COSMETIC PRODUCT APPLICATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for applying a grape (12) of cosmetic product comprising: - a cup (30) having at least one radial lug (32); - a guide (14) having a tubular body (16) which extends to a top opening (20), in which the cup (30) is mounted to slide axially; - a tubular sheath (40) in which the body (16) is mounted to rotate, the rotation of the guide (14) relative to the sheath (40) causing an axial movement of the cup (30) between an extreme position deployed through the opening (20) and an extreme retracted position; characterized in that the sheath (40) has an elastically deformable upper lip (60) extending radially above the opening (20) of the guide (14), the upper lip (60) having, at rest, an inner diameter (D1) smaller than the inner diameter (D2) of the tubular body (16). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC PRODUCT GRAPE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic product stick, comprising:

[0002] - a cup intended to receive the grape and comprising at least one radial lug;

[0003] - a guide comprising a tubular body in which the cup is slidably mounted axially, the guide comprising at least one slot which is crossed by the at least one associated lug of the cup;

[0004] - a tubular sheath in which the body is rotatably mounted, the sheath internally comprising at least one groove for receiving at least one lug of the cup, the rotation of the guide relative to the sheath causing an axial movement of the cup between an extreme deployed position and an extreme retracted position. Technical background

[0005] Devices of this type are known from the state of the art, used for packaging a cosmetic product, such as a cosmetic product stick, in particular but not exclusively for a lipstick stick. Such a cosmetic product stick will be designated hereinafter and in the claims by the term "grape".

[0006] The grape is held by its base in a cup which slides axially between at least one retracted position and a position for applying the cosmetic product in which at least a portion of the grape of cosmetic product extends axially out of the device.

[0007] In a known manner, such kinematics is obtained by means of a rotary mechanism comprising a guide and a sheath which, mounted concentrically, comprise for one at least one slide and for the other at least one helical groove which are respectively crossed radially by at least one lug secured to the cup carrying the grape.

[0008] The cup generally comprises a pair of lugs, the two lugs being arranged diametrically opposite each other, the guide then being provided with two slides and the sheath with two helical grooves.

[0009] Actuation of the mechanism is generally manually controlled by applying a rotational movement to the base of the device, which rotational movement is transmitted to the mechanism to cause axial displacement of the cup. comprising the cosmetic product.

[0010] Several methods are known for forming the cosmetic product grape.

[0011] One method is to mold grapes by injecting the cosmetic product in liquid state directly into the cup of the previously mounted device. However, such a method is complex and requires a lot of time.

[0012] Another method consists of preforming the cosmetic product grape, then inserting the grape into the cup after mounting the device. During this operation, the cup occupies its extreme application position. This method thus makes it possible to increase production rates since it is no longer necessary to add the grape forming time to the device mounting process, the grape being already formed when it is inserted into the cup.

[0013] It has already been proposed to insert the grape by force into the cup. However, it happens that the grape is not correctly inserted. The grape may for example be inclined relative to the sliding axis of the cup. The grape then risks rubbing against the edges of the guide and / or the sheath when the cup is retracted. The grape is then damaged and the device is soiled by the cosmetic product. Summary of the invention

[0014] The invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a stick of cosmetic product, said device comprising:

[0015] - a cup intended to receive the grape and comprising a tubular wall and less a radial spur;

[0016] - at least one guide comprising a tubular body which extends to an opening upper grape outlet, in which the cup is mounted to slide axially, the guide comprising at least one slot which is crossed by the at least one associated lug of the cup;

[0017] - a tubular sheath in which the body is rotatably mounted, the sheath internally comprising at least one groove for receiving the at least one lug of the cup, the rotation of the guide relative to the sheath causing an axial movement of the cup between an extreme position deployed through the opening and an extreme retracted position.

[0018] The device produced according to the teachings of the invention is characterized in that the sheath comprises an upper sealing lip which is intended to be in sealed contact with the cylindrical wall of the cup along a circular contact line in the deployed extreme position to seal a radial annular space between the sheath and the cup.

[0019] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the sheath comprises an elastically deformable upper lip of shape closed annular ring extending radially inward above the guide opening, the upper lip having, at rest, an internal diameter less than the internal diameter of the tubular body.

[0020] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, in the extreme deployed position of the cup, the upper lip is clamped radially against a cylindrical wall of a section of the cup along a circular line of contact in a substantially airtight manner.

[0021] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the internal diameter of the upper lip at rest is greater than the internal diameter of the cup.

[0022] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the upper lip is produced in a single piece with the sheath.

[0023] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the sheath is made of plastic material.

[0024] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, it comprises an air-tight member which is interposed radially between the guide and the sheath, below the at least one guide slot of the guide.

[0025] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the sealing member is a lower lip of closed annular shape which extends radially outwards from the guide, the lower lip being mounted tightly in the sheath along a circular line of contact.

[0026] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the lower lip is produced in a single piece with the guide.

[0027] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the cup comprises at least one upper suction orifice located below the circular line of contact with the upper lip when it occupies its extreme deployed position.

[0028] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the guide comprises at least one lower suction orifice located in a lower base arranged at a lower end of the tubular body and which communicates with the interior of the tubular body.

[0029] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, when the cup occupies its extreme deployed position, the sheath has an internal space delimited axially between the lower lip and the upper lip, said space communicating with the exterior only through the lower and upper suction orifices. Brief description of the figures

[0030] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings which are described briefly below.

[0031] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view which represents a device produced according to the teachings of the invention in a mounted position, a cup of the device occupying an extreme retracted position.

[0032] [Fig.2] is an exploded perspective view of the device of [Fig.l] which comprises a guide, a cup and a sheath.

[0033] [Fig.3] is a view similar to that of [Fig.2] in which the elements are in section according to section plane 3-3 of [Fig.2].

[0034] [Fig.4] is an enlarged perspective view showing the underside of the cup of [Fig.2].

[0035] [Fig.5] is a sectional view along section plane 5-5 of [Fig.1], the cup occupying its extreme retracted position.

[0036] [Fig.6] is a view similar to that of [Fig.5] in which the cup occupies its extreme deployed position. Detailed description of the invention

[0037] By convention, the “axial” direction corresponds in the figures to that of the main axis A of the device (also called mechanism) intended to be mounted on an actuation base of a cosmetic product application receptacle, such as a cosmetic product stick, in particular a lipstick stick, and the “radial” direction is directed orthogonally to the axial direction by radiating from the main axis.

[0038] In the detailed description of the figures which follow, the terms “upper” and “lower” or “top” and “bottom” will be used in a non-limiting manner with reference to the axial direction, the upper part of the device corresponding to that through which the grape of cosmetic product exits the device for application.

[0039] Similarly, the terms "outer or external" and "inner or internal" are used with reference to the radial direction, an outer element being radially further from the axis A than an inner element.

[0040] The figures illustrate a device 10 intended to be mounted on an actuation base of a cosmetic product application receptacle.

[0041] Preferably, the cosmetic product (shown in dotted lines in Figures 5 and 6) is a stick 12 of cosmetic product and, more particularly, the stick 12 of cosmetic product is a stick of lipstick intended to be applied by rubbing, alternatively a lip care balm.

[0042] The device 10 is designed to discharge the cosmetic product through at least one rotational movement.

[0043] The device 10 has an axis A, called the main axis.

[0044] The device 10 comprises at least a first element, conventionally and hereinafter called after guide 14. Guide 14 is particularly visible in figures 2 and 3.

[0045] The guide 14 mainly comprises a tubular body 16 which extends axially from a base 18 forming the lower end of the guide 14 to an upper outlet opening 20 intended to be crossed by the grape 12 of cosmetic product.

[0046] The external surface of the base 18 is for example provided with grooves to facilitate its handling when using the device 10.

[0047] Preferably, the guide 14 comprises at least one slot passing radially through the wall of the body 16. Each slot forms a slide. The guide 14 here comprises a first slot 22 and a second slot 24 passing radially through the wall of the body 16. The slots 22, 24 are arranged diametrically opposite each other.

[0048] The slots 22, 24 extend axially in the body 16 of the guide 14, the first slot 22 is closed axially at its upper end while the second slot 24 is open. The slots 22, 24 are closed at their lower end located on the side of the base 18.

[0049] The slots 22, 24 each have straight and parallel edges. The first slot 22 has at one of its axial ends an upper notch 26a and at the other of its ends a lower notch 28a, said notches 26a, 28b extending circumferentially.

[0050] In both embodiments, the second slot 24 also includes upper and lower notches 26b, 28b.

[0051] In conventional systems, the notches 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b are intended to form means for locking the end of travel of a cup 30.

[0052] The device 10 comprises the cup 30 which receives the grape 12 of cosmetic product as illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0053] The cup 30 is intended to be mounted to slide axially in the guide 14, between an extreme retracted position, as shown in [Fig.5], and an extreme deployed position, as shown in [Fig.6].

[0054] The retracted extreme position corresponds to a position in which the grape 12 is inside the device 10 for its protection and storage and the cup 30 is in the lower end-of-travel position as illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0055] The deployed extreme position corresponds to a position in which the grape 12 is deployed axially upwards so that its free end extends out of the device 10 through the opening 20 and the cup 30 is in the upper end-of-travel position as illustrated in [Fig.6].

[0056] The cup 30 can also be in intermediate positions between its two extreme retracted and deployed positions, called intermediate application positions.

[0057] As shown in [Fig.4], the cup 30 comprises at least one lug 32, preferably two lugs 32. Each lug 32 projects radially outwards, said lugs 32 each being engaged in one of the slots 22, 24 of the guide 14 and passing through them to extend radially outwards beyond the external cylindrical surface of the body 16 of the guide 14.

[0058] The cup 30 comprises a cylindrical wall 34 which extends axially. The wall 34 delimits a housing 36 which receives the lower part of the grape 12. The housing 36 is open upwards by an inlet 33. The housing 36 is delimited axially downwards by a bottom 37. The internal face of the cylindrical wall 34 is provided with ribs 38 which are intended to fix the grape 12 firmly in the housing 36.

[0059] The external face of the cylindrical wall 34 is provided with reliefs 35 which form sliding pads which make it possible to reduce the friction surface between the cup 30 and the guide 14 in order to promote the sliding of the cup 30. These reliefs 35 have an elongated shape oriented axially. The external face of an upper end section 39 of the cylindrical wall 34 is devoid of reliefs.

[0060] The device 10 comprises a second element, conventionally and hereinafter called the sheath 40. As shown here, the sheath 40 has a cylindrical shape with the main axis A.

[0061] The sheath 40 can receive an external jacket (not shown) inside which the sheath 40 is introduced and immobilized in rotation due to the force fitting or for example the use of glue to fix the sheath 40 and the jacket together.

[0062] Preferably, the sheath 40 internally comprises at least one groove receiving the free end of an associated lug 32 of the cup 30. The sheath 40 here comprises two grooves 42, 44, diametrically opposed, with which the free ends of the lugs 32 of the cup 30 cooperate in operation. The sheath 40 comprises an internal wall 46 provided with said helical grooves 42, 44. The grooves 42, 44 here have a helical shape.

[0063] The sheath 40 comprises respectively an upper edge 50 located at its upper axial end and a lower edge 52 located at its lower axial end, said edges 50 and 52 being circumferentially continuous.

[0064] The sheath 40 is intended to be mounted by snap-fastening onto the guide 14 to obtain, after assembly, the devices 10 shown in particular in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. In the assembled position, the opening 20 of the guide 14 is arranged below the upper edge 50 of the sheath 40.

[0065] The guide 14 is mounted in rotation in the sheath 40 around the main axis "A". The guide 14 is thus received concentrically inside the sheath 40. For this purpose, the body 16 of the guide 14 has an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the sheath 40.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the elastic snap-fastening is obtained here, without limitation, by an annular bead 54 which projects from a lower portion of the inner face of the sheath 40. A collar 56 projects radially from the outer face of the body 16, close to the base 18. The collar 56 is intended to be elastically snap-fastened above the bead 54 of the sheath 40 when the body 16 of the guide 14 is inserted axially, from bottom to top, through a lower opening of the sheath 40. The collar 56 is then in axial abutment against a shoulder face 57 of the sheath 40.

[0067] The slot 22 of the guide 14 is here open upwards by means of a cutout 58 which opens into the upper end edge of the body 16 which delimits the opening 20. Thanks to this cutout 58 the guide 14 can deform radially to facilitate the assembly of the sheath 40 before returning to its initial shape.

[0068] In such a device 10, the rotation of the guide 14 by means of its base 18 relative to the sheath 40 causes an axial movement of the cup 30, more precisely an upward movement or a downward movement of the cup 30 depending on the direction of rotation. When the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, an upper part of the cup 30 here extends axially outside the sheath 40.

[0069] The cosmetic product grape 12 moves axially with the cup 30 between the extreme deployed position and the extreme retracted position.

[0070] In the two embodiments shown, the guide 14, the cup 30 and the sheath 40 are advantageously made of plastic material.

[0071] Preferably, the guide 14, the cup 30 and the sheath 40 are made of identical plastic material.

[0072] The plastic material may be selected from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyethylene (PE), such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) and / or high density polyethylene (HDPE), a composite material, a post-consumer recycled (PCR) material and / or a similar material.

[0073] This is in particular a plastic material whose hardness is between 70 shore A and 90 shore D.

[0074] Preferably, it is polypropylene and / or recycled or non-recycled polyethylene terephthalate.

[0075] Thus, advantageously, all the parts of the device 10 are made of plastic material preferably chosen from polypropylene and / or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0076] The plastic parts can be easily obtained by injection and lead to a lightweight device 10.

[0077] Furthermore, the use of plastic materials, in particular similar plastic materials for the entire device 10, makes it easier to recycle. In particular, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate are two plastic materials whose recycling cycle is well known.

[0078] Furthermore, the tubular body 16 of the guide 14 is interposed radially between the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30 and the sheath 40. Furthermore, the reliefs 35 are also interposed radially between the internal face of the tubular body 16 and the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30. As a result, in the extreme deployed position of the cup 30, there is a radial annular gap 59 between the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30 and the internal cylindrical face of the sheath 40.

[0079] The sheath 40 comprises an upper sealing lip 60 which is in sealing contact with the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30 along a closed contact line 61 in the deployed extreme position to seal the radial annular gap 59 between the sheath 40 and the cup 30.

[0080] In this extreme deployed position, the closed contact line 61 is arranged above the opening 20 of the guide 14.

[0081] The upper lip 60 here has a closed annular shape which extends radially inwards above the opening 20 of the guide 14 when the device 10 is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The upper lip 60 here extends from the upper end edge 50 of the sheath 40.

[0082] Furthermore, the lip 60 extends axially below the upper end edge of the cup 30 when it occupies its extreme deployed position.

[0083] In a variant of the invention not shown, the upper lip extends from the cylindrical internal face of the sheath 40.

[0084] The upper lip 60 is elastically deformable in flexion. The upper lip 60 is notably more flexible than the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30. The lip 60 also has greater flexibility than the wall of the sheath 40, for example due to a thickness less than that of the wall of the sheath 40.

[0085] The upper lip 60 thus has an internal free edge which forms a closed circle centered on the main axis A. It has, at rest, an internal diameter "D1" less than the internal diameter "D2" of the tubular body 16 of the guide 14, as shown in [Fig.5].

[0086] Furthermore, the inner diameter "D1" of the upper lip 60 is less than the outer diameter "D3" of the upper end section 39 of the cylindrical wall 34 of the cup 30. Thus, when the cup 30 is slid from its extreme retracted position to its extreme deployed position, it deforms the lip 60 by bending. upper upwards. In the extreme deployed position of the cup 30, as shown in [Fig. 6], the free edge of the upper lip 60 is thus clamped radially, under the effect of an elastic return force towards its rest position, all around the cup 30 along a circular contact line 61 in a substantially airtight manner. The contact line 61 in the extreme deployed position is shown by dotted lines in [Fig. 4]. The contact line 61 is located on the upper section 39 of the external cylindrical face of the cup 30. It is a smooth section 39 so that the contact line 61 forms a closed circle. Thus, in the extreme deployed position, the upper lip 60 forms an airtight contact with the cup 30.

[0087] Furthermore, the internal diameter "D1" of the upper lip 60, at rest, is advantageously greater than the internal diameter "D4" of the upper section of the cup 30. The grape 12 housed in the cup 30 in fact has a generally cylindrical shape centered on the main axis 1 and whose external diameter is equal to the internal diameter "D4" of the upper section of the cup 30. This arrangement therefore allows the grape 12 to exit the sheath 40 without being scratched by the free internal edge of the upper lip 60.

[0088] The upper lip 60 is here made in a single piece with the sheath 40.

[0089] The device 10 further comprises an airtight member which is interposed ra dially between the guide 14 and the sheath 40, below the guide slots 22, 24 of the guide 14.

[0090] The sealing member is here a lower lip 62 of closed annular shape which extends radially outwards from the external face of the guide 14. The lower lip 62 being mounted tightly in the sheath 40 along a circular contact line (not shown). The lower lip 62 is here arranged below the collar 56.

[0091] The lower lip 62 is made in one piece with the guide 14.

[0092] The lip 62 thus rubs permanently against the sheath 40. It thus provides a slight resistance to rotation of the sheath 40 relative to the guide 14. This makes it possible in particular to hold the cup 30 stably in the position selected by the user, without however preventing the latter from easily controlling the sliding of the cup 30.

[0093] When the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, an interior space 63 between the upper lip 60 and the lower lip 62 is substantially made airtight by contact of the upper lip 60 with the cup 30, on the one hand, and by contact of the lower lip 62 with the guide 14, on the other hand. This interior space 63 is delimited radially in a sealed manner by the cylindrical tubular wall of the sheath 40.

[0094] The cup 30 comprises at least one upper suction orifice 64 located below the circular line 61 of contact with the upper lip 60 when it occupies its extreme deployed position. The at least one suction orifice 64 is here arranged in the bottom 37 of the housing 37. The cup 30 here comprises several identical suction orifices 64, for example four, distributed regularly around the main axis A. The housing 36 thus communicates with the interior of the tubular body 16 via these upper suction orifices 64.

[0095] The guide 14 further comprises at least one lower suction orifice 66 located in its base 18 and which communicates with the interior of the tubular body 16. The lower suction orifice 66 here opens axially towards the bottom of the base 18, coaxially with the main axis A.

[0096] Thus, when the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, the interior space 63 communicates with the exterior only through the lower and upper suction orifices 64, 66.

[0097] The invention makes it possible in particular to easily insert a preformed cosmetic product grape 12 into the cup 30 after mounting the device 10. For this purpose, the cup 30 is controlled in its extreme deployed position, as shown in [Fig. 6]. The grape 12 is then brought into contact with the inlet 33 of the housing of the cup 30. The grape 12 has substantially the same external diameter as the internal diameter of the inlet 33 of the housing 36. The grape 12 thus blocks the inlet 33.

[0098] The grape 12 is then sucked into the housing 36 by suction. For this purpose, the lower suction orifice 66 of the base 18 is connected in a sealed manner to a source of vacuum. Since the interior space 63 is airtight, the vacuum propagates to the housing 36. The inlet 33 of the latter being blocked by the grape 12, the latter is sucked by suction effect and thus embedded in the housing 36. In doing so, the ribs 38 bite into the base of the grape 12 to ensure that it is held in the cup 30.

[0099] This method of mounting the preformed grape 12 in the cup 30 makes it possible to guarantee good alignment of the main axis of the grape 12 with the main axis A of the device 10.

[0100] In addition to its sealing function, the upper lip 60 also makes it possible, by friction, to brake the cup 30 when it reaches its extreme deployed position. This allows the user to avoid feeling a sudden stop when the cup 30 reaches the end of its travel in the slots 22, 24.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (10) for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a stick (12) of cosmetic product, said device (10) comprising: - a cup (30) intended to receive the stick (12) and comprising a tubular wall (34) and at least one radial lug (32); - at least one guide (14) comprising a tubular body (16) which extends to an upper outlet opening (20) for the stick (12), in which the cup (30) is mounted to slide axially, the guide (14) comprising at least one slot (22, 24) which is crossed by the at least one associated lug (32) of the cup (30);- a tubular sheath (40) in which the body (16) is rotatably mounted, the sheath (40) internally comprising at least one groove (42, 44) for receiving the at least one lug (32) of the cup (30), the rotation of the guide (14) relative to the sheath (40) causing an axial movement of the cup (30) between an extreme deployed position through the opening (20) and an extreme retracted position; characterized in that the sheath comprises an upper sealing lip (60) which is intended to be in sealed contact with the cylindrical wall (34) of the cup (30) along a circular contact line (61) in the extreme deployed position to seal a radial annular space between the sheath (40) and the cup (30).;

2. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sheath (40) comprises an elastically deformable upper lip (60) of closed annular shape which extends radially inwards above the opening (20) of the guide (14), the upper lip (60) having, at rest, an internal diameter (D1) less than the internal diameter (D2) of the tubular body (16).

3. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the extreme deployed position of the cup (30), the upper lip (60) is clamped radially against a cylindrical wall (34) of a section (39) of the cup (30) along a circular contact line (61) in a substantially airtight manner.

4. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal diameter (D1) of the upper lip (60) at rest is greater than the internal diameter (D4) of the cup (30).

5. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper lip (60) is made in one piece with the sheath (40).

6. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheath (40) is made of plastic material.

7. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an air-tight member which is interposed radially between the guide (14) and the sheath (40), below the at least one slot (22, 24) for guiding the guide (14).

8. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sealing member is a lower lip (62) of closed annular shape which extends radially outwards from the guide (14), the lower lip (62) being mounted tightly in the sheath (40) along a circular line of contact.

9. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower lip (62) is made in one piece with the guide (14).

10. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cup (30) comprises at least one upper suction orifice (64) located below the circular line (61) of contact with the upper lip (60) when it occupies its extreme deployed position.

11. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide (14) comprises at least one lower suction orifice (66) located in a lower base (18) arranged at a lower end of the tubular body (16) and which communicates with the interior of the tubular body (16).

12. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the cup (30) occupies its extreme deployed position, the sheath (40) has an internal space (63) delimited axially between the lower lip (62) and the upper lip (60), said space communicating with the exterior only through the lower and upper suction orifices (64, 66).

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