WO2017017228A1

WO2017017228A1 - Packaging assembly for a cosmetic product

Info

Publication number: WO2017017228A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/068087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guillaume DUVERGER
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 2015-07-29
Filing date: 2016-07-28
Publication date: 2017-02-02
Also published as: FR3039378B1; FR3039378A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging assembly (10) for a cosmetic product (14), comprising an absorbent substrate (16) able to be impregnated with said cosmetic product, said assembly being characterized in that the absorbent substrate comprises a first zone (36) not impregnated with cosmetic product and a second zone (38) impregnated with cosmetic product (14), said first and second zones being in contact with one another.

Description

Packaging assembly for a cosmetic product

This invention relates to a packaging assembly for a cosmetic product, of the type comprising an absorbent substrate able to be impregnated with said cosmetic product.

The term "cosmetic product", according to this invention, denotes a cosmetic product intended for application onto a human. A "cosmetic product" is more generally a product as defined in EC Regulation N° 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council of November 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

The invention relates in particular to cosmetic products in the form of a viscous fluid, such as creams.

It is known to present certain cosmetic products in a packaging assembly that comprises an absorbent substrate impregnated with product, as described in document US2014/0170253. Such an absorbent substrate prevents any untimely flow of the cosmetic product, with the latter being released by putting the applicator in contact with the substrate.

However, cosmetic products of a foundation cream type contain colored pigments.

During the first use, the surface of the absorbent substrate is therefore able to have an irregularly colored appearance, which is not very attractive for the user.

The purpose of this invention is to improve the presentation of such a packaging assembly before use.

To this effect, the invention has for object a packaging assembly of the aforementioned type, wherein the absorbent substrate comprises a first zone not impregnated with cosmetic product and a second zone impregnated with cosmetic product, said first and second zones being in contact with one another.

According to further advantageous aspects of the invention, the packaging assembly comprises one or several of the following features taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

- the substrate comprises a first and second external surfaces opposite one another, said first and second surfaces being adjacent respectively to the first non- impregnated zone and to the second impregnated zone;

- the first non-impregnated zone extends over a thickness between 0.1 % and

99.9% of a total thickness of the absorbent substrate, said thickness being preferentially between 15% and 35%, more preferentially between 15% and 20%;

- The packaging assembly further comprises a receptacle receiving the absorbent substrate; - the first surface, adjacent to the first non-impregnated zone, is directed towards an opening of the receptacle;

- the packaging assembly further comprises a layer of cosmetic product arranged between the substrate and the bottom of the receptacle;

- the packaging assembly further comprises a device for maintaining the substrate in the receptacle, said device for maintaining being fixed to said receptacle and being in contact with the first zone not impregnated with cosmetic product;

- the cosmetic product is a makeup or care composition.

The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a packaging assembly such as described hereinabove, including the following steps: arranging of the receptacle; then depositing in the receptacle of a dose of cosmetic product; then depositing of the absorbent substrate on the surface of the cosmetic product; then applying of a pad for pressing on the first surface of the absorbent substrate; then displacing the pad towards the bottom of the receptacle, by a distance chosen in such a way as to partially impregnate the absorbent substrate of cosmetic product.

According to further advantageous aspects of the invention, the method comprises one or several of the following features taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

- the distance for displacing the pad towards the bottom of the receptacle is between 0.1 % and 99.9%, preferably 80% to 85%, of a total thickness of the absorbent substrate;

- the displacing of the pad comprises an acceleration followed by a deceleration;

- the method comprises a step of assembling the device for maintaining the absorbent substrate to the receptacle.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for implementing a method for manufacturing such as described hereinabove, comprising: a substrate for the receptacle of the packaging assembly; a pad able to come into contact with the first surface of the absorbent substrate; and means for the relative displacement of the pad with respect to the substrate, said means comprising a servomotor.

Preferentially, the apparatus further comprises a mechanical device for the relative displacement of the device for maintaining towards the bottom of the receptacle, in such a way as to elastically nest said device for maintaining on an edge of the upper opening, said mechanical device comprising a servomotor.

The invention further relates to a method for using a packaging assembly such as described hereinabove, comprising a first step of compressing the absorbent substrate, followed by a second step of releasing, in such a way that a portion of the impregnated cosmetic product in the second zone is diffused by contact in the first zone.

The invention will be easier to understand in view of the following description, provided solely as a non-restricted example and with reference to the drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 is a cross-section diagrammatical view of a packaging assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; and

- figures 2 to 5 are diagrammatical views of various steps of a method for manufacturing the packaging assembly of figure 1 by an apparatus for manufacturing according to an embodiment of the invention, with the packaging assembly being shown as a section.

The packaging assembly 10 visible in figure 1 is shown before the first use. The packaging assembly 10 comprises: a receptacle 12 containing a cosmetic product 14; an absorbent substrate 16 received in the receptacle 12; a device 18 for maintaining the absorbent substrate in the receptacle; and a lid 20 closing the receptacle.

Preferentially, the packaging assembly 10 further comprises a box (not shown) into which the receptacle 12 is inserted, for example in a removable manner. The receptacle 12 then has a recharging function and can be replaced in the box with an identical receptacle.

Preferentially, the packaging assembly further comprises an applicator (not shown) of a cosmetic product, such as a sponge.

The receptacle 12 is arranged according to a main axis 22, intended to be substantially vertical during the use of the assembly 10. The receptacle 12 comprises a bottom 24 substantially perpendicular to the axis 22.

The receptacle 12 also comprises a lateral wall 25. The lateral wall 25 and the bottom 24 define an internal cavity 26 of the receptacle 12.

Preferentially, the lateral wall 25 has a cylindrical shape extending according to the axis 22. In the example of figures 1 to 5, the lateral wall 25 has a cylindrical revolution shape and the bottom 24 has a circular contour. Other forms are however possible in the scope of the invention.

An upper edge 27 of the lateral wall 25 defines an upper opening 28 of the internal cavity 26.

The lid 20 is able to be assembled to the receptacle 12 in such a way as to close the upper opening 28. Preferably, the lid 20 is articulated to the receptacle 12 by means of a hinge (not shown) and/or provides with means for locking (not shown) in closed position. The cosmetic product 14, received in the cavity 26 of the receptacle 12, is in the form of a viscous fluid such as a cream, preferentially a foundation type. The cosmetic product 14 comprises for example colored pigments.

The absorbent substrate 16 has a cylindrical shape substantially complimentary with an internal surface of the lateral wall 25. The absorbent substrate 16 has moreover two opposite faces 30, 32, arranged substantially perpendicularly to the axis 22. A first face 30 is directed outwards from the cavity 26 and a second face 32 is oriented towards the bottom 24.

The absorbent substrate 16 is preferentially formed from an open-cell sponge, or from woven or non-woven fibers. In particular, the substrate 16 is preferentially formed from a non-woven material.

The term "non-woven" according to the present invention refers to a substrate comprising fibers wherein the individual fibers or threads are arranged in a disorganized manner in a web type structure, and which are not woven or knitted. The fibers of the non- woven body are generally linked to one another, under the effect of a mechanical action

(for example, by needle-punching, air jet, water jet, etc.), or under the effect of a thermal action, or by adding a binder.

Such a non-woven material is for example defined by the ISO 9092 standard as a sheet, web or batt of directionally or randomly orientated fibers, bonded by friction, and/or cohesion and/or adhesion, excluding paper and products which are woven, knitted, tufted, stitch-bonded incorporating binding yarns or filaments.

A non-woven material differs from paper by the length of the fibers used. In paper, the fibers are shorter. However, some cellulose fiber-based non-woven materials exist which are manufactured by means of a wet process and have short fibers similar to paper. The difference between a non-woven material and paper is generally the lack of hydrogen bonds between the fibers in a non-woven material.

According to a preferred embodiment, the material of the absorbent substrate 16 is chosen from the following materials: acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene- butadiene rubber (SBR), natural rubber (NR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), latex, silicone, material of the film type, styrene-isoprene- styrene (SIS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), silicone elastomer, nitrile, butyl, polyether, polyurethane, polyester, neoprene, and mixtures thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first face 30 is formed from a flexible grid 34, shown as a dotted line in figure 1 . The flexible grid 34 is for example constituted by a woven fabric. The flexible grid 34 is fixed or superimposed with the rest of the absorbent substrate 16 formed from a non-woven material, a foam or a sponge.

The absorbent substrate 16 is received in the cavity 26 of the receptacle 12 and partially impregnated with cosmetic product 14. More precisely, the absorbent substrate 16 comprises two zones 36, 38 in contact with one another, superimposed along the axis 22. The term "in contact with one another" refers preferably to that the material that forms the substrate 16 is continuous between the two zones 36 and 38.

A first zone 36 or external zone, adjacent to the first face 30, is devoid of cosmetic product 14. A second zone 38, adjacent to the first zone 36 and to the second face 32, contains cosmetic product 14.

A limit 40 between the two zones 36, 38 corresponds to a minimum distance 42 along the axis 22 between the first face 30 and the impregnated cosmetic product 14 in the absorbent substrate 16. The minimum distance 42 is not zero.

Preferentially, the minimum distance 42 is between 0.1 % and 99.9%, more preferentially between 15% and 35%, even more preferentially between 15% and 20%, of a total thickness 44 of the absorbent substrate 16 along the axis 22.

The physical properties of the cosmetic product 14 and of the material forming the absorbent substrate 16 are chosen in such a way that, when the porosities of the absorbent substrate 16 are filled with air, the phenomenon of diffusion of the cosmetic product 14 in the substrate 16 via capillarity is negligible.

As such, before the first use of the cosmetic product 14, said product is entirely confined in a thickness of the substrate 16, with the latter having an outside surface 30 that is not impregnated. The hygiene and the aesthetics of the new product are improved.

Preferentially, before the first use of the cosmetic product 14, the packaging assembly 10 further comprises a layer 46 of cosmetic product 14 arranged under the substrate 16, i.e. between the bottom 24 of the receptacle 12 and the second face 32 of said substrate 16. The layer 46 has for example, along the axis 22, a thickness 48 between 10% and 25%, more preferentially between 18% and 22%, of the total thickness 44 of the absorbent substrate 16.

Preferentially, the thickness 44, the quantity of the cosmetic product 14 and the porosity of the material of the substrate 16 are chosen in such a way that said substrate is entirely impregnated with cosmetic product 14 when its second face 32 is in contact with the bottom 24 of the receptacle.

The device 18 for maintaining the substrate 16 in the receptacle 12 comprises a ring 52 in contact with a periphery of the first face 30 of the support 16. The device 18 for maintaining is fixed to the receptacle 12. In the example of figure 1 , said device for maintaining comprises a groove 54 elastically nested on the upper edge 27 of the lateral wall 25 of the receptacle 12. The groove 54 is preferably integral with the ring 52.

Preferably, the device for maintaining 18 is sized in such a way that the ring 52 slightly compresses the periphery of the first face 30 of the substrate 16.

The packaging assembly 10 described hereinabove is intended to be produced industrially, with high production rates. Figures 2 to 5 show diagrammatical views of various stations of an apparatus 60 for manufacturing the assembly 10. The apparatus 60 is of the mounting station type.

The apparatus 60 comprises in particular a mobile substrate 62, a filling station 64, a depositing station 66, a pressure station 68 and a snap-fitting station 70. The apparatus 60 also comprises an electronic control device (not shown) able to control the operation of the various stations 64, 66, 68, 70.

The mobile substrate 62 is able to displace a receptacle 12 between the various stations of said apparatus 60. The mobile substrate 62 comprises for example a cavity 72 able to receive a receptacle 12. The mobile substrate 62 is furthermore connected to means for setting in movement, such as a conveyor belt (not shown). The operation of the conveyor belt is managed by the electronic control device 60. The various stations 64, 66, 68, 70 of the apparatus 60 are for example aligned one following the other along said conveyor belt.

The filling station 64 is able to deliver a dose of cosmetic product 14 in the cavity

26 of the receptacle 12, for example by means of a filling nozzle 74.

The depositing station 66 is able to deposit an absorbent substrate 16 on the surface of the cosmetic product 14 filling the cavity 26. The depositing station comprises for example an articulated arm (not shown), said arm supporting a suction nozzle 76 connected to a pump (not shown). The articulated arm is preferably set into movement by a servomotor (not shown).

The pressure station 68 is able to displace downwards the absorbent substrate 16 with respect to the receptacle 12, in order to drive said substrate into the cavity 26. The pressure station 68 comprises in particular a pad for pressing 78, with said pad for pressing comprising a bearing surface 80. Preferably, the bearing surface 80 has the shape of a disk. More preferentially, a diameter of the bearing surface 80 is between 90% and 95% of a diameter of the first face 30 of the absorbent substrate 16.

The pad for pressing 78 comprises means for setting into movement according to the vertical, with said means comprising a servomotor (not shown).

The snap-fitting station 70 is able to fix the device for maintaining 18 to the receptacle 12 by elastic nesting. The snap-fitting station 70 comprises for example an articulated arm (not shown) able to deposit a device for maintaining 18 on the upper edge 27 of the receptacle 12. The snap-fitting station 70 further comprises a pad 82 able to displace downwards the device for maintaining 18 with respect to the receptacle, in order to snap-fit the groove 54 on the edge 27.

The method of mounting the packaging assembly 10 shall now be described. This method is implemented by the apparatus 60, in particular by means of a manufacturing program executed by the electronic control device.

In a first step of the method, an empty receptacle 12, possibly assembled to a lid 20 in open position, is deposited in the cavity 72 of the substrate 62. The axis 22 is then arranged vertically and the opening 28 directed upwards.

In a second step of the method, the substrate 62 is displaced to the filling station 64 and a dose of cosmetic product 14 is poured into the cavity 26 by the nozzle 74, as can be seen in figure 2.

In a third step of the method, the substrate 62 is displaced to the depositing station 66; the articulated arm of said depositing station takes an absorbent substrate 16 via suction by means of the nozzle 76. The articulated arm then positions the absorbent substrate 16 on the opening 28 of the receptacle 12, then the aspiration of the nozzle 76 is cut. The absorbent substrate 16 is as such deposited on the surface of the cosmetic product 14, as can be seen in figure 3.

In a fourth step of the method, the substrate 62 is displaced to the pressure station

68. The pad for pressing 78 is then displaced in such a way as to put the bearing surface 80 in contact with the first face 30 of the absorbent substrate 16, said absorbent substrate 16 being placed on the surface of the cosmetic product 14. At this stage, it is considered that the pad for pressing 78 is at an initial position P₀ with respect to the receptacle 12.

In a fifth step of the method, the pad for pressing 78 is displaced vertically towards the bottom 24 of the receptacle, from the initial position P₀. The bearing surface 80 exerts a pressure on the substrate 16, which is partially impregnated with cosmetic product 14 while being displaced downwards. The pad is displaced to a final position P_{1 ;} shown in figure 4.

The displacement of the pad for pressing 78 and its stopping at the position are managed by the electronic control device of the apparatus 60. A distance 84 between the positions P₀ and P_{1 ;} according to the vertical, is configured in the manufacturing program, in such a way as to impregnate with cosmetic product 14 the second zone 38 of the absorbent substrate 16, to the minimum distance 42 with the first face 30.

In particular, the displacement of the pad 78 by means of a servomotor makes it possible to precisely control the distance 84 of displacement and to maintain the cosmetic product 14 outside of the first zone 36 of the absorbent support 1 6. Devices for displacing of prior art, of the hydraulic or pneumatic press type, do not allow for such precision.

Preferably, the displacement of the pad 78 between the positions P₀ and Pi comprises a first phase of acceleration followed by a second phase of deceleration. A slowing down of the pad 78 when arriving in the vicinity of the position P-_\ makes it possible to release the pressure and to prevent the cosmetic product 14 from being diffused in the first zone 36 of the absorbent substrate 16.

Preferably, the position is configured in such a way as to maintain a layer 46 of cosmetic product 14 under the substrate 1 6, as can be seen in figure 4.

Preferably, the distance 84 is between 0.1 % and 99,9%, more preferentially between 80% to 85%, of the total thickness 44 of the absorbent substrate 16.

In a sixth step of the method, the substrate 62 is displaced to the snap-fitting station 70. The articulated arm of the station 70 deposits a device for maintaining 18 on the upper edge 27, then the pad 82 pushes downwards said device 18. The groove 54 nests elastically on the edge 27 of the receptacle 1 2. The absorbent substrate 16 is then maintained in the receptacle by the ring 52.

The lid 20 is then closed, to result in the packaging assembly 10 as shown in figure

1 .

A method such as described hereinabove, executed by an apparatus 60 provided with servomotors such as described hereinabove, allows for rapid production speeds and great precision in the positioning of the substrates 1 6 and of the devices for maintaining 18.

According to an alternative, the apparatus 60 comprises means of displacement towards the top of the substrate 62, by servomotors. During the fifth and/or sixth steps, it is the substrate 62 that is displaced towards the top in the direction of the pads 78 or 82.

The method of using the packaging assembly 1 0 shall now be described. During the first use, the user presses on the first face 30 of the absorbent substrate 16 in order to compress said substrate 1 6 and completely drive said substrate 16 to the bottom of the cavity 26. The layer 46 of cosmetic product 14 is then impregnated in the absorbent substrate 16. The first zone 36 is also impregnated with product 14, by contact with the second zone 38. The user then releases the pressure.

The user can then sample the product 14 by contact of an applicator or of a portion of the body with the first face 30 of the absorbent substrate 1 6, with said first face 30 then being impregnated with cosmetic product 14.

Claims

1 .- Packaging assembly (10) for a cosmetic product (14), comprising an absorbent substrate (16) able to be impregnated with said cosmetic product,

said assembly being characterized in that the absorbent substrate comprises a first zone (36) not impregnated with cosmetic product and a second zone (38) impregnated with cosmetic product (14), said first and second zones being in contact with one another.

2.- Assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate (16) comprises a first

(30) and second (32) external surfaces opposite one another, said first and second surfaces being adjacent respectively to the first non-impregnated zone (36) and to the second impregnated zone (38).

3.- Assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first non-impregnated zone (36) extends over a thickness (42) between 0.1 % and 99.9% of a total thickness (44) of the absorbent substrate, said thickness (42) being preferentially between 15% and 35%, more preferentially between 15% and 20%.

4.- Packaging assembly according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a receptacle (12) receiving the absorbent substrate (16).

5. - Packaging assembly according to claim 4 taken in combination with claim 2 or 3, wherein the first surface (30), adjacent to the first non-impregnated zone (36), is directed towards an opening (28) of the receptacle (12).

6. - Packaging assembly according to one of claims 4 or 5, further comprising a layer (46) of cosmetic product (14) arranged between the substrate (16) and the bottom (24) of the receptacle (12).

7. - Packaging assembly according to one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a device (18) for maintaining the substrate in the receptacle, said device for maintaining being fixed (54) to said receptacle and being in contact (52) with the first zone (36) not impregnated with cosmetic product.

8. - Packaging assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cosmetic product (14) is a makeup or care composition.

9. - Method for manufacturing a packaging assembly (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, comprising the following steps:

- arranging the receptacle (12),

- depositing in the receptacle of a dose of cosmetic product (14), then

- depositing absorbent substrate (16) on the surface of the cosmetic product, then

- applying on a pad for pressing (78) on the first surface of the absorbent substrate, then

- displacing the pad towards the bottom of the receptacle, by a distance (84) chosen in such a way as to partially impregnate the absorbent substrate with cosmetic product.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the distance (84) for displacing the pad towards the bottom of the receptacle is between 0.1 % and 99.9%, preferably 80% to 85%, of a total thickness (44) of the absorbent substrate.

1 1 . - Method according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the displacement of the pad (78) comprises an acceleration followed by a deceleration.

12. - Method according to one of claims 9 to 1 1 for the manufacturing of a packaging assembly according to claim 7, comprising a step of assembling the device for maintaining (18) of the absorbent substrate to the receptacle (12).

13. - Apparatus (60) for implementing a method of manufacturing according to one of claims 9 to 12, comprising:

- a substrate (62) for the receptacle of the packaging assembly,

- a pad (78, 80) able enter into contact with the first surface of the absorbent substrate, and

- means for the relative displacement of the pad (78) with respect to the substrate (62), with said means comprising a servomotor.

14. - Apparatus according to claim 13 for the implementation of a method of manufacturing according to 12, said apparatus further comprises a mechanical device

(82) for the relative displacement of the device for maintaining towards the bottom of the receptacle, in such a way as to elastically nest said device for maintaining on an edge of the upper opening,

said mechanical device comprising a servomotor.

15.- Method for using a packaging assembly (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a first step of compressing the absorbent substrate (16), followed by a second step of releasing, in such a way that a portion of the impregnated cosmetic product (14) in the second zone (38) is diffused by contact in the first zone (36).