Packaging, application and / or dispensing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for packaging, applying and / or dispensing a cosmetic refill (2) having: - a cosmetic refill (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), having: * a refill body (4) at least partially defining a cosmetic product reservoir (44), and * a cap (6) for closing the refill body (4), the refill body (4) having an external surface having at least one first relief (10), - a case (3) having a housing (31) for receiving the cosmetic refill (2), said case (3) having an internal surface, having at least one second relief (53) arranged to block in rotation about the longitudinal axis (X) the cosmetic refill (2) in the case (3) by cooperation with said at least one first relief (10) when the cosmetic refill (2) is in the housing (31).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Packaging, application and / or dispensing device

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of devices for packaging, applying and / or dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, and more particularly the field of devices having a product refill.

[0004] Technical field

[0005] Proposing ecologically responsible, environmentally friendly solutions of which the design and development take into account environmental issues has become a major concern for tackling global challenges.

[0006] It thus proves essential to design products that make it possible to reduce the amount of materials used and / or to substitute more environmentally friendly materials and / or to use recyclable materials in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the product.

[0007] In this context, it is important to develop packagings that generate less waste and are in particular optimized for the amount of products transported, in particular by redesigning and / or redimensioning them in order to reduce the amount of packaging in terms of volume and weight.

[0008] The aim is to propose reusable ecologically responsible containers, in particular containers that can be refilled in the home or in a shop, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the packaging.

[0009] In order to reduce the manufacturing costs of cosmetic packaging, and to reduce the impact on the environment, devices for packaging, applying and / or dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, which have a product refill and a case for receiving the refill have been developed. In this approach, the question arises of the configuration of the device to allow the product refill to be changed and of the retention of the refill in the case in use, in particular according to the type of product contained in the refill.

[0010] There is a growing need to gradually replace existing packaging with packaging, application and / or dispensing devices that receive cosmetic refills. This allows the case to be kept once the cosmetic product has been used, only the refill being thrown away. Once the refill is empty, all the user needs to do is remove the refill so as to replace it with a new or different refill. In this context, it is important that the packaging, application and / or dispensing device has the aesthetic qualities required by the user, that it is as easy and efficient to use as a device without a refill, and that the handling operations for replacing a spent refill are also as simple as possible for the user, i.e. require little effort or attention on the part of the user.

[0011] The packaging device must therefore allow the refill to be retained reliably in the case in connection with its use.

[0012] Numerous forms of device of this type have already been proposed.

[0013] A pipette packaging and dispensing device is known, in particular from utility model CN214931380U and international application WO9947262A1, which has a ring for retaining the refill in the case that is screwed or snap-fastened onto the case after insertion of the refill so as to bear against a rim of the refill and thus prevent the extraction thereof. The removal of the refill requires numerous steps and numerous handling operations, and this makes this changing tedious.

[0014] A packaging and dispensing device is also known, in particular from patent application FR3126287A1, which has a system for retaining the refill in position in the case by friction members configured to prevent the refill from coming out of the case under its own weight by friction against the external wall of the refill. This system is described in particular in relation to a pump dispensing device that makes it possible to dispense a product by pressure without rotation of the device.

[0015] This type of system does not allow the refill to be retained effectively and constantly within the case, even less so if the refill has a cap that is intended to be screwed or unscrewed from the body of the refill, when the latter is retained by the case. The transmission of a torque between the refill and the case during the handling of said refill or of the cap for dispensing or applying the product may result in its extraction during the handling or prevent the effective handling of the refill, in particular of its cap for the opening thereof. For example, the refill can rotate with the cap during attempts to open the latter by screwing. This could make it complex to use the refill received in the case and prevent the simple opening thereof.

[0016] In order to remedy the latter drawback, a solution could lie in increasing the interference between the friction members and the external wall of the refill, so as to oppose an increased resistive torque at the interference between the friction members and the refill; however, such an increase would have the detrimental effect of penalizing the ease of axial introduction of the refill into the case, as well as of extraction of the refill from the case, and would thus make these operations tedious for the user.

[0017] There is a need to benefit from a packaging, application and / or dispensing device equipped with a cosmetic product refill that encourages keeping the case with a view to reusing it for a new refill, while still being attractive for the consumer.

[0018] There is also a need to improve the packaging, application and / or dispensing devices having a product refill by proposing a solution that allows the refill to be retained reliably in the case both in translation and in rotation, in order to improve the use of these devices and make the use easy and pleasant for the user.

[0019] Finally, there is a need for a packaging, application and / or dispensing device that offers a user experience that meets user requirements in terms of dispensing and / or applying product, in particular cosmetic product, in order to have a perception of quality of the device by the user.

[0020] Summary of the invention

[0021] The invention aims to meet this need and it achieves this by proposing a device for packaging, applying and / or dispensing a cosmetic refill having: a cosmetic refill extending along a longitudinal axis, having: o a refill body at least partially defining a cosmetic product reservoir, and o a cap for closing the refill body, the refill body having an external surface having at least one first relief, a case having a housing for receiving the cosmetic refill, said case having an internal surface, having at least one second relief arranged to block in rotation about its longitudinal axis the cosmetic refill in the case by cooperation with said at least one first relief when the cosmetic refill is in the housing.

[0022] "Block in rotation" is understood to mean that, when the first relief and the second relief are engaged in cooperation, the refill cannot have rotational movement in the case relative to the case, in particular about the longitudinal axis.

[0023] As explained above, the fact of having a refill, which is by nature removable from the case, makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of cosmetic packaging, and to reduce the impact on the environment of packaging, application and / or dispensing devices by allowing the case to be kept and only the case to be changed when the reservoir of the refill is empty of cosmetic product.

[0024] This also makes it possible to easily change the product contained in the case, by simply changing the refill.

[0025] Once the refill is empty, or before, all the user needs to do is remove the refill so as to replace it with a new or different refill.

[0026] The presence of the first and second reliefs that are arranged to cooperate with each other to prevent the rotation of the refill in the case makes it possible to prevent the rotation of the refill with respect to the case in the event that a rotational torque is applied to the refill, in particular in the case of a rotational action on the closure cap by the user.

[0027] Refill

[0028] The refill body may be elongated along a longitudinal axis. The refill body may also have at least one part for insertion into the housing of the case.

[0029] The refill body may have, in particular along the longitudinal axis, a product reservoir and a portion for dispensing the cosmetic product. The dispensing portion may in particular be configured to extend out of the case when the refill is inserted into the case, having an opening towards the outside and receiving the cap.

[0030] The product reservoir may be in the shape of a cylinder, in particular a cylinder of revolution. The main axis of the cylinder is in particular the longitudinal axis.

[0031] The portion for dispensing the cosmetic product may be in the shape of a cylinder, in particular a cylinder of revolution, the main axis of the cylinder being in particular the longitudinal axis.

[0032] Preferably, the product reservoir has a greatest width in transverse section, in particular a diameter, greater than the greatest width in transverse section, in particular the diameter, of the portion for dispensing the cosmetic product.

[0033] The refill body may have, in particular along the longitudinal axis, between the reservoir and the dispensing portion, a widened portion for retention on the case that has, on its outer surface, the first relief. Such a widened portion having a greatest transverse dimension that is greater than that of the reservoir in particular makes it easier to insert the reservoir of the refill into the housing of the case while at the same time having an optimum amount of product in the reservoir.

[0034] The product reservoir may be connected to the widened retention portion by a shoulder.

[0035] The refill body may have, between the widened retention portion and the portion for dispensing the product, a plinth configured to come to face a base of the case. The plinth may be connected to the widened retention portion by a shoulder. The plinth may be connected to the dispensing portion by a flat surface substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the refill body. Such a plinth may improve the retention of the refill in position in the case. The shoulder may improve the positioning and retention of the refill, especially in view of the manufacturing tolerances.

[0036] Preferably, the refill body is in one piece. In a variant, the refill body may have a plurality of blocks that are separate or fastened by any suitable method, for example adhesively bonded, to each other.

[0037] The refill body may have an upper end arranged to receive the cap. The upper end may have an opening in order to allow access to the product. The refill may have a dipping element fastened to or in one piece with the surface of the cap that is internal to the refill and configured to extend into the refill body, in particular through the opening, as far as the reservoir when the cap is on the refill body. The dipping element may be an applicator member, in particular an applicator for eyeliner, liquid lipstick, gloss, care product or mascara, or else a pipette. The dipping element may be connected to the cap directly or via a stem. The presence of a dipping element makes it possible in particular to reach the bottom of the refill more easily and thus recover a maximum amount of product.

[0038] The closure cap may be screwed onto the refill body. The closure cap makes it possible in particular to maintain the sealing of the refill and that of the product. It also allows better handling of the refill, limiting the risk of the product overflowing or spilling out of the refill, even if the user were to incorrectly place the refill in the case. The fact that the rotation of the refill in the case is prevented by the first and second reliefs makes it possible, in the case of a screwed cap, to prevent the rotation of the refill in the case during screwing or unscrewing of the cap, an action that involves the exertion of a rotational torque on the refill about the longitudinal axis. The refill may have a cosmetic product, in particular an eyeliner, a liquid lipstick, a gloss, a care product or a mascara.

[0039] Preferably, the refill body is made of a recyclable material, in particular a recyclable plastic material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), it being possible for the polypropylene to be virgin or recycled. The refill body may also be made of glass or else of cellulose material.

[0040] Case

[0041] The case may have an upper surface arranged to receive a plinth of the refill body, which is in particular arranged in a recess.

[0042] The case may extend, in particular be elongated, along a longitudinal axis. When the refill is in the case, the longitudinal axis of the refill body and the longitudinal axis of the case may be coincident.

[0043] The case may have a case body configured to receive the reservoir of the refill when the refill is inserted into the case and an upper joining portion, in particular attached to the case body with the refill body having the second relief, in particular on a surface on the inside of the joining portion.

[0044] The upper portion for joining with the refill body may be a ring attached to the body of the case that is interposed between the body of the case and the refill. The ring may be fastened to the case by any means, in particular by screwing or snap-fastening or else adhesive bonding to a neck of the body of the case. The case may have a mechanism for preventing rotation of the intermediate ring relative to the body of the case. The rotation prevention mechanism may have a plurality of protrusions that are able to cooperate with a plurality of recesses in the body of the case, in particular in the neck of the body of the case. This rotation prevention mechanism in particular prevents the movement of the ring with respect to the body of the case, in particular during the insertion and handling of the refill. The ring may have a joining piece and a cover that are fastened to each other. While improving the aesthetic appearance of the device, for example by being made of a metallic material, such as aluminium, or of a plastic material having, for example, a metallized coating, the cover may also make it possible to limit access to the first and second reliefs. The joining piece may be made of a material having a certain elasticity, in particular an elastomer material. Preferably, the joining piece may be made of a plastic material having a certain rigidity and a coefficient of friction that is controlled and advantageous with the constituent material of the refill body, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or PBT. In a variant, the ring is in one piece and in particular made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0045] In a variant, the upper portion for joining with the refill body is in one piece with the body of the case.

[0046] Preferably, the body of the case is made of glass. The use of mineral glass provides durability, and allows possible recycling or reuse without the fear of deterioration of its aesthetic appearance, since glass is a durable and strong material, which is in particular difficult to scratch. Moreover, glass may be easily cleaned if appropriate. Glass also provides effective protection against UV rays, lateral and axial mechanical pressures, and provides the case with a cold feel, which is pleasant during handling operations.

[0047] First and second reliefs

[0048] The first relief may extend over the widened portion of the refill body. One of the first and second reliefs, preferably the second relief, is a protruding relief and the other of the first and second reliefs, preferably the first relief, is a recessed relief, in particular of complementary shape.

[0049] The recessed relief may be a groove, a flat, or a snap-fastening relief.

[0050] The protruding relief may be a rib, a stud or any other element for cooperation with the aforementioned recessed reliefs.

[0051] Preferably, the first and second reliefs are configured to cooperate by insertion of the refill into the case by translational movement along the longitudinal axis of the case, after orientation or in other words after angular indexing of the refill and the case about the longitudinal axis, such that the first and second reliefs are facing each other during the insertion.

[0052] One of the first and second reliefs, preferably the first relief, is a flat and the other of the first and second reliefs, preferably the second relief, has a flat surface with which the flat comes into contact via at least a part of its surface, when the refill is in the case, so as to form a stop opposing the rotation of the refill with respect to the case about the longitudinal axis in both directions of rotation about the longitudinal axis.

[0053] Preferably, the first relief, in particular the flat, may have a plane that is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the refill, in particular further from the longitudinal axis on the side of the cap than on the side of the reservoir, in particular forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing, which is for example strictly greater than 0°, better still greater than or equal to 1°, even better still greater than or equal to 2°, preferably greater than or equal to 3°, and / or less than or equal to 20°, better still less than or equal to 10°, preferably less than or equal to 5°, for example substantially equal to 3.5°. Preferably, the largest transverse dimension of the retention portion is greater than the smallest internal transverse dimension of the joining portion. This inclination and this difference in dimension allow the refill to be retained on the case at the joining portion and the retention portion. Moreover, such an inclination is a good compromise between the aesthetics of the product and the effectiveness of retention of the refill in position in the case.

[0054] Moreover, the first relief, in particular the flat, may have a plane that is inclined with respect to a plane of the second relief with which it comes into contact, in particular further from the plane of the second relief on the side of the cap than on the side of the reservoir, in particular forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing, which is for example strictly greater than 0°, better still greater than or equal to 1°, even better still greater than or equal to 2°, preferably greater than or equal to 3°, and / or less than or equal to 20°, better still less than or equal to 10°, preferably less than or equal to 5°, for example substantially equal to 3.5°. This inclination makes the insertion by translational movement along the longitudinal axis of the case easier. This inclination also makes it possible to obtain adjustment of the contact between the refill and the case so as to take up play that may exist in the radial direction as a result of the manufacturing tolerances. It also contributes to the retention of the refill on the case.

[0055] In a variant, the flat may be parallel to the flat surface when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing.

[0056] The second relief may also have a plane that is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis.

[0057] The flat may have a greatest depth of between 1% and 15%, in particular between 2% and 10% of the outside diameter of the external surface of the refill body on which it is formed, when said surface is cylindrical. The flat and the flat surface may have identical angular extents. In a variant, the flat and the flat surface may have different angular extents, in particular the flat may have a greater angular extent than the flat surface.

[0058] The first and / or second reliefs, in particular the flat, may have a fillet or chamfer at their insertion edge, in particular the upper edge of the second relief or the lower edge of the first relief. Said fillet or chamfer makes it easier to insert the refill into the case.

[0059] In a variant, the flat may have no fillet or chamfer.

[0060] The device may have a plurality of first reliefs and second reliefs, in particular an even number of first and second reliefs, for example two first and second reliefs arranged in an opposing manner, in particular diametrically opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis, arranged to cooperate with each other when the cosmetic refill is in the housing so as to block in rotation about the longitudinal axis the cosmetic refill in the case.

[0061] In the case of an even number of complementary reliefs, the reliefs are preferably arranged opposite one another in pairs.

[0062] The first and second reliefs are preferably regularly distributed about the longitudinal axis, in particular diametrically opposite one another in the case of two, respectively on the external surface of the refill and on the internal surface of the case.

[0063] The first and second reliefs may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis that is identical, in particular substantially equal to the height of the retention portion of the refill, in particular of between 2 mm and 20 mm, in particular between 5 mm and 15 mm, for example of about 10 mm.

[0064] In a variant, the first and second reliefs may have different heights measured along the longitudinal axis. In particular, the first relief may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis that is greater than the height of the second relief measured along the longitudinal axis.

[0065] For example, the first relief may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis of between 2 mm and 20 mm, in particular between 5 mm and 15 mm, for example of about 11 mm, and the second relief may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis of between 1.5 mm and 18 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 14 mm, for example of about 9 mm.

[0066] The first relief may extend over an angular range of between 10° and 70°, in particular between 40° and 60°, for example 55°. The second relief may extend over an angular range of between 10° and 60°, in particular between 35° and 55°, for example 50°.

[0067] Friction element

[0068] The device may moreover have at least one friction element, better still a plurality of friction elements, extending between the refill body and the case when the refill is inserted into the case and configured to retain the refill body in the case by friction. The one or more friction elements may each be a relief protruding in the radial direction from the internal surface of the case, in particular from the joining portion, or from the external surface of the refill body, in particular from the widened retention portion. Preferably, the one or more friction elements are reliefs protruding from the internal surface of the case, in particular from the joining portion. This makes it possible in particular to reduce the material necessary for the manufacture of the refill and therefore the amount of material to be thrown away at each change of refill.

[0069] The one or more friction elements are preferably separate from the first relief and the second relief when the refill is inserted into the case, in particular extending over an angular portion of the device about the longitudinal axis, separate from that of the first and second reliefs, it being possible for each angular portion not to have first and second reliefs. Each angular portion may moreover have at least one, preferably at least two, better still at least three friction elements. The friction elements may be regularly distributed in each angular portion not having first and second reliefs. The one or more friction elements may each be a relief protruding from the internal surface of the case or from the external surface of the refill body.

[0070] Preferably, the refill body and the case may have a plurality of first reliefs and second reliefs. The one or more friction elements may be arranged on an angular portion that has no first and second reliefs when the refill is in the case. The device may have a plurality of angular portions that have no first and second reliefs, in particular two angular portions that have no first and second reliefs that are opposite one another, at least one, preferably two, better still three friction elements being arranged in each angular portion of the device that has no first and second reliefs.

[0071] The internal surface of the case, in particular of the joining portion, and / or the external surface of the widened retention portion of the refill may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis that is greater than that of the one or more friction elements. The device may have, in particular the case, and in particular the joining portion, when the refill is in the case

[0072] • a first axial portion that has no friction element and has at least a part of the one or more second reliefs and of the one or more first reliefs, and

[0073] • a second axial portion having at least a part of one or more friction elements.

[0074] The second axial portion may have a part of the one or more second reliefs and of the one or more first reliefs.

[0075] In the case in which the friction elements are borne by the case, in particular by the joining portion of the case, the second portion preferably extends between the first portion and the reservoir of the refill. In the case in which the friction elements are borne by the refill, in particular by the widened retention portion, the first portion preferably extends between the second portion and the reservoir of the refill. Thus, during the assembly of the refill and the case, the user will seek, firstly, to make the longitudinal axes of the refill and the case coincide, and then, secondly, to make the first and second reliefs coincide by rotation of the refill with respect to the case about the longitudinal axis, then, thirdly, to engage the first and second reliefs with each other via the first portion by translational movement along the longitudinal axis so as to finally engage the friction elements of the second portion against the facing surface. This makes assembly easier by limiting the friction during the step of angular indexing of the first and second reliefs with each other. Moreover, this makes it possible to reduce the wear of the friction elements by engaging the frictional contact only once the angular indexing of the refill and of the case has been carried out and the relative rotation of these elements has been blocked by the first and second reliefs.

[0076] Preferably, the total number of friction elements is even. In this case, said friction elements may be arranged opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device in pairs.

[0077] Each angular portion that does not have first and second reliefs may have at least one, preferably at least two, better still at least three friction elements. The friction elements may be regularly distributed in each angular portion not having first and second reliefs. The friction elements are evenly distributed with respect to one another around the longitudinal axis. This allows better retention of the refill within the case by distribution of the frictional forces. Each friction element may have a maximum thickness of between 0.45 mm and 1.2 mm, for example of 0.7 mm.

[0078] Each friction element may extend over an angular range of between 10° and 40°, better still between 15° and 30°, for example 22°.

[0079] The friction elements may be substantially identical. In a variant, they are different, in particular with different angular ranges, shapes and / or sizes.

[0080] The friction elements may have at least one elastically deformable flexible portion that can bend during the insertion of the refill and bulge during the extraction of the refill. The friction elements can thus provide flexibility to the device during the insertion or extraction of the refill, making it easier to use.

[0081] The friction elements may be integral with the surface from which they extend, in particular integral with the joining portion of the case or the widened retention portion of the refill. This makes it possible in particular to limit the amount of material necessary for the manufacture and thus makes the manufacture easier.

[0082] Seal

[0083] The device may also have a seal or a seal portion, extending between the refill and the case when the refill is in the case, in particular between the joining portion of the case and the widened retention portion of the refill.

[0084] Said seal may be a protruding relief extending from one of the internal surface of the case, in particular from the joining portion of the case, and the external surface of the refill body, in particular at the widened retention portion. Said seal may extend circumferentially over the entire circumference of the internal surface of the case, in particular at the joining portion, or of the external surface of the refill body, in particular at the widened retention portion, which is configured to come into contact with the other of the internal surface of the case and the external surface of the refill body. Such a seal can make it possible to ensure better contact, and consequently better retention between the refill and the case.

[0085] In a variant, the seal extends only outside the first and second reliefs, in particular at the first axial portion.

[0086] The seal may be in one piece with one of the internal surface of the case and the external surface of the body. The seal may be a circumferential rib extending from one of the internal surface of the case and the external surface of the body over at least a part of the circumference.

[0087] The seal may extend over the internal surface of the case at the upper edge face of the second reliefs.

[0088] The device, in particular the first surface, may have a snap-fastening relief facing the seal or the seal portion, in particular a circular groove when the refill is in the case. This makes it easier in particular to snap-fasten the refill in the case.

[0089] Snap-fastening

[0090] The device may also have one or more snap-fastening reliefs on the case and one or more complementary snap-fastening reliefs on the refill. The one or more snap-fastening reliefs may be arranged on the one or more second reliefs and the one or more complementary snap-fastening reliefs may be arranged on the one or more first reliefs. The one or more first reliefs and / or the one or more second reliefs may have notches extending over a part of their height and defining between them an elastic portion, the one or more snap-fastening reliefs and / or the one or more complementary snap-fastening reliefs preferentially extending over the elastic portion. This may improve the retention of the refill in the case and provide a specific noise or sensation upon snap-fastening, and this can make it easier for the user to identify that the refill is properly fastened in the case.

[0091] The one or more first reliefs and / or the one or more second reliefs may have a friction overthickness. This may improve the retention of the refill.

[0092] The invention also meets this need with the aid of a refill, belonging to a device as described above, having a refill body and a cap having an element that dips into the refill body, the refill body having a widened portion for retention on a case, the widened retention portion having a first relief that is configured to cooperate with a second relief of the case so as to block the refill in rotation in the case. The described characteristics of the refill that have been described above in the context of the device may apply to this refill independently of the device.

[0093] Brief description of the drawings

[0094] [Fig 1] Figure 1 is an overall view of the device according to the invention. [Fig 2] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the various elements of the device according to the invention.

[0095] [Fig 3] Figure 3 is a view in cross section on a plane containing the longitudinal axes (X) or (Y) of the whole device when the latter is assembled.

[0096] [Fig 4] Figure 4 is a view in cross section on a plane containing the longitudinal axes (X) and (Y), similar to Figure 3, when the cap, the dipping element and the wiping element are dissociated from the device.

[0097] [Fig 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view from above of the ring of the case.

[0098] [Fig 6] Figure 6 is a top view on VI of the ring in Figure 5,

[0099] [Fig 7] Figure 7 is a view in cross section on VII- VII of the ring in Figure 6,

[0100] [Fig 8] Figure 8 is a view in cross section from the side of the refill body in Figures 1 to 4, and

[0101] [Fig 9] Figure 9 is a view in cross section at the ring with a refill in the ring.

[0102] [Fig 10] Figure 10 is a sectional perspective view illustrating a variant embodiment of the ring according to the invention.

[0103] [Fig 11] Figure 11 is a partial view from the side of the refill according to the same variant embodiment as in Figure 10.

[0104] [Fig 12] Figure 12 is a top view on XII of the ring according to the same variant embodiment as in Figure 10.

[0105] Detailed description

[0106] A packaging device 1 according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The device has a cosmetic refill 2 of longitudinal axis X containing a cosmetic product and a case 3 of longitudinal axis Y having a housing 31 for receiving the refill 2. When the device 1 is assembled, the longitudinal axes X and Y are coincident.

[0107] As illustrated in Figure 2, the cosmetic refill 2 has a refill body 4 containing the cosmetic product and a cap 6 for closing said refill body 4. The refill body may have a dispensing portion 41 on which the cap 6 is mounted and a reservoir 44 configured to extend into the case 3. The reservoir may be substantially cylindrical about the longitudinal axis X.

[0108] A dipping element 7 is fastened to the cap 6 of the refill. In the embodiment illustrated, the dipping element is a pipette 7 fastened to the cap 6 and associated in a manner known per se with a suction and expulsion device arranged in the cap and allowing the pipette to be loaded with product and the loaded product to be expelled out of the pipette for application to a body surface. However, the invention is not limited to a dipping element in the form of a pipette; the dipping element may be any other element configured to collect cosmetic product in the reservoir, in particular in the bottom of the reservoir, in particular an applicator member mounted on a stem, in particular a mascara brush or a lip or eyeliner applicator. The cosmetic product may be an eyeliner, a liquid lipstick, a gloss, a care product or a mascara.

[0109] The cap 6 may be mounted on the refill body 4, in particular on the dispensing portion 41, in particular on an opening of a neck 49 of the dispensing portion 41, by screwing onto the dispensing portion 41 of the refill body 4. The cap 6 may have on its inner surface a tapping with a shape and screwing pitch complementary to a thread 48 present on the neck 49 of the dispensing portion 41 of the refill body 4.

[0110] The refill body may be elongated, as illustrated, along the longitudinal axis X.

[0111] The refill body 4 may have a widened retention portion 42 between the dispensing portion 41 and the reservoir 44 and a plinth 43 connecting the dispensing portion 41 and retention portion 42 of the refill body 4. The plinth 43 may be connected to the widened retention portion 42 by a shoulder 47. The widened retention portion 42 may have a greatest width / ?, in particular a diameter, greater than that of the dispensing portion d and of the reservoir r, as can be seen in Figure 8. This makes it easier to introduce the refill into the case and to retain the refill properly on the case.

[0112] Preferably, the refill body 4 is in one piece. It may be made of a recyclable and / or recycled material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), the polypropylene possibly being virgin or recycled, glass or else cellulose material.

[0113] Moreover, the refill 2 may have a wiping element 9 in the shape of a funnel that is inserted and fastened inside the refill body 2, at the neck 49 of the dispensing portion 41 of the refill body 4. The wiping element 9 is of the type known per se and its fastening to the neck 49 is likewise.

[0114] The case 3 may have a case body 4 arranged to receive, via an opening 33, the refill reservoir 21 when the refill 2 is inserted into the case 3. The case 3 may have a joining portion 5 that may take the form of an attached ring. The attached ring 5 may be fastened by snap-fastening to the body of the case 35. In a variant, the ring may be adhesively bonded to the case. According to another embodiment, the joining portion 5 may be integral with the case and may be in one piece with the latter. The body of the case may be made of glass.

[0115] The reservoir 44 of the refill body 4 may have a shape substantially in the form of a cylinder of revolution with a rounded bottom 40, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The refill body 4 is arranged to be inserted within the case 3 such that the reservoir 44 extends into the case and the widened retention portion 42 cooperates with the ring 5 of the case at least via flats 10 that cooperate with second reliefs 53 extending over the ring. The bottom of the refill body 40 may not come into contact with the bottom 32 of the case 3, leaving an empty space, in order to allow the refill to have a variable distance from the bottom according to the manufacturing tolerances or to have a refill of variable height. Moreover, the outer surface of the refill body 4 preferably does not come into contact with the inner surface of the body of the case, leaving an empty space between these two elements of the device. Such provisions make it possible in particular to protect the refill when it is inserted into the case, in particular in the event of accidental dropping of the device.

[0116] The ring 5 may have a joining piece 51 configured to come into contact with the widened retention portion 42 of the refill and a cover 52 fastened to the joining piece 51 as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. The joining piece 51 is inserted inside the cover 52 of the ring 5, the ring itself being fastened, for example snap-fastened onto or adhesively bonded to the case 3. The joining piece and the cover may be made of one and the same plastic material, which can in particular be recyclable and / or recycled. In a variant, the joining piece is made of a first material, for example a plastic material, such as an elastomer or preferably a plastic material having a certain rigidity and a coefficient of friction that is controlled and advantageous with the constituent material of the refill body, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and the cover is made of a second material, which is in particular plastic, which has in particular a surface finish, such as a metallized finish, or of a metallic material, such as aluminium.

[0117] The ring 5 may have, between the joining piece 51 and the cover 52, a housing for receiving the neck 34 of the body of the case, it being possible for the cover 52 to have one or more reliefs for snap-fastening onto the neck of the body of the case.

[0118] The widened retention portion 42 of the refill body 4 may have at least one first relief, in this case two first reliefs in the form of flats 10, only one of which is visible in Figure 2. In the example illustrated, the first reliefs are in the form of flats 10 but this does not have to be the case. Any relief allowing blocking of the refill in rotation by the case by cooperation with the case is possible. The two flats 10 are in this case symmetrically distributed over the widened retention portion 42, on either side of the longitudinal axis X.

[0119] At the flats 10, a portion of the plinth 43 may be trimmed in its width so as to form a chamfer 101. The flats 10 are planes that are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X by an angle a, which is for example of between 3° and 10°, being in particular substantially equal to 3.5°. In a variant, the flats 10 could be parallel to the longitudinal axis X. The flats 10 have a substantially trapezoidal contour but they could have different shapes.

[0120] The flats may also have a chamfer 102 at their bottom insertion edge so as to promote the insertion of the retention portion 42 of the refill into the joining portion.

[0121] The joining portion 51 has second reliefs 53 configured to cooperate with the first reliefs 10, in particular the flats 10, of the retention portion 42 of the refill. The second reliefs 53 may have a flat surface with which the flats 10 come into contact, the flats 10 preferentially having an angular extent 0 substantially greater than that P of the flat surfaces, when the refill 2 is inserted into the case 3. The flats 10 and the flat surfaces of the second reliefs 53 thus form a stop that opposes the rotation about the longitudinal axis X of the refill 2 with respect to the case 3.

[0122] The second reliefs 53 may be bordered laterally by a fillet 105, and this makes the engagement between the second reliefs 53 and the first reliefs 10 without damaging them easier. According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the flats and the second reliefs are two in number, but this does not have to be the case.

[0123] The second reliefs 53 may have a chamfer 104 in their upper part forming the insertion edge so as to make it easier to insert the retention portion 42 of the refill into the joining portion.

[0124] Each flat 10 extends over an angular range 9 of between 10 and 70°, for example substantially equal to 55°.

[0125] Each second relief 53 extends over an angular range P substantially less than that of the flat 10, here of about 50°.

[0126] The flats 10 may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis of about 11 mm and the second reliefs 53 may have a height H, illustrated in Figure 7 measured along the longitudinal axis, slightly less than that of the flats 10, of about 9 mm. The flats 10 may be formed by a flat cutout in the outer surface of the retention portion 42.

[0127] The flat surfaces may be vertical as illustrated in the figures. In a variant, they may form a non-zero angle a with the vertical.

[0128] In the example illustrated, the flats 10 therefore form a non-zero angle a with the flat surface when the refill is inserted into the housing of the case.

[0129] As can be seen in Figures 5 to 7, the joining piece 51 may have, on its internal surface configured to come into contact with the widened retention portion of the refill, friction elements 12. The friction elements 12 may have a height f less than the height H of the second reliefs 53.

[0130] According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the joining piece 51 may have a first axial portion 51a over which the second reliefs 53 for blocking in rotation extend and that has no friction elements, and a second axial portion 5 lb over which the second reliefs 53 extend in continuity with the first axial portion 51a and the friction elements 12 extend. The fact that the first axial portion has no friction elements 12 makes it possible to preserve them and to limit the wear thereof during the insertion and in particular the angular indexing about the longitudinal axis of the refill in the case in order to make the flats 10 and the flat surfaces 53 coincide, and thus to prolong their effectiveness over time. Preferably, the second axial portion 51b extends between the first portion 51a and the reservoir 44 of the refill. The two axial portions 51a and 51b may have heights measured along the longitudinal axis X that may or may not be substantially identical.

[0131] The friction elements 12 may be protruding reliefs configured to bear against the widened retention portion and to retain by friction the widened retention portion in the neck of the case. It is then necessary to exert a force greater than the frictional force generated by the friction elements 12 in order to extract the refill from the case. Preferably, this frictional force is greater than the force of gravity on the full refill so as to prevent the latter from being able to come out of the case under its own weight when the device is handled, in particular inverted. The joining piece 51 may have an even number of identical friction elements 12 arranged symmetrically on circumferential portions of the joining piece 51 outside the flats 10 between the latter. They may be regularly distributed over each circumferential portion outside the flats 10. As illustrated in Figure 10, each friction element 12 extends over an angular range X of between 10 and 30°, in this case of about 22° of the second axial portion 51b. Each friction element may protrude by a thickness e of about 0.7 mm. Each friction element 12 may have on its upper edge face a fillet 103 that makes the engagement of the retention piece of the refill with these friction elements during the insertion thereof into the case easier.

[0132] Preferably, the friction elements 12 extend between the second reliefs 53 without being superposed angularly on them. In the example illustrated, the ring 5 has six identical friction elements 12 extending between the two second reliefs 53 in the two angular portions without second reliefs 53, being angularly distributed about the longitudinal axis with the second reliefs 53.

[0133] Thus, during the assembly of the refill 2 and the case 3, the user will seek, firstly, to make the longitudinal axes X and Y of the refill and the case coincide, and then, secondly, to make the first and second reliefs coincide by rotation of the refill with respect to the case about the longitudinal axis, push the refill downwards in translation at the axial portion 51a, then continue the downwards translational movement into the axial portion 5 lb in order to place the friction elements 12 in friction.

[0134] According to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the device may have an additional seal. The seal 11 is a protruding relief that extends between the joining portion 5 of the case 3 and the widened retention portion 42 of the refill body 4. Said seal 11 extends circumferentially over the entire circumference of the internal surface of the joining portion 5 and is configured to come into contact with the refill body 4 at the external surface of the widened retention portion 42 of the refill body, at the shoulder 47 between the widened retention portion 42 and the dispensing portion 41 of the refill body 4, in particular at the portion not trimmed by the chamfer 101 adjacent to the flat 10.

[0135] Such a seal makes it possible to ensure better contact between the widened retention portion 42 of the refill body and the joining portion 5 of the case and consequently better overall retention between the refill 2 and the case 3.

[0136] According to the embodiment illustrated, the friction elements 12 are borne by the case 3, in particular by the joining portion 5 of the case, but in a variant the friction elements may be borne by the refill, in particular by the widened retention portion preferably extending between the second portion and the reservoir 44 of the refill. In this case, the first axial portion 51a preferably extends between the second portion 51b and the reservoir 44 of the refill.

[0137] According to a variant embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the device may have no seal. According to this variant illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the device may have, on each second relief 53, a snap-fastening relief 60. According to this embodiment, the second relief 53 may have two notches 62 extending over a part of the height H of the second relief 53 that define between them a snap-fastening portion of the second relief. The snap-fastening relief 60 may extend over the snap-fastening portion of the second relief. The presence of the notches 62 makes it possible to provide the snap-fastening portion of the second relief with a certain elasticity that promotes the snap-fastening. The snap-fastening relief 60 may be formed by a protruding relief extending between the two notches 62.

[0138] As illustrated in Figure 11, each flat 10 of the refill may have a complementary protruding snap-fastening relief 64, in particular of substantially oval shape. The snapfastening relief 60 may be arranged to snap-fasten with the corresponding snap-fastening relief 64 during the insertion of the refill into the case. This cooperation makes it possible to ensure proper axial retention of the refill 2 in the case 3, complementing the friction elements 12 in order to limit the risk of removal of the refill. The elasticity of the snap-fastening portion that is provided by the notches 62 makes the snap-fastening easier.

[0139] Moreover, this makes it possible to provide the user with a tactile and / or audible sensation during the snap-fastening so that he or she can be assured that the refill 2 is properly retained in the case 3.

[0140] The notches 62 may be bordered, on the side opposite the snap-fastening portion of the second relief by an overthickness 63 of the second relief. Such an overthickness may act as a complementary friction element promoting the retention of the refill in the case and / or form at least in part the flat surface of each second relief 53 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding flat 10 of the refill body 4.

[0141] During the insertion of the refill 2 into the case 3, the overthickness 63 of each second relief 53 comes into contact with each flat 10 of the refill body 42 in order to ensure the angular indexing of the refill 2 in the case 3 and can also contribute to the retention by friction of the refill. Obviously, the elements that have just been described are applicable in reverse to the first relief. The snap-fastening portions with the snap-fastening reliefs may be arranged on the first reliefs and the second reliefs may have the complementary snap-fastening reliefs.

[0142] In the case in which the device had no friction elements 12 distinct from the second reliefs 53, the latter could, in addition to the function of blocking in rotation of the refill in the case by cooperation with the first reliefs 10, also ensure the function of retention by friction of the refill in the case along the longitudinal axis X, by providing tight contact between the first and second reliefs when the refill 4 is in place inside the case 3.

[0143] Numerous modifications can be made to the device that has just been described, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0144] Thus, in a variant that is not illustrated, the number of first and / or second reliefs and the number and / or the nature of the friction elements can also be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0145] The location of the seal can also be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims1. Device (1) for packaging, applying and / or dispensing a cosmetic refill (2) having: a cosmetic refill (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), having: o a refill body (4) at least partially defining a cosmetic product reservoir (44), and o a cap (6) for closing the refill body (4), the device being characterized in that the refill body (4) has an external surface having at least one first relief (10), and in that it has a case (3) having a housing (31) for receiving the cosmetic refill (2), said case (3) having an internal surface, having at least one second relief (53) arranged to block in rotation about its longitudinal axis (X) the cosmetic refill (2) in the case (3) by cooperation with said at least one first relief (10) when the cosmetic refill (2) is in the housing (31).

2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the refill body (4) has a product reservoir (44), a portion (41) for dispensing the cosmetic product and a widened portion (42) for retention on the case that extends between the dispensing portion (41) and the reservoir (44) and has, on its outer surface, the first relief (10).

3. Device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the closure cap (6) is screwed onto the refill body (4), the device in particular having a dipping element (7) fastened to or in one piece with the surface of the cap (6) that is internal to the refill and configured to extend into the refill body (4) when the cap (6) is on the refill body (4).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the case (3) has a case body (35), configured to receive the reservoir (44) of the refill when the refill is inserted into the case, and an upper joining portion (5), in particular attached to the case body (35) with the refill body having the second relief (53), in particular on a surface on the inside of the joining portion (5).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first and second reliefs (10, 53), preferably the second relief (53), is a protruding relief and the other of the first and second reliefs (10, 53), preferably the first relief, is a recessed relief, in particular of complementary shape.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first and second reliefs, preferably the first relief (10), is a flat and the other of the first and second reliefs, preferably the second relief (53), has a flat surface with which the flat (10) comes into contact via at least a part of its surface, when the refill (2) is in the case (3), so as to form a stop opposing the rotation of the refill (2) with respect to the case (3) about the longitudinal axis (X) of the refill in both directions of rotation.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first relief (10), in particular the flat, has a plane that is inclined with respect to a plane of the second relief (53) with which it comes into contact, in particular further from the plane of the second relief (53) on the side of the cap (6) than on the side of the reservoir (44), in particular forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing, which is strictly greater than 0°, better still greater than or equal to 1°, even better still greater than or equal to 2°, preferably greater than or equal to 3°, and / or less than or equal to 20°, better still less than or equal to 10°, preferably less than or equal to 5°, for example substantially equal to 3.5°.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, having a plurality of first reliefs (10) and second reliefs (53), in particular an even number of first and second reliefs, for example two first and second reliefs arranged in an opposing manner, arranged to cooperate with each other when the cosmetic refill (2) is in the housing so as to block in rotation the cosmetic refill (2) in the case (3).

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first relief (10) extends over an angular range (0) of between 10° and 70°, in particular between 40° and 60°, for example 55°.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and / or second reliefs (10, 53), in particular the flat, have a fillet or chamfer at their insertion edge.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, having at least one friction element (12), better still a plurality of friction elements (12), extending between the refill body (4) and the case (3) when the refill (2) is inserted into the case (3), configured to retain the refill body (4) in the case (3) by friction.

12. Device according to Claim 11, wherein the one or more friction elements (12) are separate from the first relief (10) and the second relief (53) when the refill (2) is inserted into the case (3), in particular extending over an angular portion of the device aboutthe longitudinal axis (X), separate from that of the first and second reliefs, each angular portion not having first and second reliefs (10, 53) may have at least one, preferably at least two, better still at least three friction elements (12), which are preferably regularly distributed in each angular portion not having first and second reliefs.

13. Device according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the case (3), and in particular the joining portion (5), comprises:- a first axial portion (51a) that has no friction element (12) and has at least a part of the one or more second reliefs (53) and of the one or more first reliefs (10), and- a second axial portion (51b) having at least a part of one or more friction elements (12).

14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the refill body and the case respectively have a plurality of first reliefs (10) and second reliefs (53), the device having angular portions that have no first and second reliefs, in particular two angular portions that have no first and second reliefs that are opposite one another, at least one, preferably two, better still three friction elements (12) being arranged in each angular portion of the device that has no first and second reliefs.

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, having a seal (11) or a seal portion, extending between the refill (2) and the case (3) when the refill (2) is in the case (3), in particular the seal (11) being a protruding relief extending from one of the internal surface of the case (3) and the external surface of the refill body (4), in particular circumferentially over the entire circumference of the internal surface or the external surface, which is configured to come into contact with the other of the internal surface of the case (3) and the external surface of the refill body (4).

16. Refill (2) belonging to a device according to any one of the preceding claims, having a refill body (4) and a cap (6) having an element (7) that dips into the refill body (4), the refill body having a widened portion (42) for retention on a case (3), the widened retention portion (42) having a first relief (10) that is configured to cooperate with a second relief (53) of the case (3) so as to block the refill (2) in rotation in the case (3).

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