Cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising container made of cellulosic material and closure element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a container made of a cellulosic material extending along a longitudinal axis (X), and a closure element (3) wherein the closure element (3) is provided with a sealing element (4) having a radially inner sealing skirt and a radially outer sealing skirt together defining a groove, and wherein, when the closure element (3) closes the container, the neck (21) of the container is partially received in the groove of the sealing element (4) and, together with the groove, defines a radially inner interference region, a radially outer interference region, and a front interference region, the inner interference region and the outer interference region have an at least partial overlap in the projection on the longitudinal axis (X).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of cosmetic product packaging assemblies comprising a container, in particular a bottle or a jar, and a closure element.

[0002] A "cosmetic product" is in particular a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products.

[0003] More specifically, the present invention relates to a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a container and a closure element designed to seal the container in a storage configuration and to release an opening of the container in an access configuration and allow the cosmetic product contained therein to be accessed.

[0004] Conventionally, the container extends between the bottom and the neck along the longitudinal axis, and the peripheral wall connects the bottom to the neck. The neck defines an opening through which the cosmetic product can be taken, and the neck has a radial inner surface and a radial outer surface, which are connected by a front surface extending in a radial direction (also known as the mouth of the neck). The radial outer surface of the neck of the container is provided with an axial connection portion. The radial inner surface and the radial outer surface each have a smooth axial portion connected to the front surface. "Smooth axial portion" is understood here to be an axial portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and without any protruding or concave concave-convex portions.

[0005] Still conventionally, the closing element comprises a plate intended to extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the container when the closing element closes the container and having an upper surface and a lower surface. Furthermore, the plate of the closing element has a fastening skirt extending perpendicularly from the lower surface to the front surface and comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface connected by the front surface. The radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing element is provided with an axial coupling portion designed to cooperate with an axial coupling portion of the radially outer surface of the neck of the container.

[0006] As a standard, cosmetic product containers as defined above may be made of plastic materials. However, in order to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment, both during the manufacture of the packaging assembly and at the end of its life, and in particular to promote its recycling, the cosmetic industry tends to replace or substitute the plastic materials used to manufacture the components of the packaging assembly with materials that have less impact on the environment. Therefore, cosmetic product containers as defined above have been developed, in which at least the neck of the container, preferably a large part or even the whole of the container, comprises a cellulose material.

[0007] The use of these cellulosic materials for at least partially producing the containers comprises, for example, paper or cardboard fibers or paper or cardboard pulp, the advantage being that the use of raw materials originating from the petrochemical industry is reduced and the recyclability and / or degradability of the containers is improved, and furthermore, these materials may advantageously come from recycling facilities.

[0008] However, the use of such cellulose materials for the production of the entire container or a portion of a container, in particular the neck of the container, is prone to certain problems, in particular with regard to changes in the seal of the assembly of such a container associated with the closure element over time.

[0009] In particular, it has been observed that the geometry of the neck of such containers, in particular the geometry of the cross section of the neck, tends to fluctuate or change over time when in contact with ambient humidity and / or moisture contained in the cosmetic product received in the container. Thus, for such containers, it has been observed, for example, that a neck that initially has a circular cross section tends to deform when in contact with a source of moisture, in particular to become oval or to exhibit wavy undulations over time.

[0010] Furthermore, it has been observed that the thickness of the wall of the neck of such a container is initially constant in the circumferential direction, but tends to show some variability over time when exposed to a source of moisture.

[0011] Such fluctuations in the geometry of the container, and in particular the geometry of the neck of the container, over time change the contact area between the neck of the container and the closure element in the closed configuration of the container (in the closed configuration of the container, the neck is associated with the closure element) and may result in poor sealing of the packaging assembly when the closure element closes the container.

[0012] Conventionally, it is known to provide a radially inner sealing skirt on a closure element intended to close a container, the radially inner sealing skirt extending from the lower surface of the closure element and designed to be inserted inside the neck and in contact with the radially inner surface of the neck in order to ensure the sealing of the assembly in the closed configuration of the container. However, when at least the neck of the container comprises cellulosic material, such a closure element structure cannot ensure that the packaging assembly remains sealed over time in the configuration in which the container is closed by the closure element.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for a cosmetic product packaging assembly including a closure element and a container, at least the neck portion of which includes a cellulosic material, which maintains an improved seal over time in a configuration in which the container is closed by the closure element.

[0014] To this end, the invention proposes a cosmetic product packaging assembly of the above-mentioned type, wherein at least the neck of the container, preferably a large part or even the whole of the container, comprises a cellulose material,

[0015] and wherein the lower surface of the closing element is provided with a sealing element, the sealing element comprising a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a radially inner sealing skirt, and a radially outer sealing skirt, the base and the sealing skirt defining a groove,

[0016] And wherein, when the closing element closes the container, the smooth axial portion and the front surface of the neck of the container are at least partially received in the groove of the sealing element and together with the groove define a radially inner interference area, a radially outer interference area, and a front interference area, wherein the inner interference area and the outer interference area have at least partial overlap in their projections onto the longitudinal axis.

[0017] An “interference region” is understood here to mean a region between two connected elements in which a clamping occurs, wherein at least one of the two elements is deformed, preferably elastically deformed.

[0018] By virtue of these arrangements, the present invention provides a cosmetic product packaging assembly that maintains an improved seal over time in a configuration in which the container is closed by a closure element.

[0019] In particular, the implementation of a sealing element provided with an inner sealing skirt and an outer sealing skirt defining between them a groove for receiving the mouth of the neck by clamping when the closure element closes the container in the packaging assembly according to the invention makes it possible to define on the closure element a portion for maintaining the geometry of the neck of the container (at least near the mouth), thereby ensuring a good seal between the neck of the container and the closure element. Thus, even if the neck of the container is subjected to geometric fluctuations over time under the influence of the moisture to which it is exposed, during the closure of the container by the closure element equipped with the sealing element according to the invention, the radially inner sealing skirt and the radially outer sealing skirt of the sealing element make it possible to guide and clamp the end portion of the neck of the container between them, so that the neck returns to a geometry designed to ensure a good seal of the packaging assembly in the position in which the container is closed by the closure element.

[0020] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the groove defined on the sealing element with which the closure element is provided and the axial connecting portion provided on the neck of the container and on the fastening skirt of the closure element are positioned and sized so that, when the closure element closes the container, the front surface or mouth of the neck is held against the bottom of the groove of the sealing element with which the closure element is provided by clamping.

[0021] Therefore, by virtue of the arrangement of the present invention, in the position in which the container is closed by the closing element, the sealing element together with the neck of the container defines three sealed contact areas formed by interference areas, namely, a continuous radially inner peripheral area between the smooth axial portion of the inner surface of the neck of the container and the inner sealing skirt of the sealing element of the closing element, a continuous radially outer peripheral area between the smooth axial portion of the outer surface of the neck of the container and the outer sealing skirt of the sealing element of the closing element, and a continuous peripheral front area between the front surface of the neck of the container and the bottom of the groove of the sealing element of the closing element.

[0022] In the packaging assembly according to the present invention, at least partial overlap of the inner interference area and the outer interference area in their projections onto the longitudinal axis makes it possible to clamp the neck of the container near the front wall of the container and thus ensure that sealing contact between the smooth axial portions of the inner and outer surfaces of the neck of the container and the sealing skirt of the sealing element is maintained when the closing element closes the container, despite the fact that the geometry of the neck of the container may change over time.

[0023] For this purpose, the width of the groove of the sealing element measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis is advantageously smaller than or equal to the thickness of the neck measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis between the smooth axial portions connected by the frontal surfaces.

[0024] According to an advantageous arrangement, the axial length of the overlap of the inner interference region and the outer interference region in the projection on the longitudinal axis is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 mm, and even better still greater than or equal to 2 mm. In particular, the length of the overlap may be between 2 mm and 5 mm, in particular substantially equal to 2.5 mm.

[0025] Preferably, the axially connecting portion of the outer surface of the neck and the axially connecting portion of the inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closure element are threaded portions. Therefore, in this embodiment, the closure element is designed to be fastened to the neck of the container by screwing.

[0026] As a variant, the axial connection portion of the outer surface of the neck and the axial connection portion of the inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closure element can have complementary elements forming a bayonet device, these complementary elements are in particular implemented as one or more pins, which are arranged on one of the neck of the container and the fastening skirt of the closure element and are designed to cooperate with one or more complementary grooves arranged on the other of the neck of the container and the fastening skirt of the closure element, and these complementary elements (each) have a part extending in the circumferential direction and a part extending in the axial direction, in the direction of the bottom of the container (or, if appropriate, in the direction of the front surface of the closure element).

[0027] In the above-described embodiments in which the assembly of the closure element to the container involves a relative rotational movement, the outer surface of the neck of the container and the inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closure element necessarily have a circular cross section. It follows that the smooth axial portions of the inner and outer surfaces connected by the front surface of the neck are in the form of annular smooth axial portions, the groove defined by the inner and outer sealing skirts of the sealing element is annular, and the inner interference area, the outer interference area and the front interference area are also annular.

[0028] According to another variant, the axial connecting portion of the outer surface of the neck and the axial connecting portion of the inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing element can have complementary snap-on fastening means, which are implemented, for example, one or more layers of beads, which are continuous or discontinuous in the circumferential direction, arranged on one of the neck of the container and the fastening skirt of the closing element, and are designed to cooperate with one or more layers of beads, which are continuous or discontinuous in the circumferential direction, or one or more layers of grooves, which are continuous or discontinuous in the circumferential direction, arranged on the other of the neck of the container and the fastening skirt of the closing element.

[0029] In the above-mentioned variant, the outer surface of the neck of the container and the inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing element do not necessarily have a circular cross-section and may therefore have a cross-section having an oval, polygonal shape, in particular a shape with rounded corners, such as a square circular shape, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, the container, in particular a bottle or a can, independently of the cross-sectional shape of its neck, may have a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes, in particular circular, oval, polygonal, in particular with rounded corners, such as a spherical shape, etc.

[0031] According to an advantageous arrangement, one and / or the other of the inner sealing skirt and the outer sealing skirt of the sealing element has a chamfer opening toward the outside of the groove. Preferably, the inner sealing skirt and the outer sealing skirt of the sealing element each have a chamfer opening toward the outside of the groove, which chamfers extend toward each other.

[0032] By implementing a chamfer on one or the other, preferably on each, of the inner and outer sealing skirts of the sealing element, it is made easier to insert and guide the front surface and the smooth axial portion of the neck of the container inside the groove of the sealing element. In addition, this or these chamfers make it possible to achieve a gradual clamping of the sealing skirt of the sealing element against the end portion of the supporting front surface and the smooth axial portion of the neck of the container during the assembly of the closure element on the container until the closed configuration.

[0033] In one embodiment, the base of the sealing element is in the form of a disc, the upper surface of which extends facing the lower surface of the plate of the closing element.

[0034] As a variant, the base of the sealing element is in the form of a ring (in other words a disk hollowed out at its centre), the upper surface of which extends facing the lower surface of the plate of the closing element.

[0035] Advantageously, the sealing element is an element separate from the closing element, is manufactured separately from the closing element, and is subsequently fastened to the closing element, preferably in a removable manner.

[0036] Designing the closing element and the sealing element as two separate elements advantageously makes it possible to produce them by different manufacturing methods and / or from different materials. Furthermore, arranging the two elements so that they are removable from one another makes it possible to facilitate the separation of these elements at the end of the life of the assembly formed by the closing element and the sealing element, in particular to facilitate their recycling in dedicated facilities.

[0037] According to a particular configuration of the invention, the closing element is made of a first material and the sealing element is made of a second material different from the first material.

[0038] Therefore, a first material, in particular a first plastic material, can be selected for the closing element, which has the mechanical characteristics desired to achieve the function of this element, in particular the cooperation of its axial connecting part with the axial connecting part of the neck of the container, and a second material, in particular a second plastic material, can be selected for the sealing element, which has the mechanical characteristics desired to achieve the function of this element, in particular the good sealing between the sealing skirt and the front surface and the smooth axial part of the neck of the container, for example by enhancing the deformability of the second material relative to the deformability of the first material.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the sealing element is attached to the closing element by overmolding.

[0040] As a variant or in addition, the sealing element is fastened to the closing element by means of complementary fastening elements (comprising, for example, complementary snap-fastening protrusions and recesses) so that axial retention of the sealing element on the closing element can be achieved, these complementary fastening elements optionally being combined with axial protrusions provided on one or the other of the closing element and the sealing element and being designed to be received in axial grooves provided on the other of the closing element and the sealing element so as to secure the two elements to prevent rotation.

[0041] In a variant embodiment of the invention, the closing element and the sealing element are formed in one piece (in other words, are unitary) and form only one mechanical piece.

[0042] Preferably, the cellulosic material of which at least the neck of the container, preferably most or even all, is made comprises paper, paperboard, pulp, paperboard pulp, or a mixture of these materials. The cellulosic material of which at least the neck of the container, preferably most or even all, is made may also comprise bamboo or bamboo derivatives, or bagasse, fibrous residues derived from sugar cane, or a mixture of these materials.

[0043] In one embodiment, the sealing element is made of a plastic material, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET); an elastomeric material, such as styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS); or a mixture of these materials.

[0044] In one embodiment, the closing element forms a lid for the container and comprises a particularly substantially flat and continuous plate designed to selectively close the container in a sealed manner in a storage configuration and to release an opening of the container in an access configuration and allow access to the cosmetic product contained therein.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the closing element also forms an access element for the product contained in the container, the assembly to which the access element belongs then forming, together with the container, a cosmetic product packaging and access assembly.

[0046] In one of these embodiments, the plate of the closure element has at least one access opening for the product contained in the container, and the closure element also includes a closure member that is designed to selectively close the access opening in a sealed manner in the storage configuration and to release the access opening in the access configuration and allow the cosmetic product contained in the container to be accessed.

[0047] Thus, the closure element may for example form a flip-top cap, which conventionally comprises a base fastened to the neck of the container, the base having a fastening skirt for fastening to the neck of the container and a plate provided with an access opening, and the base being associated with a cover mounted so as to be pivotable on the base, in particular via a film hinge, between a position closing the access opening and a position releasing the access opening, the cover also being provided with a closure plug designed to be inserted into the access opening in the closed position. In this case, the base of the sealing element is designed to allow access to the product contained in the container through the access opening of the base of the flip-top cap; for this purpose, the base of the sealing element may for example have an annular shape centered on the longitudinal axis and supporting an inner sealing skirt and an outer sealing skirt rising from the base, or a disc shape having an inner sealing skirt and an outer sealing skirt supporting an inner sealing skirt and an outer sealing skirt rising from the base and provided with a passage opening in line with the access opening.

[0048] As a variant, the closure element may comprise a collar for fastening a dispensing device to the neck of the container, the dispensing device possibly being formed, for example, by a pump, a cannula, a nozzle, etc. In this case, the plate of the closure element and the base of the sealing element each have a recess designed for the passage and / or sealing fastening of the dispensing device, while supporting a fastening skirt for fastening to the container and an inner and an outer sealing skirt, respectively.

[0049] According to yet another variant, the closing element comprises a fastening snap ring for an attached lid, the plate of the closing element and the base of the sealing element each having an accessible opening connected to the opening of the neck of the container, while supporting a fastening skirt for fastening to the container and an internal sealing skirt and an external sealing skirt, respectively, and the closing element, in particular its plate and the attached lid also have complementary connecting elements, which are preferably reversible, such as threaded portions, complementary elements forming a bayonet device, complementary snap-on fastening elements, etc.

[0050] The invention may be better understood by reading the following description (accompanied by non-limiting examples of its implementation) with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0051] [ Figure 1 ] shows a cosmetic product packaging assembly according to the present invention in a stereoscopic view;

[0052] [ Figure 2 ] in [ Figure 1 ] shows a longitudinal section on the cross-sectional plane P in the packaging assembly according to the present invention;

[0053] [ Figure 3 ] shows in longitudinal section a detail of a packaging assembly according to the invention during the phase in which the container is closed by a closing element;

[0054] [ Figure 4 ] shows in longitudinal section a detail of a packaging assembly according to the invention in a configuration in which the container is closed by a closing element;

[0055] [ Figure 5 ] shows a magnified view of [ Figure 4 ]Details D in ].

[0056] [ Figure 1 ] A cosmetic product packaging assembly 1 according to the invention is shown in a stereoscopic view, said assembly 1 comprising a container 2 (in this case in the form of a bottle or a jar) and a closure element 3.

[0057] Such a bottle 2 may, for example, contain shampoo, shower gel, lotion or other types of cosmetic products therein.

[0058] As a variant, the container 2 may be in the form of a jar more particularly designed to contain therein a cream, foam or other type of cosmetic product.

[0059] As in Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the container 2 extends along a longitudinal axis X between a bottom 20 and a neck 21 , which are connected to one another by a peripheral wall 22 .

[0060] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the bottom 20 of the container 2 is substantially flat. As a variant, the bottom 20 of the container may have a recess centered on the longitudinal axis X and extending towards the interior of the container 2 .

[0061] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the peripheral wall 22 has a circular cross section. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, the container 2 may have a variety of cross-sectional shapes, in particular circular, oval, polygonal shapes, in particular shapes with rounded edges, such as a square-shaped shape, etc.

[0062] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the container 2 is unitary and made entirely of cellulose material, optionally combined with a coating of another nature applied to the inner surface of the container and / or to the outer surface of the container.

[0063] In particular, the cellulosic material comprises paper, paperboard, pulp, paperboard pulp, or a mixture of these materials.

[0064] As in particular Figures 2 to 4 As can be seen in the figure, the neck 21 of the container 2 defines an opening O for reaching the internal volume of the container 2 and has a radial inner surface 23 and a radial outer surface 24, which are connected to each other by a front surface 25 (also indicated as the mouth of the neck) extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

[0065] As in particular Figure 3 and Figure 4 As is evident in the figure, the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 of the container 2 is provided with an axial connection portion 26, which in this case is in the form of a threaded portion. Therefore, in the embodiment shown, the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 of the container 2 necessarily has a circular cross section.

[0066] In addition, the inner surface 23 and the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 of the container 2 each have a smooth axial portion 27, 28 (in other words, an axial portion without protruding or concave projections and recesses), which are axially located between the axial connecting portion (in this case, the threaded portion 26) and the front surface 25.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment in which the connecting portion of the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 is in the form of a threaded portion 26 , the smooth axial portions 27 , 28 of the inner surface 23 and the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 are in the form of annular smooth axial portions.

[0068] The assembly 1 according to the invention also comprises a closure element which, in the embodiment shown, is in the form of a lid 3 for the container 2 and comprises, in particular, a substantially flat and continuous plate 30 designed to selectively close the container 2 in a sealed manner in the storage configuration and to release the opening O of the neck 21 of the container 2 in the access configuration and to allow access to the cosmetic product contained therein.

[0069] More specifically, and as in Figures 2 to 4 As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the cover 3 comprises a plate 30 intended to extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the container 2 when the cover 3 closes the container 2 and having an upper surface 31 and an opposite lower surface 32 .

[0070] The cap 3 also has a fastening skirt 33 for fastening to the neck 21 of the container 2. This fastening skirt 33 extends substantially perpendicularly to the lower surface 32 of the plate 30 to the front surface 36 and has a radially inner surface 34 and a radially outer surface 35 connected to each other via the front surface 36.

[0071] The radially inner surface 34 of the fastening skirt 33 of the cap 3 is provided with an axial coupling portion 37 designed to cooperate with the axial coupling portion 26 of the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 of the container 2. In the embodiment shown, the axial coupling portion 37 of the radially inner surface 34 of the fastening skirt 33 of the cap 3 is in the form of a threaded portion designed to cooperate with a threaded portion provided on the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 of the container 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the inner surface 34 of the fastening skirt 33 of the cap 3 has a circular cross section.

[0072] According to the invention, and especially as Figures 2 to 5 As can be clearly seen in the figure, the lower surface 32 of the plate 30 of the cover 3 is provided with a sealing element 4. The sealing element 4 comprises a base 40 having an upper surface 41 and an opposite lower surface 42, a radially inner sealing skirt 43, and a radially outer sealing skirt 44, said base 40 and said sealing skirts 43, 44 together defining a groove 45 designed to receive at least the end portion of the neck 21 of the container 2 by clamping.

[0073] More specifically, and as especially in Figure 4 and Figure 5As can be seen in the figure, when the cover 3 closes the container 2, the smooth axial portions 27, 28 and the front surface 25 of the neck 21 of the container 2 are at least partially received in the groove 45 of the sealing element 4 and together with the groove define a radially inner interference area ZII, a radially outer interference area ZIE, and a front interference area ZIF.

[0074] An "interference region" is to be understood here as a region between two connected elements in which a clamping occurs, in which at least one of the two elements is deformed, preferably elastically deformed. Thus, when the lid 3 closes the container 2, as in particular Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the clamping is achieved on the one hand between the smooth axial portions 27, 28 of the inner surface 23 and the outer surface 24 of the neck 21 of the container and the inner sealing skirt 43 and the outer sealing skirt 44 of the sealing element 4, and on the other hand between the front surface 25 of the neck 21 of the container 2 and the lower surface 42 of the base 40 of the sealing element 4 that defines the bottom of the groove 45.

[0075] For this purpose, and as in [ Figure 5 ], the width l of the groove 45 of the sealing element 4 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X is advantageously less than or equal to the thickness e of the neck 21 of the container 2 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X between the smooth axial portions 27 and 28 connected by the front surface 25.

[0076] Advantageously, and as in [ Figure 5 ] is also obvious in that the inner interference zone ZII and the outer interference zone ZIE have at least a partial overlap c in their projection onto the longitudinal axis X.

[0077] In the embodiment shown, the overlap c of the inner interference zone ZII and the outer interference zone ZIE is substantially complete. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the inner interference zone ZII and the outer interference zone ZIE have substantially equal axial lengths and extend in parallel in the same axial section. As a variant, it can be provided that the inner interference zone ZII and the outer interference zone ZIE have different axial lengths and / or are located in corresponding axial sections, as long as the two axial sections have a non-zero overlap or a non-zero coverage in the projection onto the longitudinal axis X.

[0078] In the illustrated embodiment, the cap 3 is fastened to the neck 21 of the container 2 by tightening, the groove 45 defined by the inner sealing skirt 43 and the outer sealing skirt 44 of the sealing element 4 is annular, and the inner interference area ZII, the outer interference area ZIE and the front interference area ZIF are also annular.

[0079] According to a preferred arrangement of the present invention, the axial length of the overlap c of the internal interference zone ZII and the external interference zone ZIE in their projections onto the longitudinal axis X is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 mm, even better still greater than or equal to 2 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 5 mm, in particular substantially equal to 2.5 mm.

[0080] In addition, and especially in Figures 3 to 5 As can be seen in the drawings, the inner sealing skirt 43 and the outer sealing skirt 44 of the sealing element 4 each have a chamfer 46 flared towards the outside of the groove 45. The sealing element 4 thus defines a groove 45 with two facing chamfers 46 which make it possible to facilitate the introduction of the neck 21 of the container 2 and the gradual clamping of the portion of the neck received in the groove when the cap 3 closes the opening O of the neck 21.

[0081] In the embodiment illustrated, the base 40 of the sealing element 4 is in the form of a substantially flat and continuous disk, the upper surface 41 of which extends facing the lower surface 32 of the plate 30 of the cover 3 .

[0082] As a variant, it may be provided that the base 40 of the sealing element 4 is in the form of a ring hollowed out at its centre, the upper surface 41 of which extends facing the lower surface 32 of the plate 30 of the cover 3 .

[0083] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the sealing element 4 is in the form of an element which is separate from the cover 3 and is attached to the cover.

[0084] Thus, in this embodiment, the sealing element 4 can be manufactured separately from the cover 3 and subsequently fastened to the cover, preferably in a removable manner.

[0085] As a variant, still in one such embodiment, the sealing element 4 is attached to the cover 3 by overmoulding.

[0086] According to an advantageous provision of this embodiment, the cover 3 is made of a first material and the sealing element 4 is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

[0087] Therefore, the cover 3 can, for example, be made of a first material, in particular a first plastic material (such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), an elastomeric material (such as styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS)), or a mixture of these materials, and the sealing element can, for example, be made of a second material, in particular a second plastic material (such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), an elastomeric material (such as styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS)), or a mixture of these materials.

[0088] Thus, by virtue of the arrangement of the present invention, when the cap 3 is assembled onto the container 2 so as to close the opening O of the neck 21 of the container by the cooperation of the axial coupling portions 26, 37 provided on each of these elements, as shown in FIG. Figures 3 to 5 As shown, at least a portion of the smooth axial portions 27, 28 and the front surface 25 of the neck 21 are received in the groove 45 defined by the inner sealing skirt 43 and the outer sealing skirt 44 of the sealing element 4, and clamping is gradually achieved between these elements in the radially inner interference zone ZII and the radially outer interference zone ZIE and in the front interference zone ZIF when the cap 3 reaches the end of its travel in conjunction with the neck 21. Thus, when the cap 3 is in the closed configuration of the container 2, the geometric integrity of the section of the neck 21 of the container is maintained over time and the seal between the cap 3 and the neck 21 of the container 2 is ensured.

[0089] Although in this detailed description, the present invention has been demonstrated with respect to the cap 3 which is screwed onto the neck 21 of the container 2 and is designed to selectively close the container 2 and release the opening O of the neck 21 of the container to access the product contained in the container, the structure of the cap 3 is not limited thereto, and the connection device between the cap 3 and the neck 21 of the container 2 is also not limited thereto.

[0090] Therefore, the present invention also extends to a lid 3 having other means for connecting to the neck 21 of the container 2, such as snap-fastening means, which are, for example, formed by one or more layers of beads, which are continuous or discontinuous in the circumferential direction and are intended to cooperate with complementary snap-fastening means provided on the neck 21 of the container 2, which are, for example, formed by one or more layers of beads, which are continuous or discontinuous in the circumferential direction, or by one or more layers of grooves, which are continuous or discontinuous in the circumferential direction.

[0091] In the same way, the invention also extends to a cover forming a flip-top cap which conventionally comprises a base fastened to the neck 21 of the container 2, the base having a fastening skirt 33 for fastening to the neck 21 of the container and a plate 30 provided with an access opening, and the base being associated with a cover which is mounted so as to be pivotable on the base, in particular via a film hinge, between a position in which the access opening is closed and a position in which the access opening is released, the cover also being provided with a closure plug designed to be inserted into the access opening in the closed position. In this case, the base 40 of the sealing element 4 is designed to allow the product contained in the container 2 to be accessed through the access opening at the base of the flip-top cap; for this purpose, the base 40 can, for example, have an annular shape centered on the longitudinal axis and supporting an inner sealing skirt 43 and an outer sealing skirt 44 rising from the base 40, or have a disc shape supporting an inner sealing skirt 43 and an outer sealing skirt 44 rising from the base 40 and provided with a passage opening in line with the access opening.

Claims

1. A cosmetic product packaging assembly (1), comprising: - a container (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) between a bottom (20) and a neck (21), the bottom being connected to the neck by a peripheral wall (22), the neck (21) defining an opening (O) and having a radial inner surface (23) and a radial outer surface (24) connected by a front surface (25) extending in the radial direction, the outer surface (24) being provided with an axial connecting portion (26), and the inner surface (23) and the outer surface (24) each having a smooth axial portion (27, 28) connected to the front surface (25); - a closure element (3) comprising: a plate (30) intended to extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (X) when the closure element (3) closes the container (2) and having an upper surface (31) and a lower surface (32); and a fastening skirt (33) extending perpendicularly from the lower surface (32) of the plate (30) to a front surface (36), the fastening skirt (33) comprising a radially inner surface (34) and a radially outer surface (35) connected by the front surface (36), the inner surface (34) being provided with an axial coupling portion (37) designed to cooperate with an axial coupling portion (26) of the outer surface (24) of the neck (21) of the container (2); wherein at least the neck (21) of the container (2), preferably most of or even the entirety of the container (2) comprises cellulose material; The lower surface (32) of the closing element (3) is provided with a sealing element (4), the sealing element comprising a base (40) having an upper surface (41) and a lower surface (42), a radially inner sealing skirt (43), and a radially outer sealing skirt (44), the base (40) and the sealing skirts (43, 44) defining a groove (45), And wherein, when the closing element (3) closes the container (2), the smooth axial portion (27, 28) and the front surface (25) of the neck (21) of the container (2) are at least partially received in the groove (45) of the sealing element (4) and together with the groove define a radial inner interference area (ZII), a radial outer interference area (ZIE), and a front interference area (ZIF), the inner interference area (ZII) and the outer interference area (ZIE) having at least partial overlap (c) in their projection onto the longitudinal axis (X).

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: The axial length of the overlap (c) of the internal interference zone (ZII) and the external interference zone (ZIE) in their projections onto the longitudinal axis (X) is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 mm, even better still greater than or equal to 2 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 5 mm, in particular substantially equal to 2.5 mm.

3. The assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: The axial connection portion (26) of the outer surface (24) of the neck (21) of the container (2) and the axial connection portion (37) of the inner surface (34) of the fastening skirt (33) of the closure element (3) are threaded portions.

4. The assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: One and / or the other of the inner sealing skirt (43) and the outer sealing skirt (44) of the sealing element (4) has a chamfer (46) flared toward the outside of the groove (45).

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The base (40) of the sealing element (4) is in the form of a disk or a ring, the upper surface (41) of which extends facing the lower surface (32) of the plate (30) of the closing element (3).

6. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The sealing element (4) is manufactured separately from the closing element (3) and is subsequently fastened to the closing element, preferably in a removable manner.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The closing element (3) is made of a first material, and the sealing element (4) is made of a second material different from the first material.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The sealing element (4) is attached to the closing element (3) by overmolding.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein The cellulosic material of which at least the neck (21) of the container (2) is made comprises paper, paperboard, pulp, paperboard pulp, bamboo or bamboo derivatives, or bagasse, fibrous residues derived from sugar cane, or mixtures of these materials.

10. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The sealing element (4) is made of the following materials: plastic material, in particular polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET); elastomeric material, such as styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS); or a mixture of these materials.

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