FR3137259A1 - COSMETIC PRODUCT APPLICATION DEVICE COMPRISING A RETRACTABLE SHEATH - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for applying a grape (12) of cosmetic product, having a central axis (A), and comprising: - a base (14) comprising a tubular external wall (16), a internal cylindrical wall (18) arranged coaxially with the external wall (16); - a tubular sheath (44) received sliding axially between the internal wall (18) and the external wall (16) of the base (14), the sheath (44) comprising lugs (50) each cooperating with a groove (52) base associate (14); - the internal wall (18) of the base (14) and the sheath (44) being made of the same material; characterized in that the sheath (44) comprises at least three lugs (50) projecting radially towards the central axis (A) from an internal cylindrical face, the grooves (52) being made in an external cylindrical face of the wall ( 18) internal. Figure for abstract: Figure 4

Description

COSMETIC PRODUCT APPLICATION DEVICE COMPRISING A RETRACTABLE SHEATH Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a grape of cosmetic product, having a central axis, said device comprising:

- a base comprising a tubular outer wall, an inner cylindrical wall arranged coaxially with the outer wall and a cup intended to receive the grapes, the outer wall, the inner wall and the cup being fixed relative to each other;

- a tubular sheath received sliding axially between the internal wall and the external wall of the base, the sheath comprising lugs each cooperating with an associated groove of the base to guide the sliding of the sheath relative to the base between an extreme deployed position in which the grape is entirely covered by the sheath and an extreme position retracted into the base in which the grape is at least partly uncovered.

Technical background

We know from the state of the art devices of this type used for packaging a cosmetic product, such as a stick of cosmetic product, in particular but not exclusively for a stick of lipstick or a stick of balm. lips. Such a stick of cosmetic product will be designated subsequently and in the claims by the term "grape".

Such application devices comprise a base in which a sheath is slidably mounted between an extreme extended position and an extreme retracted position. The grapes are housed in a cup at the base.

In the extreme extended position, the sheath protects the grapes by covering them completely. In the extreme retracted position, the grapes are exposed at least up to the upper limit of the cup.

To allow a person to see the grapes without needing to completely retract the sheath, it is known to make the sheath from a transparent material. The person can thus easily see the condition of the grapes or their color.

However, part of the sliding guide elements of the sheath relative to the base is generally carried by the sheath. The aesthetic appearance of the device is degraded when these guide elements are visible transparently through the sheath when the latter occupies its extreme extended position. However, in the field of cosmetics, the aesthetic appearance of the application device is a primary selection criterion for customers.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the application devices are easily recyclable. To do this, it is known to make all the components of the application device from the same material so that it is not necessary to separate the components before their recycling.

The mechanism for controlling the sliding of the sheath generally comprises a helical groove cooperating with lugs.

However, when the mechanism for controlling the sliding of the sheath is made of a single material, in particular a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate, the appearance of malfunctions has been noted. In particular, when a slightly too high rotational torque is applied to the base, the lugs tend to leave the associated helical groove. Such a torque is generally called a screw-up torque.

If such a malfunction was already known before, the fact of making the components from the same relatively flexible material significantly lowered the value of the drilling torque compared to devices made from several materials. Such malfunctions are likely to harm the image of quality that distributors of cosmetic products generally wish to convey.

There is therefore a need for an application device which is both aesthetic and reliable.

The invention proposes a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a grape of cosmetic product, having a central axis, said device comprising:

- a base comprising a tubular outer wall, an inner cylindrical wall arranged coaxially with the outer wall and a cup intended to receive the grapes, the outer wall, the inner wall and the cup being fixed relative to each other;

- a tubular sheath received sliding axially between the internal wall and the external wall of the base, the sheath comprising lugs each cooperating with an associated groove of the base to guide the sliding of the sheath relative to the base between an extreme deployed position in which the grape is entirely covered by the sheath and an extreme position retracted into the base in which the grape is at least partly uncovered;

- the internal wall of the base and the sheath being made of the same material.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that the sheath comprises at least three lugs projecting radially towards the central axis from an internal cylindrical face, the grooves being made in an external cylindrical face of the internal wall.

According to another aspect of the invention, each groove of the base associated with a lug of the sheath has a helical shape, the rotation of the sheath relative to the base causing it to slide between its extreme deployed position and its extreme retracted position in the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, each groove of the base associated with a lug of the sheath has a rectilinear shape of axial orientation.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lugs are distributed regularly around the central axis.

According to another aspect of the invention, the sheath has a lower section which is permanently housed in the external cylindrical wall of the base whatever the position of the sheath, the lugs being carried by said lower section.

According to another aspect of the invention, the sheath is transparent.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lugs are captive in the associated groove.

According to another aspect of the invention, a space delimited radially between the external wall and the internal wall is closed by a lower bottom.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bottom is made in one piece with the external wall.

According to another aspect of the invention, the internal wall is attached and fixed to the bottom of the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the internal wall is made in one piece with the cup.

According to another aspect of the invention, the sheath comprises at least four lugs distributed regularly around the central axis.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during reading of the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which we will refer to the appended drawings described briefly below.

There is a perspective view of an application device produced according to the teachings of the invention, a sheath of the device being in an extreme deployed position and the cover being removed.

There is a perspective view which represents the device of the without its cover, the sheath occupying an extreme retracted position.

There is an exploded perspective view of the device of the .

There is an axial sectional view of the device of the in which the device is closed by its cover, the sheath occupying its extreme deployed position.

There is an axial sectional view of the device of the in which the cover has been removed, the grape has not been represented and the sheath occupies its extreme retracted position.

There is a cross-sectional view along section plane 6-6 of the .

There is a cross-sectional view according to section plane 7-7 of the .

There is a perspective view which represents the sheath of the device of the .

There is a view similar to that of the which represents a variant embodiment of the invention in which the grooves of the sheath have a rectilinear shape of axial orientation.

Detailed description of the invention

By convention, the "axial" direction corresponds in the figures to that of the main axis "A" of the device (also called mechanism) for applying a cosmetic product, such as a cosmetic product grape, in particular a cosmetic product grape. lipstick or lip balm, and the "radial" direction is directed orthogonal to the axial direction radiating from the main axis.

A plane orthogonal to the axis "A" will be called "radial plane" in the remainder of the description and in the claims.

In the detailed description of the figures which follows, we will use in a non-limiting manner the terms “upper” and “lower” or even “top” and “bottom” with reference to the axial direction, the upper part of the device corresponding to that by which the cosmetic product grape comes out of the device for its application.

Similarly, the terms "exterior or external" and "interior or internal" are used in reference to the radial direction, an exterior element being radially further from axis A than an interior element.

The term "circumferential" is used to refer to a direction tangent to a circle centered on the main "A" axis.

Subsequently, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same reference.

The figures show a device 10 for applying a cosmetic product. Preferably, the cosmetic product (represented in Figures 1, 2 and 4) is a grape 12 of cosmetic product and, more particularly, the grape 12 of cosmetic product is a grape of lipstick intended to be applied by rubbing, as a variant a lip care balm.

The device 10 is designed to bring out the cosmetic product by at least one rotational movement.

The device 10 has an axis A, called the main axis.

The device 10 comprises at least a first element, hereinafter called base 14 as can be seen in Figures 1 to 3.

As shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 5, the base 14 comprises a tubular external wall 16 coaxial with the main axis A. The base 14 further comprises an internal cylindrical wall 18 which is arranged coaxially inside the external wall 16. The outer wall 16 and the inner wall 18 thus radially delimit an annular space 19. The outer wall 16 and the inner wall 18 are fixed relative to each other.

At least the annular space 19 of the base 14 is here closed at its lower end by a radial bottom 20.

As a non-limiting example, the bottom 20 is here made in one piece with the external wall 16 of the base 14.

The base 14 further comprises a cup 22 which is intended to receive the grape 12. The cup 22 thus delimits a housing open upwards and closed downwards by a radial partition 23. The housing is shaped to receive a lower end section of the grape 12. To enable the grape 12 to be held firmly, an internal face of the cup 22 is provided with axial ribs 24.

The cup 22 is here arranged at an upper end of the internal wall 18. The cup 22 is also fixed relative to the internal wall 18.

In the example shown in the figures, the cup 22 and the external wall 16 belong to two separate parts.

The internal wall 18 is here attached and fixed to the bottom 20 of the base 14.

The internal wall 18 is here made in one piece with the cup 22. The internal wall 18 has more particularly a tubular shape, an upper end of which forms the cup 22.

Thus, as shown in , the base 14 here comprises two distinct parts, namely a first external part 14A comprising the external wall 16 and the bottom 20, and a second internal part 14B comprising the cup 22 and the internal wall 18. The two parts 14A, 14B are intended to be fixed to one another.

The internal wall 18 thus has a cylindrical shape having a lower opening delimited by a circular edge 25 at the lower end of the internal wall 16.

This embodiment is particularly interesting from an industrial point of view since it makes it possible to retain an external part 14A common to several models, only the internal part 14B being able to be changed to vary the inclination of the grooves or the shape of the cupule.

As a variant not shown, it is possible to make the base 14 in a single piece, or to make the base 14 with a larger number of separate pieces fixed to each other.

To fix the internal part 14B in the external part 14A, the external part 14A comprises a central tube 26 which extends axially from the bottom 20, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The tube 26 is arranged concentrically inside of the external wall 16. The tube 26 has an external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the internal wall 18 so that the central tube 26 can be inserted axially into the internal wall 18 through a lower opening of the internal part 14B.

When the internal part 14B is thus inserted into the external part 14A, the lower end edge 25 of the internal wall 16 is in contact with the bottom 20 of the external part 14A. In this position, an upper end of the central tube 26 is arranged just below the lower partition 23 of the cup 22.

The internal part 14B comprises a central skirt 28 which extends axially downwards from a lower face of the partition 23. The skirt 28 extends concentrically inside the internal wall 18. The skirt 28 is inserted axially in an upper opening of the central tube 26 when the internal part 14B is positioned in the external part 14A.

The rotation of the external part 14A relative to the internal part 14B is blocked in both directions around the axis "A" by cooperation between circumferential stops 32A, 32B, 36A, 36B carried by each of said parts 14A, 14B, the stops 32A, 32B, 36A, 36B being eccentric with respect to the axis “A”.

We have shown, in particular in Figures 4 to 6, a non-limiting embodiment of such vapors. Thus, the central tube 26 of the external part 14A here comprises axial ribs 30 delimited circumferentially by two faces forming first stops 32A, 32B. The central skirt 28 of the internal part 14B has an axial slot 34 which opens downwards. The slot 34 is delimited circumferentially by two faces forming second stops 36A, 36B. When the internal part 14B is positioned in the external part 14A, each rib 30 is fitted into the associated slot 34 so that the first stops 32A, 32B cooperate with the second stops 36A, 36B to block the rotation of the internal part 14B in both directions around axis “A” relative to external part 14A.

In addition, the internal part 14B is also immobilized axially relative to the part 14A by elastic snap-fastening means.

According to a non-limiting example of such elastic latching means represented in , the central skirt 28 of the internal part 14B comprises, at its junction with the partition 23, at least one notch 38, here two opposite notches 38. The notches 38 are here formed by two windows passing through the tubular skirt 28.

The central tube 26 of the external part 14A has two opposite axial tabs 40 which have at their free upper end a hook 42. The hooks 42 of the tabs 40 are intended to be received, by elastic bending of the tabs 40, in an associated notch 38 of the central skirt 28. The hooks 42 thus make it possible to retain the internal part 14B axially in the external part 14A. The internal part 14B being in axial abutment against the bottom 20, the internal part 14B is thus completely immobilized axially in both directions relative to the external part 14A.

The internal part 14B is thus fixed to the external part 14A.

Furthermore, the application device 10 also comprises a tubular sheath 44 which is received radially in the annular space 19 between the internal wall 18 and the external wall 16 of the base 14, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The tubular sheath 44 is controlled in axial sliding between an extreme deployed position in which the grape 12 is entirely covered by the sheath 44, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and an extreme position retracted in the base 14 in which the grape is at the less partially discovered, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

As shown in , in the extreme deployed position, a lower end section 46 of the sheath 44 remains housed in the space 19, while an upper end edge 48 of the sheath 44 extends above an upper end grapes in order to protect the entire grape.

In the extreme retracted position, the lower end section 46 of the sheath 44 abuts against the bottom 20 of the base 14. The upper end edge 48 of the sheath 44 is advantageously arranged substantially at the same level as the end upper part of the cup 22, in order to expose the entirety of the grape 12 protruding out of the cup 22.

To control its sliding, the sheath 44 comprises lugs 50 which each cooperate with an associated helical groove 52 of the base 14. The rotation of the sheath 44 relative to the base 14 thus causes it to slide between its two extreme positions. The sheath 44 can of course occupy all the intermediate positions between its two extreme positions. The lugs 50 are here made in one piece with the sheath 44.

More particularly, the sheath 44 comprises at least three lugs 50 projecting radially towards the central axis from an internal cylindrical face. The helical grooves 52, in the same number as the lugs 50, are made in an external cylindrical face of the internal wall 18. This arrangement with at least three lugs 50 makes it possible to obtain a much more stable hold of the sheath 44 relative to the base 14, whatever its position.

Furthermore, when the sheath 44 and the internal wall 18 are made of the same plastic material, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP), the fact of benefiting from at least three lugs 50 makes it possible to reduce the force applied by each lug 50 on the associated groove 52. As a result, the drilling torque is increased even when the lugs 50 and the internal wall 18 are made of a relatively flexible material such as PP or PET.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the sheath 44 here comprises four lugs 50.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the lugs 50 are distributed regularly around the central axis "A". They are arranged in the same radial plane.

The lugs 50 are arranged only on the lower end section 46 which remains permanently housed in the external wall 16. Thus, the upper end section 54 of the sheath 44, which projects axially beyond the external wall 16 in the extreme deployed position of the sheath 44, does not include any element for guiding or controlling the sliding of the sheath 44 relative to base 14.

This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the sheath 44 is transparent. In fact, a user never sees the lugs 50 transparently since they are permanently hidden by the external wall 16 of the base 14.

The lugs 50 are captive in the associated helical groove 52. For this purpose, the upper end of the grooves 52 does not open axially. In the extreme deployed position, the lugs 50 thus abut against the upper end of the grooves 52.

Furthermore, to guarantee that the sheath 44 remains in a selected position between its extreme deployed position and its extreme retracted position, the lower end section 46 is provided with friction pads 56 against an internal cylindrical face of the external wall 16. There are two of these pads 56 here and they are arranged diametrically in opposition. Each shoe 56 is carried by an elastically flexible tab 58 made in the lower end section 46 of the sheath 44, as shown in .

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, when the sheath 44 occupies its extreme deployed position, it is preferable to be able to close the device 10 by means of a cover 60 in order to avoid polluting the grape 12 with cosmetic product. In this regard, the removable cover 60 is intended to be fixed directly on the external wall 16 of the base 14 when the device 10 is not used.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the external wall 16 has an upper end section having on its external wall 16 means for fixing the cover 60, for example by fitting with a boss 62 of the external wall 16. The outer wall 16 has more particularly a shoulder face 64 facing upwards against which an annular edge 66 at the lower end of the cover 60 is intended to abut in the mounted position, as shown in Figure .

The sheath 44, the base 14, that is to say the external part 14A and the internal part 14B, and the cover 60 are advantageously made of plastic material.

Preferably, the sheath 44, the base 14, that is to say the external part 14A and the internal part 14B, and the cover 60 are made of an identical plastic material.

The plastic material can be chosen from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyethylene (PE), such as low density polyethylene ( LDPE) and/or high density polyethylene (HDPE), a composite material, a post-consumer recycled material (PCR) and/or a similar material.

These include plastic material whose hardness is between 70 shore A and 90 shore D.

Preferably, it is polypropylene and/or polyethylene terephthalate, recycled or not.

Thus, advantageously, all the components of the device 10 are made of plastic material preferably chosen from polypropylene and/or polyethylene terephthalate.

The plastic components can be easily obtained by injection and lead to a lightweight device.

Furthermore, the use of plastic materials, in particular similar plastic materials for the entire device 10 makes recycling easier. In particular, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate are two plastic materials whose recycling cycle is well known.

When mounting the device 10, the internal part of the base 14 is inserted into a lower opening of the sheath 44. A lower end of the grooves 52 opens axially into the lower edge 25 of the internal wall 18. Thus, the lugs 50 are introduced into their respective grooves 52.

Then the internal part and the sheath 44 thus assembled are inserted axially through the upper opening of the external part until the tabs 40 are snapped into the notches 38. In this position, the lugs 50 of the sheath 44 are captive in the grooves 52 since the lower end of the grooves 52 is closed by the bottom 20.

The cover 60 is then arranged to close the device 10.

According to a variant of the invention represented in , the grooves 52 are not helical, but they have a rectilinear shape of axial orientation. There are four grooves 52 here and they each cooperate with one of the lugs 50 of the sheath 44. Thus, the sliding of the sheath 44 between its two extreme positions is controlled by pushing or pulling it axially in relation to at the base 14. The rest of the device 10 shown in is identical to what was described previously with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In particular, the sheath 44 is identical to what is shown in .

Claims (11)

Device (10) for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a grape (12) of cosmetic product, having a central axis (A), said device (10) comprising:
- a base (14) comprising a tubular external wall (16), an internal cylindrical wall (18) arranged coaxially with the external wall (16) and a cup (22) intended to receive the grapes (12), the wall (16) ) external, the internal wall (18) and the cup (22) being fixed relative to each other;
- a tubular sheath (44) received sliding axially between the internal wall (18) and the external wall (16) of the base (14), the sheath (44) comprising lugs (50) each cooperating with a groove (52) associated with the base (14) to guide the sliding of the sheath (44) relative to the base (14) between an extreme deployed position in which the grape (12) is entirely covered by the sheath (44) and an extreme position retracted into the base (14) in which the grape (12) is at least partly exposed;
- the internal wall (18) of the base (14) and the sheath (44) being made of the same material;
characterized in that the sheath (44) comprises at least three lugs (50) projecting radially towards the central axis (A) from an internal cylindrical face, the grooves (52) being made in an external cylindrical face of the wall ( 18) internal. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each groove (52) of the base (14) associated with a lug (50) of the sheath (44) has a helical shape, the rotation of the sheath (44) relative to the base (14) causing it to slide between its extreme deployed position and its extreme retracted position in the base (14). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lugs (50) are distributed regularly around the central axis (A). Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sheath (44) has a lower section (46) which is permanently housed in the external cylindrical wall (16) of the base (14) whatever the position of the sheath (44), the lugs (50) being carried by said lower section (46). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheath (44) is transparent. Device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the lugs (50) are captive in the associated groove (52). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a space (19) delimited radially between the external wall (16) and the internal wall (18) is closed by a lower bottom (20). Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom (20) is made in one piece with the external wall (16). Device (10) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the internal wall (18) is attached and fixed to the bottom (20) of the base (14). Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the internal wall (18) is made in one piece with the cup (22). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheath (44) comprises at least four lugs (50) distributed regularly around the central axis (A).