Lipstick Dispensing Device Rotation Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cosmetic product packaging devices, such as those for lipstick sticks, often suffer from mechanical deterioration when forced rotation is applied, leading to premature wear and potential malfunction due to the cup lugs exiting the helicoidal slides and grooves.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a means of rotation blocking between the guide and the sheath, which prevents the cup from serving as an end-of-travel stop, thereby limiting the risk of deformation and premature wear. This blocking mechanism is activated when the cup is in fully deployed, fully retracted, or intermediate positions, ensuring that the rotation is halted by the designed stops rather than the cup lugs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the cup lugs are used as end-of-travel stops without rotation blocking means, then the device structure is simple, but the cup lugs protrude from helical grooves and slides causing mechanical deterioration and premature wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidmechanical deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the cup assembly with lugs, the guide with slides, the sheath with helical grooves, and separate rotation blocking means. This segmentation allows the cup lugs to perform their primary function of engaging with slides and grooves for axial movement, while the rotation blocking means independently prevents excessive rotation, eliminating the need for cup lugs to serve as end-of-travel stops and preventing their protrusion and wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the cup serves as the end-of-travel locking means, then the mechanism is simple, but the cup lugs come out of slides and helical grooves leading to damage and malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoidcup integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation blocking means acts as an intermediary element between the guide and sheath, providing the end-of-travel locking function. This intermediary mechanism absorbs the stress of forced rotation and prevents it from being transmitted to the cup lugs, thereby protecting the cup integrity while maintaining mechanism functionality. The blocking means includes features such as tabs or protrusions on the guide that engage with corresponding features on the sheath to prevent excessive rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If forced rotation is applied to the device, then the user can deploy the cosmetic product, but the cup lugs may exit the slides and helical grooves causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct deploymentVSAvoiddevice malfunction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation blocking means is designed to engage in advance before excessive rotation can occur. As the user rotates the guide to deploy the cosmetic product, the blocking means progressively limits the rotation, providing preliminary protection against forced rotation that could cause cup lugs to exit the slides and helical grooves. This preliminary action maintains ease of operation for normal deployment while preventing damage from excessive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively prevents mechanical deterioration and premature wear of the packaging device, ensuring reliable operation and extending the device's lifespan by maintaining the cup's integrity during forced rotation.

Implementation Method 1

the sheath with two helical grooves... the rotation of the guide relative to the sheath causing an axial movement of the cup

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelical groove mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP4104709B1Device for a cosmetic product, in particular a stick of lipstick
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 ALBEA SERVICES SAS
  • EP4104709B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4104709B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4104709B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention proposes a device (10) intended to be mounted on an actuation base of a cosmetic product application receptacle, in particular a cosmetic product stick (12), said device (10) being designed to dispense the cosmetic product by at least one rotational movement, said device (10) comprising at least one guide (14), a cup (30) for receiving the cosmetic product and a sheath (40), the sheath (40) internally comprising at least one helical groove (42, 44) and the guide (14) being rotationally mounted in the sheath (40), the rotation of the guide (14) relative to the sheath (40) causing an axial movement of the cup (30) between a fully deployed position and a fully retracted position,the device (10) comprising at least one means for locking the guide (14) against rotation relative to the sheath (40) when the cup (30) is in the fully deployed position and/or the fully retracted position and/or close to being in the fully deployed position and/or the fully retracted position.