zone comprises a plurality of orifices distributed around the second zone.

It comprises a lid that can be removably attached to the container by covering the cup. The lid has a transparent area allowing the user to see the amount of solid particles contained in the second area. The lid comprises an applicator member of the cosmetic product.

The lid comprises a member having a shape and rigidity adapted to crush the solid particles of cosmetic product against the second zone. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description given below, for information only and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a side view of a storage and dispensing device according to the invention, with its lid in place on the storage container; - Figure 2 is an axial sectional view of the device of Figure 1, the lid being removed from the container and returned, solid particles being disposed in the second zone of the cup; FIG. 3 is a view from above of the cup of the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the cup of FIG. 3; - Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4, for an alternative embodiment of the cup; - Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 for another embodiment of the cup; FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, for an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the applicator member is a puff; FIG. 8 is a view in axial section of the device for a variant of the invention in which the applicator member is mounted on the inside of the cover 7; FIGS. 9A and 9B are views similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4, for a variant embodiment of the cup, FIGS. 10A and 10B are views similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4, for another variant of FIG. embodiment of the cup, and - Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 8, for an alternative embodiment of the invention. The device shown in FIG. 1 is intended for the storage and distribution of a cosmetic product in the form of solid particles. The cosmetic product may be in the form of a powder or more or less compacted aggregates. These particles are for example obtained by extrusion of a powder, and may be in the form of grains, chips, small cubes, filaments, vermicelli, etc. These particles can not be applied directly to the face because they tend to crumble at the time of application. They must be crushed before use. Alternatively, the product may be in fluid form, and in particular viscous or pasty. The device comprises a container 3 for storing solid particles, a cup 5 (visible in FIG. 2) connected to the container 3, and a lid 7 that can be removably attached to the container 3 by capping the cup 5. The container 3 is for example a cylindrical container provided with a bottom 9, a cylindrical side wall 11 and having an opening 13 to the opposite of the bottom 9. The opening 13 is circular. When the container rests on the bottom 9, the opening 13 extends in a substantially horizontal plane. The central axis X of the cylindrical wall 11 is vertical. It constitutes the normal axis at the opening 13 and passes through the center of the opening 13. The cup 5 may have a shape complementary to that of the opening 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is for example circular shape. The cup 5 is placed in the opening 13. The cup 5 has a circular shape and substantially closes the entire opening 13. It is bounded by its peripheral edge 15 to the side wall 11 of the container.

The fastening of the cup 5 and the container 3 is carried out by any suitable means, reversible or not, for example by snapping, screwing, crimping, tight fit, including fitting or by thermal welding or gluing.

The cup 5 comprises a first zone 17 having a plurality of orifices 19 for dispensing the solid particles, a second solid zone 21 forming an intermediate reservoir adapted to collect the solid particles flowing by gravity from the first zone to the second zone, and a third zone 23 connecting the first and second zones to each other and defining a slope break with respect to the first zone. In FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7, the boundaries separating the three zones from each other are materialized by vertical mixed lines. The second zone 21 constitutes the center of the cup. The first zone 17 is an annular zone extending over the entire periphery of the cup 5. The first zone 17 extends all along the peripheral edge 15. It has a closed contour, and a symmetry of revolution around the X axis. The first zone 17 has a plurality of orifices 19, of a size adapted to pass the cosmetic product particles stored inside the container 3. The orifices 19 are distributed around the second zone 21. For example, the orifices 19 are distributed over one or two circles, centered on the axis X. The orifices 19 are for example regularly distributed on each of the circles. The third zone 23 is also an annular zone radially interposed between the first zone 17 and the second zone 21. It completely surrounds the second zone 21. It also has a symmetry of revolution about the X axis. rupture of slope the fact that the third zone 23 has with respect to a determined reference plane, here the plane in which the opening 13, an average slope different from the average slope of the first zone. The slope corresponds to the angle formed by the zone considered with the plane of the opening 13. The average slope corresponds to the average of the slope relative to the plane of the opening 13 taken on all the points of the zone considered.

Preferably, the first zone 17 forms with the plane of the opening 13 a first slope (a Figure 4) average less than 20 °, typically less than 10 ° and ideally 0 °. On the contrary, the third zone 23 forms with the plane of the opening 13 a third slope (/ 3 Figure 4) average greater than the first average slope, and less than or equal to 90 °. The first zone 17 is typically flat (FIG. 6) or concave (FIG. 5) concavity facing the inside of the container, or it can still be frustoconical (FIG. 4). In the case where it is not flat, it is generally inclined radially from the outside to the inside of the cup so as to promote gravity flow of the solid particles towards the second zone 21. In FIG. first zone has a form of truncated cone, coaxial with the X axis, and converge to the third zone, that is to say towards the bottom of the container.

The second zone 21 is flat (FIG. 6) or concave (FIGS. 4, 5), concavity facing away from the container. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the third zone has a line of inflection L closed contour, extending over the entire periphery of said third zone. Thus, all the continuous lines connecting the first zone 17 to the second zone 21 intersect the inflection line L at a point of intersection. This point of intersection constitutes a point of inflection for said continuous line. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 5, when one follows the cup radially from the edge 15 to the center of the cup, one goes first a concavity curve turned substantially towards the bottom of the container until at the line L, then from the line L, a concavity curve is rotated opposite the bottom of the container. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the third zone has a generally frustoconical shape. It is coaxial with the axis X. The third zone converges towards the inside of the container, and toward the second zone 21.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the third zone is also frustoconical but has a steeper slope with respect to the plane of the opening 13.

Thus, in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 6, the third zone 23 has first and second break lines of slope L1 and L2. The lines L1 and L2 are closed outlines, and extend over the entire periphery of the third zone 23. More specifically, the line L1 constitutes the junction between the first zone 17 and the third zone 23. The second line L2 constitutes the junction between the third zone 23 and the second zone 21. Each continuous line connecting the first zone to the second zone intersects the first and second slope failure lines L1 and L2 at first and second intersection points. The first point of intersection constitutes a first break point of slope for said continuous line, and the second point of intersection constitutes a second point of break of slope for said continuous line. When following the continuous line from the first zone to the third zone, the slope of said continuous line with respect to the plane of the opening 13 increases at the first point of intersection, and decreases at the second point of intersection.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 to 6, the second zone 21 is axially offset towards the inside of the container relative to the first zone 17. Thus, the first zone 17 extends relative to the bottom 9 at an axial height greater than the third zone 23, which is itself located at an axial height relative to the upper bottom to the second zone 21.

Axially, the height difference between the first and second zones is between 5 and 15 mm. This axial offset promotes gravity flow of the cosmetic product particles, from the first zone to the second zone. This gravity flow occurs after flipping and returning to the initial orientation of the device or shaking of the device.

The lid 7 is hollow. It comprises a peripheral fixing edge 25, an intermediate zone 27, a bottom 29, and a member 31 for applying the cosmetic product. The peripheral edge 25 carries removable attachment means to the wall 11 of the container. For example, the peripheral edge 25 has an internal thread 33, intended to engage an external thread 35 formed on the side wall 11 of the container. Alternatively, the lid 7 can be held on the container by snapping, by a bayonet system to guide and facilitate the impregnation of cosmetic product of the applicator member in position mounted on the container, or by any other appropriate means of fixation. The intermediate zone 27 connects the bottom 29 to the peripheral edge 25. It is preferably transparent, to allow the user to see the quantity of solid particles contained in the second zone of the cup. The applicator member 31 is rigidly fixed to the bottom 29. It is mounted on the large face of the bottom 29 located opposite the peripheral edge 25 and turned towards the outside of the cover 7. Thus, when the cover 7 is attached to the container 3, the applicator member 31 is located towards the outside of the device.

Thus, in the position of Figure 1 where the cover 7 is mounted on the container, the applicator member 31 is oriented upwards. The device, in this case, may include an overcap 32 intended to cap the applicator member and to protect it. The overcap 32 is for example fitted on the intermediate zone 27 or on the peripheral edge 25. It can also be screwed to the cover 7, or be fixed by snapping on notches formed in the cover. Typically, it is snapped on notches 37 formed in the intermediate zone 27 (Figure 1). Conversely, in an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the applicator member may be housed in the internal volume of the cup 5, in particular inside the second zone 21, when the lid 7 is mounted on the 3. The application member 31 is then mounted on the large face of the bottom 29 facing the peripheral edge 25. It projects beyond the peripheral edge 25. It comes to bear against the second zone 21 of the cupule when the lid 7 is mounted on the container 3. An example of such a mounting for the applicator member is described in FR 2 814 651. In all cases, the lid and in particular the peripheral edge 25 is a part manipulation. This part is intended to be entered by the user, especially when it wants to apply the cosmetic product. In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 11, the applicator member 31 is provided to be separable from the bottom 29 of the lid. This is particularly useful in the case where the lid is large diameter and where the grip of such a lid by the user is inconvenient.

As shown in Figure 11, the device comprises an applicator support 39, carrying the applicator 31 and adapted to be removably received in a recessed housing 41 formed in the bottom 29 of the lid. The housing 41 is concave towards the outside of the container. The applicator support 39 is reversibly locked in the housing 41, for example by notches formed in the housing 41 and cooperating with recesses in the applicator support 39. In other words, the cover 7 comprises an internal face facing the product to be taken and an external face facing outwards, the outer face having a housing 41 for receiving the applicator member 31. The member 31 is adapted to be attached in fixing position in the housing 41. The applicator member 31 can be removably attached to the cover 7 by snug fitting, screwing, latching or other. When the support 39 is engaged in the housing 41, the applicator points towards the outside of the container. The applicator 31 is secured to the applicator holder 39. The applicator member 31 may have a shape and a rigidity adapted to crush the solid particles of cosmetic product against the second zone 21. The applicator member 31 may be a foam, possibly permeable to the product, a puff, a woven, a nonwoven, a brush, a brush, a member made of thermoplastic material such as a polyolefin, or optionally a member of elastomeric material. More particularly, it is possible to use for molding the applicator member a relatively rigid thermoplastic material or not, for example SEBS, a silicone, latex, rubber, butyl, EPDM, a nitrile, a thermoplastic elastomer , a polyester, polyamide, polyethylene or vinyl elastomer, a polyolefin such as PE or PP, PVC, EVA, PS, PET, POM, PA or PMMA. It is possible to use the materials known under the trade names Hytrel, Cariflex, Alixine, Santoprene and Pebax, this list not being limiting.

The applicator member may be made of a porous material, in particular a cellular material, such as, for example, an open-cell or semi-open-cell foam, for example a polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyether or polyester foam. , acrylonitrile butadiene rubber or styrene butadiene rubber, this list is not limiting. Alternatively, this application member may be a closed cell foam unfit for imbibing product. This application member may be covered with a flocking.

This applicator member may be configured to at least partially bear against the cup in the mounted position on the container 3, in particular against the second zone 21. It may in particular project relative to a handling portion 25. In particular, this applicator member may define a curved outer envelope adapted to come into contact with the skin, and possibly the cup in the mounted position, in the shape of a dome. The operation of the storage and distribution device will now be described. Initially, the solid particles of cosmetics are stored inside the container 3. An adhesive film, not shown, is affixed to the first zone 7 of the cup and closes the orifices 19. The lid 7 is fixed on the container 3 At the first use, the user unscrews the lid 7 of the container 3 and separates this lid from the container. It then removes the adhesive film, so as to release the orifices 19.

It then puts back the lid 7 on the container 3, by reviving it. Then, the user reverses the device, so as to pass some solid particles through the orifices 19. The device is then in an orientation such that the bottom of the container is upwards, and the application member 31 to the bottom. The cup 5 retains almost all the solid particles inside the container 3, only a few solid particles passing through the orifices 19 and falling into the lid 7. Then, the user brings the device back to its initial orientation, with the bottom down. The solid particles having passed through the orifices 19 fall on the cup and flow by gravity from the first zone through the third zone to the second zone.

The user checks by looking through the transparent area 27 of the lid the amount of solid particles in the second zone. If it wants to increase this quantity, it renews several times the operation of reversal of the device.

When it is satisfied with the quantity collected in the second zone, it removes, if necessary, the overcap, it unscrews the lid a second time, and crushes the solid particles against the second zone with the aid of the applicator member. It then applies the cosmetic product using the application member.

The storage and distribution device described above has many advantages. Because the cup has a third zone connecting the first and second zones to one another and defining a slope break with respect to the first zone, it is possible to draw the cup so that it is more easy to affix an adhesive film on the orifices, and that the retention of the cosmetic product in said second zone is better at the time of crushing of the solid particles. In fact, the break in slope makes it possible to confer on the first zone a slight slope with respect to the plane of the opening. Thus, the first zone is easy to access to apply the adhesive film. The adhesive film also has a substantially flat shape, which makes it easier to install. The slope break also makes the third zone steeply sloping. Thus, it is possible to create a large axial offset between the second zone and the first zone. The retention of the cosmetic product in the second zone is improved, since the cosmetic product must cross a high obstacle from the second zone to access the orifices. The volume of particles that can be disposed in the second zone is also larger when the axial offset between the first and second zones is larger. One can thus crush in one go a larger amount of cosmetic product. In addition, the greater the slope of the third zone, the more solid particles passing through the dispensing orifices will flow easily to the second zone.

Since the first zone is inclined radially from the outside towards the center, no solid particle retention occurs at the periphery of the cup against the side wall of the container. The device is particularly convenient to use because the applicator member is integral with the lid. It is also particularly convenient for this applicator member to be able to grind the solid particles against the second zone. The fact that the cup does not have a re-entrant edge makes it possible to limit the accumulation of cosmetic product in areas that are difficult to reach.

The storage and distribution device may have multiple variants. Thus, the cup is not necessarily circular. It may be oval, polygonal, especially rectangular, or have any other suitable form. The first zone is not necessarily on the periphery of the cup and the second zone in the center. For example, the first and second zones could be two parallel bands, separated by a sloping intermediate band constituting the third zone, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Alternatively, the first and second zones could be two sectors of disks, separated by two third sloped disk sectors constituting the third zone, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B. The second zone can have all kinds of shapes: circular, triangular, rectangular, etc. The dispensing orifices can also have all kinds of shapes: circular, triangular, rectangular, etc.

Considered in section along a diameter, the cup may also have all kinds of shapes, and is not limited to the shapes shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The shapes of the various zones of the cups of FIGS. 4 to 6 may be substituted for each other. to others. Thus, a first zone of the form shown in Fig. 4 may be combined with a second zone of the form shown in Fig. 5 or 6, and a third zone of the form shown in Fig. 5 or 6.

The lid can be removably attached by any means to the container. It can be clipped, screwed, or simply engaged by force around the container. The cup can be made of any suitable material: plastic, metal etc. The slopes have been defined above with reference to the plane in which the opening of the container is inscribed. They could also be defined relative to the plane of the bottom of the container, or any other adapted plan. The member for crushing the solid particles of cosmetic product at the bottom of the cup could be different from the application member of the cosmetic product. The container may be rigid wall, elastically indeformable. In this case, the product is transferred from the container to the intermediate reservoir area by overturning the device as described above. Alternatively, the container may be elastically deformable wall. In this case, the transfer of the product from the container to the zone of the intermediate reservoir capsule is obtained by manual crushing of the side wall of the container, in particular by a compression exerted perpendicularly to the axis X of the container. The user may not need to return the container to obtain the product in the intermediate tank, a simple compression may be sufficient if the product is sufficiently fluid or volatile.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS1.- Device for storing and dispensing a cosmetic product in the form of solid particles, the storage and dispensing device (1) comprising: - a container (3) for storing solid particles, having an opening (13); a cup (5) connected to the container (3) and extending into the opening (13), said cup (5) comprising first and second zones (17, 21), the first zone (17) having at least a solid particle distribution orifice (19), the second zone (21) being solid and forming an intermediate reservoir adapted to collect the solid particles flowing by gravity from the first zone (17) towards the second zone (21), characterized in that the cup (5) has a third zone (23) connecting the first and second zones (17, 21) to one another and defining a slope break with respect to the first zone (17). 2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (13) extends substantially in a given plane, the first zone (17) forming with said determined plane a first average slope less than 20 °. 3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the third zone (23) forms with said determined plane a third average slope greater than the first average slope and less than or equal to 90 °. 4.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third zone (23) has at least one inflection line (L) arranged such that each continuous line connecting the first zone (17) to the second zone (21) intersects said inflection line (L) at a point of intersection, said intersection point constituting a point of inflection for said continuous line. 5.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third zone (23) has at least first and second slope failure lines (L1, L2) arranged such that each continuous line connecting the first zone (17) to the second zone (21) intersects said first and second slope failure lines (11, 12) at first and second intersection points, said first intersection point constituting a first slope failure point for said continuous line, said second intersection point constituting a second break point for said continuous line. 6.- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening (13) extends substantially in a predetermined plane, said continuous line having relative to said determined plane a slope which increases at the first point of intersection and which decreases at the second intersection point, when following said continuous line from the first zone (17) to the second zone (21). 7.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first zone (17) is flat or concave concavity facing the container (3), the second zone (21) being flat or concave concavity turned opposite the container (3). 8.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (13) has a normal axis (X), the second zone (21) being shifted inwardly of the container (3) following the normal axis (X) relative to the first zone (21). 9.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first zone (17) is an annular zone extending at the periphery of the opening (13), the second zone (21) extending in the center of the opening (13). 10.- Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the first zone (17) comprises a plurality of orifices (19) distributed around the second zone (21). 11.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a lid (7) capable of being removably attached to the container (3) by capping the cup (5). 12.- Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (7) comprises a transparent zone (27) allowing the user to see the amount of solid particles contained in the second zone (21). 13.- Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the cover (7) comprises a member (31) for applying the cosmetic product. 14.- Device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the lid (7) comprises a member (31) having a shape and rigidity adapted to crush the solid particles of cosmetic product against the second zone (21). ). 15. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the cover (7) has an inner face facing the product to be taken and an outer face facing outwards, said outer face having a housing ( 41) for receiving a cosmetic product application member (31), said member (31) being adapted to be fixedly attached to said housing (41).