Device for conditioning and applying a product

Abstract

Product packaging and application device comprising: - a container for holding the product, having a body and a neck, the neck having at least one raised or recessed feature and an external upper portion; - a container closure element comprising a cap, and an insert and a weight inserted into the cap and having at least one locking feature, at least one of the weight and / or the external upper portion of the neck being made of a metallic material; the insert cooperating with the neck such that a stop zone is reached by direct or indirect axial contact of the weight with at least the external upper portion of the neck when the locking features of the insert have passed through the raised features of the container or have engaged in the recessed features of the container to ensure closure of the device. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Device for conditioning and applying a product. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the closure devices for cosmetic product containers, in particular perfume, makeup product or skincare product.

[0002] More generally, a cosmetic product is a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products. Previous technique

[0003] There are many types of closure devices. For example, a snap-on cover is known, which can, for instance, cover a cover belonging to a product applicator or a pump fixing flange by using additional snap-on reliefs.

[0004] It is also known to produce a closure cap comprising an insert in a hood, the insert having flexible tabs at two different heights, more precisely two higher tabs and two lower tabs. This ensures that two tabs, the lower ones, are fully inserted under the screwed part, by ensuring in particular that the snap-on projections they carry are inserted under the front edge of the applicator hood or the pump mounting flange screwed onto the neck of the container, as well as two tabs, the higher ones, which limit any axial movement, either by limiting play or by remaining under constraints in the radial direction after the snap-on projections they carry have passed behind the front edge of the applicator hood or the pump mounting flange, depending on the manufacturing tolerances.

[0005] When snap-on projections are positioned below the applicator cover or a pump fixing collar in the closed position, the applicator cover or the fixing collar must be raised above the container, which may alter the aesthetics of the device or constitute a possible point of fouling.

[0006] Devices comprising a groove, for example for receiving raised features of the closure cap, are also known, for example from applications EP 2 1074 572, EP 4 014 786 and FR 3 117 749, the groove being positioned towards the top of a neck of the container. There is little or no friction of the closure cap against the container during closure.

[0007] Cosmetic bottles are known in which the cap of the closure mechanism clips onto the shoulder of the container. The closing sound is produced by the base of the cap striking the shoulder of the bottle. The shoulder must therefore be sufficiently flat for this to occur, and any visible, unsightly friction marks will result.

[0008] Figure 1 illustrates a device 1 for packaging and applying a product P, such as makeup or skincare, according to the prior art. The device 1 comprises a container 10 for holding the product P and a closure element 20 for the container 10. The container 10 comprises a body 11 in the form of a bottle and a pump 12 for dispensing the product P, to be drawn from the container 10.

[0009] The container 10 further comprises a neck 13 forming a shoulder 14 with the body 11 and having an outer upper part 16. The container comprises a plate 18 covering the shoulder 14. The neck 13 comprises a pump support 33 and has a snap-in groove 15 located in the upper part 19 of the latter.

[0010] The closure member 20 of the container 10 comprises a cover 23 and an insert 24 and a weight 28 inserted into the cover. The weight 28 is received by clamping onto the upper part of the insert 24, at a distance from the step of the insert which abuts against the upper part of the pump support. As shown in [Fig. 1], the insert 24 of the closure member 20 cooperates with the snap-fit ​​groove 15 of the upper part 19 of the pump support to ensure the closure of the device 1.

[0011] KR 20-0490575 discloses a lipstick tube having a cap whose inner surface has a longitudinal rib. A collision portion is defined such that the tube body penetrates the cap along the rib to make contact and close the tube. At least one part of the tube body and the collision portion is made of metal.

[0012] French application FR 3 117 749 describes a perfume bottle comprising a case having a flexible snap-fit ​​relief and a cap having a flexible snap-fit ​​relief adapted to cooperate with the flexible snap-fit ​​relief of the case. At least one of its flexible snap-fit ​​reliefs is made of metal and has a clip tab extending between two slots.

[0013] Cosmetic bottle closure systems comprising one or more magnets to ensure contact between the closure member and the container by a phenomenon of magnetic attraction are also known, for example by utility models CN 217791865 U, CN 207979222 U, and applications JP 2020-89680 and FR 3 056 386.

[0014] Magnetic closure systems are particularly appreciated by consumers, especially for their ease of use and the sensations they provide.

[0015] However, such systems require the use of permanent magnets, which represent a high cost, penalize the recycling of the product at the end of its life and constitute a scarce resource.

[0016] 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 contribute to meeting planetary challenges.

[0017] 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.

[0018] There is therefore a need to further improve container closure mechanisms in order in particular to reproduce the behavior of a magnetic closure system, while being inexpensive, reliable and eco-friendly. Summary of the invention

[0019] The invention aims to meet all or part of this need and relates to a device for conditioning and applying a product, in particular a perfume, makeup product or skincare product, comprising:

[0020] - a container for containing the product, the container comprising a body and a neck forming a shoulder with the body, the neck having at least one raised or recessed feature and an external upper part, and

[0021] - a container closure element comprising a cap, an insert, and a ballast inserted into the hood, the insert having at least one snap-in feature,

[0022] at least one of the ballast and / or the outer upper part of the neck being made of a metallic material,

[0023] device in which the insert of the closing member cooperates with the neck of the container in such a way that a stop zone is reached by direct or indirect axial contact of the ballast with at least the outer upper part of the neck when the snap-in relief(s) of the insert have passed through at least one protruding relief of the container or have lodged in at least one recessed relief of the container to ensure the closure of the device.

[0024] The invention enables the generation of a sound indicating the end of the closing travel of the closing mechanism relative to the container, imitating the sound generated when a magnetic closure system reaches the closed position. The sound produced is satisfactory regardless of the shape of the container and the shape of the shoulder, because the sound is actually generated within the closing mechanism. Furthermore, it is possible to use inclined shoulders.

[0025] Thanks to the invention, the shoulder is no longer damaged because the closing member is slightly raised and does not rub directly on the shoulder.

[0026] The invention makes it possible to imitate for the user the sensations obtained when opening and / or closing the container when the closing mechanism and / or the container contains one or more permanent magnets. The invention mechanically imitates a magnetic closure of a container, without using a permanent magnet.

[0027] The closing mechanism according to the invention is advantageously free of a permanent magnet. The container is advantageously free of a permanent magnet. The device is advantageously free of a permanent magnet.

[0028] The device extends along a longitudinal axis, preferably a straight one.

[0029] By "upper part of the neck", we mean the part of the neck which is furthest from the container along the longitudinal axis of the device. Description of the invention

[0030] In one embodiment, the ballast is made of a metallic material, the outer upper part of the neck being made of a plastic material.

[0031] In one variant, the ballast is made of a plastic material, the outer upper part of the neck being made of a metallic material.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment, the ballast and at least the outer upper part of the neck are made of a metallic material. The sound indicating the end of the closing stroke of the closing element relative to the container is particularly satisfactory in this case.

[0033] The ballast can be made of stainless steel.

[0034] The insert can be made of a material chosen from the following, non-exhaustive list: PP, PE, PET, PETG, PBT. The chosen material, metallic or non-metallic, must have good resistance as well as an attractive appearance. Indeed, the insert may be visible to users, and its appearance may be a criterion for choosing the material.

[0035] When the device is in the closed position, the closing element advantageously rests at a non-zero distance from the shoulder of the container, a gap being formed between the closing element and the shoulder. The shoulder is thus preserved, even after numerous uses of the device, because there is no direct contact with the closing element.

[0036] The stop zone is advantageously reached by direct contact of the lower part of the ballast with the outer upper part of the neck

[0037] Preferably, the closing member performs a closing stroke between the stop zone and the relief of the container neck which is shorter than the height of the neck of the container between the stop zone and the shoulder formed between the neck and the body of the container.

[0038] The insert may comprise two parts arranged so as to retain the ballast.

[0039] In one embodiment, the insert is made in one piece and holds the ballast so that the stop zone is reached by indirect axial contact of the ballast with at least the upper outer part of the neck.

[0040] Preferably, said at least one raised or recessed feature of the neck is located in the lower part thereof. Said at least one snap-fit ​​feature of the insert is advantageously located in the lower part thereof.

[0041] The neck of the container may include a collar integral with the rest of the container, being fixed to the neck of the container.

[0042] The collar may be frustoconical or have the shape of a truncated pyramid, particularly with a square base and especially with rounded corners, being wider at the bottom than at the top. The width is measured as a maximum dimension of the collar in the radial direction, measured perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the container, in particular defined by the neck of the container. By 'towards the bottom of the collar', it is understood that the width measurement is taken at one end of the collar oriented towards the container in the longitudinal direction. By 'towards the top of the collar', it is understood that the width measurement is taken at one end of the collar oriented away from the container in the longitudinal direction.

[0043] The conicity or truncated pyramid shape of the fret allows for an improved centering effect when closing the device.

[0044] The container may include a product dispensing pump. In one embodiment, the container may include a bottle and a product dispensing pump. Alternatively, it may be without a pump.

[0045] In the case where the container has a product distribution pump, the neck advantageously has a pump support, the stop zone then being reached by direct contact of the ballast with the outer upper part of the pump support.

[0046] The pump support can be made in one or more pieces, in particular one, two or three pieces.

[0047] A radial gap can be provided between the pump support and the pump. This radial gap forms a resonance chamber to increase the perceived noise when the closing mechanism closes onto the container. The radial gap can have a width of between 0.1 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.2 and 1.8 mm, or even between 0.3 and 1.6 mm. The radial gap can have a height of between 1 and 20 mm, preferably between 2 and 18 mm, or even between 3 and 16 mm.

[0048] The height of the radial space can extend from the top of the container, in particular the top of the pump support. The height of the radial space can extend over at least one third, or at least half, better still at least two thirds, or even three quarters of the height of the pump support.

[0049] In one embodiment, the pump support is made in one piece. This piece can be made of injection-molded plastic or machined metal, in particular an aluminum bracket. The pump support may have raised features designed to cooperate with a threaded portion of the neck.

[0050] In preferred embodiments, the pump support is made of two or three parts. The parts of the pump support may be concentric. The outer part may be made of a metallic material, in particular a stamped or machined metal yoke. The inner part of the pump support may have raised features designed to cooperate with a threaded portion of the neck. The pump support may further include an intermediate part, located between the inner and outer parts.

[0051] If the pump support is made of two parts, a radial space may be provided between the two parts of the pump support. If the pump support is made of three parts, the radial space may be provided between the middle part and the outer part.

[0052] In these embodiments, the flange corresponds to the single piece or the outer piece of the pump support. These pieces can thus be frustoconical or have a truncated pyramid shape, as explained previously.

[0053] At least one of the parts of the pump support can be made of a material chosen from the following list, which is not limiting: PP, PE, PET, PETG, PBT.

[0054] The material chosen, metallic or non-metallic, for the outer part of the pump support can have good resistance, as well as an attractive appearance. Indeed, this part is advantageously visible to users, and its appearance can be a criterion for choosing the material.

[0055] The container may include a plate covering the shoulder.

[0056] The invention can be applied to any device comprising a container and a closing element.

[0057] The container advantageously holds the product. The product may be a product to be dispensed from the container, in particular by means of an applicator or a pipette. The device may include an applicator, or alternatively, not include one.

[0058] The product may be, but is not limited to, a cosmetic product, such as a perfume, a makeup product or a skincare product. Brief description of the drawings

[0059] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, the non-limiting examples of its implementation, and upon examination of the accompanying drawing on which:

[0060] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1, already described, is a cross-sectional view of an example of a device according to the prior art,

[0061] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a device according to the invention,

[0062] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0063] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention, and

[0064] [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention. Detailed description

[0065] Figure 2 illustrates a device 1 for conditioning and applying a product P, makeup or skincare, comprising a container 10 for holding the product P and a closing element 20 for the container 10. In this example, the container 10 comprises a body 11 in the form of a bottle and a pump 12 for dispensing the product P, to be taken from the container 10.

[0066] The container 10 further comprises a neck 13 forming a shoulder 14 with the body 11 and having an outer upper portion 16. The container includes a plate 18 covering the shoulder 14. In the illustrated example, the neck 13 includes a pump support 33 and has recessed reliefs 15 located in the lower portion 19 thereof. In the example considered, the pump support 33 is made of three separate parts: a frustoconical outer part 36, at least the outer upper portion 16 of which is made of a metallic material, an intermediate part 34, and an inner part 35.

[0067] The closure member 20 of the container 10 comprises a cap 23 and an insert 24 and a weight 28 inserted into the cap. The weight 28 rests on the insert 24, inside the cap, and is intended to add weight to the closure member 20.

[0068] The insert has snap-in ridges 25. As seen in [Fig.2], the insert 24 of the closing member 20 cooperates with the neck 13 of the container 10 in such a way that a stop zone B is reached by indirect axial contact of the ballast 28 with at least the outer upper part 16 of the pump support 33 when the snap-in ridges 25 of the insert have lodged in the recessed ridges 15 of the container 10 to ensure the closure of the device 1.

[0069] Preferably and in the illustrated example, when the device is in the closed position, the closing member 20 rests at a non-zero distance d from the shoulder 14 of the container 10, a gap being formed between the closing member 20 and the shoulder 14.

[0070] The closing member 20 makes a closing stroke between the stop zone B and the relief 15 of the neck 13 of the container 10 which is less long than the height H of the neck 13 of the container 10 between the stop zone B and the shoulder 14 formed between the neck 13 and the body 11 of the container 10.

[0071] In the variant illustrated in [Fig.3], the insert comprises two parts, a lateral part 31 and an upper part 32, arranged so as to retain the ballast 28.

[0072] In this example, and preferably, the ballast 28 is made of a metallic material, in particular stainless steel. The stop zone B is thus reached by direct axial contact of the lower part 29 of the ballast 28 with the outer upper part 16 of the pump support 33 of the neck 13 of the container 10. In this example, the outer upper part 16 of the outer part 36 of the pump support 33 is made of a metallic material. The noise obtained when the device 1 closes is thus particularly satisfactory.

[0073] In the variant of [Fig.4], the pump support 33 comprises two separate parts: an outer part 36 and an inner part 35.

[0074] In the variant of [Fig.5], the pump support 33 includes a part 35 made of a plastic or metallic material.

[0075] The invention is not limited to the examples described above.

[0076] The container may have any other shape and other functions. The neck may be pump support not included.

Claims

Demands

1. Device (1) for packaging and applying a product (P), in particular a perfume, makeup product or skincare product, comprising: - a container (10) for containing the product (P), the container having a body (11) and a neck (13) forming a shoulder (14) with the body (11), the neck (13) having at least one raised or recessed feature (15) and having an outer upper part (16), and - a closure member (20) for the container (10) comprising a cap (23), and an insert (24) and a weight (28) inserted into the cap, the insert having at least one snap-on feature (25), at least one of the weight (28) and / or the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13) being made of a metallic material,device in which the insert (24) of the closing member (20) cooperates with the neck (13) of the container (10) such that a stop zone (B) is reached by direct or indirect axial contact of the ballast (28) with at least the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13) when the locking ridge(s) (25) of the insert have passed through at least one protruding ridge (15) of the container (10) or have lodged in at least one recessed ridge (15) of the container (10) to ensure the closure of the device (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the ballast (28) is made of a metallic material, the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13) being made of a plastic material.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the ballast (28) is made of a plastic material, the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13) being made of a metallic material.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the ballast (28) and at least the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13) are made of a metallic material.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein the ballast (28) is made of stainless steel.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the device is in the closed position, the closing member (20) rests at a non-zero distance (d) from the shoulder (14) of the container (10), a gap being formed between the closing member (20) and the shoulder (14).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop zone (B) is reached by direct contact of the lower part (29) of the ballast (28) with the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing member (20) performs a closing stroke between the stop zone (B) and the relief (15) of the neck (13) of the container (10) which is less long than the height (H) of the neck (13) of the container (10) between the stop zone (B) and the shoulder (14) formed between the neck (13) and the body (11) of the container (10).

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (24) comprises two parts, a lateral part (31) and an upper part (32), arranged so as to retain the ballast (28).

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insert (24) is made in one piece and retains the ballast (28) so that the stop zone (B) is reached by indirect axial contact of the ballast with at least the outer upper part (16) of the neck (13).

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one relief (15) projecting or recessed from the neck (13) is located in the lower part (19) of the latter.

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one snap-in relief (25) of the insert (24) is located in the lower part (27) of the latter.

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) includes a pump for dispensing the product (P) (12), the neck (13) includes a pump support (33), the stop zone (B) being reached by direct contact of the ballast (28) with the outer upper part (16) of the pump support (33).

14. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the pump support (33) is frustoconical or has a truncated pyramid shape, being wider at the bottom than at the top.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the pump support (33) is made in one or more pieces (34, 35, 36), in particular one, two or three pieces.

16. 11 Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) comprises a plate (18) covering the shoulder (14).

17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) contains the product (P), the product is to be taken from the container (10), in particular by means of an applicator.

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