FR2964307A1 - Device for dispensing and applying e.g. toning product on skin, has dispensing pipe opened on application surface through dispensing orifice located away from rotary applicator element, and dispensing valve tilted with respect to rest axis - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has an aerosol container (2) containing a cosmetic product (P). An application unit (10) i.e. valve actuating unit, has a rotary applicator element (14) e.g. ball and/or roller, projected from an application surface (11) of the unit. The unit comprises a dispensing pipe (12) engaged on a dispensing valve (4) i.e. tilting valve, of the container and opened on the surface through a dispensing orifice (13) located away from the applicator element. The valve is tilted with respect to a rest axis (X). The surface forms an angle ranging from 10 to 90 degree with respect to the axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing and applying a cosmetic product. "Cosmetic product" means any composition as defined in Council Directive 93/35 / EEC of 14 June 1993.

EP1943921 discloses a device for applying a product contained in an aerosol container, by means of a ball housed and free to rotate in a support fixed to the container. The valve of the aerosol is actuated by depressing the ball in its support and the product is directly distributed in the housing supporting the ball. However, the product delivered directly into the housing of such a device must have a high fluidity to prevent any risk of fouling of the support preventing the ball from working properly. In addition, a depression type valve requires a high actuating force which is not very pleasant for the user. JP2002211665 discloses a device for applying a product contained in an aerosol container. The applicator member is fixed on the valve of the container, and comprises an application surface perpendicular to the axis of the valve and having free rotating massage beads. The applicator member also comprises a distribution duct connecting the valve of the aerosol container to an outlet orifice on the application surface near the balls. The aerosol valve is actuated by a linear depression along the axis of the valve, due to pressure on the application surface. Depressing valves, however, require a high actuating force not very pleasant for the user. There is therefore a need to allow the application of a cosmetic product to a body surface using an applicator relatively simple, relatively reliable, hygienic and pleasant to use.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a device for overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks by providing an improved device for dispensing and applying a product. For this purpose the invention proposes a device for applying and dispensing a cosmetic product comprising an aerosol container containing said product and a dispensing valve, an application member comprising an application surface comprising an applicator element that is mobile in rotation, and a distribution conduit engaged on said dispensing valve and opening through a dispensing orifice on the application surface away from the mobile applicator element. According to the invention, the dispensing valve is a tilt valve, and the applicator member is an actuating member of the valve.

The invention advantageously makes it possible to offer a feeling of gentle and pleasant actuation for the user. According to other features of the invention, the applicator may have a lever arm greater than 1 cm, or even 2 cm, better than 3 cm, so that the force required to actuate the valve is even lower .

The application surface can form an angle with respect to the axis between 10 and 90 °, so that the device has ergonomics optimized for the user. The application surface may comprise a fixed element protruding to scrape or massage the application area. The applicator member may be made in one piece.

The mobile applicator element can be made of metal so that its thermal conductivity is high, thus providing the user with a feeling of coldness. Preferably the mobile applicator element may be stainless steel. The mobile applicator element may be a ball and / or a roller. The end of the dispensing orifice may flare towards the application surface. The diameter of the dispensing orifice may be between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. The device may comprise at least two dispensing orifices. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of nonlimiting examples of implementation thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents a device according to FIG. FIG. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a variant of the device of the invention; FIG. 1 application member of the device of Figure 1, - Figure 5 shows a variant of the device of the invention.

With reference to the figures, the device 1 comprises a reservoir 2 in the form of an aerosol container surmounted by a dispensing valve 4 of a cosmetic product P contained in the reservoir 2. The reservoir 2 extends mainly along a longitudinal axis X.

The cosmetic product P is kept under pressure in the reservoir, and is dispensed in response to the actuation of a dispensing stem 3 of the valve 4. In its rest position, the dispensing stem 3 extends along the longitudinal axis X out of the container 2. Different types of aerosol containers can be used. For example, the product P can be stored in the tank together with the aerosol propellant. According to another example of an aerosol container shown in the figures, the product P is stored inside a flexible pouch 5. The pouch 5 is located in the container 2 and the interior volume of this pouch 5 containing the product P is connected to the tank valve. The aerosol propellant G is stored under pressure in the container 2 on the outside of the bag 5 so as to exert pressure on said bag. The pressure exerted on the flexible bag 5 causes a deformation of the latter tending to reduce its internal volume and forcing the distribution of the product by the valve 4 during its actuation. One of the advantages of a pocket aerosol is that it can be used regardless of the orientation of the device.

The construction details of the tank 2, the pocket 5, the valve 4 and the propellant of an aerosol dispenser are within the skill of those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described in detail here. According to the invention, the dispensing valve 4 is of the tilting type. The actuation of the valve 4 is then performed by inclining the valve stem 3 relative to its axis of rest which is the longitudinal axis X in this example. The valve stem thus pivots around a tipping point B located in the valve. The minimum angle of inclination necessary for the opening of the valve is for example between 1 ° and 20 °. The stem 3 of the valve automatically returns to its rest position under the effect of a restoring force, for example exerted by a return spring located in the valve 4. A dispenser and application member 10 is mounted on the valve 4 of the tank 2.

The applicator member comprises a main body for example made of plastic material such as polypropylene (PP). The main body can also be made of metal. In addition the main body may include a coating for example elastomer to provide some feel softness to the touch when applying to the skin. Advantageously, the main body is made in one piece. The main body has an application surface 11 intended to come into contact with the zone 20 of the user on which the product P is to be applied. The dimensions and the shape of the application surface 11 are for example suitable for use for a specific area. Thus the application surface 11 may be, for example, in the form of a circular disk, the application surface 11 may however take other forms such as an oval, elliptical, curvilinear or polygonal shape. Likewise, the application surface is for example substantially planar, but it can also be convex, concave or even have concave portions and convex portions. The largest dimension of the application surface 11, for example the diameter in the case of a circular surface, may be between 1 cm and 10 cm. For example, the largest dimension may be between 1 cm and 3 cm for a device for applying product on the face, while the largest dimension may be greater than 3 cm for a device for example intended for the application of product on areas of the body other than the face. The application surface 11 may be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the device as in Figures 1 and 2, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X as in Figure 3, or form an angle with the axis longitudinal X as in Figure 5. The angle is advantageously between 10 ° and 80 ° to facilitate the application of the product on the skin of the user while ensuring a good grip of the container. The main body of the applicator member 10 also has at least one housing 15 opening on the application surface, and adapted to receive a mobile applicator element 14.

The mobile applicator element 14 may be a ball. The mobile applicator element can also be a roller or a polyhedron. The applicator element is then rotatable in the housing. The mobile applicator element can be force-fitted into the housing. For example, when the mobile applicator element is a ball, the housing may have the shape of a truncated sphere at the opening opening on the application surface. The diameter of the housing is then slightly greater than that of the ball and the diameter of the opening opening on the application surface is slightly less than that of the ball. In this case, if the ball and / or the main body are made of material that can deform elastically during the passage of the ball in the opening, the ball can be mounted in force in the housing. Other mounting arrangements may be envisaged, such as in the case not shown of a main body surmounted by a removable piece for holding each mobile applicator element. The removable part has an orifice for each housing of a mobile applicator element. The movable applicator element is positioned between the main body and the removable part so that a part of this movable applicator element can project through the corresponding orifice of the removable part. The applicator element 14 mobile can be full or hollow. The mobile applicator element may also be deformable or rigid. When the applicator member comprises several mobile applicator elements, the latter may be spaced regularly. Advantageously, the mobile applicator elements are made of metal in order to provide the user with a feeling of coldness. Preferably the metal will be stainless steel for example reduced nickel content which offers good physiological compatibility with the skin of the user. Each movable applicator element may include a coating such as a protective paint or a thin layer of elastomer providing a feeling of soft application and a lower feeling of cold. According to a variant not shown, the mobile applicator element is formed of a flexible sleeve engaged around two parallel axes of rotation spaced apart from each other. The axes of rotation are connected to the main body for example by being positioned in a housing opening on the application surface of the main body, so that the sleeve can roll around the two axes of rotation relative to the main body. On the other hand, the main body of the applicator member 10 comprises a channel 12 extending from an inlet port forcibly mounted on the valve stem 3, to a dispensing orifice 13 opening on the surface application 11 remotely housing 15 receiving mobile applicator elements 14. By "remote" it should be understood that the dispensing orifice does not open into the housing receiving the mobile applicator element but directly on the application surface 11. For example, in Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing orifice 13 is located substantially in the center of the application surface 11, three movable applicator elements 14 each being angularly distributed 120 ° around a longitudinal axis passing through the dispensing orifice. The channel 12 can also be divided into several channels in order to lead to several distribution orifices 13 as shown in FIG. 4.

The diameter of the dispensing orifice 13 may be less than or equal to 1 mm, for example between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, and preferably equal to 0.3 mm so as to allow a better distribution of the product on the surface of the 'application. For the same purpose, the dispensing orifice 13 may be flared so that its diameter widens towards the application surface as in FIG. 2.

According to the invention, the application surface 11 is positioned relative to the main body of the applicator member 10 so that when a force F of pressure is exerted on at least a portion of this application surface 11 by the area 20 of the user on which the product P is to be applied, the main body tilts with the valve stem 3 around the tilting point B to open the valve 4. One of the advantages of such a device is that the The user can distribute the product while applying it with the application surface. The application surface 11 is also positioned so that the moment created by the force F has a lever arm L important for the force required for the activation of the valve, that is to say to counter the force return to the rest position of the valve, is low. The lever arm is the distance from the force F to the tipping point B, evaluated perpendicular to the direction of this force.

Advantageously the lever arm L is greater than 1 cm, or even 2 cm, better than 3 cm. Thus, in FIG. 2, the application surface 11 perpendicular to the longitudinal rest axis of the valve 4 has an end lying at a distance L from the longitudinal axis so that a force F exerted on this end and whose direction of application does not pass through the tilting point B, causes the pivoting of the applicator member around the tilting point B of the valve. Similarly, in FIG. 3, the application surface 11 substantially parallel to the longitudinal rest axis of the valve 4 is located at the end of a longitudinal portion of the applicator member at a distance L the point of tilting B of the valve so that a force F exerted on this application surface 11 and whose application direction does not pass through the tilting point B, causes the pivoting of the application member around the tipping point B of the valve. In this way the more the application member has a long lever arm the lower the actuating force and therefore, the device will provide a feeling of gentle operation and pleasant for the user. In Figure 4, the applicator member 10 has fixed elements 16 projecting from the application surface. The fixed elements may be of different shape such as lugs or as in Figure 4 of the slats. The slats of Figure 4 have a wave profile but may have any other type of profile. The fixed elements may be flexible and / or rigid thus allowing to massage and / or scrape the application area. A fixed portion 6 is positioned between the container and the application member 25 in particular to improve the aesthetics of the device. For example the fixed part 6 forms a body having a cylindrical skirt intended to be mounted on the tank 2. The mounting of the fixed part on the tank can be done by any known means including snapping, clamping, screwing, riveting or gluing. In FIG. 3, in addition to mounting the applicator on the valve stem 4, the applicator member may be connected to the body of the fixed part, for example by means of a film hinge 7, of deformable lamellae or a mesh.

In order to apply the product to the skin, the user actuates the valve by means of a pressure exerted by the user's zone on the application surface 11, causing the application member to tilt around of the tipping point B of the valve stem 3 4. The product exits the valve stem 3, and rises in the channel 13, where it is conveyed to the application face 11, between the different mobile applicator elements 11. The user then releases the pressure of the applicator on the skin and moves the application surface so as to massage the product on the skin. The product P may be a composition for topical application comprising, in an aqueous-alcoholic medium, at least one cooling agent and at least one film-forming polymer. The cooling agent is for example a mint derivative and in particular menthol. The composition thus gives a residual cold effect and can be used for any cosmetic or dermatological application for which a cold effect is desired, in particular for the activation of cutaneous sensory receptors. Without limitation, the composition P can be a slimming product, firming, anti-aging, moisturizing, descaling, whitening, and / or deodorant. The invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. The characteristics of the various examples may especially be combined within non-illustrated variants. The expression "comprising a" shall be understood as meaning "containing at least one" unless the contrary is specified.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Apparatus for applying and dispensing a cosmetic product comprising: an aerosol container (2) containing said product (P) and a dispensing valve (4), an applicator member (10) comprising an application surface (11) at least one rotatable applicator element (14) projecting from the application surface, and a distribution duct (12) engaged on said dispensing valve and opening onto the application surface through a dispensing orifice ( 13) located away from the applicator element, the device is characterized in that the dispensing valve is a tilting valve with respect to a rest axis, and in that the applicator member is an organ actuating the valve. 15 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator has a lever arm L with respect to the tilting point B of the valve greater than 1 cm, or 2 cm, better than 3 cm. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application surface forms an angle with respect to the axis of rest of the valve between 10 and 90 °. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application surface comprises a fixed element (16) projecting. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator member is formed of a main body supporting the mobile applicator elements, and in that the main body is made in one piece. 30 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile applicator element is a ball and / or a roller. 10 2510 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the distribution duct forming the dispensing orifice flares in the direction of the application surface. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter of the dispensing orifice is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two dispensing orifices. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aerosol container contains a cold effect product.