The present invention relates to the devices for packaging and applying at least one cosmetic or skin-care product, for example a product for making up or for caring for the body, the face or the hair.

In order to maintain the seal of a device for packaging and applying a product, there are numerous means, such as for example a sealing by lip, by pin or flat joint.

It is known practice to achieve the sealing of a device comprising a flexible application member, such as a membrane made of an elastomer, and an orifice for delivering the product passing through the membrane, by a stopper pin placed on the closure member of the device and being pressed on the membrane.

The stopping action however loses the quality over time because the membrane tends to deform permanently in contact with the pin. The seal can thus prove to be insufficient in certain situations, such as for example a change of ambient pressure due to transport by aircraft.

Moreover, product that is present on the membrane after application may dry out and form a residue coming between the membrane and the pin, adversely affecting the seal. Product may also, because of an insufficient seal, dry out in a position set back from the delivery orifice and form a deposit hampering the emergence of the product or affecting its appearance.

Application WO 2011/083427 discloses a device comprising an application member made of a metal material. The stopper pin, made of a thermoplastic material, may over time creep into contact with the metal and/or wear down and no longer provide a sufficient seal.

There is therefore a need to improve the sealing of the closure of packaging and application devices, comprising an elastically deformable or metal application member traversed by at least one orifice for delivering the product.

The object of the invention is to satisfy this need, and it achieves the object by virtue of a device for packaging and applying a cosmetic product, comprising :

- a receptacle containing the product,

- a flexible membrane or a metal wall secured to the receptacle at least during the use of the device in order to apply the product defining an application surface, and having at least one orifice for delivering the product opening on to the application surface, - an internal structure placed at least partially under the membrane or the metal wall (when the device rests vertically with the membrane or the metal wall uppermost), made of a material different from the membrane or the metal wall, and forming a duct for delivering the product to the delivery orifice of the product, and

- a closure member comprising a stopper pin adapted to being applied sealingly to the delivery duct in order to ensure the sealing of the closure of the device when the closure member is in place.

The invention makes it possible to ensure a durable, quality seal.

By virtue of the invention, the seal is provided at the very least by the contact of the pin on the internal structure that forms the delivery duct. Thus, a sealed contact over the long term between the membrane and the pin or between the metal wall and the pin is no longer necessary. This makes it possible, for example, to produce the delivery orifice with a larger section than that of the pin, if that is sought. The seal is easier to achieve and it is less subject to a risk of deterioration of the stopping action in the event of the formation of a deposit of product that has dried.

Flexible membrane

The flexible membrane, just like the metal wall, is designed for the direct application of the cosmetic or skin-care product to the skin, the mucous membranes or the hair.

The membrane can be made of elastomer, for example of silicon-based, vinyl- based, butyl-based, latex-based, elastomer, of thermoplastic elastomer, for example Hytrel, SEBS, SIS, EVA, Santoprene.

The membrane may or may not be covered with a flocking, and have roughnesses on its surface or be smooth.

The membrane may have a reinforcement at the delivery orifice.

The thickness of the membrane may be between 0.15 and 4 mm.

The membrane may comprise a sealing lip formed around the orifice for delivering the product, on the inside.

The orifice for delivering the product may be single and be central.

The membrane may comprise an air-intake orifice allowing it to more rapidly resume its initial shape in the event of deformation during the application of the product.

The membrane may be of any shape and any size, for example rounded, flat or bevel-shaped. The membrane may be not deformed when the stopper pin is in place. The membrane is advantageously non-porous, being impermeable to the product other than at the delivery orifice.

Metal wall

The metal wall may be made of a metal that is stamped or not.

The metal is for example aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

The metal wall may be cup-shaped, concave towards the inside of the receptacle. The thickness of the metal wall may be between 0.1 and 4 mm.

The use of a metal wall advantageously makes it possible to procure a cold effect on application.

Internal structure and stopper pin

The delivery duct of the internal structure may have a substantially circular section and have an internal diameter smaller than that of the orifice for delivering the product.

The diameter of the orifice for delivering the product, made in the membrane or the metal wall, is for example between 0.2 and 4 mm.

It is possible for the internal structure not to be engaged in the delivery orifice. The internal structure may also be engaged at least partially in the membrane or the metal wall at the delivery orifice.

The internal structure may be made of a material with a hardness greater than that of the material of which the membrane is made, making it possible to ensure a good seal of the device. This material is for example a thermoplastic material such as PE, PP, PA, POM, PS, SAM or PET.

The internal structure may serve as a support for the membrane and limit its possibility of deformation during application.

The delivery duct of the internal structure may internally have a slightly conical shape in order to interact with the stopper pin which may also have a slightly conical shape.

The stopper pin may be hollow or tubular.

If the flexible membrane comprises a sealing lip formed under the orifice for delivering the product, the internal structure may comprise an end-piece that is engaged in the space delimited by the sealing lip. The latter may be pressed sealingly onto the end-piece. Preferably, the interaction between the internal structure and the membrane allows at least a partial sinkage of the membrane on application. For example, the sealing lip formed under the membrane can move axially relative to the delivery duct.

A product accumulation chamber may be formed between the delivery orifice of the membrane and the delivery duct of the internal structure making it possible to place a reserve of product.

The stopper pin is preferably made of a relatively rigid thermoplastic material, for example a polyolefm, a PET or a styrene polymer. The stopper pin may be moulded in a single piece with a closure member, which may be able to be totally separated from the receptacle when the product is applied.

If the application surface is defined by a metal wall, the internal structure may comprise ribs connected to a tubular central body of the internal structure defining the delivery duct. These ribs may be made of a thermoplastic material, just like the tubular central body.

The internal structure may be made in a single piece or, in a variant, be composed of several pieces.

The internal structure may be moulded in a single piece in a thermoplastic material with fastening means on the receptacle or on a piece in which the receptacle is engaged. The internal structure may be moulded in a single piece with a surface onto which the closure member is pressed when the device is closed, notably a surface used for the attachment of the closure member.

The internal structure may also be moulded in a single piece with a wall defining a housing in which a pump rod or valve rod of the receptacle is engaged.

The internal structure may be moulded in a single piece with a sealing lip designed to ensure a sealed installation of the internal structure on the body of the receptacle.

Receptacle

The receptacle may be made of flexible material or, in a variant, of a rigid material.

The receptacle may be of any shape and of any size, able for example to take the general shape of a pot, a pen or a tube.

The body of the receptacle may be transparent or not.

The receptacle may comprise a single or double casing. The packaging and application device according to the invention may not have a pump or valve-type product delivery system, the product flowing through the delivery orifice and traversing the membrane or the metal wall, by gravity, by turning over or by shaking the receptacle or by reducing its internal volume.

A movable member may be placed in the receptacle allowing the homogenization of the product and/or making it easier to raise the latter to the delivery orifice when the receptacle is turned over.

If the application surface is defined by a metal wall, the latter is advantageously permanently in contact with the mass of product contained in the receptacle when the latter is turned over, making it possible to obtain a durable cold effect on application.

In a variant, the device according to the invention comprises a delivery system such as a pump. A pump rod may be engaged in the internal structure. The pump is actuated, for example, by moving the receptacle, to which the pump body is attached, relative to the internal structure in which the pump rod is engaged.

A locking means allowing the immobilization of the pump, notably useful in the event of transport, may be provided. The pin stopping the delivery duct may provide a sealed closure of the pump rod if necessary.

The delivery system may also be of the open/closed type and have a stopping mechanism on the receptacle in order to allow or prevent the delivery of the product in the delivery duct.

The product, which is liquid, may be in the form of oil, of cream, of milk, of lotion or of gel. The product may contain an aqueous, oily or alcoholic solvent. The product contains an active cosmetic or skin-care ingredient.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the latter and on the examination of the appended drawing, in which :

- Figure 1 represents, in axial, schematic and partial section, an example of a packaging and delivery device made according to invention,

- Figure 2 represents the membrane and the internal structure of the device of Figure 1, taken in isolation, in open configuration, the closure member having been removed,

- Figure 3 represents the membrane, the internal structure and the closure member taken in isolation, in stopped configuration, the closure member being in place,

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 in a variant embodiment of the device,

- Figure 5 is a view from above of the internal structure along the line V of Figure 4, - Figures 6A to 6E represent in axial section exemplary embodiments of the membrane, and

- Figures 7 to 13 are views similar to Figure 1 , representing variant embodiments of devices according to the invention.

The packaging and application device 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a receptacle

2, defining a space 25 containing a product P to be applied to the human keratinous materials, notably to the skin, the lips or the hair.

The receptacle 2 slides in a guiding skirt 41 defining the gripping surface of the device 1 during use.

The device 1 comprises, in the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, a flexible membrane 3 defining an application surface 4 and having a delivery orifice 5 opening onto the application surface 4.

The device 1 comprises an internal structure 8 supporting the membrane 3 at least at its periphery, for example fitted to the guiding skirt 41, as illustrated.

The internal structure 8 forms a delivery duct 9 guiding the product P to the delivery orifice 5. This delivery duct 9 defines internally a seat 6 in order to receive a stopper pin 13, as illustrated in Figure 3 and as explained in detail below.

The internal structure 8 is for example snap-fitted to a neck 10 extending top-wise the guiding skirt 41. The internal structure 8 may also be attached otherwise to the guiding skirt 41, for example by over moulding, screwing, crimping, friction, bonding or welding, this list not being limiting. The internal structure 8 may also be moulded in a single piece with the guiding skirt 41.

The membrane 3 may have, at its periphery, as illustrated, an annular relief 20 which eases the holding of the membrane 3 by the internal structure 8.

The membrane 3 may be attached by any means to the internal structure 8, being for example held on the latter by friction or snap-fitting.

The internal structure 8 is used, in the illustrated example, for the mounting of a closure member 14, the latter being for example in the form of a fixed closure cap, for example by snap-fitting or screwing, on an outer upright 26 of the internal structure 8.

The closure member 14 comprises a stopper pin 13 adapted to be applied sealingly at least to the delivery duct 9, in order to ensure the sealing of the closure of the device 1.

The stopper pin 13 is not necessarily in contact with the membrane 3 when the closure member 14 is in place. For example, the diameter of the delivery orifice 5 is greater than that of the pin 13, as illustrated in Figure 3. The seat 6 of the delivery duct 9 has in this case a diameter d _s smaller than the diameter d _d of the orifice 5 for delivering the product P, as can be seen in Figure 2.

As a variant, the stopper pin 13 can also stop the delivery orifice 5 opening onto the application surface 4, as illustrated in Figures 9 to 11.

The stopper pin 13 and the seat 6 of the delivery duct 9 of the internal structure 8 may each have a slightly conical shape in order to more easily obtain a sealed fit.

The internal structure 8 is made of thermoplastic material

The internal structure 8 and the membrane 3 are advantageously made of different materials. The internal structure 8 may notably be made of a material of greater hardness making it possible for the delivery duct 9 of the internal structure 8 to retain over time a capability of sealed closure in contact with the stopper pin 13.

The flexible membrane 3 comprises, as illustrated, a sealing lip 7 surrounding the orifice 5 for delivering the product P.

The internal structure 8 comprises an end-piece defining the delivery duct 9, engaged in the sealing lip 7.

An axial clearance j may be present above the delivery duct 9 under the delivery orifice 5, as illustrated in Figure 2, allowing the membrane 3 to keep flexibility on application. In the event of compression of the membrane 3, the lip 7 can slide on the end- piece. As a variant, the lip 7 deforms without sliding on the end-piece.

In the examples illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 7, 8 and 12, the membrane 3 is flocked. As a variant, as illustrated in Figures 6 A to 6E and 9 to 11, the membrane 3 has no flocking.

The membrane 3 may be of any shape and of any size.

The application surface 4 has for example a relatively flat shape, as illustrated in

Figure 6 A, a rounded shape, as illustrated in Figure 6B, a flat shape on the top and rounded on the sides, as can be seen in Figure 6C, or may have a bevelled shape, as illustrated in Figure 6D. The membrane 3, as shown in Figure 6E, may optionally have an inclined edge 4a on the side opposite to the bevel.

In the example illustrated in Figure 6 A, the membrane 3 has a recess 4b at the delivery orifice 5.

In the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 6A to 6E, the membrane 3 comprises a single orifice which serves as the delivery orifice 5. In the variant illustrated in figure 7, the membrane has, in addition to the delivery orifice 5, an orifice 31 for taking in air causing the space internal to the membrane 3, around the delivery duct 9, to communicate with outside.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1 , the device 1 comprises a system for delivering the product P, defined by a valve or pump 15. The latter is secured to the receptacle 2, which can slide in the guiding skirt 41 and travel past the latter in the downward direction. The user can press on the bottom 18 of the receptacle 2 to cause the rod 16 to be pressed down against the internal structure 8 and initiate the delivery of the product P.

In the variant illustrated in Figures 4 and 8 to 10 the device 1 has no delivery system such as a pump or valve, the product P flowing for example by gravity or by capillarity through the delivery orifice 5.

A movable member 30 can be placed in the receptacle 2 allowing the homogenization of the product P and making it easier for it to be delivered and to flow through the delivery orifice 5, notably when the receptacle 2 has a rigid wall that cannot be deformed by the user.

The movable member 30 is a ball in the exemplary embodiments of Figures 4, 9 and 10. In a variant shown in Figure 8, the movable member 30 is a disc.

The movable member 30 may have dimensions fairly close to those of the internal space 25 of the receptacle 2 as illustrated notably in Figures 4 and 8, allowing the scraping of the product P on the internal surface of the receptacle 2 and producing a piston effect making the delivery of the product P easier.

In the exemplary embodiments of Figures 4 and 13, the application surface 4 is defined by a metal wall 3 traversed by an orifice 5 for delivering the product P.

This metal wall 3 may notably be a metal cup, for example made of stainless steel. The metal wall 3 may comprise a coating, for example of PTFE or of another material or have undergone a treatment, for example an annodization. The coating is for example in the form of film, of metallization, or of discontinuous deposit formed for example by spraying.

The internal structure 8 may comprise, as illustrated in Figure 5, ribs 81 being connected to a tubular central body 82 defining the delivery duct 9 of the product P. The ribs 81 may be two or more in number and be distributed at equal angles.

The internal structure 8 may be made with a sealing lip 11 , being applied in a sealed manner to the body 2a of the receptacle 2, as illustrated in Figure 4 and in Figures 8 to In the example of Figure 4, the stopper pin 13 stops the delivery duct 9 in order to ensure the sealing of the device 1. The diameter of the delivery orifice 5 is preferably greater than that of the delivery duct 9 so that the stopper pin 13 is protected from wear due to the metal.

The use of an application device 1 as shown in Figure 4 makes it possible to obtain a durable sensation of coldness on application of the product by virtue of the use of a metal wall 3 and an internal structure 8 allowing the product to contact the internal surface of the metal wall 3 between the ribs 81. In this case, the device 1 can be placed in the cold, for example in a refrigerator, prior to its use on the area to be treated.

The receptacle 2 may have any shape and any size.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 8, the receptacle 2 is pot-shaped. In the variant illustrated in Figure 1 1 , the device 1 has an elongate shape, and the product P is contained in a reservoir 25 that can be moved relative to the guiding skirt 41, making it possible to actuate a delivery system 15, 16, as has been described with reference to Figure 1.

Figure 12 shows a variant of the device 1 according to the invention in which the product P is delivered by a delivery system comprising a pump 40 drawing the product placed inside the body 2a of the receptacle which is rigid. A movable piston 45 rises in the receptacle gradually as the latter empties.

The delivery system and the device 1 are sealed by the stopper pin 13, not shown, which stops the delivery duct 9 of the internal structure 8 after having traversed the delivery orifice 5.

In the variant shown in Figure 13, when the user applies pressure to the bottom of the receptacle 2, a delivery system in the form of a pump or valve 15 allows the delivery of the product P through the delivery orifice 5.

An open/closed locking mechanism may allow or prevent the delivery of the product P depending on its positioning by the user. For example, the internal structure 8 is able to be rotated between two positions relative to the receptacle 2 corresponding respectively to the open and closed positions.

The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

Notably, it is possible to combine together features originating from the variant embodiments described above within variants that are not illustrated.

The device may comprise a source of vibration making it possible to subject the application surface to vibrations during application. The expression "comprising one" must be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one".