Removable sieve for a cosmetic product receptacle such as a glass jar, and jar provided with such a sieve

Abstract

The invention relates to a removable sieve (20) intended to be inserted and held tightly in place in a neck of a cosmetic product receptacle, for example a glass jar, and comprising for this purpose at least one rigid annular structure (23) in the form of a circular ring and an internal sieving surface (21) surrounded by said annular structure (23) and provided with a series of orifices (22) passing through its thickness, characterized in that the annular structure (23) is provided with at least one peripheral bead (25; 26) provided with a series of tangential flats (27; 28) locally reducing the diameter of said bead (25; 26). Figure for abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Removable sieve for a cosmetic product receptacle such as a glass jar, and jar provided with such a sieve Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a removable sieve intended to be introduced and held tightly in place in a neck of a cosmetic product receptacle, for example a glass jar. Prior art

[0002] It is common to equip cosmetic product receptacles with a sieve, particularly in the case where said product is a fine powder. The sieve is generally used to keep the powder in the receptacle while allowing its use by tapping on the central sieving area using a large application brush. The tapping action causes a small amount of cosmetic product powder to rise through the orifices of the sieving area in order to come to rest above it so that it can then be captured by the bristles of the brush before being applied to the skin (day, forehead, neck) using the latter. This powder capture operation can be repeated as long as there is enough powder left above the sieving area. The powder not captured by the bristles of the brush can then pass through the orifices of the sieving area in the other direction and return to the inside of the receptacle.

[0003] However, the installation of such a sieve poses numerous design problems either during its positioning, because the powder can suddenly emerge in a cloud through the orifices of the sieving zone during assembly in the neck of the container (a highly undesirable "pop-up" effect during filling on the manufacturing lines), or during use because the sieve must remain firmly in place in the neck of the container.

[0004] In the particular case of the positioning of the sieve, it is necessary to allow air to pass when pressing and inserting said sieve into the neck of the receptacle, in particular when the orifices of the sieving zone are closed by a sticker (or equivalent) preventing the powder from escaping. Indeed, the volume of air contained between the upper surface of the powder contained in the receptacle and the lower surface of the sieving zone of the sieve before the latter penetrates into the neck must be able to evacuate easily and not be put under unnecessary pressure. It is therefore appropriate that this forced introduction be as easy as possible, while allowing the sieve to be held securely once in place to prevent it from becoming detached from the neck of the receptacle. The addition of at least one vent at the bottom of the receptacle can be a solution to this problem but this complicates the design and manufacture of the receptacle, generates risks of product leakage and is not possible in a glass jar, for example.

[0005] It is therefore necessary that the sieve be sufficiently held, but that its "forced" installation is not too restrictive during its axial introduction into the opening of the neck, which requires a compromise manifested by a particular design and dimensional tolerances which have not been achieved until now.

[0006] Furthermore, in the more specific case of glass jars, it is known that manufacturing tolerances are more difficult to maintain, particularly due to the manufacturing process itself. It is in fact particularly complex to continuously and repeatedly ensure absolutely perfect manufacturing tolerances on glass parts on a production line, whether it is the internal diameter of the neck (and its upper opening) or, in the case of the presence of an internal radial shoulder, the diameter and / or the height of this shoulder (position of the latter relative to the upper edge of the neck and / or the bottom of the jar).

[0007] However, the sieve has dimensional tolerances that are much easier to control over a large quantity of identical parts to be maintained because it is most often an element made of plastic material injected into a mold where the cooling of the material used and the shrinkage phenomena are better controlled.

[0008] Concretely and to summarize, if we know how to ensure a manufacturing tolerance to the hundredth of a millimeter for a sieve, in particular with regard to the rigid annular structure which will fit into the neck of the pot, it is more complex to be certain that all of the thousands of identical pots shaped by a glass melting process will be able to guarantee the same tolerances from one pot to another. It is then possible that a sieve can penetrate more or less easily into the neck of the pot and / or remain more or less well in place in the latter depending on the tolerances of said pot.

[0009] There is therefore a double problem in the design of sieves for cosmetic product receptacles, in particular for glass jars, due to a potential mismatch between easy installation (forced insertion) and firm hold in traction and rotation to prevent the sieve from unexpectedly coming out of the receptacle. Presentation of the invention

[0010] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a solution making it possible to insert a plastic makeup sieve inside a container for a cosmetic product, in particular in the neck of a glass jar, and to guarantee its mechanical strength, its non-rotation during use, its sealing, despite variable dimensional tolerances from one receptacle to another, especially in the case of a glass jar.

[0011] To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a removable sieve intended to be introduced and held tightly in place in a neck of cosmetic product receptacle, for example a glass jar, and comprising for this purpose at least one rigid annular structure in the form of a circular ring and an internal screening surface surrounded by said annular structure and provided with a series of orifices passing through its thickness, the annular structure being provided with at least one peripheral bead provided with a series of tangential flats locally reducing the diameter of said bead.

[0012] Thanks to this solution, the pop-up effect of unexpected expulsion / loss of cosmetic product powder in the form of a cloud through the orifices is avoided, while allowing air to escape to ensure the operation of the sieve during the vacuum leak test of the receptacle.

[0013] The invention is implemented according to the embodiments and variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or in any technically effective combination.

[0014] Advantageously, the flats of the first peripheral bead are distributed angularly in a regular manner around its circumference and are preferably even in number, advantageously from 4 to 12.

[0015] This solution makes it possible to distribute the forces of the annular structure on the neck of the container and to provide the “breathing” zones evenly over its entire circumference.

[0016] Preferably, the annular structure is provided with at least one second peripheral bead parallel to the first bead and also comprising a series of tangential flats locally reducing the diameter of said second bead.

[0017] In a complementary manner, the flats of the second peripheral bead are distributed angularly in a regular manner around its circumference and are preferably even in number, advantageously from 4 to 12.

[0018] According to a particular characteristic, the flats of the second peripheral bead are angularly offset relative to the flats of the first peripheral bead.

[0019] This solution allows for better maintenance of the sieve in the receptacle by a homogeneous distribution of the introduction forces on the one hand and of the attachment forces on the other hand.

[0020] Preferably, the first and / or second peripheral bead(s) form(s) a continuous cord of material over its / their entire circumference and have(s) a constant radial thickness and / or height.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the annular structure comprises in the lower part a series of radially elastically deformable tabs, each tab being provided with an outwardly projecting protuberance.

[0022] Preferably, the legs are distributed angularly in a regular manner on the circumference of the annular structure and are preferably in even number, advantageously from 4 to 12.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, each protuberance has, along a vertical section passing through a diameter of the annular structure, at least one inclined upper plane directed towards a lower edge of said annular structure.

[0024] Advantageously, each protuberance has, along a vertical section passing through a diameter of the annular structure, at least one inclined lower plane directed towards an upper edge of said annular structure.

[0025] According to a particularly interesting aspect of the present invention, the screening surface is of the flexible type and formed in one piece with the annular structure.

[0026] According to a preferred characteristic of the present invention, the screening surface is locally surrounded by a small rigid peripheral border making the connection with the annular structure.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a cosmetic product receptacle, in particular a glass jar, comprising an upper neck into which a removable sieve as described above is introduced and held tightly in place.

[0028] According to a particular characteristic of the present invention, the inclined upper plane of each protuberance is arranged, when the sieve is assembled in the neck of the receptacle, under a shoulder locally reducing the diameter of said neck. Brief description of the figures

[0029] Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention emerge from the following description given, for explanatory and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0030] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a sieve and a cosmetic product receptacle in accordance with the present invention,

[0031] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a vertical sectional view of the sieve and the receptacle of the [Fig.l],

[0032] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the sieve of Figures 1 and 2,

[0033] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a bottom view of [Fig.3],

[0034] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a side view of [Fig.4],

[0035] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a detail view B of [Fig.2],

[0036] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the [Fig.l],

[0037] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a vertical sectional view of the sieve and the receptacle of the [Fig.7],

[0038] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a perspective view of the sieve of Figures 7 and 8,

[0039] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a bottom view of [Fig.9],

[0040] [Fig.11] [Fig.11] is a side view of [Fig.10],

[0041] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a detail view B of [Fig.8], and

[0042] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] is a detailed perspective sectional view of [Fig.9]. Description of the embodiments

[0043] Figures 1 to 6 represent a first embodiment of a removable sieve 20 installed in a container 10 of powdered cosmetic product in accordance with the present invention to form an assembly 1.

[0044] For information, the present description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment being able to be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment.

[0045] It should also be noted from now on that the figures are not necessarily to scale, in particular dimensional tolerances / assembly clearances, without this impairing their understanding.

[0046] The cosmetic product receptacle 10 is in this case a glass jar made using traditional industrial techniques (melting the material, pouring into a mold, cooling, demolding, finishing if necessary). For this purpose, it comprises a base 11 from which a circumferential wall rises vertically, having an internal surface 12 and an external surface 13 having, in the upper part, a neck 14 provided with an external screw thread 15 and an upper annular rim 16.

[0047] The sieve 20 is preferably made from a single piece of injected plastic material such as bio-sourced and recyclable polypropylene, or equivalent plastic material. It firstly comprises a sieving surface 21 in the form of a thin, uniform disc of plastic material pierced with multiple through-orifices 22. The through-orifices 23 can be replaced by a mesh allowing the product to pass in both directions, in particular in the case where the sieving disc 21 is made of a fabric. This sieving disc 21 is surrounded by a rigid annular structure 23 in the form of a ring constituting a peripheral wall having an upper positioning rim 24 and a lower rim 24b.

[0048] In the case where the screening disc 21 is significantly more flexible than the annular structure 23, for example when it is made of mesh fabric, a peripheral edge 29 which is more rigid than said screening disc 21 surrounds the latter and makes the connection with the more rigid peripheral wall 23. This type of “mixed” structure is preferably made in one piece.

[0049] The annular structure 23 is provided with a first peripheral bead 25 and a second peripheral bead 26. These peripheral beads 25 and 26 are located between the upper rim 24 and the lower rim 24b and are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis XX' of revolution / symmetry of the screening disc 21 and the peripheral wall 23.

[0050] These two peripheral beads 25 and 26 project externally from the peripheral wall 23 and thus form a prominent bead of continuous or dotted material, each having a constant radial thickness and / or a constant height.

[0051] The first bead 25 comprises a series of tangential flats 27 locally reducing the diameter of said bead, for example from a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters. In the present case, these flats 27 are four in number and are distributed angularly in a regular manner around the circumference of the bead 25, that is to say they are arranged every 90°.

[0052] The second bead 26 comprises a series of tangential flats 28 locally reducing the diameter of said bead, for example from a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters. In the present case, these flats 28 are four in number and are distributed angularly in a regular manner around the circumference of the bead 26, that is to say they are arranged every 90°.

[0053] As can be seen in [Fig. 3], the flats 27 of the first bead 25 and the flats 28 of the second bead 26 are angularly offset by 45°. Thus, the peripheral wall 23 comprises flats arranged every 45° alternately from one bead to the other.

[0054] The sieve 20 can thus be easily placed in the receptacle 10 by positioning it opposite the opening of the neck 14, parallel to the plane defined by the upper annular rim 16, and by pressing along the axis XX' to force it into the neck 14.

[0055] Thanks to the beads 25 and 26, the sieve 20 remains securely in place in the neck 14 because it is locked in rotation around the axis XX' and in translation along said axis. Thus, the rotation lock makes it easy to use a makeup brush that sweeps the upper surface of the sieve disc 21 to collect the cosmetic product powder. The axial lock makes it possible to prevent the sieve 20 from unexpectedly exiting the neck 14 of the pot 10.

[0056] The flats 27 and 28 make it possible to avoid the “pop-up” effect which tends to cause the powder to suddenly come out through the orifices 22 when the sieve is placed in the neck 14 of the pot 10, causing the displacement of the volume of air present between the upper surface of said powder and the lower surface of the sieving disc 21. In the event that the orifices 22 are closed, for example by a sticker, the flats 27 and 28 still allow this evacuation of air under pressure between the beads 25 and 26 and the inner surface of the neck 14, without causing the powder to come out of product.

[0057] After a series of vacuum tests, the sealing of the system at -800 mbar for one minute with a pot filled with water and a sticker covering the orifices 22 of the sieve disc 21 could be successfully observed.

[0058] Figures 7 to 13 represent a second embodiment of a removable sieve 20 installed in a container 10 of powdered cosmetic product in accordance with the present invention.

[0059] In order to simplify the description, the elements identical to those of the first embodiment bear the same references.

[0060] In this variant, as can be seen in particular in figures 8 and 12, the pot 10 comprises, below its neck 14, a shoulder 17 locally widening its diameter up to its bottom 11. This shoulder 17 has a profile provided with two radii with inverted curvatures making the transition between the substantially axial (vertical) wall of the interior of the neck 14 and the substantially axial wall 12 of the interior of the pot 10.

[0061] As is apparent in particular from figures 7, 9 and 13, the sieve 20 of this variant comprises, in addition to the beads 25 and 26 provided with their respective flats 27 and 28, a series of radially elastically deformable tabs 30, for example four in number distributed circumferentially in a regular manner on the circumference of the annular structure, that is to say at 90° to each other. These four tabs 30 can be aligned with one or other of the sets of flats, for example the flats 28 of the bead 26 in the present case.

[0062] These tabs 30 are each constituted by a portion 31 of plastic material belonging to the lower part of the peripheral wall 23 surrounded by two slots 32 allowing the radial elasticity of said tabs (NB: they can move apart or move towards each other radially by a few tenths of a millimeter under the effect of a force preferably oriented perpendicularly to the axis XX').

[0063] Each tab 30 also comprises a protuberance 33 projecting externally from the portion of material 31. More precisely, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 13, each protuberance 33 has, along a vertical section passing through a diameter of the annular structure 23, at least one inclined upper plane 34 directed towards the lower edge 24b of said annular structure 23. Each protuberance 33 also has, still along a vertical section passing through a diameter of the annular structure 23, at least one inclined lower plane 35 directed towards the upper edge 24 of said annular structure 23.

[0064] As can be seen in [Fig.6] and 12, a first radial compensation clearance JB is provided between the outside of the first bead 25 and the inside surface of the neck 14 of the pot 10, so that the sieve 20 can be positioned in said neck 14 of the pot 10 and stay in place. This JB game makes it possible to compensate for any dimensional differences (inner diameter) of the pot 10 at its neck 14.

[0065] A second radial centering clearance JC is provided between the outside of the upper rim 24 of the screen 20 and the inside surface of the neck 14, when the screen 20 is positioned in the pot 10.

[0066] As can be seen in [Fig. 12], a third axial clearance JD is provided between the upper part of the protuberance 33 and the shoulder 17, when the sieve 20 is positioned in the pot 10. This clearance JD makes it possible to compensate for any dimensional differences (height relative to the bottom 11) of the pot 10 at its shoulder 17.

[0067] A fourth radial clearance JF is provided between the outside of the second bead 26 and the inside surface of the neck 14, when the screen 20 is positioned in the pot 10. This clearance JF makes it possible to compensate for any dimensional differences (inside diameter) of the pot 10 at its neck 14.

[0068] Finally, a fifth radial clearance JG is provided between the exterior of the protuberance 33 and the interior surface of the neck 14, this clearance allowing the radial displacement of the radially elastically deformable legs 30 during insertion of the screen into the neck 14 of the pot 10.

[0069] The sieve 20 can thus be easily put in place in the receptacle 10 by positioning it opposite the opening of the neck 14, parallel to the plane defined by the upper annular rim 16, and by pressing along the axis XX' to force it into the neck 14. This has the effect of radially tightening the elastically deformable tabs 30 which slide axially along the inner surface of the neck 14, thanks in particular to the second inclined face 35. Once the tabs 30 have axially passed the shoulder 17, they move apart to substantially return to their initial position before introduction of the sieve 20 into the neck 14.The beads 25 and 26 then bear against the inner surface of the neck 14, while the first inclined face 34 of the protuberance 33 allows the sieve 20 to remain in place axially by bearing against the shoulder 17 and adapting to any differences in dimensions of the latter due to the manufacturing process of the glass pot 10.

[0070] The sieve 20 is therefore immobilized in the neck 14 because it is blocked on the one hand in rotation around the axis XX' and on the other hand in translation along said axis thanks in particular to the protuberance 33 which hooks under the shoulder 17. Thus, the rotational blocking makes it possible to easily use a makeup brush which sweeps the upper surface of the sieve disc 21 to collect the cosmetic product powder. The axial blocking makes it possible to prevent the sieve 20 from unexpectedly exiting the neck 14 of the pot 10.

[0071] As for the first embodiment, the flats 27 and 28 make it possible to avoid the “pop-up” effect which tends to cause the powder to suddenly come out through the orifices 22 when the sieve is placed in the neck 14 of the pot 10, causing the displacement of the volume of air present between the upper surface of said powder and the lower surface of the sieving disc 21. In the event that the orifices 22 are closed, for example by a sticker, the flats 27 and 28 still allow this evacuation of air under pressure between the beads 25 and 26 and the inner surface of the neck 14, without causing the product powder to come out.

[0072] It should be clearly understood that the detailed description of the subject of the Invention, given solely by way of illustration, does not constitute in any way a limitation, the technical equivalents also being included in the scope of the present invention.

[0073] Thus, the shape and dimensions of the peripheral beads, the radially elastically deformable tabs and the inclined sides can vary, as can the shape, number and angular distribution of the flats.

[0074] The peripheral structure of the sieve may also comprise more than two parallel beads spaced apart from each other.

[0075] Of course, this sieve can be made from materials other than those indicated, for example other plastic, a composite material, metal (stainless steel, aluminum, zamac, etc.). A bio-sourced and recyclable material will be preferred.

Claims

Claims

1. Removable sieve (20) intended to be introduced and held tightly in place in a neck (14) of a receptacle (10) for a cosmetic product, for example a glass jar, and comprising for this purpose at least one rigid annular structure (23) in the form of a circular ring and an internal sieving surface (21) surrounded by said annular structure (23) and provided with a series of orifices (22) passing through its thickness, characterized in that the annular structure (23) is provided with at least one peripheral bead (25; 26) provided with a series of tangential flats (27; 28) locally reducing the diameter of said bead (25; 26).

2. Removable screen (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flats (27) of the first peripheral bead (25) are distributed angularly in a regular manner around its circumference and are preferably even in number, advantageously from 4 to 12.

3. Removable screen (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the annular structure (23) is provided with at least one second peripheral bead (26) parallel to the first bead (25) and also comprising a series of tangential flats (28) locally reducing the diameter of said second bead (26).

4. Removable screen (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that the flats (28) of the second peripheral bead (26) are distributed angularly in a regular manner around its circumference and are preferably even in number, advantageously from 4 to 12.

5. Removable screen (20) according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the flats (28) of the second peripheral bead (26) are angularly offset relative to the flats (27) of the first peripheral bead (25).

6. Removable screen (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or second peripheral bead(s) (25; 26) form(s) a continuous bead of material over its / their entire circumference and have(s) a constant radial thickness and / or height.

7. Removable screen (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular structure (23) comprises in the lower part a series of radially elastically deformable legs (30), each leg being provided with a protuberance (33) forming protrude externally.

8. Removable screen (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the legs (30) are distributed angularly in a regular manner on the circumference of the annular structure (23) and are preferably in even number, advantageously from 4 to 12.

9. Removable screen according to claim 8, characterized in that each protuberance (33) has, along a vertical section passing through a diameter of the annular structure (23), at least one inclined upper plane (34) directed towards a lower edge (24a) of said annular structure (23).

10. Removable screen (20) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that each protuberance (33) has, along a vertical section passing through a diameter of the annular structure (23), at least one inclined lower plane (35) directed towards an upper edge (24) of said annular structure (23).

11. Removable screen (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screening surface (21) is of the flexible type and formed in one piece with the annular structure (23).

12. Removable screen (20) according to claim 11, characterized in that the screening surface (21) is locally surrounded by a small rigid peripheral border (29) making the connection with the annular structure (23).

13. Assembly (1) consisting of a receptacle (10) for a cosmetic product, in particular a glass jar, comprising an upper neck (14) into which a removable sieve (20) according to any one of the preceding claims is introduced and held tightly in place.

14. Assembly (1) according to claim 13 when the latter depends on claim 9, characterized in that the inclined upper plane (34) of each protuberance (33) is arranged, when the sieve (20) is assembled in the neck (14) of the receptacle, under a shoulder (17) locally reducing the diameter of said neck.

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