COSMETIC PRODUCT STICK APPLICATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for applying a stick (12) of cosmetic product, comprising: - a cup (30); - a guide (14) having a tubular body (16) extending to an upper opening (20) for the stick (12) and in which the cup (30) is slidably mounted; - a sheath (58) in which the body (16) is rotatably mounted, the rotation of the guide (14) relative to the sheath (58) causing the cup (30) to slide; - an actuating base (18) arranged at one end of the guide (14); - a cover (70) for closing the opening (20); characterized in that the actuating base (18) is made in one piece with the guide (14), and in that the cover (70) is fixed to the sheath (58). Figure 2

Description

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

[0001] The invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic product stick, said device having a main axis and comprising:

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

[0003] - at least one guide comprising a tubular body which extends to an opening upper outlet of the stick and 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;

[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;

[0005] - an actuating base arranged at a lower end of the guide to allow for a user to rotate the guide relative to the cup;

[0006] - a cover for closing the opening. Technical background

[0007] Devices of this type are known from the state of the art, used for packaging a cosmetic product, such as a stick of cosmetic product for the body, in particular but not exclusively for a deodorant stick.

[0008] The cosmetic product stick 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 cosmetic product stick extends axially out of the device.

[0009] In a known manner, such kinematics is obtained by means of a rotary mechanism comprising a guide in which the cup and the cosmetic product stick are mounted to slide axially. The mechanism further comprises a drive part, generally a central screw in the case of deodorant product sticks, which cooperates with the cup to allow it to slide by rotation of the drive part relative to the guide. To do this, the drive part is generally coupled with a base which is rotatably mounted on a lower end of the guide.

[0010] Existing devices comprise many components. The components are generally made of several materials depending on the mechanical properties required to enable them to fulfill their function in the device.

[0011] As a result, existing devices require a large amount of material and energy for their manufacture. In addition, it is difficult to recycle these devices due to the variety of materials used for their manufacture. Summary of the invention

[0012] The invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a cosmetic product stick, said device having a main axis and comprising:

[0013] - a cup intended to receive the stick and comprising at least one radial lug;

[0014] - at least one guide comprising a tubular body which extends to an opening upper outlet of the stick and 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;

[0015] - 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;

[0016] - an actuating base arranged at a lower end of the guide to allow for a user to rotate the guide relative to the cup;

[0017] - a cover for closing the opening;

[0018] characterized in that the actuating base is made in a single piece with the body of the guide, in that the closing cover is fixed by shape cooperation with fixing means located in an upper end section of the sheath.

[0019] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the cover, the sheath, the cup and the guide are all made of the same plastic material, in particular polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0020] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the cover, the sheath, the cup and the guide are each made of polypropylene and / or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0021] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the upper end section of the sheath comprises an external thread to allow the cover to be fixed by screwing.

[0022] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the cup comprises:

[0023] — an upper head intended to receive the stick and comprising a tubular wall;

[0024] — a lower slider which is separate from the head and which comprises each radial lug and which comprises a housing delimited by a tubular wall in which the head is axially fitted;

[0025] — means for removable fixing of the head in the slider.

[0026] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the head is fixed to the slider by screwing by means of a first external thread produced in an external face of the tubular wall of the head cooperating with a second internal thread produced in an internal face of the tubular wall of the slider.

[0027] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, in the deployed end position of the cursor, an upper end section of the head protrudes sufficiently from the sheath to be able to be unscrewed by hand.

[0028] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the cursor has an axial height less than or equal to its external diameter.

[0029] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the housing of the slider is closed axially downwards by a bottom wall which extends radially relative to the tubular wall.

[0030] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the bottom wall comprises a solid central zone.

[0031] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the bottom wall comprises an openwork part produced by at least one orifice eccentric relative to the main axis of the device.

[0032] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, making the openwork part of the bottom wall is less than making the solid part of the bottom wall.

[0033] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the upper head is open downwards by at least one central orifice allowing the injection of the cosmetic product for its molding directly into the head.

[0034] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, one of the sheath or the guide comprises an annular lip arranged at the bottom of the device, the lip being in sealed support against the other of the sheath or the guide.

[0035] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the tubular wall of the cup, the body of the guide and the sheath each have a circular cross-section.

[0036] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the sheath has a lower main end section and an upper end section which has an external diameter smaller than that of the main section, the length of the upper end section being substantially less than or equal to the axial length of a peripheral skirt of the cover so that, when the cover closes the device, the skirt extends substantially in the extension of an external face of the main section of the sheath.

[0037] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the first external thread of the head is produced near the lower end of the head.

[0038] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, the second internal thread is produced close to the bottom wall of the slider.

[0039] According to another characteristic of the device produced according to the teachings of the invention, when the head is in the screwed position in the slider, the head is in abutment against the bottom wall of the slider.

[0040] The invention also relates to a refill intended to be inserted into a device produced according to the teachings of the invention, characterized in that it comprises a cup head produced according to the teachings of the invention, which is provided with a stick of cosmetic product. Brief description of the figures

[0041] 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.

[0042] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of the application device produced according to the teachings of the invention in which the cover is open and the cup occupies its extreme retracted axial position.

[0043] [Fig.2] is an axial sectional view along section plane 2-2 of [Fig.l] which represents the application device when the cup occupies its extreme retracted axial position and the cover closes the device.

[0044] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of the application device of [Fig. 1] in which the cup occupies its extreme axial deployed position.

[0045] [Fig.4] is an axial sectional view along section plane 4-4 of [Fig.3] which represents the application device when the cup occupies its extreme deployed axial position.

[0046] [Fig.5] is an exploded perspective view showing the application device of [Fig.l] without its cover.

[0047] [Fig.6] is a sectional view along section plane 6-6 of [Fig.5].

[0048] [Fig.7] is a top view of a slider of the cup of the device of [Fig.l].

[0049] [Fig.8] is a perspective view showing a head of the cup of the device of [Fig.l].

[0050] [Fig. 9] is a view similar to that of [Fig. 4] in which the application device is not equipped with a cosmetic product stick, the slider occupying its extreme deployed axial position, a refill comprising a cosmetic product stick equipped with its cup head being positioned so as to allow its mounting in the application device.

[0051] [Fig. 10] is a view similar to that of [Fig.9] in which the head of the refill has been fitted into the slider of the application device.

[0052] [Fig. 11] is a view similar to that of [Fig. 10] in which the head of the refill has been screwed into the slider of the application device.

[0053] [Fig. 12] is a view similar to that of [Fig. 11] in which the cup occupies its extreme retracted axial position.

[0054] [Fig. 13] is a view similar to that of [Fig. 4] in which the application device is equipped with a head without a cosmetic product stick, the cursor occupying its extreme axial position deployed, a refill comprising a key being fitted with an imprint of the head.

[0055] [Fig. 14] is a view similar to that of [Fig. 13] in which the head has been unscrewed by means of the refill key.

[0056] [Fig. 15] is a view similar to that of [Fig. 4] which represents an alternative embodiment of the application device in which, with the cursor occupying its extreme deployed axial position, the head protrudes sufficiently from the sheath to be able to be unscrewed manually. Detailed description of the invention

[0057] By convention, the “axial” direction corresponds in the figures to that of the main axis “A” of the device for applying a cosmetic product, such as a deodorant stick, and the “radial” direction is directed orthogonally to the axial direction by radiating from the main axis.

[0058] 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 stick of cosmetic product exits the device for application.

[0059] 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.

[0060] The figures illustrate a device 10 for applying a cosmetic product.

[0061] Preferably, the cosmetic product is a stick 12 of cosmetic product and, more particularly, the stick 12 of cosmetic product is a deodorant stick intended to be applied by rubbing.

[0062] The cosmetic product stick 12 extends along an axis "A" and has a circular cross-section.

[0063] The device 10 is designed to cause the stick 12 of cosmetic product to exit by at least one rotational movement.

[0064] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the device 10 has an axis “A”, called the main axis, which coincides with the axis of the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0065] The device 10 comprises at least a first element, conventionally and hereinafter called guide 14. The guide 14 is particularly visible in figures 2, 4 and 5.

[0066] The guide 14 mainly comprises a tubular body 16 which extends axially from a lower base 18 to an upper outlet opening 20 intended to be crossed by the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0067] The base 18 here belongs to the guide 14. The base 18 is here produced in a single piece with the body 16. The guide 14 is for example produced in a single piece by molding.

[0068] The body 16 has a circular cross-section centered on the axis “A”.

[0069] The base 18 here has a cylindrical shape with an external diameter greater than that of the body 16. Thus, the base 18 has a shoulder face 19 which projects radially outwards relative to the body 16 and which is turned axially upwards. The base 18 is closed downwards by a completely closed bottom 21.

[0070] The base 18 forms a part which is intended to be manipulated directly by a user to release the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] The slots 22, 24 each have straight and parallel edges. The first slot 22 has at its axial end an upper notch 26a extending circumferentially. In the exemplary embodiment, the second slot 24 also has an upper notch 26b.

[0074] In conventional systems, the notches 26a, 26b are intended to form means for locking the upper end of a cup 30.

[0075] The device 10 comprises the cup 30 which receives the stick 12 of cosmetic product as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0076] The cup 30 is intended to be mounted to slide axially in the guide 14, between an extreme retracted position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an extreme deployed position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0077] The retracted extreme position corresponds to a position in which the stick 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 Figures 1 and 2.

[0078] The extreme deployed position corresponds to a position in which the stick 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 Figures 3 and 4.

[0079] The cup 30 can also be in intermediate positions between its two extreme retracted and deployed positions, called intermediate application positions, in order to allow the user to only take out the length of stick 12 of cosmetic product necessary for the application.

[0080] As is particularly visible in Figures 5 and 6, the cup 30 here comprises two separate elements which are removably attached to each other. The cup 30 thus comprises an upper head 30A, sometimes called the “upper cup”, and a lower slider 30B, sometimes called the “lower cup”, which is formed in a separate piece from the head 30A. This configuration advantageously makes it possible to replace the stick 12 of cosmetic product by simply replacing the upper head 30A and retaining the other components of the device 10 so that they can be reused.

[0081] The head 30A is intended to receive the stick 12 of cosmetic product, while the slider 30B is intended to guide and drive the stick 12 of cosmetic product in axial sliding in the guide 14.

[0082] The cup 30 has, when the head 30A is fixed to the slider 30B, a diameter greater than or equal to its axial height.

[0083] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the slider 30B of the cup 30 comprises a tubular wall 32 which delimits a housing 33. The wall 32 comprises a cylindrical external face 32A and a cylindrical internal face 32B. An upper end edge of the wall 32 delimits an upper opening 34.

[0084] The housing 33 is closed downwards by a bottom wall 36 which extends radially relative to the tubular wall.

[0085] At least one central area of ​​the bottom wall 36 is solid. This makes it possible to give the slider 30B good mechanical strength and to prevent it from deforming during use.

[0086] The bottom wall 36 preferably comprises an openwork portion formed by at least one orifice 38 eccentric relative to the main axis "A" of the device. The bottom wall 36 here comprises two eccentric orifices 38. These orifices 38 have the function of facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the head 30A by avoiding a suction cup effect.

[0087] However, these orifices 38 have very restricted dimensions to avoid reducing the mechanical resistance of the slider 30B. Thus, making the perforated part of the bottom wall 36 is less than making the solid part of the bottom wall 36.

[0088] Furthermore, by leaving the central part of the bottom wall 36 solid, it is possible to carry out injection molding of the slider 30B by positioning the injection point in the center of the bottom wall 36, thus allowing better distribution of the plastic material in the fluid state in the associated mold.

[0089] As can be seen in Figures 2, 4 and 7, the cylindrical external face 32A of the wall 32 of the slider 30B comprises at least one lug 40, preferably two lugs 40. Each lug 40 projects radially outward from the external face 32A of the cylindrical wall 32. Said lugs 40 are each engaged in one of the slots 22, 24 of the guide 14. They pass through the slots 22, 24 to extend radially outward beyond the external cylindrical face of the body 16 of the guide 14.

[0090] As shown in Figures 2, 6 and 8, the head 30A of the cup 30 comprises a cavity 44 for receiving the lower part of the stick 12 of cosmetic product. The cavity 44 is open upwards by an upper inlet to allow the stick 12 of cosmetic product to extend upwards out of the cavity 44.

[0091] The cavity 44 is here open axially downwards. Such a downward opening makes it possible, for example, to mold the stick 12 of cosmetic product directly into the head 30A of the cup 30.

[0092] As shown in more detail in [Fig.8], the cavity 44 is delimited by a tubular wall 46 generally having a shape of revolution around the axis "A".

[0093] The wall 46 has an intermediate section 46B which has an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the housing 33 of the slider 30B. The intermediate section 46B is thus received in the slider with a radial adjustment with play allowing its axial sliding.

[0094] The wall 46 further comprises an upper end section 46A which has an external face having a frustoconical shape extending upwards from an upper edge of the intermediate section 46B, diverging outwards.

[0095] The intermediate section 46B and the upper section 46A radially delimit the cavity 44 of the head 36A.

[0096] A third lower section 46C extends axially downward directly from the intermediate section 46B. This third lower section 46C which has a face cylindrical external.

[0097] The head 30A of the cup 30 further comprises an internal collar 48 which projects radially inwards from a lower end of the internal face of the intermediate section 46B. This collar 48 radially delimits a central orifice allowing the cavity 44 to open axially downwards, as explained previously. This collar 48 forms a bearing face for the lower end of the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0098] The head 30A comprises means for retaining the stick 12 of cosmetic product in the cavity 44. For example, the internal face of the intermediate section 46B has axial ribs 50 for retaining the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0099] Furthermore, the inner end edge of the collar 50 here comprises an openwork skirt 51 which extends axially upwards. When the stick 12 of cosmetic product is molded directly into the head 36A, the skirt 51 is embedded in the stick 12 of cosmetic product, thus providing a solid anchoring against a force of tearing off the stick 12.

[0100] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the head 30A is capable of being inserted axially into the opening 34 of the slider 30B. The head 30A is fixed to the slider 30B by screwing. For this purpose, an external face of the tubular wall 46 of the head 30A comprises a first external thread 52. The external thread 52 is produced in the immediate vicinity of the lower end of the head 30A. The external thread 52 is more particularly produced in the external face of the lower end section 46C of the wall 46.

[0101] The external thread 52 cooperates with a second internal thread 54 made in the internal face 32B of the tubular wall 32 of the slider 30B. More particularly, the internal thread 54 is made in a lower end section of the tubular wall 32, in the immediate vicinity of the bottom wall 36.

[0102] When the head 30A is in the screwed position in the slider 30B, the lower end edge of the wall 46 of the head 30A is in axial abutment against the bottom wall 36 of the slider 30B, as illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0103] To enable it to be easily unscrewed, the head 30A is here provided with indentations 56 made in an upper end edge of its wall 46. The indentations 56 are here formed by notches made in the upper end edge of the wall 46. These indentations 56 are intended to cooperate with an unscrewing tool which will be described in more detail later.

[0104] In a variant of the invention not shown, the cup 30 is made in a single piece comprising the lugs 40 and means for retaining the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0105] The device 10 comprises a third element, conventionally and hereinafter called the sheath 58. As shown here, for example in Figures 2 and 5, the sheath 58 has a cylindrical shape with a main axis “A”.

[0106] Preferably, the sheath 58 internally comprises at least one groove 62 receiving the free end of a lug 40 associated with the slider 30B of the cup 30. The sheath 58 here comprises two grooves 62, diametrically opposed, with which the free ends of the lugs 40 of the cup 30 cooperate in operation. The sheath 58 comprises an internal wall 46 provided with said grooves 62. The grooves 62 here have a helical shape.

[0107] For aesthetic reasons, the sheath 58 preferably has a thick wall that does not allow the grooves 62 to be seen transparently.

[0108] The sheath 58 comprises respectively an upper edge 60 located at its upper axial end and a lower edge 64 located at its lower axial end.

[0109] The sheath 58 is intended to be mounted by snap-fastening onto the guide body 16 14 to obtain, after assembly, the devices 10 shown in particular in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0110] The guide 14 is mounted in rotation in the sheath 58 around the main axis "A". The guide 14 is thus received concentrically inside the sheath 58. For this purpose, the body 16 of the guide 14 has an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the sheath 58 with a radial clearance allowing rotational guidance of one relative to the other around the axis "A".

[0111] In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 4, the elastic snap-fastening is obtained here, without limitation, by a collar 66 which extends radially projecting from the external face of the body 16, at its upper end. The collar 66 is intended to be snap-fastened elastically above an annular internal shoulder face 67 of the sheath 58 when the body 16 of the guide 14 is inserted axially, from bottom to top, through a lower opening of the sheath 58.

[0112] The slot 22 of the guide 14 is here open upwards by means of a cutout 68 which opens into the upper end edge of the body 16 which delimits the opening 20. Thanks to this cutout 68 the guide 14 can deform radially to facilitate the mounting of the sheath 58 before returning to its initial shape.

[0113] In the mounted position on the guide 14, the lower edge 64 of the sheath 58 is in axial abutment against the shoulder face 19 formed between the base 18 and the body 16. Furthermore, the internal shoulder face 67 receiving the collar 66 is arranged below the opening 20, inside the sheath 58. Thus, only the base 18 of the guide 14 protrudes axially from the sheath 58.

[0114] The sheath 58 is intended to form an outer envelope of the device 10. For aesthetic reasons, the external diameter of the sheath 58 is equal to the external diameter of the base 18. Thus, the sheath 58 extends in the extension of the base 18.

[0115] To allow a tight closure of the device 10 downwards, the guide 14 comprises an annular lip 69 which extends radially outwards from the body 16. The annular lip 69 is arranged at the bottom of the body 16. It bears in a sealed manner against the internal face of the sheath 58 to ensure that liquid does not penetrate into the device 10 by infiltration between the guide 14 and the sheath 58.

[0116] In a variant not shown, the annular lip is made in the internal face of the sheath and it bears against the external face of the body of the guide.

[0117] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the device 10 also comprises a cover 70 for closing the opening 20 when the stick 12 of cosmetic product is retracted into the guide 14. The closing cover 70 is fixed by shape cooperation with fixing means located near the upper end of the sheath 58. The cover 70 advantageously allows a sealed closure to prevent the infiltration of fluids between the cover 70 and the sheath 58.

[0118] More particularly, the cover 70 has a closed radial wall 72 from which a peripheral skirt 74 extends axially downwards. The peripheral skirt 74 has a cylindrical shape whose external diameter is equal to the external diameter of the sheath 58.

[0119] The sheath 58 has a lower main end section 58A and an upper end section 58B which has an external diameter smaller than that of the main section 58A. The external diameter of the upper end section 58B is more particularly adapted to be received sliding axially in the peripheral skirt 74 of the cover 70.

[0120] The axial length of the main section 58A is much greater than that of the upper end section 58B. The length of the upper end section 58B is substantially less than or equal to the axial length of the peripheral skirt 74 of the cover 70. Thus, when the cover 70 closes the device 10, the skirt 74 extends substantially in the extension of the external face of the main section 58A of the sheath 58.

[0121] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the fixing of the cover 70 is carried out by screwing onto the sheath 58. For this purpose, the upper end section 58B of the sheath 58 has an external thread 76 to allow the fixing of the cover 70 by screwing. For this purpose, the skirt 74 of the cover 70 has an internal thread 78 complementary to the external thread 76.

[0122] In a variant of the invention not shown, the attachment of the cover 70 to the sheath 58 is achieved by interlocking with a tight fit. For this purpose, the cover 70 is attached by interlocking with a tight fit to the upper end section of the sheath 58. The fit is tight enough to allow the cover 70 to hold on the sheath 58, however, it is just tight enough to allow a user to remove the cover 70 with bare hands by pulling on it with moderate effort.

[0123] According to another variant of the invention, not shown, the fixing of the cover 70 on the sheath 58 is produced by elastic interlocking. In this case, elastic interlocking means are provided on the cover 70 and / or on the upper end section 58B of the sheath 58.

[0124] The tubular wall 46 of the cup 30, the body 16 of the guide 14 and the sheath 58 each have a circular cross-section.

[0125] In such a device 10, the rotation of the guide 14 by means of the base 18 relative to the sheath 58 causes an axial movement of the slider 30B of the cup 30, more precisely an upward movement or a downward movement depending on the direction of rotation. When the cup 30 occupies its extreme deployed position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper section 46A of the wall 46 of the head 30A here extends axially outside the sheath 58. In this position, the slider 30B remains entirely inside the sheath 58.

[0126] The cosmetic product stick 12 moves axially with the cup 30 between the extreme deployed position, shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the extreme retracted position, shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0127] The device 10 advantageously comprises only four components, namely the guide 14, the slider 30B, the sheath 58 and the cover 70. To this is added only the head 30A of the cup 30 which is part of a refill 80 as will be explained later.

[0128] The guide 14, the head 30A, the slider 30B, the sheath 58 and the cover 70 are advantageously made of plastic material. Preferably, the guide 14, the head 30A, the slider 30B, the sheath 58 and the cover 70 are made of identical plastic material.

[0129] 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.

[0130] Preferably, it is polypropylene.

[0131] Thus, advantageously, all the parts of the device 10 are made of the same plastic material, in particular polypropylene.

[0132] Plastic parts can be easily obtained by injection.

[0133] Furthermore, the use of plastic materials, in particular similar plastic materials for the entire device 10, makes it easier to recycle. In particular, polypropylene is a plastic material whose recycling sector is well established.

[0134] As explained previously, it is possible to disassemble the head 30A from the slider 30B. This makes it possible in particular to retain the majority of the elements of the application device 10 for the use of several sticks 12 of cosmetic product. Only the head 30A must be replaced at the same time as the used cosmetic product stick 12. All the guiding and driving elements of the cosmetic product stick 12 are reusable, and in particular the slider 30B which remains mounted in the application device 10 when the head 30A is replaced.

[0135] Thus, it is possible to arrange the refill 80 comprising the stick 12 arranged in its head 30A of cup 30, as shown in Figures 9 to 12.

[0136] In order to protect the stick 12 of cosmetic product during its transport and storage, a packaging is provided which also includes a cap 82 which completely envelops the stick 12 of cosmetic product. The cap 82 more particularly has a shape complementary to that of the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0137] The cap 82 is open downwards so as to allow a lower portion of the head 30A to pass through. The cap 82 is for example made of plastic material, for example a rigid plastic material.

[0138] The cap 82 here has a radial shoulder face 84 which extends radially inwards and which is directed axially downwards. This shoulder face 84 is intended to be in contact with an upper end edge of the wall 46 of the head 30A when the cap 82 envelops the stick 12 of cosmetic product. This thus makes it possible to position the cap 82 axially relative to the head 30A, in particular to avoid crushing the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0139] The cap 82 has, at its lower opening, a neck 86 which extends axially downwards from the shoulder face 84 and which surrounds an upper part of the first upper section 46A of the wall 46 of the head 30A.

[0140] The cap 82 is here in contact with the stick 12 of cosmetic product so that the cap 82 remains in position by adhesion with the stick 12 of cosmetic product. However, a very low axial force is likely to allow the stick 12 of cosmetic product to be extracted from its cap 82.

[0141] The cap 82 can serve as a mold to allow the stick 12 of cosmetic product to be molded directly in the head 30A after positioning the cap 82 on the head 30A by contact with the shoulder face 84. The cosmetic product is then injected through the central orifice delimited by the collar 48.

[0142] However, before being able to arrange a refill 80 in the application device 10, it is necessary to remove the head 30A comprising the stick 12 of used cosmetic product.

[0143] The cosmetic product stick 12 is subjected, during its use, to forces much greater than those experienced by a lipstick stick for example. Such a product is in fact applied to areas of the body that are larger and less sensitive than lips. To prevent the cosmetic stick 12 from falling when the head 30A is disassembled from the slider 30B during its use, the torque necessary for unscrewing the 30A head relative to the 30B slider is usually quite high.

[0144] In the embodiment shown in [Fig.13], the upper section 46A of the head 30A offers little grip for the fingers. Thus, it may prove difficult to remove the used head 30A by unscrewing it with bare hands.

[0145] It is therefore planned to equip the upper end of the cap 82 with a key 88 having a shape complementary to those of the impressions 56 of the head 30A. In the example shown in Figures 13 and 14, the upper end of the cap 82 has a hollow 90 intended to axially receive the upper section 46A of the head 30A. The hollow 90 has a cylindrical wall provided with ribs 92 capable of being axially fitted with the notches 56 of the head 30A.

[0146] Thus, by turning the refill 80 over, the key 88 can be axially fitted with the indentations 56 of the head 30A in its extreme deployed position, as illustrated in [Fig. 13]. The user then turns the refill 80 around the axis "A" in the manner of a screwdriver to unscrew the head 30A, as illustrated in [Fig. 14].

[0147] In a variant of the invention shown in [Fig. 15], in the deployed end position of the slider 30B, the section 46A of the head 30A protrudes sufficiently from the sheath 58 to be able to be unscrewed by hand. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a refill 80 equipped with a key 88.

[0148] The arrangement of a new refill 80 on an application device 10 is now described.

[0149] We first start by removing the head 30A from the stick 12 of used cosmetic product as explained previously.

[0150] Once this operation is carried out, the user arranges the head 30A of the refill 80 axially above the slider 30B, as shown in [Fig. 9]. Then he fits the head 30A of the refill 80 axially into the slider 30B which still occupies its extreme deployed position, until the external thread 52 is in contact with the internal thread 54, as illustrated in [Fig. 10].

[0151] The user then turns the refill 80 around the axis "A" like a screwdriver to screw the head 30A into the slider 30B until the head 30A is in contact with the bottom wall 36 of the slider 30B, as illustrated in [Fig.l 1].

[0152] In this mounted position, the free lower end edge of the neck 86 of the cap 82 is arranged axially at a short distance from the upper edge of the guide 14.

[0153] Then the user controls the movement of the cup 30 towards its extreme retracted position by rotating the base 18 relative to the sheath 58. During this movement, the neck 86 of the cap 82 comes into contact with the upper end edge of the guide 14, as shown in [Fig. 12]. Thus, the cap 82 is retained in this stop position while the cup 30 continues its movement towards its extreme retracted position, driving the stick 12 of cosmetic product. In doing so, the stick 12 of cosmetic product is gradually demolded until it is completely retracted into the guide 14, as shown in [Fig. 12].

[0154] In this latter position, the user can remove the cap 82 which is no longer in contact with the stick 12 of cosmetic product which is then simply placed by its neck 86 on the guide 14.

[0155] In doing so, the user was able to arrange a new stick 12 of cosmetic product easily without having to handle it directly. This prevents the user from getting cosmetic product on their fingers. This also prevents damage to the stick 12 of cosmetic product.

[0156] Thus the invention makes it possible to easily and cleanly replace a stick 12 of cosmetic product with a refill 80 while retaining the entire mechanism controlling the movement of the cup 30.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (10) for applying a cosmetic product, in particular a stick (12) of cosmetic product, said device (10) having a main axis (A) and comprising: - a cup (30) intended to receive the stick (12) and comprising at least one radial lug (40); - at least one guide (14) comprising a tubular body (16) which extends to an upper outlet opening (20) of the stick (12) and 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 (40) of the cup (30); - a tubular sheath (58) in which the body (16) is mounted for rotation, the sheath (58) internally comprising at least one groove (62) for receiving the at least one lug (40) of the cup (30), the rotation of the guide (14) relative to the sheath (58) causing an axial movement of the cup (30) between an extreme deployed position and an extreme retracted position;- an actuating base (18) arranged at a lower end of the guide (14) to allow a user to rotate the guide (14) relative to the cup (30); - a cover (70) for closing the opening (20); characterized in that the actuating base (18) is made in a single piece with the body (16) of the guide (14), in that the closing cover (70) is fixed by form cooperation with fixing means located in an upper end section (58B) of the sheath (58).;

2. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cover (70), the sheath (58), the cup (30) and the guide (14) are all made of the same plastic material, in particular polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

3. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (10), the sheath (58), the cup (30) and the guide (14) are each made of polypropylene and / or polyethylene terephthalate.

4. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper end section (58B) of the sheath (58) comprises an external thread (76) to allow the cover (70) to be fixed by screwing.

5. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cup (30) comprises: — an upper head (30A) intended to receive the stick (12) and comprising a tubular wall (46); — a lower slider (30B) which is separate from the head (30A) and which comprises each radial lug (40) and which comprises a housing (33) delimited by a tubular wall (32) in which the head (30A) is axially fitted; — means for removable fixing of the head (30A) in the slider (30B).

6. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the head (30A) is fixed to the slider (30B) by screwing by means of a first external thread (52) made in an external face of the tubular wall (46) of the head (30A) cooperating with a second internal thread (54) made in an internal face (32B) of the tubular wall (32) of the slider (30B).

7. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in the deployed end position of the slider (30B), a section (46A) of the upper end of the head (30A) protrudes sufficiently from the sheath (58) to be able to be unscrewed by hand.

8. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cursor (30B) has an axial height less than or equal to its external diameter.

9. Device (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the housing (33) of the slider (30B) is closed axially downwards by a bottom wall (36) which extends radially relative to the tubular wall (32).

10. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom wall (36) comprises a solid central zone.

11. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom wall (36) comprises an openwork part produced by at least one orifice (58) eccentric relative to the main axis (A) of the device.

12. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the openwork portion of the bottom wall (36) is smaller than the solid portion of the bottom wall (36).

13. Device (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the upper head (30A) is open downwards by at least one central orifice allowing the injection of the cosmetic product for its molding directly into the head (30A).

14. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the sheath (58) or the guide (14) comprises an annular lip (69) arranged at the bottom of the device, the lip (69) being in sealed contact against the other of the sheath (58) or the guide (14).

15. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular wall (46) of the cup (30), the body (16) of the guide (14) and the sheath (58) each have a circular cross-section.

16. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheath (58) has a lower main end section (58A) and an upper end section (58B) which has an external diameter smaller than that of the main section (58A), the length of the upper end section (58B) being substantially less than or equal to the axial length of a peripheral skirt (74) of the cover (70) so that, when the cover (70) closes the device (10), the skirt (74) extends substantially in the extension of an external face of the main section (58A) of the sheath (58).

17. Refill (80) intended to be inserted into a device (10) produced according to any one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that it comprises a head (30A) of cup (30) produced according to any one of claims 5 to 16, which is provided with a stick (12) of cosmetic product.

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