The present invention relates to an assembly for packaging and applying a liquid cosmetic product.

The expression "cosmetic product" is understood to mean any product as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products.

The packaging and application assembly is intended more particularly for the application of a cosmetic product to a human keratin surface, such as the skin, the lips or the nails.

The development of formulations devoted to making up and/or caring for the skin and/or lips, having satisfactory properties in terms of application, of comfort, of wear property and of coverage, but also in terms of make-up effect, such as for example the sheen, is an ongoing objective.

Numerous packaging and application assemblies have been developed to enable a satisfactory and comfortable application of such fluid products.

Generally, an assembly for packaging and applying a cosmetic product comprises, on the one hand, a body forming a reservoir which is intended to contain the cosmetic product to be applied and, on the other hand, an applicator comprising an application member that defines an application surface intended to come into contact with a body surface of the user.

Technological background

Packaging and application assemblies are known that aim to improve the spreading of the product, while facilitating the application thereof.

By way of example, mention may in particular be made of documents JP2015062636, CN205306244, CN204635377, EP 2 332 440 and FR 2 848 790 which disclose rotary applicators for making up the face, eyes or lips.

Nevertheless, the makeup result obtained with these applicators is not completely covering and uniform.

In the particular field of making up the lips, the Juicy Shaker® lip oil product sold by Lancome with a pointed-shaped flexible applicator is known. The two- phase lip oil is shaken in the bottle. It then passes through a screen having a shape complementary to that of the applicator and that is pierced by an opening at its top, before impregnating an applicator made of porous material. To make oneself up, the user pinches the tip of the applicator, highly impregnated with lip oil, between his/her lips until the desired coverage and uniformity is obtained.

However, the specific applicator of the Juicy Shaker® lip oil and its screen are more dedicated to making up the lips due to the necessary pinching gesture during the application.

Despite the many types of packaging and application assemblies developed, there is still a need for applicators for:

optimizing the makeup result on any part of the face, including the lips, obtaining, in a simple manner, a makeup result that masks imperfections while giving the skin a natural and uniform appearance,

obtaining a "streak-free" makeup result,

obtaining a makeup result with no demarcation between the made-up zone and the unmade-up zone,

making oneself up rapidly with no need for touch-ups.

Definition of the invention

The present invention aims to achieve all or some of these objectives and for this purpose proposes a device for packaging and applying at least one cosmetic product comprising a container containing a product to be applied, an applicator of longitudinal axis X comprising a gripping portion and an application member, and a separating element positioned between the container and the applicator, the separating element comprising a bottom wall that delimits a housing suitable for at least partially receiving the application member and having at least one through-opening, the application member being movable relative to the gripping portion and the application member being mounted movably in rotation about an axis of rotation Y.

The axis of rotation Y and the longitudinal axis X may be identical or different. Particularly, the axis of rotation Y may be parallel or inclined relative to the longitudinal axis X. In particular, the axis of rotation Y may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The major idea of the invention is to be able to produce a deposition of product spot-by-spot on the applicator and to couple this spot-by-spot deposition with a rotation of the applicator for a better makeup and application result.

By means of the device according to the invention, it is possible to deposit a product virtually spot-by-spot on a rotating cosmetic applicator. It is then sufficient to rotate the applicator on the skin in order to spread the product rapidly and uniformly, without streaks.

The pleasant appearance of the applicator dotted with spots of cosmetic product may be noted, before being brought into contact with the skin.

As the cosmetic product is dispersed on the applicator in the form of discrete zones separated from one another due to the presence of the separating element, it is simple for the user to measure out the amount of product. Once the applicator is brought into contact with the skin, the user may rotate it in order to roll out the spots and spread the product more or less depending on the desired coverage. The measuring out is precise. By rolling out the spots, the user can form lines or bands. Next, the complete coverage of the face may be achieved by rolling out the spots, the lines or the bands several times with the applicator.

The discrete zones formed at the surface of the applicator may be spots or else lines, circles, stars or flowers for example, depending on the shape of the openings. The invention thus offers a wide range of geometries of the discrete zones of product.

The device according to the invention is simultaneously comfortable to use, of simple construction and ergonomics, and offers very effective makeup possibilities, in particular with multidirectional gestures.

It is very particularly suitable for making up the whole of the face or for a localized cosmetic treatment, such as an anti-wrinkle and/or concealer treatment, in the eye contour area.

Another subject of the invention is a cosmetic method for making up or caring for a body surface, in particular a surface of the face, comprising the operations consisting in:

(i) providing a device as defined above,

(ii) optionally, shaking or upturning the device or exerting a pressure on the device (squeeze), (iii) passing the product from the container to the application member,

(iv) removing the applicator from the separating element,

(v) placing the application member in contact with the surface to be treated or to be made up,

(vi) rolling the application member over the body surface, optionally while modifying the inclination of the axis of rotation Y relative to the body surface.

Main definitions

A "cross section of a component of axis X" is a section perpendicular to the axis X of the component.

The expression "longitudinal axis of a component' denotes the line connecting all the barycentres of the cross sections of a component.

"The application member is mounted movably in rotation about an axis of rotation (Y) " means that the application member can rotate about the axis Y, and in particular can rotate 360° about the axis Y, when moved in contact with the skin.

The rotation of the application member may thus be carried out manually by the user.

The "storage position" of the application member is the position of the application member when the device according to the invention is closed.

The term "opening" is understood in particular to mean an orifice, a slit, a hole. The orifice makes the container communicate with the applicator. The opening may have any shape. For example, it may have a circular, square, parallelepipedal, star- shaped or flower-shaped cross section. Preferred embodiments

Preferably, the device according to the invention has one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination:

The application member is mounted on a support and turns with the support about the axis of rotation Y. This mounting is simple to achieve. - The application member is engaged by one end in or on the support, for the mounting thereof on this support. The retention of the application member is improved. The opening is away from the longitudinal axis X of the applicator. The product is distributed about the axis X for a better spreading and result. The axis of rotation Y is coincident with the longitudinal axis X of the applicator or inclined relative thereto. The ergonomics is improved.

The separating element is mounted on the container, for greater cohesion. The application member and the separating element have at least partially complementary shapes for a better effectiveness.

The application member is of concave shape, with the concavity directed towards the gripping portion, or is straight. The application of makeup is facilitated.

The application member is of pointed shape. The application of makeup is more precise.

The openings are sealed by the application member, in the storage position of the applicator in the separating element. The application member contributes to the leaktightness of the device and the positioning thereof over the openings limits the risks of a leak.

The gripping portion and the application member may be able to be separated by the user or may be joined together.

Description of the figures

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description with reference to the appended, schematic and partial drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the separating element of the device in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through an example of an applicator according to the invention,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through another example of an applicator according to the invention. Illustrated in Figure 1 and in Figure 2 is a device for packaging and applying a cosmetic or care product, in particular makeup product, in accordance with the invention.

The device 1 comprises a container 2 containing the product P, for example a foundation. It has been represented schematically and the invention is not limited to a particular size or a particular shape of container.

The device 1 additionally comprises an applicator 12 of longitudinal axis X comprising an application member 10 intended to be received in the support 5, the latter having been illustrated in perspective on its own in Figure 3. The application member 10 is of conical general shape with a tip 17 oriented towards the bottom of the container 2.

By way of example, the application member 10 could also be, for example, of spherical, hemispherical, cubic, parallelepipedal, dodecahedral or icosahedral shape.

The application member 10 could also be dissymmetrical, for example with a bevel. This dissymmetrical shape may favour the making up of certain relatively narrow regions of the face. The shape of the separating element 11 is adapted to that of the application member 10, as a function of the result desired for the make up.

The device 1 also comprises a separating element 11 located between the container 2 and the application member 10. The separating element 11 comprises a bottom wall 13 provided with through-openings 23 that are located away from the axis X of the applicator 12. It is freely placed in its housing 7.

In the example represented, the application member 10 comprises a foam that is in the form of a solid block; it could be hollowed out at its centre.

The application member 10 could also be formed by a sponge, an elastomer, a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a felt or a frit, and/or which has reliefs, in particular bristles or spikes, and/or flocking, in a symmetrical or nonsymmetrical manner.

In particular, the application member 10 may be made at least partially, or even entirely, of silicone, of nitrile, of butyl, of latex, of vulcanizable or thermoplastic elastomer, SIS, SBS, SEBS, of polyester-type elastomer, of polyamide elastomer, of EPDM elastomer, of PVC or EVA elastomer, this list not being limiting. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the application member 10 is a material comprising open cells. Preferably, it comprises more than 50% of open cells by number relative to the total number of cells of the application member, in particular more than 80%. This is because the open cells provide a more effective storage of the product.

The applicator may also be a closed-cell material.

The application member 10 may also be covered with a sleeve for a better hold or to improve the visual effect with a mesh for example.

The applicator 12 is released from the separating element 11 and from the container 2 for the application of the product, before being placed on the separating element 11 in order to be loaded thereby.

The application member 10 has a proximal side 14 for assembling with the support 5 and an opposite distal side 15, configured to contact the skin via the application surface 16.

In the example represented, the axis of rotation Y is coincident with the longitudinal axis X of the applicator 12. The rotation of the application member 10 about the axis X is depicted by an arrow in the figures.

The application member 10 may be held in a removable or non-removable manner on the support 5, in particular by force-fitting of the proximal side 14 in a housing 33 and optional adhesive bonding, or by overmoulding.

The application member 10 may be assembled in a removable manner on the support 5, so as to be removed then washed.

The application member 10 could also, for example, comprise an annular circumferential groove enabling the snap-fastening thereof in an annular tab of the support 5 forming a fastening frame.

The application member 10 may be mounted on a cup 34 that is inserted in the cylindrical portion 37 of the housing 33. The presence of the cup 34 favours the holding of the application member 10 in the support 5.

Preferably, the volume of the application member 10 is between 0.5 cm ³ and 4 cm ³ . More preferentially, the application member is optionally rotationally symmetrical about the axis X of the applicator. The assembly formed by the application member 10 mounted on the support 5 forms a rotary element, with axial symmetry in the figures.

This rotary element cooperates with the fixed gripping portion 41. The cooperation is typically achieved by snap-fastening, the word "snap-fastening" covering any situation in which two separate parts are reversibly or irreversibly assembled by means of a certain tensile, compressive or spreading stress exerted on at least one of the parts to be assembled, said stress acting on the elasticity of said parts.

In the example represented, the snap-fastening tab 52 of the support 5 cooperates with the snap-fastening ring 53 of the gripping portion 41.

In the variant represented in Figure 4, the support 5 may comprise one or more flanges 59 positioned around the physical shaft 51, in order to facilitate the guiding in rotation while limiting friction with the gripping portion 41.

The gripping portion 41 and the support 5 may be made of thermoplastic material, for example a polyolefin.

The gripping portion 41 may be moulded from a more rigid material than the application member 10. The application member 10 may in particular be moulded at least partially from an elastomer.

In a variant represented in Figure 5, the support 5 may comprise an insert 60 of axis X penetrating into the core of the application member 10 in order to improve the guiding in rotation. For example, the insert 60 may be of cylindrical shape. The insert 60 may be made of a more rigid material than the body of the application member 10, fastened in the body of the application member 10. This insert 60 may also facilitate the fastening of the application member 10.

The separating element 11 has the shape of a cap formed by an outer mounting skirt 21 and an inner dividing wall 13 delimiting a housing 7 which is open towards the gripping portion 41 in order to receive the application member 10.

The separating element 11 may be a reducer.

The dividing wall 13 has a plurality of through-openings 23 in order to place the application member 10 and the container 2 in communication.

The openings 23 are regularly distributed about the axis X, for example over two distinct circles located at two different heights relative to the axis X. Preferably, no opening is located at the centre of the dividing wall 13, facing the tip 17 of the application member 10.

Preferably, the total area of the openings at the inlet of the separating element is between 4 mm ² and 50 mm ² , the area of each opening being between 1 mm ² and 30 mm ² in order to limit, or even prevent, clogging phenomena.

In the example represented, the separating element 11 is formed from a single part but it could be formed otherwise. The dividing wall 13 could also be borne by a ring surmounting the opening of the container.

The mounting skirt 21 also ensures a leaktightness of the device, being fastened to the neck of the container 2, for example by screwing.

The gripping portion 41 of elongate shape is able to engage in a removable manner with the mounting skirt 21, for example also by screwing to the latter.

Preferably, the centre of the openings 23 is located at a minimum distance from the axis X of 0.3 mm, and preferably of 0.5 mm, in order to ensure a better distribution of the product on the application surface 16.

The cosmetic product may be in the form of a liquid at ambient temperature (25°C) and atmospheric pressure (1.013 x 10 ⁵ Pa). More particularly, the viscosity of the composition varies between 0.1 and 2 Pa.s, preferably between 0.3 and 0.7 Pa.s. The viscosity measurement is generally carried out at 25°C using a Rheomat RM180 viscometer equipped with a no. 2 spindle, the measurement being carried out after rotating the spindle within the composition for 10 minutes (after which time stabilization of the viscosity and of the rotational speed of the spindle is observed), at 200 revolutions/min (rpm).

As an example of product, mention may be made of Lancome Teint Miracle® "02" foundation.

In order to use the device 1, the user shakes or upturns the closed device or exerts a pressure on the side walls of the container 2. Product is projected through the openings 23 of the dividing wall 13 and impregnates the application member 10 very locally at various points.

After shaking, the user opens the device and releases the applicator 12 by unscrewing. The user removes it from the container 2, by grasping the gripping portion 41. The user then places the application surface 16 impregnated with product in contact with the face. Next, the user rolls the application member, optionally by inclining it more or less, depending on the zones that the user wishes to treat or make up. Optionally, the user may bring the longitudinal axis X of the applicator almost parallel to the surface to be treated, in order to blend or spread the product. On the contrary, the user may bring the longitudinal axis X of the applicator perpendicular to the surface to be treated, for a finishing operation for example.

The rotary application member 10 makes it possible, on the one hand, to modify the appearance of the product applied relative to a conventional application and, on the other hand, to facilitate the application in many cases.

Moreover, the application member 10 may have curves adapted to the various parts of the face to be made up.

The device 1 according to the invention may have shapes other than those illustrated, for example with an application member 10 of spherical shape or a support 5 moulded as a single part with the gripping portion 41.