WO2016001231A1

WO2016001231A1 - Packaging and application device

Info

Publication number: WO2016001231A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/064858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide Manici; Eric Caulier; Marc Ramet
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 2014-06-30
Filing date: 2015-06-30
Publication date: 2016-01-07
Also published as: FR3022752B1; FR3022752A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging and application device (10), having: - a container (20), - a reserve of product contained in the container, in particular a cosmetic product, - an applicator (30) configured to be fixed removably to the container, having an applicator member that is able to come into contact with the reserve of product when the applicator is fixed to the container, at least one of the reserve of product and the applicator member, preferably the applicator member, being mounted so as to rotate freely relative to the container and to be rotatable while the applicator is inserted in the container, such that the user can load the applicator member with product by way of a relative rotation of the applicator member in contact with the reserve of product.

Description

PACKAGING AND APPLICATION DEVICE

The present invention relates to packaging and application devices, and in particular to those that have a container containing a product and an applicator member for withdrawing the product and applying it.

WO 99/48403 discloses an applicator member consisting of a free block of foam having a triangular overall shape when viewed face-on.

A packaging and application device having a pot containing an axially movable dish that is urged upwards by a spring is known. A lid holding an applicator that comes into contact with the product contained in the dish is screwed onto the pot. When the lid is screwed or unscrewed, the applicator turns in contact with the product through a particular number of turns. In this way, it is not possible for the user to easily control the quantity of product with which the applicator is loaded.

There is a need to further improve packaging and application devices so as to make it easier to load the applicator member with the desired quantity of product, while benefiting from an applicator that is comfortable to use and allows precise application.

The invention aims to meet this need and achieves this by virtue of a packaging and application device, having:

- a container,

- a reserve of product, in particular a block of product that is able to break down, contained in the container,

- an applicator configured to be fixed removably to the container, having an applicator member that is able to come into contact with the reserve of product when the applicator is fixed to the container,

- at least one of the reserve of product and the applicator member, preferably the applicator member, being mounted so as to rotate freely relative to the container and to be rotatable while the applicator is inserted in the container, in particular fixed thereto, such that the user can load the applicator member with product by way of a relative rotation of the applicator member in contact with the reserve of product.

Since the rotation is free, the user can precisely control the loading of the applicator member with product; in order to load the applicator member to a greater or lesser extent, all that is necessary is to turn the latter more or less relative to the reserve of product. The user can thus turn the applicator member as many times as desired relative to the reserve of product, in the same direction or in both directions. The rotation of the applicator member relative to the reserve of product is not accompanied by screwing or unscrewing of the applicator relative to the container, as in the prior art.

The applicator preferably has a ring configured to be fixed removably to the container and a driving system mounted in a rotary manner on the ring, in order to rotate the applicator member. Thus, the applicator member can be loaded with product while the ring is fixed to the container.

The driving system preferably has a holder part to which the applicator member is fixed, and a grip fixed to the holder part. It is advantageous for the fixing of the grip to the holder part, preferably by snap- fastening, to keep the driving system on the ring. This makes it possible to limit the number of component parts of the applicator.

The ring and the contamer are preferably joined together by bayonet-type locking. At least one friction point can be overcome during the locking of the applicator to the container, this being able to inform the user that the container has been closed properly. The overcoming of this friction point is accompanied for example by snap-fastening of at least one relief on the ring to a relief on the container, the relief on the container being formed for example by a bulge of material moulded together with a neck of the container.

The reserve of product is preferably subjected to a force by an elastic return member bearing against the applicator member when the applicator is fixed to the container.

The elastic return member may have a coil spring, in particular having a suitable stiffness for exerting a force of between 1 N and 40 N on the applicator member, when the container is closed and the product intact.

The reserve of product P may be a mass of product, in particular in the form of a block of product, preferably held in a dish, and is provided in particular in the form of a compacted powder.

The reserve of product is not necessarily in the form of a block of product; it may be a sponge impregnated with fluid product or a pasty or pulverulent product applied by way of a flexible or rigid mesh made of a woven material or the like.

The device may have a product-holding cup, which is movable in the container, in particular movable axially therein without being able to rotate, preferably movable axially between a bottom position and a top position, the latter being defined preferably by abutment against a neck attached to the body of the container, the product-holding cup preferably holding the abovementioned dish. The latter is preferably adhesively bonded to the product-holding cup.

The elastic return member may bear against the product-holding cup, in particular against a face thereof away from the reserve of product P.

The reserve of product P, in particular the block of product, has for example a circular contour when viewed face-on. The applicator member may be defined by a cellular material, in particular a foam.

The applicator member preferably has a non-circular contour, in particular in the form of a droplet, when viewed face-on.

In particular, when viewed face-on, the applicator member may have a contour with a non-constant radius of curvature around the axis of rotation, preferably having first and second arcs connected by a rounding with a smaller radius of curvature than the arcs, said arcs preferably having the same radius of curvature, Rarc Rroimding being preferably greater than or equal to 5, better still greater than or equal to Ϊ0.

Preferably, the applicator member does not have central symmetry when viewed face-on, having in particular a generally triangular or droplet shape, and may exhibit symmetry with respect to a median plane S, preferably having first, second and third arcs that are connected together by roundings, the roundings preferably all having the same radius of curvature, the arcs having a radius of curvature greater than that of the roundings, the first and second arcs preferably having the same radius of curvature, the third arc having a radius of curvature smaller than that of the first and second arcs.

A further subject of the invention is a method for loading the applicator member with product, wherein the applicator member is rotated while the device is closed, over a greater or lesser angular travel depending on the quantity of product with which the applicator member is intended to be loaded, this rotation being effected freely, that is to say without accompanying an opening unscrewing movement of the device. The rotation is carried out for example by way of an alternate movement through around a ¼ of a turn.

The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a packaging and application device in the closed position,

- Figure 2 is an axial section through the device from Figure 1,

- Figure 3 shows the applicator on its own, after being separated from the container,

- Figure 4 is a face-on view along IV in Figure 3,

- Figure 5 shows a side view of the applicator member on its own, before being mounted on the rest of the applicator,

- Figure 6 is a face-on view of the applicator member along VI in Figure 5, - Figure 7 is a rear view along VII in. Figure 5,

- Figure 8 shows the applicator in partial axial section, without the applicator member,

- Figure 9 shows the holder part of the applicator on its own,

- Figure 10 is an axial section through the holder part,

- Figure 11 shows the grip of the applicator on its own, in axial section,

- Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the ring of the applicator on its own,

- Figures 13 and 14 show embodiment details of the ring, Figure 14 being a view along XIV in Figure 13,

- Figure 15 shows a bottom view of the ring,

- Figure 16 shows the container on its own, in section, without the block of product, and with the product-holding cup in the bottom position,

- Figure 17 shows the body of the container on its own,

- Figure 18 is an axial section through the body of the container,

- Figure 19 shows the neck of the container on its own, before being mounted on the body of the container,

- Figure 20 is a side view of the neck from Figure 19,

- Figure 21 is a top view of the neck,

- Figure 22 shows a detail of the fitting of the applicator on the container,

- Figure 23 shows the product-holding cup on its own,

- Figures 24A to 24C illustrate the use of the device during the loading of the applicator member with product,

- Figures 25A to 28A show perspective views of further variants, and - Figures 25B to 28B are corresponding elevation views of the variants from Figures 25 A to 28A.

The packaging and application device 10 according to the invention, shown in the figures, has a container 20 and an applicator 30 which may be separated, from the container 20 during use.

As can be seen more particularly in Figure 3, the applicator 30 has an applicator member 40 which can turn about an axis of rotation X relative to a ring 50 which serves to fix the applicator 30 to the container 20.

The container 20 houses a reserve of product P in the form of a block of product P which can come into contact with the end face 41 of the applicator member 40 when the applicator 30 is in place on the container 20, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The product P is preferably a cosmetic product, advantageously a compacted powder in the form of a block, in a dish 130.

The product P is preferably a product for making up the skin, in particular a foundation to be applied to the face.

The product P may include mineral pigments, in particular iron oxides, among other constituents.

In the example in question, the product P is able to break down in contact with the face 41 of the applicator member 40 when the latter is rotated in contact with the product P.

The applicator member 40 may be realized in various shapes, but preferably, as illustrated, the applicator member 40 has a non-circular contour when viewed face-on. as in Figure 4, A non-circular contour is advantageous in that it makes it possible to create at least one extended corner that facilitates a precise makeup result.

The applicator member 40 may be as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 and include a block of a cellular material, for example a foam, the maximum thickness e of which is for example between 10 and 20 mm.

The contour of the applicator member 40 may have a trilobal overall shape with for example, as illustrated, a first arc 41 and a second arc 42 which are connected by a rounding 44, and a third arc 43 which is connected to the arcs 41 and 42 by respective roundings 45 and 46. The arc 41 has for example a radius of curvature Rl of between 40 and 80 mm and the second arc 42 preferably has a radius of curvature R2 equal to Rl . The third arc 43 may have a radius of cun'ature R3 smaller than the radii of curvature Rl and R2, for example between 15 and 25 mm. The radii of curvature R4. R5 and R6 of the roundings 44, 45 and 46 may be equal and for example between 2 and 8 mm, being for example equal to 5 mm.

The applicator member 40 may have a symmetric shape with respect to a plane of symmetry S which is a median plane.

On its rear face, the applicator member 40 may have, as illustrated, a central cavity 47, of circular contour, which receives an adhesive for fixing the applicator member.

The applicator 30 has a system for driving the applicator member 40 in rotation about the axis X, thereby making possible to turn it relative to the ring 50. This driving system has a holder part 70 to which the applicator member 40 is fixed and a grip 80 which is joined to the holder part 70 and which makes it possible, with the holder part: 70, to retain the ring 50 on the applicator.

Figure 9 shows the holder part 70 on its own. As can be seen, it can have, as illustrated, a plate 71 for fixing the applicator member 40 to the holder part 70, it being possible for the contour 72 of said plate 7 to have an overall shape similar to that of the applicator member, in particular approximately triangular with rounded points.

The holder part 70 has fixing tabs 73 for fixing to the grip 80, for example three thereof, as illustrated, evenly distributed angulaiiy about the axis X. Each of the fixing tabs 73 may have, as can be seen more particularly in Figure 10, a tooth 74 suitable for snap-fastening to an internal indentation 81 in the grip 80.

The grip 80 may be made with housings 89 for accommodating the teeth 74, thereby requiring angularly aligned mounting of the grip 80 with respect to the holder part 70.

As can be seen in Figure 1, in top view, the grip 80 may have a non- axisymmetric shape, which may be similar to that of the applicator member 40, in particular a triangular overall shape.

The body 85 of the grip 80 may have, at its base, an indentation 86 which serves as an upward axial abutment for the ring 50, as can be seen more particularly in Figure 2. The holder part 70 may have a body 76 which is in the form of a cylinder of revolution, to which the plate 71 is connected by way of a tubular upright 78. An annular collar 79 projects radially outwards from the body 76, as can be seen in particular in Figures 9 and 10, and defines a channel 99 with the indentation 86.

The bottom of the container may bear a centring skirt 25 which defines, with the side wall of the container, a channel 26 which accommodates the lower end of a spring 100, preferably, as illustrated, a coil spring. The latter presses at its upper end against the product-holding cup 90, as can be seen in particular in Figure 2, said product-holding cup 90 preferably having, as illustrated, a downwardly open annular channel 94 in which the upper end of the spring 100 is inserted.

The neck 22 of the container has a collar 110 directed radially outwards, which may bear against the upper end 1 1 1 of the body of the container, and a mounting skirt 1 15 provided with an annular bulge 116 which can be snap-fastened into an annular channel 1 18 in the body 21, as illustrated in Figures 20 and 22.

The neck 22 has an upright 120 for fixing the ring 50. This upright 120, having a cylindrical overall shape, has reliefs 125 under which corresponding reliefs 53 of the ring 50 engage. These reliefs 53 have an overall L shape, as illustrated in Figure 13, with a top part 54 parallel to the axis of the ring and a bottom part 56 which engages under the reliefs 125 on the neck, in the manner of bayonet fixing. The reliefs 125 on the neck are for example distributed evenly around the axis of the neck, close to its upper edge, there being four of said, reliefs 125. The container remains closed during the rotation of the applicator member.

The product-holding cup 90 has at least one rib 91, preferably two diametrically opposite ribs 91, which slide in corresponding grooves 23 in the body of the container, said grooves 23 being parallel to the axis thereof.

Thus, the product-holding cup 90 can slide vertically in the body of the container, under the action of the spring 100.

The product-holding cup 90 comes into axial abutment against the lower edge of the mounting skirt 1 15 of the neck 22 in the body of the container when the applicator 30 has been separated from the container. The spring 100 pushes upwards on the product-holding cup 90 in order to bring the upper surface 30 of the block of product P into contact with the lower face 41 of the applicator member 40, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The inside diameter of the dish 130 is greater than the diameter of the circle circumscribed around the applicator member 40 such that, as can be seen in Figure 4 in particular, the applicator member 40 can sink into the dish 130 as the block of product P erodes. The presence of the spring 100 makes it possible to maintain contact between the block of product and the applicator member 40, regardless of the degree to which the block of product P has worn away.

In order to use the device 10, the user turns the grip 80 relative to the container

20, as illustrated in Figures 24A and 24B. The user effects alternate rotational movements to a greater or lesser extent in one direction and in the other with the grip 80, depending on whether he wishes to load the applicator member with product to a greater or lesser extent. For example, in order to load a large quantity of product, the user moves the grip 80 back and forth four times in succession through a quarter of a turn. Once the applicator member 40 is loaded, the user can separate the applicator 30 from the container by rotating the ring 50 relative to the container in order to unlock it.

The possibility of loading the applicator member with product while the container is closed makes it possible to avoid any risk of particles of product escaping during this operation, thereby making the device very clean to use.

In addition, the applicator member can only be rotated when the user wishes to rotate it; the user can withdraw the applicator member without seeking to turn it relative to the reserve of product.

Preferably, the circle swept by the applicator member during its rotation has a diameter D_apPi very close to the inside diameter of the dish Ddish, thereby allowing the block of product to be worn away uniformly. For example, j Ddish - D_appi j< 3 mm, better still < 2 mm. The height of the dish and of the product-holding cup is such that the applicator member can reach the bottom of the dish before the product-holding cup 90 comes into abutment against the neck of the container on rising therein.

The invention is not limited to the example which has just been described. In particular, numerous modifications can be made to the applicator member, and the latter can have a contour with a different shape, for example a polygonal or semicircular shape.

A kinematic reversal may be made, with a means for rotating the reserve of product relative to the applicator being provided on the container.

The shape of the grip 80 may he modified as illustrated in Figures 25A to 28B.

The example in Figures 25 A and 25B differs little from the one in Figure 1, the grip 80 being less tall.

In the example in Figures 26A and 26B, the grip 80 has an overall shape in the form of a cylinder of revolution.

In the example in Figures 27A and 27B, the grip 80 has on its upper face an annular channel 210 which delimits a central gripping part 211. The top 212 of the latter cannot project beyond the ring 50 or can only project beyond the latter a little, as illustrated.

In the example in Figures 28A and 28B, the grip 80 has on its upper face an indentation 215 diametrically crossed by a gripping part 216. The grip 80 cannot project beyond the top of the ring 50, as illustrated.

The expression "having a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one^'\ unless specified to the contrary.

Claims

1. Packaging and application device (10), having:

- a container (20),

- a reserve of product (P) contained in the container, in particular a cosmetic product,

- an applicator (30) configured to be fixed removably to the container, having an applicator member (40) that is able to come into contact with the reserve of product when the applicator is fixed to the container,

- at least one of the reserve of product and the applicator member, preferably the applicator member, being mounted so as to rotate freely relative to the container and to be rotatable while the applicator is inserted in the container, such that the user can load the applicator member (40) with product (P) by way of a relative rotation of the applicator member (40) in contact with the reserve of product, the applicator having a ring (50) configured to be fixed removably to the container (20) and a driving system (70, 80) mounted in a rotary manner on the ring (50), in order to rotate the applicator member (40).

2. Device according to Claim 1 , wherein the driving system has a holder part (70) to which the applicator member is fixed, and a grip (80) fixed to the holder part, the fixing of the grip to the holder part, preferably by snap-fastening, keeping the driving system on the ring (50), the grip (80) preferably having a non-axisymmetric shape.

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the ring (50) and the container (20) are joined together by bayonet-type locking.

4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the reserve of product is subjected to a force by an elastic return member (100) bearing against the applicator member (40) when the applicator is fixed to the container.

5. Device according to Claim 4, wherein the elastic return member (100) has a coil spring, in particular having a suitable stiffness for exerting a force of between 1 N and 40 N on the applicator member (40), when the container is closed and the product intact.

6. Device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the reserve of product (P) is held in a dish (130), the product being in particular in the form of a compacted powder.

7. Device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, having a product-holding cup (90), which is movable in the container, in particular movable axially therein without being able to rotate, preferably movable axially between a bottom position and a top position, the latter being defined preferably by abutment against a neck (22) attached to the body (21) of the container, the product-holding cup preferably holding the dish (130) defined in Claim 6, this dish preferably being adhesively bonded to the product-holding cup.

8. Device according to Claim 7, wherein the elastic return member (100) bears against the product-holding cup (90), in particular against a face thereof away from the reserve of product (P).

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reserve of product (P) has a circular contour when viewed face-on.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator member (40) is defined by a cellular material.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator member (40) has a non-circular contour, in particular in the form of a droplet, when viewed face-on.

12. Device according to Claim 11 , wherein, when viewed face-on, the applicator member (40) has a contour with a non-constant radius of curvature around the axis of rotation, preferably having first (41 ) and second (42) arcs connected by a rounding (44) with a smaller radius of curvature than the arcs, said arcs preferably having the same radius of curvature, Rarc/Rroundmg being preferably greater than or equal to 5, better still greater than or equal to 10.

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator member (40) does not have central symmetry whe viewed face-on, having in particular a generally triangular or droplet shape, and exhibits symmetry with respect to a median plane (S), preferably having first, second and third arcs (41, 42, 43) that are connected together by roundings (44, 45, 46), the roundings preferably all having the same radius of curvature, the arcs having a radius of curvature greater than that of the roundings, the first and second arcs preferably having the same radius of curvature, the third arc having a radius of curvature smaller than that of the first and second arcs.

14. Method for loading the applicator member of a device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 13 with product wherein the applicator member (40) is rotated while the device is closed, over a greater or lesser angular travel depending on the quantity of product with which the applicator member is intended to be loaded.

15. Method according to Claim 14, wherein the rotation is carried out by way of an alternate movement through around a ¼ of a rum.