MOBILE APPLICATOR EQUIPPED WITH A REMOVABLE MOUNTING MEANS IN A CAP

Abstract

MOBILE APPLICATOR EQUIPPED WITH A REMOVABLE MOUNTING MEANS IN A CAP The invention relates to a mobile applicator (1) of product to be applied intended to be mounted in a cap having an internal bore, said applicator comprising a rod (30), a tubular portion (32) and a peripheral stop (33) as well as an application member (40), said applicator further comprising a hollow head (10) mounted movably by sliding longitudinally on the tubular portion (32) of the rod (30), an elastic piece (20) extending partially between said hollow head (10) and said tubular portion (32) of the rod (30), said elastic piece (20) being configured to oppose the spontaneous movement of said hollow head towards the tubular portion, along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and removable mounting means of said hollow head in a cap so as to allow the mounting / dismounting of the mobile applicator in a cap. Figure for the summary: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: MOBILE APPLICATOR EQUIPPED WITH A REMOVABLE MOUNTING MEANS IN A CAP Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an applicator that allows the collection of a product contained in a container. More specifically, the invention relates to a movable applicator equipped with a removable mounting means in a cap of a container holding a product to be applied. The invention also relates to a bottle cap comprising such a movable applicator and a bottle comprising such a cap. Technological background

[0002] Currently, there are many applicators available for applying a product contained in a container. In the cosmetics field, for example, the product could be a nail polish formula, a nail care formula, or even mascara. In the industrial field, the product to be applied could be glue, oil, etc.

[0003] When it is a cosmetic product, there is generally an application assembly comprising a reservoir for the product to be applied and an applicator of said product, such as a brush having a tuft of hair, or a brush, fixed to one end of a rod, the rod being permanently fixed by its other end in a cap intended to close the reservoir, so that the tuft of hair or the brush is immersed in this product when the application assembly is closed.

[0004] To ensure proper closure of the assembly, the reservoir has a neck with a first thread that engages with a second thread in the cap. The rod is held in the cap by a support that includes a sealing plate. This sealing plate is in contact with the neck seal when the application assembly is closed. The thread runs the entire height of the neck and is flush with the upper end of the neck.

[0005] During application, it is important to minimize product loss at the bottom of the bottle and to maximize product consumption. To achieve this, the prior art describes devices in which elastic parts are arranged to ensure that the end of the rod or brush remains in contact with the product in the bottle regardless of whether the cap or stopper is open or closed.

[0006] Prior art applicators equipped with a spring so as to allow the brush to reach the container even when the cap is unscrewed are also known.

[0007] These known applicators are, however, fixed in a permanent manner and sealed in The bottle caps all have threads at the part that holds the spring.

[0008] Consequently, after the product is consumed, the entire bottle-applicator assembly is discarded, and the applicator is not reusable on another cap. Furthermore, the applicator design must be revised for each cap and / or bottle design, resulting in significant design costs.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need to provide a mobile applicator, equipped with a removable mounting means in a bottle cap, capable of being reused after use, on other caps, and allowing optimal consumption of the product contained in the container. Objectives of the invention

[0010] The invention aims to provide a mobile applicator that allows the entire contents of a product to be collected from the bottom of a container without having to screw the cap back onto the container.

[0011] The invention aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an applicator not sealed in a cap and reusable for a new product to be applied.

[0012] The invention aims to provide a mobile applicator equipped with a removable mounting means in a cap.

[0013] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a reusable mobile applicator after first use in a stopper.

[0014] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a mobile applicator that can replace the fixed applicator of a cap.

[0015] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a cap containing a movable applicator that can be inserted into or removed from said cap.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a mobile applicator of simple design and economical to manufacture. Description of the invention

[0017] To this end, the invention relates to a mobile applicator for a product to be applied, intended to be mounted in a cap having an internal bore, said applicator comprising a rod extending along a longitudinal axis, said rod comprising a tubular portion and a peripheral stop at its proximal end, as well as an application element for said product to be applied arranged at its distal end, characterized in that said applicator further comprises: - a hollow head mounted to slide longitudinally on the tubular portion of the rod, between a position, called the deployed position, in which the head is moved away from said tubular portion, and a position, called the retracted position, in which the hollow head comes to rest against said peripheral stop, - an elastic piece extending partially between said hollow head and said tubular portion of the rod, said elastic piece being configured to oppose the spontaneous displacement of said hollow head towards the tubular portion, along the longitudinal axis of the rod, - removable mounting means for said hollow head in said internal bore of said cap adapted to allow mounting / dismounting of the mobile applicator in the cap.

[0018] For the purposes of this invention, the term "mobile applicator" means an applicator equipped with a rod, at least one element of which can be moved by means of an elastic part or other means to cause translational movement along the longitudinal axis defined by the applicator's rod. For the purposes of this invention, the mobile applicator also includes a means for removably mounting said applicator in a cap. In this way, the applicator of the invention can be mounted in a cap, or removed from it. In other words, the mobile applicator according to the invention is a portable applicator that can be attached to a cap; said applicator can thus be inserted into or removed from a cap in which it is fixed by a push-fit or press-fit, by a tensile force applied to the rod or the cap, particularly by a user.Furthermore, the applicator can thus be used in a plurality of different caps, in particular in place of an existing applicator, and allows on the one hand to benefit from an applicator adaptable from one cap to another, and, on the other hand, to optimize the consumption of a cosmetic product contained in a bottle.

[0019] It should be defined that the terms "stoppers" are equivalent in the sense of the invention and that they refer to a means of closing a bottle classically used by a person skilled in the art.

[0020] Throughout this text, the term "product to be applied" refers to products that can be applied by the mobile applicator of the invention. These products are liquid products, preferably cosmetic products known to those skilled in the art, such as varnish, or, without limitation, any other non-cosmetic product that can be applied using such an applicator, such as paints or adhesives, for example.

[0021] According to the invention, the application member is defined as a member located at one end of the applicator shaft. According to the invention, the applicator shaft defines a principal direction that can be considered a longitudinal axis. The shaft therefore extends along this longitudinal axis and comprises two distinct ends. These ends are a proximal end comprising a tubular portion and a peripheral stop, and a distal end comprising a member application. When using the applicator according to the invention, the distal end of the stem can be defined as the part closest to the bottom of the bottle and the proximal end of the stem can be defined as the part furthest from the bottom of the bottle or as the part of the applicator likely to be in contact with the bottle cap.

[0022] The application member that can be used for the applicator according to the invention may be a brush, a spatula, a paintbrush, or even bristles or any other application member known to those skilled in the art. The application member may be fixed or inserted in a known manner at the distal end of the applicator shaft.

[0023] The proximal end of the applicator shaft according to the invention comprises a tubular portion mounted on a peripheral stop. For the purposes of the invention, it should be noted that the peripheral stop and the tubular portion of the shaft may be integral parts of the shaft, although a shaft made up of several parts could also be considered. The term "integral part" can be defined as referring to the fact that these parts are not an arrangement of parts external to the shaft, but rather structural forms that are integral and formed on the shaft itself.

[0024] The tubular portion of the rod is hollow and can, in some cases, be considered a cylinder open at its upper base. This tubular portion is delimited at its lower base by a flat bottom that may correspond to at least one portion of the peripheral stop on which the tubular portion of the rod is located. Preferably, the peripheral stop is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod and forms a solid, circular element around the rod that defines the bottom of the tubular conduit. By circular, it is understood that the stop extends radially around the rod along the longitudinal axis of the rod of the applicator according to the invention.

[0025] According to the invention, the applicator further comprises a hollow head mounted to slide longitudinally on the tubular portion of the rod. This hollow head thus has a cross-sectional diameter substantially larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the tubular portion of the rod, and the stop according to the invention can in this case also serve as a stop for said head. The hollow head is therefore a movable part located on the proximal end of the rod. Preferably, the head of the applicator according to the invention has a cylindrical wall.

[0026] Preferably, the hollow head of the applicator according to the invention has a shape configured for insertion into a cap having an internal bore. The head of the applicator according to the invention thus allows the insertion of said applicator into a cap.

[0027] It should be specified for the purposes of the invention that the arrangement in which the head is mounted movably by sliding on the tubular portion of the rod allows the obtaining of a housing capable of containing an elastic part.

[0028] Furthermore, the mobile applicator of the invention comprises an elastic element arranged between the head and the tubular portion of the rod, said elastic element being configured to move the head away from the tubular portion along the longitudinal axis of the rod. For the purposes of the invention, it should be specified that the elastic element is configured to resist the spontaneous movement of the hollow head towards the tubular portion. Preferably, the elastic element is a compression spring that extends partially between the head and the tubular portion of the rod.

[0029] The applicator thus comprises a movable head located on the proximal end of the rod.

[0030] The rod according to the invention can be a monobloc rod formed in one piece according to the conventional techniques applied in the field of the invention.

[0031] Furthermore, the set of elements of the invention can be made from materials known and used by those skilled in the art, said set being capable of being formed by the various molding and injection techniques of a thermoplastic material, the material being chosen for example from polyvinyl chlorides, polypropylenes, polyethylenes or polystyrenes, etc.

[0032] The mobile applicator according to the invention is therefore characterized by having an elastic part connected to both the stem and the head, said head being configured to fit into a cap and allow longitudinal movement of the head relative to the stem. The applicator according to the invention thus allows, on the one hand, the application element to be immersed at the bottom of the bottle depending on whether the cap is free or fitted onto said bottle, and on the other hand, to be inserted into or removed from a cap in order to be reused and attached to other caps. Furthermore, the longitudinal sliding of the hollow head on the tubular part of the stem also allows the cap into which the applicator is inserted to slide. In this way, the applicator allows the cap to move longitudinally on a bottle while keeping the application element at the bottom of the bottle.

[0033] Advantageously and according to the invention, the applicator further comprises means for guiding the longitudinal sliding of the head relative to the rod, said means being respectively arranged on a wall of said head and on said tubular portion of the rod.

[0034] Thus, according to this advantageous embodiment, the guiding means optimize the connection and longitudinal sliding of the head relative to the tubular portion of the rod. Consequently, cooperation between the guiding means located at two different points on the rod is permitted. Preferably, the guiding means are arranged parallel to each other and opposite each other along the longitudinal axis; in other words, these elements are diametrically opposed along this axis.

[0035] Advantageously and according to the invention, the guiding means are formed by lugs arranged on the tubular portion of the rod and by lateral openings formed in the wall of the hollow head of said applicator, said lugs being configured to be embedded in the lateral openings.

[0036] Thus, according to this advantageous embodiment, the lugs protrude from the outside of the tubular portion of the applicator rod and are embedded in the lateral openings of the wall to prevent the hollow head from rotating once mounted on the tubular portion. In this way, the lugs ensure the pivoting of the entire rod by maintaining a locking mechanism through the lateral openings of the head. The lugs' insertion into the lateral openings also prevents accidental rotation of the head during its sliding along the tubular portion.

[0037] Advantageously and according to the invention, the lateral openings of the hollow head are delimited by longitudinal borders forming stops limiting the longitudinal sliding of the head relative to the stem.

[0038] Thus, according to this advantageous embodiment, the lateral openings maintain the connection and the sliding movement of the head during the release of the elastic part after compression. The lugs thus abut against the upper edges of the lateral openings, which retain the separation induced by the elastic part between the head and the rod. The lateral openings therefore serve as a stop when the hollow head is in the deployed position.

[0039] Advantageously and according to the invention, the elastic part is a compression spring extending between at least a part of the tubular portion of the rod, said part defining a first bottom, and at least a portion of the head, said portion defining a second bottom.

[0040] Thus, according to this advantageous embodiment, the elastic part is optimally held in a retaining chamber and can therefore better release the energy stored during its compression to push and move the head away from the tubular part of the stem. Also according to this advantageous embodiment, the applicator's application element can thus be held at the bottom of a bottle on which the applicator is arranged when the bottle is opened or closed, in order to optimize the consumption of the product contained in the bottle and prevent the application element from hardening unexpectedly, as it is liable to dry out after use.

[0041] Advantageously and according to the invention, the hollow head has a shape and dimensions formed and combined with an internal bore formed in a plug, thus forming said means of removable mounting by embedding said hollow head in this plug.

[0042] Thus, according to the invention, the mobile applicator can adapt to several types of corks.

[0043] The invention also relates to a bottle cap intended to contain a product to be applied, said cap comprising an internal bore configured to receive the head of an applicator and an applicator, said internal bore allowing the insertion and extraction of said applicator characterized in that the applicator is a movable applicator according to all or part of a combination of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the cap further comprises a thread formed to a thread formed in a bottle so as to be able to screw / unscrew said cap onto said bottle.

[0045] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the application element of the mobile applicator according to the invention will be permanently in contact with the bottom of the bottle whether the cap is screwed or unscrewed on said bottle.

[0046] The invention also relates to a bottle comprising such a stopper. List of figures

[0047] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only, and which refers to the accompanying figures in which: • Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a profile of the mobile applicator according to a first embodiment of the invention. • [Fig.2] is an exploded schematic view of the mobile applicator according to the first embodiment of the invention. • [Fig.3] is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a cap equipped with a mobile applicator according to a second embodiment of the invention, said cap being arranged on a bottle in a closed position. • [Fig.4] is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a cap equipped with a movable applicator according to the second embodiment of the invention, said cap being arranged on a bottle in the open position.

[0048] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0049] In the figures, scale and proportions are not strictly to scale, for illustrative and clarity purposes. Throughout the detailed description that follows with reference to the figures, unless otherwise indicated, each element of the mobile applicator is described as it is arranged when used in a bottle cap on a flat surface. This configuration is shown in particular in Figures 3 and 4.

[0050] Identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all figures.

[0051] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a mobile applicator according to an embodiment of the invention where the peripheral stop 33 has a truncated cone shape.

[0052] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a mobile applicator according to another variant of the invention where the peripheral stop 33 has a washer shape.

[0053] The mobile applicator 1 comprises a hollow head 10, an elastic piece 20, and a rod 30 equipped with an application member 40. More specifically, the mobile applicator 1 comprises a rod 30 extending along a principal direction that can be approximated as a longitudinal axis. The rod 30 has two ends 30P and 30D, corresponding respectively to a proximal end 30P and a distal end 30D. The distal end 30D of the rod 30 is equipped with an application member 40 configured to apply a product when using the mobile applicator 1. The rod 30 includes at its proximal end 30P a peripheral stop 33 surmounted by a tubular portion 32. In this embodiment, the peripheral stop 33 is an integral part of the rod 30 and is circular in shape so as to constitute a stop means during the movement of the head 10 relative to the rod 30.

[0054] The hollow head 10 of the movable applicator 1 includes a pair of oblong lateral openings 11 in which the lugs 31 of the tubular portion 32 located on the proximal end 30P of the rod 30 are recessed. The lateral openings 11 and the lugs 31 thus define means for longitudinally guiding the head 10 relative to the rod 30. The tubular portion 32 of the rod 30 includes a pair of lugs 31 projecting from the wall of said tubular portion 32 and arranged laterally on its wall. The head 10 of the applicator 1 is mounted to slide longitudinally on the tubular portion 32 of the rod 30 and is located at the proximal end 30P of the rod 30.In the figures, the lugs 31 are diametrically opposed along the axis of the tubular portion 32 of the rod 30 and the lateral openings 11 of the head 10 are diametrically opposed along the axis of the head 10 of the rod 30, given that the lugs 31 and the openings 11 are respectively arranged opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal axis defined by the rod 30.

[0055] The mobile applicator 1 also includes an elastic piece 20 arranged between the head 10 and the tubular portion 32 of the rod 30.

[0056] In the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 4 of the invention, the elastic part 20 is a compression spring.

[0057] The elastic part 20 is arranged so as to extend between at least a part of the tubular portion 32 of the rod 30, said at least a part defining a first bottom 34, and at least a portion of the hollow head 10 defining a second bottom 12. The elastic part 20 is thus in contact respectively with the bottoms 34 and 12.

[0058] The elastic part 20 is configured so that it can be compressed during the longitudinal movement of the head 10 relative to the rod 30 under the effect of a force exerted by the operator, particularly during the insertion of the applicator 1 into a The arrangement of the mobile applicator 1 according to the invention allows the head 10 to slide along the tubular portion 32. The head 10 can thus slide via the lateral openings 11 in which the lugs 31 of the tubular portion are embedded. The hollow head 10 is thus mounted to slide longitudinally along the tubular portion 32 of the rod 30.

[0059] Each of the lateral openings 11 is delimited by stops 1la and 11b corresponding respectively to the upper and lower ends of said opening 11. The lateral openings 11 thus have longitudinal edges delimited by the stops 1la and 11b. In this way, the extent of longitudinal sliding of the hollow head 10 of the movable applicator 1 relative to the rod 30 is limited by the length of said lateral openings 11.

[0060] When the head 10 slides downwards along the longitudinal direction of the rod 30, the edges 1a are likely to come into contact with the lugs 31 of the tubular part 32. Conversely, when the pressure exerted on the head 10 of the movable applicator 1 is released, the elastic element 20, which rests on the ends 12 and 34, allows the head 10 to move away from the rod 30 during its release. This release of the elastic element allows the head 10 to slide longitudinally upwards relative to the rod 30; the lugs 31 then come into contact with the edges 11b of the lateral openings 11 of the head 10.

[0061] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the mobile applicator 1, in which the elastic part 20 arranged between the hollow head 10 and the tubular portion 32 is compressed. The mobile applicator 1 comprises oblong lateral openings 11 in which the lugs 31 of the tubular portion 32 of the rod 30 are arranged. In this embodiment, the head 10 abuts against the frustoconical peripheral stop 33, and the lugs do not bear against the edges 1a of the lateral openings 11.

[0062] Fig. 2 illustrates the exploded view arrangement of the various elements of the mobile applicator 1 according to the invention.

[0063] Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile applicator 1 according to the invention, in which said applicator 1 is removably mounted in a cap 50, said cap 50 itself being arranged on a bottle 60 in the closed position, said bottle 60 containing a product to be applied.

[0064] In this figure, the cap 50 is screwed onto the bottle 60 and includes an internal bore 51 into which the mobile applicator 1 is fitted. More specifically, the cap 50 includes an internal bore 51 configured to receive the head of the applicator, the latter being shaped to fit this internal bore 51. Thus, the combination of the shape of the hollow head and the bore of the cap forms means that allow the insertion and extraction of said mobile applicator 1. The cap 50 also includes a thread 52 configured to cooperate with the thread 61 of the bottle 60 and thus allow closure by screwing said bottle 60.

[0065] According to this figure, the elastic part 20 is held compressed between the bottom 12 of the head 10 and the bottom 34 of the tubular portion 32 of the stem 30 such that the lugs 31 of the tubular portion 32 abut against the edges 11a of the lateral openings on one side and the edges 11b of the lateral openings 11 abut against the peripheral stop 33 on the other. The application member 40 is thus immersed in the bottom of the bottle 60. In this closed position, the peripheral stop 33 of the stem 30 also serves as a sealing plate.

[0066] Fig. 4 illustrates the same embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the mobile applicator 1 of the invention, but said applicator 1 is this time arranged in a cap 50 and on a bottle 60 in the open position.

[0067] In the open position as shown in [Fig. 4], the thread 52 of the cap 50 is not screwed onto the thread 61 of the bottle 60. The elastic part 20 is relaxed and maintains the gap between the bottom 12 of the head 10 and the bottom 34 of the tubular portion 32 of the stem 30. The elastic part is thus configured to allow the application element to be permanently immersed in the bottom of the bottle 60 containing the product to be applied. In this configuration, the lugs 31 are thus abutted against the stops 11b of the lateral openings 11 of the head 10.

Claims

Demands

1. A mobile applicator (1) for a product to be applied, intended to be mounted in a cap having an internal bore, said applicator comprising a rod (30) extending along a longitudinal axis, said rod (30) comprising a tubular portion (32) and a peripheral stop (33) at its proximal end (30P) and an application member (40) for the product to be applied arranged at its distal end (30D), characterized in that said applicator (1) further comprises: • a hollow head (10) mounted to slide longitudinally on the tubular portion (32) of the rod (30), between a position, referred to as the deployed position, in which the head is away from said tubular portion (32) and a position, referred to as the retracted position, in which the hollow head (10) abuts against said peripheral stop (33), • an elastic piece (20) extending partially into said hollow head (10) and in said tubular portion (32),said elastic part (20) being configured to oppose the spontaneous displacement of said hollow head (10) towards the tubular portion (32), along the longitudinal axis of the rod (30), • removable mounting means for said hollow head (10) in said internal bore of said cap adapted to allow the mounting / dismounting of the mobile applicator (1) in the cap.

2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for guiding the longitudinal sliding of the head (10) relative to the rod (30), said guiding means being respectively arranged on a wall of said hollow head and on said tubular portion (32) of the rod.

3. Applicator according to claim 2, characterized in that the guiding means are formed by lugs (31) arranged on the tubular portion (32) of the rod (30) and by lateral openings (11) formed in the wall of the hollow head (10), said lugs (31) being configured to be embedded in the lateral openings (11).

4. Applicator according to claim 3, characterized in that the lateral openings (11) of the hollow head (10) are delimited by Ion- gitudinales forming stops (1 la,l 1b) limiting the longitudinal sliding of the head (10) relative to the rod (30).

5. Applicator according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic part (20) is a compression spring extending between at least a part of the tubular portion (32) of the rod (30), said part defining a first bottom (34), and at least a portion of the head (10), said portion defining a second bottom (12).

6. Applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said hollow head has a shape and dimensions conformed and conjugate to said internal bore of said plug, thus forming said means of removable mounting by embedding said hollow head in said plug.

7. A cap (50) for a bottle (60) intended to contain a product to be applied, said cap comprising an internal bore (51) configured to receive the head of an applicator and an applicator, said bore (51) allowing the insertion and extraction of said applicator characterized in that the applicator is a movable applicator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Cap according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a thread (52) conforming to a thread formed in a bottle so as to be able to screw / unscrew said cap (50) on said bottle (60).

9. Bottle (60) intended to contain a product, characterized in that it comprises a stopper according to claims 7 or 8.

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