EP0922405B1 - Cosmetic products dispenser for make-up - Google Patents

Abstract

The distributor has a body (C), holding the applicator (3), and a cap (E). The upper end of the rod of the applicator (2) is held in the cap. A reservoir (8), holding the product, is in the cap and the product is supplied to the applicator by a pump (10) in the cap. The pump is operated by the movement of the reservoir, relative to the body of the distributor. The pump has a body (11) and a mobile valve tube (13). The rod is joined to the valve tube by its base (5) which limits the movement of the tube.

Description

The invention relates to a product distributor cosmetic, fluid or pasty, intended for make-up, in particular a mascara dispenser, the kind that includes a body of dispenser with a housing for an applicator member, and a gripping element comprising a capsule provided with a rod carrying the applicator member at one end projecting out of the capsule, which can be removably assembled to the body distributor and can be entered by a user to apply the product, a cosmetic product reservoir being further provided as well means for supplying product to introduce doses successive product in the housing of the applicator member from of the tank.

A cosmetic product distributor of this kind is known in particular from FR-B-2 685 858.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 1 of this document, the cosmetic product reservoir and the means of supplying the housing of the applicator member are provided in the body of distributor. To release a dose of product, you must exercise pressure on the capsule, pressure which is transmitted by the rod, over any its length, and by the applicator member to an actuation member of the means of supplying product. Repeated compression efforts to which the rod is subjected require the provision of a rod section sufficiently large. In addition, the mechanical stress on the applicator member causes degradation of this applicator member.

The embodiment of Figures 2a and 2b, of this previous document shows a dispenser in which the body and the gripping element form a whole. Housing for the organ applicator provided at one end of the grip assembly is closed by a lid. The applicator member is pushed through the wringer so that the rod which transmits the compressive force must have a sufficient diameter. In addition, the assembly formed by the body of dispenser and the gripping element is bulky to handle; this assembly is a relatively complicated assembly, especially for the realization of the housing of the applicator member.

The invention aims, above all, to provide a product distributor cosmetics of the kind defined above which, while maintaining the best possible the product in the shelter to avoid its pollution, that is to say of a simple manufacture and economical, and reliable to use. The gripping element must be easy handling. Preferably, we want the distributor allows to deliver successive doses of product in the housing of the applicator member with a minimum of mechanical stress on the rod and the applicator organ.

Document EP-A-0 553 021 describes a makeup device comprising a reservoir defining a bottom and provided with a pump, the actuation valve is connected to a supply rod at the end of which an applicator brush is formed. The tank with its pump are arranged in a cylindrical body open at both ends. The feed rod is fixed in the body and protruding from one end. The bottom of the tank is accessible and protrudes from the other end. The tank and its pump the exclusion of its valve are mobile in the body. So we can press the bottom of the tank so as to push the valve into the pump. Dose make-up product is then delivered to the rod. Therefore, if we does not press regularly on the bottom of the tank, there is no more product in the level of the applicator brush. The user must therefore first press the bottom of the tank, then remove the brush cap. The preamble to the main claim is shown on this document.

The object of the present invention is to simplify the handling of the distributor by proposing a distributor according to the main claim.

Such a dispenser is simple to manufacture and the gripping element with the tank is easy to handle. The cosmetic product is good to shelter from the air.

The pump is a pump without air inlet (called an "airless" pump), which conventionally includes a pump body and a valve with a tube valve movable in translation relative to the pump body; advantageously, the rod carrying the applicator member comprises a base its end remote from the brush, base which serves as a stop for the valve tube for the control of its movements. Preferably the rod, by its base, is secured, in particular by gluing, to the valve tube.

The housing supply means can then be controlled with minimal stress on the rod carrying the applicator member.

Advantageously, the rod carrying the applicator member comprises a internal duct which extends from the base of the rod, where it communicates with the outlet of the pump, up to the applicator member.

This internal conduit, preferably coaxial with the rod, opens at the level of the applicator member by holes oriented radially and regularly distributed along the periphery. For example four holes angularly offset by 90 ° are provided for this purpose. The cosmetic product outlet holes are provided in head of the applicator member, that is to say towards the end of this applicator member located on the side of the base of the rod, so that when the rod is extracted by traction, through a wringer, the latter ensures the distribution of the product on the entire applicator member.

The body of the dispenser may consist of a case in which are arranged two superimposed coaxial sleeves with a wringer located at the vicinity of the sleeve separation interface, housing for the organ applicator being provided in the sleeve furthest from the capsule.

The wringer can be constituted by a constriction of the interior passage of the sleeve located on the capsule side, or by a flexible material washer clamped between the neighboring front ends of the sleeves.

As is usual in distributors of this type, the element of gripping is preferably assembled to the dispensing body so waterproof; the tightness of this assembly can be obtained by adding a seal.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, in a number of other provisions which will be more explicitly discussed below with regard to particular embodiments described with reference to attached drawing, but which are in no way limiting.

• la figure 1 est une coupe longitudinale axiale, avec partie supprimée, d'un distributeur de produit cosmétique conforme à EP-553 021, à l'état fermé, et au repos.
• la figure 2 montre, semblablement à la figure 1, le dispositif distributeur à l'état fermé, mais en fin d'injection d'une dose de produit dans le logement de l'organe applicateur.
• la figure 3 est une coupe longitudinale axiale, avec partie supprimée, d'une forme de réalisation du distributeur, en position fermée.
• la figure 4 montre, également en coupe longitudinale axiale, le distributeur de la Figure 3 en cours d'ouverture.
• la figure 5 montre, en coupe longitudinale axiale, une partie du distributeur de la figure 3 après séparation de la capsule et du réservoir, l'essorage de l'organe applicateur étant en cours.
• la figure 6, enfin, est une coupe axiale d'une pompe sans entrée d'air.

On this drawing :

• Figure 1 is an axial longitudinal section, with part removed, of a cosmetic product dispenser according to EP-553 021, in the closed state, and at rest.
• Figure 2 shows, similarly to Figure 1, the dispensing device in the closed state, but at the end of injection of a dose of product into the housing of the applicator member.
• Figure 3 is an axial longitudinal section, with part removed, of an embodiment of the dispenser, in the closed position.
• Figure 4 shows, also in axial longitudinal section, the dispenser of Figure 3 being opened.
• Figure 5 shows, in axial longitudinal section, part of the dispenser of Figure 3 after separation of the capsule and the reservoir, the wringing of the applicator member being in progress.
• Figure 6, finally, is an axial section of a pump without air inlet.

Referring to the drawing, in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, we can see a dispenser D of fluid or pasty cosmetic product intended for make-up, in particular for mascara M. This distributor includes a distributor body C and a gripping element E comprising a capsule 1 provided with a rod 2 carrying a member applicator 3 at one end projecting from the capsule 1. In the example shown, the applicator member is constituted by a cylinder of externally fluted plastic. Note that the expression "applicator body" should be understood in a very general sense as encompassing not only the organ described, but any organ applicator, for example a brush consisting of bristles coiled in propeller or sponge, or exterior flocking.

The rod 2 comprises an internal conduit 4, coaxial, extending from a base 5 of the rod to the applicator member 3. The channel 4 opens, at this applicator member, by holes 6 oriented radially and angularly distributed over the entire periphery of the applicator member. In the example shown, four holes 6 spaced angularly from each other by 90 ° are provided; their number can of course be different. The diameter of the holes 6 is adapted to the viscosity of the product.

The holes 6 are placed at the head of the applicator member 3, that is to say towards the end of this member located on the side of the rod 2 and of base 5 so that during a spin, which will be discussed further, produced by pulling out the rod 2 by a pulling movement, the product delivered through holes 6 is distributed over the entire length of the applicator member 3.

The base 5 is engaged in, and fixed to, the end of a cylindrical shell 7 of the capsule. A tank 8 of product cosmetic M is placed in the envelope 7.

The reservoir 8 is formed by a cylinder whose diameter outside is equal to the internal diameter of the casing 7. The reservoir 8 is closed at its end facing the base 5 by a wall transverse 9. Means for supplying product, suitable for supplying successive doses are placed in the reservoir 8 and include a pump 10 without air inlet ("airless" pump). Pump 10 includes a casing 11, coaxial with the cylinder 8, fixed against the wall lower 9, in particular by snap-fastening of a peripheral rim in projection 12 of the pump in an annular groove provided inside the cylinder 8. A cylindrical valve tube 13, of diameter reduced by relative to the internal diameter of the cylinder 8, passes through a central orifice provided in the wall 9 and is received by its end remote from the casing 11, in a bore 14 of the base 5, communicating with the conduit 4. The tube 13 has an axial channel. Pump 10 with its casing 11 and its tube 13 will be described in detail below with reference to the figure 6.

The tube 13 can be moved in axial translation relative to the pump housing 11 to cause the exit of a dose of product. The combination of tube 13 and a conjugate bore of the housing forms a valve. The tube 13 is made integral with the base 5, for example by gluing the part of this tube 13 engaged in the housing 14.

The reservoir 8 is initially filled with product cosmetic M which surrounds the pump housing 11 which includes a orifice 31 (Fig. 6) for the entry of the product. A follower piston 15 closes the cylinder 8 at its end opposite to the wall 9 so as to keep product M away from air and avoid pollution. The face of piston 15 opposite the casing 11 is subjected to pressure atmospheric. An air inlet 16 is provided in a pusher 17 mounted at the upper end of the tank 8, so that the face of the piston 15 opposite the casing 11 is subjected to pressure atmospheric.

The envelope 7 is open at its end remote from the distributor body C and its edge has a recess 18 giving access, over a sufficient distance, to pusher 17. The reservoir 8 is slidably mounted inside the casing 7. In the position of rest of the pusher 17, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a free space 1 exists between the bottom 9 of the reservoir 8 and the base 5 of the rod 2.

The distributor body C comprises a cylindrical case 19 whose end close to capsule 1 is open and the other end end is closed by a bottom 20. Two superimposed sleeves 21, 22 are arranged in this case. The sleeve 21 located on the side of the capsule 1 protrudes beyond the end of the case 19 by a threaded part externally 23 of smaller diameter. The base 5 is integral a crown 24 carrying an internal thread complementary to that of the extension 23. The ring 24 and the extension 23, by their threads, constitute means for assembling the capsule 1 and the body C.

The ring 24 can be surrounded by a spacer belt 25, for example decorative, whose outer surface is in the alignment of the exterior surfaces of the case 19 and of the capsule 1, of same diameter.

The sleeve 21 has an interior central passage 26 in which is freely engaged the rod 2 and its area 27 of connection to the base 5. The passage 26 gradually decreases by diameter, along a frustoconical surface, towards the sleeve 22 to form a constriction 28 of smaller diameter, in the vicinity of the separation zone between the two sleeves 21 and 22. This constriction 28 constitutes a wringer whose diameter is only slightly greater than that of rod 2 and is less than the diameter outside of the applicator member 3.

The sleeve 22, located against the bottom 20 of the case 19, has a coaxial housing 29, communicating with the passage 26 and closed at its end close to the bottom 20. This housing 29 is intended for receive the applicator member 3 when the capsule 1 is assembled body C. The holes 6, when the distributor is in the position closed, are in the part of the housing 29 close to the surface separation S of the two sleeves 21, 22.

The introduction of successive doses of product into the housing 29 is provided by the pump 10 constituting the means supply of product to this housing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pump 10, of conventionally, has inside its housing 11 a valve 30 disposed against the orifice 31 for communication of the casing 11 with inside the reservoir 8. The valve 30 is applied against the orifice 31 by a helical spring 32 which is supported at its other end, against a sliding ring 33 itself pressing against a sleeve 34 in which the tube 13 can slide. This sleeve 34 is provided with a cylindrical seat 35 in which slides, with reduced play, the tube 13. This tube has a blind axial channel 36 opening out to outside. The channel 36 is connected to the outer surface of the tube 13, to the near its blind end, by holes 37 oriented radially which, in the rest position of the valve 10, are closed by the bearing 35. A helical spring 38 is disposed between a peripheral shoulder of the tube 13 and the bottom of the sleeve 34.

When the tube 13, under the action of a push, enters the casing 11, by compressing the spring 38, of the product under pressure contained in the casing 11 can escape through the holes 37 and the channel 36, as soon as the holes 37 communicate with the interior of the casing 11; in this phase, the valve 30 remains closed and applied against his seat.

When the thrust on the tube 13 stops, this tube can return to its rest position, or closed position, and the spring 32 can push the ring 33 back causing a product suction in the casing 11, through the orifice 31 and the valve 30 which opens.

The use and operation of the dispenser according to the embodiment of Figure 1 are described below.

When the distributor D is in the closed state, shown on Figure 1, the capsule 1 is assembled to the body C by screwing tightly and the tube 13 of the pump 10 is in the position of closure illustrated in FIG. 6; there is a space ℓ between the bottom 9 and capsule 5.

The user, before separating the capsule 1 from the body C, exerts a pressure on the pusher 17 as indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 2. The reservoir 8 slides inside the casing 7 by driving the pump housing 11, while the tube 13 linked to the base 5 remains stationary relative to the casing 7. The tube 13 therefore enters the casing 11 when the bottom 9 bears against the base 5.

The valve of the pump 10 is thus opened and a dose of cosmetic product M is delivered via channel 36 of tube 13 in the conduit 14 of rod 2 and, through holes 6, in housing 29 of the applicator member 3.

When the user releases his effort on the pusher 17, the pump casing 11, under the action of the springs 32 and 38, resumes the position illustrated in Figure 1 and an amount of material, equal to the dose which has been delivered, enters the casing 11 through the valve 30 which opens. The follower piston 15 slightly approaches the casing 11 in correspondence with the volume of product entered into the casing 11.

The user then unscrews the capsule 1 to separate it from the body C by a pulling movement holding the capsule with one hand 1 and the other body C. The rod 2 is pulled relative to the body C, and the applicator member 3 passes through the wiper 28 which distributes the dose of product, injected at the top of the brush, over the entire length of this brush.

The makeup is then carried out with the element of grip E held by the capsule 1 in which the reservoir is located 8 of product.

With the dispenser of the invention, the product M is well sheltered from air since the pump 10 operates without air intake, the piston 15 isolating the product from ambient air.

In addition, the supply of the applicator member 3 and the housing 29 in doses of product is provided by the inside of the rod 2 through the holes 6 which allow the exit of a dose which has been bacteriologically protected until it is ejected on the applicator member 3. This can avoid putting preservatives in product compositions or to reduce the proportion thereof.

The compression effort required to eject a dose of product is exerted essentially between the base 5 and the bottom 9, on a short axial length, without acting on the rod 2 comprising the inner channel 4. This rod 2 and the applicator member 3 are therefore not stressed by the effort required to eject a dose. Otherwise, the gripping element E remains easy to handle, since the body C in which the housing 29 is located is separated from the element E during makeup.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, we can see a variant of embodiment of the distributor D of FIGS. 1 and 2. The elements of the figures 3 to 5 identical or playing roles analogous to elements already described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 will be designated by the same references or by numeric references equal to the sum of the number 100 and the reference number used in Figures 1 and 2; their description will not be repeated or will only be made succinctly.

In this variant, the reservoir 108 is linked in translation to the casing 107, while the rod 102 and its base 105 are free in translation with respect to said envelope 107 and to the ring 124.

In the closed position of the dispenser, while the gripping element E and its casing 107 are screwed so watertight on body C, base 105 is clamped between the upper edge of the sleeve 121 and the bottom 109 of the reservoir 108. The tube 13 of the pump 10 is pressed into the housing 11, which corresponds to the position valve tube 13 open. There is therefore communication between inside the casing 11 and the channel 104. In the open position of the dispenser, illustrated in FIG. 5, when the gripping element E and the capsule 107 are completely unscrewed from the body C, the tube 13 is is in its closed position, the base 105 of the rod 102 being removed from the bottom 109.

In the case of FIGS. 3 to 5, the wiper 128 is formed by a washer of elastic material clamped between the neighboring faces of the sleeves 121 and 122.

The operation of the dispenser of Figures 3 to 5 results of the foregoing explanations.

When the user, starting from the open position of the Figure 5, closes the dispenser by tightly screwing the element gripper E and the capsule 107 on the body C, this user causes the tube 13 to enter the pump casing 11 and sends a dose of cosmetic product in the housing 129 through the channel 104.

The dose thus distributed remains in the housing 129 in waiting for the next makeup.

Figure 4 shows what happens at the start of unscrewing of the gripping element E. The valve tube 13 comes out gradually of the housing 11 until it reaches its fully closed position before that the rod 102 and its base 105 are not driven in translation by this tube 13 linked to the base 105. At the end of extraction of the rod 102, the applicator member 103 passes through the wiper 128.

The advantages explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 are kept in the embodiment of Figures 3 to 5.

Claims (10)

1. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid or pasty cosmetic for makeup purposes, in particular a mascara dispenser, the dispenser comprising firstly a dispenser body (C) having a housing (129) for an applicator member (103) and secondly a handle element (E) comprising a capsule (101) provided with a stem (102) carrying the applicator member (103) at that one of its ends which projects from the capsule, said capsule being suitable for being releasably assembled to said dispenser body (C) and being suitable for being held by a user in order to apply the cosmetic, a reservoir (108) of the cosmetic being provided in the capsule (101) and being associated with a pump (10) also disposed in the capsule (101) for introducing successive "doses" of said cosmetic into the housing (129) of the applicator member (103) from said reservoir, the pump (10) being an airless pump comprising a pump body (11) and a valve tube (13) for delivering the pumped cosmetic, being movable in translation relative to the pump body, said pump being caused to operate by the reservoir (108) moving relative to the dispenser body (C), the capsule (101) comprising a cylindrical outer case (107) provided with means for assembly on the dispenser body (C), and the reservoir comprising a cylinder (108) disposed inside the case (107) and containing, at its end facing towards the dispenser body (C), the pump (10) whose valve tube (13) projects through a transverse wall (109) closing the cylinder of the reservoir (108), characterized by the fact that the reservoir cylinder (108) is constrained to move in translation with the case (107) of the capsule, while the stem (102) carrying the applicator member is free to move in translation relative to said case (107), and that in the closed position of the dispenser, in which the capsule (101) is assembled on the body (C), the socket (105) of the stem bears against the end wall (109) of the reservoir that is provided with the pump, the pump valve then being in the open state, while the valve is in the closed state when the capsule (101) and the body (C) are separated, actuator means being provided to enable the stem (102) and the valve tube (13) to move while the capsule and the body are being assembled together in order to dispense a "dose" of cosmetic into the housing of the applicator member.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the stem (102) carrying the applicator member (103) has a socket (105) at its end remote from the applicator member (103), which socket (105) serves as an abutment for the valve tube (13) in order to control movements thereof.
3. A device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the stem (102) is secured to the valve tube (13) via its socket (105).
4. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the stem (102) carrying the applicator member includes an internal duct (104) extending form the socket (105) of the stem where it communicates with the outlet from the pump (10) to the applicator member (103).
5. A dispenser according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the internal duct (104) opens into the applicator member via holes (106) facing radially and regularly distributed around its periphery.
6. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that the dispenser body is constituted by a case (119) in which two superposed sleeves (121, 122) are disposed on the same axis with a wiper (128) situated in the vicinity of the separation interface between the sleeves, the housing (129) for the applicator member being provided in the sleeve (122) that is farther from the capsule (107).
7. A dispenser according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the wiper is constituted by a constriction (128) in the internal passage in the sleeve (121) situated beside the capsule (1).
8. A dispenser according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the wiper is constituted by a washer (128) of flexible material clamped between two adjacent end faces of the sleeve (121, 122).
9. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that the handle element (E) is assembled to the dispenser body (C) in leaktight manner.
10. A dispenser according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that assembly of the handle element (E) and the dispenser body (C) is made leaktight by adding a gasket.

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