FR3055613A1 - DECONTAMINATION DEVICE FOR A PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR COSMETIC PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a decontamination device (50) comprising a body (51) housing at least one UV light source (52) and having at least one aperture (55) defining inside the body a cavity (56) ), the decontamination assembly being characterized in that the cavity is configured to removably receive a portion of a device for packaging and dispensing (10) a cosmetic product having a body (11) forming a reservoir for to contain said cosmetic product to be dispensed and equipped with a dispensing valve of said product adapted to be actuated selectively by an actuating member (12) associated and in fluid communication with at least one nozzle defining at least one orifice (13) of product outlet, said portion introduced into the cavity comprising the outlet orifice of said cosmetic product, the outlet orifice then being adapted to be exposed to a light beam ux UV from the UV light source when activated.

Description

© Publication no .: 3,055,613 (to be used only for reproduction orders) (© National registration no .: 16 58382 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 65 B 55/08 (2017.01), A 61 L 2/10

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 08.09.16. (© Applicant (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme— FR. (30) Priority: @ Inventor (s): JOLLET FREDERIC, DURU NICO- LAS and BAUDIN GILLES. (43) Date of public availability of the request: 09.03.18 Bulletin 18/10. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ©) Holder (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme. related: ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme.

DECONTAMINATION DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING ASSEMBLY OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS.

FR 3 055 613 - A1 (© The present invention relates to a decontamination device (50) comprising a body (51) housing at least one UV light source (52) and having at least one opening (55) defining at the inside the body a cavity (56), the decontamination assembly being characterized in that the cavity is configured to removably receive part of a packaging and distribution device (10) of a cosmetic product having a body (11) forming a reservoir intended to contain said cosmetic product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve for dispensing said product capable of being selectively actuated by an associated actuating member (12) and in fluid communication with at least one nozzle defining at least one product outlet orifice (13), said part introduced into the cavity comprising the outlet orifice of said cosmetic product, the outlet orifice then being able to be exposed to a UV light beam from the UV light source when activated.

i

Decontamination device for packaging and dispensing unit for cosmetic products

The present invention relates to a decontamination device for a packaging and distribution unit for cosmetic products.

“Cosmetic products” means any product as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

Cosmetic products being intended to come into contact with a body surface, particular attention is paid to their conservation and to the limitation of bacterial proliferation.

It is indeed known that the removal and application of a cosmetic product can lead to the arrival in it of impurities and in particular of microorganisms whose development must be prevented.

This is particularly noticeable for products packaged in jars, the collection and application of which is carried out using at least one finger. This is also true for products applied once or several times using a reusable applicator which is intended to come into contact with the product again after application to the body surface.

In order to prevent or limit the proliferation of these microorganisms in the product, it is usual to add preservatives in the product. These agents can have a biocidal / bactericidal and / or biostatic / bacteriostatic effect.

The addition of such agents is undesirable and there is a general need to decrease the amount of preservatives used, or even to remove them.

In order to reduce the amount of preservatives added to a product, it has been proposed to use the bactericidal properties of certain UV radiations (in particular UVC).

By UV radiation, it is necessary to understand a UV radiation having at least one dominant wavelength situated in the interval going from 100 to 400 nm, better from 100 to 280 nm (UVC), still better any spectrum centered around 265 nm (about 240 to 280nm for example).

Decontamination by UV exposure has been known for a long time, especially in the field of dental hygiene for the decontamination of toothbrushes.

The terms "disinfection" and "decontamination" are synonymous and mean that microorganisms are destroyed by UV radiation. The decontamination may not be total, the destruction rate of the microorganisms being preferably greater than or equal to 90%, better still greater than or equal to 99.999%.

Document US20040258990, among others, thus describes a UVC decontamination apparatus into which a toothbrush can be inserted, upside down, so that said brushing head comes to face a germicidal UV lamp.

This document is however not concerned with the decontamination of cosmetic products.

In application FR2918854A1, a method has been proposed for decontaminating an applicator and / or a cosmetic product in which a surface of the product, located in the container and / or on an applicator, is exposed to UVC radiation emitted by at least one source of radiation. Associated packaging devices have also been proposed.

The devices described in document FR2918854A1 have not been entirely satisfactory, these remaining complex and relatively impractical to use.

In addition, it was noted that in order to ensure optimum effectiveness, the formulas used must be extremely viscous or even compact in order to limit the propagation of possible microorganisms towards non-irradiated areas, in particular towards the lower layers of product not exposed to UVC light.

There is therefore a need for a decontamination system which is both effective and simple for the user and which is also suitable for fluid formulas.

To do this, the present invention relates to a decontamination device comprising a body housing at least one UV light source and having at least one opening defining a cavity inside the body, the decontamination assembly being characterized in that that the cavity is configured to removably receive part of a device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product having a body forming a reservoir intended to contain said cosmetic product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve for dispensing said product capable of being selectively actuated by an associated actuating member and in fluid communication with at least one nozzle defining at least one outlet for the product, said part introduced into the cavity comprising the outlet for said cosmetic product, the orifice then being able to be exposed to a UV light beam from the UV light source when activated.

The packaging and distribution device may in particular be an aerosol or pump type device.

Thus, by providing a decontamination device configured to partially introduce therein a cosmetic product packaging and distribution device equipped with a valve and concentrating the decontamination at the cosmetic product outlet orifice, a simple and economical device is obtained. .

Indeed, it has been found that in the case of a packaging and distribution device equipped with a distribution valve, the cosmetic product remains relatively well protected inside the reservoir and the outlet orifice is the area the most exposed to contamination since in the open air. The quantity of preservatives to be added to the cosmetic product can thus be greatly reduced or even eliminated.

This also allows a simple gesture of introduction of the packaging and distribution device into the cavity which makes it possible to obtain the localized decontamination at the outlet of the cosmetic product. The introduction being only partial, the extraction of the packaging and distribution device is also very simple since it suffices to grasp the part which has not been introduced into the cavity.

Obtaining very localized decontamination makes it possible to obtain a particularly economical device and a shortened and optimized decontamination cycle.

Thus, the decontamination device can be equipped with an autonomous power supply that can last longer. Alternatively, in the event of mains power supply, the power consumption is reduced.

The decontamination device constitutes a base or pedestal for decontamination independent of the packaging and distribution device. It is therefore possible to use the decontamination base for another dispensing device. This is particularly advantageous in the case of aerosol devices or pumps whose dimensions are relatively standardized. The packaging and distribution device is then introduced “upside down”.

Preferably, the outlet orifice comes opposite the UV light source. Thus, the outlet is directly exposed to UV light and provides even more effective decontamination.

Advantageously, the cavity is equipped with at least one keying element configured to ensure a determined positioning of the outlet orifice inside the cavity. Such an element thus makes it possible to ensure the positioning of the dispensing orifice relative to the light source.

The keying element may in particular include an insertion opening which is not in the form of a revolution. The polarizing element may also include a mark or other means of visual identification placed on the body close to the introduction orifice and indicating an orientation of introduction of the packaging and distribution device.

Advantageously, the cavity has a smooth introduction edge in a direction of introduction. Thus, the gesture of introduction and extraction of the packaging and distribution device remains particularly simple without any abutment force in the direction of introduction.

Preferably, the cavity is configured so as to have an edge flush with or coming into contact with a peripheral surface of the body forming the reservoir of the packaging and dispensing device when the latter is in place. This makes it possible to prevent the formation of large interstitial spaces capable of letting UV radiation escape from the decontamination device when the packaging and distribution device is in place and undergoes a decontamination cycle, only a functional clearance for the introduction and the extraction of the device being left.

More simply it is a question of providing an introduction orifice of shape substantially complementary to a section of the packaging and distribution device.

Advantageously, the cavity has an introduction edge equipped with a peripheral seal, said seal being in particular made of a UV-tight material. Such a seal ensures good performance of the packaging and distribution device in the decontamination device thanks to peripheral friction forces. It also provides better UV-tightness.

Advantageously, the decontamination device forms a base or base. The packaging and distribution device is then introduced “upside down”. As indicated previously, the device may have an autonomous power supply source, of the cell or battery type, a mains power supply, or both.

Advantageously as a complement, the decontamination device comprises a member for selective activation of the UV light source, in particular a switch, this switch being in particular configured to enable the activation of the light source only when the packaging and distribution device is in place in the cavity, and ensure the inactivation of the light source when the packaging and distribution device is extracted from the cavity.

Preferably, the light source is activated for a determined duration of treatment.

The present invention also relates to a decontamination assembly comprising, on the one hand, a device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product having a body forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve. for dispensing said product capable of being selectively actuated by an associated actuating member and in fluid communication with at least one nozzle defining at least one product outlet orifice, and on the other hand, a decontamination device according to the invention.

Preferably, the part introduced into the cavity abuts against a bottom of said cavity. The bottom can advantageously be shaped so as to have a complementarity of f

The present invention will be better understood in the light of the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawing in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a decontamination assembly according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a schematic sectional representation of the decontamination assembly of Figure 1.

FIG. 1 represents a decontamination assembly 1 comprising, on the one hand, a device 10 for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product and, on the other hand, an associated decontamination device 50.

In general and known per se, the packaging and distribution device 10 has a body 11 forming a reservoir intended to contain a cosmetic product to be dispensed.

The body 11 is equipped with a dispensing valve (not visible) of said product capable of being selectively actuated by an associated actuating member and is surmounted by a dispensing head 12 comprising at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the valve dispensing and defining at least one orifice 13 for output of the product.

Advantageously, the valve is a particularly robust valve for bacteriological pollution so as to further limit the spread of microorganisms to the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir.

Conventionally, the dispensing head can also act as an actuator.

In particular, the packaging and dispensing device 10 is a pressurized device of the aerosol type or a non-pressurized device of the pump type.

The body 11 forming a reservoir has a substantially cylindrical shape of revolution.

The decontamination device 50 comprises a body 51 housing at least one UV light source 52.

More specifically, the decontamination device 50 forms a base or a base intended to rest on a surface and has for this purpose a suitable bottom, in particular a flat bottom.

Preferably, the body 51 is made of a material opaque to UV, in particular to UVC, for example of metal, in particular aluminum, brass, iron, or of plastic material including if necessary an additive so as not to let UV pass through, especially UVC.

The UV light source 52 advantageously takes the form of one or more light-emitting diodes or UV LEDs. The term "light emitting diode" should be understood in a broad sense and includes any light emitting or laser system, for example a UVC laser diode, an OLED, PHOLED, TOLED UVC emitter, etc.

Preferably, the UV light source 52 emits mainly at 265 nm.

The UV light source 52 is powered by a battery or accumulator type electrical power source 53, as illustrated. Due to the low energy level, AAA-type batteries or even a single battery can be used.

Alternatively, or in addition, the device 50 also includes a mains power supply source.

The UV light source 52 is controlled by an electronic circuit 54 also housed in the body 51 and comprising in particular at least one microcontroller. This electronic circuit may in particular include a system for timer and / or time delay of UV exposure and in general any element which allows the piloting and management of the UV light source.

UVC light-emitting diodes are, for example, those sold under the reference S8D26D by the Korean company SEOUL OPTIQUE.

In accordance with the present application, the body 51 has an opening 55 defining inside the body 51 a cavity 56.

The opening is oriented on top of the body 51 of the base, that is to say opposite the bottom.

The cavity 56 is configured to removably receive part of the packaging and distribution device 10.

More specifically, the part introduced into the cavity 56 comprises the orifice 13 for the outlet of said cosmetic product. The packaging and distribution device 10 is thus placed "upside down" in the base.

Thus partially introduced into the cavity 56, the outlet orifice 13 is able to be exposed to a UV light beam coming from the UV light source 52 when activated.

Preferably, the cavity 56 is configured so that, when the packaging and distribution device is in place in said cavity 56, the UV light source 52 is placed substantially at a distance less than 10 mm from the orifice 13 Release ; preferably about 6 mm.

The emission power of the light source or of the light sources as a whole is greater than or equal to 700 pW per cm ² , preferably equal to 700 pW per cm ² .

Such a UV light source emitting mainly at 265nm and placed at a distance of approximately 6mm from the area to be treated requires an exposure time of approximately 10 minutes.

This energy eliminates 1 log of Aspergillus Niger mold.

Of course, the UV dose emitted is to be adapted to the microbial strains targeted.

The exposure parameters will be adjusted to obtain a treatment cycle not exceeding 10 minutes, preferably between 2 and 10 minutes.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the outlet orifice 13 comes opposite the UV light source 52 and is directly exposed to its radiation.

Having extremely localized exposure and having direct exposure to UV radiation also allows the use of a light source with a low scattering cone. It will thus be possible to use light sources having a scattering angle (angular amplitude of the emission cone) of less than 90 °, preferably less than or equal to 60 °, preferably equal to approximately 60 °. A small emission cone limits UV leakage.

The cavity 56 is advantageously equipped with at least one keying element configured to ensure a determined positioning of the outlet orifice 13 inside the cavity 56.

The cavity 56 has a smooth introduction orifice in a direction of introduction of the device 10 for packaging and distribution. Furthermore, the orifice 55 for introduction has an edge fitted with a seal 58 coming into slightly rubbing contact with a peripheral surface of the body 11 of the device 10 for packaging and distribution. This ensures optimal maintenance of the device 10 in the cavity without impacting its ease of insertion and extraction.

In addition, the seal 58 thus plays the role of a UV-sealing lip.

The seal 58 will in particular be made of a material that is UV-resistant or that includes an additive making it UV-resistant.

A switch 57 allows the automatic operation of the decontamination device 51 during the introduction of the packaging and distribution device 10.

More specifically, the switch 57 is configured to allow the activation of the light source only when the packaging and distribution device 10 is in place in the cavity, and ensure the inactivation of the light source when the packaging device and distribution is extracted from the cavity.

Thus, there is no UV leakage from the cavity 56.

In this case, the switch 57 is a contactor, activated when the device 10 is introduced into the cavity and abuts against a bottom of the cavity (in this case the bottom of the base) on which the switch 57 is mounted. Conversely, when the device 10 is extracted from the cavity 56 and is no longer in contact with the switch 57, then the power to the light source 52 is cut.

To do this, the switch 57 may have a movable part, such as a tooth or a wedge, capable of alternately passing from a deployed position (device 10 absent) in which it interrupts the electrical circuit of the switch to a retracted position. (device 10 present which repels the movable part) in which the electrical contact is established.

Activation of switch 57 triggers activation of the control circuit and the decontamination procedure. The UV lighting can in particular be timed and / or activated for a fixed period.

This makes it possible to obtain a fully automatic device and therefore particularly easy to use.

Furthermore, the decontamination device 50 is independent of the packaging and distribution device 10 which can be replaced by another.

If necessary, the size of the introduction orifice may be adaptable so as to be able to accommodate devices 10 of different dimensions. Plates having an orifice of suitable size may for example be installed on the larger orifice of the device 50. It is also possible to provide a seal 58 which is relatively flexible and relatively compressible in a direction which can serve as an introduction skirt ίο

Claims (11)

1. Decontamination device (50) comprising a body (51) housing at least one UV light source (52) and having at least one opening (55) defining inside the body a cavity (56), the assembly of decontamination being characterized in that the cavity is configured to removably receive part of a device for packaging and dispensing (10) of a cosmetic product having a body (11) forming a reservoir intended to contain said cosmetic product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve for dispensing said product capable of being selectively actuated by an associated actuating member (12) and in fluid communication with at least one nozzle defining at least one orifice (13) for output of the product, said part introduced into the cavity comprising the outlet orifice of said cosmetic product, the outlet orifice then being able to be exposed to a UV light beam coming from the source e of UV light when activated. 2. Decontamination device (50) according to claim 1 characterized in that the outlet orifice (13) comes opposite the UV light source (52). 3. decontamination device (50) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cavity (56) is equipped with at least one keying element configured to ensure a determined positioning of the outlet orifice (13) inside the cavity. 4. Decontamination device according to (50) any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity (56) has a smooth insertion edge in a direction of introduction. 5. decontamination device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cavity (56) is configured so as to have an edge flush with the body (11) forming a reservoir for the packaging and dispensing device (10) when the latter is in place. 6. decontamination device (50) according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the cavity (56) has an insertion edge equipped with a peripheral seal (58), said seal being in particular made of a material impervious to UV. 7. Decontamination device (50) according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the decontamination device forms a base. 8. Decontamination device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a member for selective activation of the UV light source, in particular a switch (57), configured to allow the activation of the light source only when the packaging and distribution device (10) is in place in the cavity (56), and ensuring the inactivation of the light source when the packaging and distribution device is extracted from the cavity. 9. Decontamination device (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the light source (52) is activated for a determined treatment time. 10. Decontamination assembly (1) comprising, on the one hand, a device for packaging and dispensing (10) of a cosmetic product having a body forming a reservoir intended to contain the cosmetic product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve for dispensing said product capable of being selectively actuated by an associated actuating member and in fluid communication with at least one nozzle defining at least one product outlet orifice, and on the other hand, a decontamination device (50) according to the any of claims 1 to 9. 11. decontamination assembly (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the part introduced into the cavity abuts against a bottom of said cavity. 1/1