Device for packaging and applying a product

Abstract

Device for packaging and applying a product, comprising: - a container for containing the product and comprising a body and a neck, the neck having at least one protruding or recessed relief and having an outer upper portion, - a closure member for closing the container comprising a cap, and an insert and a ballast inserted in the cap and comprising at least one snap relief, at least one out of the ballast and / or the outer upper portion of the neck being made of metal, the insert interacting with the neck such that an abutment zone is reached through direct or indirect axial contact between the ballast and at least the outer upper portion of the neck when the snap reliefs of the insert have moved past the protruding reliefs of the container or have become housed in the recessed reliefs of the container so as to close the device.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Device for packaging and applying a product

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to closure members for closing a container containing a cosmetic product, in particular a perfume, a make-up product, or a care product.

[0005] More generally, a cosmetic product is a product as defined in EC Regulation No 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] There are many closure members in existence. For example, a snap-on decorative cap that for example covers a cap forming part of a product applicator or a pump attachment ring using complementary snap reliefs, is known.

[0008] It is also known practice to produce a closure lid comprising an insert in a cap, the insert comprising flexible tabs at two different heights, more specifically two higher tabs and two lower tabs. This ensures that there are indeed two tabs, the lower tabs, which pass entirely under the screwed portion, ensuring in particular that the snap protrusions that they bear are passed under the end edge of the applicator cap or pump attachment ring screwed onto the neck of the container, and two tabs, the higher tabs, making it possible to limit any axial movement, either by limiting play, or by being radially stressed after the snap protrusions that they bear are passed behind the end edge of the applicator cap or pump attachment ring, depending on the manufacturing tolerances.

[0009] When snap protrusions are positioned below the applicator cap or a pump attachment ring in the closure position, the applicator cap or the pump attachment ring must be raised relative to the container, which can be detrimental to the look of the device or constitute a point that could get clogged up.

[0010] Devices comprising a groove, for example for receiving reliefs of the closure lid, the groove being arranged towards the top of a neck of the container, are also known, for example from applications EP 2 1074 572, EP 4 014 786 and FR 3 117 749. There is little or no travel with the closure lid rubbing on the container when it is closed. Cosmetic bottles are known in which the cap of the closure member clips on, so as to bear on the shoulder of the container. The sound made when the device is closed is produced by the bottom of the cap hitting the shoulder of the bottle. The shoulder thus has to be relatively flat for this purpose and there are visible and unsightly traces of rubbing.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a device 1 for packaging and applying a product P, a make-up or care product, according to the prior art. The device 1 comprises a container 10 for containing the product P, and a closure member 20 for closing the container 10. The container 10 comprises a body 11 in the form of a bottle and a pump 12 for dispensing the product P to be taken from the container 10.

[0012] The container 10 further comprises a neck 13 forming a shoulder 14 with the body 11 and having an outer upper portion 16. The container comprises a plate 18 covering the shoulder 14. The neck 13 comprises a pump support 33 and has a snap groove 15 located in the upper portion 19 of the pump support.

[0013] The closure member 20 for closing the container 10 comprises a cap 23, and an insert 24 and a ballast 28 inserted in the cap. The ballast 28 is received snugly on the upper portion of the insert 24, at a distance from the step of the insert that comes into abutment on the upper portion of the pump support. As can be seen in figure 1, the insert 24 of the closure member 20 interacts with the snap groove 15 of the upper portion 19 of the pump support in order to close the device 1.

[0014] KR 20-0490575 discloses a tube of lipstick comprising a cover, the inner surface of which has a longitudinal rib. A collision portion is defined such that the body of the tube enters inside the cover along the rib in order to come into contact so as to close the tube. At least one out of the body of the tube and the collision portion is made of metal.

[0015] Application FR 3 117 749 describes a perfume bottle comprising a housing having an elastic snap relief and a cap having an elastic snap relief adapted to interact with the elastic snap relief of the housing. At least one of its elastic snap reliefs is made of metal and comprises a clip tab extending between two slits.

[0016] Cosmetic bottle closure systems comprising one or more magnets in order to ensure contact between the closure member and the container through a phenomenon of magnetic attraction are also known, for example from utility models CN 217791865 U, CN 207979222 U, and applications JP 2020-89680 and FR 3 056 386. Magnetic closure systems are particularly appealing to consumers, in particular because they are easy to use and because of the sensations they generate.

[0017] However, such systems require the use of permanent magnets, which represent a high production cost, make it difficult to recycle the product at the end of life, and constitute a rare resource.

[0018] Proposing ecologically responsible, environmentally friendly solutions, the design and development of which take into account environmental issues, is becoming a major concern in terms of tackling global challenges.

[0019] 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 materials and / or that allow recyclable materials to be used, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the product.

[0020] There is therefore a need to further improve container closure members in order in particular to reproduce the behaviour of a magnetic closure system while being inexpensive, reliable and eco-responsible.

[0021] Summary of the invention

[0022] The invention aims to fully or partially meet this need and relates to a device for packaging and applying a product, in particular a perfume, a make-up product or a care product, comprising:

[0023] - a container for containing the product, the container comprising a body and a neck forming a shoulder with the body, the neck having at least one protruding or recessed relief and having an outer upper portion, and

[0024] - a closure member for closing the container comprising a cap, and an insert and a ballast inserted in the cap, the insert comprising at least one snap relief, at least one out of the ballast and / or the outer upper portion of the neck being made of metal, in which device the insert of the closure member interacts with the neck of the container such that an abutment zone is reached through direct or indirect axial contact between the ballast and at least the outer upper portion of the neck when the snap relief or reliefs of the insert have moved past at least one protruding relief of the container or have become housed in at least one recessed relief of the container so as to close the device. The invention makes it possible to generate a sound indicating that the closure member has reached end of closure travel with respect to the container, mimicking the sound generated when a magnetic closure system reaches its closure position. The sound produced is satisfying whatever the shape of the container and the shape of the shoulder, because the sound is actually generated in the closure member. It is moreover possible to use inclined shoulders.

[0025] By virtue of the invention, the shoulder no longer gets damaged because the closure member is slightly raised and does not rub directly on the shoulder.

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

[0027] The closure member according to the invention is advantageously without a permanent magnet. The container is advantageously without a permanent magnet. The device is advantageously without a permanent magnet.

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

[0029] “Upper portion of the neck” means the portion of the neck which is furthest from the container along the longitudinal axis of the device.

[0030] Disclosure of the invention

[0031] In one embodiment, the ballast is made of metal, the outer upper portion of the neck being made of plastic.

[0032] In one variant, the ballast is made of plastic, the outer upper portion of the neck being made of metal.

[0033] In an advantageous variant, the ballast and at least the outer upper portion of the neck are made of metal. The sound indicating that the closure member has reached end of closure travel with respect to the container is particularly satisfying in this case.

[0034] The ballast may be made of stainless steel.

[0035] The insert may be made of a material selected from the following non-exhaustive list: PP, PE, PET, PETG, PBT. The material selected, whether metal or non-metal, may have good strength, and an advantageous esthetic appearance. To be specific, the insert may be visible to users and its appearance may be a factor in the choice of material.

[0036] When the device is in the closure position, the closure member is advantageously at a non-zero distance from the shoulder of the container, a gap being formed between the closure member and the shoulder. The shoulder is thus preserved, even after the device has been used many times, because there is no direct contact with the closure member.

[0037] The abutment zone is advantageously reached through direct contact between the lower portion of the ballast and the outer upper portion of the neck.

[0038] Preferentially, the closure travel completed by the closure member between the abutment zone and the relief of the neck of the container is shorter than the height of the neck of the container between the abutment zone and the shoulder formed between the neck and the body of the container.

[0039] The insert may comprise two parts arranged in such a way as to hold the ballast in place.

[0040] In one variant, the insert is made in one piece and holds the ballast in place so that the abutment zone is reached through indirect axial contact between the ballast and at least the outer upper portion of the neck.

[0041] Preferentially, said at least one protruding or recessed relief of the neck is located in the lower portion of the neck. Said at least one snap relief of the insert is advantageously located in the lower portion of the insert.

[0042] The neck of the container may comprise a ring rigidly secured to the rest of the container, being attached to the neck of the container.

[0043] The ring may be frustoconical or have the shape of a truncated pyramid, in particular with a square base, and notably with rounded corners, being wider at the bottom than at the top. The width is measured as a maximum dimension of the ring in the radial direction, measured perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the container, in particular defined by the neck of the container. “At the bottom of the ring” means that the width is measured at an end of the ring oriented towards the container in the longitudinal direction. “At the top of the ring” means that the width is measured at an end of the ring oriented away from the container in the longitudinal direction.

[0044] The conicity or the truncated pyramid shape of the ring makes it possible to obtain an improved centering effect upon closure of the device. The container may comprise a dispensing pump for dispensing the product. In one embodiment, the container may comprise a bottle and product dispensing pump. As an alternative, it may be without a pump.

[0045] In the case where the container comprises a dispensing pump for dispensing the product, the neck advantageously comprises a pump support, the abutment zone then being reached through direct contact between the ballast and the outer upper portion of the pump support.

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

[0047] A radial space may be formed between the pump support and the pump. This radial space makes it possible to form a sound box to increase the sensation of noise when the closure member is closed on the container. The radial space may have a radial width of between 0.1 and 2 mm, better still between 0.2 and 1.8 mm, or between 0.3 and 1.6 mm. The radial space may have a height of between 1 and 20 mm, better still between 2 and 18 mm, or between 3 and 16 mm.

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

[0049] In one embodiment, the pump support is made in a single piece. This piece may be made of injection-molded plastic or machined metal, being in particular an aluminum fitting. The pump support may comprise reliefs intended to interact with a threaded portion of the neck.

[0050] In preferred variants, the pump support is made in two or three parts. The parts of the pump support may be concentric. The outer part may be made of metal, being in particular a stamped or machined metal fitting. The inner part of the pump support may comprise reliefs intended to interact with a threaded portion of the neck. The pump support may further comprise an intermediate part, located between the inner part and the outer part.

[0051] In the case where the pump support is made in two parts, a radial space may be formed between the two parts of the pump support. In the case where the pump support is made in three parts, the radial space may be formed between the intermediate part and the outer part. In these embodiments, the ring corresponds to the single piece or to the outer part of the pump support. These parts may thus be frustoconical or have the shape of a truncated pyramid, as explained above.

[0052] At least one of the parts of the pump support may be made of a material selected from the following non-exhaustive list: PP, PE, PET, PETG, PBT.

[0053] The material selected, whether metal or non-metal, for the outer part of the pump support may have good strength, and an advantageous esthetic appearance. To be specific, this part is advantageously visible to users and its appearance may be a factor in the choice of material.

[0054] The container may comprise a plate covering the shoulder.

[0055] The invention may apply to any device comprising a container and a closure member.

[0056] The container advantageously contains the product. This may be a product to be taken from the container, in particular using an applicator or a pipette. The device may comprise an applicator, or alternatively not have an applicator.

[0057] Without this being limiting, the product may be a cosmetic product, such as a perfume, a make-up product, or a care product.

[0058] Brief description of the drawings

[0059] The invention may be understood more clearly on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting examples of implementation thereof and on studying the appended drawing, in which:

[0060] [Fig 1] Figure 1, described above, is a view in cross section of an example of a device according to the prior art,

[0061] [Fig 2] Figure 2 is a view in cross section of an example of a device according to the invention,

[0062] [Fig 3] Figure 3 is a view in cross section of a variant embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0063] [Fig 4] Figure 4 is a view in cross section of a variant embodiment of a device according to the invention, and

[0064] [Fig 5] Figure 5 is a view in cross section of a variant embodiment of a device according to the invention. Detailed description

[0065] Figure 2 shows a device 1 for packaging and applying a product P, a make-up or care product, comprising a container 10 for containing the product P, and a closure member 20 for closing the container 10. In this example, the container 10 comprises a body 11 in the form of a bottle and a pump 12 for dispensing the product P to be taken from the container 10.

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

[0067] The closure member 20 for closing the container 10 comprises a cap 23, and an insert 24 and a ballast 28 inserted in the cap. The ballast 28 rests on the insert 24, inside the cap, and is intended to make the closure member 20 heavier.

[0068] The insert comprises snap reliefs 25. As can be seen in figure 2, the insert 24 of the closure member 20 interacts with the neck 13 of the container 10 such that an abutment zone B is reached through indirect axial contact between the ballast 28 and at least the outer upper portion 16 of the pump support 33 when the snap reliefs 25 of the insert have become housed in the recessed reliefs 15 of the container 10 so as to close the device 1.

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

[0070] The closure travel completed by the closure member 20 between the abutment zone B and the relief 15 of the neck 13 of the container 10 is shorter than the height H of the neck 13 of the container 10 between the abutment zone B and the shoulder 14 formed between the neck 13 and the body 11 of the container 10.

[0071] In the variant shown in figure 3, the insert comprises two parts, a lateral part 31 and an upper part 32, arranged in such a way as to hold the ballast 28 in place. In this example and preferably, the ballast 28 is made of metal, in particular stainless steel. The abutment zone B is thus reached through direct axial contact between the lower portion 29 of the ballast 28 and the outer upper portion 16 of the pump support 33 of the neck 13 of the container 10. In this example, the outer upper portion 16 of the outer part 36 of the pump support 33 is made of metal. The noise obtained when the device 1 is closed is thus particularly satisfying.

[0072] In the variant shown in figure 4, the pump support 33 comprises two separate parts: an outer part 36 and an inner part 35.

[0073] In the variant shown in figure 5, the pump support 33 comprises a part 35 made of plastic or metal.

[0074] The invention is not limited to the examples described above.

[0075] The container may have any other shape and other functions. The neck may be without a pump support.

Claims

Claims1. A device (1) for packaging and applying a product (P), in particular a perfume, a make-up product or a care product, comprising:- a container (10) for containing the product (P), the container comprising a body (11) and a neck (13) forming a shoulder (14) with the body (11), the neck (13) having at least one protruding or recessed relief (15) and having an outer upper portion (16) which corresponds to the portion of the neck (13) which is furthest from the container (10) along the longitudinal axis (X) along which the device extends, and- a closure member (20) for closing the container (10) comprising a cap (23), and an insert (24) and a ballast (28) inserted in the cap, the insert comprising at least one snap relief (25), at least one out of the ballast (28) and / or the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13) being made of metal, in which device the insert (24) of the closure member (20) interacts with the neck (13) of the container (10) such that an abutment zone (B) is reached through direct or indirect axial contact between the ballast (28) and at least the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13) when the snap relief or reliefs (25) of the insert have moved past at least one protruding relief (15) of the container (10) or have become housed in at least one recessed relief (15) of the container (10) so as to close the device (1).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ballast (28) is made of metal, the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13) being made of plastic.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ballast (28) is made of plastic, the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13) being made of metal.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ballast (28) and at least the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13) are made of metal.

5. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein the ballast (28) is made of stainless steel.

6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the device is in the closure position, the closure member (20) is at a non-zero distance (d) from the shoulder (14) of the container (10), a gap being formed between the closure member (20) and the shoulder (14).

7. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutment zone (B) is reached through direct contact between the lower portion (29) of the ballast (28) and the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13).

8. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure travel completed by the closure member (20) between the abutment zone (B) and the relief (15) of the neck (13) of the container (10) is shorter than the height (H) of the neck (13) of the container (10) between the abutment zone (B) and the shoulder (14) formed between the neck (13) and the body (11) of the container (10).

9. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (24) comprises two parts, a lateral part (31) and an upper part (32), arranged in such a way as to hold the ballast (28) in place.

10. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insert (24) is made in one piece and holds the ballast (28) in place so that the abutment zone (B) is reached through indirect axial contact between the ballast and at least the outer upper portion (16) of the neck (13).

11. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one protruding or recessed relief (15) of the neck (13) is located in the lower portion (19) of the neck.

12. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one snap relief (25) of the insert (24) is located in the lower portion (27) of the insert.

13. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the container (10) comprising a dispensing pump (12) for dispensing the product (P), the neck (13) comprises a pump support (33), the abutment zone (B) being reached through direct contact between the ballast (28) and the outer upper portion (16) of the pump support (33).

14. The device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the pump support (33) is frustoconical or has a truncated pyramid shape, being wider at the bottom than at the top.

15. The device as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the pump support (33) is made in one or more parts (34, 35, 36), in particular one, two or three parts.

16. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) comprises a plate (18) covering the shoulder (14).

17. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the container (10) containing the product (P), the product is to be taken from the container (10), in particular using an applicator.

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