Cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a bottle at least partly made of cellulose-based material and a closing member

Abstract

The invention relates to a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising: - a bottle comprising at least one neck (21) made of cellulose-based material, having a front face (25) defining an aperture (O) and comprising an inner surface (23) and an outer surface (24) provided with a thread (26) extending in a threaded axial portion (PF); - a closing member comprising a plate (30), a fastening skirt (31) provided with an internal thread (34) suitable for cooperating with the external thread (26) in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed, and a stiffening skirt (35) having an inner surface (36) and an outer surface (37), in which, in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed, the neck (21) is clamped between the fastening skirt (31) and the stiffening skirt (35) of the closing member (3), the outer surface (37) of the stiffening skirt (35) extending opposite the inner surface (23) of the neck (21) at least in the axial portion (PF) in which the external thread (26) extends.

Description

Cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a bottle at least partly made of cellulose-based material and a closing member

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of cosmetic product packaging assemblies.

[0002] A cosmetic product is notably a product as defined in Regulation 20 (EC) No. 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 30, 2009 on cosmetic products.

[0003] More specifically, the present invention relates to a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a bottle and a closing member suitable for leaktight closure of the bottle in the position of closure and for clearing an aperture of the bottle and allowing dispensing of the cosmetic product contained therein in the dispensing position.

[0004] Conventionally, a bottle belonging to such an assembly extends along a longitudinal axis between a base and a neck, with a peripheral wall connecting said base to said neck. The neck has a front face, also known as the neck lip, defining an aperture through which the cosmetic product can be dispensed, and has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, connected by a front wall. The radially outer surface of the bottle neck is moreover provided with an axial assembly portion, for example in the form of an external thread.

[0005] Still in a known manner, a closing member belonging to such an assembly comprises a plate intended to extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the bottle when the closing member closes the bottle and having a fastening skirt rising from the plate and comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. The radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member is provided with an axial assembly portion, for example in the form of an internal thread, suitable for cooperating with the axial assembly portion of the radially outer surface of the bottle neck.

[0006] Cosmetic product bottles as defined above are conventionally made of plastic.

[0007] The proposal of environmentally-friendly, eco-responsible solutions whose design and development take account of the environmental issues is becoming a major preoccupation for contributing toward meeting the global challenges.

[0008] It is therefore essential to design products that allow the amount of materials used to be reduced and / or that allow them to be replaced with more environmentally-friendly and / or recyclable materials, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the product.

[0009] In this context, it is becoming important to replace certain materials with alternatives offering a better environmental footprint, notably by reducing the use of petrochemical-based starting materials.

[0010] The object is to propose eco-responsible materials, notably those derived from green chemistry, in order to limit the environmental impact of packaging from its manufacture to the end of its service life, in particular by virtue of materials with a good biodegradability profile and / or derived from renewable sources.

[0011] In this context, with a view to reducing the environmental impact of its activity, whether during the manufacture of packaging assemblies or at the end of their service life, notably to promote recycling, the cosmetics industry is tending to replace the plastic materials used for manufacturing the components of packaging assemblies with materials that have a reduced environmental impact. Thus, cosmetic product bottles as defined above have been developed, in which at least the neck, and preferably most or even all of the bottle comprises a cellulose-based material.

[0012] These cellulose-based materials used for making at least part of the bottle comprise, for example, paper or cardboard fiber or paper or cardboard pulp, the use of these materials having the advantage of reducing the use of starting materials from the petrochemical industry and improving the recyclability and / or degradability of the bottle, these materials also advantageously being able to be derived from recycling channels.

[0013] CN115341415A, for example, a document known in this field, describes the manufacture of a bottle made entirely from cellulose-based material, which is able to be closed by a closing member as defined above, also made from cellulose-based material.

[0014] However, the use of such cellulose-based materials to make all or part of the bottle, and in particular its neck, is likely to give rise to certain specific problems, which do not occur or are much less present when the bottle is made of plastic, notably in terms of geometrical stability and reliability over time of the leaktightness of an assembly using such a bottle associated with a closing member.

[0015] Specifically, it has been observed that the neck geometry of such bottles, and in particular the cross section of the neck, is liable to creep and to vary over time on contact with ambient humidity and / or the water contained in the cosmetic product received within the bottle. Thus, with such bottles, it has been observed, for example, that a neck, originally circular in cross section, had a tendency to deform, and notably to become oval or wavy over time, on contact with a source of humidity.

[0016] Moreover, it has also been observed that the wall thickness of the neck of such a bottle made of cellulose-based material, initially constant in the circumferential direction, tended to exhibit a certain variability over time, when exposed to a source of humidity.

[0017] Finally, it has also been observed that the neck of such a bottle made of cellulose-based material was subject to axial and / or radial conforming phenomena following repeated association with the closing member, giving rise to fluctuations in its geometrical shape.

[0018] Such fluctuations over time in the geometrical shape of the bottle, and in particular of its neck, modify the contact areas between the bottle neck and the closing member with which it is associated in the position in which the bottle is closed, and are liable to cause leaktightness defects in the packaging assembly when the closing member closes the bottle, in addition to difficulties in placing the closing member on the bottle.

[0019] Conventionally, on a closing member intended for closing a bottle, it is known practice to provide a radially inner leaktightness skirt, extending from the plate of the closing member and intended to be inserted inside the neck and to come into contact with its radially inner surface to ensure the leaktightness of the assembly in the position in which the bottle is closed. However, such a closing member structure is not capable of ensuring that the leaktightness of the packaging assembly in the position in which the bottle is closed is maintained over time by the closing element, when at least the bottle neck comprises cellulose-based material.

[0020] Moreover, a bottle and more particularly a bottle neck made of cellulose-based material has, for comparable dimensions, a rigidity, notably in torsion around the longitudinal axis, which is intrinsically less than that of a bottle neck made of plastic, and which is liable to reduce even further when the neck is exposed to ambient humidity and / or water contained in the cosmetic product received within the bottle.

[0021] Thus, when the closing member is conventionally screwed onto the bottle neck, by cooperation of the external thread of the bottle neck with the internal thread of the fastening skirt of the closing member, either during factory assembly of these elements, after filling the bottle with cosmetic product, or during successive operations of closing the bottle with the closing member performed by the user during the life cycle of the packaging assembly, there is a risk of the bottle neck becoming deformed and, in particular, twisting around the longitudinal axis of the bottle, such deformation potentially leading to leaktightness defects when the bottle is in the position of closure by the closing member, or even difficulty and ultimately impossibility in screwing the closing member onto the bottle neck if the neck deformation is too great.

[0022] There is thus a need to propose a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a closing member and a bottle, at least the neck of which comprises a cellulose-based material, in which the neck geometry is preserved over time, with the object of maintaining the leaktightness in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing element and the correct functioning of the screwed assembly between the closing member and the bottle neck.

[0023] The present invention is directed toward satisfying these objects and to this end proposes a cosmetic product packaging assembly, comprising:- a bottle extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a base, a neck and a side wall connecting said base to said neck, said neck having a front face, also referred to as the neck lip of the bottle, defining an aperture and comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface connected by a front wall, said radially outer surface being provided with an external thread extending into a threaded axial portion;- a bottle closing member comprising a plate suitable for closing the aperture in the position in which the bottle is closed and a radially outer fastening skirt rising from the plate and having a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, said radially inner surface being provided with an internal thread suitable for cooperating with the external thread in the position in which the bottle is closed,in which at least the bottle neck, and preferably the entire bottle, comprises a cellulose-based material,in which the closing member also comprises a radially inner stiffening skirt, rising from the plate and having a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface,and in which, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the neck is radially clamped, or in other words bordered on both sides in the radial direction, between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt extending opposite, and is preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface of the neck at least in the axial portion in which the external thread extends.

[0024] In other words, in the assembly according to the invention, the external thread of the bottle neck extends over a given axial portion and, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member extends opposite, or even in contact with, the inner surface of the neck at least in this given axial portion.

[0025] For the sake of clarity, it is recalled here that the longitudinal axis of the bottle notably defines an axial direction extending along or parallel to the longitudinal axis and a radial direction, orthogonal to the axial direction.

[0026] Moreover, it is pointed out here that, in the remainder of the patent application, when the term “at the level of” or “at” is indicated, an item, whether it be a surface, a face, a geometrical feature of an element or the like, and in particular with regard to the aperture of the bottle, is to be understood as being located in an axial position corresponding substantially to that of said item.

[0027] Through these provisions, the invention proposes a cosmetic product packaging assembly whose maintenance over time of the leaktightness in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing element is improved and whose functionality of the screwed assembly of the closing member on the bottle neck is preserved, despite the use of cellulose-based material to make the bottle neck and the potential geometrical variations undergone in the presence of moisture.

[0028] Specifically, in the cosmetic product packaging assembly according to the invention, as the external thread of the bottle neck extends over a given axial portion, the stiffening skirt of the closing member is placed opposite, and is preferably in contact with, via its radially outer surface, the axial portion in which the external thread of the neck extends, at least, so that the neck is clamped, or in other words sandwiched, at least in this axial portion, between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt. In so doing, the geometrical shape of the bottle neck can be maintained over time by its cooperation with the closing member, and leaktightness in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member is thus made reliable.

[0029] Moreover, through the provisions of the invention, the phenomenon of torsion of the bottle neck when the closing member is screwed thereon is limited, by reinforcing the interaction between the bottle neck and the closing member, at least in the axial portion of the neck in which the external thread of the neck extends, by cooperation with the stiffening skirt of the closing member, thus forming a neck buttress, at least in its threaded portion.

[0030] Advantageously, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the neck is radially clamped between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt extending opposite, and is preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface of the neck from the aperture and over the entire axial portion in which the external thread extends.

[0031] When the stiffening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially outer surface is in contact with the radially inner surface of the neck, at least in the axial portion in which the external thread extends, the radial distance between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck in this axial portion is close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamped insertion of the stiffening skirt into the neck and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck, in which axial portion the neck’s external thread extends, at least.

[0032] When the stiffening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially outer surface lies opposite the radially inner surface of the neck, at least in the axial portion in which the external thread extends, the radial distance between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck in this axial portion is preferably less than 2 mm, better still less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm. The clearance in the radial direction thus provided at this interface notably allows the phenomena of radial conforming of the bottle neck following repeated association with the closing member to be limited.

[0033] In a particular embodiment, the external thread of the neck extends over an axial portion in which the neck has a first thickness, the stiffening skirt of the closing member has, at least in the area facing or in contact with the radially inner surface of the neck in the position in which the bottle is closed, a second thickness, and the second thickness is greater than or equal to the first thickness, notably greater than or equal to 1.5 times the first thickness, and in particular close to twice the first thickness.

[0034] Thus, in this particular embodiment, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the bottle neck is stiffened, in particular in the radial direction, at least in the axial portion in which the external thread extends, by means of a stiffening skirt of the closing member of greater thickness than that of the neck in this axial portion. Such arrangements are particularly advantageous in the case where the closing member also comprises a cellulose-based material, as will be introduced later; specifically, in such a case, the stiffening skirt is also subject to geometrical variations over time and oversizing its thickness relative to that of the neck in the axial portion of the external thread allows these geometrical variations to be minimized and ensures that the stiffening skirt fulfils the functions of maintaining the neck geometry and limiting torsional deformation of the neck when the closing member is screwed in place.

[0035] As a variant or in addition, the radially inner surface of the neck is provided with an internal thread, notably extending opposite the external thread formed on the radially outer surface of the neck, and the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member is provided with an external thread suitable for cooperating with the internal thread of the neck in the position in which the bottle is closed.

[0036] In this implementation variant, the neck’s internal thread preferably extends correspondingly to the external thread, in the same axial portion, recessed on the neck’s radially inner surface. Such an internal thread on the neck may, for example, result from the bottle manufacturing process and from the formation of the neck’s external thread, for example as described in the abovementioned document CN115341415A.

[0037] By virtue of these arrangements, in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member, the neck is clamped between the internal thread of the fastening skirt and the external thread of the stiffening skirt, in the axial portion in which the external thread and, where appropriate, the internal thread extend, by the cooperation of the internal thread of the fastening skirt with the external thread of the neck and of the external thread of the stiffening skirt with the internal thread of the neck, respectively. This further improves the maintenance of the neck geometry over time, and minimizes the risk of torsional deformation of the neck when the closing member is screwed in place.

[0038] According to an advantageous arrangement, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the front face of the neck is in contact with the plate of the closing member, preferably by means of a seal, in particular a flat seal, fixed to the plate of the closing member in an annular space defined between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt or on the front face of the neck.

[0039] Pressing the front face of the bottle neck against the plate of the closing member in the position of closure further reinforces the maintenance of the neck geometry over time and reduces the risk of torsional deformation of the neck when the closing member is screwed in place.

[0040] Moreover, the interposition of a seal between the front face of the bottle neck and the plate of the closing member ensures the leaktightness of the packaging assembly in the position in which the bottle is closed, the seal being advantageously compressed in the axial direction between the front face of the bottle neck and the plate of the closing member in the position in which the bottle is closed.

[0041] Applying this seal in the annular space defined between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt moreover allows insertion and reliable maintenance of the leaktightness seal on the closing member and ensures that it cooperates correctly with the front face of the bottle neck to ensure the leaktightness of the packaging assembly in the position in which the bottle is closed.

[0042] Such a leaktightness seal may advantageously be placed in the annular space defined between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member by means of a cannula dipping between these skirts and having an end for dispensing the constituent material of the seal placed opposite the inner surface of the plate.

[0043] As a variant, or optionally in addition, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt or the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt has an annular groove partly housing an O-ring in leaktight contact with the radially inner surface of the neck or, respectively, with the radially outer surface of the neck, in the position in which the bottle is closed.

[0044] In such an embodiment, the leaktightness of the packaging assembly in the position in which the bottle is closed may advantageously be ensured by clamping in the radial direction of the O-ring interposed either between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck, or between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the neck.

[0045] Such arrangements may be particularly advantageous so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the front face of the neck is not subjected to an axial force exerted by the closing member, which would be liable to impair its geometrical shape.

[0046] In one embodiment, the bottle neck in the vicinity of the aperture has a substantially straight tubular shape centered on the longitudinal axis, and the front face of the neck, or neck lip, defining the bottle aperture, is formed by the front wall of the neck connecting the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface and facing away from the bottle base. Such a bottle neck structure offers an advantage in terms of manufacturing simplicity.

[0047] In this embodiment, advantageously, in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member, the radially outer surface of the neck is opposite, preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member and / or the radially inner surface of the neck is opposite, preferably in contact with, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member, in particular at the neck aperture.

[0048] When the fastening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially inner surface is in contact with the radially outer surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture, is close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping fastening of the fastening skirt onto the neck and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture.

[0049] When the fastening skirt is designed and dimensioned in such a way that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially inner surface lies opposite the radially outer surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the neck is preferably less than 2 mm, better still less than 1 mm, for example of the order of 0.5 mm, in particular at the aperture.The clearance in the radial direction thus provided at this interface notably makes it possible to limit radial conforming phenomena in the bottle neck as a result of repeated association with the closing member.

[0050] When the stiffening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially outer surface is in contact with the radially inner surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture, is close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping insertion of the stiffening skirt into the neck and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture.

[0051] When the stiffening skirt is designed and dimensioned in such a way that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially outer surface lies opposite the radially inner surface of the neck, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the neck is preferably less than 2 mm, better still less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm, in particular at the aperture.The clearance in the radial direction thus provided at this interface notably makes it possible to limit radial conforming phenomena in the bottle neck as a result of repeated association with the closing member.

[0052] In the case where, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the radially outer surface of the neck faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member, and the radially inner surface of the neck faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member, in particular at the aperture, the neck is clamped, or in other words sandwiched, in the radial direction between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member, in particular at the aperture, so that the maintenance of the neck geometry over time is further reinforced.

[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the front wall of the neck is folded outward in the radial direction and downward in the axial direction, so that the neck has a folded portion with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section having a base defining the front face of the neck, a radially inner flange and a radially outer flange, said flanges extending axially on either side of the base.

[0054] Thus, in this alternative embodiment, the front face of the neck, or neck lip, defining the bottle aperture, is formed by the base of the folded neck portion with an inverted-U-shaped longitudinal cross section.

[0055] The term “folded neck portion with an inverted-U-shaped longitudinal cross section” is to be understood here as meaning that, during the manufacture of the bottle, the front wall of the neck connecting the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, and notably initially facing away from the bottom of the bottle, has been folded over, or, in other words, folded, bent or directly intended to be folded, outward in the radial direction and downward in the axial direction, so that the neck has an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section at its aperture, i.e. a cross section through any plane containing the longitudinal axis. The folded neck portion thus has, in terms of volume, the general shape of an annular gutter, or torus centered on the longitudinal axis, whose cross section through any plane containing the longitudinal axis has an inverted U shape. In the remainder of the patent application, and for the sake of clarity and brevity, the folded neck portion with an inverted-U-shaped longitudinal cross section may be denoted an “inverted-U-shaped folded neck portion” or a “folded neck portion”. Moreover, the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion has a radially inner surface which preferably lies in the axial extension of the radially inner surface of the neck.

[0056] By virtue of the provisions of this alternative embodiment, the intrinsic stiffness of the bottle neck is enhanced at the aperture, said neck having at the aperture a double wall thickness formed by the radially inner and radially outer flanges of the folded neck portion, connected by the base of the folded neck portion extending substantially in the radial direction. Thus, maintenance of the neck geometry over time is further improved and the risk of torsional deformation of the neck when the closing member is screwed in place is further reduced. Moreover, in this alternative embodiment, when, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the front face of the neck defined by the base of the folded neck portion is in contact with the plate of the closing member, whether by means of a seal or not, the structure with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section of the folded neck portion offers increased stability of the neck subjected to an axial force exerted by the plate of the closing member.

[0057] Preferably, in this alternative embodiment, in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member, the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member and / or the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion is opposite, and is preferably in contact with, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member, in particular at the aperture.

[0058] Placing the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion opposite and preferably in contact with the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member and / or placing the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion opposite and preferably in contact with the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member in the position in which the bottle is closed, in particular at the aperture, advantageously allows the neck geometry to be further maintained over time.

[0059] When the fastening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially inner surface is in contact with the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture, is close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping attachment of the fastening skirt onto the neck and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture.

[0060] When the fastening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially inner surface faces the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion is preferably less than 2 mm, better still less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm, in particular at the aperture. The clearance in the radial direction thus provided at this interface notably makes it possible to limit radial conforming phenomena in the bottle neck as a result of repeated association with the closing member.

[0061] When the stiffening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially outer surface is in contact with the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture, is close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping insertion of the stiffening skirt into the neck and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture.

[0062] When the stiffening skirt is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle is closed, its radially outer surface lies opposite the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion, in particular at the aperture, the radial distance between the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt and the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion is preferably less than 2 mm, better still less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm, in particular at the aperture. The clearance in the radial direction thus provided at this interface notably makes it possible to limit radial conforming phenomena in the bottle neck as a result of repeated association with the closing member.

[0063] In the case where, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member, and the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member, in particular at the aperture, the folded neck portion is clamped, or in other words sandwiched, in the radial direction between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member, in particular at the aperture, so that the maintenance of the neck geometry over time is further reinforced.

[0064] According to a first variant of this alternative embodiment, the radially inner flange and the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion are in contact with each other in the radial direction. The intrinsic stiffness of the neck is thus even further enhanced at the aperture, said neck having at the aperture a double wall thickness formed by the radially inner and radially outer flanges of the folded neck portion, in contact with each other in the radial direction and connected by the base of the folded neck portion extending substantially in the radial direction.

[0065] According to a second variant of this alternative embodiment, the radially inner flange and the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion leave a gap between them in the radial direction.

[0066] In this last variant of this alternative embodiment, an elastic member, notably a member with an intrinsic elasticity greater than that of the material constituting the bottle neck, is advantageously arranged between the flanges defined by the folded neck portion.

[0067] By virtue of these arrangements, a certain elasticity in the radial direction is imparted to the neck between the flanges of the folded neck portion.

[0068] Advantageously, and in particular in the case in which, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion is in contact with the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member and the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion is in contact with the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member, the elastic member is compressed in the radial direction.

[0069] By virtue of these arrangements, it is ensured that in the position in which the bottle is closed, the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion is correctly pressed against the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt of the closing member, and the radially inner flange of the folded neck portion is correctly pressed against the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt of the closing member. This thus further improves the maintenance of the neck geometry over time.

[0070] According to an advantageous arrangement, the bottle is provided with a seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section overlapping the front face of the neck, having a base in contact with the front face of the neck, a radially inner flange and a radially outer flange, said flanges extending axially on either side of the front face of the neck.

[0071] The term “seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section” means here that the seal has, in terms of volume, the general shape of an annular gutter or torus centered on the longitudinal axis, the cross section of which, through any plane containing the longitudinal axis, has an inverted U shape. In the remainder of the patent application, and for the sake of clarity and conciseness, this seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section may be denoted as an “inverted U-shaped seal”.

[0072] Preferably, in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member, the base of the inverted U-shaped seal is in contact with the plate.

[0073] Thus, in the position in which the bottle is closed, leaktightness is ensured between the front face of the neck and the plate of the closing member through the axial intermediary of the base of the inverted U-shaped seal.

[0074] Moreover, preferably, as a variant or addition, in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member, the radially outer flange of the inverted U-shaped seal is preferably in contact with the radially inner surface of the fastening skirt and / or the radially inner flange of the inverted U-shaped seal is preferably in contact with the radially outer surface of the stiffening skirt.

[0075] Thus, in the position in which the bottle is closed, leaktightness is ensured on one side, on the other or on both sides of the front face of the neck with the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member through the radial intermediary of the flanges of the inverted U-shaped seal. Moreover, the use of an inverted U-shaped seal overlapping the front face of the bottle makes it possible to compensate for any geometrical variations in the neck, ensuring permanent contact with the part of the closing member with which it cooperates to render the bottle leaktight in the position of closure, thus improving the maintenance of the reliability of this leaktightness over time.

[0076] In the embodiment in which the bottle neck, in the vicinity of the aperture, has a substantially straight tubular shape centered on the longitudinal axis and the front face of the neck, defining the aperture of the bottle, is formed by the front wall of the neck connecting the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface and facing away from the bottom of the bottle, the flanges of the inverted U-shaped seal are respectively in contact with the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface of the neck.

[0077] In the alternative embodiment in which the front wall of the neck is folded outward in the radial direction and downward in the axial direction, so that the neck has an inverted U-shaped folded portion with a base defining the front face of the neck, a radially inner flange and a radially outer flange, said flanges extending axially on either side of the base, the flanges of the inverted U-shaped seal are respectively in contact with the radially inner flange and the radially outer flange of the folded neck portion.

[0078] According to an additional advantageous arrangement, irrespective of the embodiment or variant envisaged, the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt of the closing member defining an annular space between them, the fastening skirt and / or the stiffening skirt have a chamfer flaring outward from said annular space.

[0079] Such chamfer(s) allow the front face of the bottle neck to be inserted more easily into the annular space of the closing member defined between the fastening skirt and the stiffening skirt.

[0080] Moreover, in the embodiments in which a leaktightness element is provided radially between the bottle neck and the fastening skirt and / or stiffening skirt of the closing member, one or more such chamfers allow this leaktightness element to be gradually compressed as the bottle is closed by the closing member.

[0081] According to an additional advantageous arrangement, irrespective of the embodiment or variant envisaged, the plate of the closing member has an axial offset defining an internal transverse partition and in which, in the position in which the bottle is closed, the internal transverse partition extends into the neck, in particular in an axial position opposite the aperture or opposite the external thread.

[0082] By virtue of these arrangements, maintenance of the neck geometry over time and reduction of the risk of torsional deformation of the neck when the closing member is screwed in place are further improved, as the internal transverse partition of the closing element extending in the radial direction forms a reinforcement for the neck in the position in which the bottle is closed, located in particular opposite axial areas of the bottle which are particularly subject to geometrical shape variations in the presence of a humid atmosphere and / or to torsional deformation when the closing member is screwed onto the neck.

[0083] In general, irrespective of the embodiment or variant envisaged, the external thread of the neck, and where appropriate the internal thread of the neck, advantageously extends over at least one turn, and notably over 1.5 turns, around the longitudinal axis.

[0084] Moreover, still irrespective of the embodiment or variant envisaged, the external neck thread, and where appropriate the internal neck thread, advantageously comprises a plurality of threads extending helically in parallel along and around the longitudinal axis, being angularly offset, and preferably evenly distributed, around the longitudinal axis. By virtue of these arrangements, the bottle has a plurality of what are conventionally referred to as “thread starts”, so that the user can easily and ergonomically bring the external, and where appropriate internal, threads of the bottle neck into correspondence with the internal thread of the fastening skirt, and where appropriate with the external thread of the stiffening skirt, of the closing member.

[0085] In general, irrespective of the embodiment or variant envisaged, the closing member comprises a cellulose-based material.

[0086] By virtue of these arrangements, the cosmetic product packaging assembly uses a bottle and an associated closing element both comprising a material of the same nature, namely a cellulose-based material, thus limiting the use of materials from the petrochemical industry, and enabling these two elements to enter the same recycling stream, in particular without the need for a prior step of disassembling these elements.

[0087] Furthermore, all the above features are even more advantageous when the closing member comprises a cellulose-based material to maintain the geometrical shape over time of both the bottle and the closing member, and to limit torsional deformation of the bottle neck when the closing member is screwed in place.

[0088] In particular, the cellulose-based material included in at least the bottle neck, and preferably the entire bottle, and / or in the closing member comprises paper, cardboard, paper pulp, cardboard pulp, bamboo or a bamboo derivative, or else bagasse, fibrous residue from sugar cane, or a mixture of these materials.

[0089] Moreover, according to a general arrangement, the bottle advantageously houses a cosmetic product, notably a body and / or hair hygiene or care product, such as a shower gel, a shampoo, a hair conditioner, a body or hair mask or the like.

[0090] The invention may be better understood on reading the following description, accompanied by nonlimiting implementation examples thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0091] represents a perspective view of a cosmetic product packaging assembly according to the invention;

[0092] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along plane P of;

[0093] is an enlarged view of the detail encircled on;

[0094] is a view similar to that of, illustrating an embodiment variant;

[0095] is an enlarged view of the detail encircled on;

[0096] is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the closing member of the cosmetic product packaging assembly according to the invention, shown upside down, and illustrating a phase of depositing a leaktightness seal within said closing member by means of a deposition cannula;

[0097] is a view similar to those of figures 3 and 5, illustrating in right half-section a variant for achieving leaktightness between the closing member and the bottle of a cosmetic product packaging assembly;

[0098] is a view similar to those of figures 3, 5 and 7, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the bottle neck belonging to a cosmetic product packaging assembly;

[0099] is a view similar to those of figures 3, 5, 7 and 8, illustrating a variant of the alternative embodiment of the bottle neck belonging to a cosmetic product packaging assembly;

[0100] shows, in longitudinal cross section, a phase of dipping the end of the neck defining the bottle aperture in a sealing bath, to produce an inverted U-shaped seal overlapping this end of the neck;

[0101] shows a longitudinal cross section of a bottle neck, the end of which is provided with an inverted U-shaped seal obtained after dipping in a sealing bath;

[0102] shows a longitudinal cross section of a phase in which the bottle obtained after dipping, as illustrated in, is closed by a closing member;

[0103] is a view similar to those of figures 3, 5, and 7 to 9, illustrating the bottle and the closing member of, in the position of closure;

[0104] is a view similar to those of figures 3, 5, 7 to 9 and 13, illustrating an embodiment variant for sealing between the closing member and the bottle of a cosmetic product packaging assembly, in the alternative bottle neck embodiment;

[0105] is a view similar to those of figures 3, 5, 7 to 9 and 13, illustrating an embodiment variant of the closing member.

[0106] A cosmetic product packaging assembly 1 according to the invention has been represented in. Such an assembly comprises a bottle 2 extending along a longitudinal axis X and a closing member 3 suitable for selectively adopting a position in which the bottle 2 is closed and a position in which the bottle 2 is released, allowing access to its contents and dispensing thereof.

[0107] Such a bottle 2 may, for example, house a cosmetic product, notably a body and / or hair hygiene or care product, such as a shower gel, shampoo, hair conditioner, body or hair mask or the like.

[0108] As seen in particular in figures 2 and 4, the bottle 2 comprises a base 20, a neck 21 and a side wall 22 connecting said base 20 to said neck 21.

[0109] Moreover, and as seen in particular in figures 3, 5, 7 to 12 and 15, the neck 21 of bottle 2 has a front face 25,250 defining an aperture O allowing access to the contents of the bottle 2. The closing member 3 is suitable for selectively adopting a position in which the aperture O of the bottle 2 is closed, and a position in which the aperture O of the bottle 2 is released, allowing access to its contents and dispensing them through the aperture O.

[0110] As shown in all the figures, the neck 21 of the bottle 2 comprises a radially inner surface 23 and a radially outer surface 24, connected by a front wall 25.

[0111] The radially outer surface 24 of the neck 21 is provided with an external thread 26, extending over a threaded axial portion PF, visible in particular in figures 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 15. The external thread 26 of the neck 21 extends over at least one turn, and notably over 1.5 turns, around the longitudinal axis X.

[0112] In the illustrated embodiments, the external thread 26 of the neck 21 comprises a single thread. As a variant, the external thread 26 of the neck 21 may comprise a plurality of threads, for example two or three threads, extending helically parallel to each other along and around the longitudinal axis X, being angularly offset, and preferably evenly distributed, around the longitudinal axis X.

[0113] At least neck 21, and preferably the entire bottle 2, is made of a material comprising cellulose-based material. Such cellulose-based material comprises, for example, paper, cardboard, paper pulp, cardboard pulp, bamboo or a bamboo derivative, or else bagasse, fibrous residue from sugar cane, or a mixture of these materials.

[0114] The internal wall of the bottle 2 may optionally be lined with a material that is leaktight with respect to the cosmetic product received within the bottle 2.

[0115] In certain embodiments, as shown in figures 2 to 5, 7, 10 to 13 and 15, the neck 21 of the bottle 2 has a substantially straight tubular shape in the vicinity of the aperture O, centered on the longitudinal axis X. In this embodiment, the front face of the neck 21, defining the aperture O of the bottle 2, is formed by the front wall 25 of the neck 21 connecting the radially inner surface 23 and the radially outer surface 24 and facing away from the bottom 20 of the bottle 2.

[0116] In alternative embodiments, visible in figures 8, 9 and 14, the front wall 25 of the neck 21 is folded outward in the radial direction and downward in the axial direction toward the bottom 20, so that the neck 21 has a folded portion with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section. The folded portion of the neck 21 has a base 250 defining the front face of the neck 21, a radially inner flange 251 and a radially outer flange 252, said flanges 251, 252 extending axially on either side of the base 250. Thus, in this alternative embodiment, the front face of the neck 21, defining the aperture O of the bottle 2, is formed by the base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21 with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section. Moreover, and as can be seen in these figures 8, 9 and 14, the radially inner flange 251 of the folded portion of the neck 21 has a radially inner surface preferably lying in the axial extension of the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21.

[0117] Thus, in these alternative embodiments, the neck 21 of the bottle 2 has a reinforcement at the level of the aperture O, allowing the intrinsic stiffness of the neck 21 of the bottle 2 to be increased in this zone subject to geometrical shape fluctuations over time when subjected to a humid atmosphere, of deformation notably by twisting around the longitudinal axis when the closing member is screwed onto the neck, or else of conforming deformation following repeated association with a closing member, said neck 21 having at the level of the aperture O a double wall thickness formed by the radially inner 251 and radially outer 252 flanges of the folded portion of the neck 21, connected by the base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21 extending substantially in the radial direction.

[0118] As seen in figures 2 to 9 and 12 to 15, the closing member 3 comprises a plate 30 suitable for closing the aperture O of the bottle 2 in the position in which the bottle is closed. The closing member 3 also comprises a radially outer fastening skirt 31, rising from the plate 30 and having a radially inner surface 32 and a radially outer surface 33. The radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31 is provided with an internal thread 34 suitable for cooperating with the external thread 26 of the neck 21 of the bottle 2 in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member 3.

[0119] In the embodiments illustrated, the closing member 3 is also made of a material comprising a cellulose-based material. Such cellulose-based material comprises, for example, paper, cardboard, paper pulp, cardboard pulp, bamboo or a bamboo derivative, or else bagasse, fibrous residue from sugar cane, or a mixture of these materials.

[0120] The walls of the closing member 3 that come into contact with the cosmetic product may optionally be provided with a lining made of a material that is leaktight with respect to the cosmetic product received within the bottle 2.

[0121] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 2 to 9 and 12 to 14, the plate 30 of the closing member 3 is substantially flat and extends transversely to the longitudinal axis X of the bottle 2 in the position of closure, above the aperture O of the neck 21.

[0122] As a variant, and as illustrated in, the plate 30 of the closing member 3 may have an axial offset 300 defining an internal transverse partition 301 extending inside the neck 21, at or below the aperture O, and in particular in an axial position opposite the aperture O or opposite the external thread, in the threaded axial portion PF. As the internal transverse partition 301 of the closing element 3 extends in the radial direction, it forms a reinforcement, a buttress, for the neck 21 in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, located in particular opposite axial areas of the bottle 2 that are particularly subject to geometrical shape variations in the presence of a humid atmosphere and / or to torsional deformation when the closing member 3 is screwed onto the neck 21.

[0123] Moreover, and still with reference to figures 2 to 9 and 12 to 15, the closing member 3 also comprises a radially inner stiffening skirt 35, rising from the plate 30 and having a radially inner surface 36 and a radially outer surface 37.

[0124] In the position in which the bottle 2 is closed by the closing member 3, illustrated in figures 2 to 5, 7 to 9 and 13 to 15, the neck 21 of the bottle 2 is clamped radially, or in other words bordered on both sides in the radial direction, between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3.

[0125] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 2 to 5, 7, 10 to 13 and 15, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed by the closing member 3, the neck 21 of the substantially tubular bottle 2 is clamped radially between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3.

[0126] In the embodiments shown in figures 2 to 5 and 15, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer surface 24 of the neck 21 lies opposite the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31, the radial distance between these surfaces preferably being less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm, particularly at the aperture O.

[0127] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 7 and 10 to 13, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer surface 24 of the neck 21 is in contact with the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31, possibly via the radially outer flange 42’’ of a seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section 4’’ overlapping the front face of the neck defined by the front wall 25 of the neck 21, as will be described in greater detail below, the radial distance between these surfaces being close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping attachment of the fastening skirt 31 onto the neck 21 and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31 and the radially outer surface 24 of the neck 21, in particular at the aperture O.

[0128] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 15, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 is in contact with the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35, in particular at the aperture O, the radial distance between these surfaces being close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping insertion of the stiffening skirt 35 into the neck 21 and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 and the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35, in particular at the aperture O.

[0129] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 4, 5, 7 and 10 to 13, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 faces the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35, in particular at the aperture O, notably due to the presence of a seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section 4’’ overlapping the front face of the neck defined by the front wall 25 of the neck 21, as will be described in greater detail below, the radial distance between these surfaces preferably being less than 2 mm, better still less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm, particularly at the aperture O.

[0130] In the alternative embodiments shown in figures 8, 9 and 14, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed by the closing member 3, the folded portion of the neck 21 is clamped radially between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3.

[0131] In the alternative embodiments shown in figures 8, 9 and 14, in the closure position, the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21 is in contact with the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31, in particular at the aperture O, optionally via the radially outer flange 42’’ of a seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section 4’’ overlapping the front face of the neck defined by base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21, as will be described in greater detail below, the radial distance between these surfaces being close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping attachment of the fastening skirt 31 to the neck 21 and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31 and the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21, in particular at the aperture O.

[0132] In the alternative embodiments illustrated in figures 8 and 9 and 14, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange 251 of the folded portion of the neck 21 is in contact with the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35, in particular at the aperture O, optionally via the radially inner flange 41’’ of a seal with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section 4’’ overlapping the front face of the neck defined by base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21, as will be described in greater detail below, the radial distance between these surfaces being close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamping insertion of the stiffening skirt 35 into the neck 21 and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange 251 of the folded portion of the neck 21 and the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35, in particular at the aperture O.

[0133] In the alternative embodiment shown in, the radially inner flange 251 and the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21 are in contact with each other in the radial direction.

[0134] In the alternative embodiment shown in, the radially inner flange 251 and the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21 leave a gap between them in the radial direction.

[0135] In this alternative embodiment shown in, an elastic member 4’’’, notably a member with a higher intrinsic elasticity than the material constituting the neck 21 of the bottle 2, is advantageously arranged between the flanges 251, 252 defined by the folded neck portion. Thus, a certain elasticity in the radial direction is imparted to the neck 21 between the flanges 251, 252 of the folded neck portion. In the case where, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21 is in contact with the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31 of the closing member 3 and the radially inner flange 251 of the folded portion of the neck 21 is in contact with the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 31 of the closing member 3, the elastic member is compressed in the radial direction. This ensures that, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21 is correctly pressed against the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31 of the closing member 3, and the radially inner flange 251 of the folded portion of the neck 21 is correctly pressed against the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3.

[0136] Moreover, as can be seen from the figures, the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3 define an annular space between them, and the stiffening skirt 35 has a chamfer 39 flaring outward from said annular space. Such a chamfer 39 allows the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21 of the bottle 2 to be inserted more easily into the annular space of the closing member 3 defined between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35.

[0137] As illustrated in figures 2 to 5, 7 to 9 and 13 to 15, the stiffening skirt 35 has a length along the longitudinal axis X such that it extends from the plate 30 and over the entire length of the threaded portion PF of the neck 21, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed.

[0138] Advantageously, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed by the closing member 3, the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35 extends at least opposite, or even in contact with, the radially inner surface 23 of the neck, at least in the threaded axial portion PF of the neck 21 in which the external thread 26 extends.

[0139] When the stiffening skirt 35 is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer surface 37 is in contact with the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21, at least in the threaded axial portion PF, the radial distance between these two surfaces 37, 23 in this axial portion is close to zero, or even negative, implying in the latter case a clamped insertion of the stiffening skirt 37 into the neck 21 and a tight assembly at the interface between these two elements located between the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35 and the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21, in the threaded axial portion PF, at least. Figures 2, 3, 8 and 9 illustrate embodiments in which the stiffening skirt 35 has been designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer surface 37 is in contact with the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21, at least in the threaded axial portion PF.

[0140] When the stiffening skirt 35 is designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer surface 37 faces the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21, at least in the threaded axial portion PF, the radial distance between these two surfaces 37, 23 in this axial portion is preferably less than 2 mm, better less than 1 mm, for example about 0.5 mm. Figures 4, 5, 7, 13 and 14 illustrate embodiments in which the stiffening skirt 35 has been designed and dimensioned so that, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer surface 37 faces the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21, at least in the threaded axial portion PF.

[0141] Thus, whether the radially outer surface 37 lies in contact with or opposite, i.e. at a small radial distance from, the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21, the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member forms a buttress for the neck 21 in its externally threaded portion PF when the closing member 3 is screwed into the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, thus limiting deformation, in particular torsional deformation, of the neck during this screwing operation.

[0142] According to a particular arrangement, and as can be seen in, the neck 21 has a first, substantially constant thickness e1, measured between the radially inner surface 23 and the radially outer surface 24, excluding the thread 26, in the threaded axial portion PF. The stiffening skirt 35 has, at least in the area in contact with or facing the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 in the closure position, a second thickness e2, measured between the radially inner surface 36 and the radially outer surface 37. Here, the second thickness e2 is substantially constant over the entire axial height of the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3. Advantageously, the second thickness e2 is greater than or equal to the first thickness e1, and in particular greater than or equal to 1.5 times the first thickness e1.

[0143] Thus, according to these arrangements, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the neck 21 of the bottle 2 is stiffened, in particular in the radial direction, at least in the axial portion PF in which the external thread 26 extends, by means of a stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3 having a thickness e2 greater than that e1 of the neck 21 in this axial portion PF. Such arrangements are particularly advantageous in the case where the closing member 3 also comprises cellulose-based material.

[0144] According to another particular arrangement, and as illustrated in particular in figures 4 and 5, the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 is provided with an internal thread 27, extending opposite the external thread 26 formed on the radially outer surface 24 of the neck 21. Advantageously, the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3 is provided with an external thread 38 suitable for cooperating with the internal thread 27 of the neck 21 in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed. In the embodiment illustrated in these figures 4 and 5, the internal thread 27 of the neck 21 extends correspondingly to the external thread 26, in the same axial portion PF, recessed on the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21. Such an internal thread 27 on the neck 21 may, for example, result from the process for manufacturing the bottle 2 and forming the external thread 26 on the neck 21, as described, for example, in the abovementioned document CN115341415A.

[0145] Thus, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed by the closing member 3, the neck 21 is clamped between the internal thread 34 of the fastening skirt 31 and the external thread 38 of the stiffening skirt 35, in the axial portion PF in which the external thread 26 and the internal thread 27 extend, by the respective cooperation of the internal thread 34 of the fastening skirt 31 with the external thread 26 of the neck 21 and of the external thread 38 of the stiffening skirt 35 with the internal thread 27 of the neck 21.

[0146] According to yet another particular arrangement, illustrated in, the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35 has an annular groove 370 partly housing an O-ring 4’. This O-ring 4’ arranged in the annular groove 370 is suitable for being placed in leaktight contact with the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 in the position in which the bottle is closed 2.

[0147] In the embodiment shown in, the annular groove 370 and the O-ring 4’ are arranged on the stiffening skirt 35 in a defined axial position so as to be in contact with the inner surface 23 of the neck 21 in the vicinity of the aperture O when the bottle 2 is in the closure position. Leaktightness is thus achieved in the radial direction of the bottle 2 in the closure position by the closing member 3, without the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21 being subjected to an axial force exerted by the closing member 3, which would be liable to impair its geometrical shape.

[0148] As a variant, or optionally in addition, and as illustrated in figures 2 to 6, 8 and 12 to 15, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21, defined either by the front wall 25 of the neck 21, or by the base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21, is in contact with the plate 30 of the closing member 3, preferably by means of a seal 4, 4’’, in particular a flat seal, fixed to the plate 30 of the closing member 3 in the annular space defined between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35 or on the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21.

[0149] More specifically, in the embodiment shown in figures 2 to 6, 8 and 15, the seal 4 is flat, has an annular shape and is fastened to the plate 30 of the closing member 3 in the annular space defined between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35.

[0150] As shown in, such a seal 4 may advantageously be placed in this annular space by means of a deposition cannula C inserted between the fastening skirt 31 and the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3, with its orifice for dispensing seal-forming material positioned opposite the inner surface of the plate 30. As a variant, such a seal could be manufactured in the form of an element separate from the closing member 3 and attached therein, notably on the inner surface of the plate 30, for example by adhesive bonding or any suitable means.

[0151] According to yet another particular embodiment, illustrated in figures 10 to 14, the bottle 2 is equipped with a seal 4’’ with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section overlapping the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21. The inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ has a base 40’’ in contact with the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21, a radially inner flange 41’’ and a radially outer flange 42’’, said flanges 41’’, 42’’ extending axially on either side of the front face 25, 250 of the neck 21.

[0152] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 10 to 13, in which the front face of the neck is defined by the front wall 25, the base 40’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in contact with the front wall 25 of the neck 21, the radially inner flange 41’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in contact with the radially inner surface 23 of the neck 21 and the radially outer flange 42’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in contact with the radially outer surface 24 of the neck 21.

[0153] In the alternative embodiment illustrated in, in which the front face of the neck is defined by the base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21, the base 40’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in contact with the base 250 of the folded portion of the neck 21, the radially inner flange 41’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in contact with the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange 251 of the folded portion of the neck 21, and the radially outer flange 42’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in contact with the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21.

[0154] Advantageously, and as illustrated in particular in figures 13 and 14, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the base 40’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in axial contact, in particular being compressed in the axial direction, against the plate 30 of the closing member 3, axial sealing of the bottle 2 by the closing member 3 thus being achieved. In such a case, the embodiment shown in, in which the neck 21 has a folded portion, is particularly advantageous, the base 250 and the flanges 251, 252 of the folded neck portion providing increased seating and stability for the base of the seal 40’’ on which the axial sealing force is exerted, thus limiting the risk of deformation of the neck 21 in the axial direction, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed.

[0155] As a variant or in addition, still as illustrated in figures 13 and 14, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially inner flange 41’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in radial contact, in particular being compressed in the radial direction, with the radially outer surface 37 of the stiffening skirt 35 of the closing member 3, a first radial sealing of the bottle 2 by the closing member 3 thus being achieved.

[0156] Moreover, also as a variant or in addition and still as illustrated in figures 13 and 14, in the position in which the bottle 2 is closed, the radially outer flange 42’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ is in radial contact, in particular compressed in the radial direction, with the radially inner surface 32 of the fastening skirt 31 of the closing member 3, a second radial sealing of the bottle 2 by the closing member 3 thus being achieved.

[0157] When the bottle 2 is in the position closed by the closing member 3, the axial sealing and the first and second radial sealing are ensured, the leaktightness of the bottle 2 via the closing member 3 is reliable and maintained over time, despite any geometrical shape fluctuations of the neck.

[0158] Such an inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ can advantageously be deposited on the one hand on the front face 25, 250 and on the other hand either on the radially inner surface 23 and on the radially outer surface of the neck 21 in the embodiment of figures 10 to 13, or on the radially inner surface of the radially inner flange 251 and on the radially outer surface of the radially outer flange 252 of the folded portion of the neck 21 in the embodiment of, by dipping in a bath of seal-forming material.

[0159] Thus, and as illustrated in figures 10 and 11, in relation to the embodiment of figures 12 and 13, a process for depositing a seal 4’’ with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section overlapping the front face, formed here by the front wall 25 of the neck 21 will be described.

[0160] In a first step of this process, a bath of seal-forming material M is provided in a fluid or pasty state. The seal-forming material M may, for example, be a polyurethane mastic, notably a single-component one, such as the product Sikaflex®-221 sold by the company Sika.

[0161] In a second step of this process, a bottle is provided which has one, the other or a combination of the features described previously.

[0162] The bottle 2 is then oriented “upside down”, i.e. so that the front face 25 of the neck 21 faces the bath of seal-forming material M, with the longitudinal axis X oriented perpendicular to the surface of this bath, as illustrated in.

[0163] The front face 25 of the neck 21 of the bottle 2 is then immersed in the bath of seal-forming material M, by translationally moving the bottle along the arrow F1 shown in, and to a depth relative to the surface of the bath of seal-forming material M corresponding to the axial height that it is desired to obtain for the flanges 41’’, 42’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’.

[0164] The front face 25 of the neck 21 is then extracted from the bath of seal-forming material M, by translationally moving the bottle away from this bath along the arrow F2 shown in.

[0165] The equipment used to immerse the front face of the bottle neck in the bath of seal-forming material and to extract it from this bath may, for example, be a dip-coating machine sold by the company Nadetach.

[0166] A final step is then performed to solidify the seal-forming material deposited on the neck 21 of the bottle 2. Such a solidification step may be performed simply by air-drying. As a variant, such a solidification step comprises an operation of crosslinking the seal-forming material deposited on the neck 21 of the bottle 2, notably using ultraviolet rays.

[0167] Once the seal-forming material has solidified, the base 40’’ and the flanges 41’’, 42’’ of the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ adopt a solid state and together form the inverted U-shaped seal 4’’ overlapping the front face 25 of the neck 21 of the bottle 2.

[0168] Thus, by means of these various arrangements, taken in all the technically possible combinations, the invention proposes a cosmetic product packaging assembly whose maintenance over time of the leaktightness in the position in which the bottle is closed by the closing member is improved and for which the functionality of the screwed assembly of the closing member on the bottle neck is preserved, despite the use of cellulose-based material for the manufacture of the bottle neck and the potential geometrical shape variations undergone in the presence of moisture.

Claims

A cosmetic product packaging assembly (1), comprising:- a bottle (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising a base (20), a neck (21) and a side wall (22) connecting said base to said neck, said neck (21) having a front face (25, 250) defining an aperture (O) and comprising a radially inner surface (23) and a radially outer surface (24) connected by a front wall (25), said radially outer surface (24) being provided with an external thread (26) extending into a threaded axial portion (PF);- a bottle (2) closing member (3) comprising a plate (30) suitable for closing the aperture (O) in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed and a radially outer fastening skirt (31) rising from the plate (30) and having a radially inner surface (32) and a radially outer surface (33), said radially inner surface (32) being provided with an internal thread (34) suitable for cooperating with the external thread (26) in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed,in which at least the neck (21) of the bottle (2), and preferably the entire bottle (2), comprises a cellulose-based material,in which the closing member (3) also comprises a radially inner stiffening skirt (35), rising from the plate (30) and having a radially inner surface (36) and a radially outer surface (37),and in which, in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed, the neck (21) is radially clamped between the fastening skirt (31) and the stiffening skirt (35) of the closing member (3), the radially outer surface (37) of the stiffening skirt (35) extending opposite, and preferably being in contact with, the radially inner surface (23) of the neck (21) at least in the axial portion (PF) in which the external thread (26) extends.The assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, in which the external thread (26) of the neck (21) extends over an axial portion in which the neck (21) has a first thickness (e1), in which the stiffening skirt (35) of the closing member (3) has, at least in the area facing or in contact with the radially inner surface (23) of the neck (21) in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed, a second thickness (e2), and in which the second thickness (e2) is greater than or equal to the first thickness (e1), notably greater than or equal to 1.5 times the first thickness (e1), and in particular close to twice the first thickness (e1).The assembly (1) as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which the radially inner surface (23) of the neck (21) is provided with an internal thread (27), notably extending opposite the external thread (26) formed on the radially outer surface (24) of the neck (21), and in which the radially outer surface (37) of the stiffening skirt (35) of the closing member (3) is provided with an external thread (38) suitable for cooperating with the internal thread (27) of the neck (21) in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed.The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which, in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed, the front face (25, 250) of the neck (21) is in contact with the plate (30) of the closing member (3), preferably by means of a seal (4, 4’’), in particular a flat seal, fixed to the plate (30) of the closing member (3) in an annular space defined between the fastening skirt (31) and the stiffening skirt (35) or on the front face (25, 250) of the neck (21).The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the radially outer surface (37) of the stiffening skirt (35) or the radially inner surface (32) of the fastening skirt (31) has an annular groove (370) partly housing an O-ring (4’) in leaktight contact with the radially inner surface (23) of the neck (21) or, respectively, with the radially outer surface (24) of the neck (21), in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed.The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the front wall (25) of the neck (21) is folded outward in the radial direction and toward the bottom (20) in the axial direction, so that the neck (21) has a folded portion with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section having a base (250) defining the front face of the neck (21), a radially inner flange (251) and a radially outer flange (252), said flanges (251, 252) extending axially on either side of the base (250),and in which, in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed by the closing member (3), the radially outer flange (252) of the folded neck portion (21) faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially inner surface (32) of the fastening skirt (31) of the closing member (3) and / or the radially inner flange (251) of the folded neck portion (21) faces, and is preferably in contact with, the radially outer surface (37) of the stiffening skirt (31) of the closing member (3), in particular at the aperture (O).The assembly (1) as claimed in claim 6, in which an elastic member (4’’’) is arranged between the flanges (251, 252) defined by the folded neck portion (21).The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the bottle (2) is equipped with a seal (4’’) with an inverted U-shaped longitudinal cross section overlapping the front face (25, 250) of the neck (21), having a base (40’’) in contact with the front face (25, 250) of the neck (21), a radially inner flange (41’’) and a radially outer flange (42’’), said flanges (41’’, 42’’) extending axially on either side of the front face (25, 250) of the neck (21),and in which, in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed by the closing member (3), the base (40’’) of the inverted U-shaped seal (4’’) is preferably in contact with the plate (30) and / or the radially outer flange (42’’) of the inverted U-shaped seal (4’’) is preferably in contact with the radially inner surface (32) of the fastening skirt (31) and / or the radially inner flange (41’’) of the inverted U-shaped seal (4’’) is preferably in contact with the radially outer surface (37) of the stiffening skirt (35).The assembly (1) as claimed in claim 8, in which the front face of the neck (21) is defined by the front wall (25) of the neck (21),and in which the flanges (41’’, 42’’) of the inverted U-shaped seal (4’’) are respectively in contact with the radially inner surface (23) and the radially outer surface (24) of the neck (21).The assembly (1) as claimed in claim 8, in its attachment to either of claims 6 and 7, in which the front face of the neck (21) is defined by the base (250) of the folded neck portion (21),and in which the flanges (41’’, 42’’) of the inverted U-shaped seal (4’’) are respectively in contact with the radially inner flange (251) and the radially outer flange (252) of the folded neck portion (21).The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the fastening skirt (31) and the stiffening skirt (35) of the closing member (3) define an annular space between them, and the fastening skirt (31) and / or the stiffening skirt (35) have a chamfer (39) flaring outward from said annular space.The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the plate (30) of the closing member (3) has an axial offset (300) defining an internal transverse partition (301) and in which, in the position in which the bottle (2) is closed, the internal transverse partition (301) extends into the neck (21), in particular in an axial position opposite the aperture (O) or opposite the external thread (26).The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, in which the external thread (26) of the neck (21) of the bottle (2) extends over at least one turn, and notably over 1.5 turns, around the longitudinal axis (X).The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the external thread (26) of the neck (21) comprises a plurality of threads extending helically in parallel along and around the longitudinal axis (X) and being angularly offset, and preferably evenly distributed, around the longitudinal axis (X).The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the closing member (3) comprises cellulose-based material.The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the the cellulose-based material included in at least the neck (21) of the bottle (2), and preferably the entire bottle (2), and / or in the closing member (3) comprises paper, cardboard, paper pulp, cardboard pulp, bamboo or a bamboo derivative, or else bagasse, fibrous residue from sugar cane, or a mixture of these materials.The assembly (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the bottle (2) houses a cosmetic product, notably a body and / or hair hygiene or care product.

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