TITLE: Support member for a stem of an applicator for applying a product, notably a cosmetic product

The present invention relates to the field of cosmetic product applicators, and more particularly stem support members that support an applicator stem.

A “cosmetic product” is understood, in particular within the meaning of the present invention, to be a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products.

In general, an applicator comprises an applicator stem, an application member fixed to a free end of said stem, a stem support member fixed to the other free end of the applicator stem, and a cap in which the stem support member is mounted.

The application member is intended for the application of a cosmetic product, such as a makeup or care product, for example to keratin fibres, notably for the application of mascara to eyelashes or eyebrows. It would also be possible to provide an application member for the application of a lip balm or a product for the complexion, or any other cosmetic product.

The applicator is intended to be mounted removably on a container containing the cosmetic product to be applied.

Applicators that are screw-fitted onto the neck of the container are known.

In such applicators, the stem support member comprises a tapped thread intended to engage with a screw thread provided on the neck of the container. The stem support member is fixed in a cap, generally by adhesive bonding.

In order to produce such a stem support member from plastics material, it is known to provide a mould and a threaded spindle or insert positioned in the mould in order to produce the thread of the stem support member. In order to remove the stem support member from the mould, the threaded insert must be unscrewed from the stem support member. Upon closing the mould, the threaded insert is repositioned in the mould for the next injection moulding operation.

However, the repositioning of the threaded insert can create an angular offset of several degrees of the starting point of the thread, this having the effect of causing disparities in the relative axial positioning between the stem support member and the container to which it is screwed. The position of the cap will be visually different from one applicator to another, and the sealing can be reduced. In the case in which the stem support member comprises a stop projection engaging with an end-of-travel stop provided on the container, the angular offset between the stem support member and the container can mean that the stop projection fails to abut the end-of-travel stop.

Furthermore, the use of such a mould, referred to as “unscrewing” mould, increases the injection moulding cycle time and therefore the manufacturing time of the stem support member.

Furthermore, such moulds are expensive.

A solution would be to provide a fixed threaded insert and removal from the mould by force. However, such a solution requires the use of flexible plastics materials and the presence of threads with small reliefs in order to avoid tearing, this not making it possible to ensure that the stem support member is satisfactorily fixed to the container.

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks above and to improve the stem support members in order to improve the quality of the threads and to avoid any angular variation in the starting point of the thread from one stem support member to another.

Another objective of the invention is to facilitate their manufacture.

An object of the invention is a stem support member for a gripping assembly that is able to be screwed onto a container. Said stem support member extends along an axis of elongation and comprises an upper cylindrical portion and a lower cylindrical fitting portion or distal tubular fitting skirt comprising a threaded lower surface intended to be screwed onto a thread of the container.

The lower cylindrical portion comprises at least two angular skirt segments each of which is articulated with respect to the upper cylindrical portion between an initial, spaced-apart moulding position, in which the skirt segments are pivoted outwards away from the axis of elongation, and an assembled position, in which the skirt segments are pivoted inwards towards the axis of elongation.

The two skirt segments bearing the threaded surface can thus be moulded in the flat state without using a threaded insert, thereby considerably reducing the manufacturing time of the stem support member, and making it possible to reliably produce the threads. Advantageously, each angular skirt segment is connected to the upper portion by means of a hinge, each defining an axis of articulation.

According to one embodiment, the lower cylindrical portion comprises two diametrically opposite, semicylindrical angular skirt segments forming a cylinder in the assembled position.

For example, the two hinges, each of which connects an angular skirt segment, define two axes of articulations parallel and perpendicular to the axis of elongation.

Advantageously, each of the skirt segments, on its internal surface, comprises a thread portion forming the threaded surface in the assembled position.

For example, each of the skirt segments comprises a body, for example a semicylindrical body when there are two skirt segments, delimited angularly by two frontal surfaces and axially by a first end, which is connected to the upper portion, and a second end, which is opposite the first end in the assembled position, the frontal surfaces of one of the skirt segments being in contact with the frontal surfaces of the other one of the skirt segments in the assembled position.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide a circumferential clearance between two adjacent frontal surfaces. This clearance should be of the order of several hundredths of a millimetre in order to preserve a satisfactory threaded surface.

For example, each of the skirt segments comprises a snap-fitting projection which extends from the first end, is directed inwards in the moulding position and, on its internal surface, comprises at least one rib segment engaging with an annular rib provided on the external surface of the upper portion in the assembled position.

For example, each of the skirt segments also comprises a stop projection, which extends outwards from the second end in the moulding position and is intended to engage with an end-of-travel stop provided on the container.

According to one embodiment, each of the frontal surfaces of the skirt segments is provided with reliefs with matching shapes in order to ensure that the skirt segments are kept in the assembled position.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the frontal surfaces do not have any reliefs and that the skirt segments are kept in the assembled position solely by the cap surrounding said skirts.

According to one embodiment, the stem support member comprises a proximal fitting part surrounded by the lower fitting portion and intended to be secured to an applicator stem, a fixing plate connecting the lower fitting portion to the proximal fitting part, and a cylindrical fixing part extending axially with respect to the fixing plate in a direction away from the lower fitting portion, the fixing plate and the fixing part forming the upper cylindrical portion.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are defined as seen in a direction which is radial with respect to the axis of elongation. The proximal direction is closer to the axis of elongation than the distal direction.

According to one embodiment, the skirt segments are connected to the external surface of the fixing plate.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the skirt segments are connected to the cylindrical external surface of the fixing part.

In general, the upper portion comprises the fixing plate and the fixing part.

For example, the fixing part of the stem support member is offset radially inwards with respect to the lower fitting portion comprising the threaded inner surface.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a gripping assembly comprising a cap, a stem support member as described above fitted removably or otherwise in said cap, and rotation-prevention means, one on the stem support member and/or the other on the cap, for preventing the rotation of the stem support member with respect to the cap, the cap comprising a body delimiting an internal volume for receiving the stem support member, one from among the cap and the stem support member comprising at least one first snap-fitting relief engaging with at least one second snap-fitting relief provided on the other one from among the cap and the stem support member.

The first and second snap-fitting reliefs may be projecting or recessed.

Advantageously, the first snap-fitting relief is formed by a snap-fitting groove and the second snap-fitting relief is formed by a snap-fitting rib.

As a variant, the first and second snap-fitting reliefs are formed by snapfitting ribs designed to overlap when the cap is being fitted on the stem support member, so as to ensure their relative axial retention in the assembled position.

For example, the rotation-prevention means comprise a plurality of external longitudinal ribs which are provided on the outer cylindrical surface of the fixing part of the stem support member and engage with internal longitudinal ribs provided on the internal surface of the cap, such that the stem support member does not rotate when the cap is being rotated. It would also be possible to provide other forms of means for preventing rotation of the stem support member with respect to the cap.

For example, the fixing part, on its external cylindrical surface, comprises two groups of longitudinal ribs, for example evenly spaced apart.

As a variant, a different number of groups of longitudinal ribs, for example more than or equal to three, could be provided.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the fixing part, on its external cylindrical surface, comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs over the entire circumference of said part.

According to one embodiment, the internal longitudinal ribs are provided on the internal surface of the body of the cap.

For example, the plurality of internal longitudinal ribs are evenly spaced apart over the entire circumference of said internal cylindrical surface of the body of the cap.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide groups of internal longitudinal ribs, for example more than or equal to two, on the internal cylindrical surface of the body of the cap, which engage with a plurality of external longitudinal ribs evenly spaced apart over the entire circumference of said external cylindrical surface of the stem support member.

According to yet another variant, it would be possible to provide that the snapfitting reliefs form means for preventing rotation of the cap with respect to the stem support member.

Advantageously, the fixing part of the stem support member comprises, on its outer cylindrical surface, at least one rib projecting radially outwards which is intended to be snap-fitted into an annular groove provided on the cap.

For example, the fixing part of the stem support member comprises at least two angular segments of snap-fitting ribs that are diametrically opposite and evenly spaced apart from one another by two notches. Such notches make it possible in particular to render the assembly of the cap on the stem support member removable/demountable, the two angular segments of snap-fitting ribs of the fixing part of the stem support member having the ability to bend elastically inwards in the radial direction in order to be able to disassemble these two elements. As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the fixing part does not comprise a notch.

It would also be possible to provide a single annular snap-fitting rib, or else a number of angular segments of snap-fitting ribs of more than or equal to three. For example, the height of the fixing part of the stem support member is substantially equal to the height of the two skirt segments in the assembled position.

The cap and the stem support member are, for example, made of plastics material, notably a thermoplastic polymer, such as for example polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or a recycled plastics material. The cap and the stem support member are preferably made from one and the same plastics material.

According to another embodiment, the invention proposes a gripping assembly comprising a stem support member as described above and a cap, for example made of metal, such as aluminium, which is assembled in a non-demountable manner, for example by adhesive bonding, on the stem support member. In such an embodiment, the cap and the stem support member are secured to one another by glue arranged between these two elements and the gripping assembly does not require the additional implementation of rotation-prevention means between these two parts or snap-fitting reliefs on these two elements.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to an applicator comprising a gripping assembly as described above and a stem extending from the stem support member and comprising, at its lower end, opposite the gripping assembly, an application member.

The application member may be fixed to the stem by any means, and notably by force-fitting, snap-fitting, adhesive bonding, welding or crimping, in a housing provided at the lower end of said stem.

According to one embodiment, the stem and the stem support member are made in one monobloc piece.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the upper end of the stem is connected to the stem support member.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to an assembly for packaging and applying a product, notably a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator as described above and an associated container delimiting an internal volume containing a cosmetic product to be applied.

Advantageously, the body of the container is provided with a closed lower end forming a bottom and an upper end forming a neck provided with an opening, opposite the lower end, allowing access to the internal volume containing the product, the neck comprising, on its outer surface, a thread intended to engage with the threaded surface of the lower fitting portion of the stem support member of the gripping assembly.

For example, the container also comprises a wiping member suitable for wiping the stem and the application member.

The present invention will be understood better from studying the detailed description of embodiments that are given by way of entirely non-limiting example and are illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig 1] is a view in section of an assembly for packaging and applying a product, comprising a stem support member according to one embodiment of the invention;

[Fig 2]

[Fig 3] are perspective views of the stem support member in Figure 1, in an assembled position;

[Fig 4]

[Fig 5] are perspective views of the stem support member in Figure 1 in an initial moulding position; and

[Fig 6] is a view in section of an assembly for packaging and applying a product, comprising a stem support member according to another embodiment of the invention.

In the rest of the description, reference will be made to an orthonormal system X, Y, Z, where Z corresponds to an axis of elongation representing the vertical direction in which is found:

- a longitudinal axis X, which is horizontal and extends from left to right in Figure 1;

- a transverse axis Y, which is horizontal, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and extends from front to rear in Figure 1 ; and

- a vertical axis Z, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X and transverse axis Y and extends from bottom to top in Figure 1.

The expressions “upper” and “lower” refer to the upper part and the lower part of the figures, in the assembled position of the assembly.

As illustrated in Figure 1, an assembly 10 for packaging and applying a product extends axially along an axis X-X’ presumed to be vertical in Figure 1.

The assembly 10 for packaging and applying a product comprises an application device or applicator 20 and an associated container 30 delimiting an internal volume 31 containing said product to be applied to a user’s keratin fibres or epidermis, for example mascara or a care product, or a lip balm.

The container 30 extends along a longitudinal overall axis X-X’, shown in a position presumed to be vertical.

The body of the container 30 is provided with a closed lower end 32 forming a bottom and an upper end 33 forming a neck provided with an opening 34, opposite the lower end 32, allowing access to the internal volume 31 containing the product. In a variant, provision could be made for the body of the container not to comprise a neck and for the opening to be made in a free edge of said container.

In the embodiment illustrated, the neck 33 has an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the body of the container 30 and comprises, on its outer surface, a thread 33a that is intended to engage with a corresponding internal thread 62a of a gripping assembly 40 of the applicator 20. The body of the container 30 may be made, for example, of rigid synthetic material or glass.

As illustrated, the gripping assembly 40 of the applicator 20 forms a top for closing the container 30 that is designed to be fixed to the neck 33 of the container in order to close said container in a sealed manner when it is not in use.

The gripping assembly 40 of the applicator 20 comprises a cap 50 and a stem support member 60 mounted removably or otherwise in said cap 50.

The applicator 20 also comprises a stem 22 extending from the stem support member 60 and comprising, at its lower end 22a, opposite the gripping assembly 40, an application member (not shown). The application member may be fixed to the stem 22 by any means, and notably, in the example illustrated, by force-fitting, snap-fitting, adhesive bonding, welding or crimping, in a housing 22b provided at the lower end 22a of said stem 22.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the stem 22 and the stem support member 60 are made in one monobloc piece.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the upper end 22c of the stem 22 is connected to the stem support member 60, as illustrated in the example of Figure 6.

The container 30 also comprises a wiping member 36 suitable for wiping the stem 22 and the application member.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the wiping member 36 comprises a cylindrical body 36a with an outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the neck 33 of the container 30. The body is delimited by two opposite ends, with one of the ends being in radial contact with the outer surface of the stem 22. The body, on its outer surface, comprises a retaining member 36b for retaining it on the container 30, for example in the form of an annular bulge that is snap-fitted in a complementary shape on the container 30.

The wiping member 36, at a first free end of the body, also has an annular wiping lip 36c, defining with its free end a wiping orifice 36d with a substantially circular cross section. This wiping lip 36d extends in the direction of the stem 22 and is dimensioned so as to press at least against said stem 22, or even against the applicator member (not shown) as the applicator 20 is removed from the container 30. The wiping lip 36d in this case extends obliquely with respect to the body 36a towards the longitudinal axis X-X’ .

The inside diameter of the orifice 36d is preferably less than or equal to the outside diameter of the stem 22, so as to prevent the product contained in the container 30 from escaping out of said container 30.

The body 36a of the wiping member 36, at a second end opposite the first end, comprises an annular flange 36e having an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the neck 33 of the container and less than the inside diameter of the distal fitting skirt 62 of the stem support member 60.

The collar 36e bears axially against the neck 33 of the container 30.

As a variant, the wiping member 36 could be of any suitable type, notable that illustrated and described with reference to Figure 6.

The stem support member 60 comprises a distal tubular fitting skirt 62, or lower fitting portion, comprising a threaded inner surface 62a that is intended to be screwed onto the thread 33a of the neck of the container 30.

The stem support member 60 also comprises a proximal fitting part 64 surrounded by the distal fitting skirt 62 and secured to an applicator stem 22.

The distal mounting skirt 62 and the proximal fitting part 64 are connected to each other by a fitting plate or shoulder 66.

The distal tubular fitting skirt 62 comprises two diametrically opposite, angular skirt segments 63, 65, each of which is articulated with respect to the fixing plate 66 between an initial, spaced-apart mounting position, visible in Figures 4 and 5, in which the skirt segments 63, 65 are pivoted away from the proximal fitting part 64, and an assembled position, visible in Figures 1 to 3, in which the skirt segments 63, 65 are pivoted so as to surround the proximal mounting part 64.

To that end, each of the skirt segments 63, 65 is mounted on the fixing plate 66 by means of at least one hinge 63 a, 65a, for example of film hinge type, each defining an axis of articulation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X’ of the stem support member 60.

In the moulding position, the axes of extension of the two angular skirt segments 63, 65 advantageously coincide and are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X’ of the stem support member 60.

Each of the skirt segments 63, 65 comprises a semicylindrical body delimited angularly by two frontal surfaces 63b, 65b and axially by a first end 63c, 65c, which is connected to the plate 66, and a second end 63d, 65d, which is opposite the first end.

In the assembled position, the frontal surfaces 63b of one of the segments 63 are in contact with the frontal surfaces 65b of the other one of the segments 65 and the skirt segments form a cylinder.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide a circumferential clearance, for example of the order of several hundredths of a millimetre, between the frontal surfaces.

As a variant, a different number of skirt segments, for example more than or equal to two, for example equal to three or four, could be provided.

As illustrated, each of said frontal surfaces 63b, 65b is provided with reliefs 63i, 65i with matching shapes in order to ensure that the skirt segments 63, 65 are kept in the assembled position. As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the frontal surfaces 63b, 65b do not have any reliefs and that the skirt segments are kept in the assembled position solely by the cap 50 surrounding said skirts 63, 65.

The body of each of the skirt segments 63, 65, on its internal surface, comprises a thread portion 63e, 65e.

In this case, the skirt segments 63, 65 have the shape of two half-cylinders, so that, in the assembled position, the skirt segments 63, 65 form the tubular fitting skirt 62 and the thread portions 63e, 65e form the thread 62a.

Each of the skirt segments 63, 65 comprises at least one snap-fitting projection 63f, 65f which extends from the first end 63c, 65c, is directed towards the proximal fitting skirt 64 in the moulding position and, on its internal surface, comprises an angular rib segment 63g, 65g engaging with an annular rib 66a provided on the external surface of the plate 66 in the assembled position.

Each of the skirt segments 63, 65 may also comprise a stop projection 63h, 65h, which extends outwards from the second end 63d, 65d in the moulding position and is intended to engage with an end-of-travel stop (not visible in Figure 1) provided on the container 30.

The distal tubular skirt 62 comprising the threaded surface 62a is thus moulded in the flat state without using a threaded insert, thereby considerably reducing the manufacturing time of the stem support member, and making it possible to reliably and repeatedly produce the threads.

As illustrated, the proximal fitting part 64 is in radial contact with the internal surface of the wiping member 36 in order to seal the applicator 20 in the position in which the internal volume 31 of the container visible in Figure 1 is blocked.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the proximal fitting part 64 is thinner and is not in radial contact with the inner surface of the wiping member 36. In this case, it would be possible to provide an annular sealing lip which extends axially from the plate 66 towards the container 30 and is disposed radially between the distal fitting skirt 62 and the proximal fitting part 64 so as to come into radial contact with the wiping member 36 or with the internal surface 34 of the neck 33 of the container in the case in which the wiping member 36 is fitted at a distance from the end of said neck 33, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6.

As illustrated, the stem support member 60 also comprises a cylindrical fixing part 68 which is intended for fixing it to the cap 50 and extends axially with respect to the fixing plate 66 in a direction away from the distal fitting skirt 62.

In this instance, the fixing part 68 of the stem support member 60 is offset radially inwards with respect to the distal fitting skirt 62 interfacing with the neck 33 of the container 30 supporting the tapped thread 62a.

As illustrated, the height of the fixing part 66 is substantially equal to the height of the distal fitting skirt 62.

In general, it would be possible to provide that the stem support member 60 comprises a cylindrical upper portion formed by the plate 66 and the fixing part 68 and that the tapped-threaded portion formed by the distal fitting skirt 62 is connected to said upper portion by the hinges 63a, 65a. Specifically, it would be possible to provide that the fixing part 68 and the plate 66 form just one part. As illustrated, the hinges 63a, 65a are connected on the upper part of the external surface of the plate 66. As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the hinges 63 a, 65a are connected on another part of the external surface of the plate 66. It would also be possible to provide that the hinges 63a, 65a are connected to the cylindrical external surface of the fixing part 68.

The fixing part 68 of the stem support member 60, on its outer cylindrical surface 68a, comprises a snap-fitting rib 68b which projects radially outwards and is intended to be snap-fitted into an annular groove 55 provided on the cap 50 for the snap-fitting of said cap 50.1 The annular groove 55 provided on the cap 50 forms in this case a first snap-fitting relief and the snap-fitting rib 68b provided on the stem support member 60 forms in this case a second snap-fitting relief. As a variant, it would be possible to provide a reversal of the structure consisting in arranging a snapfitting groove on the stem support member that is intended to engage with a snapfitting rib arranged on the cap without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, and as illustrated, the snap-fitting groove 55 is preferably recessed in the inner surface of the cap. As a variant, however, it would be possible to provide that the snap-fitting groove is defined between two ribs projecting from the inner surface of the cap.

As illustrated, the fixing part 68 of the stem support member 60 comprises two angular segments 68b of snap-fitting ribs that are diametrically opposite and evenly spaced apart from one another by two notches 68c.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the fixing part 68 does not comprise a notch.

It would also be possible to provide a single annular snap-fitting rib, or else a number of angular segments of snap-fitting ribs of more than or equal to three.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the stem support member 60 comprises an annular snap-fitting groove and that the cap 50 comprises one or more angular segments of snap-fitting slots engaging with said groove.

In general, one from among the cap 50 and the stem support member 60 comprises at least one first snap-fitting relief engaging with at least one second snapfitting relief provided on the other one of the cap 50 and the stem support member 60.

The first and second snap-fitting reliefs may be projecting or recessed. According to yet another variant, it would be possible to provide that the first and second snap-fitting reliefs are formed by snap-fitting ribs designed to overlap when the cap 50 is being fitted on the stem support member 60, so as to ensure their relative axial retention in the assembled position.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide any other means for fixing the cap 50 to the stem support member 60.

In particular, it would be possible to provide that the cap 50, for example made of metal, such as aluminium, is assembled in a non-demountable manner, for example by adhesive bonding, on the stem support member.

The fixing part 68 of the stem support member 60, on its outer cylindrical surface 68a, also comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs 68d, visible in Figure 2, which project radially outwards.

As illustrated, the fixing part 68, on its external cylindrical surface, comprises two groups of longitudinal ribs 68d, for example evenly spaced apart. As a variant, a different number of groups of longitudinal ribs, for example more than or equal to three, could be provided.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the fixing part 68, on its external cylindrical surface, comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs 68d over the entire circumference of said part 68.

Said external longitudinal ribs 68d engage with internal longitudinal ribs 57 provided on the internal surface of the cap 50 such that the stem support member 60 does not rotate when the cap 50 is being rotated.

It would also be possible to provide other forms of means for preventing rotation of the stem support member 60 with respect to the cap 50.

In general, the stem support member 60 and the cap 50 comprise rotationprevention means for preventing the rotation of the stem support member 60 with respect to the cap 50.

The cap 50 comprises a body 52 with a hollow-cylindrical overall shape delimiting an internal volume 53 for receiving the stem support member 60.

The body 52 of the cap 50 is provided with a closed upper surface 56 and an open lower surface 58, opposite the upper surface 56, making it possible to access the internal volume 53.

As illustrated, and entirely without limitation, the body 52 of the cap 50 comprises a lower part or first part 54a radially surrounding the distal fitting skirt 62 of the stem support member 60 and an upper part or second part 54b radially surrounding the fixing part 68 of the stem support member 60.

The lower part 54a and the upper part 54b extend axially in the continuation of one another between the closed upper end 56 and the open lower end 58.

The body 52 of the cap 50 has an outer diameter which is substantially constant and advantageously substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body of the container 30.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the internal surface of the body 52 of the cap 50 has a stepped inside diameter.

To that end, the lower part 54a has an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the upper part 54b. In other words, the lower part 54a has a smaller thickness than the thickness of the upper part 54b of the cap 50.

The lower part 54a is connected to the upper part 54b via an internal shoulder 54c.

A “shoulder” is understood to be any surface that is substantially normal to the axis of elongation of a cylindrical component resulting from an abrupt change in diameter.

In the variant embodiment in which the first and second snap-fitting reliefs are formed by snap-fitting ribs designed to overlap when the cap 50 is being fitted onto the stem support member 60, the engagement of the snap-fitting ribs provided on the cap 50 and the stem support member 60 ensure the axial retention of the cap with respect to the stem support member in a first axial direction and prevents these two elements from being moved away from one another axially. Advantageously, in this variant, when the stem support member 60 and the cap are in the assembled position, the internal shoulder 54c of the cap 50 bears axially against the fixing plate 66 of the stem support member 60 so as to ensure the axial retention of the cap with respect to the stem support member in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, and to prevent these two elements from being moved close to one another axially.

The lower part 54a with the smallest thickness has a height less than 20 mm, for example less than or equal to 15 mm. In particular, the lower part 54a with the smallest thickness of the cap 50 has a height greater than or equal to the height of the lower cylindrical fitting portion 62 comprising the threaded inner surface 62a of the stem support member 60. The lower part 54a is located axially at least at the level of the tapped thread 62a of the stem support member 60 and preferably, as illustrated, at the level of the tapped thread 62a and the fixing plate 66 of the stem support member 60.

The lower part 54a is in radial contact with the external surface of the distal fitting skirt 62.

The upper part 54b comprises a groove 55, in this case annular, in which the snap-fitting ribs 68b of the stem support member 60 are snap-fitted.

The groove 55 is located at the level of the upper part 54b of greatest thickness in order to avoid problems relating to shrinkage marks that are visible on the outer face of the cap and can appear when the cap 50 is being cooled after moulding. Such problems relating to shrinkage marks, which can be seen from the outside and adversely affect the attractiveness of the cap, could have occurred if the groove was present at the level of a part of smallest thickness of the cap.

The upper part 54b, on its internal cylindrical surface, also comprises a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs 57 evenly spaced apart over the entire circumference of said internal cylindrical surface.

The internal longitudinal ribs 57 engage with the longitudinal ribs 68d of the stem support member 60.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide groups of internal longitudinal ribs 57, for example more than or equal to two, which engage with a plurality of external longitudinal ribs 68d evenly spaced apart over the entire circumference of said external cylindrical surface of the stem support member 60.

According to yet another variant, it would be possible to provide that the rotation prevention function between the cap 50 and the stem support member 60 is ensured by the snap-fitting reliefs 55, 68b provided on the cap 50 and the stem support member 60, respectively, notably by designing discontinuous snap-fitting reliefs along the circumference of the cap 50 and of the stem support member 60. For example, it would thus be possible to provide a discontinuous snap-fitting groove 55, formed by multiple angular groove segments that are made in the upper part 54b of the cap 50 and are designed to receive corresponding snap-fitting ribs 68b provided on the upper cylindrical portion 68 of the stem support member 60.

As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the wall forming the body 52 of the cap 50 has a single constant thickness over its entire height. The cap 50 and the stem support member 60 are advantageously made of plastics material, notably a thermoplastic polymer, such as for example polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or a recycled plastics material. The cap 50 and the stem support member 60 are preferably made from one and the same plastics material. It would also be possible for the cap 50 to be made of metallic material, such as aluminium.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, in which the same elements bear the same references, differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 only in that the stem support member 60 and the applicator stem 22 are separated and in the shape of the wiping member 37.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the rod 22 is separate from the stem support member 60 and is connected to said stem support member 60 by its upper end 22c, opposite the free lower end 22a connected to the application endpiece.

In this case, the fitting part 64 is a tubular fitting skirt.

The distal and proximal fitting skirts 62, 64 are coaxial.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the wiping member 37 comprises a tubular body 37a with an outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the neck 33 of the container 30. The body, on its outer surface, comprises a retaining member 37b for retaining it on the container 30, for example in the form of an annular bulge that is snap-fitted in a complementary shape on the container 30.

The wiping member 37, at a first free end of the body 37a, also has an annular wiping part 37c, defining with its free end a wiping orifice 37d with a substantially circular cross section.

This wiping part 37c has in this case a frustoconical form and extends in the direction of the stem 22.

The wiping part 37c is dimensioned so as to press at least against said stem 22, or even against the applicator member (not shown) as the applicator 20 is removed from the container 30.

The inside diameter of the orifice 37c of the wiping part 37c is preferably less than or equal to the outside diameter of the stem 22, so as to prevent the product contained in the container 30 from escaping out of said container 30.

The body 37a of the wiping member 36 comprises a second upper end 37e and an end portion 37f located axially between said second upper end 37e and the retaining member 37b. The end portion 37f has a thickness that varies along its length. The thickness of the end portion 37f decreases in the direction of the upper end 37e of the tubular body.

As a variant, a constant thickness of the end portion 37f could be provided.

As illustrated, in this case the upper end of the body 37a of the wiping member 37 is offset axially towards the container 30 with respect to the upper end of the neck 33 of the container 30.

As illustrated, the wiping part 37c extends axially beyond the lower end of the neck 33 of the container 30 in the internal volume 31. As a variant, it would be possible to provide that the wiping part does not extend in the internal volume 31 but only in the neck 33, like in the embodiment of Figure 1.

As a variant, the wiping member 37 could be of any suitable type, notable that illustrated and described with reference to Figure 1.

As illustrated, the stem support member 60 comprises an annular sealing lip 67 extending axially from the fixing plate 66 and radially disposed between the distal fitting skirt 62 and the proximal fitting skirt 64.

The annular sealing lip 67 has an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the open end of the neck 33 of the container 30 in order to be inserted, in sealed radial contact, into said open end.

By virtue of the two-part configuration of the distal fitting skirt of the stem support member, what is obtained is a stem support member that is easy to manufacture using a single mould with a view to moulding it in the flat state from a plastics material.

In addition, it is ensured that there is no variability in the thread from one stem support member to another.