FR3097727A1 - Perfume applicator pen - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator pen comprising a reservoir (11) containing a perfumed composition (C) comprising at least 1% by weight of perfume substance (s), relative to the total weight of the composition, and at least one hydrophilic gelling agent, and having a viscosity, measured at 25 ° C and under 1 atm, of between 2 and 7 Pa.s; an application member (20) supplied with composition by the reservoir; a piston (13) movable in the reservoir (11) to force, by advancing, the composition to circulate towards the application member; an actuator (40) on which the user can act; a piston driving mechanism (50), arranged to transform an action of the user on the actuator (40) into an advancement of the piston (13). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Perfume applicator pen

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and applying a perfumed composition.

Perfumes are usually packaged in bottles, with an open neck or equipped with a pump or a valve to deliver a spray.

To apply a touch of perfume, it is known to spray the perfume at a short distance from the targeted area, or if the bottle is without a sprayer, to pour a few drops of perfume on the hands and then to use the fingers to deposit the perfume in the desired place. Even if this gesture is practical, it nevertheless appears that it is difficult with spray perfumes to spray precisely while avoiding certain parts of the body sensitive to perfumes.

The use of a sprayer also generates product losses and fewer users take the bottle with them because of its weight.

Small bottles have been proposed, designed to be easily carried in a handbag for example. These bottles can be equipped with a pump to generate a spray and can be refillable. The application accuracy and loss issues mentioned above remain. In addition, it does not solve the problem of precision in applying the perfume to the skin.

There are known perfume applicator pens comprising a felt tip which is regularly soaked with the perfume of one's choice, by dipping the tip into a bottle containing it. Recharging the pen remains a relatively tedious operation, which may put off some users.

There remains a need for an easily transportable packaging and application device making it possible to deliver small doses of a perfume in a perfectly targeted manner, which is of robust construction, easy to use and to refill, and which has a sufficient autonomy to be suitable for repeated use.

There also remains a need to have a device, in particular nomadic and small in size, for delivering low doses of a perfume but with a high olfactory power, comparable to an eau de parfum, fresh and non-sticky, with a good sensoriality.

The invention aims to meet this need and it achieves this thanks to an applicator pen comprising:
- a reservoir containing a perfumed composition comprising at least 1% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition, and at least one hydrophilic gelling agent,
- an applicator member supplied with composition by the reservoir,
- a movable piston in the reservoir to force, as it advances, the composition to circulate towards the applicator member,
- an actuating member on which the user can act,
- A piston drive mechanism, arranged to transform an action of the user on the actuating member into an advancement of the piston.

More particularly, the invention relates to an applicator pen comprising:
- a reservoir (11) containing a perfumed composition (C) comprising at least 1% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition, and at least one hydrophilic gelling agent, and having a viscosity, measured at 25°C and under 1 atm, between 2 and 7 Pa.s,
- an applicator member (20) supplied with composition by the reservoir,
- a piston (13) movable in the reservoir (11) to force, as it advances, the composition to circulate towards the applicator member,
- an actuating member (40) on which the user can act,
- a mechanism (50) for driving the piston, arranged to transform an action by the user on the actuating member (40) into an advancement of the piston (13).

Advantageously, the perfumed composition is sufficiently viscous to prevent it from dripping under the effect of its own weight outside the applicator member, in the absence of actuation of the applicator pen. The risk of leakage is thus minimized, and it becomes easier to meter the quantity of perfumed composition by actuating the actuating member more or less.

Advantageously, the viscosity of the composition is thus between 2 and 7 Pa.s, preferably between 4 and 7 Pa.s, being measured at 25° C. under a pressure of 1 atm, by means of a Rheomat 1 viscometer TVE-05 from Lamy Rheology.

Thanks to the invention, the user can easily and precisely apply a touch of perfume to the area of his choice. The applicator member is easily refilled with composition by acting on the actuating member. The drawbacks linked to the reloading of the felt applicator tip of the pens of the prior art are avoided.

Although applicator pens have been proposed for applying make-up compositions such as lipsticks or glosses, to the applicant's knowledge they have never been used to apply a composition having a high perfume content.

The actuating member is preferably present at the end of the pen opposite the applicator member.

Preferably, the actuating member is movable in translation relative to a body of the pen. The user can thus easily press with his thumb on the actuating member to dispense a dose of composition.

The drive mechanism may be arranged such that the reduction in the internal volume of the reservoir each time the actuation member is actuated is between 0.005 and 0.02 mm ³ , for example of the order of 0.01 ml.

The initial capacity of the reservoir is advantageously between 1 and 5 ml.

The applicator member may comprise or consist of a brush in the form of a paintbrush. Thus, preferably, the applicator member (20) comprises a brush.

The applicator pen may include a dispensing cannula which opens into the applicator member, set back from its free end. The cannula opens, for example, at a distance of between 1/4 and 3/4 of the length of the applicator member, from its free end, better still between 1/3 and 2/3 of this length.

The presence of the cannula is advantageous in that it reduces the path of the composition within the applicator member up to the tip, and thus makes it possible to minimize the volume of composition that it is necessary to inject. in the applicator member before being able to apply the composition. In addition, the composition can be brought in this way right to the center of the applicator member. The part of the applicator located set back from the cannula can contribute to absorbing an excess of composition by capillarity, and can give the applicator member flexibility, if necessary.

The cannula also makes it possible to ensure a pressure drop between the applicator member and the reservoir and thus to reduce the risk of leaks. It is possible to avoid the presence of a valve or of a closure member other than the cover of the pen. Preferably, the viscosity of the composition is such that it remains within the cannula without flowing under the effect of its own weight, when the applicator pen is held upside down. Communication between the reservoir and the applicator member can thus be permanently open. The cannula has, for example, a cylindrical portion, in particular cylindrical of revolution, with a section of between 0.5 and 2 mm ² , for example with an internal diameter of between 1 and 1.2 mm. This portion is for example between 5 and 15 mm in length.

The pen may comprise a ring which is mounted on the applicator member and preferably fixed in a neck of the pen. This ring surrounds the applicator member over part of its length. Advantageously, this ring clamps the applicator member against the aforementioned cannula. The presence of the ring ensures that the bristles of the aforementioned brush are held in place, and makes it possible to maintain the precision of the application despite the mechanical stresses that the bristles of the brush may undergo during successive uses. The cannula can be carried by an insert fixed inside the ring.

The composition contained in the reservoir is preferably a hydroalcoholic composition, that is to say it contains at least water and at least one alcohol.

According to a preferred embodiment, the composition contained in the reservoir comprises at least 1% by weight of a mixture of fragrancing substances, in particular of at least two distinct fragrancing substances, relative to the total weight of the composition, and preferably of at least three distinct perfuming substances.

Preferably, the composition contained in the reservoir comprises between 1% and 25% by weight of perfuming substance(s), preferably between 5% and 20% by weight, and even more preferably between 10% and 17% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition.

A further subject of the invention is a process for perfuming human keratin materials, in particular the skin, in which the composition is applied to said materials by means of the applicator pen according to the invention, as defined above.

The pen can be single-use, i.e. once the reservoir is empty, it ceases to be used.

Alternatively, the pen is arranged to receive a refill containing the composition.

The invention may be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

schematically shows in longitudinal section an applicator pen according to the invention,

represents in isolation the distal part of the applicator pen of FIG. 1,

shows a cross section of the piston drive rod,

shows a longitudinal section of a part of the piston drive mechanism,

shows in elevation another part of said mechanism,

represents a longitudinal section of the part of figure 5,

represents a front view according to the arrow VII of FIG. 5,

represents another part of the mechanism, and

represents a view according to IX of figure 8.

detailed description

In accordance with the invention, the perfumed composition is dispensed by means of a packaging and application device 1 in the form of an applicator pen.

This device 1 comprises a body 10 of elongated shape along a longitudinal axis X, which covers the pen and houses a tubular part 18 of elongated shape, forming a reservoir 11, provided with a neck 12 at its distal end. The tubular part 18 is for example made of thermoplastic material, for example a polyolefin, for example polypropylene (PP). The body 10 is for example metallic, in particular aluminum.

A piston 13 is mounted in part 11 and can move along axis X. Reservoir 11 contains a perfumed composition (C) according to the invention. The piston is for example made of polyethylene (PE).

A ring 15 is fixed to the neck 12 and receives an insert 16, fixed by snap-fastening for example.

This insert 16 has a cannula 17 which communicates with the interior of the reservoir 11.

Composition (C) is applied by means of an applicator member 20 consisting for example of a brush in the form of a paintbrush.

The bristles of this brush can be connected at their base to a ring 22 present at the base of the cannula 17.

The ring 15 is applied to the brush substantially at the level of the distal end 24 of the cannula 17, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The bristles of the brush can thus be clamped between the ring 15 and the cannula 17.

The cannula 17 opens for example at a distance w from the distal end of the applicator member, which represents between 1/3 and 2/3 of the total length L of the applicator member, namely the length hairs in the example considered. L is for example between 15 and 25 mm, being for example equal to 20 mm.

The cannula 17 may have a cylindrical portion of revolution 17a, of length r comprised between 0.5 and 1.5 cm, the internal diameter t of which is for example comprised between 1 and 1.2 mm.

The length n of the applicator member 20 surrounded by the ring 15 is for example between 1/3 and 2/3 of the total length L, and for example is of the order of 1 cm.

The device 1 may comprise a closure cap 30, arranged to be fixed on the neck 12, by snap-fastening for example, so as to obtain a sealed closure.

An actuating member 40 makes it possible to act on a mechanism 50 arranged to move the piston 13 in the direction of the outlet of the tank 11.

This mechanism 50 comprises a drive rod 51, which extends along the longitudinal axis X of the pen, fixed to the piston 13 at its distal end 52.

This rod 51 is externally threaded, has a flattened cross-section, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and has two diametrically opposed grooves 54, opening onto the threaded surface.

The device 1 comprises an insert 60 which carries a threaded part 61 at its distal end, into which the rod 51 is screwed. The insert 60 is fixed in the part 18 and comes into abutment by a collar against the latter. The insert 60 is for example made of polyoxymethylene (POM).

The actuating member 40 slides inside the insert 60 and is connected at its distal end to a transmission part 70, the distal part 71 of which is engaged between a support part 80 and a retaining part 90 .

A return spring 100 is interposed axially between the bottom of a groove 63 formed by the distal part of the insert 60 and a collar 81, present at the periphery of the bearing part 80, visible in FIGS. 7.

The support piece 80 fits into the distal part of the transmission piece 71, as can be seen in Figure 1.

The support piece 80 has internal ribs 83 which are engaged in the grooves 54 of the rod 51. Thus, the support piece 80 can move along the rod 51 without rotating relative to the latter.

The transmission part 70, the bearing part 80 and the retaining part 90 have cooperating reliefs to transform pressing on the actuating member 40 into a rotation of the rod 51 through a certain angle, which accompanied by a corresponding movement of the piston 13 forward. These parts are for example made of POM. The mechanism is for example of the “ratchet mechanism” type.

More precisely, when the user presses on the actuating member 40, reliefs 75 of the transmission part 70 come to rest against reliefs 85 of the support part. The angles of the faces in contact are chosen so that the thrust on the actuating member is accompanied by a rotation of the support part 80. The retaining part 90 has reliefs 93 against which the reliefs 85 of the support piece 80 come into contact, under the return effect of the spring 100, when the user releases the actuating member, which causes an additional rotation. Thus, during the next thrust on the actuating member 40, a new advancement of the piston 13 is obtained.

Of course, the invention is not limited to a particular mechanism for advancing the piston.

Other mechanisms can be used.

For example, it is possible to use a mechanism with a toothed rod as described in application US 2005/0063766 A1, with a rotary actuator as described in US 2010/0239354 A1 or even as described in US 2013/0245597 A1.

Composition

According to the invention, the applicator pen comprises a reservoir (11) containing a perfumed composition (C) comprising at least 1% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition, and at least a hydrophilic gelling agent.

The composition (C) contained in the reservoir has a viscosity, measured at 25° C. and under 1 atm, of between 2 and 7 Pa.s (between 20 and 70 poise), preferably between 4 and 7 Pa.s ( between 40 and 70 poise).

According to the invention, the viscosity can be measured using a viscometer such as the Rheomat 1 TVE-05 viscometer from Lamy Rheology.

Preferably, the perfumed composition (C) is a hydroalcoholic composition, that is to say it contains at least water and at least one alcohol.

Perfume substance

By “fragrant substance”, is meant any perfume or aroma capable of giving off a pleasant odor.

Perfumes are compositions containing in particular the raw materials described in S. Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Chemicals ( Montclair , NJ, 1969 ), in S. Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin ( Elizabeth, NJ, 1960 ) and in “ Flavor and Fragrance Materials – 1991”, Allured Publishing Co. Wheaton, Ill.

These can be natural products, such as essential oils, absolutes, resinoids, resins, concretes, and/or synthetic products, such as terpene or sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, acids, esters, nitriles, peroxides, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or cyclic.

According to the definition given in international standard ISO 9235 and adopted by the European Pharmacopoeia Commission, an essential oil is an fragrant product generally of complex composition, obtained from a botanically defined plant raw material, either by steam distillation of water, either by dry distillation or by an appropriate mechanical process without heating (cold expression). The essential oil is most often separated from the aqueous phase by a physical process that does not lead to a significant change in composition.

The choice of the method of obtaining essential oils depends mainly on the raw material: its original state and its characteristics, its nature itself. The “essential oil/vegetable raw material” yield can be extremely variable depending on the plant: 15 ppm to more than 20%. This choice conditions the characteristics of the essential oil, in particular viscosity, color, solubility, volatility, enrichment or impoverishment in certain constituents.

Steam distillation corresponds to the vaporization in the presence of water vapor of a substance that is not very miscible with water. The raw material is placed in the presence of boiling water or steam in a still. The water vapor drives the essential oil vapor which is condensed in the cooler to be recovered in the liquid phase in a Florentine vase (or essence) where the essential oil is separated from the water by decantation. We call "aromatic water" or "hydrosol" or "floral distilled water", the aqueous distillate which remains after steam distillation, once the separation of the essential oil has been carried out.

Obtaining by dry distillation consists in obtaining the essential oil by distillation of wood, bark or roots, without adding water or water vapor in a closed enclosure designed so that the liquid is recovered in its lower part. Cade oil is the best-known example of this mode of production.

The method of obtaining by cold expression only applies to citrus fruits (Citrus spp) by mechanical processes at room temperature. The principle of the method is as follows: the peels are chopped up and the contents of the secretory pockets which have been ruptured are recovered by a physical process. The classic process consists of exerting an abrasive action under a stream of water on the entire surface of the fruit. After removal of solid waste, the essential oil is separated from the aqueous phase by centrifugation. Most industrial installations actually allow the simultaneous or sequential recovery of fruit juices and essential oil.

Essential oils are generally volatile and liquid at room temperature, which differentiates them from so-called fixed oils. They are more or less colored and their density is generally lower than that of water. They have a high refractive index and most bend polarized light. They are fat-soluble and soluble in the usual organic solvents, entrainable with water vapour, very slightly soluble in water.

Among the essential oils that can be used according to the invention, mention may be made of those obtained from plants belonging to the following botanical families: Abietaceae or Pinaceae, for example conifers; Amaryllidaceae; Anacardiaceae; Anonaceae, for example ylang; Apiaceae, for example Umbelliferae, in particular dill, angelica, coriander, samphire, carrot or parsley; Araceae; Aristolochiaceae; Asteraceae for example yarrow, mugwort, chamomile, and helichrysum; Betulaceae; Brassicaceae; Burseraceae, for example frankincense; Caryophyllaceae; Canellaceae; Caesalpiniaceae, for example copaïfera (copahu); Chenopodaceae; Cistaceae for example the cistus; Cyperaceae; Dipterocarpaceae; Ericaceae eg wintergreen (wintergreen); Euphorbiaceae; Fabaceae; Geraniaceae for example geranium; Guttiferae; Hamamelidaceae; Hernandiaceae; Hypericaceae, for example St. John's wort; Iridaceae; Juglandaceae; Lamiaceae, e.g. thyme, oregano, monarda, savory, basil, marjoram, mint, patchouli, lavender, sage, catnip, rosemary, hyssop, lemon balm, rosemary ; Lauraceae, for example ravensara, laurel, rosewood, cinnamon, litsea; Liliaceae, for example garlic; Magnoliaceae, for example the magnolia; Malvaceae; Meliaceae; Monimiaceae; Moraceae, for example hemp, or hops; Myricaceae; Mysristicaceae, for example nutmeg; Myrtaceae, for example eucalyptus, tea tree, niaouli, cajeput, backousia, cloves, myrtle; Oleaceae; Piperaceae, for example pepper; Pittosporaceae; Poaceae, for example lemongrass, lemongrass, vetiver; Polygonaceae; Ranunculaceae; Rosaceae, for example roses; Rubiaceae; Rutaceae, for example all citrus; Salicaceae; Santalaceae, for example sandalwood; Saxifragaceae; Schisandraceae; Styracaceae, for example benzoin; Thymelaceae, for example agarwood; Tilliaceae; Valerianaceae, for example valerian, nard; Verbenaceae, for example lantana, verbena; Purplish; Zingiberaceae, for example galangal, turmeric, cardamom, ginger; Zygophyllaceae.

We can also mention essential oils extracted from flowers (lily, lavender, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, neroli), stems and leaves (patchouli, geranium, petitgrain), fruits (coriander, anise, cumin, juniper), fruit peels (bergamot, lemon, orange), roots (angelica, celery, cardamom, iris, sweet flag, ginger), wood (pine wood, sandalwood, guaiac wood, pink cedar, camphor), d herbs and grasses (tarragon, rosemary, basil, lemongrass, sage, thyme), needles and branches (spruce, fir, pine, dwarf pine), resins and balms (galbanum, elemi, benzoin, myrrh , olibanum, opopanax).

Examples of fragrance substances include: geraniol, geranyl acetate, farnesol, borneol, bornyl acetate, linalool, linalyl acetate, linalyl propionate, linalyl butyrate, tetrahydrolinalool , Citronellol, Citronellyl Acetate, Citronellyl Formate, Citronellyl Propionate, Dihydromyrcenol, Dihydromyrcenyl Acetate, Tetrahydromyrcenol, Terpineol, Terpinyl Acetate, Nopol, Nopyl Acetate, nerol, neryl acetate, 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, benzyl salicylate, styrallyl acetate, benzyl benzoate, amyl salicylate, dimethylbenzyl-carbinol, trichloromethylphenylcarbinyl acetate, p-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, isononyl acetate, vetiveryl acetate, vetiverol, alpha-hexylcinnamaldehyde, 2 -methyl-3-(p-tert-butylphenyl)propanal, 2-methyl-3-(p-isopropylphenyl)propana l, 3-(p-tert-butylphenyl)-propanal, 2,4-dimethylcyclohex-3-enyl-carboxaldehyde, tricyclodecenyl acetate, tricyclodecenyl propionate, 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl )-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde, 4-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde, 4-acetoxy-3-pentyl-tetrahydropyran, 3-carboxymethyl-2-pentylcyclopentane, 2-n-4- heptylcyclo-pentanone, 3-methyl-2-pentyl-2-cyclopentenone, menthone, carvone, tagetone, geranyl acetone, n-decanal, n-dodecanal, 9-decenol-1, isobutyrate phenoxyethyl, phenyl-acetaldehyde dimethyl-acetal, phenylacetaldehyde diethylacetal, geranonitrile, citronellonitrile, cedaryl acetate, 3-isocamphylcyclohexanol, cedaryl methyl ether, isolongifolanone, hawpinonitrile, hawthorn, l heliotropin, coumarin, eugenol, vanillin, diphenyl oxide, citral, citronellal, hydroxycitronellal, damascone, ionones, methylionones, isomethylionones, sol custard apple, irones, cis-3-hexenol and its esters, musks-indanes, musks-tetralins, musks-isochromans, macrocyclic ketones, musks-macrolactones, aliphatic musks, ethylene brassylate and their mixtures.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of different perfuming substances is used which together generate a pleasant note for the user.

Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir, comprises at least 1% by weight of a mixture of fragrancing substances, in particular of at least two distinct fragrancing substances, relative to the total weight of the composition, and preferably at least 1% by weight of at least three distinct perfuming substances.

The fragrant substances will preferably be chosen so that they produce notes (head, heart and base) in the following families: citrus fruits, aromatics, floral notes, in particular pink flowers and white flowers, spices, woody , gourmands, chypres, ferns, leathers, and musks.

Preferably, the compositions (C) comprise between 1% and 25% by weight of perfuming substance(s), preferably between 5% and 20% by weight, and even more preferably between 10% and 17% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition.

Hydrophilic gelling agent

The term “ hydrophilic gelling agent ” within the meaning of the present invention means a compound capable of gelling the composition (C) according to the invention. The gelling agent is hydrophilic and can be water-soluble or water-dispersible.

As specified above, a composition (C) according to the invention is gelled by at least one hydrophilic gelling agent. The hydrophilic gelling agent can be chosen from synthetic polymeric gelling agents, natural or natural-origin polymeric gelling agents, mixed silicates and fumed silicas, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the hydrophilic gelling agent can be chosen from synthetic polymeric gelling agents.

Natural polymeric gelling agents or ' natural origin

The polymeric hydrophilic gelling agents suitable for the invention can be natural or of natural origin. Within the meaning of the invention, the expression “ of natural origin ” is intended to denote the polymeric gelling agents obtained by modification of the natural polymeric gelling agents. These gelling agents can be particulate or non-particulate.

More specifically, these gelling agents fall under the category of polysaccharides. Generally speaking, polysaccharides can be distinguished into several categories. More particularly, the polysaccharides suitable for the invention can be distinguished according to whether they are starchy or not.

As a representative of starchy polysaccharides, native starches, modified starches and particulate starches, such as starches grafted with an acrylic polymer (homopolymer or copolymer) and in particular with sodium polyacrylate, hydrolyzed starches grafted by an acrylic polymer (homopolymer or copolymer) and in particular the acryloacrylamide/sodium acrylate copolymer, polymers based on starch, gum and cellulose derivative, such as that containing starch and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and in particular potato carboxyalkyl starches.

In general, the non-starchy polysaccharides can be chosen from polysaccharides produced by microorganisms, such as xanthan, pullulan, dextran and dextran sulphate, succinoglycan, scleroglucan, gellan gum; polysaccharides isolated from algae, such as galactans chosen in particular from agar or carrageenans, furcellaran, alginate-based compounds; polysaccharides of higher plants, such as homogeneous polysaccharides and their derivatives, such as celluloses and derivatives or fructans, and heterogeneous polysaccharides and their derivatives, such as gum arabic, galactomannans (guar, carob, fenugreek, tara gum) and derivatives (phosphate guar, hydroxypropyl guar, etc.), locust bean gum, TARA gum, glucomannans (konjac gum), LM and HM pectins, and derivatives; and other polysaccharides such as chitin (Poly N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, β(1,4)-2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose), chitosan and derivatives (chitosan-beta-glycerophosphate, carboxymethylchitin, etc.), glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate, keratan sulphate, xylans (or arabinoxylans) and derivatives.

Synthetic polymeric gelling agents

Within the meaning of the invention, the term synthetic means that the polymer is neither naturally existing nor is it derived from a polymer of natural origin. The synthetic polymeric hydrophilic gelling agent considered according to the invention may or may not be particulate. Within the meaning of the invention, the term particulate means that the polymer is in the form of particles, preferably spherical.

The particulate synthetic polymeric gelling agents are preferably chosen from crosslinked polymers. They may in particular be crosslinked acrylic homo- or co-polymers, preferably partially neutralized or neutralized, which are in particulate form. According to one embodiment, the particulate gelling agent according to the present invention is chosen from crosslinked sodium polyacrylates.

The non-particulate synthetic polymeric gelling agents can be chosen from associative polymers, polyacrylamides and crosslinked and/or neutralized 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid polymers and copolymers, and modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers.

Associative polymers can be anionic, cationic, nonionic or amphoteric. Mention may be made, among the associative anionic polymers, of maleic anhydride/C ₃₀ -C ₃₈ α-olefin/alkyl maleate terpolymers, copolymers comprising among their monomers an α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ester of α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and of an oxyalkylenated fatty alcohol, the anionic polymers comprising at least one hydrophilic unit of the olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid type, and at least one hydrophobic unit exclusively of the alkyl ester type (C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ ) of unsaturated carboxylic acid, or anionic terpolymers. As cationic associative polymers, mention may be made of polyacrylates with amine side groups. The non-ionic associative polymers can be chosen from copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and fatty chain hydrophobic monomers, copolymers of C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl methacrylates or acrylates and amphiphilic monomers comprising at least one fatty chain , copolymers of hydrophilic methacrylates or acrylates and of hydrophobic monomers comprising at least one fatty chain such as, for example, polyethylene glycol methacrylate/lauryl methacrylate copolymer, and associative polyurethanes. Among the associative amphoteric polymers of the invention, mention may be made of amphoteric, crosslinked or uncrosslinked, branched or unbranched polymers, such as acrylic acid/acrylamidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride/stearyl methacrylate copolymers.

Polyacrylamides and polymers and copolymers of 2-acrylamido 2-methylpropane sulfonic acid are crosslinked or non-crosslinked homopolymers or copolymers comprising at least the monomer 2-acrylamido 2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS ^® ), in partially or completely neutralized by a mineral base other than ammonia such as soda or potash. As water-soluble or water-dispersible homopolymers of AMPS ^® suitable for the invention, mention may be made, for example, of the crosslinked or non-crosslinked polymers of sodium acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonate, or else the cross-linked polymers of acrylamido-2-methyl propane ammonium sulfonate (INCI name: Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide). As water-soluble or water-dispersible AMPS ^® copolymers in accordance with the invention, mention may be made, for example, of the crosslinked acrylamide/sodium acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonate copolymers, the copolymers of AMPS ^® and of vinylpyrrolidone or of vinylformamide, the copolymers AMPS ^® and sodium acrylate, and copolymers of AMPS ^® and hydroxyethyl acrylate.

The modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers can be copolymers resulting from the polymerization of at least one monomer (a) chosen from carboxylic acids with α,β-ethylenic unsaturation or their esters, with at least one monomer (b) with ethylenic unsaturation containing a hydrophobic group. The term " copolymers " means both copolymers obtained from two kinds of monomers and those obtained from more than two kinds of monomers, such as terpolymers obtained from three kinds of monomers. Their chemical structure more particularly comprises at least one hydrophilic unit and at least one hydrophobic unit. By hydrophobic group or unit is meant a radical with a hydrocarbon chain, saturated or not, linear or branched, comprising at least 8 carbon atoms, preferably from 10 to 30 carbon atoms, in particular from 12 to 30 carbon atoms and more preferably from 18 to 30 carbon atoms.

Preferably, these copolymers are chosen from copolymers resulting from the polymerization of at least one monomer of formula (1) below:

in which R ₁ denotes H or CH ₃ or C ₂ H ₅ , that is to say acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or ethacrylic acid monomers, and at least one monomer of alkyl ester type (C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ ) of unsaturated carboxylic acid corresponding to the monomer of formula (2) below:

in which, R ₂ denotes H or CH ₃ or C ₂ H ₅ (that is to say acrylate, methacrylate or ethacrylate units) and preferably H (acrylate units) or CH ₃ (methacrylate units), R ₃ denoting a C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ , and preferably C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ , alkyl radical.

The alkyl esters (C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ ) of unsaturated carboxylic acids are preferably chosen from lauryl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, isodecyl acrylate, acrylate dodecyl, and the corresponding methacrylates, such as lauryl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, decyl methacrylate, isodecyl methacrylate, and dodecyl methacrylate and mixtures thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment, these polymers are crosslinked.

Among this type of copolymers, polymers resulting from the polymerization of a mixture of monomers essentially comprising acrylic acid, an ester of formula (2) described above and in which R ₂ denotes H or CH will be used more particularly. ₃ , R ₃ denoting an alkyl radical having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and a crosslinking agent, which is a well-known copolymerizable polyethylenic unsaturated monomer, such as diallyl phthalate, allyl (meth)acrylate, divinylbenzene, (poly)ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and methylene-bis-acrylamide.

Among this type of copolymers, use will more particularly be made of those consisting of 95% to 60% by weight of acrylic acid (hydrophilic unit), 4% to 40% by weight of C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ alkyl acrylate (unit hydrophobic), and 0% to 6% by weight of crosslinking polymerizable monomer, or else those consisting of 98% to 96% by weight of acrylic acid (hydrophilic unit), 1% to 4% by weight of alkyl acrylate C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ (hydrophobic unit), and 0.1% to 0.6% by weight of crosslinking polymerizable monomer such as those described above.

Among said polymers above, the acrylate/C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ -alkylacrylate copolymers (INCI name: Acrylates/C ₁₀ - ₃₀ Alkyl acrylate Crosspolymer) such as the products marketed by Lubrizol are very particularly preferred according to the present invention. under the trade names Pemulen TR-1, Pemulen TR-2, Carbopol 1382, Carbopol EDT 2020, Carbopol Ultrez 20 Polymer, Carbopol Ultrez 21 Polymer and even more preferably Carbopol Ultrez 21 Polymer.

Among the modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers, mention may also be made of sodium polyacrylates such as those marketed under the name Cosmedia SP ^® containing 90% dry matter and 10% water, or Cosmedia SPL ^® in inverse emulsion containing approximately 60% of dry matter, an oil (hydrogenated polydecene) and a surfactant (PPG-5 Laureth-5), both sold by the company Cognis. Mention may also be made of partially neutralized sodium polyacrylates in the form of an inverse emulsion comprising at least one polar oil, for example that sold under the name ^Luvigel® EM by the company BASF. The modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers can also be chosen from crosslinked (meth)acrylic acid homopolymers. By “ ( meth )acrylic ” within the meaning of the present application, is meant “ acrylic or methacrylic ”. By way of example, mention may be made of those sold by Lubrizol under the names Carbopol, 910, 934, 940, 941, 934 P, 980, 981, 2984, 5984, Carbopol Ultrez 10 Polymer, or by 3V-Sigma under the name ^Synthalen® K, ^Synthalen® L, or ^Synthalen® M.

Among the modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers, mention may in particular be made of the Acrylates/C _{10-30 akyl} acrylate crosspolymer marketed by the company Lubrizol.

Other hydrophilic gelling agents

As other hydrophilic gelling agents, mention may more particularly be made of mixed silicates such as montmorillonites, hectorites, bentonites, beidellite, saponites and fumed silicas.

As hydrophilic gelling agent, non-particulate synthetic polymeric gelling agents will preferably be chosen, in particular modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers, and even more particularly acrylate/C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ -alkylacrylate copolymers.

Preferably, a perfumed composition (C) comprises between 0.2% and 5% by weight of hydrophilic gelling agent(s), preferably between 0.3% and 4% by weight, and even more preferably between 0. 5% and 2% by weight of hydrophilic gelling agent(s), relative to the total weight of the composition.

Aqueous phase

The aqueous phase of a composition according to the invention comprises water, and optionally a water-soluble solvent.

By “water- soluble solvent ”, is meant in the present invention a compound that is liquid at ambient temperature and miscible with water (miscibility in water greater than 50% by weight at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure).

The water-soluble solvents that can be used in the composition of the invention can also be volatile. Among the water-soluble solvents which can be used in the composition in accordance with the invention, mention may in particular be made of lower monoalcohols having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, such as ethanol and isopropanol, glycols having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms. carbon such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, C ₃ and C ₄ ketones and C ₂ -C ₄ aldehydes.

In particular, a composition (C) according to the invention comprises at least one water-soluble solvent, in particular a lower monoalcohol having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and preferably ethanol.

A composition (C) according to the invention preferably comprises one or more water-soluble solvents, in particular ethanol, in a content ranging from 5% to 80%, better still from 10% to 70% by weight, preferably from 30 % to 60% by weight, relative to the total weight of said composition.

The water may be present in a content ranging from 10% to 50%, better still from 15% to 40% by weight, preferably from 20% to 35% by weight, relative to the total weight of said composition.

The aqueous phase may be present in the composition in a content ranging from 10% to 99%, better still from 40% to 95% by weight, preferably from 60% to 90% by weight, relative to the total weight of said composition.

According to another embodiment variant, the aqueous phase of a composition according to the invention may comprise at least one C ₂ -C ₃₂ polyol. By “ polyol ”, it is necessary to understand, within the meaning of the present invention, any organic molecule comprising at least two free hydroxyl groups. Preferably, a polyol in accordance with the present invention is present in liquid form at ambient temperature.

A polyol suitable for the invention may be a compound of the alkyl type, linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, carrying on the alkyl chain at least two –OH functions, in particular at least three –OH functions, and more particularly minus four –OH functions.

The polyols which are advantageously suitable for the formulation of a composition according to the present invention are those having in particular from 2 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 16 carbon atoms.

Advantageously, the polyol can be chosen, for example, from ethylene glycol, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, butylene glycol, isoprene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, glycerol, polyglycerols, such as glycerol oligomers such as diglycerol, polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said polyol is chosen from ethylene glycol, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, polyglycerols, polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof.

According to a preferred mode, the composition of the invention may comprise at least propylene glycol.

A composition (C) according to the invention preferably comprises one or more polyols, in particular propylene glycol, in a content ranging from 0.5% to 10%, better still from 1% to 8% by weight, preferably from 1 5% to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of said composition.

Phase greasy

A composition (C) according to the invention can also have a fatty phase.

The fatty phase of a composition of the invention may in particular comprise at least one fatty substance which is liquid at room temperature and/or one fatty substance which is solid at room temperature, such as waxes, pasty fatty substances, gums and mixtures thereof. For the purposes of the invention, the term “ambient temperature” means a temperature equal to 25°C.

The fatty phase of the composition according to the invention may in particular comprise, as liquid fatty substance, at least one volatile or non-volatile oil or one of their mixtures. By “volatile oil” is meant, within the meaning of the invention, any oil capable of evaporating on contact with the skin in less than one hour, at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. By “non-volatile oil”, is meant an oil remaining on the skin at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure for at least several hours and having in particular a vapor pressure of less than 0.01 mm Hg (1.33 Pa). These volatile or non-volatile oils can for example be hydrocarbon oils, silicone oils, or mixtures thereof. The term "hydrocarbon oil" means an oil containing mainly hydrogen and carbon atoms and possibly oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus atoms.

A composition (C) can for example comprise at least one volatile silicone oil. By “silicone oil”, is meant an oil containing at least one silicon atom, and in particular containing Si—O groups. Preferably, a composition (C) according to the invention is devoid of volatile silicone oil.

The fatty phase of the composition according to the invention may in particular comprise, as solid fatty substance, at least one wax. By " wax " considered in the context of the present invention, is generally meant a lipophilic compound, solid at room temperature (25 ° C), reversible solid / liquid state change, having a higher melting point or equal to 30°C, possibly up to 200°C and in particular up to 120°C. The waxes capable of being used in the compositions according to the invention are chosen from waxes which are solid at room temperature of animal, plant, mineral or synthetic origin and mixtures thereof. The waxes, within the meaning of the invention, can be those generally used in the cosmetic or dermatological fields. They may in particular be polar or apolar, silicone and/or fluorinated hydrocarbons, optionally comprising ester or hydroxyl functions. They can also be of natural or synthetic origin.

Preferably, a composition (C) can comprise at least one polar wax. By “ polar wax ”, within the meaning of the present invention, is meant a wax whose solubility parameter at 25° C. δa is different from 0 (J/cm ³ ) ^½ . In particular, the term " polar wax " means a wax whose chemical structure is essentially formed, or even constituted, of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and comprising at least one strongly electronegative heteroatom such as an oxygen atom , nitrogen, silicon or phosphorus. The polar waxes can in particular be hydrocarbon-based, fluorinated or silicone-based. The polar waxes can be hydrocarbon waxes and/or ester waxes and/or alcohol waxes.

Use may in particular be made, as ester wax, of ester waxes such as those chosen from waxes of formula R ₁ COOR ₂ in which R ₁ and R ₂ represent linear, branched or cyclic aliphatic chains whose number of atoms varies from 10 at 50, which may contain a heteroatom such as O, N or P and whose melting point temperature varies from 25 to 120°C; di-(1,1,1-trimethylolpropane) tetrastearate, sold under the name Hest 2T- ^4S® by the company Heterene; diester waxes of a dicarboxylic acid of general formula R ³ -(-OCO-R ⁴ -COO-R ⁵ ), in which R ³ and R ⁵ are identical or different, preferably identical and represent a C ₄ alkyl group -C ₃₀ (alkyl group comprising from 4 to 30 carbon atoms) and R ⁴ represents a branched linear aliphatic C ₄ -C ₃₀ group (alkyl group comprising from 4 to 30 carbon atoms) which may or may not contain one or more unsaturation (s), and preferably linear and unsaturated; waxes obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of animal or vegetable oils having linear or branched C ₈ -C ₃₂ fatty chains, for example such as hydrogenated jojoba oil, hydrogenated sunflower oil, hydrogenated castor oil, hydrogenated copra oil, as well as the waxes obtained by hydrogenation of castor oil esterified with cetyl alcohol; beeswax, synthetic beeswax, polyglycerolated beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, oxypropylene lanolin wax, rice bran wax, ouricury wax, Alfa wax, cork fiber wax, sugar cane wax, Japan wax, sumac wax, montan wax, Orange wax, laurel wax, hydrogenated jojoba wax , sunflower wax, lemon wax, olive wax, berry wax.

Preferably, a composition according to the invention comprises a polar wax, in particular an ester wax, and more particularly a hydrogenated castor oil, in particular oxyethylenated, such as hydrogenated castor oil 60 EO.

The composition according to the invention preferably comprises one or more waxes, in particular an ester wax, in a content ranging from 0.1% to 10% by weight, better still from 0.2% to 8% by weight, preferably from 0.3% to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of said composition.

Silicone elastomer

A composition (C) contained in the reservoir may also comprise at least one silicone elastomer.

Other ingredients

Additional spherical loads

A composition (C) contained in the reservoir may also comprise at least one additional spherical filler.

By “filler”, it is necessary to understand the colorless or white mineral or organic particles, solids of all shapes, which are in an insoluble form and dispersed in the medium of the composition.

Such an additional spherical filler may be present in particular in a content of between 0.1% and 10% by weight, preferably between 0.2% and 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

As an additional spherical filler that can be used in a composition (C), mention may in particular be made of polyamide powders, for example ^Nylon® or ^Orgasol® from Atochem; poly-β-alanine powders; polyethylene powders; tetrafluoroethylene polymer powders, for example ^Teflon® ; starch; silicone resin microbeads, for example ^Tospearls® from Toshiba; hollow silica microspheres, such as “SILICA BEADS SB 700/HA ^® ”, “SILICA BEADS SB 700 ^® ” from MAPRECOS, “SUNSPHERES H-33 ^® ” and “SUNSPHERES H-51 ^® ” from the company ASAHI GLASS; microspheres of acrylic polymers, such as those made of crosslinked acrylate copolymer “POLYTRAP 6603 ^ADSORBER® ” from the company RP SCHERRER, and those of polymethyl methacrylate “MICROPEARL M ^100® ” from the company SEPPIC); and their mixtures.

Dyestuffs

In particular, a composition (C) may additionally comprise at least one dyestuff, distinct from the fragrancing substance(s) present in said composition, for example a pigment.

According to a preferred embodiment, composition (C) comprises a coloring matter content, distinct from the fragrancing substance(s) present in said composition, of less than 5% by weight, in particular less than 1% by weight, or even less than 0.5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

Even more preferentially, a composition according to the invention is completely devoid of coloring matter, distinct from the perfuming substance or substances present in said composition.

More particularly, composition (C) comprises a pigment(s) content of less than 5% by weight, in particular less than 1% by weight, or even less than 0.5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

Even more preferentially, a composition according to the invention is completely devoid of pigment(s).

Preferably, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir is transparent.

The cosmetic composition of the invention may also contain additional coloring agents, in particular water-soluble or fat-soluble, water-soluble active agents, holding agents, in particular film-forming polymers, other gelling agents, thickening agents, preservatives, neutralizers, bactericides, plant extracts, salts, antioxidants, basic agents such as, for example, calcium carbonate, or acidic agents, such as, for example, citric or lactic acids.

It is part of the routine operations of those skilled in the art to adjust the nature and the quantity of the additives present in the compositions in accordance with the invention, so that the desired cosmetic properties of these are not not affected.

In particular, a composition (C) according to the invention may comprise at least one neutralizer, for example 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.

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

The expressions “ between … and … ”, “ ranging from … to … ” and “ varying from … to … ” must be understood as limits included, unless otherwise specified.

In the description and the examples, unless otherwise indicated, the percentages are percentages by weight. The percentages are therefore expressed by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. If not specified, the ingredients are mixed together, in the order and under conditions readily determined by those skilled in the art.

The invention is illustrated in more detail by the non-limiting examples presented below.

A perfume composition was prepared from the components listed in Table 1 below.

* The perfume used has the composition detailed in the following table 2:

The composition was prepared by mixing, at a temperature of 25°C, water, propylene glycol and alcohol, with stirring.

The acrylic polymer is added. This first mixture is stirred until homogenization.

Hydrogenated castor oil is added to the perfume with a few drops of alcohol, with stirring. This second mixture is added to the first mixture.

The composition is neutralized with 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and stirred in a device of the Rayneri stirrer type.

A homogeneous gel is obtained.

The final composition has a viscosity measured at 25° C. and under 1 atm of between 2 and 7 Pa.s (between 20 and 70 poise).

This composition is implemented in an applicator pen according to the invention, in particular such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. In particular, the composition can be placed in a removable refill, for example.

The applicator can be replaced by a felt or a foam tip.

It appears that the perfume composition in the pen is easily applicable to the skin so as to allow it to be applied to the body while precisely avoiding the parts of the body sensitive to perfumes.

Claims (15)

Applicator pen comprising:
- a reservoir (11) containing a perfumed composition (C) comprising at least 1% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition, and at least one hydrophilic gelling agent, and having a viscosity, measured at 25°C and under 1 atm, between 2 and 7 Pa.s,
- an applicator member (20) supplied with composition by the reservoir,
- a piston (13) movable in the reservoir (11) to force, as it advances, the composition to circulate towards the applicator member,
- an actuating member (40) on which the user can act,
- a mechanism (50) for driving the piston, arranged to transform an action by the user on the actuating member (40) into an advancement of the piston (13). Applicator pen according to Claim 1, the actuating member (40) being present at the end of the pen opposite the applicator member. Applicator pen according to Claim 2, the actuating member (40) being movable in translation relative to a body (10) of the pen. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the drive mechanism being arranged such that the reduction in the internal volume of the reservoir (11) on each actuation of the actuation member (40) is between 0.005 and 0.02 mm ³ . Applicator pen according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, the initial capacity of the reservoir being between 1 and 5 ml. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the applicator member (20) comprising a brush. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a dispensing cannula (17) which opens into the applicator member (20), set back from its free end. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a ring (15) mounted on the applicator member (20) and preferably fixed in a neck (12) of the pen. Applicator pen according to Claim 8 dependent on Claim 7, the ring surrounding the applicator member over part of its length, and pressing the applicator member (20) against the cannula (17). Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir being a hydroalcoholic composition. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir, comprising at least 1% by weight of a mixture of fragrancing substances, in particular of at least two distinct fragrancing substances, relative to the total weight of the composition, and preferably at least 1% by weight of at least three distinct perfuming substances. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir, comprising between 1% and 25% by weight of perfuming substance(s), preferably between 5% and 20% by weight , and even more preferably between 10% and 17% by weight of perfuming substance(s), relative to the total weight of the composition. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir, comprising between 0.2% and 5% by weight of hydrophilic gelling agent(s), preferably between 0.3% and 4% by weight, and even more preferably between 0.5% and 2% by weight of hydrophilic gelling agent(s), relative to the total weight of the composition. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir, comprising at least one hydrophilic gelling agent chosen from non-particulate synthetic polymeric gelling agents, in particular from modified or unmodified carboxyvinyl polymers, and preferably from acrylate/C ₁₀ -C ₃₀ -alkylacrylate copolymers. Applicator pen according to any one of the preceding claims, the composition (C) contained in the reservoir being transparent.