Abstract:
A device for packaging and applying a product including a container holding the product. In a disclosed example, the container has a lengthwise axis X and is provided with, an applicator element designed to come into contact with a surface to be treated in order to apply the product. The applicator element is in fluid communication with the container when it is in contact with this surface to be treated. A support defines a seating for the applicator element, with the support being at least in a fixed axial position relative to the container. The device further includes a grasping element connected to the support by a resiliently deformable connecting element in a manner such that, in response to a force exerted on the applicator element when the device is being held by the grasping element, the support is able to move relative to the grasping element. In addition, the support is preferably designed to revert to its initial position when the exertion of force ceases.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This document claims priority to French Application Number 04 53109, filed Dec. 21, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/640,220, filed Jan. 3, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to packaging and applicator devices. The invention can be particularly advantageous for cosmetic products, such as a make-up or skin care products, and more particularly where the product is fluid, preferably a liquid.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Discussion of Background  
       [0003]     For the purposes of the invention, the expression “cosmetic product” is understood to mean a product as defined in Directive 93/35/CEE dated 14th Jun. 1993 amending Directive 76/768/CEE.  
         [0004]     Patent application EP 0 506 564 describes a known device for packaging and applying a cosmetic product including a container to which is attached a head housing a ball. The head carrying the ball is mounted on the container via a spring which enables it to slide within the container. When the ball is applied against the skin, the head slides allowing a valve to open thereby enabling the product held in the container to pass towards the ball. When the application ceases, the head housing the ball is returned by the spring to its initial position in which the valve is closed.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,126 describes a packaging and applicator device including a container and a ball. The device is configured so that the product can be readily applied to different parts of the body, including parts that are difficult to reach. To this end, the container includes a bellows arrangement which enables the portion of the container carrying the ball to be tilted in different directions relative to the rest of the container. Once the device has assumed the chosen tilt position adapted to the area in which the product is to be applied, the user can apply the ball.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     There is a need to improve packaging and applicator devices, including those which have a ball applicator. Preferably such a device should provide the user with a greater feeling of comfort during application.  
         [0007]     There is also a need to enable the user to employ a number of different hand postures in order to apply the product using the same packaging and applicator device.  
         [0008]     The invention meets these needs by providing a device for packaging and applying a product which includes a container, holding the product, and having a lengthwise axis X. An applicator element is designed to come into contact with a surface to be treated in order to apply the product, with the applicator element being in fluid communication with the container when it is in contact with the surface to be treated. A support defines a seating for the applicator element, with the support being at least in a fixed axial position relative to the container.  
         [0009]     The device additionally includes a grasping element connected to the support by a resiliently deformable connecting element in a manner such that, in response to a force exerted on the applicator element when the device is being held by the grasping element the support is able to move relative to the grasping element. In addition, the support is preferably designed to revert to its initial position when the exertion of force ceases.  
         [0010]     During application, the invention gives the user a feeling of comfort by virtue of the fact that the pressure exerted by the applicator device on the skin is transmitted to the applicator element by the resiliently deformable connecting element, when the user is holding the device by the grasping element.  
         [0011]     In addition, during application the applicator element can more easily follow the contours of the body, including the face, by virtue of the mobility of the support relative to the grasping element.  
         [0012]     The container can include a graspable outer surface which thus constitutes a second grasping zone of the device to apply the product. The user therefore has the choice of applying the product by holding the device by the container or by the grasping element. In the former case, the user can apply the product in a conventional manner, and in the latter case a gentler application can be obtained. The device according to the invention thus offers the user two hand postures with which to apply the product.  
         [0013]     By way of example, the support can be designed to tilt about an axis of rotation Z relative to the grasping element. Also by way of example, the connecting element can include a wall which extends over less than half the circumference of the support so as to define the axis of rotation Z.  
         [0014]     The support can also be designed to move parallel to a lengthwise axis X of the device.  
         [0015]     For example, the connecting element can include a helical spring. The spring can be made, for example, in one piece by plastic molding with the grasping element and/or with the support. The spring can also be metallic. The connecting element can include, for example, a pair of resiliently deformable material bridges.  
         [0016]     In another example, the connecting element can include a wall made of a resiliently deformable material. The resiliently deformable material can be selected from very low density polyethylene, elastomers of propylene/ethylene copolymers, polyester block amides, polyvinyls, ethylene propylene diene terpolymers (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS), sequenced styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS), thermoplastic polyurethanes, mixtures of polypropylene with one of the elastomers selected from sequenced styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS), ethylene propylene diene terpolymers (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS).  
         [0017]     According to one example, the grasping element can surround a portion of the container, with the other portion of the container being graspable.  
         [0018]     The grasping element can be disposed at a sufficient distance from the container to allow relative movement of the grasping element in relation to the container. For example, the grasping element can be sufficiently distanced laterally from the outer surface of the container to allow sufficient angular play to allow a tilting movement about the axis Z.  
         [0019]     The support can define a seating designed to be traversed by the product emerging from the container.  
         [0020]     The applicator element can be non-rotatable in the seating, or can be rotatably movable in the seating. The applicator element can in particular be rotatably movable about a point in the seating, or about a geometric axis, for example, an axis perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the device.  
         [0021]     The applicator element can have a substantially spherical shape. As a variant, the applicator element can have, for example, a cylindrical, ovoid, discoid or annular shape.  
         [0022]     Also by way of example, the shape of the support can be a portion of a sphere which conforms to the shape of the applicator element.  
         [0023]     The applicator element can be substantially non-deformable during use.  
         [0024]     The applicator element can be made, for example, of a porous material so as to enable the product to flow through the applicator element.  
         [0025]     The invention also provides a method of applying a product onto a surface to be treated including the steps of providing a device for packaging and applying a product as described above, and applying the applicator element onto the surface to be treated, holding either the container, or the grasping element in order to obtain a gentler application. The method can additionally include the step of causing the applicator element to rotate relative to the support in order to apply the product.  
         [0026]     As should be apparent, the invention can provide a number of advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that, in practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to include one or more features or benefits of embodiments disclosed herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples and are not to be construed as limiting, particularly since embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not include each of the features of the disclosed examples. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     The invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description, particularly when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic and partial representation, in axial cross section, of an example of a packaging and applicator device according to the invention,  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the device in  FIG. 1  in the plane II-II,  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of the device in  FIG. 1 , during the application of product to the skin using a first hand posture or holding position,  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of the device in  FIG. 1 , during the application of product to the skin using a second hand posture or holding position,  
         [0032]     FIGS.  5  to  9  are diagrammatic illustrations of alternative embodiments of packaging and applicator devices according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     FIGS.  1  to  4  depict an example of a packaging and applicator device  10  for a cosmetic product P, for example a make-up, skin care product or deodorant, including a container  20  holding the product P, and an applicator element  30  enabling the product to be dispensed.  
         [0034]     The container  20  has a lengthwise axis X and includes a sidewall  21  connecting a bottom  22  to a neck  23  extending on the axis X. The sidewall  21  includes a first shoulder  24  at approximately mid-height on the wall and a second shoulder  25  at its upper end which connects it to the neck. The upper end of the neck  23  delineates an opening  26  which allows the product to pass through.  
         [0035]     The applicator element  30  is accommodated in a seating  47  defined by a support  40  which is attached in the example described by snapping onto the neck  23  of the container  20 . To this end, the support  40  includes a fixing skirt  41  incorporating a projection  42  on its inner surface which engages with a projection  27  provided on the outer surface of the neck  23 . The support is in a fixed axial position relative to the container. It can additionally be immobile in rotation relative to the container.  
         [0036]     The support also includes a sealing lip  43  designed to bear in a leaktight manner on the inner surface of the neck  23 .  
         [0037]     An outer covering skirt  44  surrounds the fixing skirt  41  and includes a screw thread  45  on its outer surface for a screw-on cap  70  provided to close the container surmounted by the applicator element in a leaktight manner relative to the product.  
         [0038]     The seating  47  is traversed by the product emerging from the container, and the product is able to circulate in a space formed between the applicator element  30  and the support  40 . The applicator element can come into contact with the support at certain points.  
         [0039]     In the example illustrated, the applicator element  30  has a substantially spherical shape so as to form a ball.  
         [0040]     The seating  47  is also generally spherical in shape, forming a segment of a sphere. The seating  47  is open at its lower end to facilitate communication with the inside of the container. In addition, the seating  47  allows an upper portion  31  of the ball  30  to project therefrom to facilitate application. The ball  30  can be set in the support by resilient deformation of the latter, for example.  
         [0041]     The ball  30  is held with the ability to rotate in the support  40  about its center O, its rotation tending to assist the product P to pass more easily through the seating. However, it is to be understood that the invention can also be used with an applicator element that is non-rotatable, for example with an applicator that is fixed in the seating.  
         [0042]     As a further variant, provision can be made for the applicator element  30  to be mounted on two tabs  46  which define an axis of rotation Y, as illustrated for example in  FIG. 5 . The applicator element is thus rotatably movable about the axis Y, perpendicular to the axis X of the neck.  
         [0043]     The ball  30  is substantially non-deformable during application. It can for example be made of an agglomerate material, in particular a thermoplastic agglomerate material. By way of example, the largest dimension (for example, the diameter when the element is spherical) of the applicator element can be between 5 mm and 65 mm, preferably between 7 mm and 50 mm.  
         [0044]     The ball  30  can optionally be covered in a flock material and can be made in a variety of materials, for example, it can be charged with particles designed to exert an effect on the product or on the surface treated with the product. This effect can be a magnetic field or the release of a substance, for example ions.  
         [0045]     A grasping element  50  in the form of a cylindrical skirt surrounds the upper part of the container. In the example illustrated, the skirt preferably extends over a relatively long length in a manner such that it can be readily grasped in one hand. In the example shown, the lower end  51  of the skirt is situated just above the shoulder provided on the wall of the container. The skirt  50  can surround the container over its entire circumference or as a variant over only a part of its circumference thereby leaving a larger portion of the outer surface of the container graspable.  
         [0046]     The shape of the sidewall  21  of the container, and in particular the presence of the shoulder  24 , allows the skirt  50  to extend in axial alignment with the wall  21  of the container situated below the shoulder  24 .  
         [0047]     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the skirt  50  is connected, at its upper part, to the bottom edge of the covering skirt  44  by a transverse wall  60 . In this example, the transverse wall extends over an angular portion only of the periphery or circumference of the covering skirt  44 . In particular it extends over a portion less than half the circumference of the covering skirt thereby better allowing a tilting movement about an axis Z defined by its two ends, as can be seen in  FIG. 2 . An annular space  61  extends transversely beyond the wall  60 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the skirt  50  can extend about the entire periphery of the container, but only be connected to the skirt over a portion of the periphery.  
         [0048]     In the example considered, the distance between the inner surface of the grasping element  50  and the outer surface of the container  20  surrounded thereby is non-null, and is sufficient to allow a degree of movement of the container  20  relative to the grasping element  50  about the geometric axis of rotation Z defined by the transverse wall  60 .  
         [0049]     In this example, the grasping element is obtained by one-piece molding with the support.  
         [0050]     In the closed position of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cap is in place on the container, closing the latter in a leaktight manner. A support skirt  71  is provided on the inner surface of the cap to bear on the ball, which tends to press the ball against the concave wall of the support, the contact between the two tending to prevent the product P from flowing out of the container.  
         [0051]     The device can be used in the following manner. The user turns the container upside down to allow the product P to flow into the seating housing the ball which then becomes loaded with the product P.  
         [0052]     Depending on the type of application desired, the user can choose to hold the device by the graspable portion of the container  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for a conventional application. As the support  40  is fixed on the container, it is immobile when the ball is applied against the skin when holding the device by the container. During application, the user causes the ball to roll over the skin S thereby depositing the product onto the skin.  
         [0053]     If the user desires a gentler application, he/she holds the device by the grasping element  50 . During application, the user can cause the ball to roll over the skin S, with the wall  60  being capable of deforming in relation or in response to the contours of the surface to which the product is being applied, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The support  40  housing the ball can in effect tilt about the axis Z. The ability of the ball  30  to move relative to the grasping element  50  improves the level of comfort experienced during application.  
         [0054]     In accordance with the invention alternate connecting or coupling arrangements can be utilized using a connecting element other than the wall  60 .  
         [0055]     By way of further example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the support  40  housing the ball can be connected to the grasping element  50  via an annular wall  63  made of a resiliently deformable material. For example, the resiliently deformable material can be selected from very low density polyethylene, elastomers of propylene/ethylene copolymers, polyester block amides, polyvinyls, ethylene propylene diene terpolymers (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS), sequenced styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS), thermoplastic polyurethanes, mixtures of polypropylene with one of the elastomers selected from sequenced styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS), ethylene propylene diene terpolymers (EPDM), sequenced styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS).  
         [0056]     In this example embodiment, the skirt forming the grasping element  50  can be made of the same material as the connecting element. The skirt  50  then preferably has a thickness greater than that of the connecting element, which enables it not to deform substantially when it is held.  
         [0057]     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , which is a top view of the connecting element provided between the grasping element  50  and the support  40 , and as a variant to  FIG. 8 , the connecting element in this instance takes the form of one or more material bridges  64 , and preferably at least one pair of material bridges such as  64 . To this end, the support  40  includes an annular band  65  to which are connected the material bridges  64  extending from the grasping element  50 . By way of example, the annular band  65  can be combined with the covering skirt  44 . For example, an even number, in particular between 2 and 6, of material bridges  64  can be provided to make this connection. In particular, these material bridges  64  are preferably evenly spaced on the inner circumference of the grasping element  50 .  
         [0058]     Preferably, the material bridge(s)  64  is (are) arranged to provide a degree of axial play between the support  40  and the grasping element  50 . For example, the bridge(s) can be made of a material selected from polyolefins, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene. The material bridges  64  are arranged to provide an axial play of less than 10 mm, and preferably between 2 and 6 mm. In particular, these material bridges  64  are resiliently deformable and can be obtained by means of thin tabs extending, partly circumferentially around the annular band  65 , so that a point of attachment  66  of the tab on the grasping element  50  is not radially aligned with its point of attachment  67  to the annular band  65 . For example, the tab can extend on an angular arc of between 15° and 60°, and for example 30°, around the grasping element  50 . The width of a tab  64  between its respective points of attachment  66  and  67  is between 1 mm and 10 mm, for example, and preferably between 2 and 6 mm. Preferably, the grasping element  50 , the material bridges  64  and the annular band  65 , and possibly the support  40 , are made in one-piece from the same material.  
         [0059]     As a further variant, by way of example, the support  40  housing the ball  30  can be connected to the grasping element  50  via a helical spring  62  of axis X. This spring can take the form of a fitted part as shown in  FIG. 7 , or can be made by plastic molding.  
         [0060]     In these three examples, the support  40  housing the ball can move parallel to the axis X of the device when the user applies the ball against the skin and holds the device by the grasping element  50 .  
         [0061]     Instead of a ball, the applicator element can be of any other shape, for example, cylindrical, ovoid, discoid or annular.  
         [0062]      FIG. 6  illustrates a device which includes a cylindrical applicator element  30 ′. The applicator element  30 ′ is not rotatable in the seating  47 , and in particular it is fixed to the inside of seating. In the example illustrated, the applicator element  30 ′ is porous. The applicator element is for example made of an agglomerate material. The product then passes through the applicator element to arrive at its outer surface instead of passing around it, as in the example described previously.  
         [0063]     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.