WO2011086249A1

WO2011086249A1 - System for applying a powder material

Info

Publication number: WO2011086249A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/000871
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gérard MARTINES
Original assignee: Rexam Simandre
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2010-12-22
Publication date: 2011-07-21
Also published as: FR2954056A1; FR2954056B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for applying a powder material, including a housing (1) provided with a bottom (3) and a cover (4), said system further including a dispensing device which is mounted inside the housing (1), said device including an upstream grating (10) and a downstream sieve (11) provided with an upstream (10a) and downstream (11a) lattice of through-openings, respectively, said sieve and said grating being attached to the housing (1) while being stacked axially, with the lattices (10a, 11a) thereof axially staggered, said dispensing device further including a metering plate (12) which is provided with a metering lattice (12a) consisting of through-openings, said plate being translatably mounted in a reversible manner between the sieve (11) and the grating (10), from a metering position, in which the metering lattice (12a) is arranged such that said lattice can be supplied with a metered amount of material through the openings of the upstream lattice (10a), to a dispensing position, in which the metering lattice (12a) is arranged so as to dispense the metered amount of material through the openings of the downstream lattice (11a).

Description

Application system for a powdery product

The invention relates to a system for applying a powdery product, especially a makeup powder to be applied to the face, neck, lips or other body part of a user.

To do this, application systems are known comprising a housing provided with a bottom and a lid, in which is mounted a grid which delimits, with said bottom, a container for packaging the powdery product and, with said lid , a receiving compartment of an applicator of said product. In particular, the applicator may be a brush, a tassel or a blank of material capable of adsorbing the product, in particular foam, textile material or flocked material. The grid is provided with a network of through orifices which allows the flow of the powdery product from the reservoir into the compartment. Thus, when the lid is in the closed position and the applicator is received in its compartment, the user can shake, in particular by successive turns, the housing in order to dispense product from the reservoir on the applicator through the network. Grid. Then, by opening the lid, the user can seize the applicator laden product, make-up with said applicator then put the applicator in its compartment before closing the lid. This grid may be fixed or floating on the surface of the powdery product.

During the transport of the housing by the user, the vibrations undergone cause the passage of product in the compartment of the applicator, which leads to an involuntary and uncontrolled product distribution. Documents US-7,494,030 and US-2008/0190444 respectively describe a system provided with an orifice concealment plate and an applicator compressed on the orifices. However, the application systems according to the prior art do not allow to control the dose of product that is dispensed to the applicator since this dose depends in particular movements applied by the user to the housing. Furthermore, the lack of control of the dispensed dose can lead to the presence of powdery product in the free state in the compartment, said product can dirty the housing and / or escape when opening the lid.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a device for applying a powdery product in which the quantity of product dispensed to the applicator is controlled, and this by using a particularly simple distribution device of construction, easily standardized and whose actuation facilitates the gesture of use of the system by the user.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a system for applying a powdery product, comprising a housing provided with a bottom and a lid, said system further comprising a dispensing device which is mounted in the housing delimiting , with said bottom, a container for packaging the powdery product and, with said lid, a compartment for receiving an applicator of said product, the dispensing device comprising an upstream grid and a downstream screen each provided with a network - respectively upstream and downstream - of through orifices which respectively open into the tank and into the compartment, said screen and said grid being fixed to the housing being superimposed axially with their axially offset gratings so as to prevent a direct flow of product from the tank into the compartment through the orifices of said networks, said dispensing device further comprising a metering plate which is t provided with a metering network formed by through holes, said plate being mounted reversibly movable translation between the screen and the gate from a metering position in which the dosing network is arranged to be able to be fed with a dose of product from the reservoir through the orifices of the upstream network to a distribution position in which the network of dosing is arranged to dispense the dose of product into the compartment through the orifices of the downstream network.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of an application system according to one embodiment of the invention, said system being shown with the lid in the open position and with the applicator out of its compartment;

FIG. 2 schematically shows in longitudinal section an application system comprising a removable bottom, said bottom being respectively dissociated from the housing (a) and associated with the housing after filling of the product tank (b), said system being shown with the lid down;

- Figure 3 shows schematically and in longitudinal section an application system comprising a movable bottom and a separable lid of the housing in the open position;

FIG. 4 schematically shows in longitudinal section the actuation of a dispensing device according to one embodiment of the invention, said device being represented on a dispensing cycle, namely respectively in the dosing position (a ) in the dispensing position (b) and in the dosing position (c);

- Figure 5 shows schematically and in longitudinal section three embodiments of the network of orifices of the metering plate;

- Figure 6 shows schematically and in longitudinal section an application system according to another embodiment of the invention, said system being shown with the cover upwards;

FIG. 7 shows the circled portion VII of FIG. 6, respectively in the state of locking of the lid in the closed position (a), in the state of locking of the lid in the pre-opening position (b), in the release state of the opening of the lid (c), during closing of the lid (d) and in the locked state of the lid in the closed position (e); - Figure 8 shows schematically and side an alternative embodiment of the grid of a dispensing device according to the invention;

- Figure 9 shows the embodiment of a piece forming a dispensing device according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively from above (a) and side (b);

- Figure 10 shows the assembly steps of the dispensing device according to Figure 9, respectively before assembly (a), after disposal of the metering plate under the sieve (b), in the course of arrangement of the grid under the metering plate (c) and in assembled state after arrangement of the grid under the metering plate (d).

In connection with the figures, there is described a system for applying a powdery product, especially a makeup powder to be applied to the face, neck, lips or other part of the body of a user.

The application system comprises a housing 1 having a peripheral wall 2, for example cylindrical of revolution, which is made of rigid material such as metal or plastic. The housing 1 also has a bottom 3 and a cover 4 which is positionable between an open position of the housing 1 (Figure 1) and a closed position of said housing. Moreover, in the embodiment shown, the inner face of the cover 4 is provided with a mirror 5.

The application system also comprises a dispensing device which is mounted in the housing 1 by delimiting, with the bottom 3, a container 6 for packaging the powdery product and, with the lid 4, a compartment 7 for receiving an applicator 8 of said product. In particular, the applicator 8 can be a brush, a tassel or a blank of material capable of adsorbing the product, in particular foam, textile material or flocked material.

The dispensing device can be mounted on the inside of the wall 2, for example by fitting, to delimit on either side the reservoir 6 and the compartment 7. In addition, the assembly is arranged so that the distribution of the product from the tank 6 to the compartment 7 is made only through the dispensing device. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the bottom 3 is attached to be removably mounted on the lower end of the wall 2, said bottom may also be transparent to allow the user to see the product contained in the reservoir 6. In this embodiment, it is possible to fill the tank 6 with the product and then to close said tank by mounting the bottom 3 sealingly on the wall 2 (Figure 2b). In particular, it is thus possible to fill, possibly several times, the reservoir 6 in a particularly simple manner while being able to provide a standardized bottom 3 for a range of housing 1.

Furthermore, Figure 2 illustrates the mounting of the cover 4 on the wall 2 by means of a hinge 9 integral with said cover and said wall. In Figure 3, the cover 4 is separable from the housing 1 in the open position, in particular by unscrewing said cover.

The dispensing device comprises an upstream grid 10 and a downstream screen 11 each provided with a network - respectively upstream 10a and downstream 11a - of through orifices which open respectively into the reservoir 6 and into the compartment 7.

The screen 11 and the grid 10 are fixed to the housing 1, in particular on the inside of the wall 2, being superimposed axially. To prevent a direct flow of product from the reservoir 6 into the compartment 7 through the orifices of the networks 10a, 11a, said networks are axially offset.

In particular, the grid 10 and the screen 11 may each be formed of a plate in which a network 10a, 11a of through orifices is formed. In the embodiment shown, the plates 10, 11 are of the same geometry, the upstream and downstream networks 10a and 11a being identical while being offset axially. Thus, by superimposing the plates 10, 11 in the housing 1, the desired offset between the networks 10a, 11a is obtained.

The dispensing device also comprises a metering plate 12 which is provided with a metering network 12a formed by through holes. The metering plate 12 is mounted reversibly movable translation between the screen 11 and the grid 10. In particular, the metering plate 12 is in sliding contact on both sides on the inner face of the grid 10 and on the inner face of the sieve 1. According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the inside face of the grid 10 has a convexity 13 which is arranged to constrain the contact between the metering plate 12 and the inner faces of the grid 10 and the screen 11. As a variant, possibly cumulatively , the inner face of the screen 11 may have such a convexity 13. Furthermore, in Figure 8, the grid 10 has reinforcing ribs 14 which are disposed on its outer face.

The metering plate 12 is movable in translation from a metering position in which the metering network 12a is arranged to be able to be fed with a dose of product from the reservoir 6 through the orifices of the upstream network 10a to a dispensing position in which the dosing network 12a is arranged to distribute the dose of product in the compartment 7 through the orifices of the downstream network 11a.

In relation to FIG. 4, the operation of a device on a dispensing cycle in which the casing 1 is turned upside down with the lid 4 and the bottom 3 upwards is described. In the metering position (FIG. 4a), the orifices of the metering network 12a are in axial communication with the orifices of the upstream network 10a and the downstream openings of the orifices of the metering network 12a are plugged by the inner face of the screen 11.

Thus, the orifices of the dosing network 12a can be filled in product, by gravity and / or under the action of a shaking of the housing 1, without risk of distributing the product in the compartment 7. In addition, depending of the the capacity of the orifices of the dosing network 12a, it is possible to define a precise dose of product that will be dispensed after actuation.

FIG. 5 shows the production of orifices for the radially increasing dosage network 12a for increasing the dose of product, said dose also being adjustable by varying the thickness of the metering plate 12 and / or the number of orifices of the dosing network 12a.

Figure 4b shows the actuation of the metering plate 12 in the dispensing position. To do this, the dispensing device comprises a pusher 15 for manually actuating the displacement of the metering plate 12, said pusher being disposed outside the casing 1. Furthermore, the dispensing device comprises a means 16 for elastic return of the metering plate 12 in the metering position.

In the dispensing position, the orifices of the dosing network 12a are in axial communication with the orifices of the downstream network 1a and the upstream openings of the orifices of the dosing network 12a are plugged by the inner face of the grid 10. Thus, the dose contained in the dosing network 12a is distributed in the compartment 7 to supply the applicator 8, and only this dose since the dosing network 12a is no longer supplied with product from the reservoir 6.

Then, after release of the support on the pusher 15, the return means 16 actuates the return of the metering plate 12 to the metering position (FIG. 4c) so that a new dose is fed into the metering network 12a by means of intermediate of the upstream network 10a. In particular, the force exerted by the return means 16 may be sufficient to make reliable the holding in metering position of the metering plate 12, even in the case of mechanical stressing of the housing 1, in order to secure the non-distribution of produced in compartment 7 between two actuations. In relation to FIGS. 6 and 7, an application system comprising a device 17 for locking the lid 4 in position and a resilient biasing means 18 for the lid 4 in the open position is described below.

According to a first feature, the locking device 17 comprises means for locking the cover 4 in the closed position of the housing 1, said means being arranged to be deactivated by translation of the metering plate 12 towards its dispensing position. Thus, the user does not have access to the applicator 8 until a dose of product has been dispensed.

According to a second characteristic, the locking device 17 also comprises means for locking the lid 4 in a pre-opening position, said means being activated by translating the metering plate 12 towards its dispensing position and deactivated by returning the metering plate 12 in dosing position. Thus, the actuation of the metering plate 12 combines the distribution of the dose with a secured pre-opening of the lid 4.

In the embodiment shown, the locking device 17 comprises an integral member of the metering plate 12 and an integral member of the cover 4, said members comprising projections cooperating with each other to lock the lid 4 in position.

More specifically, a pin 19 extends under the wall of the lid 4, said pin being received in a housing 20 formed between two walls 20a, 20b protruding from the upper face of the metering plate 12. Alternatively, shown in FIGS. and 10, the pin 19 is integral with the metering plate 12 and the walls 20a, 20b of the cover 4. In the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, the pin 19 has a projection 21a before and a rear projection 22a which cooperate each with a front projection 21b and a rear projection 22b which are respectively formed on a wall 20b, 20a extending inside the housing 20. Thus, the device 17 of locking comprises a set of projections 21 prior to locking in the closed position (Figure 7a) and a set of rear projections 22 ensuring the locking in pre-opening position (Figure 7b). Furthermore, the respective contacts between the sets of projections 21, 22 are offset radially on the translation travel of the metering plate 12 and axially on the pre-opening stroke of the cover 4. The translation of the metering plate 12 to its position of distribution then allows the clearance of the contact projections 21 before and the engagement of the contact of the rear projections 22, and the axial offset of the pin 9 on the pre-opening stroke, due to the force exerted by the elastic stressing means 18. Then, this axial offset prevents the engagement of the rear projections 22 during the return of the plate 12 in the metering position so as to release the opening of the cover 4 by means of the resilient biasing means 18 (Figure 7c) .

When closing the cover 4, the pin 19 is engaged in the housing 20 (Figure 7d) with engagement of the projections 21 before to lock the cover 4 in the closed position of the housing 1 (Figure 7e). With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the embodiment of a dispensing device in one piece, which can in particular be made by molding a plastic material, for example polypropylene, said part that can be Standardized for a range of housing 1. The part comprises the metering plate 12, the screen 1 and the grid 10 which are connected by means of two flexible hinges 23, 24, in particular made by at least one strip of deformable material. In the embodiment shown, the piece also incorporates the pin 19, the pusher 15 and the elastic return means 16 of the metering plate 12 in the metering position. To do this, the hinge 23 connecting the metering plate 12 to the screen 11 or to the grid 10 may have an elasticity to form this elastic return means 16. In the embodiment shown, the part successively has the grid 10, a hinge 24, the sieve 11, an elastic hinge 23, 16 and the metering plate 12 whose free edge carries the pusher 15 and the peg 19.

As shown in Figure 10, the hinges 23, 24 are arranged to allow the assembly of the dispensing device by superposition of the screen 11 and the grid 10 with the interposition of the metering plate 12. In addition, the inner face of the sieve 11 has assembly pads 25 to maintain the dispensing device in the assembled position, in particular with a view to its subsequent assembly in a housing 1.

More precisely, the metering plate 12 is placed under the screen 1 by rotation around the elastic hinge 23 (FIG. 10b), said screen having a notch 26 at an opening 27 in the other hinge 24 so as to be able to arrange the pawn 19 through said sieve. Then, the grid 10 is disposed under the metering plate 12 by rotation around the hinge 24, firstly placing the pusher 15 in the opening 27 (Figure 10c) and then folding said gate (Figure 10d).

Claims

A powder application system comprising a housing (1) having a bottom (3) and a cover (4), said system further comprising a dispensing device which is mounted in the housing (1) delimiting, with said bottom, a reservoir (6) for packaging the powdery product and, with said lid, a compartment (7) for receiving an applicator (8) of said product, said system being characterized in that the distribution device comprises an upstream grid (10) and a downstream sieve (11) each provided with a network - respectively upstream (10a) and downstream (11a) - through orifices which respectively open into the reservoir (6) and in the compartment (7), said screen and said grid being fixed to the housing (1) axially superimposed with their axially offset networks (10a, 11a) so as to prevent a direct flow of product from the reservoir (6) into the compartment (7) through the orifices desd its networks, said dispensing device further comprising a metering plate (12) which is provided with a metering network (12a) formed by through holes, said plate being mounted reversibly movable between the screen (11) and the grate (10) from a dosing position in which the dosing network (12a) is arranged to be fed with a dose of product from the reservoir (6) through the orifices of the upstream network (10a) to a dispensing position wherein the dosing network (12a) is arranged to dispense the dose of product into the compartment (7) through the orifices of the downstream network (11a).

2. Application system according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifices of the dosing network (12a) are in axial communication with the orifices of the upstream network (10a) in metering position and with the orifices of the downstream network (11a). ) in dispensing position.

3. Application system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metering plate (12) is in sliding contact on both sides on the inner face of the grid (10) and on the inner face of the screen. (11).

4. Application system according to claim 3, characterized in that the respectively downstream and upstream openings of the metering network orifices (12a) are plugged by the inner face of the sieve (11) in metering position and by the inner face of the grid (10) in dispensing position.

5. Application system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the inner face of the screen (11) and / or the inner face of the grid (10) has a convexity (13) which is arranged to constrain the contact between said inner faces and the metering plate (12).

6. Application system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dispensing device further comprises an elastic return means (16) of the metering plate (12) in the metering position.

7. Application system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dispensing device further comprises a pusher (15) for manually actuating the displacement of the metering plate (12), said pusher being disposed outside the housing (1).

8. Application system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a device (17) for locking in position of the cover (4), said device comprising means for locking said cover in the closed position of the housing (1), said means being arranged to be deactivated by translation of the metering plate (12) to its dispensing position.

9. Application system according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking device (17) further comprises means for locking the lid (4) in a pre-opening position, said means being activated by translation of the plate metering device (12) to its dispensing position and deactivated by returning the metering plate (12) to the metering position.

10. Application system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the locking device (17) comprises a member (20) integral with the metering plate (12) and a member (19) integral with the lid (4). , said members comprising projections (21, 22) cooperating with one another to lock the lid (4) in position.

11. Application system according to claim 9 and 10, characterized in that the locking device (17) comprises a first set of projections (21) ensuring the locking in the closed position and a second set of projections (22) ensuring the locking in the pre-open position, the respective contacts between said sets being offset radially on the translation travel of the metering plate (12) and axially on the pre-opening stroke of the cover (4).

12. Application system according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises an elastic stress means (18) of the cover (4) in the open position.

13. Application system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the bottom (3) is removably mounted on the housing (1).

14. Application system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the grid (10) has reinforcing ribs (14).

15. Application system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the dispensing device is formed in one piece in which the metering plate (12), the sieve (11) and the grid ( 10) are connected by means of two flexible hinges (23, 24) which are arranged to allow the assembly of said device by superposition of said screen and said grid with interposition of said metering plate.

16. Application system according to claims 6 and 15, characterized in that the hinge (23) connecting the metering plate (12) to the sieve (11) or grid (10) has an elasticity to form the elastic return means (16) of the metering plate (12) in the metering position.