This invention relates to a packaging device of a cosmetic block product of the type including: a sleeve extending according to a main axis; a cup able to receive the cosmetic product block; and a device for moving the cup inside the sleeve, between a retracted position and a deployed position ; said movement device comprising : a first helical groove provided on an inner surface of the sleeve; a first lug disposed on the cup and able to slide in the first helical groove; a guide tube disposed around the cup, the guide tube comprising: an inner portion disposed in the sleeve, said inner portion comprising a first slot extending according to the main axis, the first lug being able to slide in said first slot; and an outer portion, forming an axial protrusion with respect to a first and of the sleeve, a limit between the inner and outer portions of the guide tube being formed by a first shoulder forming a first axial stop for said first end of the sleeve; the sleeve, the cup and the guide tube being made from the same plastic material.

"Cosmetic product" means in particular, in the sense of this invention, a product such as defined in EC Regulation no. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 30, 2009 relating to cosmetic products.

The invention applies particularly to the packaging of a stick of product intended to be applied onto a surface of a user's body, such as a lipstick bullet.

In general, in order to minimize the effects of friction, the mobile parts of the lipstick packaging device are made from different materials with low relative friction.

However, for reasons of environmental impact and recyclability, it is advantageous to develop lipstick packaging device of which the various mobile parts are made from the same material. Said parts then do not need to be separated during the recycling of the device. Document TWM590900 in particular describes a packaging device of the aforementioned type.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a device for packaging a cosmetic product block providing sufficient mobility between the different parts, so as to facilitate a single-material realization.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a packaging device of the aforementioned type, wherein the guide tube further comprises a locking portion, forming an axial protrusion with respect to a second end of the sleeve, a limit between the inner portion and the locking portion of the guide tube being formed by a second shoulder, said second shoulder forming a second axial stop for said second end of the sleeve, said sleeve being maintained around the inner portion of the guide tube by the first and second shoulders. Such a configuration makes it possible in particular to decrease the friction during the rotation of the guide tube with respect to the sleeve.

According to further advantageous aspects of the invention, the packaging device comprises one or several of the following features taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

- a non-zero axial play is provided between the sleeve and the first and second shoulders of the guide tube;

- the locking portion of the guide tube comprises: an axial end edge of said guide tube; and a notch open on said axial end edge, so as to allow via elastic deformation a variation of a diameter of said axial end edge, between an idle position and a stressed position;

- the notch is open on the first slot of the inner portion of the guide tube;

- the movement device further comprises: a second helical groove provided on the inner surface of the sleeve; and a second lug disposed on the cup and able to slide in the second helical groove; and the inner portion of the guide tube further comprises a second slot extending according to the main axis, the second lug being able to slide in said second slot;

- the device further comprises a tubular cover, said cover being able to be removably fitted on the sleeve and on the outer portion of the guide tube, in an assembled configuration;

- the cover is configured in such a way that, in the assembled configuration, a lateral surface of the outer portion of the guide tube has: a first portion facing the cover; and a second portion separated from said cover;

- the cover comprises a first and a second recesses opening onto an end edge of said cover;

- in the assembled configuration, the end edge of the cover is flush with an end of the guide tube; and the first and second recesses delimit the second portion of the lateral surface of the outer portion;

- the device further comprises a cosmetic product block, such as a lipstick bullet, assembled to the cup.

The invention will be easier to understand in view of the following description, provided solely as a non-restrictive example and with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[Fig 1] Figure 1 is a lateral view of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the invention; [Fig 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging device of figure 1 ;

[Fig 3] Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the packaging device of figures 1 and 2; and

[Fig 4] Figure 4 is a cross-section detailed view of the packaging device of figures 1 to 3.

Figures 1 to 4 show a packaging device 10, according to an embodiment of the invention.

The device 10 is in particular intended to receive a lipstick bullet 12, shown as a dotted line in figure 2.

The packaging device 10 extends according to a main axis 14 and comprises: a sleeve 16; a cup 18; and a movement device 20 of said cup 18 inside the sleeve 16. Optionally, as shown in figures 1 to 3, the packaging device 10 further comprises a cover 22.

The sleeve 16 extends according to the axis 14 between a first 24 and a second 26 open ends. Optionally, the second end 26 is formed by an edge comprising notches 28. The sleeve 16 includes an inner surface 30 and an outer surface 31, substantially cylindrical of revolution.

The cup 18 in particular includes an inner cavity 32 and an outer lateral surface 34.

The inner cavity 32 is intended to be assembled to the lipstick bullet 12, as can be seen in figure 2. Preferably, the inner cavity includes teeth 35 able to be inserted into the bullet 12 in order to maintain it in place.

The outer lateral surface 34 is substantially cylindrical of revolution.

The movement device 20 allows the cup 18 to be moved axially and angularly inside the sleeve 16, between a retracted position and a deployed position.

The movement device 20 comprises in particular: a first helical groove 36; a first lug 38; and a guide tube 40.

The first helical groove 36 is provided on the inner surface 30 of the sleeve. Preferably, in a radial direction, said first helical groove 36 has a depth less than a thickness of said sleeve. Thus, the outer surface 31 of the sleeve has a continuous aspect.

The first lug 38 is disposed on the outer lateral surface 34 of the cup 18. Said first lug 38 is able to slide in the first helical groove 36. Preferably, as in the embodiment shown, the movement device 20 further includes: a second helical groove 36; and a second lug 38, able to slide in said second helical groove.

The first and second helical grooves 36 are substantially identical and located facing with respect to the axis 14, on the inner surface 30 of the sleeve.

Likewise, the first and second lugs 38 are substantially identical and located facing with respect to the axis 14, on the outer lateral surface 34 of the cup 18. Preferably, the first and second lugs, 38 are made from the same material with the cup 18.

The guide tube 40 of the movement device 20 is disposed around the cup 18. The guide tube comprises three portions 42, 44, 46, aligned according to the axis 14.

A first portion 42 of the guide tube, referred to as inner portion, is disposed according to the axis 14 between a second 44 and a third 46 portions. The sleeve 16 is located around said inner portion 42.

The inner portion 42, which has a substantially cylindrical of revolution shape, comprises a first slot 50 extending substantially according to the main axis 14. In the embodiment shown, the inner portion 42 further includes a second slot 52. The first 50 and second 52 slots are substantially identical and located facing with respect to the axis 14. As shall be described in what follows, the first and the second lugs 38 are able to slide respectively in the first 50 and in the second 52 slots.

The first 50 and second 52 slots are described simultaneously hereinafter: the slot 50, 52 includes: a main segment 54; and a first 56 and a second 58 circumferential segments. The main segment 54 is substantially straight and parallel to the axis 14. The first 56 and the second 58 circumferential segments, located on either side of the main segment 54, extend said main segment at each one of its axial ends. Each one of the first 56 and second 58 circumferential segments extends perpendicularly to the axis 14, from the main segment 54 to a closed end.

In a known manner, the first 56 and second 58 circumferential segments are intended to provide a blocking of the cup 18, respectively in the retracted position and in the deployed position.

A second portion 44 of the guide tube, referred to as outer portion, is axially adjacent to the inner portion 42 and forms an axial protrusion with respect to the first end 24 of the sleeve 16. The outer portion 44 includes a lateral surface 60, substantially cylindrical of revolution, and a bottom 62 substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis 14. Said bottom 62 forms a first axial end of the guide tube 40. In the embodiment shown, the bottom 62 is closed. In an alternative not shown, the bottom 62 includes one or more orifices.

The lateral surface 60 has a diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the inner portion 42. A limit between the inner 42 and outer 44 portions is formed by a first shoulder 64, substantially flat and oriented towards the inner portion.

Preferably, the diameter of the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44 is substantially equal to a diameter of the outer surface 31 of the sleeve 16. Thus, said lateral 60 and outer 31 surfaces form a substantially continuous surface, cylindrical of revolution.

A third portion 46 of the guide tube 40, referred to as locking portion, is axially adjacent to the inner portion 42 and forms an axial protrusion with respect to the second end 26 of the sleeve 16.

The locking portion 46 of the guide tube forms a radial protrusion with respect to the inner portion 42. More precisely, a limit between the inner portion 42 and the locking portion 46 of the guide tube is formed by a second shoulder 66, substantially flat and oriented towards the inner portion.

Furthermore, the locking portion 46 comprises an edge 68, substantially perpendicular to the axis 14 and forming a second end of said guide tube, opposite the bottom 62.

The locking portion 46 also comprises a notch 70 open on said edge 68. The notch 70, in particular visible in figure 4, is delimited laterally by two lips 72. In the configuration shown of the device 10, the lips 72 are separated by a non-zero distance 74, perpendicularly to the axis 14.

Preferably, the notch 70 is open on one 50 of the first and second slots of the guide tube 40. More preferably, as in the embodiment shown, the notch 70 extends the main segment 54 of said slot 50, parallel to the axis 14.

Preferably, the locking portion 46 further comprises a chamfer 76 that is flared between the edge 68 and the second shoulder 66.

Preferably, a maximum outer diameter of the locking portion 46 is substantially equal to a diameter of the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44, as well as to a diameter of the outer surface 31 of the sleeve 16.

As shall be described in what follows, the notch 70 and the possible chamfer 76 make it possible to snap-fit the sleeve 16 on the inner portion 42 of the guide tube, said sleeve being maintained axially between the first 64 and second 66 shoulders. Each one of said shoulders forms indeed an axial stop for the sleeve. Preferably, there is a non-zero axial play 80 between the sleeve 16 and the first 64 and second 66 shoulders. More precisely, a distance between said first 64 and second 66 shoulders corresponds to an axial length 82 of the sleeve, with the axial play 80 added.

Preferably, the axial play 80 is comprised between 0.02% and 0.15%, of the axial length 82 of the sleeve.

In the retracted position of the cup 18, shown in figure 3, the cup 18 is disposed astride the inner portion 42 and the outer portion 44 of the guide tube 40. Each lug 38 is disposed in the first circumferential segment 56 of the corresponding slot 50, 52. Preferably, the bullet 12 is entirely received inside said guide tube.

In the deployed position of the cup 18, said cup is disposed astride the inner portion 42 and the locking the portion 46 of the guide tube 40. Each lug 38 is disposed in the second circumferential segment 58 of the corresponding slot 50, 52. Possibly, a portion of said cup forms an axial protrusion with respect to the edge 68 of said locking portion 46.

Preferably, in the deployed position, the bullet 12 forms an axial protrusion with respect to said edge 68, which allows a user to apply the cosmetic product.

Advantageously, the sleeve 16, the cup 18 and the guide tube 40 are made from the same plastic material. A recycling of the packaging device 10, after the bullet 12 is used up, is thus facilitated.

Furthermore, for the same reason, the continuous surface formed by the outer surface 31 of the sleeve 16 and the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44 of the guide tube makes it possible to not add any dressing part around these elements.

Preferably, the plastic material chosen for the sleeve 16, the cup 18 and the guide tube 40 is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This material allows for an acceptable level of friction between the various elements of the movement device 20. Furthermore, as shall be described in what follows, the non-zero axial play 80 between the sleeve 18 and the shoulders 64, 66 of the guide tube 40 makes it possible to decrease the friction between said sleeve and said guide tube.

Advantageously, the plastic material chosen is transparent or translucent, which makes it possible to see the bullet 12 through the sleeve 18 and the guide tube 40.

The cover 22 shall now be described. The cover 22 extends according to a an axis 83 and includes: a lateral wall 84, of substantially cylindrical of revolution shape; and an end wall 86.

The cover 22 is able to be removably fitted on said sleeve 16 and on said outer portion 44, in an assembled configuration shown in figures 1 and 3. In said assembled configuration, the axis 83 of the cover is confounded with the main axis 14 of the device 10.

In the assembled configuration, the cover 22 closes off the opening formed by the edge 68 of the locking portion 46 of the guide tube 40. Moreover, in said assembled configuration, the cover 22 prevents an untimely rotation of the sleeve 16 and of the guide tube 40 with respect to one another, which limits the risks of accidental crushing of the bullet 12 in the bottom of the cover.

According to a first embodiment, an inner diameter of the lateral wall 84 is substantially equal to a diameter of the outer surface 31 of the sleeve 16 and/or of the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44 of the guide tube 40.

According to a second embodiment, there is play between said inner diameter of the lateral wall 84 and the diameter of the outer surface 31 of the sleeve 16 and/or the diameter of the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44 of the guide tube 40. Furthermore, the lateral wall 84 includes one or more bosses 87, in particular at least two bosses 87, preferably diametrically opposite, forming an inner protrusion. In the assembled configuration, the or each of said bosses 87 forms a point contact with the outer portion 44 of the guide tube 40 and/or with the sleeve 16.

Preferably, the cover 22 is configured in such a way that, in the assembled configuration, the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44 of the guide tube has: a first portion 88 facing the cover; and a second portion 90 separated from said cover. Thus it is possible to grip on the one hand said second portion 90 of the lateral surface 60, and on the other hand the lateral wall 84 of the cover, in order to dissociate said cover from the rest of the device 10.

In an alternative not shown, the cover 22 entirely covers the lateral surface 60 in the assembled configuration; and the bottom 62 of the outer portion 44 includes a means for gripping, such as an orifice or a relief, to dissociate the guide tube 40 from the cover 22.

In the embodiment shown, the lateral wall 84 of the cover 22 includes an end edge 92, axially opposite the end wall 86. In the assembled configuration, the end edge 92 is flush with the bottom 62 of the outer portion 44.

Furthermore, the lateral wall 84 comprises a first and a second recesses 94 opening onto said end edge 92. The first and second recesses 94 are substantially identical and located facing with respect to the axis 83.

Thus, in the assembled configuration, the lateral surface 60 of the outer portion 44 of the guide tube 40 is divided into four strips extending according to the main axis 14. Two of said strips, facing one another, are in contact with the lateral wall 84 of the cover and form the first portion 88 of said lateral surface 60. Two others of said strips, facing one another, are separated from the cover and form the second portion 90 of the lateral surface 60. The strips forming the first 88 and second 90 portions are delimited by the recesses 94.

Optionally, as in the embodiment shown, each recess 94 of the cover 22 extends axially in such away that, in the assembled configuration, said recess reveals a tongue 96 of the outer surface 31 of the sleeve 16. In an alternative not shown, each recess extends only over the outer portion 44 of the guide tube 40, not over the sleeve 16.

Advantageously, for reasons of recyclability mentioned hereinabove, the cover 22 is made from the same plastic material as the sleeve 16, the cup 18 and the guide tube 40. Said material is for example a PET.

A method for manufacturing the packaging device 10 shall now be described.

The sleeve 16, the cup 18 and the guide tube 40 are made independently by molding, preferably at using the same plastic material.

The cup 18 is then inserted into the guide tube 40 by the opening formed by the edge 68 of the locking portion 46. The presence of the notch 70 makes it possible to elastically deform said edge 68 in order to enlarge the diameter thereof, by temporarily separating the lips 72 one from the other from said notch. The edge 68 can thus be crossed by the lugs 38. When each lug 38 is received in the corresponding slot 50, 52, said edge 68 returns to an idle position, corresponding for example to the distance 74 between the lips 72.

The locking portion 46 of the guide tube 40 is then inserted into the sleeve 16, by the first end 24 of said sleeve. The chamfer 76 facilitates this insertion. The edge 68 is elastically deformed in order to decrease the diameter thereof, by temporarily bringing the lips 72 closer together from the notch 70.

In the case where the notch 70 extends the main segment 54 of a slot 50, the amplitude of the elastic deformation of the guide tube 40 is improved to increase or decrease the diameter of the edge 68.

During the insertion of the guide tube 40 into the sleeve 16, each one of the lugs 38 of the cup 18 is advantageously housed in the corresponding helical groove 36, disposed on the inner surface 30 of the sleeve.

The insertion of the guide tube 40 into the sleeve 16 is continued until the abutment of said sleeve 16 against the first shoulder 64 of the tube. The locking portion 46 then comes as an axial protrusion with respect to the second end 26 of the sleeve. The edge 68 is elastically deformed to return to its idle position, the lips 72 of the notch 70 separating from one another until the distance 74.

Then, in order to assemble a bullet 12 of lipstick to the inner cavity 32 of the cup 18, the guide tube 40 is rotated with respect to the sleeve 16, around the main axis 14. Said rotation movement drives the lugs 38 of the cup 18 along the corresponding helical grooves 36. Each one of said lugs is thus moved towards the second circumferential segment 58 of the corresponding slot 50, 52. When each lug 38 reaches said second circumferential segment 58, the cup 18 is blocked in the deployed position. The bullet 12 can then be inserted into the inner cavity 32 and on the teeth 35.

To put the cup 18 into the retracted position, the guide tube 40 is rotated in the opposite direction with respect to the sleeve16, until the lugs 38 are set in position in the first circumferential segments 56. The bullet 12 is thus blocked in the low position.

Optionally, the cover 22, made independently by molding, is then fitted on the sleeve 16 and on the outer portion 44 of the guide tube, in the assembled configuration.

A method for using the packaging device 10 shall now be described. From the assembled configuration of said device 10, a user places two fingers of the same hand on the outer portion 44 of the guide tube, more precisely on the strips that form the second portion 90 of the lateral surface 60. With their other hand, the user pulls on the cover 22, so as to release the opening formed by the edge 68.

The user then pivots the outer portion 44 of the guide tube with respect to the sleeve 16, around the main axis 14. The notches 28 of the sleeve 16 minimize the contact surface between the second end 26 of said sleeve and the second shoulder 66 of the guide tube 40, which facilitates the rotation movement.

As described hereinabove, said rotation movement drives the lugs 38 of the cup 18 along the helical grooves 36 and corresponding slots 50, 52. The presence of the axial play 80 between the sleeve 16 and the shoulders 64, 66 of the guide tube makes it possible to reduce the friction during the rotation of said guide tube with respect to the sleeve, which facilitates the movement of the lugs 38 in the helical grooves 36 and in the slots 50, 52.

For the application of the cosmetic product, the user adapts the position of the cup 18 according to the wear of the bullet 12, in such a way that said bullet forms a sufficient protrusion with respect to the edge 68 of the guide tube 40. Said position of the cup 18 with respect to the guide tube 40 is comprised between the retracted position and the deployed position. To put the cup back into retracted position, the user pivots in the opposite direction the outer portion 44 of the guide tube with respect to the sleeve 16, as described hereinabove.

The present invention makes it possible to realize the various mobile parts of a lipstick packaging device in the same plastic material, by obtaining a level of friction that is compatible with the use thereof. The recycling of the packaging device is thus facilitated.