FR3140074A1 - Packaging and distribution device comprising a piston wringer - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging and dispensing device comprising a piston wringer Packaging and dispensing device comprising a pipette (20) having a rod (21) and a closure member (22) provided with a nipple (23), and a container (10) containing the product to be applied with the pipette, comprising a neck (12) on which the closing member can be fixed to close the container and a wringing member (30) for wiping the cane (21) during its extraction from the container, device in which the wiping member (30) comprises an annular wiping lip applying in a sealed manner to the cane (21), and a support part forming a piston, to which the annular lip is connected, this support part being movably mounted in the container so as to be able to slide in a sealed manner therein and to move in response to a depression or excess pressure in the container caused by the extraction or re-entry of the pipette into it . Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Packaging and distribution device comprising a piston wringer

The present invention relates to packaging and dispensing devices comprising a container and a pipette for dispensing the product contained in the container.

It is known to make the pipette with a gripping member serving as a closing cap to screw onto the container, carrying the rod of the pipette intended to plunge into the container to take the product and the teat connected to this rod.

In the absence of a wringing member present in the container, the cane tends to carry the product on its exterior surface when it is removed.

Thus, it is common to equip the neck of the container with a wringing member which aims to wipe the cane when it is removed from the container.

In known devices, the wringing member is fixed in the container and a clearance is provided between the internal diameter of the wringing member and the cane to allow air to be drawn into the container and avoid generating in the container when removing the pipette a depression opposing the maintenance of the level of product present in the cannula.

However, product may flow through this clearance when carrying the device in a handbag for example, and accumulate on top of the wringing member. Over time, this may result in the product leaking out of the neck, and the resulting soiling may make the device uncomfortable to use and/or less aesthetically attractive.

We know from patent application US 2012/0211378 a packaging and application device comprising a pipette and a movable wiper member in the container. The latter comprises an upper compartment and a lower compartment, the contents of the lower compartment being pushed into the upper compartment on the first use, to cause the contents to mix. The movement of the wringing member takes place in response to the arrival of the contents of the lower compartment in the upper compartment, so that the upper compartment gives the user the impression of being full of product.

There is a need to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above, and in particular to benefit from a device allowing satisfactory wringing of the pipette without causing it to empty as the pipette passes through. the wringing member.

The invention meets this need by proposing a packaging and dispensing device comprising a pipette having a cane and a closing member provided with a nipple, and a container containing the product to be applied with the pipette, comprising a neck on which the closing member can be attached to close the container and a wringing member to wipe the cane when it is extracted from the container,

in which the wiping member, also called a "piston wringer", comprises an annular wiping lip applying in a sealed manner to the cane, and a support part forming a piston, to which the annular lip is connected, this support part being movably mounted in the container so as to be able to slide sealingly therein and move in response to a depression or excess pressure in the container caused by the extraction or re-entry of the pipette therein.

By “tightly” it is necessary to understand sufficient sealing between the rod and the annular wringing lip and between the wringing member and the container to obtain the desired operation; the seal may be imperfect, as long as any leaks are insufficient to prevent the desired result from being achieved.

When removing the pipette, a depression is created under the draining member in the container; under the effect of this depression, the wiper member moves towards the bottom of the container, which reduces the volume of the container in communication with the interior of the pipette and reduces the depression; this avoids the appearance of too strong a depression in the container, likely to drain excessively the contents of the pipette when it is removed. We can then make a watertight adjustment of the wiper member on the pipette rod without fear of completely emptying the pipette of its contents when it is removed, and thus wipe it effectively. We therefore limit the risk of soiling the collar.

Preferably, the support part comprises a peripheral sealing lip applying to a wall of the container. This lip may have an annular boss having a lower side making an angle with the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container less than 45°, and an upper side making an angle with the longitudinal axis of the container less than 45°. Such an angle of the upper side limits the risk of damage to the peripheral sealing lip during assembly in the container, by facilitating the introduction of the wringing member into the container.

The annular wiping lip advantageously has a wavy shape, which offers greater flexibility in the orientation of the pipette relative to the container, and in particular allows it to be oriented obliquely inside the container if this is necessary. By “wavy” shape we must understand that the lip extends alternately, when moving around the axis of the container, alternately below and above a median plane or cone.

The annular wiping lip preferably has a thinned annular portion and a peripheral portion of greater thickness than that of the thinned portion. The thinned portion provides more deformability to the spin lip.

Preferably, the peripheral portion has a radially outer edge of semicircular section. This improves the quality of contact with the pipette rod, and therefore the seal.

The distance separating the base of the annular wiping lip from the upper end thereof is preferably less than or equal to 1mm, being for example between 0.6 and 1mm. This reduces the amount of composition likely to accumulate above the spin lip, inside the spin member.

Preferably, the wiper member has at least one air passage channel formed by a longitudinal groove extending on its exterior surface, this passage extending axially above a zone where the member d The spinner applies tightly to the interior surface of the container. Such an air passage reduces the risk of forming a sealed air pocket above the wiping member, between it and the neck of the container, which would be likely to hinder the movement of the the wiping member when extracting or re-entering the pipette into the container.

Each longitudinal groove can extend on the aforementioned intermediate wall, connecting the lip and the central tubular part, as well as on the latter, with preferably a section decreasing towards the lower end of the groove, the longitudinal groove communicating from preferably with at least one circular groove extending over a limited angular sector on either side of the longitudinal groove, and better still with two concentric circular grooves.

The wiper member may comprise radial ribs extending on the intermediate wall, preferably on its upper face, these ribs being preferably arranged in pairs framing a respective longitudinal groove as well as the circular grooves intersecting this longitudinal groove.

Preferably, the wiper member comprises guide ribs capable of bearing on the interior surface of the container during movement of the wiper member within it. These guide ribs can be located at the upper end of the sealing lip, the latter preferably coming into tight support on the interior surface of the container near its lower end. The presence of guide ribs spaced axially from the sealed bearing zone of the lip on the container makes it possible to limit the risk of the wiping member becoming crooked during its movement in the container.

The guide ribs preferably have spaces separating the guide ribs and allowing air to circulate.

The longitudinal grooves which serve as air passages can be located angularly between the guide ribs.

The container may comprise two parts assembled together after placing the wringing member in the container, in particular a body and a base attached to the body.

The support part may include a central tubular part engaged in the neck.

This tubular central part may have at least one retaining relief, forming a radial outward projection, able to pass through a narrowing of the neck by elastic deformation when mounting the wiper member in the container, and to come into support against a detachment of the latter to block the movement of the wringing member towards the bottom of the container. The aforementioned assembly can be carried out by forcing the movement of the wringing member, introduced on the bottom side of the container, towards the upper end of the neck. The central part may have three teeth each forming a retaining relief, each tooth being inclined outwards and downwards so as to be able to flex towards the central part. The aforementioned longitudinal grooves, which form the air passages, can open superiorly between these teeth.

The travel of the wringing member towards the neck can be blocked by a shoulder formed at the base of the neck. This shoulder can connect the neck to a cylindrical part of the container.

The rod can be formed by a tube of constant external section. Alternatively, the cane has a rounded head. The cane can be made of glass.

The container may contain a cosmetic composition, in particular a makeup or care composition.

The invention also relates to a method of taking a dose of a product contained in the container of a device according to the invention, comprising the steps consisting of pressing the teat then releasing it while the pipette is mounted on the container, so as to load the cane with product, then to extract the pipette by wiping the cane with the wiper member, the depression caused by the departure of the pipette being accompanied by a movement of the member spin in the container in a direction opposite to that of the pipette. The return of the pacifier to its initial configuration is carried out by elasticity.

• La représente de manière schématique, en élévation, un exemple de dispositif selon l’invention, la pipette fermant le récipient,
• la est une coupe longitudinale partielle et schématique du récipient, illustrant la possibilité pour la canne de la pipette de s’incliner dans le récipient, dans un exemple,
• la représente isolément, en perspective, l’organe d’essorage,
• la est une vue analogue à la selon un autre point de vue,
• la est une coupe axiale de l’organe d’essorage,
• la représente le détail VI de la ,
• la représente le détail VII de la ,
• [| ] la est une coupe axiale de l’organe d’essorage dans un plan de coupe différent de celui de la , et
• la est une coupe longitudinale, partielle et schématique, illustrant la mobilité de l’organe d’essorage dans le récipient.

The invention can be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, a non-limiting example of its implementation, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• There represents schematically, in elevation, an example of a device according to the invention, the pipette closing the container,
• there is a partial and schematic longitudinal section of the container, illustrating the possibility for the pipette cane to tilt in the container, in one example,
• there represents separately, in perspective, the wringing member,
• there is a view analogous to the from another point of view,
• there is an axial section of the wringing member,
• there represents detail VI of the ,
• there represents detail VII of the ,
• [| ] there is an axial section of the wiper member in a section plane different from that of the , And
• there is a longitudinal, partial and schematic section, illustrating the mobility of the wringing member in the container.

The packaging and dispensing device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a container 10 for containing a liquid composition and a pipette 20 for applying the composition. The latter is for example a cosmetic composition, such as a makeup composition, or a care product. The composition may contain at least one pigment, in particular an iron oxide, and/or at least one dye.

The container 10 has a tubular body 11 surmounted by an externally threaded neck 12. The body 11 of the container 10 is for example made of a plastic material, or of glass. It may be at least partially transparent.

A wiping member 30 called a “piston wringer” is mounted in the body 11, so as to be able to slide in it along the longitudinal axis X of the container, as will be detailed later.

The container 10 is made in two parts which are assembled together after the wiping member 30 has been placed in the body 11.

In the example illustrated, the body 11 thus receives an attached bottom 13, but the body 11 could alternatively be closed by other means, the container being for example with two compartments, one delimited above by the member d spinner 30 and containing a first product, and the other formed by an attached cartridge and containing a second product to be mixed with the first.

The body 11 of the container 10 has a wall 14 substantially cylindrical of revolution, of axis X, which is connected by a shoulder 15 to the neck 12.

The neck 12 has an internal annular recess 17, visible more particularly on the , for example substantially halfway up the neck 12, this recess 17 being for example formed by a thinning of the wall of the neck in the upper part.

The wiper member 30 may comprise, as illustrated, a central tubular part 31, connecting lowerly, via a substantially conical transition wall 32, to a peripheral sealing lip 33.

The central part 31 has at its upper end 34 at least one retaining relief, for example three teeth 35 equally distributed angularly around the axis , forming radially outward projection. These teeth 35 are separated by spaces 92 which may be of less angular extent than the teeth, as illustrated.

Each tooth 35 is inclined outwards and downwards, so as to be able to flex against the central part 31. The latter has under the teeth 35 an annular recess 120 in which each tooth 35 can engage when folded against the part central 31.

The central part 31 internally supports an annular wringing lip 36, of wavy shape, near its upper end 34.

The wall of the central part 31 can become thinner from an inner shoulder 81, as visible on the . It is thus possible to have above this shoulder 81 a thicker wall for the central part 31, in which the recess 120 can be made.

As is visible in particular in Figures 5, 7 and 8, the base of the wiping lip 36 is preferably located at a relatively short distance a from the upper end 98 of the wiping member 30, which limits the volume of the interior space located above the wiping lip 36 and avoids the formation of a basin where the composition coming from the pipette during its reintroduction into the container would be likely to accumulate. The distance a is for example less than or equal to 1mm and represents for example less than 10% of the value of the external diameter D of the central part 31, for example between 4 and 7%, the distance a being for example of the order 0.8mm.

The wiping lip 36 preferably has, as illustrated, a thinned annular part 80, of thickness f , which gives it radial flexibility and allows it to absorb deviations in the diameter of the pipette rod and/or makes it easier to tilt it in the container.

The distal part 86 of the wiping lip 36 has a thickness b greater than the thickness f , with for example b/f>2.

The radially inner edge of the distal part 86 preferably has a semicircular contour, as visible in the , with a radius of curvature Ru chosen to facilitate obtaining tight contact with the pipette rod.

The radius of curvature Ru is preferably between 0.3 and 0.5mm, for example 0.4mm.

The peripheral lip 33 has a slightly conical shape flared downwards, with an annular boss 39, also called "scraping lip", at its lower end, applying at its top to the cylindrical wall 14 of the body 11 of the container.

The annular boss 39 preferably has, as illustrated in the in particular, a substantially triangular section, with an upper flank 101 making an angle d in section with the axis X, and a lower flank 102 making an angle e with the perpendicular to the axis X.

The lower side 102 is more “perpendicular” to the interior wall of the bottle, to better scrape the composition. The upper side 101 is more “vertical”, to facilitate the assembly of the piston wringer in the container. We thus preferably have e<45°, for example equal to 40°, and d<45°, for example equal to 25°.

The sides 101 and 102 are joined by a rounded top with a radius of curvature for example between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, for example 0.4 mm.

The peripheral lip 33 preferably has, as illustrated, ribs 70 which can come into contact with the radially interior surface of the container to limit the risk of the wiping member becoming crooked during its sliding in the body 11 of the container.

These ribs 70, three in number in the example illustrated, project radially outwards substantially at the junction between the peripheral lip 33 and the transition wall 32.

Each rib 70 has a radially outer edge 110 which is substantially cylindrical with axis

The upper edge 112 of each rib 70 preferably has a slight upward slope, when observed in section, the angle c being for example 80°. This slope makes unmolding easier.

The lower edge 113 is formed with a relatively large radius of curvature, in particular greater than the axial dimension g, for example of the order of 0.6mm.

Spaces 94 separate the ribs 70, being of less angular extent than these. These spaces allow the air present above the boss 39 to be evacuated.

Channels 71 forming an air passage, for example three in number as illustrated, are formed by grooves each present over the entire height of the central tubular part 31, opening into the space 92 between the teeth 35 at their upper end 115, and extending on the intermediate wall 32 until their lower end 116 is located near the spaces 94 provided between the guide ribs 70. Each channel 71 communicates in its part extending on the intermediate wall 32 with two concentric grooves 73 which facilitate the evacuation of air during contact of the wringer with the internal shoulder of the container, and presents along the wall 32 a section which decreases towards its lower end 116. grooves 73 extend over an angular sector of 40° for example, centered on a median plane for channel 71.

Radial bosses 72 frame the grooves 73 on the top of the intermediate wall 32. These bosses 72 contribute to stiffening the wall 32 and prevent the wall 32 from coming into contact with the inner shoulder of the container, which allows the evacuation of the air above boss 39.

The wall 32 preferably has substantially the same slope as the shoulder 15, so that the wiper member 30 can substantially match the shape of the shoulder 15 and its junction with the cylindrical wall 14, when it is at the top stop in container 1.

The wiper member 30 is movable axially between a high position in which it abuts against the shoulder, corresponding to the , and a low position in which the relief 35 abuts against the recess 17, as illustrated in the . Between the two positions, as shown in the , the teeth 35 can move along the neck 12, between the recess 17 and the opening of the neck 12. The distance between the recess 17 and the upper end 90 of the neck 12 is preferably substantially equal to or greater than that between the flared wall 32 and the shoulder 15 when the wringing member 30 is in the low position, as illustrated in the .

The pipette 20 comprises a rod 21 carried by a member 22 for closing the container. The cane 21 communicates internally with a teat 23, made of an elastically deformable material, which makes it possible to create a depression in the cane 21 to suck up the composition inside.

The closing member 22 comprises a tubular threaded mounting skirt 25 arranged to screw onto the neck 12, closed at the top by a transverse wall 53 provided with a central opening.

The teat 23 may include on its side wall 65, as illustrated, thinnings 59 in the upper and lower part, each formed between inner and outer annular grooves 62.

The upper wall 64 of the teat 23 may have at its periphery a thinning 61 formed in the same manner between outer and inner annular grooves.

The thinning of the wall of the teat facilitates its deformation when the user presses the side wall 65.

The pacifier 23 may have a collar 28 at its lower end, and a little higher up a retaining relief 51 forming with the collar 28 a groove 57 in which the wall 53 of the closing member 22 is engaged. Thus, the pacifier 23 can be fixed by snapping into the central opening of the wall 53.

As can be seen on the , the collar 28 can come to rest against the upper edge of the neck 12 at the end of screwing the closure member 22 onto the neck 12.

The cane 21 can have at its upper end a collar 54 which can snap into a corresponding internal groove 55 of the teat 23, as illustrated in the .

On the , we have illustrated the possibility for the cane 21 to tilt relative to the longitudinal axis X thanks to the flexibility of the material of the teat 23 and that of the corrugated lip 36.

In the example illustrated, the cane 21 has at its lower end a rounded head 26, but the invention is not limited to a particular shape of cane and the invention applies to a cane of cylindrical shape up to its distal end.

The operation of device 1 is as follows.

It is assumed that the pipette 20 is fixed on the container 1 as on the . The wringing member 30 is in the high position, for example abutting against the shoulder 15.

To load the pipette 20, the user presses the teat 23 then releases it, which expels part of the air contained therein and then causes, while the teat elastically returns to its initial shape, a depression in the cane 21 and the 'suction of composition inside.

Once the pipette 20 is loaded, the user can extract it by moving it up the X axis of the container.

During this withdrawal, the exterior surface of the rod 21 is wiped by the lip 36.

The departure of the rod 21 tends to be accompanied by the creation of a depression in the container, in the interior volume thereof located under the lip 36, which communicates with the interior of the rod 21.

Under the effect of this depression, the draining member 30 moves in the container, towards the bottom thereof, and the resulting reduction in the interior volume compensates for the depression generated by the rise of the pipette.

Thus, excessive emptying of the rod 21 is avoided in the absence of excessive depression caused by the extraction of the pipette 20.

Once the pipette 20 is outside the container, the user can distribute the desired dose of composition by pressing the nipple 23, which pushes the composition present in the cane 21 out of it.

The user then brings the pipette 20 back into the container 10, and engages the rod 21 through the lip 36.

An overpressure is created in the interior volume of the container under the lip 36, which causes the wringing member 30 to rise towards the neck 12, possibly up to abutting against the shoulder 15.

The presence of the undulations of the lip 36 as well as its section profile can allow a certain inclination of the rod 21 relative to the axis shape of the bottom of the container (variant not illustrated).

The channels 71 create air passages which allow the evacuation of the air located between the shoulder 15 and the flared wall 32 during the rise of the wringing member 30 and avoid the formation of a depression in this same space during the descent of the wringing member.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example which has just been described.

We can modify, for example, the shape of the wiping lip 36, and produce it without undulations, for example with a conical or flat annular shape.

Claims (17)

Packaging and distribution device comprising

• a pipette (20) having a rod (21) and a closure member (22) provided with a nipple (23), and
• a container (10) containing the product to be applied with the pipette, comprising a neck (12) on which the closing member can be fixed to close the container and a wiper member (30) for wiping the cane (21) when it is extracted from the container,

device in which the wringing member (30) comprises
an annular wiping lip (36) applying in a sealed manner to the rod (21), and
a support part (31, 32, 33) forming a piston, to which the annular lip (36) is connected, this support part being movably mounted in the container so as to be able to slide sealingly therein and move in response to a depression or excess pressure in the container caused by the extraction or re-entry of the pipette into it. Device according to claim 1, the support part comprising a peripheral sealing lip (33) applying to a wall (14) of the container, in particular a lip (33) having an annular boss (39) having a lower flank (102 ) making an angle (e) with the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container less than 45°, and an upper flank (101) making an angle (d) with the longitudinal axis of the container less than 45°. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, the container comprising two parts (11, 13) assembled after positioning the wringing member (30) in the container. Device according to claim 3, the container comprising a body (11) and a base (13) attached to the body. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the support part comprising a central tubular part (31) engaged in the neck (12). Device according to one of claims 3 and 4 on the one hand, and claim 5 on the other hand, the tubular central part (31) having at least one retaining relief (35), forming radially outward projection, able to overcome by elastic deformation a narrowing of the neck when mounting the wiping member in the container, and to come to bear against a recess (17) thereof to block the movement of the wiping member (30) towards the bottom of the container. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the annular wiping lip (36) having a corrugated shape. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the annular wiping lip (36) having a thinned annular portion (80) and a peripheral portion (86) of greater thickness (b) than that (f) of the thinned portion . Device according to claim 8, the peripheral portion (86) having a radially outer edge of semicircular section. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the distance (a) separating the base of the annular wiping lip (36) from the upper end (98) thereof being less than or equal to 1mm. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the wiper member having at least one air passage channel formed by a longitudinal groove (71) extending on its exterior surface, this passage extending axially at the above an area where the wiping member applies sealingly to the interior surface of the container. Device according to claims 11, 2, 5 and 6, each longitudinal groove (71) extending on the intermediate wall (32) connecting the lip (33) and the tubular central part (31) as well as on the latter, with preferably a section decreasing towards the lower end (116) of the groove, the longitudinal groove (71) preferably communicating with at least one circular groove (73) extending over a limited angular sector on either side of the longitudinal groove (71), and better with two concentric circular grooves (73). Device according to claim 12, the wiper member comprising radial ribs (72) extending on the intermediate wall (32), these ribs (72) being preferably arranged in pairs framing a respective longitudinal groove (71) thus that the circular grooves (73) intersecting this longitudinal groove (71). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the wringing member (30) comprising guide ribs (70) capable of bearing on the interior surface of the container during movement of the wringing member within thereof, preferably with spaces (94) separating the guide ribs and allowing air to circulate. Device according to claims 2 and 14, the guide ribs (70) being located at the upper end of the sealing lip (33) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the stroke of the wringing member (30) being blocked in the direction of the neck by a shoulder (15) formed at the base of the neck (12). Method for taking a dose of a product contained in the container of a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps consisting of pressing the teat (23) then releasing it while the pipette ( 20) is mounted on the container, so as to load the cane (21) with product, then to extract the pipette (20) by wiping the cane (21) with the wiper member (30), the depression caused by the departure of the pipette being accompanied by a movement of the wiper member (30) in the container in the direction opposite to that of the pipette.