WO2020253967A1

WO2020253967A1 - Cosmetic compact

Info

Publication number: WO2020253967A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/066470
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Delbove; Lionel Drugeon; Cécile GUERMONPREZ
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 2019-06-21
Filing date: 2019-06-21
Publication date: 2020-12-24

Abstract

A cosmetic compact (1) for containing a cosmetic product (P), comprising: - a body (4) defining a housing (22) for receiving the cosmetic product (P), - an applicator holder (5) pivotably connected to the body (4) around an articulation axis (Y), the applicator holder (5) being configured to close, in a closed configuration, an upper opening (25) of the housing (22) for receiving the cosmetic product (P), the applicator holder (5) comprising a base (6) for supporting the applicator (7) at least in the closed configuration of the applicator holder (5) and a cover (8) for partially covering the applicator (7) when present in the applicator holder (5), wherein the cover (8) together with the base (6) define an insertion axis (Z) for inserting the applicator (7) in the applicator holder (5), the angle (α) between the insertion axis (Z) and the articulation axis (Y) ranging from 60° to 120°.

Description

Cosmetic compact

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a cosmetic compact, in particular for the makeup of keratinous materials, especially but not limited to the skin and/or eyelids, of the type having a body defining a housing for receiving the cosmetic product and an applicator holder for supporting an applicator.

Background of the invention

In the field of the invention, US 2 446 080 discloses a container comprising a supply of bulk powder and a powder puff. The container comprises a container body for housing the bulk powder and a lid for closing the container, the lid being articulated to the container body. The lid comprises a pocket for the puff formed between a partial partition and an inner surface of lid. The partition is contoured at its free edge to permit the thumb of the operator to grasp the puff.

KR 20-0478937 discloses a cosmetic container comprising a container body containing a cosmetic product and a puff storage portion coupled to the container body for covering and protecting the cosmetic product and allowing a puff to be seated. The puff storage portion includes a bottom part on which the puff is seated and a cover for covering at least a part of the upper surface of the puff. The puff storage portion is rotatably coupled to the container body. The direction in which the puff is stored in the puff storage portion is parallel to the rotation axis of the puff storage portion, such that the puff is prevented from being released from the puff storage portion when the puff storage portion is rotated. A disadvantage of this container is that the gesture for removing the puff is not totally convenient. The user has to make two different gestures to put his fingers under the grip strip of the puff and then pull it out of the storage area.

There thus exists a need to benefit from a new cosmetic compact allowing an easy withdrawal of the applicator from the applicator holder. Another need is to provide a cosmetic compact having a mirror on an inner face of the cover with a reduced risk of soiling with the cosmetic product when removing the applicator from the applicator holder.

Summary of the invention

Cosmetic device Exemplary embodiments of the present invention aim at satisfying at least one of these needs by providing a cosmetic compact for containing a cosmetic product, the compact comprising:

- a body defining a housing for receiving the cosmetic product,

- an applicator holder pivotably connected to the body around an articulation axis, the applicator holder comprising a base for supporting the applicator and a cover for partially covering the applicator when present in the applicator holder,

wherein the cover together with the base define an insertion axis for inserting the applicator in the applicator holder, the angle between the insertion axis and the articulation axis ranging from 60° to 120°.

Thanks to the invention, the orientation of the insertion axis, which corresponds to the direction along which the applicator is removed, allows a convenient gesture for removing the applicator from the applicator holder with reduced risk of soiling a mirror when present.

In the present invention, the insertion axis is preferably a median axis for the applicator holder and is also preferably a median axis for the cover. The insertion axis may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cover. The insertion axis may be an axis of symmetry of the applicator holder.

The applicator holder is preferably configured to close, in a closed configuration, an upper opening of the housing, and, in such case, the base supports the applicator at least in the closed configuration of the applicator holder. In other words, the base is positioned under the applicator in the closed configuration of the applicator holder for supporting it, when the body of the cosmetic compact stands on a surface. The applicator holder may entirely cover the housing of the body.

The angle between the insertion axis and the articulation axis may be different from 90°, in one embodiment.

The housing for receiving the cosmetic product may have a substantially cylindrical shape and the applicator may be of circular outline of diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the housing.

The device advantageously comprises:

- a case for housing the body, - a lid pivotably connected to the case around an articulation axis so that the articulation axis of the lid is perpendicular to the articulation axis of the applicator holder.

The applicator holder and the body together may form a removable refill, may be packaged separately prior insertion in the compact.

The applicator is advantageously a puff, for example a foam puff. The applicator preferably comprises a grip strip, better a textile grip strip, fastened on a face of the applicator that is opposite to an application face. The grip strip is preferably fastened at its two ends on opposite regions of the periphery of the applicator. The user can put fingers, for example two fingers, under the grip strip, between the grip strip and the face of the applicator that is opposite to the application face, to grasp the applicator. This gesture can be followed in a same flowing movement along the removing axis, which coincides with the insertion axis, by the removal of the applicator out of the applicator holder in order to load the application face of the applicator with product so as to make up.

The cover of the applicator holder has for example a shape of a crescent moon, concave toward the outside. Alternatively, the cover of the applicator holder may have a free edge having a shape chosen in the group consisting of a rectilinear, a convex and a concave shape, or any combination of these shapes. The cover may extend over the applicator on a distance ranging from 0,5 cm to 2 cm, measured between the outline of the applicator in a radial direction toward the center of the applicator.

The insertion axis of the applicator may be a symmetry axis of the cover of the applicator holder.

The device advantageously comprises a mirror fixed to an internal face of the lid. In such case, the invention reduces the risk of soiling the mirror when a user removes the applicator from the applicator holder because of the orientation of the insertion axis.

The base of the applicator holder may be dish- shaped. This shape may be complementary to the outline of the applicator to help retain it in place in the applicator holder.

The cosmetic product may be a foundation, a blush or eye shadow. The cosmetic product impregnates for example a compressible and porous material. The cosmetic product may contain any kind of pigments, for example iron oxides.

The applicator holder comprises an articulation for the rotatable connection to the body. The applicator holder preferably comprises a grip latch for pivoting the applicator holder relative to the body, said grip latch being advantageously positioned opposite to the articulation of the applicator holder. The grip latch may facilitate for the user the swiveling of the applicator holder relative to the body.

The articulation of the applicator holder may be protruding relative to the remaining of the applicator holder. In such case, and when the cosmetic compact comprises a case, the latter may comprise a cavity for housing the articulation of the applicator holder. This cavity may be positioned diametrically opposite to the grip latch, if any. When viewing the cosmetic compact, the cavity may be either on the left side or on the right side and the grip latch is then respectively on the right side or on the left side. The first configuration may be advantageous for a right-hander. The second configuration may be advantageous for a left-handed user.

Make-up method

The invention also relates, according to another aspect, to a method for making up keratin materials, preferably skin, using a cosmetic compact as defined above, comprising:

- removing the applicator according to the insertion axis,

- pivoting the applicator holder,

- collecting cosmetic product with the applicator,

- making up the keratin materials,

- optionally pivoting back the applicator holder into the closed configuration,

- inserting the applicator back in the applicator holder along the insertion axis.

When the applicator comprises a grip strip fastened on the face of the applicator that is opposite to the application face, the method may comprise gripping the applicator with the grip strip for removing the applicator according to the insertion axis.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention can be better understood on reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic top view of an example of a cosmetic compact according to the invention, in an open configuration, and shown on a grid pattern,

- Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of another example of a cosmetic compact in an open configuration, the applicator holder being closed, - Figure 3 shows, schematically and in perspective, another example of a cosmetic compact, the body and applicator holder being shown separated from the case and lid of the cosmetic compact, and

- Figure 4 shows the cosmetic compact of Figure 3, the applicator holder being open.

Detailed description of the drawings

In the following, identical elements or elements having equivalent functions bear same reference signs. Their description may not be repeated for each of the figures as only the main differences between the embodiments may be highlighted.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a cosmetic compact 1 according to the invention, for containing a cosmetic product, comprising a case 2 and a lid 3 pivotably connected to the case 2 around an articulation axis X. The cosmetic compact 1 comprises a mirror 9 fixed to an internal face of the lid 3. The case 2 comprises a push-button 15 and the lid 3 comprises a locking tab 16 for locking and unlocking the lid 3 and closing and opening the cosmetic compact 1.

The cosmetic compact 1 also comprises a body 4 defining a housing for receiving the cosmetic product and an applicator holder 5 pivotably connected to the body 4 around an articulation axis Y. The applicator holder 5 is configured to close, in a closed configuration, an upper opening of the housing. The applicator holder 5 comprises a base 6 for supporting the applicator 7 at least in the closed configuration of the applicator holder 5, and a cover 8 for partially covering the applicator 7 when present in the applicator holder 5, which is the case in this embodiment. The body 4 is not apparent in this Figure 1 as it is totally covered, in this embodiment, by the applicator holder 5.

According to the invention, the cover 8 together with the base 6 define an insertion axis Z for inserting the applicator 7 in the applicator holder 5, the angle a between the insertion axis Z and the articulation axis Y ranging from 60° to 120°. In this embodiment, the angle a is 60°.

The articulation axis X of the lid 3 is perpendicular to the articulation axis Y of the applicator holder 5. In this example, the insertion axis Z of the applicator 7 is a symmetry axis of the cover 8 of the applicator holder 5.

In this embodiment, the cover 8 of the applicator holder 5 has a shape of a crescent moon, a free edge 14 of the cover 8 being concave towards the exterior. In this embodiment, the applicator 7 is a puff, with an application face, not visible as it faces the base 6 of the applicator holder 5, for collecting the product from the housing and making up. The applicator 7 comprises another face, face 10, opposite to the application face, visible in Figure 1. In this example, the applicator 7 comprises a grip strip 11, which is in this embodiment a textile grip strip, fastened on the face 10 of the applicator 7. The applicator 7 is positioned in the applicator holder 5 so that grip strip 11 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion axis Z.

Still in this embodiment, the applicator holder 5 comprises a grip latch 12 for pivoting the applicator holder 5 relative to the body 4, said grip latch 12 being positioned diametrically opposite to the articulation 13 of the applicator holder 5.

The cosmetic product is for example a foundation, a blush or eye shadow, and the cosmetic product may impregnate a compressible and porous material.

For the use of the cosmetic compact 1, at first in a closed configuration, the user opens the lid 3 to bring the cosmetic compact 1 in an open configuration shown in Figure 1. Then, he grips the applicator 7 with the grip strip 11 for removing the applicator 7 according to the insertion axis Z and he removes the applicator 7 according to the insertion axis Z, which is also the removing axis. He then pivots the applicator holder 5 by holding the grip latch 12. He collects cosmetic product with the applicator 7 and makes up the keratin materials, for example the skin of the face. Once the make-up achieved, he pivots back the applicator holder 5 in the closed configuration thereof and then inserts the applicator 7 back in the applicator holder 5 along the insertion axis Z.

Thanks to the orientation of the insertion axis Z, the user can grip the applicator with the grip strip 11 and remove the applicator 7 from the applicator holder 5 in a same and single physical gesture, with one hand whereas the other hand holds the cosmetic compact 1. Furthermore, the orientation of the insertion axis reduces the risk of soiling the mirror 9 during the removal or insertion of the applicator 7 according to the insertion axis Z. The trajectory of the application face easily avoids the mirror 9 during these movements of the applicator 7.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the angle a between the insertion axis Z and the articulation axis Y is 90°. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the cover 8 is positioned quite opposite to the articulation 13, whereas in the embodiment of Figure 2, the cover 8 is on the side of the articulation 13, opposite to the grip latch 12. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the applicator holder 5 together with the body 4 form a removable refill. The case 2 has a through opening 20 for receiving the refill. The case 2 also comprises a cavity 21 for receiving and housing the articulation 13 of the refill. A same refill could be configured for being received in two types of bases 2, i.e. a case 2 for example for right-handers, as shown in figure 3, with the cavity 21 on the left side, or a case 2 for example for left-handed users, not shown, with the cavity 21 on the right side.

The case 2 also comprises another cavity 23 that receives and houses a lower part 24 of the grip latch 12.

In Figure 4, as the applicator holder 5 is opened, the inner part of the body 4 is shown, this inner part constituting the housing 22 for the cosmetic product P. The applicator holder 5 is configured to close an upper opening 25 of the housing 22. The applicator holder 5 entirely covers the housing 22 of the body 4 when in the closed configuration shown in Figure 3.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

The body 4 can have another shape, being not cylindrical for example.

The cover 8 of the applicator holder 5 can have a free edge 14 having a shape chosen in the group consisting of a rectilinear, a convex and a concave shape, or any combination of these shapes. The cover 8 may have a free edge 14 having a shape of a wave with a central concave shape and lateral convex shapes. The cover 8 can cover a greater part of the applicator 7 than in the embodiments shown.

The angle a between the insertion axis Z and the articulation axis Y can have other values in the range of 60° to 120°. The angle a may be different from 90°.

The applicator 7 may have no grip latch.

The base 6 may be dish shaped. The base 6 may have a shape adapted to the applicator 7, being complementary thereof.

The cosmetic compact 1 could only comprise a refill formed by the body 4 and the applicator holder 5.

Claims

1. A cosmetic compact (1) for containing a cosmetic product (P), comprising:

- a body (4) defining a housing (22) for receiving the cosmetic product

(P),

- an applicator holder (5) pivotably connected to the body (4) around an articulation axis (Y), the applicator holder (5) being configured to close, in a closed configuration, an upper opening (25) of the housing (22), the applicator holder (5) comprising a base (6) for supporting the applicator (7) at least in the closed configuration of the applicator holder (5), and a cover (8) for partially covering the applicator (7) when present in the applicator holder (5),

wherein the cover (8) together with the base (6) define an insertion axis (Z) for inserting the applicator (7) in the applicator holder (5), the angle (a) between the insertion axis (Z) and the articulation axis (Y) ranging from 60° to 120°.

2. The compact (1) according to claim 1, comprising:

a case (2) for housing the body (4),

a lid (3) pivotably connected to the case (2) around an articulation axis (X) so that the articulation axis (X) of the lid (3) is perpendicular to the articulation axis (Y) of the applicator holder (5).

3. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator holder (5) and the body (4) together form a removable refill.

4. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator (7) is a puff.

5. The compact (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the applicator

(7) comprises a grip strip (11), preferably a textile grip strip, fastened on a face (10) of the applicator (7) that is opposite to an application face.

6. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover

7. The compact (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover (8) of the applicator holder (5) has a free edge (14) having a shape chosen in the group consisting of a rectilinear, a convex and a concave shape, or any combination of these shapes.

8. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion axis (Z) of the applicator (7) is a symmetry axis of the cover (8) of the applicator holder (5).

9. The compact (1) according to claim 2, comprising a mirror (9) fixed to an internal face of the lid (3).

10. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (6) of the applicator holder (5) is dish-shaped.

11. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cosmetic product (P) is a foundation, a blush or eye shadow, and wherein the cosmetic product (P) impregnates a compressible and porous material.

12. The compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator holder (5) comprises a grip latch (12) for pivoting the applicator holder (5) relative to the body (4), said grip latch (12) being preferably positioned opposite to the articulation (13) of the applicator holder (5).

13. A method for making up keratin materials using a cosmetic compact (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising:

- removing the applicator (7) according to the insertion axis (Z),

- pivoting the applicator holder (5),

- collecting cosmetic product (P) with the applicator (7),

- making up the keratin materials,

- pivoting back the applicator holder into the closed configuration,

- inserting the applicator (7) back in the applicator holder (5) along the insertion axis (Z).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the applicator (7) is according to claim 5, the method comprising gripping the applicator (7) with the grip strip (11) for removing the applicator (7) according to the insertion axis (Z).