Bottle with a roll-on applicator and a stopper

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle comprising a reservoir (1) for a liquid or semi-fluid product and a dispensing head (2) projecting from the reservoir along a main axis (A). The dispensing head (2) comprises a roll-on applicator (5) comprising a ball holder in which a ball (12) is caged and from which a cap of the ball emerges. The bottle comprises a rotary stopper (6) suitable for covering the roll-on applicator (5) in a closed position of the bottle, and for being released from the roll-on applicator (5) for distributing product in an open position of the bottle. The ball holder is mounted translatably along the main axis (A), the roll-on applicator (5) comprising an elastic means inserted between an applicator body and the ball holder. The ball moves in translation jointly with the ball holder to take a retracted position when the roll-on applicator (5) is covered by the rotary stopper (6) and a deployed position when the rotary stopper (6) is released from the roll-on applicator (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing and applying a perfume or a cosmetic, toiletry or care product. It relates in particular to roll-on dispensing and application devices, commonly called roll-on applicators, or, in English terminology, "roll-ons".

[0002] In this document, cosmetic products include, in particular, all products for applying makeup to the skin, lips, or appendages. Toiletries include shower gels, bath products, as well as body lotions and deodorants. Perfumes refer in particular to all perfuming or odorous compositions intended for bodily application. Care products include, in particular, products intended to be applied to the human or animal body to clean it, perfume it, change its appearance, or maintain it in good condition.

[0003] Ball applicators are commonly used for dispensing and applying a liquid or semi-fluid product contained in a bottle equipped with such a dispenser. A bottle with a ball dispenser has a ball at its dispensing neck, included in a ball holder or cage. The ball holder has a dispensing orifice in communication with the interior of the bottle. The ball has a diameter greater than that of the dispensing orifice. Opposite the dispensing orifice of the bottle, the ball holder has a mouth. The ball is held in the ball holder, for example by a radial enclosing lip oriented towards the axis of revolution of the ball holder.

[0004] The ball is thus held in the ball holder, on the dispensing orifice, free to rotate. When the bottle is oriented with the ball facing downwards, the product contained in the bottle reaches the ball and loads its visible surface with product into the dispensing orifice. The rotation of the ball, for the application of the product for example on the skin, makes it possible to place the wet surface of the ball opposite the dispensing orifice, in a position where it is visible and in contact with the application surface.

[0005] Roll-on applicators are therefore simple devices that allow the simultaneous distribution and application of a liquid or semi-fluid product. However, they have certain drawbacks. They do not provide a perfect seal by themselves, particularly an airtight seal that is often necessary for the proper preservation of the product and / or to prevent its loss, particularly through evaporation. Indeed, the clearance required for the free rotation of the ball in the ball holder does not allow such a seal.

[0006] It is known in the state of the art to associate a cap with the ball dispenser to ensure a seal. The cap thus associated is tightly connected to the bottle or creates pressure on the ball, which ensures a seal at the dispensing orifice which forms a seat for the ball. However, a cap connected to the bottle by screwing leads to a large ball tip, which is not always desirable, while a cap connected by clipping is unreliable, or difficult to put in place and remove.

[0007] In this field, document US2912708 discloses a roll-on applicator device, in which an insert or orifice formed directly in the body of the device receives the roll-on. A shutter in the form of a strip covers the roll-on. Document US3055041 discloses a similar applicator which may include a rotating shutter.

[0008] Document US2010329771 discloses another rotary shutter roll-on applicator.

[0009] Document US8500355 discloses a massage device comprising a ball and a liquid dispenser comprising a ball holder and a spring interposed between the ball holder and the dispenser body.

[0010] The invention thus aims to propose a bottle comprising a ball tip making it possible to ensure good sealing outside the product application phases, and not having the aforementioned drawbacks of the devices known in the state of the art.

[0011] Thus, the invention relates to a bottle comprising a reservoir having an interior volume adapted to contain a liquid or semi-fluid product and a dispensing head extending projecting from the reservoir along a main axis, said dispensing head comprising a ball applicator comprising a ball holder in which a ball is caged free to rotate and from which a cap of the ball emerges on the side opposite the reservoir. The bottle comprises a rotary shutter adapted to cover the ball applicator in a closed position of the bottle, and to be released from said ball applicator for dispensing the product in an open position of the bottle. The rotary shutter is movable in rotation relative to the rest of the bottle along an axis of rotation crossing said main axis perpendicularly.The roll-on applicator comprises an applicator body in which the ball holder is mounted in translation along the main axis, and in which an elastic means is interposed between the applicator body and the ball holder. The roll-on applicator comprises an elastic means and is configured so that the ball can translate together with the ball holder along the main axis to adopt a retracted position in the dispensing head when the roll-on applicator is capped by the rotary shutter in the closed position of the bottle, said elastic means being compressed, and to adopt a deployed position outside the dispensing head under the effect of a relaxation of the elastic means when the rotary shutter is released from the roll-on applicator.

[0012] The rotary shutter comprises a cap in which is arranged a shutter element comprising a concavity of a shape complementary to that of the cap of the ball projecting from the ball holder, and the shutter element bears on the upper face of the ball holder when the ball is engaged in the concavity.

[0013] The use of a rotating shutter thus linked to the rest of the bottle, for example to the reservoir or to the dispensing head (for example to a neck of the bottle), in line with the ball of the roll-on applicator, allows the desired seal to be obtained, without requiring the use of a bulky applicator. In addition, the shutter is more reliable than a clipped cap, and is captive because it is linked to the rest of the bottle both when it is closed and open. A configuration in which the elastic means is interposed between an applicator body and the ball holder allows the use of a simple and reliable elastic means (for example a helical spring), which is not exposed to the product being dispensed; It also allows a significant movement of the ball between the closed position of the bottle and its deployed position. This makes it possible to obtain a bottle that is both compact when closed and allowing easy application of product when the ball is deployed.

[0014] The ball holder may comprise a product supply conduit extending along the main axis towards the interior volume and the applicator body may comprise an upper volume separated from the interior volume of the reservoir by a partition comprising in its center a well which is closed in the lower part by a bottom, the walls of the well comprising at least one light, said bottle being configured so that when it is in the closed position the supply conduit closes said light and when it is in the open position said light is clear.

[0015] The elastic means can for example be a helical spring.

[0016] The sealing element may comprise a resilient element.

[0017] The closure element may have chamfered edges parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary shutter, the chamfers thus formed coming into contact with the ball when moving from the open position to the closed position.

[0018] The tank may have an external shape of revolution, said axis of rotation of the rotary shutter being coincident with an axis of revolution of the external shape of the tank. The tank may in particular have an external shape of a cylinder whose height is less than or equal to its radius.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description.

[0020] In the attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples: there figure 1 represents, in a three-dimensional schematic view, a bottle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; figure 2 represents, in a side view, the bottle of the figure 1 in closed position; the figure 3 represents according to a view analogous to that of the figure 2 , the bottle of figures 1 et 2 in open position; the figure 4 represents in a sectional view the bottle of figures 1 à 3 in closed position; the figure 5 is a detail view of the figure 4 ; there figure 6 represents in a sectional view the bottle of figures 1 à 5 in open position; the figure 7 is a detail view of the figure 6 ; and the figure 8 represents, according to a detailed sectional view, the roll-on applicator of the bottle of figures 1 à 7 , when moving from the open position to the closed position of the bottle.

[0021] There figure 1 represents a bottle in accordance with a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the invention. The bottle comprises a reservoir 1 capable of containing a liquid or semi-fluid product. The bottle which is the subject of the invention is in particular intended to contain a perfume or a cosmetic, toiletry or care product.

[0022] The reservoir of the bottle which is the subject of the invention can thus have a capacity (internal volume intended to receive the product) of between 10 mL and 500 mL, in particular 20 mL, 35 mL, 75 mL, 100 mL, or 200 mL.

[0023] The tank in the example shown here has a flattened cylindrical shape of revolution. The term flattened indicates that the cylinder has a disc shape, or a height H of small dimension compared to its diameter. Typically, the tank 1 has a thickness (corresponding to the height H of the cylinder which defines it) less than or equal to its radius r.

[0024] The bottle further comprises a dispensing head 2. The dispensing head 2 is positioned on the edge of the reservoir 1 of the bottle shown here, that is to say on the side wall 3 of the cylindrical reservoir 1 from which it projects. The dispensing head 2 comprises a neck 4 in which a ball applicator 5 is assembled. The dispensing head extends in a general direction of extension which materializes a main axis A of the bottle.

[0025] In order to cover the ball applicator 5 to ensure the sealing of the bottle, the bottle which is the subject of the invention comprises a rotary shutter 6, i.e. one which can rotate relative to the rest of the bottle, and the operation of which is described in more detail below.

[0026] The rotary shutter essentially consists of a cap which can rotate relative to the rest of the bottle, i.e. relative to the reservoir 1 as in the embodiment shown or, where appropriate, relative to the dispensing head 2. The rotary shutter has the general shape of an arch comprising two uprights 7 linked together by a crosspiece forming a cap 8.

[0027] Amounts 7 are linked to rotating tank 1.

[0028] This allows the rotary shutter 6 to be switched between a closed position of the bottle shown in figures 1 et 2 , and an open position of the bottle represented in particular in the figure 3 .

[0029] In the closed position, the rotary shutter 6 is aligned with the main axis P, so that the cap 8 covers the ball 5. In the open position, the rotary shutter 6 can have any position in which it does not cover the roll-on applicator, i.e. any position in which the roll-on applicator is released and allows the application of the product present in the bottle. In other words, the angular position of the rotary shutter 6 relative to the main axis A is not necessarily unique. The angular position of the rotary shutter is in particular defined by the angle α between the main axis A and the axis connecting the section point between the axis of rotation of the rotary shutter and said main axis and the center of the cap 8 of the rotary shutter 6.

[0030] A preferred and stable open position can be defined, according to a variant not shown, by a notch provided between the rotary shutter 6 and the reservoir 1.

[0031] In the embodiment shown, the rotation axis R of the rotary shutter coincides with the axis of revolution of the reservoir 1. In the open position of the bottle, the rotary shutter can have any angular position in which it does not cover the roll-on applicator 5. In particular, due to the revolution shape of the reservoir, the rotary shutter can be rotated 360° in order to open and then close the bottle. The user can position the rotary shutter in the angular position which seems most appropriate to him for the application of the product.

[0032] There figure 4 corresponds to the bottle of the figure 2 , in the closed position, seen in section along a transverse plane P shown in figure 1 . The reservoir 1, which has a generally cylindrical external shape, provides an internal volume 9 intended to contain the product, liquid or semi-fluid, to be dispensed. An internal wall 10 provides a passage for a shaft 11 of the rotary shutter 6, the shaft 11 coinciding with the axis of rotation R.

[0033] There figure 5 is a detail view of the figure 4 , at the level of the ball applicator 5. The ball applicator comprises a ball 12, which is held in a ball holder 13. The ball 12 is fixed in translation in the ball holder 13 but it can freely rotate therein. The ball 12 is thus caged in the ball holder 13. A cap 14 of the ball protrudes, or emerges, from an upper face 15 of the ball holder 13. The upper face 15 is typically materialized by a lip 16 for holding the ball 12 in the ball holder 13. The cap 14 corresponds to the application surface of the ball applicator, that is to say the surface which can be brought into contact with, for example, the user's skin in order to apply the product there. The ball holder 13 comprises a supply conduit 17. The supply conduit 17 allows the ball 12 to be supplied with product from the reservoir 1.In particular, the supply conduit 16 opens into the ball holder 13 so as to load the surface of the ball 12 with product, this surface loaded with product being able to pass into the emerged part of the ball (cap 14) under the effect of a rotation of the ball in the ball holder 13.

[0034] The supply duct 17 is typically centered on the main axis A.

[0035] The ball holder is mounted to move in translation along the main axis A, in an applicator body 18.

[0036] The applicator body 18 is permanently fixed in the neck 4 of the bottle. The applicator body 18 has an upper volume 19 in which the ball holder 13, and therefore the ball, can translate. The movement of the ball holder in the applicator body is limited in terms of depression or retraction (i.e. towards the inside of the reservoir 1) by a bearing surface 20 forming a stop for a lower surface 21 of the ball holder 13, and in terms of deployment by an upper ring 22 forming a stop for a collar 23 of the ball holder 13.

[0037] The applicator body is configured so that its upper volume 19 is separated from an optional lower volume 24, and therefore from the interior volume of the reservoir by a partition 25 comprising in its center a well 26 which is closed in the lower part by a bottom 27, the walls of the well comprising at least one lumen (i.e. a through orifice). When the bottle is in the closed position, the supply conduit 17 closes the lumens of the well, and when it is in the open position, the lumens are clear. This improves the sealing of the bottle.

[0038] An elastic element, namely in the example shown a helical spring 28, tends to put the ball holder 13 and the ball 12 in the deployed position, in which the collar 23 is supported under the upper ring 22. Thus, the ball holder 13 and the ball 12 adopt the deployed position, illustrated in figures 6 And 7described below, under the effect of the elastic element, in the absence of other mechanical constraints exerted on the ball 12 or the ball holder 13.

[0039] Thus, the retracted position shown in the figure 5 must be maintained under the effect of a restoring force pushing the ball towards the reservoir 1. The restoring force is typically exerted by the rotary shutter 6 (in particular when it covers the ball applicator as shown in the figure 4 . For clarity of the figures, the rotary shutter is not shown in the figure 5 .

[0040] In the closed position of the bottle, the helical spring 28 is compressed between the lower face 21 of the ball holder 13 and a surface of the applicator body 18.

[0041] The rotary shutter thus presses on the ball 12 when the bottle is in the closed position. To this end, the cap 8 comprises a closing element 29, in which is formed a concavity 30 of a shape complementary to that of the cap 14 of the ball 12 projecting from the ball holder 13.

[0042] This complementarity of shape allows the closure element 29 to bear on the upper face 15 of the ball holder when the ball is engaged in its concavity 30, which ensures the sealing of the bottle when it is in the closed position. The interaction between the ball and the cavity also makes it possible to maintain the closure in a stable angular position, when the bottle is closed.

[0043] The closure member 29 is ideally formed from a resilient material, which improves the sealing of the bottle and facilitates the transition between the open position and the closed position of the bottle.

[0044] In the open position shown in figures 6 And 7 , the rotary shutter 6 has been released from the dispensing head 2 and in particular from the ball applicator 5. By relaxing, the helical spring 28 pushes the ball holder 13 and the ball 12 into the deployed position, in which the collar 23 of the ball holder 13 is supported under the upper ring 22 of the applicator body 18.

[0045] This deployed position offers the user greater ease of application, as well as flexibility offered by the helical spring which is appreciable during application. In addition, placing the ball applicator in the deployed position releases the supply conduit 17 from the slots formed in the well 26 of the applicator body 18, which allows the passage into the supply conduit 17 of the product from the reservoir 1 and the supply of product to the surface of the ball 12.

[0046] There figure 8 represents, according to a detailed sectional view, the roll-on applicator of the bottle of figures 1 à 7 , when moving from the open position to the closed position of the bottle.

[0047] To the figure 8 , the ball applicator 5 is in the retracted position. The transition from the deployed position to the retracted position is facilitated by chamfers 31 provided on the cap 8. In particular, the closure element 29 has chamfered edges parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary shutter, so that the chamfers 31 thus formed come into contact with the ball holder and / or the ball when moving from the open position to the closed position. More precisely, the chamfers 31 are positioned and configured so that they form the first surface in contact with the ball applicator when closing the bottle, so as to direct the force resulting from this contact substantially towards the inside of the bottle, and thus facilitate the retraction of the ball holder 13 and the ball 12.

[0048] Alternatively, the chamfers 31 can be replaced by other shapes making it possible to prevent a sharp edge of the sealing means 29 from coming into contact with the ball 12. For example, rounded edges or fillets can be formed.

[0049] Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is obviously not limited to this single embodiment.

[0050] In particular, a particular shape of reservoir has been described in detail, but other shapes can be envisaged within the framework of the present invention, in particular any shape of revolution including a sphere, an oval or ovoid shape, a parallelepiped shape topped or not by a rounded shape such as a half disc, etc.

[0051] The shaft 11 can alternatively be replaced by two cylindrical studs formed on the inner faces (located towards the reservoir 1) of the uprights 7 of the rotary shutter 6, so as to be introduced on either side of the passage formed by the inner wall 10. In this case, the passage can be replaced by two cavities formed in the wall of the reservoir 11. Other means allowing the rotation of the rotary shutter are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a circular or arc-shaped boss can be formed on each of the inner faces of the uprights 7. The boss is engaged in a circular or arc-shaped groove of corresponding radius and formed in the wall of the reservoir 1.

[0052] Similarly, the axis of rotation of the rotary shutter can be formed at any part of the bottle, including the dispensing head.

[0053] The coil spring of the embodiment described above may be replaced by any suitable elastic means, including leaf springs and elements made of resilient materials such as rubber or silicone, or may have a different arrangement than that presented in the invention.

[0054] Furthermore, according to an example not forming part of the present invention, the bottle may have a ball applicator of which only the ball (and not the assembly comprising the ball and the ball holder) is movable between the open position and the closed position. According to another example not forming part of the present invention, the bottle may have a fixed ball applicator, the resilient or movable elements allowing the closure and sealing of the bottle being carried in the cap of the rotary shutter.

[0055] The bottle thus developed in the invention provides, thanks to the use of a rotating shutter, a compact and leak-proof roll-on applicator when the bottle is in the closed position, while benefiting from great ease of use. It also has the advantage of offering a captive shutter. Finally, the alternative to the caps known in the prior art offered by the subject of the present invention allows, according to certain embodiments, the obtaining of a bottle having a distinctive and attractive aesthetic for the user.

Claims

1. Bottle including a reservoir (1) having an internal volume (9) designed to contain a liquid or semi-fluid product and a dispensing head (2) projecting from the reservoir along a main axis (A), said dispensing head (2) including a ball applicator (5) including a ball holder (13) in which a ball (12) is confined freely in rotation and from which a dome (14) of the ball emerges on the side opposite the reservoir (1), the bottle including a rotary closure (6) designed to cover the ball applicator (5) when the bottle is in a closed position, and to be disengaged from said ball applicator (5) to enable the product to be dispensed when the bottle is in an open position, the rotary closure (6) being moveable in rotation relative to the rest of the bottle about a rotation axis (R) crossing said main axis (A) perpendicularly, the ball applicator (5) including an applicator body (18) in which the ball holder (13) is mounted in translation along the main axis (A), the ball applicator (5) including elastic means interposed between the applicator body (18) and the ball holder (13), and the ball applicator being designed so that the ball (12) can move in translation together with the ball holder (13) along the main axis (A) to adopt a retracted position in the dispensing head (2) when the ball applicator (5) is covered by the rotary closure (6) and the bottle is in the closed position, said elastic means being compressed, and to adopt a deployed position outside the dispensing head (2) under the effect of an expansion of the elastic means when the rotary closure (6) is released from the ball applicator (5), the rotary closure (6) including a cover (8) containing a closing element (29) including a concavity (30) shaped to fit the dome (14) of the ball (12) projecting from the ball holder (13), the closing element bearing against the upper face of the ball holder when the ball is engaged in the concavity (30).

2. Bottle according to Claim 1, wherein the ball holder (13) includes a product feed duct (17) extending along the main axis (A) toward the internal volume (9) and the applicator body (18) includes an upper volume (19) separated from the internal volume (9) of the reservoir (1) by a partition (25) including at its centre a well (26), the lower part of which is closed by a bottom (27), the walls of the well (26) including at least one aperture, said bottle being designed such that, when it is in the closed position, the feed duct (17) closes said aperture and when it is in the open position said aperture is open.

3. Bottle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic means is a helical spring (28).

4. Bottle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing element (29) includes a resilient element.

5. Bottle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing element (29) has chamfered edges parallel to the rotation axis (R) of the rotary closure (6), the chamfers (31) thus formed coming into contact with the ball (12) when switching from the open position to the closed position.

6. Bottle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the external shape of the reservoir (1) is rotationally symmetrical, said rotation axis (R) of the rotary closure (6) being coincident with an axis of revolution of the external shape of the reservoir (1).

7. Bottle according to Claim 6, wherein the external shape of the reservoir (1) is a cylinder, the height of which is less than or equal to its radius (r).

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