JP2002017435 | LIP STICK CONTAINER |
JP4850438 | Cosmetic container |
CAULIER ERIC (FR)
FR2813509A1 | 2002-03-08 | |||
JP2009189638A | 2009-08-27 | |||
JP2001017232A | 2001-01-23 | |||
EP1588644A1 | 2005-10-26 | |||
US20060065677A1 | 2006-03-30 | |||
CN202664613U | 2013-01-16 | |||
JP2003079425A | 2003-03-18 | |||
IB2015056898W | 2015-09-09 | |||
EP1588644A1 | 2005-10-26 |
CLAIMS 1. Packaging and application device (1) of axis X, comprising: a container (10) containing a product (P) to be applied and delimiting an interior surface (15), a screen (30) able to move along the axis X, comprising a perforated part (31) comprising orifices (35) through which the product exits and a peripheral part (32) that comes to bear against the interior surface (15) of the container (10), the screen (30) with the container (10) defining a variable- volume storage chamber (155), the perforated part (31) and the peripheral part (32) comprise respective materials of different hardnesses, characterized in that the most flexible part is formed in a single piece comprising a material with a hardness of less than 25 Shore A. 2. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the screen (30) is formed in a single piece. 3. Device (1) according to either one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the most flexible part is formed by injection moulding. 4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the peripheral part (32) being produced with the most rigid material. 5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the difference in hardness between the material of the perforated part (31) and the material of the peripheral part (32) being at least 10 on the same Shore hardness scale. 6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the peripheral part (31) comprising a lip (33, 34), a notch or a tongue, and preferably a lip. 7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the peripheral part (31) comprising a lower annular lip (33) and an upper annular lip (34). 8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the screen (30) being produced by moulding and/or by injection moulding and/or by two-shot injection moulding. 9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the dispensing orifices (35) having varying or identical cross sections. 10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the dispensing orifices (35) being distributed over the perforated part (31) at a density that increases with increasing proximity to the axis X. 11. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the dispensing orifices (35) being of a circular, oval or polygonal cross section and preferably having a cross section of elongate shape. 12. Cosmetic method comprising the steps consisting in: - providing a device according to any one of the preceding claims, - loading an applicator member with product while applying pressure to the screen (30) and possibly while causing the screen (30) to move so as to decrease the volume of the storage chamber (155) and cause the product to exit via the orifices (35), - applying the product to keratinous matter. 13. Method of manufacturing a screen as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in: (i) injecting a first material into a mould to form one of the parts that are the perforated part (31) and the peripheral part (32), (ii) two-shot injection moulding or over moulding a second material of a different hardness from the first material so as to form the other part. |
The present invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product.
The invention relates more particularly to a device comprising a container containing a product to be applied and a screen through which the product contained in the container can exit.
Numerous devices of this type are known, with screens that have dispensing orifices through which the product exits, having various shapes and arrangements. The screen may or may not be a follower, that is to say that it may or may not descend into the container during the dispensing of the product.
Application CN202664613 discloses a device comprising a screen that has a central dispensing orifice of hexagonal cross section and a plurality of dispensing orifices disposed around this central orifice, each having an elongate shape and a major axis that is oriented substantially radially.
The publication JP2003 -79425 discloses a device in which the screen is constituted by a grating fixed to a support frame provided with tongues that can bend against the edge of the housing of the container containing the product when the screen descends in the container during the emptying thereof.
Patent application PCT/IB2015/056898 filed by the applicant company and not yet published relates to a device of which the screen has dispensing orifices of different cross sections and sealing and scrapper peripheral lips. That document makes provision for the perforated part of the screen potentially to be made of a flexible material.
Patent application EP 1 588 644 describes a screen comprising a perforated part comprising orifices and a peripheral part. The perforated part may form a mesh obtained for example using a filament of polyamide, for example made of nylon, of polypropylene or even of polyethylene terephthalate. The peripheral part may be over moulded onto the perforated part.
Nevertheless, the mesh may be lengthy, expensive and difficult to create, for example if it is produced by weaving. In addition, if the perforated part is made of polyamide, it is rigid and readily breaks when used by the consumer. For information, the hardness of nylon is 100 Shore D. In that case, the perforated part deforms very little because of its plastic behaviour. It is not very good at accompanying the movement of the block of cosmetic product. The consumer is unable simply to identify the remaining quantity of product since the perforated part remains in a deformed position and does not return to its initial state.
Likewise, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate have high rigidity. Their impact resistance is low, which limits their attraction for the manufacture of the perforated part of the screens.
There is still a need to further improve packaging and application devices comprising a screen, in order notably to obtain new makeup effects on application and a new sensation when picking up the product.
There is still a need to further improve packaging devices comprising a screen in order notably to improve the scrapping of the interior surface of the container and make the screen move more easily.
There is still a need to further improve packaging devices comprising a screen in order notably to avoid leaks of product between the container and the screen.
There is still a need to further improve packaging devices comprising a screen in order to simplify the manufacture thereof and improve the application of the product and/or the loading of an applicator.
There is still a need to produce screens that have a central part capable of responding to the stress loadings applied by the consumer and of returning to their initial position after deformation.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
The invention achieves this objective by virtue of a packaging and application device of a cosmetic product and of axis X, comprising:
- a container containing a product to be applied and delimiting an interior surface,
- a screen able to move along the axis X, comprising a perforated part comprising orifices through which the product exits and a peripheral part that comes to bear against the interior surface of the container, the screen with the container defining a variable- volume storage chamber, the perforated part and the peripheral part comprise respective materials of different hardnesses, and the most flexible part is formed in a single piece comprising a material with a hardness of less than 25 Shore A.
The presence within the screen of two parts made from materials of different hardnesses improves the scrapping of the interior surface of the container by the periphery of the screen, while at the same time leaving the perforated part the possibility of deforming in order to conform to the formulation, to any applicator there might be, or to the fingers of the user.
Because the peripheral part is made of a hard material, the risks of formulation leaking at the junction between the container and the screen are markedly limited. The device is more hygienic and the device is more reliable. It presses sealingly against the interior surface of the container.
In addition, the movement of the screen along the axis X is encouraged by the fact that the peripheral part, made of a more rigid material slides, over the interior surface of the container. Thus, the screen is better able to act as a piston, and do so across its entire surface. If the perforated part comprises particular patterns, these can be reproduced faithfully and without deformation on a transfer surface, such as that of a finger or of an applicator, whatever the position of the screen with respect to the axis X.
Because of this particular choice of the hardness of the flexible part which comprises a material with a hardness of less than 25 Shore A, the screen comprises a part capable elastically of responding to the mechanical stress loadings generated by the consumer. The screen according to the invention returns perfectly to its initial position after use.
Furthermore, because the more flexible part is formed as a single piece, screen manufacture is simplified, particularly if this part is manufactured by injection moulding. The screen is more compact. It is also more robust, for example there is no risk of the flexible part becoming unravelled.
A further subject of the invention is a cosmetic method comprising the steps consisting in:
- providing a device as defined hereinabove, - loading an applicator member with product while applying pressure to the screen and possibly while causing the screen to move so as to decrease the volume of the storage chamber and cause the product to exit via the orifices,
- applying the product to keratinous matter.
The cosmetic method according to the invention is simple to implement and reliable. It can be used for a wide range of cosmetic products such as powders, pasty or creamy formulations or gels.
The invention finally relates to a method of manufacturing a screen as defined hereinabove, comprising the steps consisting in:
(i) injecting a first material into a mould to form one of the parts that are the perforated part and the peripheral part,
(ii) two-shot injection moulding or over moulding a second material of a different hardness from the first material into the mould, so as to form the other part.
The method of manufacture according to the invention is economical and makes it possible to create a screen that performs well.
KEY DEFINITIONS
" Sealed" means that which does not allow product contained in the container to pass between the interior surface of the container and the screen.
In the expression "the perforated part and the peripheral part comprise respective materials of different hardnesses and the peripheral part is produced from the most rigid material", the hardness is preferably measured in Shore A.
A material is "flexible" if its hardness is less than 25 Shore A.
A material is "rigid" if its hardness is greater than or equal to 25 Shore A.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The device according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, considered in isolation or in any technically feasible combination(s). These features are preferred embodiments:
- the screen is formed as a single piece. It is easy to assemble in the casing.
- the most flexible part is formed by injection moulding. It can be mass- produced with a broad range of shapes. - The peripheral part is made with the most rigid material. Scrapping is effective.
- the difference in hardness between the material of the perforated part and the material of the peripheral part is at least 10 on the same Shore hardness scale, and preferably at least 20 on one and the same Shore hardness scale. This difference is optimal for obtaining both a good flexibility of the perforated part and a good sealing.
- the peripheral part comprises a lip, a notch or a tongue, and preferably a lip. These make it easier for the film to deform at its periphery so as to make it easier for the screen to move toward the bottom of the container as the supply of product is gradually exhausted.
- the peripheral part comprises a lower annular lip and an upper annular lip. The two lips press against the interior surface of the container in order to better prevent product from leaving.
- the screen is produced by moulding and/or by injection moulding and/or by two-shot injection moulding. Manufacture of the screen is simple to control.
- the dispensing orifices have varying or identical cross sections. The perforated part may for example represent a decorative pattern.
- the dispensing orifices are distributed over the perforated part at a density that increases with increasing proximity to the axis X. In this case, the application surface can be loaded more heavily at its centre than at its periphery, thereby obtaining a shading effect on application.
- the dispensing orifices are of a circular, oval or polygonal cross section and preferably have a cross section of elongate shape.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The invention may be better understood from reading the detailed description which will follow of some nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof, and from studying the attached schematic and partial drawing in which:
- Figure 1 shows, in axial section, an example of a device according to the invention,
- Figure 2 depicts, in isolation and in a view from above, one example of a screen, - Figure 3 is a view in axial section along arrow A of Figure 3,
- Figure 4 depicts detail B of Figure 3,
- Figures 4 to 9 illustrate other configurations of orifices of the screen.
The packaging and application device 1 depicted in Figure 1 comprises a container 10 of axis X containing a cosmetic product P that is to be applied for example to an area of skin.
The device 1 comprises a screen 30 which is movable in the body 11 of the container 10 along the axis X in order to accompany the drop in the level of product as the latter is removed.
The screen 30 rests on the product P as may be seen in Figure 1, being pushed toward the bottom of the container 10 by the user each time some product is removed when the user presses in the direction of the arrow 100.
The device 1 may comprise a protective cap which has not been depicted. The screen 30 comprises a perforated part 31 , of which the thickness measured at the centre of the screen 30 is, for example, comprised between 0.05 and 2 mm, and a peripheral part 32 comprising two annular sealing lips 33 and 34 oriented respectively downward and upward and pressing against the interior surface 15 of the body 11 of the container 10. The screen 30 and the container 10 define a variable-volume storage chamber 155. The height of the upper lip 34 may be greater than that of the lower lip 33.
The sealing lips 33 and 34 can flex slightly as the screen 30 gradually descends down inside the container 10, the storage chamber 155 has an overall shape exhibiting symmetry of revolution of axis X.
The perforated part 31 of the screen 30 has passing through it a plurality of orifices 35 having cross sections that may vary with proximity of the orifices to the axis X.
The perforated part 31 and the annular lips 33 and 34 are produced from materials of different hardnesses, the annular lips 33 and 34 being produced with a more rigid material than the perforated part 31. This does not have to be the case.
The screen 30 may be perforated and/or have cut-outs so as to have the desired shape. The dispensing orifices 35 may be produced by laser. The dispensing orifices 35 may be slits.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention: - the material of the annular lips 33 and 34 is chosen from a low density polyethylene (LDPE), a polypropylene (PP), a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a polyoxymethylene (POM), a polyterephthalate of butylene, or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a TPE of the ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)-PP (SANTOPRENE®),
- the material of the perforated part 31 is chosen from a polystyrene-b- poly(ethylene-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS), a polyether thermoplastic elastomer (Hytrel® marketed by Dupont), a polyester thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a TPE of the ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)-PP (SANTOPRENE®) type, an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) type or a nitrile.
The screen 30 is produced with an outside diameter that is very close to the inside diameter of the container 10 at the top.
In the example in Figure 2, the screen 30 comprises a central orifice and rings of concentric orifices, the orifices being equally distributed angularly about the axis X in each ring, the number of orifices being for example 5 for the first ring, and then 12 for the following ring, and then 15, 24 and 30 for the following rings.
The diameter of the central orifice is for example 2.5 mm. The diameter of the next orifices, with increasing distance away from the central orifice, decreasing for example to 2.15, 1.83, 1.55, 1.29 and 1.06 mm respectively.
It would not constitute a departure from the context of the present invention if the orifices all had the same diameter.
It may be seen in Figures 3 and 4 that the lower edge of the lip 33 is situated substantially at the same level, along the axis X, as the lower face 37 of the perforated part 31. The upper face 38 of the perforated part 31 may be substantially planar and perpendicular to the axis X, while the lower face 37 is, for example, slightly concave toward the product P.
Thus, the perforated part 31 can be thinner in the centre than at its periphery. To use the device 1 , the user may remove a protective cap and then potentially grasp hold of an applicator. The user can then press the applicator against the perforated part 31 of the screen 30 in order to load it with product, something which causes the product to become deposited locally on the applicator in the form of spots of product, in a quantity that is dependent on the cross section of the orifices. As an alternative, at the time of product removal, the user may rotate the applicator on itself about the axis X, something which may have the effect of spreading the product over the surface of the applicator in concentric loading zones, with a greater quantity of product in the centre than at the periphery.
The user can then dab his/her skin with the applicator thus loaded with product in order to create a deposition of product that is more loaded at the centre than at the periphery, giving the impression of a shading effect. The user can blur the product thus deposited as much as required with the same applicator, by moving it over the skin, or with the aid of another applicator. The user can then return the applicator to its place and then fit the cap.
Figures 5 to 9 depict only the perforated part 31 and various possible layouts for the orifices 35.
In Figures 5 and 6, the orifices are organized to form a pattern in the shape of a flower. The pattern can be reproduced on the skin when the applicator is loaded without turning relative to the container and applied to the skin like a stamp.
Figure 7 illustrates the possibility of the orifices 35 having a cross section that is noncircular, for example chevron shaped. Within a radial branch there are, for example, several consecutive orifices 35, the cross section of which decreases with increasing proximity to the centre of the screen.
Figure 8 illustrates the possibility of the orifices 35 having a cross section that is noncircular, for example in the shape of slits. It is possible to have several orifices succeeding one another in the radial direction and of constant cross section.
In Figure 9, the orifices 35 are organized in mutually parallel lines.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated, and it is possible in particular to combine the features of the examples illustrated with one another as parts of variants which are not illustrated.
Other arrangements of the orifices 35 are possible, with circular or non-circular cross sections. Other shapes of the perforated part 31 are possible. Likewise, other structures are possible for the peripheral part 32. The perforated part 31 could be produced with a more rigid material than the peripheral part 32.
The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least a".