MAGNETIC CLOSURE DEVICE FOR COSMETIC CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic closure device for a container of cosmetic products comprising at least one magnet equipping a part of the container, a hood or cover formed from an external envelope receiving at least one insert (8) adapted to establish a magnetic connection with the at least one magnet of complementary polarity equipping a part of the container, characterized in that the insert (8) is made of a material loaded with magnetic particles and is removably inserted into the envelope of the hood or cover. The invention also relates to a container provided with such a closure device. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: MAGNETIC CLOSURE DEVICE FOR COSMETIC PRODUCT CONTAINER

[0001] The invention relates to a magnetic closure device for a container of cosmetic products.

[0002] The expression "closing device" here designates any type of removable closing or protective member intended to be placed on the opening of a container, such as a hood, a lid or a cap, whatever its shape and / or its dimensions. Here the term container describes pots, flasks, bottles, whatever their shape and / or their constituent materials and / or their dimensions. Generally speaking, this refers to any type of container containing a cosmetic product. As a reminder, the definition of a cosmetic product is common to all the Member States of the European Union according to Article 2 of the cosmetic regulation. This definition is transcribed, in France, in the Public Health Code, according to Article L.5131-1.This definition is reproduced below: "substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the superficial parts of the human body (the epidermis, the hair and capillary systems, the nails, the lips and the external genital organs) or with the teeth and the oral mucous membranes, with a view, exclusively or mainly, to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odors". A cosmetic product can be a liquid product such as a shampoo, a perfume, a lotion, a make-up remover liquid or a pasty product such as a cream, a gel or a solid product such as a lipstick, a cosmetic powder.

[0003] Currently, more and more containers for cosmetic products include a closure device held in position by a magnetic connection either on the opening of the cosmetic product container or on a cosmetic product outlet member such as a push button for operating a spray pump. For example, FR-B-3 126 404 describes a lid of a container provided with magnetized portions complementary to magnetized areas of the neck of the container. The invention allows automatic orientation, by rotation, of the lid on the neck to achieve the magnetic connection. EP-B-3 383 757 discloses a threaded internal cap which is mounted on the threaded opening of a container. A covering lid is designed to be able to rotate and move in translation relative to the internal cap.As the slip-on lid rotates relative to the inner cap, one or more metal magnets located in the slip-on lid attract the cap to one or more metal elements associated with the container. If the various known solutions . allow a hold between a closure device and a container by a magnetic connection, current manufacturing and assembly techniques for the various constituent elements of the closure device are not satisfactory with regard to the new regulatory and / or normative provisions in force or soon to be in force regarding recycling and environmental protection. In particular, it is appropriate, on the one hand, to no longer use, or at least to plan to no longer use in the short term, glue and, on the other hand, the various constituent elements of the container and the closure device must be easily separable from each other for recycling. However, currently the magnets of the closure device are not separable from the other elements. In fact, the magnets are glued or welded in an internal insert permanently secured to the closure device.Furthermore, the closing device frequently includes a ballast, generally metallic, secured to the insert. The ballast facilitates the positioning and support of the cap or lid on the container. The invention proposes a closing device for a cosmetic product container that is easily recyclable and removable, while controlling costs. Hereinafter, the term cap will preferably be used to designate a closing device, whether it is a cap, a hood or a lid.

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a magnetic closure device for a container of cosmetic products comprising at least one magnet equipping a part of the container, a cover or lid formed from an external envelope receiving at least one insert adapted to establish a magnetic connection with the at least one magnet of complementary polarity equipping a part of the container, characterized in that the insert is made of a material loaded with magnetic particles and is inserted removably into the envelope of the cover or lid.

[0005] Thus, thanks to the invention, a magnetic insert is provided having a minimum of parts, the magnetic part being formed by the material constituting the insert and not by magnets fixed on the insert. In addition, the insert is mounted in a removable manner in an envelope of the closing device, which facilitates the separation and therefore the recycling of the constituent elements of the closing device.

[0006] According to advantageous, but not mandatory, aspects of the invention, such a magnetic closure device for a container of cosmetic products may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:

[0007] At least one area of ​​the insert has a higher concentration of magnetic particles than the rest of the insert.

[0008] At least one area of ​​the insert comprises magnetic particles whose magnetic field is known and oriented.

[0009] The insert comprises at least one zone with a high concentration of magnetic particles with a known and oriented magnetic field.

[0010] The insert is a hollow cylinder with an open circular base.

[0011] The area of ​​high concentration of magnetic particles with a known and oriented magnetic field of the insert is formed by an annular rim surrounding the open base of the insert.

[0012] The at least one magnet equipping a part of the container is formed on a circular ring fixed to one end of a sleeve secured to the container, said sleeve surrounding an outlet member for the product contained in the container.

[0013] The insert comprises annular grooves on its external wall ensuring that the insert is held in place in the casing while being removable.

[0014] The ring is of a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the rim of the insert.

[0015] the invention also relates to a container equipped with a closing device conforming to any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a cosmetic product container with a magnetic closing device for a cosmetic product container according to one embodiment of the invention,

[0018] [Fig.2] is a perspective view on the same scale as [Fig.l] and from another angle, of the cosmetic product container without the magnetic closing device,

[0019] [Fig.3] is a perspective view on a larger scale of the insert of the device of magnetic closure of figures 1 and 2, illustrated alone,

[0020] [Fig.4] is a perspective view, from another angle and at another scale of the insert of [Fig.3], of the magnetic closing device for cosmetic product container, in pre-assembly position and

[0021] [Fig.5] is a perspective view, from the same angle and on the same scale as the [Fig.4] elements of the magnetic closure device for cosmetic product containers, without the magnetic part of the container.

[0022] The invention applies generally to any container for cosmetic products, regardless of its shape, dimensions and / or constituent materials. Similarly, the type of cosmetic product contained in the container, liquid, solid or pasty, and its method of diffusion have no effect on the invention. [Fig.l] illustrates a container 1 for cosmetic products provided with a magnetic closure device for a container for cosmetic products referenced 2. The container 1 is, in the example, a bottle of a liquid cosmetic product, in particular a perfume, equipped with an opening allowing the perfume to exit. Hereinafter the term bottle will be used preferentially. The bottle 1 is for example made of glass, polymers or metal. It is here of cylindrical shape with a circular base. Its upper end 3 defining an opening, visible in figures 1 and 2, has a configuration with reliefs for aesthetic purposes. The central part of the end 3 receives a component constituting the means of dispensing the contents of the bottle 1. In this case it is a maneuvering pusher 4 of a pump, known per se and not visible, which is inserted into the internal volume of the bottle 1. Such a pump ensures the dispensing by vaporization of the liquid product, here a perfume contained in the bottle 1, when a user presses the pusher 4. The pusher 4 is movable in translation, in both directions, in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the bottle 1. The pusher 4 slides freely in a cylindrical sleeve 5 open at the ends. The sleeve 5 is designated in the technical field concerned by the expressions “pump cover” or “frette”.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the sleeve 5 is equipped, at one end intended to be fixed to the bottle 1, with a flat circular ring 6 extending radially outwards. The ring 6 is de facto an integral part of the end of the sleeve 5 and ensures the fixing and holding in position of the sleeve 5 on the end 3 of the bottle 1. If the sleeve 5 is made of a material of choice, for example polymer, metal or wood, the ring 6 is metallic or at least made of a magnetic material over at least one given area. In other words, the ring 6 comprises an area forming a magnet of a defined polarity, it being understood that the ring 6 may comprise several associated magnets or associated magnetized areas, provided that their polarities are known.

[0024] The closing device 2 comprises a cover 20 which has the purpose of protecting the operating pusher 4 while avoiding any accidental actuation of the latter and being easily removable by a user of the bottle 1. The cover 20 must be kept in position on the end 3 in an optimal manner.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the cover 20 comprises an outer casing 7 which gives the final shape and appearance to the cover 20. Here, it is a cylinder with a circular base. Alternatively, the shape and / or dimensions of the casing 7 are different. The casing 7 of the cover 20 is made of polymers, composite material, metal or wood provided that the material used is non-magnetic or at least limits the propagation of a magnetic field outside the cover 20. The casing 7 of the cover 20 is in this example a cylinder open at its circular base. The interior volume V20 of the cover 20 appears in [Fig.4]. The volume V20 receives an insert 8 illustrated alone in [Fig.3].

[0026] The insert 8 has shapes and dimensions complementary to those of the volume of the casing 7 of the cover 20. The insert 8 is of a generally cylindrical shape with an open circular base. De facto, the internal volume V8 of the insert 8 defines the useful volume of the cover 20 once the insert 8 is in place in the casing 7. A first cylindrical part lindrique 9 occupies the lower part of the insert 8 when looking at [Fig.3]. This part 9 comprises, at its lower free end defining the circular base 90 of the insert 8, a flat annular rim 10 extending radially outwards. The annular rim 10 is in one piece with the base 90 of the insert 8. The base 90 delimits an access opening to the internal volume V8 of the insert 8. A second cylindrical part 11, of smaller diameter than the cylindrical part 9, extends the latter from the base 90 towards an upper free end 12 of the insert 8. The free end 12 of the part 11 is closed and flat.

[0027] Peripheral grooves 13 are arranged radially on the external wall of the part 11 and define a means for holding and locking the insert 8 in position in the casing 7. Due to their configurations and / or the nature of the material constituting the insert 8, the grooves 13, here not identical, allow the insert 8 to be locked in position, by clipping, in the casing 7. In other embodiments not illustrated, the external wall of the insert 8 is equipped with another means for holding and locking it in position in the casing 7. This is, for example, a means known per se based on the cooperation of shapes. By way of non-limiting examples, mention may be made of a quarter-turn type screw thread and / or reliefs and / or grooves of shapes complementary to reliefs and / or grooves provided on the internal wall of the casing 7 or even of holding and blocking by wedging, by self-gripping materials or others.

[0028] The insert 8 is made of a material based on polymers available on the market.

[0029] This material is loaded with magnetic particles. The nature of the magnetic charge depends on the desired magnetic force. Thus, different magnetic charges will be used, for example an anisotropic magnetic charge, Neodymium Iron Boron, Samarium-Cobalt, depending on the desired magnetic power. These particles are introduced and mixed with the material constituting the insert 8 during a process, known per se, of extrusion / granulation which makes it possible to obtain a mixture called a compound. The compound is then used to produce a product according to the technique, known per se, of injection.

[0030] Such an injection method makes it possible to produce an insert 8 of more or less complex shapes and / or of varied dimensions. According to the invention, during injection not only is the magnetic particle load selectively increased in at least one desired zone of the insert 8, but the magnetic particles are also oriented according to a defined magnetic field. Thus, during the manufacture of the insert 8, the magnetic polarity and the intensity of the magnetic field of a given zone of the insert 8 are defined. Thanks to the invention, an insert 8 is produced which, although being entirely magnetized, has at least one so-called useful zone in which the magnetized particles are in high concentration and are oriented, therefore an area where the magnetic field is optimized and controlled. The so-called useful magnetized zone of the insert 8 is determined to make a magnetic connection with a complementary magnetized zone of reverse polarity and complementary geometric configuration. Here the useful magnetized zone of the insert 8 is formed by the rim 10 and the complementary magnetized zone is formed by the ring 6 of the sleeve 5 secured to the bottle 1. Due to its configuration, its dimensions and the material used, namely a material made of polymers loaded with magnetic particles, the insert 8 has sufficient mass so that a ballast is no longer necessary to optimize the positioning and support of the cap 20 on the container 1. A part is therefore eliminated in all cases, even if the latter was optional. The invention thus allows a gain in terms of parts used, production cost and recycling.

[0031] It is noted that in the example described the polarity of the rim 10 of the insert 8 is the inverse of the polarity of the ring 6 of the sleeve 5, thus creating a magnetic connection between the insert 8 and the ring 6 that is all the more effective and easy to put in place since the ring 6 and rim 10 are flat and of similar dimensions, facilitating their mutual support. In another embodiment, other areas of the insert 8 and the sleeve 5 are magnetized with a defined and optimized polarity. This may be, for example, the areas of the cylinder 9 and the sleeve 5 located respectively in the vicinity of the rim 10 and the ring 6. Thus, the magnetic connection is reinforced and / or the positioning and / or orientation of the cover 20 on the sleeve 5 is facilitated.

[0032] As is apparent from [Fig. 4], the magnetic closure device of the bottle 1 comprises, on the one hand, a cap 20 formed of only two separable elements, namely the insert 8 and the casing 7, which are elements that are movable relative to the bottle 1 and, on the other hand, the sleeve 5 which is an element integral with the bottle 1 while being separable from the latter during recycling. The closure is achieved by a magnetic connection that is strong enough to ensure that the cap 20 is held in place on the sleeve 5 while being easy to break manually to remove the cap 20, without wear of the parts and / or deformation and / or damage over time, the number of opening and closing operations not being limited.

[0033] [Fig. 5] is a view of the cover 20 from its lower face intended to come to bear on the container 1, that is to say from the open base 90 of the insert 8. The latter occupies the interior of the envelope 7 of the cover 20 over the entire height of the walls with the magnetically charged rim 10 which is flush with the outlet of the envelope 7, therefore coplanar with the opening of the cover 20.

Claims

Claims

1. Magnetic closure device (2) for a container (1) of cosmetic products comprising at least one magnet equipping a part (6) of the container (1), a cover (20) or lid formed from an external envelope (7) receiving at least one insert (8) adapted to establish a magnetic connection with the at least one magnet of complementary polarity equipping a part (6) of the container (1), characterized in that the insert (8) is made of a material loaded with magnetic particles and is inserted removably into the envelope (7) of the cover (20) or lid.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one zone (10) of the insert (8) has a concentration of magnetic particles higher than the rest of the insert (8).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one zone (10) of the insert (8) comprises magnetic particles whose magnetic field is known and oriented.

4. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the insert (8) comprises at least one zone (10) with a concentration of magnetic particles higher than the rest of the insert (8), with a known and oriented magnetic field.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (8) is a hollow cylinder with an open circular base (90).

6. Device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the area of ​​the insert (8) with a concentration of magnetic particles higher than the rest of the insert (8), with a known and oriented magnetic field is formed by an annular rim (10) surrounding the open base (90) of the insert (8).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one magnet equipping a part of the container (1) is formed on a circular ring (6) fixed to one end of a sleeve (5) integral with the container (1), said sleeve surrounding a member (4) for exiting the product contained in the container (1).

8. Device according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the ring (6) is of a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the rim (10) of the insert (8).

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (8) comprises on its external wall annular grooves (13) ensuring that the insert (8) is held in place in the casing (7) while being de- mountable.

10. Container (1) equipped with a magnetic closure device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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