MXPA98009378A - Device for storing and applying,including a container,an ergonomic applicator and a wiper - Google Patents

Abstract

La presente invención es concerniente con los dispositivos de acondicionamiento y de aplicación de un producto líquido, pastoso o pulvurulento, en particular un producto cosmético.

Description

DEVICE / CONDITIONING AND APPLICATION COMPRISING A CONTAINER, AN ERGONOMIC APPLICATOR AND A DRYING DEVICE Description of the invention The present invention is concerned with the conditioning and application devices of a liquid, pasty or powdery product , in particular a cosmetic product. The object of the invention is more particularly a device of the type comprising a container open at one end, capable of containing the product and an applicator comprising at one end an application element and at the other end a fastening element, which can serve also of closing cap of the container. The application element and the fastening element are joined by a link member such as a bar. It is known from the international application WO 97/31553 a device in which the application element, the bar and the fastening element are aligned and in which the application element is introduced into the container and removed from the latter through a drying member constituted at least in part by an elastically deformable porous material such as a foam having at least 5% open cells. The object of the present invention is to propose a new device of the type mentioned above, which allows REF. : 28803 in particular to facilitate the operation of makeup and to further increase the possibilities of applying new cosmetic products or for personal adornment. The conditioning and application device according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the application element, the fastening element and the linking member are not aligned. In other words, the at least one of the link member and the application element is curved or bent, so that the application element is offset relative to the direction of the link member in its region adjacent to the fastening element. The applicant has ascertained, after having realized the invention that, even tilted in relation to the axis of the drying member, the application element could, quite surprisingly, be dried satisfactorily by the drying member, when it could be expected a priori an unsatisfactory drying due to this inclination. The invention allows, in particular, to make more ergonomic applicators, which facilitate the operation of make-up and which allow the user to apply even more precise makeup. In a particular embodiment, the link member is bent.

Still in a particular embodiment, the connecting member is constituted by a rod that widens at its opposite end to the fastening element to form a housing that serves for fixing the application element. This housing can extend in a direction that forms a non-zero angle with the direction of the bar in its region adjacent to the housing. On the other hand, there is a great diversity of possibilities to realize the application element. In a particular embodiment, the application element is curved. In another particular embodiment, the application element is remarkably flat and forms an angle with the direction of the link member in its region adjacent to the fastening element. In another particular embodiment, the application element has corrugations. In another particular embodiment, the application element comprises a core of a rigid or semi-rigid material, which is connected to the connecting member and forms an elbow. Still in a particular embodiment, the application element is made at least partially of an injected plastic material, for example an elastomer.

In a particular embodiment, the application element comprises bristles. In a particular embodiment, the application element is asymmetric. In a particular embodiment, the application element comprises at least one helical filament. In another particular embodiment, the application element has a curved general shape. In another particular embodiment, the application element comprises one or more slits or cavities. The conditioning and application device according to the invention can be used in particular for the makeup of the eyes, the application of a varnish for the nails or the like or even the application of a lipstick or the like, the shape and the characteristics of the application element, as well as the height and density of the porous material of the drying organ are chosen according to the nature of the product, its destination and the desired effect. Preferably, the connecting member has a cross section smaller than that of the application element in its region extending to the contact of the drying member when the applicator is in place in the container. When the connecting member is constituted by a bar, the diameter thereof, in its region extending in contact with the drying member when the applicator is in place in the container, is preferably between 0.2 and 2 mm and preferably even between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the drying member is constituted by a block of split or axially slotted foam, the edges of the slot or slits are joined at rest. When the foam block comprises several slits, they can be arranged in a cross or star pattern. Thus, the drying is preferably carried out by means of a foam block which is not substantially deformed by the connecting member when the applicator is in place, which comprises at least one slit and which has the ability to be closed again afterwards. of the exit of the applicator. The use of such a drying device makes it possible to obtain very good results in terms of homogeneity of the distribution of the product on the application element. Preferably, the application element extends in the extension of the connecting member when it is connected to the latter by an axial end, the other axial end of the application element constitutes the free end of the applicator. Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which is hereinafter provided, non-limiting embodiments of the invention and examination of the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1 to 4 represent 'respectively schematically and in axial section, four conditioning and application devices according to variants of application of the invention, - figures 5 and 6 are two perspective schematic views showing individually a container and an applicator conforming to a fifth example of embodiment of the invention, - figures 7 to 15 schematically represent various variants of embodiment of the application element, - figures 16 to 18 illustrate the use of applicators according to the invention for the makeup of the eyes, the application of varnish for the nails and lipstick respectively tea. The packaging and application device 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a container 11 open at one end and an applicator 12. The latter comprises a rectilinear rod 13 of the X axis, provided at one end with a fastening element 14, which it also constitutes a closing cap for the container 11. The bar 13 comprises at the other end an application element 15.

The container 11 comprises a neck 18 which houses a drying member constituted by a block of foam 16.

This drying member 16 is fixed by its radially outer surface in the neck 17, by gluing (gluing) for example. The clamping member 14 comprises an internally threaded mounting skirt 18, intended to be screwed into an external threading of the neck 17 of the container 11. The foam blog 16 mentioned above is slit or grooved axially in the plane of Figure 1 to allow the step of the application element 15 when the latter is removed from the container 11, to be used. Reference could be made usefully to the international application WO 97/31553 which describes various embodiments of the drying member. Preferably, care is taken that the foam of the drying member 16 is not excessively compressed by the bar 13 of the applicator 12 when the latter is in place in the container, to avoid any risk of permanent deformation of the foam, which could damage the drying quality. The foam block 16 may comprise an axial recess with a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than that of the part of the rod 13 at its contact or otherwise axially grooved.

The bar 13 can be metal in its part of smaller diameter, the diameter of this part is comprised for example between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. It will be noted on the other hand that gluing the foam blog 16 to the neck of the container 11 allows it to be reinforced in its height and to prevent it from compressing axially during the passage of the application element 15. The bar 13 is widened at its lower end to form a housing 19 of the X axis, which serves for fixing the application element 15 and in which the latter is inserted partially. The application element 15 can have any structure adapted to the type of makeup to which it is intended. In the example described, the application element is curved and extends according to a direction that forms a progressively increasing angle with the X axis, as it approaches its free extremity. In the vicinity of the latter, the application element extends according to a direction Y which forms an angle of approximately 60 ° for example with the axis X. The container 11 is filled with a cosmetic product, preferably a liguid one, not shown for clarity of the drawings.

Surprisingly, the application element 15 can be dried through the foam block 16 in a homogeneous manner, without leaving traces of excess product, which could impair the quality of the make-up. This result is obtained thanks to the porosity and the deformability of the foam block 16, which can be impregnated by a part of the product present in excess in certain parts of the application element 15 and on the other hand discharge by capillarity the product in other parts of the application element, insufficiently loaded of the product. The foam block 16 is adapted to dry the bar 13 when the applicator 12 is removed from the container 11 to be used or when it is put back in its place. A drying as such of the bar 13 is proved particularly advantageous because it allows to prevent a solid residue from forming therein when drying. An open cell, polyurethane or polyester foam can be used to make the drying organ for example. A foam as such preferably comprises at least 5% open cells, wherein the diameter is preferably between 5 microns and 3 mm. As an example, the height of the foam block 16 is between 1.5 mm and 80 mm.

According to the density of the foam and the height of the foam block, the drying element will conform more or less well to the contour of the application element during its travel through the foam block. Studies have shown that it can be deposited on the application element, in certain cases, a film of product that molds perfectly to the profile of the application element and in other cases a film of the product stretched by surface tension and that erases or blurs the relief of the application element. In a general manner, in addition the application element is soft, it tends to deform when passing through the foam block and less product remains in the application element after drying. In particular, when the application element is a brush, then the bristles thereof are soft, since they tend to tilt and approach the axis of the brush in the path of the drying member and there is less of the product in the brush, once the applicator is completely removed from the container. The bristles can have any orientation at rest, for example perpendicular to the axis of the fastening element. It will also be noted that, if the product contained in the container is a liquid cosmetic product in which the solvent is water, for example an aqueous formula of an acrylic resin or polyurethane, the foam block may retain sufficient moisture until the product exhausts in the container to prevent cross-linking of the resin in its breast, which allows it to wet the bar and the application element in its path. The block of foam that constitutes the drying organ can exercise both: - a mechanical action of drying and cleaning the application element when tightening the latter and when scraping the excess product and any solid residues resulting from drying of the product when it is a liguid or a paste, - an absorption action by capillarity, - an absorption action by aspiration when it returns to its initial shape after having been compressed locally by the passage of the application element and - optionally a product impregnation action when the application element is less loaded with product than the drying member. It will be noted that the container 11 is large enough so that the application element 15 does not touch its wall when the applicator 12 is in place on the container. It will also be noted that the opening of the container 11 is large enough to allow the passage of the element of the container. application 15 to its exit or to its entrance to the container 11. To remove the applicator 12, the user unscrews the fastening element 14, then moves it upwards, parallel to the axis X. The application element 15 can present a shape that it allows it to pass through the foam block 16 without the user having to tilt the bar 13. It is understood that the application element 15 passes very easily through the foam block 16 which is itself elastically deformable. The shape of the application element 15 can still induce the user to naturally tilt the bar 13 to the moment where the application element 15 passes through the foam block 16. To replace the applicator in place, the user inserts the application 15 to the opening of the container and pushes the application element 15 through the foam block 16. Preferably, the latter is sufficiently flexible to allow entry of the application element 15 without the user having to exercise particular attention or to drive the application element 15 to a given orientation. In the description that follows, the drying member is similar and retains reference 4 in Figures 2 to 4. It is not described again in detail and reference is made to the preceding description. The conditioning and application device 20 shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the device 10 described above with respect to the fastening element and the upper part of the container, here it is called with the number 21. The applicator, in the present denominated 22, comprises a rectilinear bar 23 of the X axis to its lower end where it widens to form an inclined housing 28 which serves for the fixing of the application element 25. The housing 28 extends according to a Y axis that forms with the X axis of the bar 23 an angle w preferably greater than 10 ° and lower than 60 °, equal to approximately 45 ° in the described example. The application element 25 is remarkably rectilinear to the Y axis at rest but could be curved in a variant not shown. It should be noted that in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the bar 23 is inclined a little to re-introduce or remove the application element, because it is longer than the inner radius of the neck of the container. The closure of the container can be secured in a different way from that of fastening the fastening element to the neck of the container and as an example, a conditioning and application device 30 is shown in FIG. 3 in which the fastening element it is retained by friction on the neck of the container 31. The applicator, hereinafter referred to as 32, comprises an elbow bar 33 comprising two rectilinear portions forming between them an angle v, preferably comprised between 10 and 60 °, equal to approximately 30 ° in the example described. The elbow 36 of the bar is located immediately below the foam block 16 when the applicator 32 is in place. The application element 35 extends in the extension of the lower rectilinear part 34 of the bar 33. As an example, the application element 35 is represented with a maximum transverse dimension to a little twice the diameter of the enlarged portion 38 of the bar 33 at its lower end, this enlarged part 38 defines a housing used for fixing the application element 35. In the embodiment of figure 4, the link member between the fastening element, designated 44 and the application element, called 43, comprise two rectilinear and parallel branches 41, which are connected at their lower end around a housing 42 that serves for fixing the element application 43. The latter is constituted in the present by a plurality of concentric loops arranged substantially parallel to the same plane that forms with the plane the branches 41, a dihedral where the angle r of the vertex is preferably comprised between 100 and 170 °. The plane of the branches 41 is parallel to the plane of cut-out of figure 4 and to the plane of the groove made in the foam block 16 to allow the passage of the application element 43. They can advantageously be provided here, in the neck of the container and in the fastening element 44, means for evaluating the rotation of the fastening element in relation to the neck of the container, so that, when the applicator is in place, the plane of the branches 41 is in the plane of the slit of the foam block 16. The diameter of the branches 41 is as small as possible to deform the foam very little.

A conditioning and application device 50 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in which the application element 52 is of great length and has undulations. The container is represented individually in FIG. 5 and the applicator 51 in FIG. 6. The drying member is constituted by a block of foam 56 of substantially parallelepiped shape, slit or grooved in a sufficient length to allow the passage of the element. application 52. The connecting member 53 joined to the application element 52 and the fastening element 54 is constituted by a flat wall, which is thickened at its lower end to form a throat intended for fixing the application element 52. The fastening element 54 comprises a skirt that surrounds the link member 53, capable of being adjusted in the container to seal it tightly and hold the applicator 51 in place. The application element 52 can be dried correctly despite its undulations, thanks to the deformability of the foam. The latter can thus present sufficient flexibility to contact the gaps of the application element.

In the example described, the application element 52 extends in a direction that forms an angle of approximately 45 ° with the flat wall of the link member 53. In general, the use of a block of foam to perform the drying allows a great diversity of forms for the application element. As an example, an application element 71 having a curved shape about an axis z is shown in FIG. 7, which forms with the axis of the link member 74 an angle u preferably comprised between 10 and 60 °, the application element 71 has a cross section, in a plane of cutting perpendicular to the axis 2, the general shape of an arc of a circle. The side edges 72 of the application element 71 slightly diverge in distance from the link member 74 and the edge 73 farthest from the link member 74 has, in the described example, a slightly concave shape towards the outside. The application element 71 is for example intended for the application of the product on the surface of a nail. The application element 80 shown in FIG. 8 has a dissymmetrical shape, is provided with a notch or notch 81 on one side.

This application element 80 is made, for example, of a porous material. By choosing the foam of the drying member sufficiently dense so that it does not reach the bottom of the notch 81 during drying, it is ensured that there remains product at the bottom of the notch 81 after drying. Thus, the notch 81 can constitute a reservoir of the product that allows the autonomy of the applicator to be extended to the outside of the container. The application element 80 extends in a direction that forms a non-zero angle with the axis of the link member 82, as can be seen in figure 8. The application element 80 on the other hand comprises grooves as illustrated. The application element 85 shown in FIG. 9 comprises a helical filament in which the axis Z forms an angle t with the axis X of the rod 86. This angle t may be approximately 30 ° for example. An application element 90 is shown in FIG. 10, comprising a web 91 made of semi-rigid plastic material comprising two branches 91 and 92 connected by an elbow 93., the branch 92 is engaged in a housing formed in the lower end of the bar 95 of the applicator. The other branch 81 serves to reinforce and support a block of foam 84 intended for the application of the product. An application element 100 is shown in FIG. 11, which has an elongated general shape according to an axis U, with a substantially trapezoidal cross section. Each face of the application element is slightly hollow, concave to the outside. The application element 100 has a threaded end 101. The application element 100 is made, for example, by injection of rigid, semi-rigid or elastomeric plastic material. In the example described, the application element 100 is inserted into a housing formed in the lower end 102 of the bar 103 of the applicator, this housing forms a non-zero angle with the X axis of the bar 103. In a variant not shown, The application element is made by molding in one piece with the bar. The application element can still be constituted by a brush where the contour can be any and in particular have parts of more or less important diameter, as illustrated by the applicator 105 shown in Figure 12.

This applicator 105 comprises a metallic reinforcement 106 constituted by braided metal wires and which hold the bristles 107, the axis of the brush forms an angle s of 30 ° for example with the X axis of the bar 108. In this example, the reinforcement 106 it is bent and fixed to the interior of a housing formed in an extension or widening 109 of the bar 108 at its lower end, this housing is of the axis X. In a variant not shown, this housing is inclined and the armature of the brush is completely rectilinear An application element 112 is shown in FIG. 13 in which the surface is flocculated, that is, covered with fine hairs. It will be noted in the examination of this figure that the application element 112 presents a non-symmetrical shape in relation to the X axis of the bar 113 of the applicator. Because of this asymmetric shape, it can be considered that the application element 112 is not placed in alignment with the bar 113. A curvilinear application element 115 is shown in FIG. 14, which extends substantially according to a quarter of a circle which has a generally circular section and a gridded surface.

This applicator, wherein the general shape is similar to that of the applicator 15 described above, is realized for example by injection of plastic material. FIG. 15 shows an applicator 118 made by molding plastic material, which has grooves or cavities 119. These grooves or cavities 119 allow to preserve by surface tension a stock of the product inside the application element 118 after drying, since the drying organ can hardly reach them. The use of the applicators 10 and 20 described above for eye makeup is illustrated in Figure 16. The use of an off-center application element allows the user to put on the eyes more easily. On the other hand, an off-center application element according to the invention, for example the application element 72 described above, is very ergonomically tested to apply a product on the nails, as illustrated in Figure 17. Finally, the element of asymmetric application 112 allows for example the user to put on makeup. lips, as illustrated in figure 18.

A conditioning and application device according to the invention can still serve the application of a capillary product for example. It will be noted that, when a bar is used as the link member, the holder can have any orientation in relation to the neck of the container when the applicator is in place provided that the container is large enough to accept or receive the container. application element whatever its orientation around the neck axis of the container. In all the embodiments, the link member preferably has a certain flexibility. Of course, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and covers in particular all the variants made from the combination of the appropriate characteristics of each of the described embodiments. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (22)

1. Claims 1. A device for packaging and applying a liquid, doughy or powdery product, in particular a cosmetic product, characterized in that it comprises a container open at one end, suitable for containing the product, an applicator comprising -an extremity a application element, at the other end a fastening element and a linking member joining the application element and the fastening element, the device further comprises a drying member constituted at least in part by an elastically deformable porous material, the application element, the fastening element and the connecting member are not linked. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drying member is constituted by a block of split or axially slotted foam, the edges of the slit or slits are joined at rest. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the application element extends in the extension of the connecting member and is connected to the latter by an axial end of the application element constituting the free end of the applicator. 4. The device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the link member is bent. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the link member is constituted by a rod that is widened at its opposite end to the clamping element to form a housing that serves for fixing the application element . The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing extends in a direction that forms a non-zero angle with the direction of the bar in its region adjacent to the housing. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the link member comprises at least two branches. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element is curved. The device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the application element forms a non-zero angle with the direction of the link member in its region adjacent to the fastening element. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the application element is remarkably flat. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element has corrugations. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element comprises a core of rigid or semi-rigid material that is connected to the connecting member and forms an elbow. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element is made at least partially of an injected plastic material, for example an elastomer. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element comprises bristles. 15. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element is asymmetric. 16. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element comprises at least one helical filament. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element has a general circular arc shape in cross section. 18. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application element comprises one or more slits or cavities. 19. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying member is constituted at least partially by a foam having at least 5% of open cells. 20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that the foam is polyurethane or polyether. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the link member has, in its region extending to the contact of the drying member when the applicator is in place in the container, a smaller cross section than the of the application element. 22. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the link member is constituted by a bar, the diameter thereof in its region extending to contact with the drying member when the applicator is in place in the container it is preferably comprised between 0.2 and 2 mm and preferably even between 0.2 and 0.5 mm.