The present invention relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, and to the corresponding application method.

Patent Application EP 2 220 960 describes a device for supporting a cosmetic item comprising a pusher member allowing a body mounted with the ability to move in a cladding to be moved from a stored position into an extracted position. The device also comprises a retaining assembly for holding the body in the stored position, which assembly is released by the movement of the pusher member and a pusher-member return member. Such a device is relatively complex.

Patent Application FR 3 048 340 relates to a device for applying a cosmetic product, comprising a cosmetic element fixed to a holding cap and having an application surface, the holding cap comprising an at least partially deformable wall able to adopt a configuration that is concave toward the application surface, and a convex configuration.

Patent Application US 2015/0289628 discloses a device comprising an interior member bearing a care product and configured to slide in a tube when a compressible region is compressed.

There is still a need for an application device of relatively simple construction, comprising a means of applying a cosmetic product which is protected from the exterior environment when not being used.

The invention meets this need with the aid of a device for applying a cosmetic product, comprising:

a body having a wall defining a cavity exhibiting an opening at least at one end, a flexible membrane, the periphery of which is fixed relative to the body, a mobile insert placed inside the cavity, guided in its movement by the wall and fixedly attached to a region of the flexible membrane, and

a means of applying the cosmetic product,

the flexible membrane being able to pass from a first configuration in which the insert occupies a first position within the body, set back from the opening, to create a space for the storage of the application means, to a second configuration in which the insert occupies a second position closer to the opening, the passage of the insert from the first to the second position being accompanied by a movement of the application means outward, this movement allowing the body to be extracted and/or the application means to be used.

Thus, the user can apply a force to the membrane in order to make it pass from the first configuration to the second configuration and allow the application means to be used.

With such a device, it is easy to use the application means either directly in the device or by extracting it from the device, according to the way in which the application means is being used.

The fact that the insert is fixedly attached to the central region of the membrane allows it to be held inside the cavity.

The expression "cosmetic product" is understood to mean notably a product as defined in Council Directive 93/35/EEC of 14 June 1993.

The expression“application means” is understood to mean a support member or more complex mechanism intended to temporarily or permanently support or receive the cosmetic product so that it can be applied to human keratinous substances, notably the skin, the lips, the eyelashes, eyebrows or hair, or a self-supporting block of cosmetic product, such as the lead of an eyeliner pencil or a stick of lipstick.

For preference, the aforementioned body is cylindrical in shape.

For preference, the membrane is fixed at its periphery to the wall of the body.

The membrane may extend at least partially inside the cavity defined by the body.

The membrane may extend at least partially out of the cavity of the body, on the opposite side to the opening. As an alternative, the membrane extends completely in the cavity of the body.

The membrane may pass from the first to the second configuration by direct user pressure on the membrane. For example, the user uses a digit to press on the central region of the membrane.

For preference, in the first configuration, the membrane is concave toward the opening, and, in the second configuration, the membrane is convex toward the opening.

For preference, the membrane is made from an elastically deformable material.

The membrane may have a central orifice for the fixing of the insert. For preference, the membrane is solid, with the exception of the central orifice. As an alternative, the membrane is holed differently, notably a plurality of radially- extending arches defining openings between them.

For preference, the membrane comprises a tubular skirt, notably a cylinder of revolution, extending from the central orifice of the membrane to the insert. For preference, the tubular skirt extends, when the membrane is in the first configuration, over the entire height of this membrane. Such a skirt limits the movement of the insert with respect to the membrane.

For preference, the insert has an extension passing through the central orifice of the membrane, notably through the tubular skirt, the extension having a bulge on the opposite side of the membrane to the opening and serving to attach the insert to the membrane.

As an alternative, the membrane extends completely in the cavity of the body and the device comprises a membrane-pusher member in contact with this membrane and able to move in the cavity under user pressure in order to cause the membrane to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration. When the membrane is in the first configuration, the pusher member may extend out of the cavity. The insert and the pusher member may be attached rigidly to one another by an extension that passes through the membrane, notably the central orifice and the tubular skirt.

For preference, the device has no metal spring, notably no helicoidal, spiral or leaf spring.

The application means may be a removable cosmetic-product applicator that can be inserted into the storage space when the membrane is in the first configuration, notably a mechanism bearing a stick for the lips, or a bottle.

In that case, the insert may comprise at least one stop against which the application means comes to bear.

The insert may comprise reliefs, notably in the form of flats, that locally reduce the dimension of the insert so that the application means is held inside the insert by friction.

As an alternative, the application means is an application member fixed rigidly to the insert in the storage space, notably a brush notably of the small-tufted type, a brush notably of the twisted-core type, a porous member, notably a felt or a foam. For preference, the application means is completely arranged inside the body when the membrane is in the first configuration and extends beyond the body when the membrane is in the second configuration. In particular, when the membrane is in the first configuration, the application means may lie flush with the opening. In the second configuration, the application means may extend beyond the body.

In instances in which the application means is removable, that part of the application means that extends beyond the body when the membrane is in the second configuration constitutes a grasping part via which the user can withdraw the application means from the body. In instances in which the application means is rigidly attached to the insert, that part of the application means that extends beyond the body allows application of the cosmetic product.

For preference, the membrane is configured in such a way that the first configuration is stable and the second configuration is unstable. For preference, the membrane is stable only in the first configuration. The membrane therefore passes automatically from the second configuration to the first configuration without the need for an additional return member. The force that has to be applied in order to cause the membrane to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration may increase as the membrane gradually nears the second configuration, thereby ensuring the instability thereof.

As an alternative, the membrane is configured so that the first and second configurations are stable. The force that has to be applied in order to cause the membrane to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration may pass through a maximum in an intermediate state, which ensures the stability of the membrane in each of the first and second configurations. The membrane may be made to pass from the second to the first configuration by inserting the application means into the storage space against the insert and by applying pressure to the insert via the application means in order to cause it to pass from the second position to the first position. As an alternative, the device comprises a pusher member as described hereinabove, which extends out of the cavity when the membrane is in the first and second configuration. For preference, the pusher member extends out of the cavity when the membrane is in the second configuration.

The invention also relates to a method for applying a cosmetic product using the device according to the invention, comprising the step involving causing the membrane to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration by applying pressure thereto.

The method may comprise the step of withdrawing the application means from the storage space when this means is removable.

The method may comprise the step of applying the cosmetic product using the application means.

Detailed description

The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof, and with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic depiction of a device according to the invention, the membrane being in the first configuration,

figure 2 is a perspective view in cross section on plane II of figure 1, figure 3 depicts the device of figure 1, the membrane being in the second configuration,

figure 4 is a perspective view in cross section on plane IV of figure

3,

figure 5 is a schematic view in cross section on plane V of figures 1 to 4,

figure 6 depicts a detail on VI of the device of figure 5,

figure 7 depicts the device of figure 1, the membrane being in the second configuration and the application means being extracted from the body,

figure 8 depicts the device of figure 1, the membrane being in the first configuration and the application means being extracted from the body,

figure 9 is a perspective view in cross section on plane IX of figure

8,

figure 10 is a schematic depiction of an alternative form of a device according to the invention, the membrane being in the first configuration,

figure 11 is a perspective view in cross section on plane XI of figure

8,

figure 12 depicts the device of figure 10, the membrane being in the second configuration, figure 13 is a perspective view in cross section on plane XIII of figure 12,

figure 14 is a schematic depiction of an alternative form of a device according to the invention, the membrane being in the first configuration,

figure 15 is a perspective view in cross section on plane XV of figure

14,

figure 16 depicts the device of figure 14, the membrane being in the second configuration, and

figure 17 is a perspective view in cross section on plane XVII of figure 16.

The device 10 according to the invention depicted in figures 1 to 9 comprises a body 12, a flexible membrane 20 fixed to the body 12, a mobile insert 30 inserted into the body 12 and a means 40 of applying the cosmetic product.

A first cosmetic -product application device 10 according to the invention depicted in figures 1 to 9 is described hereinbelow.

The body 12 in the example considered is tubular in shape and has a cylindrical wall 14 of longitudinal axis X. The wall 14 defines a cavity 16 having axial openings 18 and 19 at each of its ends. The opening 18 is delimited externally by an annular return 22 of the wall 14, projecting inward.

In the example illustrated, the wall 14 is circular in cross section, but could be otherwise. It could notably be polygonal or oval.

The membrane 20 has a central portion 24 in the form of a dome and a peripheral portion 26 which is annular in shape. The peripheral portion 26 is fixed to the wall 14 inside the cavity 16. It comes to bear against the annular rim 22. The central portion 24 may adopt two different configurations, namely a first configuration in which it is domed toward the outside of the cavity 16, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, and a second configuration in which it is domed toward the inside of the cavity 16, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4. The two configurations are stable.

For preference, the membrane extends beyond the body by a height h.

For preference, the membrane 20 is made from an elastically deformable material. The insert 30 takes the form of a hollow cylinder having an opening 37 at its opposite end to the membrane 20 extending into the cavity 16. It has a cross section of a shape substantially identical to that of the wall 14 and of an external dimension slightly smaller than that of the wall 14, so that the insert can easily slide along the axis X in the cavity 16, guided by the wall 14. The insert 30 extends entirely inside the cavity 16, regardless as to whether the membrane 20 is in the first or in the second position. The insert 30 defines a space 38 for receiving the application means 40.

The central portion 24 of the membrane 20 has a central orifice 28 externally delimited by an insert mounting skirt 32. The mounting skirt 32 extends over the entire height of the membrane 20.

The insert 30 has an extension 34 extending on the side of the membrane 20 and passing through the central orifice 28 by passing through the mounting skirt 32. The extension 34 at its end has a bulge 36 to allow the insert 30 to be kept fixed to the membrane 20. The extension 34 has a height k substantially equal to the height h of the membrane 20 in the first configuration.

The extension 34 can be molded with the insert 30 or attached thereto.

For preference, the insert 30 is made of a molded plastic.

The application means 40 comprises a removable support which can be extracted via the opening 19 by a translational movement along the axis X. When inserted into the body 12, the application means 40 extends, at least over part of its height, into the space 38 through the opening 37.

As illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the insert 30 has internal stops 50 at its end near the membrane 20, and against which the application means 40 comes to bear at the end of its insertion into the insert 30.

The insert 30 also comprises reliefs 52 in the form of flats locally reducing the interior dimension of the insert 30 in order to generate friction preventing the application means 40 from leaving the insert 30 under the effect of its own weight. The reliefs 52 are bordered by longitudinal openings 54 that facilitate the insertion of the application means 40 by allowing the air contained in the insert to leave as the application means 40 is being inserted into the insert 30.

In the example illustrated in figures 1 to 9, the application means 40 comprises a support bearing a stick of cosmetic product, such as a block of lipstick, a lip care product, a foundation, a face powder, a concealer, a treatment or moisturizing composition, a hair- care product or a deodorant so that it can be applied directly to the skin or the keratinous fibers. This support may have a diameter suited to being inserted into the insert 30. The invention is not, however, limited to the examples given hereinabove.

When the membrane is in the first configuration, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the membrane 20 is domed outward and extends in part out of the cavity 16. The skirt 32 then extends in the concavity formed by the domed part of the membrane 20, and the insert 30 is held in a first position set back from the opening 19. The application means 40, bearing against the stops 50 of the insert 30, does not extend beyond the body 12. The application means 40 may lie flush with the opening 19. As illustrated in figure 1, the device 10 therefore has the external appearance of a smooth tube having, at one of its ends, a flexible membrane 20 from which a bulge 36 protrudes. The user may press on the membrane in order to cause it to pass into the second configuration.

When the membrane 20 is in the second configuration, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the membrane 20 is domed toward the inside of the body 12 and extends completely in the cavity 16. The insert 30 is then in a second position closer to the opening 19. The application means 40, bearing against the stops 50 of the insert 30, then extends beyond the body 12 by a height d allowing it to be grasped.

The first configuration is stable and the second configuration is unstable.

When the user presses on the membrane 20 in the direction designated by the arrow Fl, the membrane 20 adopts the second configuration illustrated in figures 3 and 4. The application means 40 then extends beyond the body 12 and the user can grasp it in order to extract it from the body 12 by pulling it in the direction designated by the arrow F2, as illustrated in figure 7. In this example, in order to extract the application means 40, the user has to keep the membrane 20 in the second configuration. Once the application means 40 has been extracted, the user can release the membrane 20 so that the latter reverts by its own elasticity to the first configuration automatically, the insert 30 returning to the first position.

As illustrated in figure 8, in order to put the application means 40 away in the body 12, the user slides it in the direction indicated by the arrow F3 into the body 12 via the opening 19 and then into the insert 30 until the stop 50 is reached. The application means 40 is held in position in the insert 30 by friction by the reliefs 52. A second cosmetic-product application device 10 according to the invention is depicted in figures 10 to 13. Only the differences with respect to the first device 10 described hereinabove are described.

In this second device 10, the membrane 20 is completely arranged inside the cavity 16 and the device comprises a pusher member 60 capable of translational movement along the axis X, on which member the user may press in order to cause the membrane 20 to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration. The pusher member 60 extends at least between the opening 18 and the membrane 20. The pusher member 60 is rigid. It has a cylindrical central portion 62 and a peripheral rim 64 of annular shape which, when the membrane 20 is in the first configuration, comes into contact with the wall 14. When the membrane 20 is in the first configuration, the peripheral rim 64 of the pusher member 60 is bearing against the annular rim 22 of the body 12. When the membrane 20 is in the second configuration, the pusher member 60 is inside the cavity 16, and preferably flush with the opening 18.

The pusher member 60 has an extension 66 passing through the membrane 20 via the central orifice 28 and the skirt 32 of this membrane is connected, on the other side from the membrane 20, to the insert 30.

In this example, the first and second configurations of the membrane 20 are stable.

When the user presses on the pusher member 60 in the direction designated by the arrow Fl, the pusher member 60 slides in the cavity until such point as the membrane 20 adopts its second configuration. The application means 40 then extends beyond the body 12 and the user can grasp it, as described in the first example. In the second device 10, in order to extract the application means, the user is not obliged to keep the pusher member 60 pushed in, because the second configuration of the membrane 20 is stable.

In order for the membrane 20 to revert to the first configuration, the user needs to insert the application means 40 into the body 12 until such point as this means is fully introduced into the body 12.

A third cosmetic -product application device 10 according to the invention is depicted in figures 14 to 17. Only the differences with respect to the first device 10 described hereinabove are described. In this third device 10, the membrane 20 is completely arranged inside the cavity 16 and the device comprises a pusher member 60 capable of translational movement along the axis X, on which member the user can press in order to cause the membrane 20 to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration. The pusher member 60 is rigid.

The pusher member 60 has an extension 66 passing through the membrane 20 via the central orifice 28 and the skirt 32 of this membrane. The extension 66 is connected on the other side from the membrane 20 to the insert 30.

When the membrane 20 is in the first configuration, the pusher member 60 extends beyond the body by a height m _l and, when the membrane 20 is in the second configuration, the pusher member 60 extends beyond the body by a height m ₂ less than the height mi.

The height m ₂ is such that the user can grasp the pusher member 60 laterally in order to pull it into its position in the first configuration of the membrane 20.

In this third example, the application means 40 is a brush 70 fixed in the insert 30. When the membrane 20 is in the first configuration, the insert 30 is in the cavity 16, set back from the opening 19 so that the brush 70 is retracted inside the body 12. When the membrane 20 is in the second configuration, the insert 30 lies flush with the opening 19 or extends slightly beyond the opening 19 so that the brush 70 is deployed, thus allowing the cosmetic product to be applied.

In this example, the first and second configurations of the membrane 20 are stable.

When the user presses on the pusher member 60 in the direction designated by the arrow Fl, the pusher member 60 slides in the cavity 16 until such point as the membrane 20 passes into its second configuration. The brush 70 is then deployed and the user can then release the pusher member 60 and use the brush 70.

In order for the membrane 20 to revert to the first configuration, the user needs to pull on the pusher member 60 in order to return it to its initial position. The brush 70 is then retracted inside the body 12, so that it is protected from the outside.

Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

In particular, it is possible for the body not to be circular- section cylindrical. It is possible for the insert not to be tubular in shape but to be in the shape of a disk for example.

The device may comprise a pusher member like the one described in connection with the second or third device and the membrane can be stable only in the first configuration, as described in connection with the first device.