Device for packaging and dispensing fluid products

Abstract

Devices for packaging and dispensing fluid products. A device (10) for packaging and applying a fluent product (P), comprising: - a container (11) having a neck (110); - an applicator (12) having an applicator member (120) carried by a stem (121) and at least one fastening relief (122) projecting from the stem; - an integrally cast element (13) fastened to the container for holding the applicator and wiping the applicator member, This component comprises a wiping portion (132) and a retaining portion (130), the retaining portion (130) having at least one retaining relief (131) under which said fastening relief (122) engages when the applicator is attached to the container, The wiping portion (132) is connected to the retaining portion (130) around only a portion of its periphery to provide at least one opening (14) below said retention relief (131), said opening emerging axially away from the retention relief, in a device (10).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for packaging and applying products, in particular cosmetics, having a container containing the product to be applied and an applicator having an applicator member that can be attached with the product by being immersed in the container. [Background technology]

[0002] Such devices are conventionally provided with a wiper fastened to the neck of the container, where appropriate using a holding component, making it possible to wipe the applicator member and the shaft carrying it while withdrawing the applicator member from the container.

[0003] Generally, the stem is carried by a cap for closing the container which also constitutes a member for gripping the applicator.

[0004] In most devices, the closure cap is screwed onto the neck of the container, so that the container is externally threaded.

[0005] However, devices have been proposed that have a quarter turn open / close system (or "key unlock" system).

[0006] An example of such a device is shown in Figures 1 and 2. It has a wiper 2 fixed in a neck by a holding component 1, which is separate from the wiper 2. The holding component 1 has a relief 4 which cooperates with a corresponding relief on the shaft to ensure a quarter-turn fastening of the applicator.

[0007] This type of device is very popular with consumers because it allows for quick and easy opening / closing. On the other hand, it is relatively expensive to produce because it is made of an assembly of multiple components that must be cast separately.

[0008] US Pat. No. 5,399,633 discloses a similar device having a container with a neck into which the wiper is fastened via a separately made retaining component.

[0009] US Patent No. 5,399,633 discloses an applicator for applying cosmetics, in particular mascara, comprising a container and a closure cap made integral with a shaft carrying an applicator member. The container has a neck provided with a projection under which, in the closed configuration, a retention relief of the cap engages. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] WO2019 / 043955 [Patent Document 2] US9 622 565 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] There is a need to benefit from a device for packaging and applying products, particularly cosmetics, that is inexpensive to manufacture while at the same time allowing for quick opening and closing of the container and thorough wiping of the stem and applicator member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention aims to meet this need and achieves this by a device for packaging and applying fluent products, in particular cosmetic products, comprising: - a container for containing the product, said container having a neck; - an applicator for applying the product, the applicator member being carried by a shaft and having at least one fastening relief projecting from the shaft; - an integrally cast component fastened to the container for holding the applicator and wiping the applicator member; This component is - a wiping portion configured to press against the shaft and / or the applicator member when the applicator is in place in the container, the wiping portion extending around the entire longitudinal axis of the shaft; - a part for holding the applicator, the part having at least one holding relief under which said fastening relief engages when the applicator is attached to the container, The wiping part is connected to the retaining part around only a part of its periphery in order to provide at least one opening below said retaining relief, this opening emerging axially away from the retaining relief.

[0013] The term "cosmetics" means a make-up or care product intended to be applied to the keratinous substances of a person. The cosmetics may be, for example, in the form of a liquid or a cream. The cosmetics may be a mascara, an eyeliner, an eyeshadow, a foundation, a lipstick, a lip gloss, or a lip balm.

[0014] The term "keratinous material" means the skin, including the scalp, lips, nails, hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. The applicator member may be intended for the lips or the skin of the face, in particular the skin of the eyelids or cheeks, or for the eyelashes or eyebrows.

[0015] The present invention allows the functions of wiping the applicator and holding it to the container to be performed by a single component fastened to the container, thus allowing the device to be manufactured with fewer components, which reduces the manufacturing costs of the device.

[0016] Desirably, the applicator has at least two fastening reliefs, in particular only two fastening reliefs diametrically opposite each other, and the wiping part is connected to the retaining part only on a part of its periphery in order to provide at least two respective openings below said retaining relief, the two openings, in particular only two respective openings emerging axially away from the retaining relief.

[0017] Desirably, the device has as many openings as there are fastening reliefs.

[0018] Two fastening reliefs diametrically opposite each other make it possible to ensure accurate closure of the device. As a variant, the device can have four openings and four fastening reliefs. The device can then be completely opened and closed by rotating the applicator through 1 / 8 of a turn.

[0019] The holding part may have one or more locking reliefs, in particular two locking reliefs, preferably diametrically opposite each other and over which one or more fastening reliefs can pass by elastic deformation, thereby reversibly preventing the applicator from rotating on the container. This or these locking reliefs make it possible to lock the device in a position that closes the container and reduce the risk of accidental opening. In addition, they make it possible for the user to easily identify when the device is locked, by generating a hard point when the locking relief passes over it.

[0020] The one or more fastening reliefs may each have a boss arranged between two notches. The notches make it easier to deform the boss, especially in the radial direction, when the fastening relief presses the boss to pass over it. As a result, the elastic deformation of the fastening relief is easier. The risk of the one or more fastening reliefs being worn and broken is therefore reduced.

[0021] Desirably, the retaining portion is configured to allow rotation of the applicator substantially 90° about the longitudinal axis of the shaft between the withdrawn position of the applicator and the container closed position. The device can then be fully closed and / or opened by rotating the applicator through approximately a quarter turn. In the container closed position, the fastening relief of the shaft is secured under the retention relief of the holding and wiping component.

[0022] The wiping portion may have a wiping lip and a first sealing lip that presses against the neck of the container.

[0023] The wiping part may have a second sealing lip which presses against the stem of the applicator when the device is in the position to close the container, this second sealing lip making it possible to prevent leakage of product between the wiper and the stem.

[0024] A groove may be formed between the second sealing lip pressing against the applicator shaft and each bridge of material connecting the retainer and wiping part. The width of this groove may be between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, for example the width may be of the order of 1 mm. The invention makes it possible to have a relatively narrow groove.

[0025] Desirably, the holder has a skirt for mounting on the container. This mounting skirt may cover the neck of the container from the outside, for example covering only the neck of the container. In a variant, the mounting skirt covers the container over its entire height.

[0026] The mounting skirt may be arranged such that one end of the mounting skirt can be fastened to a relief such as an annular ridge, the annular ridge being particularly arranged at the base of the neck.

[0027] The applicator according to the invention may have a grip made integral with the shaft, which makes it possible to limit the number of component parts of the device.

[0028] Desirably, the applicator does not have ballast, which makes the applicator easier to recycle.

[0029] The retention relief may have threads that, for example, angle downwards when rotated in a clockwise direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

[0030] This thread allows to guide one of the fastening reliefs towards one of the openings during the return of the applicator into the container. The thread may have a section of variable slope. At least one section of the thread may have a slope of more than 5°, better still more than 20°, for example of the order of 25°, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Such a relatively steep slope allows a very rapid ascent and descent of the applicator in the container. Thanks to this, the consumer is clearly aware that the applicator has passed from the closed position to the withdrawn position and vice versa.

[0031] Preferably, the holding part and the wiping part are made of a thermoplastic material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). These materials have the advantage of being cheap and easy to cast materials. Preferably, the holding part and the wiping part are made of the same material. As a variant, the holding part and the wiping part are made of different materials.

[0032] Another subject of the invention according to another of its aspects is a method for releasing a component for holding the applicator and wiping the applicator member of a device according to the invention, said component being cast in two parts in one mould, and the releasing being effected by moving the two parts of the mould in opposite directions along the axis of the component.

[0033] The invention may be better understood by reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof and by studying the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a prior art device as described above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 1 is a partial schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of a packaging and application device according to the invention; [Figure 4a]4 is a detailed view of the device of FIG. 3 in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to that of FIG. 3. [Figure 4b] 4a in the same cross-sectional plane as FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 shows the holding and wiping component of the device of FIG. 3 in perspective on itself. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view of the retaining and wiping component of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining and wiping component of FIG. 6 taken along line VII-VII. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining and wiping component of FIG. 6 taken along line VIII-VIII. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining and wiping component of FIG. 5. [Figure 10] 10 shows the applicator in the holding and wiping component of FIG. 9 in a closed position. [Figure 11a] FIG. 13 illustrates demolding in a first cross-sectional plane. [Figure 11b] FIG. 11b shows the demolding in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to that of FIG. 11a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] In the figures and the remainder of the description, the same reference numbers represent the same or similar elements.

[0036] Figure 3 shows an example of a device 10 for packaging and applying a fluid product P, in particular a cosmetic product, according to the invention. This device 10 has a container 11 containing the product P. This container 11 has a neck 110 at one of its ends.

[0037] The device 10 has an applicator 12 for applying the product P. This applicator 12 has a shaft 121 of a longitudinal axis X with an applicator member 120a, e.g. an end 120 intended for fastening an elastomeric or felt end piece, a flocked tip, a mascara brush with a twisted metal core or made by injection molding or additive manufacturing techniques, or a fine tip.

[0038] Two fastening reliefs 122 protrude from the stem 121 and can be seen in more detail in Figures 4a and 4b. The applicator also has a grip 123. In the embodiment shown, the grip 123 and the stem 121 form a single component obtained by injection moulding.

[0039] The fastening relief 122 is in this example formed by two diametrically opposed projections which are cast together with the shaft 121 .

[0040] The device 10 has a component 13 which holds the applicator on the container when the container is closed and which wipes the applicator member and shaft during withdrawal of the applicator.

[0041] As can be seen in Figures 4a and 4b, this component 13 has a portion 130 for holding the applicator 12. This holding part 130 has two retention reliefs 131 under which the two fastening reliefs 122 engage when the applicator is attached to the container 11. When the fastening reliefs 122 are engaged under the retention reliefs 131, the device 10 is in a position to close the container.

[0042] The retaining component 13 has a tubular skirt 133 for mounting on the container 11. The mounting skirt 133 covers the neck 110 of the container 11 and is fastened at one of its ends under an annular ridge 111 located at the base of the neck 110.

[0043] The component 13 also has a wiping portion 132 configured to press against the stem 121 when the applicator is in place on the container.

[0044] The wiping portion 132 extends around the entire longitudinal axis X of the shaft 121 when the applicator 12 is in place in the container 11. The wiping portion 132 has an annular wiping lip 134 that makes it possible to remove excess product P present on the applicator member when the applicator is withdrawn from the container 11.

[0045] The wipe portion 132 has a first annular sealing lip 135 that bears against the neck 110 of the container when the applicator 12 is in place on the container, and a second annular sealing lip 136 that bears against the axis 121 of the applicator 12. The lips 135 and 136 are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the container.

[0046] As can be seen in figures 5 to 8, the wiping part 132 is connected to the retaining part 130 over only a part of its periphery by a bridge of material 15 in order to provide two openings 14 below the retention relief 131. Each opening 14 emerges axially away from the retention relief 131 under which it is located. The retaining part 130 and the wiping part 132 are connected to each other by two bridges of material 15. A groove 137, which can be seen in figure 4b, is formed between the first sealing lip 135 and the adjacent bridge of material 15 which connects the retaining part 130 and the wiping part 132. The width e of this groove 137 is, for example, of the order of 1 mm.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 9, the holding part 130 can have two fixing reliefs 16 diametrically opposite each other. These fixing reliefs 16 are elastically deformable. During the passage of the container from the closed position to the withdrawn position and vice versa, the fastening relief 122 of the applicator 12 passes over the fixing reliefs 16 by elastic deformation.

[0048] When the device 10 is in the closed position, the fastening relief 122 is held between the adjacent edge 150 of one of the bridges of material 15 and the corresponding fastening relief 16. The fastening relief 122 is thus reversibly prevented from rotating. The fastening reliefs 16 may each have a boss 160 arranged between two notches 161. The notches 161 facilitate the elastic deformation of the bosses 160, in particular in the radial direction, and thus facilitate the passage of the corresponding fastening relief 122 over each boss 160. The notches 161 extend along the longitudinal axis X.

[0049] 9, each retention relief 131 has a thread 138 that is generally inclined downwards when rotated clockwise about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, which thread 138 makes it possible to guide the corresponding fastening relief 122 towards the adjacent opening 14.

[0050] The thread 138 extends in the direction of the axis X between a lower angled surface 139a and an upper angled surface 139b. These two surfaces have different slopes, such that the thread 138 has a variable width along the axis X.

[0051] The lower angled surface 139 a extends over one of the openings 14 to an edge 150 of one of the bridges of material 15 .

[0052] The notch 161 may extend axially to the threads 138 as shown.

[0053] The upper inclined surface 139b of the screw 138 has a variable slope. In particular, as shown, it can have an upper portion 138b and a lower portion 138a adjacent the opening 14, the lower portion 138a being steeper inclined than the upper portion 138b.

[0054] For example, the lower portion 138a has a slope on the order of 25°.

[0055] 10 shows the applicator 12 when it is inserted into the component 13 in the container closing position. In this position, each fastening relief 122 is located in the opening 14 against an edge 150 of the bridge of material 15.

[0056] To manufacture the component 13, a thermoplastic material, for example PE, PP or PET, is injected into the two parts in one mould.

[0057] Figures 11a and 11b show the demolding of component 13. In these figures 11a and 11b, the two parts 101 and 102 of the mould, which can be moved axially relative to each other along the axis of component 13, are partially shown.

[0058] The shape of component 13 and especially the presence of openings 14 means that there are no parts that cannot be released from the mold.

[0059] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, and it is possible to create holding components and applicators with more openings, for example to obtain opening and closing within ¼ turn. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 Retention component 2 Wiper 4. Relief 10 Devices 11 Container 12 Applicator 13. Components 14 Aperture 15 Material 16 Fixed relief 101 parts 102 parts 110 Neck 111 Annular protuberance 120 End 120a applicator member 121 Axis 122 Fastening relief 123 Gripping part 130 Holding part 131 Retention Relief 132 Wiping section 133 Tubular Skirt 134 Circular Wiping Lip 135 first annular sealing lip 136 Second annular sealing lip 137 Groove 138 Screw 138a Lower 138b Upper part 139a Lower slope 139b Upper slope 150 Edge 160 Boss 161 Notch

Claims

1. 1. A device for packaging and applying a fluent product, comprising: - a container for containing said product, said container having a neck; an applicator for applying said product, the applicator member being carried by a shaft and having at least two fastening reliefs projecting from said shaft; - an integrally cast component fastened to said container for holding said applicator and for wiping said applicator member; This component is a wiping portion configured to press against the shaft and the applicator member when the applicator is in place in the container, the wiping portion extending around the entire longitudinal axis of the shaft; a holding part for holding the applicator, the holding part having a plurality of holding reliefs under which the fastening reliefs engage when the applicator is attached to the container, A device wherein the wiping portion is connected to the retaining portion around only a portion of its periphery to provide at least two respective openings below the retention relief, the openings emerging axially away from the retention relief.

2. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator has two fastening reliefs and the retaining portion has two retention reliefs, and the wiping portion is connected to the retaining portion around only a portion of its periphery by a bridge of material to provide at least two respective openings below the retention reliefs, each opening emerging axially away from and below the retention relief.

3. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding part has one or more fixing reliefs over which the one or more fastening reliefs can pass by elastic deformation, thereby reversibly preventing the applicator from rotating on the container.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more fixation reliefs each have a boss disposed between two notches.

5. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the retaining portion is configured to allow rotation of the applicator substantially 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the shaft between the withdrawn position of the applicator and the closed position of the container.

6. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wiping portion has a wiping lip and a first sealing lip pressing against the neck of the container.

7. 7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wiping portion has a second sealing lip which presses against the stem of the applicator when the device is in a position to close the container.

8. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein a groove is formed between the second sealing lip pressing against the stem of the applicator and each bridge of material connecting the retaining portion and the wiping portion.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the groove has a width between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

10. 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holding part has a skirt for attachment to the container, the attachment skirt externally covering the neck of the container.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein one end of the mounting skirt is fastened to a relief, such as an annular ridge.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the applicator has a grip made integral with the shaft.

13. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the retention relief has threads that angle downwards when rotated in a clockwise direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the screw has a variable slope portion.

15. 15. A method for demolding a component for holding the applicator and wiping the applicator member of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the component is cast in two parts in a mould and the demolding is accomplished by moving the two parts of the mould in opposite directions along the axis of the component.

16. 10. The device according to claim 1 for packaging and applying cosmetic products.

17. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the applicator has only two fastening reliefs diametrically opposed to each other.

18. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the retaining portion has two fixing reliefs diametrically opposed to each other.

19. The device of claim 11 , wherein one end of the mounting skirt is fastened to a relief, such as an annular ridge, located at the base of the neck.

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