Refillable packaging unit for a product, particularly a cosmetic product.
The refillable packaging assembly for cosmetic products addresses handling difficulties and retention issues by using a locking member with flexible legs and complementary shapes to securely hold the refill cup, facilitating easy replacement and enhancing user safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023004878
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-23
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-05-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing refillable packaging units for cosmetic products face challenges such as difficult handling due to high torque requirements for opening and closing, unsatisfactory axial retention of the refill cup, and difficulty in replacing the refill cup without tools.
A refillable packaging assembly featuring a container with a screw-on lid, a removable refill cup, and a locking member that secures the cup in place using flexible legs and complementary shapes, allowing for secure locking and easy replacement of the refill cup.
The solution enhances the axial retention of the refill cup, simplifies the replacement process, and reduces the risk of unexpected extraction, thereby improving the usability and security of the packaging assembly.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Refillable packaging unit for a product, particularly a cosmetic product.
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refillable assemblies for packaging a product, in particular a cosmetic product.
[0002] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “cosmetic product” means in particular a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 relating to cosmetic products.
[0003] More particularly, the invention relates to a refillable packaging assembly comprising a container or pot having a wide opening and equipped with a screw-on lid or cover.
[0004] The refillable assembly further comprises an insert or cup forming a refill suitable for being replaced when the product it contains is exhausted.
[0005] The proposal of eco-responsible, environmentally friendly solutions, the design and development of which take environmental issues into account, is becoming a major concern to help meet global challenges.
[0006] It is therefore essential to design products that allow the quantity of materials used to be reduced and / or replaced with 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 packaging that generates less waste, in particular optimized for the quantity of products transported, in particular by redesigning and / or resizing them in order to reduce the volume and weight of the quantity of packaging.
[0008] The objective is to offer reusable eco-responsible containers, particularly those that can be refilled at home or in stores, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging.
[0009] The present invention is part of this approach to developing refillable packaging for the field of cosmetic products, and in particular care products, for example a cream, for application to the epidermis of a user, or a makeup product, such as for example foundation or blush.
[0010] Conventionally, whether in the field of packaging cosmetic products or other products, the containers forming refills are presented in the form of minimalist assemblies, adapted to be associated with dressing elements to form a ready-to-use packaging assembly and offering the user optimal performance, particularly in terms of aesthetics and user ergonomics.
[0011] Handling known packaging assemblies can be difficult. Indeed, opening and closing respectively by unscrewing and screwing the cap relative to the container requires the generation of a significant torque between the cap and the container.
[0012] Furthermore, the axial seal achieved between the hood and the container is directly linked to the screwing force, so that insufficient screwing can generate a sealing defect.
[0013] Pots are also known comprising a cover snapped onto the top of an insert and forming an axial seal with said insert.
[0014] However, in such packaging devices, the retention of the cap on the container is not satisfactory to oppose an axial force applied to the cap in a direction opposite to the container.
[0015] Furthermore, the interchangeability of the insert is difficult to implement and requires appropriate tools.
[0016] Furthermore, in the event of accidental rotation of the cover relative to the container, there is a significant risk of unexpected axial extraction of the insert forming a refill from the container.
[0017] There is thus a need to improve refillable packaging units for a cosmetic product.
[0018] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the above drawbacks and to improve the refillable product packaging assemblies comprising a container, a refill cup and a cap with the aim of improving the axial retention of said refill cup relative to the container in a product use position and of facilitating the extraction of said refill cup from the container in the event of replacement of said refill cup and thus of proposing a cosmetic product packaging assembly ensuring qualitative and secure locking of the cup in the container in the product use position.
[0019] Another objective of the invention is to avoid any unexpected extraction of the refill-forming cup.
[0020] Another objective of the invention is to facilitate the interchangeability of the refill cup, and thus in particular to simplify the replacement of an empty refill cup with a new refill cup within the device.
[0021] The subject of the invention is a rechargeable assembly for packaging a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising: - a container extending along an elevation axis and comprising, for example, a internal space delimited by a lower wall and a side wall; - a cup or insert forming a refill mounted removably in the container, in particular in the internal space; - a locking member removably fixed by screwing onto the container between a locked position in which the unscrewing of said locking member is blocked and an unlocked position in which the unscrewing of said locking member is authorized and said unlocking member can be separated axially from the container along the elevation axis.
[0022] Said locking member is configured to ensure that the cup is held in the container.
[0023] The assembly comprises at least two flexible legs secured to one of the cup and / or the other of the locking member and extending towards the other of the locking member or the cup, said flexible legs being configured to be movable between a free or initial position and a compressed position in which the legs are compressed between the locking member and the cup, the locking member and the container each comprising at least two complementary shapes configured to cooperate together in the locked position of the locking member and move the flexible legs from the compressed position into the free position.
[0024] According to one embodiment, there could be at least two flexible legs attached to the cup.
[0025] According to another embodiment, there could be at least two flexible legs integral with the locking member.
[0026] According to yet another variant, at least one flexible tab secured to the cup and at least one flexible tab secured to the locking member could be provided.
[0027] Indeed, during said screwing of the locking member onto the container, the flexible tabs are compressed between the locking member and the cup, and when the complementary shapes provided on the container and the locking member are axially opposite each other, the flexible tabs tend to return to their initial position and exert a force between the cup and the locking member, which has the effect of causing said locking member to rise axially, the complementary shapes of the container then cooperate and insert with the complementary shapes of the locking member, forming a blocking or locking of the rotation of the locking member relative to the container. In this locked position of the locking member, said member can no longer be unscrewed or screwed from the container.
[0028] By “flexible” or “elastically deformable” is meant any member capable of deforming under the action of a stress exerted, for example the screwing of the member locking or axial support on the locking member towards the container causing compression of the flexible legs between the locking member and the cup, and to resume its initial shape after stopping said stress, for example, the engagement of the complementary shapes.
[0029] The cup is effectively held on the container by means of the locking member screwed onto said container.
[0030] Thanks to the flexible legs exerting an axial force on the locking member at the end of screwing onto the container, the unexpected unscrewing of the locking member relative to the container is avoided.
[0031] The transition from the locked position to the unlocked position of the locking member is achieved by axial pressure on the locking member in combination with the rotation of said locking member relative to the container in the unscrewing direction, in order to compress the flexible tabs again and disengage the complementary shapes.
[0032] Alternatively, a different number of flexible legs could be provided, for example greater than or equal to three.
[0033] The flexible legs are elastically deformable in the vertical direction between an initial position in which each flexible leg is not compressed between the locking member and the cup and a deformed position in which each flexible leg is compressed in the vertical direction between the locking member and the cup.
[0034] By “product” is meant a care product, for example a cream, for application to the epidermis of a user, or a makeup product, such as for example foundation or blush.
[0035] Advantageously, each flexible leg is elastically deformable and capable of bending around a bending axis perpendicular to the elevation axis between the free position and the compressed position.
[0036] According to one embodiment, the container preferably comprises on its periphery, in particular on the upper end part, at least two external thread segments configured to cooperate with an internal thread segment provided on the locking member for fixing by screwing said locking member onto the container.
[0037] The external thread segments are advantageously circumferentially regularly spaced from each other.
[0038] Alternatively, a different number of external thread segments could be provided, for example greater than or equal to three.
[0039] Preferably, each of the external thread segments comprises a thread engaging end and a thread termination end provided with an axial projection of lock configured to engage a corresponding circumferential notch provided in each internal thread segment of the locking member in the locked position of the locking member on the container.
[0040] The internal space is, for example, delimited by a lower wall forming a bottom, here substantially flat, a side wall forming a substantially circular contour and an upper end part forming a neck and connected to the side wall by a shoulder. Other contour shapes, regular or irregular, are also possible, in particular square, polygonal or oblong shapes.
[0041] The upper end wall comprises, for example, an opening allowing access to the internal space of the container.
[0042] The end part of the container comprises, for example, an internal rim, for example annular, on which the cup forming the refill is intended to come to bear axially.
[0043] Advantageously, the locking member comprises an annular mounting skirt comprising the internal thread segments configured to cooperate with the external thread segments of the container for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing said locking member onto the container.
[0044] According to one embodiment, each thread segment of the locking member comprises a circumferential notch each intended to cooperate with an axial projection of the container in the locked position of the locking member on the container.
[0045] According to one embodiment, the locking member comprises at least two internal end-of-screwing stops each located downstream of the corresponding circumferential notch in the direction of screwing of the locking member onto the container, each internal end-of-screwing stop being configured to come into circumferential abutment against a corresponding external stop provided on the container.
[0046] The number of circumferential notches and internal end-of-screwing stops is preferably equal to the number of internal thread segments of the locking member.
[0047] For example, the locking member further comprises an annular flange extending from an upper end of the mounting skirt radially inwardly.
[0048] For example, the annular collar extends in a substantially oblique direction. Alternatively, the annular collar could extend in a purely radial direction.
[0049] When screwing the locking member onto the container, the internal threads of said locking member engage with the external threads of the container until the internal and external stops come into circumferential contact. During said screwing, the flexible legs are compressed by the annular collar of the locking member.
[0050] When the internal and external stops come into contact, the axial projections of the container are located axially above the corresponding circumferential notch of the locking member, the flexible tabs tend to return to their initial position and exert a force against the annular collar of the locking member, which has the effect of causing said locking member to rise axially, the axial projections of the container then become inserted into the corresponding circumferential notch of the locking member, forming a blocking or locking of the rotation of the locking member relative to the container. In this locked position of the locking member, said member can no longer be unscrewed or screwed from the container.
[0051] The axial projections of the container and the circumferential notches are complementary shapes configured to cooperate together in the locked position of the locking member 30, and allow the flexible legs to be moved from the compressed position into the free position.
[0052] In a structural inversion, it could be provided that the axial projections are formed on the locking member and that the circumferential notches are provided on the container.
[0053] Advantageously, the cup comprises a body of generally cylindrical shape extending along the elevation axis and comprising a lower closed bottom, a side wall forming a substantially circular contour and delimiting at least one internal cavity intended to contain the product, an opening end allowing access to the internal cavity and an end collar extending radially outwards from the side wall and having an external diameter greater than the external diameter of the side wall, said end collar bearing on an internal rim of the container.
[0054] The outer diameter of the side wall of the cup is substantially less than the inner diameter of the end portion of the container in order to be inserted into said container.
[0055] It could also be provided that the side wall delimits two or more cavities, each intended to contain a product.
[0056] According to one embodiment, the end collar of the cup comprises at least two cutouts spaced, preferably regularly, from one another, each cutout delimiting a flexible tab extending vertically from the corresponding cutout towards the annular collar of the locking member.
[0057] According to another embodiment, the annular collar of the locking member comprises at least two cutouts spaced, preferably regularly, from one another, each cutout delimiting a flexible tab extending vertically from the corresponding cutout towards the end collar of the cup.
[0058] For example, the assembly includes a cover removably mounted on the member locking between a closing position in which the cover closes the internal cavity of the cup and an open position in which the cover does not close the internal cavity of the cup.
[0059] According to one embodiment, the cover is screwed onto the locking member.
[0060] Alternatively, other means of attachment could be provided, for example by click, of the hood on the locking member.
[0061] For example, the locking member comprises, on its external surface, an external thread intended to cooperate with a tapping provided on the cover for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing the cover onto the locking member.
[0062] According to one embodiment, the locking member comprises a ring and a ring yoke integral in rotation with said ring.
[0063] Alternatively, a single part could be provided forming the locking member comprising a mounting skirt having on its internal surface internal threads for screwing onto the container and on its external surface fixing elements, for example an external thread, for fixing with the cover.
[0064] According to one embodiment, the assembly comprises a sealing element or cover configured to seal the internal cavity of the cup in the sealing position of the cup, and a circular sealing gasket mounted on said sealing element. Alternatively, the assembly could be devoid of one and / or the other of the sealing element and the sealing gasket.
[0065] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0066] [Fig.l] represents an exploded perspective view of a refillable product packaging assembly according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0067] [Fig.2] is an exploded sectional view of a portion of the assembly of [Fig.l];
[0068] [Fig.3], [FIG .4] represent sectional views of the whole of [Fig.l], according to two perpendicular section planes;
[0069] [Fig.5] is a top view of the container of the whole of [Fig.l];
[0070] [Fig.6] is a top view of the cup forming the refill of the assembly of [Fig.l];
[0071] [Fig.7] is a detail view of the cup of [Fig.6];
[0072] [Fig.8] is a bottom view of the locking member of the assembly of [Fig.l];
[0073] [Fig.9] represents a transparent view of the whole of [Fig.l], in which the locking member is in the locked position;
[0074] [Fig. 10] represents a transparent view of the whole of [Fig.l], in which the locking member is in the unlocked position; and
[0075] [Fig. 11] represents a transparent view of the whole of [Fig.l], illustrating the start of unscrewing the locking member.
[0076] In the remainder of the description, we consider an orthonormal base X, Y, Z, with Z corresponding to an elevation or elongation axis representing the vertical direction in which we find:
[0077] - a longitudinal axis X, horizontal;
[0078] - a transverse axis Y, horizontal, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X; and
[0079] - a vertical axis Z, orthogonal to the longitudinal axes X and transverse Y and extending from bottom to top on [Fig.l].
[0080] The expressions "upper" and "lower" refer to the upper part and the lower part of the figures, in the assembled position of the rechargeable assembly.
[0081] The terms "interior" or "internal" and "exterior" or "external" refer to the interior of the product packaging assembly, the internal or interior portions being closer to the elevation axis X-Xl than the external or exterior portions.
[0082] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, a refillable assembly 1 for packaging a product extends axially along an axis X-Xl assumed to be vertical in [Fig.l].
[0083] The refillable assembly 1 for packaging a product comprises a container 10 or pot, a cup or insert forming a refill 20 mounted removably in the container 10, a locking member 30 removably fixed to the container 10 and a hood or cover 40 removably fixed to the locking member 30. The locking member 30 ensures that the cup 20 is held in the container 10.
[0084] By "product" is meant a cosmetic product, such as, for example, a care product, for example a cream, for application to the epidermis or to the keratin fibers of a user, or a makeup product, such as, for example, foundation or blusher, or a finely ground, compacted solid product in the form of a compact powder, intended to be applied, for example, to the epidermis of the user. However, the invention is not limited to a cosmetic product. Other types of products could also be provided, such as, for example, paint, or food products, such as butter.
[0085] The container 10 comprises a body extending along an elevation axis X-Xl assumed to be vertical in the figures. Any shape could be provided for the body, for example parallelepiped, cylindrical or other.
[0086] The body of the container 10 delimits an internal space E for receiving the cup 20 forming a refill.
[0087] The internal space E is delimited by a lower wall 11 forming a bottom, here substantially flat, a side wall 12 forming a substantially circular contour and an upper end part 13 forming a neck and connected to the side wall 12 by a shoulder 14. Other contour shapes, regular or irregular, are also possible, in particular square, polygonal or oblong shapes.
[0088] The upper end wall 13 comprises an opening 15 allowing access to the internal space E of the container 10.
[0089] As illustrated, the upper end portion 13 has, on its periphery, a thread 16 intended to cooperate with a tapping 33 made in the locking member 30.
[0090] As illustrated, and in a non-limiting manner, the container 10 comprises, on its periphery, in particular on the upper end portion 13, three segments of external threads 16a, 16b, 16c, regularly circumferentially spaced from each other.
[0091] Alternatively, a different number of external thread segments could be provided, for example greater than or equal to two.
[0092] Each of the external thread segments 16a, 16b, 16c comprises a thread engagement end (not referenced) and a thread end end (not referenced) provided with an axial locking projection 17 intended to engage in a corresponding circumferential notch 35 provided in the thread 33 of the locking member 30 in a locked position of the locking member 30 on the container 10.
[0093] The end portion 13 of the container 10 further comprises an internal rim 19, here annular, on which the cup 20 forming a refill is intended to come to bear axially.
[0094] The cup or insert 20 is intended to be inserted into the internal space E of the container 10.
[0095] As illustrated in the figures, the cup 20 comprises a body of generally cylindrical shape extending along the elevation axis X-XL. The body of the cup 20 comprises a lower closed bottom 21, a side wall 22 forming a substantially circular contour and delimiting a cavity or internal volume 23 intended to contain a product and an opening end 24 allowing access to the internal volume 23.
[0096] It could also be provided that the side wall 22 delimits two or more cavities each intended to contain a product.
[0097] The cup 20 comprises an end flange 25 extending radially outwardly from the side wall 22 and having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the side wall 22.
[0098] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the annular end edge 25 bears axially on the internal end rim 19 of the container 10.
[0099] The outer diameter of the side wall 22 of the cup 20 is substantially less than the inner diameter of the end portion 13 of the container 10 in order to be inserted into said container 10.
[0100] As illustrated, the end collar 25 of the cup 20 comprises three cutouts 26a, 26b, 26c located circumferentially at 120° to each other. Each cutout defines a flexible tab 27a, 27b, 27c extending vertically from the corresponding cutout upwards.
[0101] Each flexible leg 27 is elastically deformable and flexes around a flexion axis perpendicular to the elevation axis X-Xl between a free position visible in [Fig.9] and a compressed position visible in Figures 10 and 11.
[0102] Alternatively, a different number of flexible legs 27 could be provided, for example greater than or equal to two.
[0103] The locking member 30 comprises, here, a locking ring 31 having a body of generally annular shape and extending along an elevation axis X-Xl assumed to be vertical in the figures. The ring 31 comprises an annular mounting skirt 32 comprising a tapping 33 or internal thread intended to cooperate with the thread 16 of the container 10 for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing said ring 31 onto the container 10.
[0104] As illustrated, the ring 31 comprises three segments of internal threads 33a, 33b, 33c regularly spaced from each other.
[0105] Alternatively, a different number of internal thread segments 33 could be provided, for example greater than or equal to two. Generally, the number of internal thread segments 33 is equal to the number of external thread segments 16 of the container 10.
[0106] Each thread segment 33a, 33b, 33c comprises a circumferential notch 35a, 35b, 35c each intended to cooperate with an axial projection 17a, 17b, 17c of the container 10 in the locked position of the locking member 30 on the container 10.
[0107] The locking ring 31 further comprises three internal end-of-screwing stops 36a, 36b, 36c located downstream of the circumferential notch 35 in the direction of screwing the locking ring 30 onto the container 10. Each internal end-of-screwing stop 36 is configured to come into circumferential abutment against the corresponding external stop 18a, 18b, 18c provided on the container 10.
[0108] The number of circumferential notches 35 and internal stops 36 at the end of screwing is equal to the number of internal thread segments 33 of the locking ring 31.
[0109] The ring 31 further comprises an annular collar 34 extending from an upper end of the mounting skirt 32 radially inward. As illustrated, the annular collar 34 extends, here, in a substantially oblique direction.
[0110] Alternatively, the annular collar 34 could extend in a purely radial direction.
[0111] As illustrated, the locking member 30 comprises a ring yoke 37 integral in rotation with the locking ring 31.
[0112] Said ring yoke 37 has a body of generally annular shape and extending along an elevation axis X-Xl assumed to be vertical in the figures. The ring yoke 37 comprises an annular mounting skirt 38 surrounding the mounting skirt 32 of the ring 31 and comprising an external thread 39 intended to cooperate with a tapping 43a provided on the cover 40 for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing the cover 40 onto the locking member 30.
[0113] Alternatively, other means of fixing, for example by snap-fastening, the cover 40 onto the locking member 30 could be provided.
[0114] The mounting skirt 32 of the ring 31 comprises, on its external cylindrical surface, axial anti-rotation projections 32a in order to secure in rotation the ring yoke 37 and the ring 31.
[0115] As illustrated, the ring 31 and the ring yoke 37 form two separate parts. Alternatively, a single part could be provided forming the locking member 30 comprising a mounting skirt having on its internal surface internal threads 33 for screwing onto the container 10 and on its external surface fixing elements, here an external thread 39, for fixing with the cover 40.
[0116] The free end of each flexible tab 27 bears axially against the internal surface 34a of the annular collar 34 of the locking member 30.
[0117] When screwing the locking member 30 onto the container 10, the internal threads 33 of said locking member 30 engage with the external threads 16 of the container until the internal and external stops 18, 36 come into circumferential contact. During said screwing, the flexible tabs 27 are compressed by the annular collar 34 of the locking member 30.
[0118] When the internal and external stops 18, 36 come into contact, the axial projections 17 of the container are located axially above the corresponding circumferential notch 35 of the locking member 30, the flexible tabs 27 tend to return to their initial position and exert a force against the annular collar 34 of the locking member 30, which has the effect of causing said locking member 30 to rise axially, the axial projections 17 of the container then become inserted into the notch corresponding circumferential 35 of the locking member 30, forming a blocking or locking of the rotation of the locking member 30 relative to the container 10. In this locked position of the locking member 30, said member 30 can no longer be unscrewed or screwed from the container 10.
[0119] The axial projections 17a, 17b, 17c of the container and the circumferential notches 35a, 35b, 35c are complementary shapes configured to cooperate together in the locked position of the locking member 30, and allow the flexible legs 27 to be moved from the compressed position into the free position.
[0120] In a structural inversion, it could be provided that the axial projections are formed on the locking member and that the circumferential notches are provided on the container 10.
[0121] By “flexible” or “elastically deformable” is meant any member capable of deforming under the action of an exerted stress, for example the screwing of the locking member 30 or the axial pressure on the locking member 30 towards the container 10 causing the compression of the flexible tabs 27 between the locking member and the cup, and of returning to its initial shape after the cessation of said stress, for example, the engagement of the axial projections 17 in the corresponding notch 35 of the locking member 30.
[0122] The cup 20 is effectively held on the container 10 by means of the locking member 30 screwed onto said container 10. Thanks to the flexible tabs 27 exerting an axial force on the locking member 30 at the end of screwing onto the container 10, the unexpected unscrewing of the locking member 30 relative to the container 10 is avoided.
[0123] For example, the cup 20 is made of a material with a high elastic deformation threshold. For example, the cup 20 is made of a plastic material.
[0124] To meet manufacturing constraints, the cup 20 and the locking member 30 are advantageously made from the same material. In particular, the use of polyolefins to produce these elements makes it possible to promote the recycling of the elements of the cover and thus meet environmental constraints.
[0125] The transition from the locked position to the unlocked position of the locking member 30 is achieved by axial pressure on the locking member 30 in combination with the rotation of said locking member 30 relative to the container 10 in the unscrewing direction, in order to compress the flexible tabs 27 again and to disengage the axial projections 17 from the corresponding circumferential notches 35, or more generally the complementary shapes.
[0126] As illustrated, and in a non-limiting manner, the assembly 1 comprises a closure element 50 or cover configured to close the internal volume 23 of the cup 20 in the closure position of the cup 20, and a circular sealing gasket 60 mounted on said closure element 50. As a variant, the assembly 1 could be devoid of one and / or the other of the sealing element 50 and the sealing gasket 60.
[0127] The cover 40 is configured to close the cup 20.
[0128] As illustrated, and in no way limiting, the cover 40 is understood along an elevation axis X-Xl assumed to be vertical in the figures and comprises two separate parts 41, 42, namely an internal part 41 and an external part 42 surrounding said internal part 41. The internal and external parts 41, 42 are integral in rotation with each other. Alternatively, it could be provided that the cover 40 is made in a single piece.
[0129] Generally, the internal part 41 of the cover 40 comprises a mounting skirt 43 comprising, on its internal surface, a thread 43a intended to cooperate with the thread 39 provided on the locking member 30. As a variant, any means of removable attachment of the cover 40 to the locking member 30 could be provided.
[0130] The mounting skirt 43 further comprises, on its external surface, axial projections 43b intended to cooperate with complementary shapes 42a provided on the internal surface of the mounting skirt 44 of the external part 42 of the cover 40.
[0131] The hood 40 further comprises a closed upper wall 45 extending from the upper end of the mounting skirt 44 of the external part 42.
[0132] Of course, the invention also covers any possibility of technically conceivable structural inversion of the elements implemented within the device. For example, the flexible legs could be carried by the locking member 30, in particular the collar 34. In this case, the elastically deformable flexible legs would be integral with the main body of the locking member 30 and could extend projecting from the annular collar 34, towards the end collar 25 of the cup 20.
[0133] It would also be possible to provide at least one flexible tab secured to the cup 20 and extending towards the locking member 30 and at least one flexible tab secured to the locking member 30 and extending towards the cup 20.
[0134] Thanks to the particular structure of the refillable product packaging assembly, the opening gesture of the cup is modified in order to simplify its handling, while guaranteeing increased axial holding of the cup relative to the container.
[0135] Furthermore, the cup can be removed and fixed easily.
Claims
Claims
1. Refillable assembly (1) for packaging a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising: - a container (10) extending along an elevation axis (X-Xl); - a cup (20) forming a refill mounted removably in the container (10); - a locking member (30) removably fixed by screwing onto the container (10) between a locked position in which the unscrewing of said locking member (30) is blocked and an unlocked position in which the unscrewing of said locking member (30) is authorized and said unlocking member (30) can be axially separated from the container (10) along the elevation axis (X-Xl), said locking member (30) being configured to ensure the holding of the cup (20) in the container (10),the assembly (1) comprising at least two flexible legs (27) secured to one of the cup (20) and / or to the other of the locking member (30) and extending towards the other of the locking member (30) or of the cup (20), said flexible legs (27) being configured to be movable between a free position and a compressed position in which the legs (27) are compressed between the locking member (30) and the cup (20), the locking member (30) and the container (10) each comprising at least two complementary shapes (35a, 35b, 35c; 17a, 17b, 17c) configured to cooperate together in the locked position of the locking member (30) and move the flexible legs (27) from the compressed position into the free position.,
2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, in which each flexible leg (27) is elastically deformable and capable of flexing around a flexion axis perpendicular to the elevation axis (X-Xl) between the free position and the compressed position.
3. Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container (10) comprises at least two external thread segments (16a, 16b, 16c) configured to cooperate with an internal thread segment (33a, 33b, 33c) provided on the locking member (30) for screwing fixing of said locking member (30) to the container (10).
4. An assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein each of the external thread segments (16a, 16b, 16c) comprises a thread engaging end and a thread terminating end provided with an axial projection (17a, 17b, 17c) locking member configured to engage a corresponding circumferential notch (35a, 35b, 35c) provided in each internal thread segment (33a, 33b, 33c) of the locking member (30) in the locked position of the locking member (30) on the container (10).
5. Assembly (1) according to claim 4, in which the locking member (30) comprises at least two internal end-of-screwing stops (36a, 36b, 36c) each located downstream of the corresponding circumferential notch (35a, 35b, 35c) in the direction of screwing of the locking member (30) onto the container (10), each internal end-of-screwing stop (36a, 36b, 36c) being configured to come into circumferential abutment against a corresponding external stop (18a, 18b, 18c) provided on the container (10).
6. An assembly (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the locking member (30) comprises an annular mounting skirt (32) comprising the internal thread segments (33a, 33b, 33c) configured to cooperate with the external thread segments (16a, 16b, 16c) of the container (10) for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing said locking member (30) onto the container (10).
7. An assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the locking member (30) further comprises an annular flange (34) extending from an upper end of the mounting skirt (32) radially inwardly.
8. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cup (20) comprises a body of generally cylindrical shape extending along the elevation axis (X-Xl) and comprising a lower closed bottom (21), a side wall (22) forming a contour and delimiting at least one internal cavity (23) intended to contain the product, an opening end (24) allowing access to the internal cavity (23) and an end collar (25) extending radially outwards from the side wall (22) and having an external diameter greater than the external diameter of the side wall (22), said end collar (25) bearing on an internal rim (19) of the container (10).
9. An assembly (1) according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the end collar (25) of the cup (20) comprises at least two cutouts (26a, 26b, 26c) spaced apart from each other, each cutout delimiting a flexible tab (27a, 27b, 27c) extending vertically from the corresponding cutout towards the annular collar (34) of the locking member (30).
10. Assembly (1) according to claims 7 and 8, in which the annular collar (34) of the locking member (30) comprises at least two cutouts spaced apart from each other, each cutout delimiting a flexible tab extending vertically from the corresponding cutout towards the end collar (25) of the cup (20).
11. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, comprising a cover (40) removably mounted on the locking member (30) between a closed position in which the cover (40) closes the internal cavity (23) of the cup (20) and an open position in which the cover (40) does not close the internal cavity (23) of the cup (20).
12. Assembly (1) according to claim 11, in which the cover (40) is screwed onto the locking member (30).
13. Assembly (1) according to claim 12, wherein the locking member (30) comprises, on its outer surface, an external thread (39) intended to cooperate with a tapping (43a) provided on the cover (40) for the purpose of screwing or unscrewing the cover (40) onto the locking member (30).