Consumable solid / pasty material refill to be applied to a bar-shaped support member for a refillable sliding case and material case relating thereto

Abstract

The bar-carrying cup (18) of a refill R comprises a lateral wall (29), a sliding slot (14), a housing (39) for receiving the bar B, a stud (40) which is secured to the lateral wall (29) and which has a stem (17), a means (55b) for stopping relative forward displacement in relation to a refill cap (27) which is located towards the front end (31) of the lateral wall (29), where the stem (17) can extend through the slot (14) and is extended by a distal manipulation slider (41), and an arrangement in association with the case which comprises a radially resiliently deformable structure (42).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of refillable sliding cases for packaging and application on a support of a consumable solid-paste material in the form of a stick, and to refills of such a stick of material for such a case. Prior art

[0002] In a more specifically described application, the material is a cosmetic product such as colored or colorless lipstick, foundation, a treatment or moisturizing composition, a skincare product such as a balm or deodorant, or a decorative product such as a colored pencil for the skin. The support is then the human body, particularly the face, nails, and hair. It may also be a different material which, with regard to its stick form, packaging, application, and use in a case, has similar technical characteristics. Thus, the invention is also applicable, in particular, to medicines or pharmaceutical products, cleaning products, and decorative products. This is how "material to be applied" (or more simply " matter ")must be understood. The application of the material to the support means the deposit of a certain quantity of material on the support by means of a light contact of the stick on the support, which may include a sliding motion.

[0003] " Stick " refers to the shape given to the material to be applied and also designates the corresponding block of material. For lipstick, the term " "Grapes". for others, the term " stick. The stick is cylindrical in shape with a front application end and a rear fixing end. " Before " refers to what is towards, or near, the application support and " back " is opposed to front. These terms front and rear also apply to the case and the refill.

[0004] In the case of lipstick, the stick most often contains a powder phase and a rather oily phase for ease and smooth application. Consequently, the stick is somewhat fragile, as touching it, grasping it, and especially squeezing it with the fingers leads to its deterioration and soiling the user's fingers.

[0005] In an application, a refillable sliding case is a lipstick case. Such a case is also intended for storage, transport, presentation and marketing, for keeping or placing in a suitable location (makeup bag, vanity, etc.) as well as for applying the lipstick, that is, its application to a surface. The term " case refers to a method of packaging with a certain rigidity, adapted to the shape of its contents (the stick), and designed to protect it and allow for its handling. The term "case"is not exclusive of others, such as "stick" (by ellipsis of "stick case"), "sheath", depending on the intended applications.

[0006] The case, which, like the lipstick and refill, has an extension axis (sometimes called an elliptical axis), comprises, firstly, a body, which is its main part, forming a support structure for the lipstick, most often including at least one hollow tubular section, a means of attaching the lipstick, a means for sliding the lipstick into place for use, and, secondly, an auxiliary part, which is a removable closing cap. The case is shaped to fit the lipstick (particularly cylindrical with a circular or oval outline), is generally rigid, self-supporting, portable, and easy for the user to handle. The case's dimensions are adapted to the lipstick. For example, it might be approximately 60 mm to 100 mm long and 20 mm to 40 mm in diameter for a lipstick. IlThe diameter can be larger in the case of a deodorant, or smaller in the case of a stick. For applying the stick's product, the main part of the container is used, with the cap removed and detached. Thus, the container can be in two states: open (cap detached from the body), or closed (cap attached to the body).

[0007] In general, the qualifier "associated" used in relation to several means should be understood as meaning that these means are combined structurally and / or functionally with a view to a certain result.

[0008] "Axial" refers to what is arranged in line with or parallel to it (including substantially parallel), "cross-cutting" to that which is arranged perpendicular to the axis (including substantially perpendicularly) and whether or not it passes through it, "radial" to that which extends in a transverse direction passing through the axis. "Perimeter"refers to what goes around, relative to the axis. "Peripheral" " refers to what is arranged around the perimeter." Internal " or "interior" refers to what is closest to the axis or turned towards it. " External " Or "exterior" refers to what is furthest from the axis or turned in the opposite direction to it. "Lateral" refers to what is on the side of the axis.

[0009] "Sliding"The term "describing the case (or a specific part of the case) means that its design allows its contents (the stick) to slide between a retracted (concealed) and a protruding configuration. In the retracted configuration, the stick is placed inside the hollow main section of the case and is not in use. In the protruding configuration, the front end of the stick and an adjacent section protrude forward from the main section, allowing the stick to be used for applying the material.

[0010] According to an initial model, sliding is an exclusively axial, non-rotational movement, and for this reason is described as " right According to a second embodiment, sliding is a combined axial and rotary movement around the axis, and for this reason is described as "helical"In this case, two cylinders mounted one inside the other are generally provided, sliding and rotating, one comprising a straight slot or groove and the other a helical slot or groove, cooperating with a projection of a moving part.

[0011] "Rechargeable" "Qualifying a given case" means that new, identical, or similar sticks (for example, of a different color or fragrance) can be attached to that case as needed or desired, particularly when a previous stick has been completely used. "Attached" here more precisely means that the stick is mounted on and inside the case, so that it is carried and held by it, and thus can be used for application. In this configuration, the stick, thus mounted, constitutes or belongs to what is called "Charging in place".

[0012] "Empty case" refers to the case alone, without a refill in place, therefore without a stick.Il It is essentially a mechanical device that allows a stick to be attached to it. Charging case " refers to the case with a refill attached, i.e., a stick, which includes the case of a refilled case. This is what the user can use for applying the material.

[0013] As this is a cosmetic product, it is sometimes necessary for the packaging to have a high-quality appearance for the buyer or user. Its attractive design can be interpreted at first glance as a promise of quality, inspiring confidence. Often, it is desirable for the buyer or user to know exactly what the package contains when it is closed, for example, the color of the grape. For this purpose, the package may feature a small color indicator matching the grape, or all or part of the outer surface of the package may be that color. In other cases, such as with certain everyday products, it is only necessary that the appearance be pleasing.

[0014] "Recharge"In relation to a stick of material, refers to a structural unit (sometimes also called a spare or cartridge) available to the user by virtue of having acquired it, comprising at least one stick, which is separate from the empty case, and which is intended to connect the stick to the empty case. The operation by which a stick from a new refill is connected to a case is called " set up The preliminary operation by which a stick that was previously attached to a sheath is separated from it is called kidnapping ". A charging station can be found in several successive configurations (meaning constitution, disposition, arrangement). In a first configuration, the charging station is then described as " packaged ", is as it is presented for sale and made available to the user and may include over-packaging such as a box, sleeve or envelope. Then, in a second configuration, then described as " unpackedThe user removed the outer packaging in preparation for the upcoming installation. In a third configuration, described as "new and ready", The refill is in the state just before insertion, making it possible. Between the unboxed configuration and the new, ready configuration, the user may have performed a preparatory operation. Finally, in a fourth and final configuration, then referred to as "in place," the user has inserted the new, ready refill, so that the charged case can then be used. In this configuration, the stick is consumed with each use, and once it has been completely used, the refill is considered " consumed ", it being understood that there always remains a residual part of the stick unused, but practically unusable, or that the user may not wait until the stick has been completely used when wishing to use another stick. The term used is " recharge "without further qualification, when it is not required to distinguish its configuration.

[0015] We know of a first type of lipstick case (US 1236846, US 1862271) which, as designed, is not refillable. When the lipstick bullet has been completely or almost completely used, the user must discard the case, which is unacceptable if this is deemed unacceptable due to the cost of the case, the user's attachment to it (for its quality, design, or brand), or for environmental reasons. FR 255643, FR 2577397, and FR 2603468 describe cases of this first type comprising an inner tubular metal element and an outer molded plastic sleeve. EP 0597591 describes a cosmetic product applicator but is not intended to offer a new arrangement for lipstick refills or the substitution of one colored ointment for another, as this is considered unsanitary, since all the lipstick stick materials touch and contaminate the inside of the case.The aim is to provide a system in which the case is sold separately from the lipstick cup, and the two are combined to form a new, permanent unit. The cup, which holds the lipstick bullet, is designed to have rear-facing clip-on protrusions arranged to permanently engage with a transverse edge of a cup holder that is part of the case.

[0016] US 6033140 describes an applicator comprising a stick-holder cup mounted in a body, on which a cap is removably mounted. The cup has a peripheral side wall having, on one side, a front portion with a front end having a front opening limited by a front free edge, and a hollow rear portion with a rear end, and on the other side, an external face and an internal face delimiting an internal space with a front recess. The cup also has a lug having a peduncle extending into a manipulation slider arranged to be touched, pressed, and moved by the user to move the cup by sliding.The cup also features an attachment arrangement comprising a radially elastically deformable structure with a projecting portion of its outer face, located at the rear, situated at the rear extremity on its free edge, directed radially outwards and arranged to allow elastic inward movement. This portion is formed along several peripheral sectors of the lateral wall in the rear section, between two axially extended discontinuities. This cup is inserted into the body during manufacturing and cannot subsequently be separated by the user, as the rear groove is extended forward by a narrower front slot. With such an applicator, it is not possible for the cup to be included in a refill pack, as the cup cannot be inserted into the cartridge by the user, and indeed, it is not designed for this purpose.Furthermore, the side wall of the cup is separated from the side wall of the body, causing it to wobble. This cup, as currently designed, is neither intended to be part of a baton refill nor suitable for such use.

[0017] The invention does not belong to this first type of non-refillable cases. A second type of cases, refillable, overcomes the previous drawbacks and comes in several families.

[0018] In one type of refillable case, a grape-receiving cup is integrated and permanently into the case. The refill consists of a grape and a protective coating in the form of a soft, wax-like material with a removal tab. The refill does not include a cup or similar device. To insert the grape, the user grasps the coating, then, using the tab, detaches the rear end of the coating to expose the back of the grape, which can then be placed in the cup. The grape remains protected by the coating at its front end, preventing damage and keeping the user's fingers clean. The drawback of this design is that removing the coating is a complicated and inefficient process. Furthermore, it generates waste, which is contrary to environmental requirements.Furthermore, when replacing the remains of a grape with a new one, it is necessary to clean the container and remove the unused grape residue, a lengthy, tedious, and messy operation. The invention does not belong to this first category.

[0019] In a second type of refillable case, a grape-holding cup is provided, on the one hand, to support the grapes and constitute the refill, and on the other hand, separately, a sliding, movable support that is an integral and permanent part of the case. The cup and the movable support each have complementary, removable, rigid joining means. According to FR 2642624, the movable support has a thread, and the grape holder has a thread and a keyway. The grape holder is screwed onto the thread of the support. A handling cap is provided with a keyway that complements that of the grape holder; these keys are used both for screwing in for installation and for unscrewing for removal, ensuring rotational locking. The drawback of this case is that the operations of joining and disjoining the keys and threads are neither intuitive, easy, nor quick, and require care and meticulousness.The correct and effective alignment of the keys and threads is not guaranteed. The handling cap must be retained when unscrewing and removing the grape holder. The handling cap is not attached to the grape holder. According to EP 3148367, the grape is mounted in a cup (grape-holding cup) using a toothed arrangement or by clamping, and this cup is securely and removably mounted on the slide (moving support) by means of a screw assembly or the interlocking of male and female or magnetic components. A refill consists of a grape, a refill cup, and a refill cap. The disadvantage of this design is that the installation and, especially, removal operations are complicated and time-consuming, and removal, in particular, requires an extractor.

[0020] The designs belonging to the second category all have the drawback of requiring not only a bucket but also a movable support, i.e., two parts, which is detrimental in terms of raw material quantity, weight, cost, and complexity. The invention does not belong to this second category.

[0021] In a third category, only a grape-holding cup is provided, supporting the grape directly within the case, without the need for an intermediate sliding support belonging to the case. FR 1124179 describes a cup, intended to be part of a refill for a lipstick tube, whose function is to hold the tube. The cup is suitable for use with a retractable hollow case comprising, on one side, a hollow cylinder with an open front edge and a helical lateral slot, and on the other side, a body with an axial internal groove. The slot and the groove, of constant width and without narrowing, open onto the front edge.The cup is designed so that, once filled with a lipstick, it can be inserted into the case, slid helically between two positions (retracted and protruding), and then extracted and separated from the case when desired, especially after the lipstick has been used. The cup has a cylindrical peripheral side wall with an axis. This side wall has a front section with an opening at the front and a rear section at the rear, and an outer and inner face that define a space. The cup also has a transverse partition attached to the side wall within this space. The cup thus creates a recess in the front section of the space, designed to receive the lipstick by its rear end against the transverse partition.The slot, groove, and a lug on the cup form a suitable assembly arrangement that allows the cup to be mounted and guided within the case via helical sliding. This assembly arrangement relies on the characteristic that the lug cooperates with the slot and groove. In this way, the cup is moved by sliding and held in the sliding position to which it has been brought. The cup lug is integral with the side wall, in a mid-position between the front and rear ends, and extends radially outwards. The lug consists of a single part cooperating with the slot and groove, its function being to guide the cup's helical sliding motion. IlIt has no outward extension. Once the cup is in place, the tab is entirely inside the case and therefore cannot be directly touched, pressed, or moved by the user. Apart from the tab, the outer face of the side wall is cylindrical without any radially outward projecting portion. The tab also serves as a means of preventing the relative movement of the cup, designed to cooperate with a complementary means of preventing relative movement of a protective and handling cap, namely a slot formed in the side wall of the cap. Consequently, the means of preventing the relative movement of the cup is offset from the front end of the side wall and coincides with the projection. This protective and handling cap is separate from the cup and is designed to be mounted onto it by sliding it in with significant engagement, up to the tab.To load the cartridge, the cup is inserted into the case opening and locked axially against its front edge. The case operating head is then rotated until the lug engages the groove and then the slot. Consequently, cup insertion is delicate and risky because the cup remains on the edge of the case opening until it enters the groove. This requires, in particular, that the case be held perfectly vertical along its axis while simultaneously rotating the case operating head. Il The same applies to removal. Furthermore, the arrangement described in this document is limited to helical sliding and does not allow for straight sliding. Consequently, the case necessarily comprises an inner cylinder and an outer body, i.e., two parts, not including the cup and the cap. IlThis results in a high cost, a significant amount of material, and complex assembly. Furthermore, the user has no way of knowing the exact contents of the refill once it is inserted and the case is closed.

[0022] US 2921675 describes a cosmetic container having an open-ended tubular housing for propelling a lipstick, and a lipstick support assembly comprising a tubular cup and a closure cap engaged by friction on the external surface of the cup and not able to enter the tubular housing.

[0023] FR 1246819 describes packaging and presentation of lipstick sticks and the appropriate mechanical case allowing the renewal of the worn stick, in which the lipstick stick is delivered from the factory in its cup, the latter is capped with a protective capsule which does not touch the stick. Summary of the invention

[0024] The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks and limitations of the sliding cases and refills of the third family to which it belongs. Thus, the problem underlying the invention is, within the framework of this third family, to be able to have a refillable sliding case (without its own sliding support) and a refill incorporating a stick-holding cup, with both: A simple design with few components, namely two main parts: a metal casing and a plastic cup, in addition to a refill cap and a case closure. Consequently, a reduced quantity of materials is required, manufacturing is simple, and the cost is acceptable. Minimal material is discarded during removal. The cup, and therefore the stick, remains perfectly stable and free from play or wobble, especially under vibration (during transport, for example). Furthermore, the friction between the cup and the casing varies minimally, even with changes in environmental parameters such as temperature and aging. Lubrication (such as with silicone) is unnecessary, which is an advantage from an aesthetic point of view, and in the event of accidental lubrication (from the stick), there is no negative impact on functionality.The cup can be easily inserted into the case for refilling by the user, requiring no tools, no screwing, no excessive effort, no damage to the stick, and no soiling of the fingers, even when the refill is grasped. Removing the cup from the case is equally easy. During insertion, the cup slides smoothly by the user directly pressing on the tab. The term "user" should be understood in its entirety. The sliding motion is regular, smooth, and without jerking. "smooth",Easy and pleasant throughout its entire travel, except for a functional stiff point between the extreme retracted and extended configurations, with controlled braking and, simultaneously, effective support of the baton in the extended configuration, without any unwanted movement. There is no squeaking during operation; the noise is low and pleasant. Removal requires no disengagement tools or cleaning of a cup that is an integral part of the sheath. A high-quality appearance. The material (including the color) of the baton can be identified from outside the closed sheath, which is equipped with its cover. Very flexible in design, the sliding mechanism can be straight or helical, and the sheath support structure can have one or more slots, with one or more projections featuring a distal section for manual gripping by the user.

[0025] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a stick-holding cup comprising, with an axis: a peripheral lateral cup wall, rigid as a whole, comprising on the one hand a front cup portion with a front cup end having a front cup opening limited by a front free edge of the cup, and a rear cup portion with a rear end of the cup, and on the other hand an external cup face and an internal cup face delimiting an internal cup space with a front cup housing, a lug integral with the lateral wall, extending radially outwards, comprising a proximal peduncle outwards by means of a manipulation slider arranged to be able to be touched, pressed and moved by the user in order to move the sliding cup, an association arrangement comprising a radially elastically deformable structure, belonging to or associated with the lateral wall, comprising a projecting portion of the external face, located in the rear part,located at the rear end on its free edge, directed radially outwards and arranged so as to be able to be moved elastically inwards.

[0026] This cupule is such that: a protruding portion is a ridge, and the connection between the ridge and the rear free edge has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the outer face, the outer face radially opposite the peripheral sectors has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer face radially opposite the front part, the front free edge forms a means of stopping relative displacement of cupule forward, it further includes a means, being a recessed relief, of removable rigid association of cupule, belonging to the lateral wall and located towards the front end.

[0027] Thus, the cup, intended to be part of a refill of a stick of consumable solid-pasty material to be applied to a support and having the function of holding the stick in the front housing, is suitable to be associated with a hollow, retractable case, having a body and a lateral sliding slot extended axially at the front end which can be crossed by the peduncle.

[0028] Depending on the design, a single lug, two lugs, or at least three lugs with a peduncle and a slider are provided, regularly distributed around the axis in the case of multiple lugs. The slider is either an integral part of the cup, forming a single piece with it, or it is attached to it by means of an association such as screwing, gluing, clipping, or press-fitting, and / or it is enlarged to facilitate its touch, operation, and movement by the user, and / or its appearance, particularly its color shade, corresponds to the characteristics, including the color shade, of the stick.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the cupule has in its internal cupule space a transverse wall, in particular a transverse wall having a hole or vent, between the front part of the cupule and the rear part of the cupule.

[0030] According to a first embodiment, the salient portion is provided on several peripheral sectors of the lateral wall in the rear part of the cupule, a peripheral sector being limited by two solutions of continuity, with two solutions of continuity on either side of a salient portion.

[0031] According to a second embodiment, the salient portion is provided on several peripheral sectors of the lateral wall in the rear part of the cupule, a peripheral sector extending continuously with the neighboring, contiguous peripheral sectors, the peripheral lateral wall of the cupule being elastically deformable radially between two neighboring ridges.

[0032] Depending on the design, the cup is made of plastic in whole or in part.

[0033] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a refilling of a baton, in its new and ready configuration just before the baton is inserted into an empty case, comprising, with an axle: a stick-holder cup as previously described, a stick of material whose rear part is received in the front housing of the cup, so as to hold it, and whose front part protrudes towards the front of the front housing, a reloading cap, rigid as a whole, having a peripheral casing comprising a lateral part and a summit part opposite a base having an opening, an external face and an internal face delimiting an internal housing for the protruding part of the stick, and comprising: o a means for stopping relative rearward movement of the cap with respect to the cup, located towards the opening of the cap and arranged to cooperate with the front edge of the cup forming a means for stopping relative forward movement of the cup with respect to the cap, ∘ a means for stopping relative rearward movement of the cap with respect to the case,capable of cooperating with a means of preventing relative forward movement of the case with respect to the cap.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the means for stopping relative displacement of the cap backwards with respect to the cup includes a transverse notch in the inner face of the lateral part of the cap's envelope, located towards the opening of the cap by means of an axial separation from it, and turned towards the opening of the cap.

[0035] According to the embodiments, the means of stopping relative rearward movement of the cap relative to the case is, in the case of a cylindrical cap base, the edge limiting the opening of the cap and, in the case of a cap base flared towards the opening of the cap, the part of the inner face of the cap adjacent to the edge limiting the opening of the cap.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the new and ready refill further comprises a removable rigid association means for the cap to the cup, belonging to the inner face of the lateral part of the cap's envelope, located towards the opening of the cap by means of an axial separation therefrom, capable of cooperating with the removable rigid association means for the cup to the cap, namely the recessed relief, so that, on the one hand, the cap and the cup can form a unitary assembly allowing the cup to be manipulated for placement via the cap, on the other hand, the cap and the cup can be separated from each other after placement.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the removable rigid association means for cup-shaped caps includes a projecting relief, in particular a boss, ridge or part of a ridge.

[0038] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a refill in its installed configuration, with the stick attached to a sheath, which is analogous to that previously described, but without a refill cap, the latter having been detached from the stick-holder cup at the end of the installation process. This refill in its installed configuration, with the stick attached to the sheath, comprises, with an axis: a stick-holder cup as described, a stick of material whose rear part is received in the front housing of the cup, so as to hold it, and whose front part protrudes towards the front of the front housing, a relative displacement stopping means intended for a cap having been dissociated from the stick-holder cup at the end of the placement, towards the rear relative to the cup, located towards the opening of the cap, a relative displacement stopping means intended for the cap having been dissociated from the stick-holder cup at the end of the placement, towards the rear relative to the case.

[0039] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a rechargeable sliding case according to claim 11.

[0040] This empty case is such that: It is specially adapted to be used with a stick from a new and ready refill as previously described, except for the closing cap. ilis essentially constituted by the case side wall with its base, excluding any other cylinder, sheath, slide or cup holder; the slot is through and adapted to cooperate with the peduncle that passes through it, to guide the cup; the inner face of the case side wall is designed to cooperate with the radially elastically deformable structure of the cup, so as - the elastically deformable structure being constrained inwards by the inner face of the case side wall - to ensure a smooth friction contact and braking of the cup on the case during the stroke corresponding to the extreme retracted and protruding configurations, controlled so that the cup is moved smoothly when the slider is moved by the user, and that in the absence of user input, the cup remains in the sliding position to which it has been brought, including during the application of the material,While the stick is in light contact with the support, it includes a means for preventing relative forward movement of the case with respect to the reloading cap, capable of cooperating with a means for preventing relative rearward movement of the cap with respect to the case.

[0041] The sliding slot has a narrower section located towards - but away from - the front end of the slot interposed between a main section and an infeed section, these two sections being of the same transverse width.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the empty case also includes an extended axially formed lateral widening slot in the side wall of the case, with an open front end, intended to allow the narrowing to widen slightly when the peduncle passes through it.

[0043] Depending on the design, the sliding slot is either straight or helical, the sliding of the rod being either straight or helical.

[0044] Depending on the design, the empty case has a single sliding slot, or two sliding slots, or at least three sliding slots.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the means of stopping relative forward movement of the case with respect to the cap is the free edge of the front opening of the case.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the case side wall is made of metal by machining, including drilling or turning, the inner face of the side wall being free of undercut or undercut.

[0047] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a case loaded with a stick of solid-pasty material, comprising an empty refillable sliding case as previously described, and a refill in place as previously described, in which the cup is directly associated with the case.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the peduncle has a dimension in the transverse direction chosen so as to be: slightly less than the width of the main section of the sliding slot, within the necessary clearance to guide the cup into the sheath with a smooth sliding motion, over the stroke of the main section of the slot between the extreme retracted and protruding configurations, slightly greater than the width of a narrowing of the sliding slot in the absence of widening stress or narrowing stress in the transverse direction of the peduncle.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the width of the constriction is slightly less than the transverse dimension of the peduncle, which during sliding: may come to rest against the rear edge of the constriction, thus forming a hard point, so that the cup and the case, once joined, cannot be uncoupled unexpectedly, but can be separated by sufficient forward force of the slider to overcome the hard point, the main slot section, between the rear edge of the constriction and the closed rear end of the slot defining the stroke between the extreme retracted and protruding configurations, may come to rest against the front edge of the constriction, thus forming a hard point, which can be overcome by sufficient rearward force of the cap or slider.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the side wall of the case and the cup, arranged with straight or helical sliding, are in contact with the metal and plastic material.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the external face of the cup radially aligned with the front part and the internal face of the case form a precise sliding assembly, on the axial sliding stroke of the cup relative to the case between its two extreme configurations, respectively retracted and protruding, the side wall of the case being made of metal by machining, without undercut or undercut, while the cup is made of plastic.

[0052] According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a method for placing a stick of a new and ready refill, as described, into a refillable, empty sliding case, as described, in which: We have such an empty case available, we have such a new and ready refill available, we grasp the empty case and the new and ready refill by the refill cap, and we bring the rear part of the cup opposite the front opening of the case, coaxially and with the lug of the cup opposite the front opening of the sliding slot, we push the rear part of the cup into the front part of the case and the lug into the sliding slot, we ensure a relative movement of the cup filled with the stick and associated with the refill cap, and of the case, so as to push the stick into the inner housing of the case, and we separate the refill cap and the cup.

[0053] According to one embodiment, to separate the refill cap and the cup, the peduncle is brought to the second hard point against the front edge of the narrowing, then the edge of the cap opening is brought against the edge of the case opening by forcing the front edge of the narrowing through, then the cleaner is moved backwards so as to separate the respective removable rigid association means of the cap and the cup.

[0054] According to one embodiment, a spent refill was removed beforehand and, for this purpose, the slider was moved forward so as to slide the cup forward, and make it pass through the constriction until the cup was completely extracted from the inner housing of the case, without the need for an extractor or similar. Brief description of the drawings

[0055] [ Fig. 1] is a front elevation view of a closed loaded case showing its side wall and closing cap and the slider for manipulating the cup inserted in the case; Fig. 2 ] and the ; [ Fig. 3 ] are two views, respectively front, side, and top, of the case loaded with the figure 1 ; Fig. 4 ] is a front elevation view of an open loaded case with the cap removed. The figure shows the side wall of the case, a sliding slot (here on the right), the portion of the cup protruding from the side wall of the case, the stick of material to be applied, and the manipulator slider for moving the cup; [ Fig. 5 ] And ; [ Fig. 6 ] are two cross-sectional views of the loaded case according to the VV and VI-VI section planes of the figures 2 and 1These figures show, in particular, the stick in its fully retracted position and the manipulation slider allowing the cup to slide. These figures illustrate the radially elastically deformable structure of the cup in contact with the inner face of the peripheral side wall of the case. These figures illustrate, on the one hand, the sliding assembly of the front part of the cup in the case body, by means of a very limited sliding assembly clearance made possible by a cup made of plastic and a case made of metal by machining or similar means; on the other hand, an arrangement comprising an elastically deformable structure of the rear part of the cup, such as to ensure a soft friction contact and braking of the cup on the case. Fig. 7] is a side elevation view of a refill in its new and ready configuration, showing the cup with its slider and the refill cap mounted on the cup in its embodiment variant with the extreme part towards the edge limiting its flared opening; [ Fig. 8A ] is a front elevation view of the charging of the figure 7 . [ Fig. 8B ] is a front elevation view of the refill in its embodiment variant with the extreme part towards the edge limiting its cylindrical opening; [ Fig. 9 ] is a cross-sectional view along the cutting plane IX-IX of the figure 8A , of the new and ready refill, showing the cup with its slider, the stick of material and the refill cap mounted on the cup. It illustrates the radially elastically deformable structure of the cup; Fig. 10] is a front elevation view of the side wall of the open empty case, without the closing cap, showing the sliding slot, here a straight slot. It also shows a removable rigid means of securing the wall to the cap; Fig. 11 ] is a front rear elevation view of the side wall of the open empty case, without the closing cap, showing the expansion slot; Fig. 12 ] is a top view of the side wall of the open empty case of Figures 10 and 11 , showing the sliding slot and the widening slot; Fig. 13 [ ] is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the side wall of the open, empty case, without the closing cap, showing the sliding slot and its narrowing. Fig. 13A ] is an enlargement of the figure 13 showing the narrowing of the sliding slot; [ Fig. 14] is a frontal elevation view of the cup showing its lateral wall, its distal manipulation slider, its radially elastically deformable structure, and the removable rigid association means of the cup to the cap, here in the form of a groove; [ Fig. 15 ] is a side elevation view of the cupule of the figure 14 ; Fig. 16 ] is a top view of the cupule of the Figures 14 and 15 , showing the proximal peduncle of the spur and the gripping features of the stick; Fig. 17 ] is a cross-sectional view according to the section plane XVII-XVII of the figure 14, of the cup showing its lateral wall, its slider, its radially elastically deformable structure of which a protruding portion is a ridge, the connection between the ridge and the rear free edge of the cup having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the external face of the cup, the part of the external face of the cup radially opposite the peripheral sectors which has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the external face of the cup radially opposite its front part, and a means, being a recessed relief, of a removable rigid association of cup, belonging to its lateral wall towards its front end.This figure shows that the cupule, intended to be part of a refill for a stick of consumable solid-paste material to be applied to a support and whose function is to hold the stick in its front housing, is suitable for being associated with a hollow, retractable sheath, having a body, a front sheath opening limited by a front sheath edge and a lateral sliding slot extending axially at the front end which can be traversed by the peduncle. [. Fig. 18 ] is a front elevation view of the refill cap in its embodiment variant with an extreme portion towards the edge limiting its flared opening; [ Fig. 19 ] is a cross-sectional view of the refill cap of the figure 18, along line XIX-XIX, showing its peripheral envelope with its lateral and apex parts, its base having an opening, an internal housing, a means of preventing relative rearward movement of the cap relative to the cupule, here in the form of a transverse notch, a means of preventing relative rearward movement of the cap relative to the case, and a means of rigidly removable association of the cap to the cupule, here a relief comprising several bosses. Fig. 19A ] is a partial enlargement of the figure 19 ; Fig. 20A ] ; ] Fig. 20B ] ; ] Fig. 20C ] ; ] Fig. 20D ] ; ] Fig. 20E ] ; And [ Fig. 20F ] ; are six diagrams in frontal elevation illustrating successive steps in loading a baton refill into an empty case; ] Fig. 21A ] ; And [ Fig. 21B] are two detailed diagrams illustrating the insertion of a baton refill into an empty case, specifically the removal of the refill cap; Fig. 22 ] is a side elevation view analogous to the figure 15 , of a cup variant featuring two pushers. Description of the implementation methods

[0056] The following is a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, accompanied by examples and references to drawings.

[0057] The scope of the invention has been mentioned previously, as has some general knowledge of a person skilled in the art. The terms and expressions used in the following description should be understood as previously stated (e.g., front, back, axial, etc.). There is no need to repeat them. While the following description refers to a lipstick case, the invention may have other applications, as previously mentioned.

[0058] The invention relates in particular to a case E for a stick of solid-pasty material B, consumable (such as in particular lipstick), to be applied to a support (such as in particular the human body), by means of a light contact of the stick on the support, which may include a sliding, by means of a refill R of stick B.

[0059] Reference E generally designates the case or the relevant part of the case, whether in the open state (body 1 detached from the cover 2) or closed state (body 1 attached to the cover 2), and whether it is in its " empty case (without R refill in place, therefore without stick B) or in its " configuration "Charged case" (which includes the case of a recharged case), in which case E is associated with an in-place refill R, therefore a stick B. This is what the user can use for the application of the stick material.

[0060] The reference R generally designates the recharge or the considered part of the recharge, whether in its " brand new and ready » just preceding placement in an E case, so as to make it possible, or in the final configuration » in place » in which a new and ready refill (with a new stick B) is in place in the case E, which is then charged and can be used, or even in the “consumed” configuration in which stick B has been consumed.

[0061] Reference B generally designates the stick which may be new as shown in the figures, or more or less used or finally consumed.

[0062] As this is a retractable case E, the baton B can be moved axially relative to the case E between two extreme configurations, respectively retracted ( figures 5 and 6 ) and protruding ( figure 20F). Consequently, the reload R in place (which includes stick B), is itself axially movable by sliding between these two extreme configurations.

[0063] The case E and the refill R both have a general rectilinear reference direction, or axis A, which may be at least partially a circle of revolution or symmetry. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the case E and the refill R, and their constituent parts, have a general cylindrical or near-cylindrical shape and a circumference (or outline) with a circular or nearly circular cross-section. These embodiments do not preclude others in which the circumference is oval, for example (typically for a deodorant stick). In all cases, the shapes of the case E, the refill R, and the stick B are adapted to each other to allow for their mutual assembly and sliding. Straight sliding can be achieved with a circular or other shape, such as an oval, while helical sliding requires a circular shape.

[0064] The E case can have a length of approximately 60 mm to 100 mm and a diameter of approximately 20 mm to 40 mm for a lipstick. It can have a larger or smaller diameter for other application materials.

[0065] The E case, in its loaded configuration ( figures 1 to 6 ) and in the closed state, comprises a case body 1, a closing cover 2 of the body 1, rigidly and removably mounted on it, and a reload R in its in-place configuration, associated with the body 1, i.e., carried by the body 1. In its loaded configuration and in the open state - closing cover 2 removed - ( figure 20F ), the case E is essentially made up of the body 1 and the refill R in its configuration in place.

[0066] We now refer more specifically to Figures 10 to 13Awhich illustrate in detail the body 1 of the empty and open case E (closing cap 2 removed). The body 1 comprises, and more precisely, is made up of a peripheral side wall of the case 3, rigid as a whole.

[0067] The side wall 3 includes firstly a front part of the case 4 with a front end of the case 5 having a front opening of the case 6 limited by a free front edge of the case 7.

[0068] The side wall 3 includes, secondly, a rear case portion 8 with a rear case end 9 having a base 10, which is closed. Furthermore, the side wall 3 has an external case face 11 and an internal case face 12, which defines an internal case compartment 13, suitable for receiving the baton B. Here, the side wall 3 is made of metal, such as aluminum, typically anodized aluminum, by machining, including drilling or turning, the internal face 12 being free of draft or undercut. With this design, the internal face 12 has a transverse dimension that is not only constant along the axis A, but also has the precision that such machining allows.

[0069] A lateral sliding slot 14 is provided in the side wall 3. A "The sliding slot should be understood as meaning at least one slot. The sliding slot 14 is through slot and extends axially between a front end 15, open at the opening 6 and the edge 7, and a closed rear end 16, adjacent to the rear end 9 of the case and its base 10, by means of a gap in the axial direction. The sliding slot 14 is adapted to cooperate with a stalk 17 of a baton-holder cup 18 forming part of the reload R, which stalk 17 radially traverses the entire sliding slot 14 and serves to guide the cup 18 along the axis A. On the Figures 10 , 13 and 13A , it is provided that the sliding slot 14 has a flared front end 15, suitable for facilitating the axial introduction of the peduncle 17 by the user during the installation operation.

[0070] The sliding slot 14 has a constriction 19. This constriction 19 is located towards the front end 15 of the slot 14, but nevertheless away from it and is interposed between two slot segments which it separates: a main slot segment 14a, located at the rear of the constriction 19 between the rear edge 21 of the constriction 19 and the rear end 16 of the sliding slot 14 and an introduction segment 14b, located at the front of the constriction 19.The main slot section 14a and the introduction section 14b are of width in the transverse direction such that the peduncle 17 can pass through and slide axially in both sections 14a, 14b with the same ease by the user himself for the use of the stick, as well as the operations of setting up and removing it. For example, the two sections 14a, 14b are of the same transverse width, corresponding to the dimension in the transverse direction of the peduncle 17 so that it is both guided and can be moved as indicated, that is to say that the width of the slot, 14 in sections 14a and 14b, is very slightly greater than the dimension in the transverse direction of the peduncle 17, which corresponds to the (necessary) clearance for assembly and sliding. In an exemplary embodiment of the game in question, the two sections 14a, 14b have a width of 3.2 mm and the peduncle 17 has a dimension in the transverse direction of 3 mm.The clearance is then 0.2 mm. This value is not limiting, as the clearance is on the order of a fraction of a millimeter. It should be understood that the width of sections 14a and 14b is very slightly greater than the transverse dimension of the peduncle 17. The axial length of the main section 14a defines the sliding stroke of the reload R and the stick B between the extreme retracted and protruding configurations. This axial length corresponds to the length of the new stick section B outside the cup 18. For a case E with dimensions of the order indicated above, the main slot section 14a can have an axial length of approximately 35 mm and the insertion section 14b an axial length of less than 10 mm.These values ​​are exemplary, on the one hand, of the fact that the main section of the slot 14a has an axial length of the order of several times that of the introduction section 14b, for example of the order of 3 to 4 times, on the other hand, that the axial length of the introduction section 14b is of the order of several times the dimension in the transverse direction of the peduncle 17, for example of the order of 3 to 4 times.

[0071] The constriction 19 comprises a front edge 20 and a rear edge 21, connecting to the unconstricted portions of the slot 14 towards the inlet section 14b and towards the main section 14a, and an intermediate constricted portion 22 between the edges 20 and 21. The width (in the transverse direction) of the constricted portion 22 of the constriction 19 is slightly less than the transverse dimension of the peduncle 17. In the same exemplary embodiment as before, the width of the constricted portion 22 is 2.6 mm, while the peduncle 17 has a transverse dimension of 3 mm. This difference in dimensions is not limiting, as the clearance is on the order of a fraction of a millimeter. It is thus understood that the transverse width of the constricted portion 22 is slightly less than the transverse dimension of the peduncle 17.The front edge 20 connecting the constriction 19 to the inlet section 14b is angled (relative to axis A) with a sufficiently long axial extension so that the passage, by the user, of the peduncle 17 from the inlet section 14b to the constriction 19, necessary when inserting the refill, is gradual, easy, and without undue effort. By "without undue effort" is meant an effort that does not exceed the effort generally accepted for a user to open a container (such as unscrewing a cap like that of a cosmetic container in order to open it, pressing a push button like that associated with a snap-on tab of a lid in order to open the corresponding case, tearing open the protective cardboard of a cosmetic container; this list is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative).The rear edge 21 connecting the narrowing 19 to the main section 14a is also angled with a sufficiently small axial extension length so that, on the one hand, when the user slides the stick B forward in the normal movement required for its use, the risk of the peduncle 17 unexpectedly exceeding the rear edge 21 is prevented or at least greatly reduced, and, on the other hand, when the user wants to remove the refill to replace it, he can, with the required force but without excessive effort, allow the peduncle 17 to pass through the narrowing 19 in order to enter the introduction section 14b.In the same exemplary embodiment as before, the front edge 20 has an axial extension length of the order of 1.8 mm and the rear edge 21 has an axial extension length of the order of 1 mm, while the constriction 19 proper (the edges 20 and 21 not being included) has an axial extension length of the order of 2.8 mm, that is to say of the order of the dimension in the transverse direction of the peduncle 17.

[0072] Since the width of the constriction 19 is slightly less than that of the peduncle 17, a lateral widening slot 23 is provided in the lateral wall 3. This slot allows, through minimal elastic deformation of the lateral wall 3 designed for this purpose, the constriction 19 to widen slightly when the peduncle 17 passes through it (towards the rear or towards the front). In the embodiment shown in the figure 11, the widening slot 23 is extended axially between a front end 24, open on the opening 6 and the edge 7, and a rear end 25, closed, close to the bottom 9, and for example more or less in the same transverse plane as the rear end 16. The width of the widening slot 22 can be minimal and where appropriate the widening slot 22 can be without substantial removal of the constitutive material of the side wall 3.

[0073] According to the implementation of the figures 4 to 6 And 10 à 13A The sliding slot 14 is straight, the sliding of stick B and refill R being straight. Depending on the implementation of the Figures 20A to 20F The sliding slot 14 is helical, and the sliding of the stick B and the reload R is helical. Depending on the implementation of the figures 4 to 6 , 10 à 13A , 20A to 20F, a single sliding slot 14 is provided. In other embodiments, not shown, two sliding slots 14 are provided, or at least three sliding slots 14.

[0074] The body 1 (i.e., the side wall 3) also includes a means 26a for preventing the relative forward movement of the case with respect to a reloading cap 27, which is part of the reload R in its new and ready configuration. This relative movement-stopping means 26a is adapted to cooperate with a means 26b for preventing the relative rearward movement of the reloading cap with respect to the case. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the relative forward movement-stopping means 26a with respect to the reloading cap 27 is the front free edge of the case 7.

[0075] Generally speaking, a "means for preventing the relative movement of a first part forward (or backward) with respect to a second part" should be understood as a mechanical structural means (typically a relief, projection, edge, stop, or similar feature) that belongs to—and is part of—the first part and that prevents the relative movement, along axis A, forward (or backward) of the first part with respect to the second part when this means of preventing the relative movement of the first part cooperates by contact so as to interfere with a complementary means of preventing the relative movement, along axis A, of the second part backward (or forward) with respect to a first part. For example, with regard to means 26a and 26b, the first part is the case E and the second part is the reloading cap 27.Since the displacement in question is "relative," it is not required that both the first and second parts move. Depending on the case, the means of stopping relative displacement is either a specific arrangement of the part in question that is specially designed to perform a displacement-stopping function, or it is the function performed by an otherwise existing part of the part. The relative displacement in question is that required for a given operation made necessary by the insertion or removal of a refill, and this displacement must therefore be understood independently of the sliding of the cup 18 in the case E for the purpose of using the stick B. IlIt is understood that it is possible to consider that a part structurally includes a means of stopping the relative movement of that part with respect to another part, a second part, even if the function of stopping movement is not implemented permanently, but only temporarily when the stop is desired or necessary.

[0076] The body 1 (therefore the side wall 3) also includes case means 28 for (i) carrying the closure cover 2 of the case E, (ii) limiting the mounting stroke of the closure cover 2 on the body 1 and the side wall 3, and (iii) rigidly removably associating the closure cover 2 with the body 1 and the side wall 3, capable of cooperating with complementary means of the closure cover 2.By "case means for rigidly and removably associating the closing cover 2 with the body 1 and the side wall 3", we must understand means (such as a relief, a projection, an edge, a stop or the like) which belong to - and are part of - the body 1 (and the side wall 3), which, in cooperation with complementary means of the closing cover 2, on the one hand allow the closing cover 2 to be carried and held firmly by the body 1 (and the side wall 3) so as to form with it a unitary assembly allowing the assembly to be handled, the closing cover not being able to be unintentionally separated from the body 1 (and the side wall 3), on the other hand allow the closing cover 2 and the body 1 (and the side wall 3) to be separated from each other by means of sufficient action by the user.Such holster means 28 for carrying, limiting travel and rigidly removable joining may include a section 28a of the outer face 11 of the holster E, a peripheral transverse outward recess 28b of the outer face 11, for example in the vicinity of the rear end 9, so that the rear portion of the holster 8 is bulged, and a peripheral transverse inward groove 28c of the outer face 11, for example in the vicinity of the front end 5. These means 28 are adapted to cooperate with the inner face of the closure cap 2, the free edge of the closure cap 2 limiting its opening and end, and a peripheral transverse projection of the inner face of the closure cap 2. In the embodiment shown in the figures. figures 1 to 6, the transverse notch 28b is located slightly away towards the rear of the rear end 16 of the sliding slot 14, so as to allow the passage between them of the peduncle 17, while ensuring visual continuity between the external face 11 of the rear swollen part 8 and the external face of the closing cover 2.

[0077] Of course, it is not forbidden to provide for the E case itself to be placed in a decorative trim.

[0078] We now refer more specifically to figures 7 to 9 which illustrate the R recharge as a whole, in its new and ready configuration, to figures 5 and 6 which illustrate the R charging system as a whole in its current configuration, to figures 14 to 17 which illustrate in detail cup 18 of the R refill, to Figures 18 and 19 which illustrate in detail a possible implementation of the refill cap 27 of the R refill, and finally to the figure 22which illustrates a variant of the construction of cupule 18.

[0079] In its new and ready configuration ( figures 7 to 9 ), the refill R comprises – and is made up of – the cup 18, the stick B which it carries and holds, and the refill cap 27 mounted on the cup 18. In its current configuration ( figures 5 and 6 ), the R refill also includes - and is made up of - the cup 18 and the stick B, but not the refill cap 27 which has been detached and removed.

[0080] The case E and the refill R are both designed, particularly with regard to shape and dimensions, so that they can be combined and cooperate. Thus, the cup 18 is arranged so that it can (i) be placed in the empty case E when it is filled with a stick B, (ii) be, during use, moved by sliding relative to the case E between the two extreme configurations retracted and protruding, by sliding the peduncle 17 in the main slot section 14a, and (iii) be extracted and separated from the case when desired, particularly when the stick B has been consumed.

[0081] The cup 18 has the functions of holding the stick B and, in association with the case E, of contributing to the placement of the stick B in the housing 13 of the case E, of preventing the cup 18 and thereby the stick B from moving, of participating in a guided sliding of the stick B in the case E, of contributing to the stick B remaining in the sliding position where it has been brought, and of contributing to the removal of the consumed stick B from the housing 13 of the case E.

[0082] The cupule 18, with axis A, comprises and is bounded by a peripheral lateral wall of cupule 29, rigid overall and generally cylindrical in shape. This lateral wall of cupule 29 comprises, on the one hand, a front portion of cupule 30 with a front end of cupule 31 having a front opening of cupule 32 bounded by a free front edge of cupule 33, and on the other hand, a rear portion of cupule 34 with a rear end of cupule 35. This lateral wall of cupule 29 also comprises, on the one hand, an external face of cupule 36 and, on the other hand, an internal face of cupule 37 delimiting an internal space of cupule 38.

[0083] The external face of cup 36 of the front part of cup 30 is cylindrical except for the presence of a recessed relief of a means 57b of rigid removable association of cup to cap located towards the front end of cup 31. This external face of cup 36 of the front part of cup 30 is conjugate to the internal face 12 of the sheath E, so as to be in sliding contact.

[0084] The front portion of the cup 30 includes, within the internal space 38, a front cup recess 39 arranged to receive the stick B by its rear portion Ba, so as to hold it. For the purpose of retaining the stick B, axially oriented ribs 39a may be provided, adjacent to the inner face 37 of the recess 39, capable of firmly gripping the rear portion Ba of the stick B by indentation.

[0085] The cup 18 also includes a lug 40 attached to the lateral wall 29 and located axially near the area between the front part of the cup 30 and the rear part of the cup 34. The lug 40 extends radially outwards and includes the peduncle 17. This peduncle 17 is positioned proximally to the lateral wall 29 so as to be adjacent to it, and, as indicated, is adapted to cooperate with the sliding slot 14 to guide the cup 18. The peduncle 17 has a radial length that allows it to pass through the through sliding slot 14. The peduncle 17 is extended outwards by a manipulation slider 41, positioned distally to the lateral wall 29 so as to be separated from it by the peduncle 17.The slider 41 (which could also be called a button) is arranged so that it can be touched, pressed and moved by the user, in all circumstances, regardless of the arrangement, in order to move the sliding cup 18 in the case E.

[0086] The cup 18 also includes an association arrangement adapted so that the cup can be mounted and guided in the case E. This association arrangement comprises the structure of the cup 18 itself. This association arrangement includes a radially elastically deformable structure 42, belonging to or associated with the lateral wall 29 of the cup 18. The radially elastically deformable structure 42 is arranged so that, when constrained inwards (and along axis A) by the inner face 12 of the case, it ensures smooth friction and braking contact on the inner face 12 of the case, over the stroke between the extreme retracted and protruding configurations, and thus smooth movement with braking of the cup 18 relative to the case E. This contact is controlled so that, initially, the cup 18 is moved smoothly when the slider 41 is moved by the user. This gentle friction and braking contact is controlled in such a way,Secondly, that in the absence of user input, the cup 18 remains, by braking, in the sliding position to which it has been brought, including during the application of the material of the stick B, while the latter is in light contact with the support. Controlled contact between the radially elastically deformable structure 42 and the inner face 12 of the case refers to the embodiment of the cup 18, including the radially elastically deformable structure 42, the bearing force exerted by the radially elastically deformable structure 42 on the inner face 12 of the case E, the nature of the materials of the conjugate parts of the cup 18 and the case E, the coefficient of friction and the surface finish of the contact areas of the cup 18, including the radially elastically deformable structure 42, and the inner face 12,that the sliding contact between the external face of cup 36 of the front part of cup 30 and the internal face 12 of the sleeve E, these faces being conjugate, and that the dimensions of the parts and parts of parts associated in motion (of cup 18 and sleeve E), as well as the clearances existing between them, are chosen so as to obtain the combination of smooth friction, braking as indicated, in addition to guidance without wobbling.

[0087] For the purposes described above, the side wall 3 of the case E is intended to be made of metal, such as aluminum, typically anodized aluminum, for example, with a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm, while the side wall 29 of the cup 18 and the elastically deformable structure 42 are made of plastic, such as polypropylene, so that the elastically deformable structure 42 and the inner face 12, and thus the cup 18, are in contact between the plastic and the metal. Aluminum (such as typically anodized aluminum) and polypropylene are not exclusive of other equivalent materials, especially with regard to the characteristics of their contact.

[0088] For the same purpose, the radially elastically deformable structure 42 is provided to include one (or at least one) projecting portion 42a of the outer face 36 of the lateral wall 29 of the cup 18. This projecting portion 42a is located in the rear part 34 of the cup 18. This projecting portion 42a is directed radially outwards. This projecting portion 42a also extends peripherally. This projecting portion 42a is arranged so that it can be elastically displaced inwards once the cup 18 is placed in the sheath E, the rear part 34 of the cup 18 where this projecting portion is located being hollow. The projecting portion 42a is provided on at least one peripheral sector 43 of the side wall 29 in the rear part 34. Preferably, the projecting portion 42a is provided on several peripheral sectors 43 (for example four peripheral sectors 43, but the number may be different).

[0089] In a first embodiment shown in the figures, a peripheral sector 43 is bounded by two axially extended discontinuities 44a and 44b, giving the peripheral sector 43 a tab, tongue, or flap shape, oriented axially. On either side of a projecting portion 42a are the two discontinuities 44a and 44b. In the case of four peripheral sectors 43 and four projecting portions 42a, there are four discontinuities 44a, 44b. The discontinuities 44a and 44b are slots with material removal, as shown in the figures, or without material removal. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the peripheral extent of the discontinuities 44a and 44b is small, yet sufficient, to allow the peripheral sectors 43 to be moved inward (axis A) without interfering with each other.For example, a discontinuity 44a, 44b has a peripheral extent that is a fraction of the peripheral extent of the adjacent peripheral sector 43. Such a fraction can be, for example, between 1 / 4 and 1 / 6, particularly on the order of 1 / 5. Thus, the protruding portions 42a cover between 75% and 90% of the peripheral extent of the cup 18, this range not being limiting since the friction depends on the coefficient of friction of the surfaces in contact. The discontinuities 44a and 44b have an axial length suitable for allowing the radial deformation of the peripheral sectors 43 inwards (axis A), ensuring the desired effects for the elastically deformable structure 42. For example, the peripheral sectors 43 extend axially over all or almost all of the axial dimension of the rear part of the cup 34.

[0090] A projecting portion 42a is a raised rim on the outer face 36, located at the rear end 35, on its free edge 35a, and the connection between the rim of the projecting portion 42a and the free edge 35a has a diameter equal to or slightly less than that of the outer face 36 in the front part of the cup 33, so that the introduction of the cup 18 into the housing 13 of the case E is not hindered by the free edge 35a passing through the front opening 6 of the case E. A rim 42a has a shape similar to that of a toroidal cap or a sector of a toroidal cap, being rounded.The section of the outer face 36 radially aligned with the peripheral sectors 43 – which extends between the front of the protruding portion / ridge 42a and the rear of the front part of the cup 30 – has a slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the outer face 36 radially aligned with the front part 30 of the cup and radially aligned with the protruding portion / ridge 42a. This is how the protruding portion 42a is connected to the corresponding section of the peripheral sector 43, allowing the protruding portion / ridge 42a to be moved appropriately and to fully perform its function in order to achieve the desired results. In this first embodiment, the shape of the peripheral lateral wall of cupule 29 in the rear part of cupule 34 (excluding rim 42a) is generally similar to the shape of the peripheral lateral wall of cupule 29 in the front part 30.In the absence of any constraint exerted by the inner face of the case 12, the outer diameter of the cup 18 envelope at the protruding portion / ridge 42a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer face of the cup 36 of the front part of the cup 30, so that when the cup 18 is introduced into the case E, the protruding portion / ridge 42a is slightly displaced towards the axis A, as it has been shown to perform its function in view of the intended results.

[0091] The first embodiment of the radially deformable elastic structure 42 described above may be subject to variations. Depending on the embodiment, a peripheral sector 43 comprises a single bead 42a or several beads 42a placed peripherally and / or superimposed axially, and these different beads are identical or merely analogous. In some cases, a particular peripheral sector 43 may lack a bead 42a. Depending on the case, a bead 42a extends peripherally over all or only part of the corresponding peripheral sector 43. Depending on the case, the different peripheral sectors 43 may or may not be identical; for example, one or more peripheral sectors 43 may be more peripherally extended than others, or one or more peripheral sectors 43 may be less peripherally extended than others.Preferably, the peripheral sectors 43 are arranged regularly around axis A.

[0092] In a second embodiment not shown in the figures, a peripheral sector 43 is not limited by discontinuities as in the first embodiment, but extends continuously with the neighboring, contiguous peripheral sectors 43. A rim 42a, which is also not limited by discontinuities on either side, extends axially over substantially the entire rear portion of the cup 34. Between two neighboring rims 42a, the peripheral lateral wall 29 of the cup is elastically deformable radially, so that the rims 42a are in contact with gentle friction and braking on the inner face 12 of the case, over the stroke between the extreme retracted and protruding configurations.In the second embodiment, the shape of the peripheral lateral wall of cupule 29 in the rear part of cupule 34 comprises, along a circular extension line, a wavy succession projecting outwards, corresponding to a ridge 42a, and a wavy inwardly, corresponding to an elastically deformable portion. This wavy shape, viewed axially from the rear of the cupule, is undulating and resembles a star with several rounded lobes. This shape extends axially from the free edge 35a of the rear end 35 to the front part of cupule 30, by means of a peripheral junction line that is undulating both forwards and backwards.

[0093] The second embodiment of the radially elastically deformable structure 42 just described can be further elaborated. Depending on the embodiment, two adjacent ridges 42a belong to two adjacent peripheral sectors 43, provided there is an intermediate elastically deformable zone, or two adjacent ridges 42a belong to two peripheral sectors 43 that are not adjacent but separated by an elastically deformable peripheral sector 43. This elastically deformable peripheral sector 43 may have one or more cones and may have a reduced thickness section to ensure the desired elastic deformability.

[0094] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the cupule 18 also includes in space 38 a transverse wall 45 having a hole or vent 45a, limiting towards the rear the front housing 39 of the cupule 18 and forming an end of the displacement of the stick B in the cupule 18. This wall 45 is located between the front 30 and rear 34 parts of the cupule 18. The lug 40, more specifically its peduncle 17 is attached to the transverse wall 45, by means of a gusset-like swelling located in the rear part of the cupule 34, between the rear face of the wall 45 and the internal face 37 of the cupule.

[0095] When the cup 18 is in its new and ready configuration, not yet in place, and in the absence of external stress, the outer face of the protruding portion(s) 42a protrudes slightly radially outwards from the cylindrical envelope of the outer face 36 in the front part 30, in order to provide the desired friction with the inner face 12 of the casing E. The axial length of the front part 30 towards the front of the wall 45 is, for example, approximately twice the axial length of the rear part 34 towards the rear of the wall 45. The cup 18 can therefore, in one possible embodiment, have an axial dimension of approximately 20 mm to 30 mm. These dimensions are given by way of example.

[0096] When the cup 18 is mounted in the case E, the outer face 36 has a diameter similar to that radially to the protruding portion 42a and to that to the front part 30 of the cup, this diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner face 12 of the case. Thus, as illustrated by the Figures 5 , 21A and 21B The external face 36, radially aligned with the front portion 30 of the cup, is not separated from the internal face 12 of the case; on the contrary, the two faces 36 and 12 form a precise sliding assembly. This is achieved over the axial sliding stroke of the cup 18 relative to the case E between its two extreme configurations, respectively retracted and protruding. The lateral wall 3 is machined from metal, such as aluminum, typically anodized aluminum, without undercuts or undercuts, while the cup 18 is made of plastic. The cup 18 is thus guided without any play.

[0097] The lug 40 is positioned outside the elastically deformable structure 42 itself so as not to obstruct it. In particular, the lug 40 is positioned in the vicinity between the front part 30 and the rear part 34 of the cup 18, for example slightly towards the rear with respect to the wall 45, to which the lug 40 is connected.

[0098] In the realization of figures 14 to 17 A single lug 40 is planned. In the implementation of the figure 22 In this version, two lugs 40a and 40b are provided, with a peduncle 17 and a diametrically opposed slider 41, the case E then having two diametrically opposed sliding slots 14. In other embodiments, not shown, at least three lugs 40, with a peduncle 17 and a slider 41, may be provided, regularly distributed around the axis A, by means of the same plurality of sliding slots 14.

[0099] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the slider 41 is an integral part of the cup 18, being one piece with it, including with the peduncle 17. In other embodiments, the slider 41 is attached to the peduncle 17 or the slider 41 with the peduncle 17 is attached to the cup 18, by means of an association such as screwing, gluing, clipping, or force-fitting.

[0100] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the slider 41 is bulged to facilitate its touch, operation, and movement by the user. For example, the slider could be spherical, on the order of a few millimeters in diameter. This shape is not, however, exclusive of others, for example, a more or less flattened shape.

[0101] According to one feature, the cursor 41 has an appearance, including a shade of color, corresponding to the features, including the shade of color, of stick B, which allows the user to know which is stick B, without having to open the case E, closed with the cover 2.

[0102] The R refill, in its new and ready configuration, includes, in addition to the cup 18 and a stick B, the refill cap 27 ( Figures 18 to 20 ). The cap 27 is rigid as a whole and consists of a peripheral casing 46, comprising a lateral part 47 and a summit part 48, which is located opposite a base 49 having an opening 50 limited by an edge 51. Depending on the embodiment, the base 49 is either cylindrical like the remaining part of the cap ( figure 8B ) either flared towards the 50 opening ( figures 7, 8A , 9 , 18 à 20 , 20A to 20F , 21A and 21B). The lateral part 47 is generally cylindrical in shape, possibly with a diameter decreasing towards the apex part 48. Depending on the embodiment, the apex part 48 is flat and transverse ( Figures 18 to 20 ), or pointed ( Figures 21A and 21B ), more or less rounded. The shapes just mentioned are not exhaustive. Where applicable, the peripheral envelope 46 is at least partially transparent or translucent so as to allow visualization through it of the rod B.

[0103] The cap 27 also has an external face 52 and an internal face 53 which delimits an internal housing 54 for the part of the stick B which protrudes towards the front of the cup 18.

[0104] The cap 27 includes a means 55a for stopping relative displacement of the cap backwards with respect to the cup, arranged so as to be able to cooperate with a means 55b for stopping relative displacement of the cup forwards with respect to the cap, the means 55a and 55b being complementary.

[0105] The means 55a for preventing the relative rearward movement of the cap relative to the cup includes a transverse notch in the inner face 52 of the cap 27. This notch 55a is located towards the opening 50 of the cap 27, by means of an axial separation from it. This notch 55a is oriented towards the opening 50. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the notch 55a comprises a single portion of the notch arranged around the entire circumference of the lateral portion 47 of the cap 27. This embodiment is not exclusive of other equivalent embodiments in which the notch 55a may comprise several portions of the notch, and / or be arranged on only a portion of the circumference of the lateral portion 47. In the case of several portions of the notch, they may be arranged around the circumference of the lateral portion 47 continuously or discontinuously, contiguously, adjacently, or spaced apart.

[0106] The means 55b for stopping relative forward movement of the cup relative to the cap, belongs to the lateral wall 29 of the cup 18. Il is located towards the front end 33. Il is moved away from the lug 40 forwards. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the means 55b for stopping relative forward movement of the cup relative to the cap includes the front free edge 33 of the cup 18. Thus the front free edge 33 of the cup 18 is not only the termination of the side wall 29 of the cup, but it ensures a function of stopping relative forward movement of the cup 18 relative to the cap and therefore the front free edge 33 is arranged for this purpose, in particular dimensionally.

[0107] The cap 27 also includes a means 56a for preventing relative rearward movement of the cap relative to the case, arranged to cooperate with a means 56b for preventing relative forward movement of the case relative to the cap, the means 56a and 56b being complementary. In an embodiment where the base 49 is cylindrical like the remaining part of the cap ( figure 8B ), the means 55a is the edge 51 of the opening 50 of the cap 27. In an embodiment where the base 49 is flared towards the opening 50 ( figures 7, 8A , 9 , 18 à 20 , 20A to 20F , 21A and 21B), the means 55a is the part of the inner face 53 of the cap 27 adjacent to the edge 51 of the opening 50. The means 56b for stopping relative forward movement of the case with respect to the cap is the front free edge 7 of the case E. Thus the front free edge 7 of the case E is not only the termination of the side wall 3 of the case E, but it ensures a function of stopping the forward movement of the case with respect to the cap 27 and therefore the front free edge 7 is arranged for this purpose in particular dimensionally.

[0108] The cap 27 also includes a removable rigid attachment means 57a for the cap to the cup, arranged to cooperate with a removable rigid attachment means 57b for the cup to the cap, the means 57a and 57b being complementary. The means 57a and 57b are such that, on the one hand, the cap 27 and the cup 18 can form a unit allowing the cup 18 to be manipulated for insertion into the case E via the cap 27, and on the other hand, that the cap 27 and the cup 18 can be separated from each other after the refill has been inserted into the case E.

[0109] The removable rigid attachment means 57a for the cap to the cup belongs to the inner face 52 of the cap 27. It is located towards the opening 50 of the cap 27, by means of an axial separation from it. More specifically, it is arranged between the notch 55a of the means for preventing the relative rearward movement of the cap with respect to the cup and the opening 50. In the embodiment shown in the figures 19 And 20The means 57a is a relief comprising several parts. These relief parts are arranged discontinuously and at intervals around the entire perimeter of the cap's outer casing 46. These relief parts are projecting and, in particular, are bosses. This embodiment is not exclusive of other equivalent embodiments in which the relief comprises only a single relief part, or in which the relief is arranged on only a portion of the circumference of the casing 46, or in which several relief parts are arranged continuously, contiguously, or adjacently.

[0110] The removable rigid cup-to-cap attachment means 57b belongs to the side wall 29 of the cup 18 and is located towards the front end of the cup 31. In the embodiment shown in the figures 14 to 17, the means 57b is a hollow relief, like a groove forming a single part, arranged on the entire perimeter of the lateral wall 29 of the cupule 18. This realization is not exclusive of other, equivalent ones, in which the relief has several parts of relief, or in which the relief is arranged on only a part of the perimeter of the lateral wall 3, in which several parts of relief are arranged on the perimeter of the lateral wall 3 in a continuous or discontinuous way, in an adjoining, or adjacent or spaced way, or even in which the relief is not a groove or part of a groove.

[0111] The invention relates to the R recharge, both in its new and ready configuration, and in its installed configuration ( figures 5, 6). In the current configuration, where stick B is associated with a case, refill R is analogous to the refill in its new and ready configuration, but without a refill cap, the latter having been detached from cup 18 at the end of the refill insertion ( figure 20F ).

[0112] The peduncle 17 may have a radial length just sufficient to allow it to pass through the sliding slot 14, which is designed to be through-hole, thus positioning the slider 41 in the immediate vicinity of the outer face 11 of the case E. The peduncle 17 has a transverse dimension chosen such that, on the one hand, it is slightly less than the width of the main slot section 14a, except for the clearance necessary to guide the cup 18 into the case E, with smooth sliding, along the stroke of the main slot section 14a, between the extreme retracted and protruding configurations. It is also slightly less than the width of the slot insertion section 14b, except for the clearance necessary for the sliding required to insert and remove the reload R from the case E.Furthermore, it is slightly greater than the width of the constriction 19 when there is no attempt to widen the constriction 19, or conversely, no attempt to narrow the peduncle 17 in the transverse direction. This allows the user to easily pass the peduncle 17 through the constriction 19, backward when inserting a new refill R and forward when removing a used refill R. The case E is arranged so that the outer face of the case 11 does not have any outwardly projecting ridge along the sliding slot 14, which, if present, would have to be overcome by the lug 40 and the slider 41 during sliding. This arrangement avoids having to increase the length of the peduncle 17 by the dimension of this projecting ridge.

[0113] When the cup 18 slides forward within the case E, after the refill R has been inserted by the user, the stalk 17 can, on the one hand, come to rest against the rear edge 21 of the constriction 19, thus forming a first forward resistance point. Therefore, once joined, the cup 18 and the case E cannot be unintentionally separated. However, the cup 18 and the case E can be separated by applying sufficient forward force to the slider 41 to overcome this first resistance point. This force is applied by the user. The respective transverse dimensions of the stalk 17 and the constriction 19, as well as the arrangement, and in particular the sufficiently short axial extension length, of the rear edge 21, are chosen so that the force applied by the user is not excessive.During the rearward sliding of the cup 18 for refill insertion by the user, the stalk 17 may, on the other hand, come to rest against the rearward abutment of the front edge 20 of the constriction 19, thus forming a second rearward resistance point. However, this second resistance point can be overcome by sufficiently applying rearward pressure to the refill cap 27 or the slider 41. This pressure is applied by the user. The respective transverse dimensions of the stalk 17 and the constriction 19, as well as the arrangement, and in particular the sufficiently long axial extension length, of the front edge 20, are chosen so that the pressure applied by the user is not excessively forceful.By "without excessive effort" we mean an effort that does not exceed the generally accepted effort for a user to open a container (such as unscrewing a cap like that of a cosmetic reservoir in order to open it, pressing a push button like that associated with a snap-on tab of a lid in order to open the corresponding case, tearing a protective cardboard sleeve of a cosmetic container, this list is not exhaustive, but only illustrative).

[0114] The rear edge 21 of the constriction 19 is offset axially from the open front end 15 of the sliding slot 14 by a distance close to or slightly less than the axial distance between the peduncle 17 and the free front edge 33 of the cupule 18, or the means 57b of the removable rigid association of the cupule to the cap. Thus, in its most prominent position, the cupule 18 protrudes slightly, by its extreme front part, from the opening 6 of the sheath E.

[0115] For use, the user obtains on the one hand a refill R, then in the packaged configuration, on the other hand an empty case E (whose cover 2 has been removed) either because the user obtains it or because the user has previously obtained a charged case, but whose consumed stick has been removed by a prior removal operation.

[0116] Removing a spent refill R involves the user moving the slider 41 forward, causing the cup 18 to slide forward past the first resistance point of the constriction 19, until the cup 18 is completely extracted from the inner compartment 13 of the case E. This operation can be easily performed by the user without the need for an extractor or similar tool. The previously loaded case E is thus emptied.

[0117] From the refill R in the packaged configuration, the user can then remove any over-packaging or similar, so as to have a new and ready refill R, which includes the refill cap 27 associated with the cup 18 which holds the stick B. The user can handle this new and ready refill R, which then forms a unit, without risk of damaging the stick B or getting their fingers dirty with the material of the stick B, because the stick B is protected by the refill cap 27 and therefore inaccessible.

[0118] Having thus at hand the empty case E, open (cap 2 removed) and the new and ready refill R, the user can grasp the empty case E and the new and ready refill R by the refill cap 27 and bring the rear part 34 of the cup 18 opposite the front opening 6 of the case E, coaxially and with the lug 40 of the cup 18 opposite the front opening 14 of the sliding slot 14 ( figure 20A ).

[0119] Then, the user can insert the rear part 34 of the cup 18 into the front part 4 of the case F, and the lug 40, more precisely its peduncle 17, into the sliding slot 14, through its front opening. And, the user can ensure a relative movement of the cup 18, fitted with the stick B and still at that moment associated with the reloading cap 27, and the case E, so as to insert the stick B into the inner compartment 13 of the case E ( figure 20B ).

[0120] The dissociation of the refill cap 27 and the cup 18 then occurs. To this end, the user brings the peduncle 17 to the second hard point against the front edge 20 of the narrowing 19 ( figure 20C ), then it brings the edge 51 of the opening 50 of the cap 27 against the edge 7 of the opening 6 of the case E ( figure 20D), by forcing the passage of the front edge 20 of the narrowing. Then it applies the cleaner 41 backwards so as to dissociate the respective removable rigid association means 57a, 57b of the refill cap 27 and the cup 18 ( Figure 20 E< ). The refill cap 27 is then ejected and discarded ( figure 20F ). The excitation of the peduncle 17 in order to cross the front edge 20 of the narrowing 19 most often results in a forward dynamic of the cupule 18 which easily carries it into the main section of the cleft 14a.

Claims

1. A stick holder cup (B) (18) including, with an axis (A): - a peripheral side wall of the cup (29), rigid as a whole, including on the one hand a front part of the cup (30) with a front end of the cup (31) having a front opening of the cup (32) limited by a free front edge of the cup (33), and a rear part of the cup (34) with a rear end of the cup (35), and on the other hand an outer face of the cup (36) and an inner face of the cup (37) delimiting an inner space of the cup (38) with a front housing of the cup (39), - a lug (40) secured to the side wall (29), extending radially outwards, comprising a pedicle (17) proximally outwards by a manipulation slider (41) arranged so as to be able to be touched, acted on and moved by the user in order to slidably move the cup (18), - an association arrangement including a radially elastically deformable structure (42), belonging to the side wall (29) or associated therewith, including a protruding portion (42a) of the outer face (36), located in the rear portion (34), located at the rear end (35) on its free edge (35a), directed radially outwardly and arranged so as to be elastically movable inwardly, of which: - a protruding portion (42a) is a bead, and the connection between the bead (42a) and the free edge (35a) has a slightly smaller diameter than that of the outer face (36), - the outer face (36) radially perpendicular between the bead (42a) and the outer face (36) radially perpendicular to the front portion (30) has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer face (36) radially perpendicular to the front portion (30), - the front free edge (33) forms a means (55b) for stopping relative displacement of the cup forwards, - it further comprises a means (57b), being a recessed relief, of removable rigid cup association, belonging to the side wall (29) and located towards the front end (31), so that the cup (8), intended to be part of a refill (R) of a stick (B) of consumable solid-pasty material to be applied on a support and intended to hold the stick (B) in the front housing (39), is capable of being associated with a hollow, retractable case (E), having a body and a lateral sliding slot extended axially at the front end which can be crossed through by the pedicle (17).

2. Cup (18) according to claim 1, which comprises a single lug (40), or two lugs (40), or at least three lugs (40), with a pedicle (17) and a slider (41), evenly distributed around the axis (A) in the case of a plurality of lugs (40).

3. Cup (18) according to one of claims 1, 2, which comprises in the cup interior space (38) a transverse wall (45), in particular a transverse wall (45) having a hole or vent (45a), between the cup front portion (30) and the cup rear portion (34).

4. Cup (18) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding portion (42a) is provided over several peripheral sectors (43) of the side wall (29) in the rear portion of the cup (34), a peripheral sector (43), either being limited by two continuity solutions (44a, 44b), with on either side of a protruding portion (42a) two discontinuities (44a, 44b), or extending continuously with the neighbouring peripheral sectors (43), continuous, the peripheral side wall (29) of the cup being elastically deformable radially between two adjacent beads (42a).

5. Cup (18) according to one of claims 1 to 4, which is completely or partially made of a plastic material.

6. Refill (R) of a stick (B) in its new and ready-to-use configuration just prior to the placement of the stick (B) to associate it with a case (E), including, with an axis (A): - a cup (18) holding a stick (B) according to one of claims 1 to 5, - a stick (B) of material the rear part of which is received in the front housing (39) of the cup (18), so as to hold it, and the front part of which protrudes towards the front of the front housing (39), - a refill cap (27), rigid as a whole, having a peripheral shell (46) including a lateral part (47) and a top part (48) opposite a base (49) having an opening (50), an outer face (52) and an inner face (53) delimiting an inner housing (54) for the protruding part of the stick (B), and including: ∘ a means (55a) for stopping relative movement of the cap backwards relative to the cup, located toward the opening (50) and arranged to cooperate with the front edge (33) forming a means (55b) for stopping relative movement of the cup forward relative to the cap, ∘ a means (56a) for stopping relative movement of cap backwards relative to the case, capable of cooperating with a means (56b) for stopping relative movement of the case forward relative to the cap,7. New ready-to-use refill (R) according to claim 6, wherein the means (55a) for stopping the relative movement of the cap backwards with respect to the cup comprises a transverse recess of the inner face (53), located towards the opening (50) by means of an axial spacing with it, and turned towards the opening (50).

8. New ready-to-use refill (R) according to one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the means (56a) for stopping relative movement of the cap backwards relative to the case is, in the case of a base (49) of a cylindrical cap, the edge (51) limiting the opening (50) and, in the case of a base (49) flared towards the opening (50), the part of the inner face (53) adjacent to the edge (51).

9. New ready-to-use refill (R) according to one of claims 6 to 8, which further comprises a means (57a) for removable rigid association of the cap with the cup, belonging to the inner face (53) of the cap (27), located towards the opening (50) by means of an axial spacing with it, able to cooperate with the means - recessed relief - (57b) of removable rigid association of the couple with the cap, so that, on the one hand, the cap (27) and the cup (18) can form a unitary assembly allowing the cup (18) to be manipulated for placement via the cap (27), on the other hand, the cap (27) and the cup (18) can be detached from one another after placement.

10. Refilling (R) of a stick (B) in its configuration in place, with the stick (B) associated with a case (E), comprising, with an axis (A): - a cup (18) holding a stick (B) according to one of claims 1 to 5, - a stick (B) of material the rear part of which is received in the front housing (39) of the cup (18), so as to hold it, and the front part of which protrudes towards the front of the front housing (39), - a means (55a) for stopping relative movement intended for a cap having been detached from the cup (18) holding a rod (B) at the end of the placement, backwards with respect to the cup, located towards the opening (50), - a means (56a) for stopping relative movement intended for the cap having been detached from the cup (18) holding a stick (B) at the end of placement, backwards with respect to the case (E).

11. Sliding case (E), refillable, hollow, in empty configuration, comprising, with an axis (A), besides a removable closing cover (2), a case (E) body (1), for a cup holding a stick of consumable material to be applied on a support, having a side wall with a protruding portion of its outer face directed radially outwards, and a lug extending radially with a pedicle, having: - a peripheral side wall of a case (3), rigid as a whole, including on the one hand a front case apart (4) with a front case and (5) having a front case opening (6) limited by a free front case edge (7), and a rear case part (8) with a rear case and (9) provided with a bottom (10), and on the other hand an outer case faith (11) and an inner case faith (12) delimiting an inner case housing (13), suitable for receiving the stick, the inner face (11) being designed to cooperate with the radially protruding portion of the cup, - with the exception of the closing cover (2), essentially consisting of the side wall (3) with its bottom (10), to the exclusion of any other cylinder, sleeve, slide or cup holder, - an axially extended sliding side slot (14) formed in the side wall (3), with a front end (15) open on the front case opening (6) and the front free case edge (7), and with a closed rear end (16), open-through and capable of cooperating with the pedicle (17) that passes therethrough, comprising a rear main slot section (14a) and a front introduction section (14b), of which: - the case is specially adapted to be associated with a stick of a new and ready-to-use refill whose protruding portion belongs to a radially elastically deformable structure, and including a refill cap, according to one of claims 6 to 9, the user being able to place the new and ready-to-use refill, so that the stick of the new refill is associated with the case, - the inner face of the case (12), lacking a taper or undercut, ensures a soft friction contact and holding of the cup on the case (E) over the travel corresponding to the retracted and protruding extreme configurations, controlled so that the cup is moved with smooth sliding when the slider is moved by the user, and so that, in the absence of action by the user, the cup is held at the location of the sliding where it was brought, including when applying the material, while the stick is in light contact with the support, - the sliding slot (14) comprises a narrower width constriction (19), located towards the front end (15) of the slot (14) and away from there latter, having a front edge (20) forming a hard point to the rear and a rear edge (21) forming a hard spot to the front, interposed between the main section (14a) and the introduction section (14b), the width of which is slightly less than the dimension of the pedicle, whereas the width of the slot (14) in the main section (14a) and the introduction section (14b) is slightly greater than the size of the pedicle, - an axially extended enlarging lateral slot (23) provided in the lateral wall (3), with an open front end (24), is intended to make it possible to slightly enlarge the constriction (19) when the pedicle passes through it, - the front free edge (7) of the case is a means (56b) for end of travel of the case forward with respect to the refill cap for dissociating the refill cap from the refill cup during placement of the refill.

12. Empty case (E) according to claim 11, wherein the sliding slot (14) comprises a flared front end (15), capable of facilitating the axial introduction of the pedicle of the refill by the user.

13. Empty case (E) according to one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the sliding slot is either straight or helical, the sliding of the stick being either straight or helical.

14. Empty case (E) according to one of claims 11 to 13, which includes a single sliding slot (14), or two sliding slots (14), or at least three sliding slots (14).

15. Empty case (E) according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the case side wall (3) is made of metal by machining, including drilling or turning, the inner face (12) of the side wall (3) being devoid of a taper or undercut.

16. Case (E) loaded with a stick (B) of a consumable solid-pasty material to be applied on a support, comprising an empty refillable sliding case (E) according to one of claims 11 to 15, and a refill (R) in place, wherein a new, ready-to-use refill according to one of claims 6 to 9 is in place in the case (E), wherein the cup (18) is directly associated with the case (E).

17. Loaded case (E) according to claim 16, wherein the pedicle (17) has a dimension in the transverse direction selected so as to be: - slightly less than the width of the main section (14a) of the sliding slot (14), to within the clearance necessary for guiding the cup (18) in the case (E) with a smooth sliding, over the travel of the main section (14a) of the slot (14) between the retracted and protruding end configurations, - slightly greater than the width of a constriction (19) of the sliding slot (14) in the absence of an action widening it or an action narrowing it in the transverse direction of the pedicle (17).

18. Loaded case (E) according to one of claims 16 and 17, wherein the width of the constriction (19) is slightly less than the dimension in the transverse direction of the pedicle (17), which when sliding: - can abut forwards against the rear edge (21) of the constriction (19), thus forming a hard spot, so that the cup (18) and the case (E), once associated, cannot be unintentionally dissociated, but can be dissociated by sufficiently pushing the slider (41) forwards to pass the hard spot, the main slot section (14a) between the rear edge (21) and the closed rear end (16) of the the slot defining the travel between the retracted and protruding end configurations, - can come into abutment towards the rear against the front edge (20) of the constriction (19), thus forming a hard spot, which can be passed by means of a sufficient pushing of the cap (27) or of the slider (41) towards the rear.

19. Loaded case (E) according to one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the side wall (3) and the cup (18), arranged to slide straight or helically, are in plastics material to metal contact with the case (E).

20. Method for placing a stick (B) of a new and ready-to-use refill (R) of a consumable solid-pasty material to be applied on a support according to any one of claims 6 to 9, in an empty refillable sliding case (E) according to one of claims 11 to 15, wherein; - an empty case (E) according to one of claims 11 to 15 is available, whose cover (2) has been removed, - a new and ready-to-use refill (R) according to one of claims 6 to 9 is available, - the empty case (E) and the new and ready-to-use refill (R) are seized by the refill cap (27), and the rear portion (34) of the cup (18) is brought facing the front opening of the case (6), coaxially and with the lug (40) of the cup (18) facing the front opening (15) of the sliding slot (14), - the rear part (34) is inserted into the front part (4) of the case (E) and the lug (40) into the sliding slot (14), - a relative movement is provided of the cup (18) fitted with the stick (B) and associated with the refill cap (27), and of the case (E), so as to make the stick (B) enter the inner housing (13) of the case (E), - and the refill cap (27) and the cup (18) are separated.

Images