Packaging, application and / or dispensing device
The device addresses unreliable refill retention in cosmetic packaging by using reliefs and friction elements to secure the refill, ensuring easy handling and reducing environmental impact through recyclable materials.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing cosmetic packaging and dispensing devices struggle with unreliable retention of refill containers, leading to cumbersome changes and potential product leakage during handling, especially when caps are screwed or unscrewed, and often require complex manipulations.
A device with a cosmetic refill featuring a refill body and case design that includes first and second reliefs to prevent rotation and friction elements to secure the refill, allowing easy insertion and secure retention, while using recyclable materials to reduce environmental impact.
The solution ensures reliable retention of the refill, simplifies product changes, reduces material waste, and enhances user experience by preventing rotation during cap handling, thus improving ease of use and environmental sustainability.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Conditioning, application and / or dispensing device
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices for conditioning, applying and / or dispensing a product, particularly cosmetics, and more specifically to devices comprising a product refill. Technical field
[0002] The proposal of eco-responsible, environmentally friendly solutions whose design and development take into account environmental issues is becoming a major concern in order to help meet global challenges.
[0003] It is therefore essential to design products that reduce the amount of materials used and / or replace them with more environmentally friendly materials and / or use recyclable materials in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the product.
[0004] In this context, it is important to develop packaging that generates less waste, in particular optimized for the quantity of products transported, notably by redesigning and / or resizing them in order to reduce the volume and weight of the quantity of packaging.
[0005] The objective is to offer eco-responsible reusable containers, in particular refillable at home or in stores, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging.
[0006] In order to reduce the manufacturing costs of cosmetic packaging and to lessen its environmental impact, devices for packaging, applying, and / or dispensing a product, particularly a cosmetic product, comprising a product refill and a refill container, have been developed. This approach raises the question of how to configure the device to allow for the refill to be changed to a different product and to keep the refill securely in the container during use, particularly depending on the type of product contained in the refill.
[0007] There is a growing need to gradually replace existing packaging with packaging, application, and / or dispensing devices that accept cosmetic refills. This allows the case to be kept after the cosmetic product has been used, with only the refill being discarded. Once the refill is empty, the user simply removes it and replaces it with a new or different one.
[0008] In this context, it is important that the conditioning, application and / or distribution device has the aesthetic qualities required by the user, that it either easy and efficient to use as much as a device without refills and that the handling of replacing a used refill is also as simple as possible for the user, i.e. requiring little effort or attention from the user.
[0009] The conditioning device must therefore allow reliable retention of the refill in the case in relation to its use.
[0010] Several forms of this type of device have already been proposed.
[0011] A pipette-type packaging and dispensing device is known, notably from utility model CN214931380U and international patent application WO9947262A1. This device comprises a ring for retaining the refill in the case, which is screwed or snapped onto the case after the refill is inserted. This ring presses against a rim on the refill, thus preventing its removal. Removing the refill requires several steps and manipulations, making this change cumbersome.
[0012] A packaging and dispensing device is also known, notably from patent application FR3126287A1, comprising a system for holding the refill in position within the case by means of friction elements configured to prevent the refill from coming out of the case under its own weight by friction against the outer wall of the refill. This system is described in particular in connection with a pump dispensing device that allows the dispensing of a product by pressure without rotation of the device.
[0013] This type of system does not allow for effective and constant retention of the refill within the case, even less so if the refill has a cap designed to be screwed or unscrewed from the refill body while the latter is held by the case. The transmission of torque between the refill and the case during handling of the refill or the cap for dispensing or applying the product may cause it to be extracted during handling or prevent effective handling of the refill, particularly its cap for opening. For example, the refill may rotate with the cap when attempts are made to open the latter by screwing it on. This could make using the refill received in the case difficult and prevent it from being opened easily.
[0014] To remedy this latter drawback, a solution could lie in increasing the interference between the friction members and the outer wall of the refill, so as to oppose an increased resisting torque at the level of the interference between the friction members and the refill; however, such an increase would have the adverse effect of penalizing the ease of axial insertion of the refill into the case, as well as of extraction of the refill from the case, and thus making these operations tedious for the user.
[0015] There is a need for a packaging, application and / or distribution device equipped with a cosmetic product refill that encourages keeping the case for reuse for a new refill, while also being attractive to the consumer.
[0016] There is also a need to improve conditioning, application and / or distribution devices comprising a product refill by offering a solution allowing reliable retention of the refill in the case both in translation and rotation, in order to improve the use of these devices and make their use easy and pleasant for the user.
[0017] Finally, there is a need for a conditioning, application and / or distribution device offering a user experience that meets user requirements for product distribution and / or application, particularly cosmetics, in order to have a perception of the quality of the device by the user. Summary of the invention
[0018] The invention aims to meet this need and achieves this by proposing a device for conditioning, applying and / or dispensing a cosmetic refill comprising: - a cosmetic refill extending along a longitudinal axis comprising: • a refill body defining at least partially a cosmetic product reservoir, and • a cover for closing the charging body,
[0019] the charging body having an external surface with at least one first relief, - a case having a housing for receiving the cosmetic refill, said case having an internal surface, having at least a second relief arranged to block the cosmetic refill in rotation around its longitudinal axis in cooperation with said at least a first relief when the cosmetic refill is in the housing.
[0020] By "block in rotation", it is understood that when the first relief and the second relief are engaged in cooperation, the reload cannot have a rotational movement in the case relative to the case, in particular around the longitudinal axis.
[0021] As explained previously, having a refill, which is by nature removable from the case, reduces the manufacturing costs of cosmetic packaging and reduces the environmental impact of packaging, application and / or distribution devices by allowing the case to be kept and the case to be changed only when the refill reservoir is empty of cosmetic product.
[0022] This also allows for easy change of product contained in the case by simply changing the refill.
[0023] Once the refill is empty or before, the user simply needs to remove the refill to replace it with a new or different refill.
[0024] The presence of the first and second reliefs arranged to cooperate with each other to prevent the rotation of the refill in the case makes it possible to avoid the rotation of the refill relative to the case in the event that a rotational torque is applied to the refill, in particular in the event of a rotational action on the closing cover by the user. Recharge
[0025] The reloading body can be elongated along a longitudinal axis. The reloading body can also include at least one portion for insertion into the case housing.
[0026] The refill body may include, in particular along the longitudinal axis, a product reservoir and a portion for dispensing the cosmetic product. The dispensing portion may be configured, in particular, to extend out of the case when the refill is inserted into the case, having an opening to the outside and receiving the cap.
[0027] The product reservoir may be cylindrical in shape, in particular cylindrical of revolution. The main axis of the cylinder being in particular the longitudinal axis.
[0028] The distribution portion of the cosmetic product may be cylindrical in shape, in particular cylindrical of revolution, the main axis of the cylinder being in particular the longitudinal axis.
[0029] Preferably, the product reservoir has a greater cross-sectional width, in particular a diameter, greater than the greatest cross-sectional width, in particular the diameter, of the portion distributing the cosmetic product.
[0030] The refill body may include, particularly along the longitudinal axis, between the reservoir and the dispensing portion, an enlarged retaining portion on the case having, on its outer surface, the first raised feature. Such an enlarged portion, having a larger transverse dimension than that of the reservoir, makes it easier to insert the refill reservoir into the case housing while ensuring an optimal quantity of product in the reservoir.
[0031] The product reservoir can be connected to the enlarged retaining portion by a shoulder.
[0032] The reloading body may include, between the enlarged retention portion and the product dispensing portion, a base configured to face a base of the case. The base may be connected to the enlarged retention portion by a Shoulder. The base can be connected to the dispensing portion by a flat surface substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the reloading body. Such a base can improve the retention of the reload in the case. The shoulder can improve the positioning and retention of the reload, particularly with regard to manufacturing tolerances.
[0033] Preferably, the refill body is a single piece. Alternatively, the refill body may comprise several separate blocks or blocks fixed together by any suitable method, for example glued.
[0034] The refill body may have an upper end arranged to receive the cap. The upper end may have an opening for accessing the product. The refill may include a dispensing element attached to or integral with the surface of the cap inside the refill and configured to extend into the refill body, particularly through the opening, to the reservoir when the cap is on the refill body. The dispensing element may be an application device, such as an eyeliner, liquid lipstick, lip gloss, skincare product, or mascara applicator, or a pipette. The dispensing element may be connected to the cap directly or via a rod. The presence of a dispensing element makes it easier to reach the bottom of the refill and thus to dispense the maximum amount of product.
[0035] The closing cap can be screwed onto the refill body. The closing cap helps maintain the seal of both the refill and the product. It also allows for better handling of the refill by limiting the risk of spillage or leakage of the product outside the refill, even if the user were to misplace the refill in the case. The fact that the first and second ridges prevent the refill from rotating within the case, in the case of a screw-on cap, prevents the refill from rotating during the screwing or unscrewing of the cap, an action that involves applying a rotational torque to the refill around its longitudinal axis.
[0036] The refill may include a cosmetic product, in particular an eyeliner, a liquid lipstick, a gloss, a skincare product or a mascara.
[0037] Preferably, the refill body is made of a recyclable material, in particular a recyclable plastic material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), the polypropylene being either virgin or recycled. The refill body may also be made of glass or a cellulosic material. Case
[0038] The case may have a top surface arranged to receive a base of the charging body, in particular arranged in a recess.
[0039] The case can extend, in particular be lengthened, along a longitudinal axis. When the refill is in the case, the longitudinal axis of the refill body and the longitudinal axis of the case can coincide.
[0040] The case may include a case body configured to receive the refill reservoir when the refill is inserted into the case and an upper junction portion, in particular attached to the case body with the refill body having the second relief, in particular on an inner surface of the junction portion
[0041] The upper portion connecting to the reloading cartridge body may be a ring attached to the cartridge body that is interposed between the cartridge body and the reloading cartridge. The ring may be attached to the cartridge by any means, in particular by screwing, snapping, or gluing to a neck of the cartridge body. The cartridge may include a mechanism to prevent rotation of the intermediate ring relative to the cartridge body. The rotation-preventing mechanism may include a plurality of notches adapted to cooperate with a plurality of recesses in the cartridge body, particularly in the neck of the cartridge body. This rotation-preventing mechanism prevents movement of the ring relative to the cartridge body, particularly during insertion and handling of the reloading cartridge. The ring may include a connecting piece and a cover fixed together.While improving the device's aesthetic appearance, for example by being made of a metallic material such as aluminum, or a plastic material with a metallic coating, the cover can also restrict access to the first and second ridges. The connecting piece can be made of a material with some elasticity, particularly an elastomer. Preferably, the connecting piece can be made of a plastic material with a certain rigidity and a controlled and advantageous coefficient of friction with the material of the refill body, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or PBT. Alternatively, the ring is a single piece and is made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).
[0042] Alternatively, the upper portion of the junction with the reloading body is one piece with the body of the case.
[0043] Preferably, the case body is made of glass. The use of mineral glass enhances durability and allows for potential recycling or reuse without fear of degradation of its aesthetic appearance, as glass is a durable and resistant material, particularly difficult to scratch. Furthermore, glass can be easily cleaned, if necessary. Glass also provides effective protection against UV radiation, lateral and axial mechanical pressure, and ensures a cool touch to the case, pleasant during handling. First and second reliefs
[0044] The first relief can extend over the enlarged portion of the charging body. One of the first and second reliefs, preferably the second relief, is a projecting relief and the other of the first and second reliefs, preferably the first relief, is a recessed relief, in particular of complementary shape.
[0045] The recessed relief can be a groove, a flat surface or a snap-fit relief.
[0046] The protruding relief can be a rib, a stud or any other cooperative element with the aforementioned recessed reliefs.
[0047] Preferably, the first and second reliefs are configured to cooperate by inserting the refill into the case by translation along the longitudinal axis of the case, after orientation or in other words after angular indexing of the refill and the case around the longitudinal axis, so that the first and second reliefs are opposite each other when inserted.
[0048] One of the first and second reliefs, preferably the first relief, is a flat surface and the other of the first and second reliefs, preferably the second relief, has a flat surface on which the flat surface comes into contact by at least part of its surface when the reload is in the case so as to form a stop opposing the rotation of the reload relative to the case around the longitudinal axis in both directions of rotation around the longitudinal axis.
[0049] Preferably, the first raised area, in particular the flat surface, may have a plane inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the refill, in particular further from the longitudinal axis on the cap side than on the reservoir side, in particular forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing, for example strictly greater than 0°, better greater than or equal to 1°, even better greater than or equal to 2°, preferably greater than or equal to 3°, and / or less than or equal to 20°, better less than or equal to 10°, preferably less than or equal to 5°, for example substantially equal to 3.5°. Preferably, the largest transverse dimension of the retaining portion is larger than the smallest internal transverse dimension of the joining portion. This inclination and this difference in dimension allows the refill to be retained on the case at the level of the joining portion and the retaining portion.Furthermore, such an angle is a good compromise between the aesthetics of the product and the effectiveness of keeping the charger in position in the case.
[0050] Furthermore, the first raised feature, in particular the flat surface, may have a plane inclined relative to a plane of the second raised feature with which it comes into contact, in particular further from the plane of the second raised feature on the hood side than on the tank side, in particular forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing, for example strictly greater than 0°, better greater than or equal to 1°, even better greater than or equal to 2°, preferably The angle of the cartridge case should be greater than or equal to 3°, and / or less than or equal to 20°, preferably less than or equal to 10°, and ideally less than or equal to 5°, for example, approximately 3.5°. This angle facilitates insertion by sliding along the longitudinal axis of the case. It also allows for adjustment of the contact between the cartridge and the case to compensate for any play that may exist in the radial direction due to manufacturing tolerances. Furthermore, it helps to keep the cartridge securely in the case.
[0051] Alternatively, the flat surface may be parallel to the flat surface when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing.
[0052] The second relief may also have a plane inclined with respect to the axis longitudinal.
[0053] The flat can have a greater depth of between 1% and 15%, in particular between 2% and 10% of the outside diameter of the external surface of the refill body on which it is formed, when said surface is cylindrical.
[0054] The flat surface and the flat surface may have the same angular extent. Alternatively, the flat surface and the flat surface may have different angular extents; in particular, the flat surface may have a larger angular extent than the flat surface.
[0055] The first and / or second relief, in particular the flat surface, may have a fillet or chamfer at its insertion edge, in particular the upper edge of the second relief or the lower edge of the first relief. This fillet or chamfer facilitates the insertion of the refill into the case.
[0056] Alternatively, the flat surface may be without fillet or chamfer.
[0057] The device may comprise a plurality of first and second reliefs, in particular an even number of first and second reliefs, for example two first and second reliefs arranged in opposite ways, in particular diametrically opposite with respect to the longitudinal axis, arranged to cooperate with each other when the cosmetic refill is in the housing to block the cosmetic refill from rotating around the longitudinal axis in the case.
[0058] In the case of an even number of complementary reliefs, preferably the reliefs are arranged in opposition in pairs.
[0059] The first and second reliefs are preferably regularly distributed around the longitudinal axis, in particular diametrically opposed in the case of two, respectively on the external surface of the refill and on the internal surface of the case.
[0060] The first and second reliefs may have an identical height measured along the longitudinal axis, in particular substantially equal to the height of the portion retaining the recharge, in particular between 2 mm and 20 mm, in particular between 5 mm and 15 mm, for example about 10 mm.
[0061] Alternatively, the first and second reliefs may have different heights measured along the longitudinal axis. In particular, the first relief may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis greater than the height of the second relief measured along the longitudinal axis.
[0062] For example, the first relief may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis of between 2 mm and 20 mm, in particular between 5 mm and 15 mm, for example of about 11 mm and the second relief may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis of between 1.5 mm and 18 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 14 mm, for example of about 9 mm.
[0063] The first relief can extend over an angular range between 10° and 70°, in particular between 40° and 60°, for example 55°.
[0064] The second relief can extend over an angular range between 10° and 60°, in particular between 35° and 55°, for example 50°. Friction element
[0065] The device may also include at least one friction element, or preferably a plurality of friction elements, extending between the refill body and the case when the refill is inserted into the case and configured to hold the refill body in the case by friction. The friction element(s) may each be a raised feature in the radial direction of the inner surface of the case, particularly the junction portion, or of the outer surface of the refill body, particularly the enlarged retaining portion. Preferably, the friction element(s) are raised features of the inner surface of the case, particularly the junction portion. This makes it possible, in particular, to reduce the material required to manufacture the refill and therefore the amount of material to be discarded each time the refill is changed.
[0066] The friction element(s) are preferably disjointed from the first and second ridges when the reload is inserted into the case, in particular extending over an angular portion of the device around the longitudinal axis, disjointed from the first and second ridges, each angular portion being able to have no first and second ridges. Each angular portion may also have at least one, preferably at least two, better still at least three friction elements. The friction elements may be evenly distributed within each angular portion that does not have first and second ridges. The friction element(s) may each be a ridge projecting from the inner surface of the case or from the outer surface of the reload body.
[0067] Preferably, the refill body and the case may have a plurality of first and second reliefs. The friction element(s) may be arranged on an angular portion devoid of first and second reliefs when the refill is in the case. The device may have a plurality of angular portions devoid of first and second reliefs, in particular two angular portions devoid of first and second reliefs opposite, at least one, preferably two, better three friction elements being arranged in each angular portion of the device devoid of first and second reliefs.
[0068] The internal surface of the case, particularly the junction portion, and / or the external surface of the enlarged portion for retaining the refill may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis greater than that of the friction element(s). The device may exhibit, in particular the case, and especially the junction portion, when the refill is in the case • a first axial portion without friction element and comprising at least part of the second relief(s) and the first relief(s), and • a second axial portion comprising at least part of one or more friction elements.
[0069] The second axial portion may include part of the second relief(s) and the first relief(s).
[0070] In cases where the friction elements are supported by the case, particularly by the case's joining portion, the second portion preferably extends between the first portion and the refill reservoir. In cases where the friction elements are supported by the refill, particularly by the enlarged retaining portion, the first portion preferably extends between the second portion and the refill reservoir. Thus, during the assembly of the refill and the case, the user will first attempt to align the longitudinal axes of the refill and the case, then secondly align the first and second ridges by rotating the refill relative to the case around the longitudinal axis, and finally thirdly engage the first and second ridges by translating the first portion along the longitudinal axis, and finally engage the friction elements of the second portion against the opposite surface.This facilitates assembly by limiting friction during the angular indexing of the first and second ridges. Furthermore, it reduces wear on the friction elements by only engaging the friction contact once the angular indexing of the reload and case is complete and the relative rotation of these elements is blocked by the first and second ridges.
[0071] Preferably, the total number of friction elements is even. In this case, said friction elements can be arranged in opposition with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device in pairs.
[0072] Each angular portion not having first and second reliefs may include at least one, preferably at least two, better still at least three, friction elements. The friction elements may be regularly distributed in each angular portion not having first and second reliefs. The elements of The friction points are evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis. This allows for better retention of the reload within the case by distributing the friction forces.
[0073] Each friction element can have a maximum thickness of between 0.45 mm and 1.2 mm, for example 0.7 mm.
[0074] Each friction element can extend over an angular range between 10° and 40°, better between 15° and 30°, for example 22°.
[0075] The friction elements may be substantially identical. Alternatively, they may differ, in particular in angular ranges, shapes and / or sizes.
[0076] The friction elements may include at least one elastically deformable flexible portion that can flex during refill insertion and bulge during refill extraction. The friction elements can thus provide flexibility to the device during refill insertion or extraction, facilitating its use.
[0077] The friction elements may be made of the same material as the surface they extend over, in particular from the junction portion of the case or the enlarged portion that retains the refill. This makes it possible, in particular, to limit the amount of material required for manufacturing and thus facilitates production. Seal
[0078] The device may also include a seal or a portion of a seal, extending between the refill and the case when the refill is in the case, in particular between the junction portion of the case and the enlarged portion for retaining the refill.
[0079] Said seal may be a raised feature extending from one of the inner surfaces of the case, particularly the case seam, or from the outer surface of the reloading cartridge, particularly at the enlarged retention portion. Said seal may extend circumferentially around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the case, particularly at the seam, or of the outer surface of the reloading cartridge, particularly at the enlarged retention portion, configured to come into contact with the other of the inner surface of the case or the outer surface of the reloading cartridge. Such a seal may ensure better contact, and consequently better retention, between the cartridge and the case.
[0080] Alternatively, the joint extends only outside the first and second reliefs, in particular at the level of the first axial portion.
[0081] The seal may be a single piece with either the inner surface of the case or the outer surface of the body. The seal may be a circumferential rib extending from either the inner surface of the case or the outer surface of the body over at least a portion of the circumference.
[0082] The seal can extend over the internal surface of the case at the level of the upper edge of the second reliefs.
[0083] The device, in particular the first surface, may have a snap-fit relief opposite the seal or portion of the seal, in particular a circular groove when the refill is in the case. This facilitates, in particular, the snap-fitting of the refill into the case. Snap-on
[0084] The device may also include one or more snap-on ridges on the case and one or more additional snap-on ridges on the refill. The snap-on ridge(s) may be arranged on the second ridge(s), and the additional snap-on ridge(s) may be arranged on the first ridge(s). The first and / or second ridge(s) may have notches extending along part of their height and defining an elastic portion between them, with the snap-on ridge(s) and / or additional snap-on ridge(s) preferentially extending over this elastic portion. This may improve the retention of the refill in the case and provide a specific feel or sound when it snaps into place, which may help the user to confirm that the refill is correctly secured in the case.
[0085] The first and / or second ridges may have an increased friction thickness. This may improve the retention of the charge.
[0086] The invention also addresses this need by means of a refill, belonging to a device as described above, comprising a refill body and a cover having an element that plunges into the refill body, the refill body having an enlarged portion for retaining on a case, the enlarged retaining portion having a first relief configured to cooperate with a second relief of the case to prevent the refill from rotating within the case. The characteristics of the refill described above in the context of the device can be applied to the present refill independently of the device. Brief description of the drawings
[0087] [Fig-1] Fig.1 is an overview of the device according to the invention.
[0088] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is an exploded view of the different elements of the device according to the invention.
[0089] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view along a plane containing the axes longitudinal (X) or (Y) of the entire device when the latter is assembled.
[0090] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view along a plane containing the axes longitudinal (X) and (Y), analogous to [Fig.3], when the hood, the plunging element and the spinning element are dissociated from the device.
[0091] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a perspective view, top view of the ring of the case.
[0092] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] is a top view along VI of the ring of the [Fig.5],
[0093] [Fig.7] The [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view along VILVII of the ring of the [Fig.6],
[0094] [Fig.8] Fig.8 is a side cross-sectional view of the charging body shown in Figures 1 to 4, and
[0095] [Fig.9] The [Fig.9] is a cross-sectional view at the level of the ring with a refill in the ring.
[0096] [Fig. 10] The [Fig. 10] is a cut-off perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the ring according to the invention.
[0097] [Fig. 11] The [Fig. 11] is a partial side view of the refill according to the same variant embodiment of the [Fig. 10].
[0098] [Fig. 12] The [Fig. 12] is a top view along XII of the ring according to the same variant embodiment of the [Fig. 10]. Detailed description
[0099] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a packaging device 1 according to the invention. The device comprises a cosmetic refill 2 with longitudinal axis X containing a cosmetic product and a case 3 with longitudinal axis Y having a housing 31 for receiving the refill 2. When the device 1 is assembled, the longitudinal axes X and Y coincide.
[0100] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the cosmetic refill 2 comprises a refill body 4 containing the cosmetic product and a cap 6 for closing said refill body 4. The refill body may include a dispensing portion 41 on which the cap 6 is mounted and a reservoir 44 configured to extend into the case 3. The reservoir may be substantially cylindrical about the longitudinal axis X.
[0101] A immersion element 7 is attached to the cap 6 of the refill. In the illustrated embodiment, the immersion element is a pipette 7 attached to the cap 6 and associated in a manner known per se with a suction and expulsion device arranged in the cap, enabling the pipette to be loaded with product and the loaded product to be expelled from the pipette for application onto a body surface. However, the invention is not limited to a immersion element in the form of a pipette; the immersion element may be any other element configured to collect cosmetic product from the reservoir, particularly from the bottom of the reservoir, including an application device mounted on a stem, such as a mascara brush or a lip or eyeliner applicator. The cosmetic product may be eyeliner, liquid lipstick, lip gloss, a skincare product, or mascara.
[0102] The cover 6 can be mounted on the refilling body 4, in particular on the distribution portion 41, specifically on an opening in a neck 49 of the distribution portion 41, by screwing it onto the distribution portion 41 of the refilling body 4. The cover 6 may have a threaded hole of a specific shape and pitch on its inner surface. additional screwing to a thread 48 present on the neck 49 of the distribution portion 41 of the charging body 4.
[0103] The charging body can be extended as illustrated, along the longitudinal axis X.
[0104] The reloading body 4 may have an enlarged retaining portion 42 between the dispensing portion 41 and the reservoir 44, and a base 43 connecting the dispensing portion 41 and the retaining portion 42 of the reloading body 4. The base 43 may be connected to the enlarged retaining portion 42 by a shoulder 47. The enlarged retaining portion 42 may have a greater width p, in particular a diameter, greater than that of the dispensing portion d and the reservoir r, as can be seen in [Fig. 8]. This facilitates the insertion of the reload into the case and ensures that the reload is securely held in the case.
[0105] Preferably, the refill body 4 is a single piece. It can be made of a recyclable and / or recycled material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), the polypropylene being virgin or recycled, glass or a cellulosic material.
[0106] Furthermore, the refill 2 may include a funnel-shaped wringing element 9 inserted and fixed inside the refill body 2, at the neck 49 of the portion of the distribution 41 of the refill body 4. The wringing element 9 is of a type known per se and its fixing to the neck 49 is also known.
[0107] The case 3 may include a case body 4 arranged to receive, through an opening 33, the refill reservoir 21 when the refill 2 is inserted into the case 3. The case 3 may include a connecting portion 5 in the form of an attached ring. The attached ring 5 may be snap-fitted to the case body 35. Alternatively, the ring may be bonded to the case. In another embodiment, the connecting portion 5 may be formed from the same material as the case and be a single piece with it. The case body may be made of glass.
[0108] The reservoir 44 of the reloading body 4 may have a substantially cylindrical shape of revolution with a rounded bottom 40, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The reloading body 4 is arranged to be inserted within the case 3 such that the reservoir 44 extends into the case and the enlarged retaining portion 42 cooperates with the case ring 5 at least by means of flats 10 that cooperate with secondary raised areas 53 extending over the ring. The bottom of the reloading body 40 may not come into contact with the bottom 32 of the case 3, leaving a gap, in order to allow the reload to have a variable distance from the bottom according to manufacturing tolerances or to have a reload of variable height. Furthermore, the outer surface of the reloading body 4 preferably does not come into contact with the inner surface of the case body, leaving a gap between these two elements of the device. Such These provisions notably allow the refill to be protected when inserted in the case, particularly in the event of accidental drop of the device.
[0109] The ring 5 may include a connecting piece 51 configured to come into contact with the enlarged retaining portion 42 of the refill and a cover 52 fixed to the connecting piece 51 as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. The connecting piece 51 is inserted inside the cover 52 of the ring 5, the ring itself being fixed, for example snapped onto or glued to the case 3. The connecting piece and the cover may be made of the same plastic material, which may in particular be recyclable and / or recycled.Alternatively, the connecting piece is made of a first material, for example a plastic material, such as an elastomer or preferably a plastic material having a certain rigidity and a controlled and advantageous coefficient of friction with the constituent material of the refill body, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and the cover is made of a second material, in particular a plastic, having in particular a surface finish, such as a metallic finish, or of a metallic material, such as aluminium.
[0110] The ring 5 may have, between the connecting piece 51 and the cover 52, a housing for receiving the neck 34 of the case body, the cover 52 having one or more snap-on ridges on the neck of the case body
[0111] The enlarged retaining portion 42 of the reloading body 4 may have at least one first relief, here two first reliefs in the form of flats 10, only one of which is visible in [Fig. 2]. In the illustrated example, the first reliefs are in the form of flats 10, but this could be otherwise. Any relief that allows the reloading to be blocked from rotating by the case through cooperation with the case is possible. The two flats 10 are here symmetrically distributed on the enlarged retaining portion 42, on either side of the longitudinal axis X.
[0112] At the flats 10, a portion of the base 43 can be trimmed in width to create a chamfer 101. The flats 10 are inclined planes with respect to the longitudinal axis X at an angle α, for example between 3° and 10°, and in particular being approximately equal to 3.5°. Alternatively, the flats 10 could be parallel to the longitudinal axis X. The flats 10 have a substantially trapezoidal outline, but they could be of different shapes.
[0113] The flats may also have a chamfer 102 at their lower insertion edge to facilitate the insertion of the retaining portion 42 of the refill into the junction portion.
[0114] The junction portion 51 includes secondary reliefs 53 configured to cooperate with the primary reliefs 10, in particular the flats 10, of the support portion 42 of the recharge. The secondary reliefs 53 may have a flat surface on which the flats 10 come into contact, the flats 10 preferentially having an angular extent 0 significantly greater than that [3 of the flat surfaces, when the reload 2 is inserted into the case 3. The flats 10 and the flat surfaces of the second reliefs 53 thus form a stop which opposes the rotation around the longitudinal axis X of the reload 2 with respect to the case 3.
[0115] The second reliefs 53 can be laterally bordered by a fillet 105, which facilitates gripping between the second reliefs 53 and the first reliefs 10 without damaging them. According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, there are two flat surfaces and two second reliefs, but this could be otherwise.
[0116] The second reliefs 53 may have a chamfer 104 in their upper part forming the insertion edge to facilitate the insertion of the retaining portion 42 of the refill into the junction portion.
[0117] Each flat 10 extends over an angular range 0 between 10 and 70°, for example substantially equal to 55°.
[0118] Each second relief 53 extends over an angular range [3] substantially less than that of the flat 10, here about 50°.
[0119] The flat surfaces 10 may have a height measured along the longitudinal axis of approximately 11 mm and the second reliefs 53 may have a height H, illustrated in [Fig. 7] measured along the longitudinal axis, slightly less than that of the flat surfaces 10, of approximately 9 mm
[0120] The flats 10 can be formed from a flat cut of the outer surface of the retaining portion 42.
[0121] The flat surfaces can be vertical as illustrated in the figures. Alternatively, they can form a non-zero angle α with the vertical.
[0122] In the illustrated example, the flats 10 therefore form a non-zero angle α with the flat surface when the refill is inserted into the case housing.
[0123] As can be seen in figures 5 to 7, the connecting piece 51 may have, on its internal surface configured to come into contact with the enlarged portion for retaining the charge, friction elements 12. The friction elements 12 may have a height f less than the height H of the second reliefs 53.
[0124] According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the connecting piece 51 may have a first axial portion 51a on which the second rotation-locking ridges 53 extend and which is devoid of friction elements, and a second axial portion 51b on which the second ridges 53 extend continuously with the first axial portion 51a and the friction elements 12 extend. The fact that the first axial portion is devoid of friction elements 12 helps to preserve them and limit their wear during insertion and, in particular, during angular indexing around the longitudinal axis of the reload in the case to align the flat surfaces 10 and 53, and thus prolong their effectiveness over time. Preferably, the second axial portion 51b extends between the first portion 51a and the refill reservoir 44. The two axial portions 5la and 51b may or may not have substantially identical heights measured along the longitudinal axis X.
[0125] The friction elements 12 may be protruding features configured to bear against the enlarged retaining portion and hold the enlarged retaining portion in the neck of the case by friction. A force greater than the friction force generated by the friction elements 12 must then be applied to extract the reload from the case. Preferably, this friction force is greater than the gravitational force of the full reload to prevent the reload from being pulled out of the case under its own weight when the device is handled, particularly when inverted. The connecting piece 51 may have an even number of identical friction elements 12 arranged symmetrically on circumferential portions of the connecting piece 51 outside the flats 10 between them. They may be evenly distributed on each circumferential portion outside the flats 10.
[0126] As illustrated in [Fig. 10], each friction element 12 extends over an angular range X between 10 and 30°, here approximately 22° from the second axial portion 51b. Each friction element may protrude by a thickness e of approximately 0.7 mm. Each friction element 12 may have a fillet 103 on its upper edge to facilitate the engagement of the reload retainer with these friction elements during insertion into the case.
[0127] Preferably, the friction elements 12 extend between the second reliefs 53 without overlapping them angularly. In the illustrated example, the ring 5 comprises six identical friction elements 12 extending between the two second reliefs 53 in the two angular portions without second reliefs 53, being angularly distributed around the longitudinal axis with the second reliefs 53.
[0128] Thus, when assembling the refill 2 and the case 3, the user will seek to make the longitudinal axes X and Y of the refill and the case coincide first, then to make the first and second reliefs coincide by rotating the refill relative to the case around the longitudinal axis, push the refill in translation downwards at the axial portion 51a, then continue the translation downwards in the axial portion 51b to put the friction elements 12 into friction.
[0129] According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2], the device may include an additional seal. The seal 11 is a raised feature extending between the junction portion 5 of the case 3 and the enlarged retaining portion 42 of the reloading body 4. Said seal 11 extends circumferentially around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the junction portion 5 and is configured to make contact with the reloading body 4 at level of the external surface of the enlarged retaining portion 42 of the reloading body, at the level of the shoulder 47 between the enlarged retaining portion 42 and the distribution portion 41 of the reloading body 4, in particular at the level of the portion not trimmed by the chamfer 101 adjacent to the flat 10.
[0130] Such a seal makes it possible to ensure better contact between the enlarged retaining portion 42 of the reload body and the junction portion 5 of the case and consequently better overall retention between the reload 2 and the case 3.
[0131] According to the illustrated embodiment, the friction elements 12 are carried by the case 3, in particular by the junction portion 5 of the case, but alternatively, the friction elements may be carried by the refill, in particular by the enlarged retaining portion extending preferably between the second portion and the reservoir 44 of the refill. In this case, the first axial portion 51a preferably extends between the second portion 51b and the reservoir 44 of the refill.
[0132] According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the device may be without a seal. According to this alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the device may include, on each second relief 53, a snap-fit relief 60. According to this embodiment, the second relief 53 may include two notches 62 extending over a portion of the height H of the second relief 53, defining between them a snap-fit portion of the second relief. The snap-fit relief 60 may extend over the snap-fit portion of the second relief. The presence of the notches 62 provides the snap-fit portion of the second relief with a certain elasticity, facilitating snap-fitting. The snap-fit relief 60 may be formed by a projecting relief extending between the two notches 62.
[0133] As illustrated in [Fig. 1 1], each flat 10 of the reloading cartridge may have a complementary protruding locking ridge 64, in particular of a substantially oval shape. The locking ridge 60 may be arranged to engage with the corresponding locking ridge 64 when the cartridge is inserted into the case. This interaction ensures good axial retention of the cartridge 2 in the case 3, complementing the friction elements 12 to limit the risk of cartridge withdrawal. The elasticity of the locking portion provided by the notches 62 facilitates the locking process.
[0134] Furthermore, this provides the user with tactile and / or audible feedback when clicking it into place so that they can be assured that the charging 2 is properly secured in the case 3.
[0135] The notches 62 can be bordered, on the side opposite the ratcheting portion of the second relief, by an additional thickness 63 of the second relief. Such an additional thickness can act as a supplementary friction element, promoting the retention of the reload in the case and / or form at least in part the flat surface of each second relief 53 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding flat 10 of the reloading body 4.
[0136] When the refill 2 is inserted into the case 3, the extra thickness 63 of each second relief 53 comes into contact with each flat 10 of the refill body 42 in order to ensure the angular indexing of the refill 2 in the case 3 and can also participate in holding the refill by friction.
[0137] Obviously, the elements just described are applicable in reverse to the first relief. The interlocking portions with the interlocking reliefs can be arranged on the first reliefs, and the second reliefs can include the complementary interlocking reliefs.
[0138] In the case where the device was without friction elements 12 distinct from the second reliefs 53, the latter could, in addition to the function of blocking the rotation of the refill in the case by cooperation with the first reliefs 10, also ensure the function of holding the refill in the case by friction along the longitudinal axis X, by providing a tight contact between the first and second reliefs when the refill 4 is in place inside the case 3.
[0139] Numerous modifications can be made to the device just described, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0140] Thus, in an unillustrated variant, the number of first and / or second reliefs, the number and / or nature of the friction elements can also be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0141] The location of the seal can also be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
Demands
1. Device (1) for conditioning, applying and / or dispensing a cosmetic refill (2) comprising: - a cosmetic refill (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) comprising: • a refill body (4) comprising a reservoir (44) of cosmetic product, and • a cap (6) for closing the refill body (4), the device being characterized in that the refill body (4) has an external surface having at least one first relief (10), and in that it comprises a case (3) having a receiving compartment (31) for the cosmetic refill (2), said case (3) having an internal surface, having at least one second relief (53) arranged to lock the cosmetic refill (2) in rotation about its longitudinal axis (X) within the case (3) by cooperation with said at least one first relief (10) when the cosmetic refill (2) is in the compartment (31),the refill body comprising a dispensing portion (41) for the cosmetic product and an enlarged retention portion (42) on the case, extending between the dispensing portion (41) and the reservoir (44) and having, on its outer surface, the first relief (10).
2. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing cover (6) is screwed onto the charging body (4), the device comprising in particular a plunging element (7) fixed to or one-piece with the surface of the cover (6) internal to the charging and configured to extend into the charging body (4) when the cover (6) is on the charging body (4).
3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the case (3) comprises a case body (35), configured to receive the refill reservoir (44) when the refill is inserted into the case, and an upper junction portion (5), in particular attached to the case body (35) with the refill body having the second relief (53), in particular on a surface inside the junction portion (5).
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first and second relief (10, 53), preferably the second relief (53), is a projecting relief and the other of the first and second relief (10, 53), preferably the first relief, is a recessed relief, in particular of complementary shape.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first and second reliefs, preferably the first relief (10), is a flat and the other of the first and second reliefs, preferably the second relief (53), has a flat surface on which the flat (10) comes into contact by at least a part of its surface, when the reload (2) is in the case (3), so as to form a stop opposing the rotation of the reload (2) relative to the case (3) around the longitudinal axis (X) of the reload in both directions of rotation.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first relief (10) has a plane inclined relative to a plane of the second relief (53) with which it comes into contact, in particular further from the plane of the second relief (53) on the side of the hood (6) than on the side of the tank (44), in particular forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis when the cosmetic refill is inserted into the housing, strictly greater than 0°, preferably greater than or equal to 1°, even better greater than or equal to 2°, preferably greater than or equal to 3°, and / or less than or equal to 20°, preferably less than or equal to 10°, preferably less than or equal to 5°, for example substantially equal to 3.5°
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of first (10) and second reliefs (53), in particular an even number of first and second reliefs, for example two first and second reliefs arranged oppositely, arranged to cooperate with each other when the cosmetic refill (2) is in the housing to block the cosmetic refill (2) from rotating in the case (3).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first relief (10) extends over an angular range (0) between 10° and 70°, in particular between 40° and 60°, for example 55°.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and / or second relief (10, 53) have at their insertion edge, a fillet or a chamfer.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one friction element (12), or better, a plurality of friction elements (12), extending between the refill body (4) and the case (3) when the refill (2) is inserted into the case (3), configured to hold the refill body (4) in the case (3) by friction.
11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the friction element(s) (12) are disjoint from the first (10) and second relief (53) when the refill (2) is inserted into the case (3), in particular extending over an angular portion of the device around the longitudinal axis (X), disjoint from that of the first and second relief, each angular portion not having a first and second relief (10, 53) may have at least one, preferably at least two, better at least three friction elements (12), preferably regularly distributed in each angular portion not having a first and second relief.
12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the case (3), and in particular the junction portion (5), comprises: - a first axial portion (51a) without friction element (12) and comprising at least a part of the second relief(s) (53) and the first relief(s) (10) and, - a second axial portion (51b) comprising at least a part of one or more friction elements (12).
13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reloading body and the case respectively comprise a plurality of first (10) and second reliefs (53), the device comprising angular portions devoid of first and second reliefs, in particular two opposing angular portions devoid of first and second reliefs, at least one, preferably two, better three friction elements (12) being arranged in each angular portion of the device devoid of first and second reliefs.
14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, having a seal (11) or a portion of a seal, extending between the refill (2) and the case (3) when the refill (2) is in the case (3), in particular the seal (11) being a raised feature extending from
15. one of the inner surface of the case (3) or the outer surface of the charging body (4), in particular circumferentially around the entire circumference of the inner surface or the outer surface, configured to come into contact with the other of the inner surface of the case (3) or the outer surface of the charging body (4). Refill (2) belonging to a device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a refill body (4) and a cover (6) comprising a plunging element (7) into the refill body (4), the refill body comprising an enlarged retaining portion (42) on a case (3), the enlarged retaining portion (42) comprising a first relief (10) configured to cooperate with a second relief (53) of the case (3) to block the refill (2) from rotating in the case (3).