Abstract:
An application unit ( 1 ) includes a first compartment ( 4 ) intended to form a housing for an application ( 6 ) containing a product capable of solubilizing or gelling on its surface in contact with a liquid composition, and mounted in a detachable manner in the first compartment ( 4 ) through a first opening ( 11 ); and a second compartment ( 5 ) separated from the first compartment and including an element ( 14 ) impregnated with the liquid composition, and capable of restoring a quantity of the liquid composition to the applicator ( 6 ) when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment ( 5 ) through a second opening ( 18 ) and caused to bear on a restoring surface ( 50 ) of the element ( 14 ). A detachable closure ( 3, 8, 9, 20 ) is provided for respectively obturating the first opening ( 11 ) and the second opening ( 18 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an application unit that can be used, in particular, in the fields of pharmacy, cosmetics, dermatology, hair care, etc. The invention concerns more particularly a device of the type comprising a solid or semi-solid applicator which must be brought into contact with a liquid composition before its application, and which is capable of solubilizing or gelling on its surface on contact with the liquid composition. By way of example, this may be a lipstick that is but slightly friable and whose surface must be brought into contact with water, for example, in order to soften its surface and to promote the exfoliation of the lip rouge. Again by way of example, the applicator may be of the “styptic pencil” type for cauterizing sores. In this latter application, the applicator contains hydrosoluble active substances, such as mixed sulphates of aluminium and ammonium, which are solubilized in the presence of a liquid composition such as water. The invention also applies to the application of a product which may have a cosmetic effect and a treatment effect, the cosmetic effect being produced by the applicator itself, the treatment effect being obtained by a liquid solution with which the applicator is brought into contact. By way of example, this concerns a lipstick that is brought into contact with a film-forming agent or with a treatment composition of the anti-chapping type. It may also be a stearate soap of ammonium or potassium, or a tensioning stick, for example of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) capable of effacing wrinkles, or of guar gum. It may also be a compound, such as an emollient, which cannot be introduced into the stick during its manufacture. In general, the invention relates to any friable solid or semi-solid applicator which, before its application to a surface to be treated, has to be brought into contact with a liquid composition permitting its exfoliation, and/or containing active agents that cannot be introduced into the applicator. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     EP-A-612 488 describes an applicator comprising a reservoir containing a product to be applied, a cap intended to close the reservoir, and an applicator holder supporting a deformable element made of foam or an elastomer of low hardness for the application of the product. The deformable element carries asperities on its surface and is provided with a good (large) shape memory. The product reservoir is delimited by a capillary end fitting, in the form of a glove finger having a bottom that is provided with a seat pierced by at least one capillary opening, against which the deformable element is applied and deformed in the position when the reservoir is closed by the cap. 
     In the field of lipsticks there exist, moreover, liquid formulas containing polymers, which have the advantage of a long hold on the lips, but which are, in a galenical form, a long way from the established usage of the conventional stick. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an application unit containing both a friable solid or semi-solid applicator and a liquid composition necessary for its exfoliation and/or containing active agents which have to be brought into contact with the applicator with a view to a combined action. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the description that follows. 
     In accordance with the invention, these objects are attained by means of an application unit comprising a first compartment intended to form a housing for an applicator containing a product capable of solubilizing or gelling on its surface in contact with a liquid composition, and mounted in a detachable manner in the first compartment through a first opening; a second compartment separated from the first compartment and comprising an element impregnated with the liquid composition and capable of restoring a quantity of the liquid composition to the applicator when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment through a second opening and caused to bear on a restoring surface of the element, the element forming a stopper so as to prevent any flow of the liquid composition through the second opening; and detachable closing means for respectively obturating the first and second openings. The element contained in the second compartment thus acts as a “sequestering” agent which retains the liquid to prevent it from flowing by gravity through the second opening, but which restores it to the applicator when the applicator is caused to bear on the element. 
     The impregnated element may be formed by a block of foam with open cells or half-open cells, or an element forming a wick of the felt type, or a sintered element, or an elastomer of low hardness with open cells or half-open cells, or a combination of such elements. An elastomer of low hardness is understood to mean an elastomer whose hardness is in the range from 15 Shore A to 70 Shore A. Advantageously, the restoring surface of the element is covered by a flocked coating, or by a perforated film of a thermoplastic elastomer, or by a plastic, or by a layer of felt, or by a textile fabric. This last characteristic makes it possible, inter alia, to adjust the quantity of the liquid transferred to the applicator by substantially modifying the restoring capacity of the impregnated element towards the applicator, and/or modifying the abrasiveness of the restoring surface. 
     The liquid composition may be dosed so as to be contained substantially wholly inside the element. This diminishes the risk of inopportune outflows of the product while ensuring an adequate self-sufficiency for the device. 
     According to one embodiment, the element has a first end in the vicinity of the second opening, and a second end on the opposite side to the first, the element having, at least at its first end, a cross-section substantially identical with the internal cross-section of the second compartment. This makes it possible to isolate the opening from any liquid that may be at the bottom of the reservoir. Moreover, in case the impregnated element is an elastically deformable element, it is axially guided in the compartment when the applicator is caused to bear on its upper surface. Causing the applicator to bear on such an elastically deformable element with open cells or half-open cells, followed by the extraction of the applicator, firstly produces an at least partial compression of the open cells or half-open cells, then the decompression of the cells, which causes the liquid to be drawn up towards the restoring surface of the impregnated element. 
     The second end of the element containing the liquid composition may be substantially in contact with the bottom. Advantageously, the second compartment defines, all around the element in the vicinity of the bottom, an annular space defining a volume capable of containing a reserve of the liquid composition for feeding the element, the element being capable of drawing up the liquid composition from the reserve. 
     Alternatively, the second end is situated in a fixed intermediate position between the bottom and the second opening so as to define, between the bottom and the second end, a volume capable of containing a reserve of the liquid composition for feeding the element, the element being capable of drawing up the liquid composition from the reserve. Bringing the liquid contained in the reserve into contact with the element, in particular, is effected by completely or partially upending the application unit. This is produced quite naturally, in particular while such a packaging unit is being carried in the user&#39;s handbag. Alternatively, a wick-type element may be provided which dips into the reserve of the liquid which rises up by virtue of the capillarity drawing phenomenon. 
     The applicator may be a styptic pencil, or a stick of lipstick, of a make-up foundation, of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), of guar gum, or ok a skin treatment product. The liquid composition may contain water or any other solvent, and/or preservatives, and/or film-forming elements and/or emollients, and/or active compounds. 
     The application unit in accordance with the invention may comprise means for allowing the second compartment to be detachably mounted relative to the first. This allows the applicator and the container containing the liquid composition to be sold separately, if desired. It also makes it possible to allow the same stick to be used in combination with several liquid compositions according to the user&#39;s requirements. 
     According to a particular embodiment, the two compartments are disposed head-to-tail and aligned along the same axis and disposed so that the first and second openings are situated in directions opposite to one another. This arrangement reduces the size and allows a unit to be made of a shape similar to that of conventional sticks. 
     The second compartment may have an auxiliary opening for mounting the impregnated element inside the second element, or for replacing it after the liquid composition contained therein has been used up. This auxiliary opening may also be used for adding liquid to the second compartment, detachable means being provided for obturating the auxiliary opening in a leakproof manner. 
     The applicator is preferably carried by a gripping element ensuring the leakproof closure of the first opening. For this purpose, the gripping element has a frustoconical portion capable of cooperating with a complementary profile of the first opening. This seal may be desirable for certain formulas. On the other hand, for other formulas it may be arranged that the applicator is not contained in a leakproof manner inside the first compartment, so as to permit the evaporation of certain kinds of substances and, if applicable, to permit the drying out of the formula. A cover cap may optionally be disposed on the unit in a detachable manner. 
     The gripping element advantageously has means for limiting the insertion of the applicator into the second compartment. By way of example, a shoulder may be formed at the level of the gripping element. This makes it possible to restrict the force that can be exerted on the foam block. An excessive force could be detrimental both to the applicator and the element impregnated with the liquid composition. However, the travel of the applicator, the position of the foam block and its height must be chosen so as to be sufficient for the applicator to be brought to bear on the foam block irrespective of the extent to which the product for the applicator has been consumed. 
     The applicator is preferably disposed in a cup carried by the gripping element, the applicator being formed by molding or extrusion. 
     The second opening is obturated in a leakproof manner by means of a lip or a frustoconical element which is carried by a detachable cap, and which is capable of cooperating with a complementary profile of the second opening. The detachable cap may be designed so as to obturate only the second opening. Advantageously, it forms a single part with the cover cap disposed on the applicator opposite the first compartment. 
     A sealing element in the form of an annular piece made of an elastomeric material may be disposed inside the second opening, so as to perfect the seal of the closure of the second compartment. Advantageously, the sealing element is disposed so as to limit the axial movement of the impregnated element, to prevent the emergence of the element through the second opening. 
     The applicator may have any cross-section. For example, it may have a cross-section which is circular, triangular, square, oval, elliptical, etc. The internal cross-section of the second compartment is matched to the shape of the applicator. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Apart from the arrangements set out above, the invention consists of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below with regard to non-restrictive examples of the embodiment, described with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
     FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a first embodiment of the application unit in accordance with the invention; 
     FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate variants of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, and 
     FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate yet another embodiment of the application unit in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1A to  1 C, to which reference will now be made, illustrate a first embodiment of the device  1  in accordance with the invention. As shown in perspective in FIG. 1A, this takes the form of a case  2  of a generally parallelepiped shape, closed by a lid  3  articulated around a hinge pin A. Such a case may be made by molding one or several thermoplastic materials compatible with the products contained therein. By way of example, one may use polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chlorides etc. 
     As shown in greater detail in the sectional view of FIG. 1B, the body of the case defines two compartments  4  and  5  separated from one another. The first compartment is intended to contain an applicator  6  (shown in the form of a stick, for example a lipstick) mounted inside a cup  7  carried by an element  8  whose upper portion forms a gripping element  9 . Typically such an applicator  6  contains a product packaged in the form of a solid or semi-solid stick. The product is capable of solubilizing or gelling on its surface in contact with an appropriate liquid composition with a view to its exfoliation, for example on the skin. Preferably, this product is one which is non-friable or only very slightly friable in its dry state, but which becomes friable on its surface when placed into contact with a liquid composition. Preferably, the product does not absorb or draw up the liquid in depth, so that the solubilization or gelling occurs solely on its surface. Such a stick may be obtained by molding or extrusion and is held in position in the cup by bonding or by means of striations arranged on the internal surface of the cup. 
     The element  8  forms a shoulder  10  bearing on a side of the case delimiting an opening  11 . Advantageously, the element  8  has a frustoconical portion  12  capable of cooperating with a frustoconical profile  13  formed within the opening  11 . When the applicator is disposed inside the compartment  4 , this makes it possible to obturate the opening  11  in a leakproof manner, so as to prevent substantially any evaporation of the solvent entering into the composition of the stick  6 . However, for certain formulas, it may be desirable to have a non-leakproof closure so as to allow the stick  6  to dry. 
     The case  2  also forms a second compartment  5  wherein there is disposed a block  14  of foam with open cells or semi-open cells, with a cross-section substantially equal to the cross-section of the compartment  5 . According to this embodiment, the foam block has, in the non-compressed (or only slightly compressed) position, a height substantially identical to the height of the compartment. In fact, a first end  15  is in contact with the bottom  17 . The other end is situated substantially in the vicinity of the opening  18  abutting against an annular element  19  disposed inside the opening  18 . Advantageously, the annular element  19  is made of an elastomeric material and forms a gasket ensuring the tightness of the seal of the compartment  5 . The seal of the compartment is obtained by a part  20  carried by an element  21  joined to the lid  3 . The part  20  has a frustoconical shape and is capable of cooperating with a frustoconical profile  22  formed inside the opening  18 . This improves the seal of the compartment  5 . 
     As illustrated in this embodiment, the lid  3  carries means allowing the opening  18  of the compartment  5  to be obturated, and is of sufficient size to cover the whole of the case  2 , thus forming a cover cap over the applicator  6 . Furrow/groove-type means allow the lid  3  to be kept in the closed position on the case. 
     The foam block  14  is impregnated with a liquid composition such as water or any other solvent and/or preservatives, and/or film-forming elements, and/or emollients, and/or active compounds. According to one embodiment, the volume of liquid is chosen so as to be contained entirely within the foam block. Alternatively, in the vicinity of its bottom  17  the compartment  5  has a portion with a diameter  23  larger than the diameter of the foam block. This makes it possible to obtain, in the vicinity of the bottom, a reserve of the liquid composition which will be drawn up by the foam block  14  in the course of use. The larger diameter portion in the vicinity of the bottom also makes it possible to facilitate the removal and/or insertion of the foam block  14  during its initial mounting or during its replacement when all its contents have been used up. For this purpose, an opening  24  is arranged in the bottom  17  and is obturated by a lid  25  articulated on the bottom of the case  2 . A sealing  26 , disposed between the bottom and the lid  25  ensures fluid tightness. The lid  25  is kept in the closed position by a conventional catch  27 . 
     The foam block  14  only constitutes one preferred embodiment. Alternatively, one may use an element forming a wick of the felt type, or a sintered element, or an elastomer of a low hardness with open cells or half-open cells, or a combination of such elements. In general, in accordance with the invention it is possible to use any material capable of drawing up liquid, or “sequestering” it (that is to say, retaining it in the absence of any strain) and of restoring it to a surface caused to bear on such a material. The free surface  50  of the impregnated element may be covered by a flocked coating, or by a perforated film of a thermoplastic elastomer, or by plastic, or by a layer of felt, or by a textile fabric (not shown). 
     FIG. 1C illustrates the operation of the device in accordance with the invention. Having opened the lid  3 , the user grips the applicator  6  by the gripping element  9 , introduces the applicator into the second compartment  5  containing the foam block  14  and causes it to bear on the free surface  50  thereof. The foam is compressed to an extent depending on the depth of the insertion of the applicator. However, the insertion of the applicator  6  into the compartment  5  is axially limited by the shoulder  10  of the element  8  abutting on the edge of the opening  18 . Thus, while bearing against the foam block impregnated with liquid, the surface of the applicator is solubilized or gelled on its surface and is optionally charged with active agents present in the liquid composition. The applicator can subsequently be applied to the surface to be treated where it can exfoliate on its surface. The foam block  14  reassumes its original shape in the compartment  5  by drawing up liquid towards the upper surface thereof In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the foam block  14  does not descend as far as the bottom of the reservoir. Its lower end is kept in an axially intermediate position between the bottom  17  and the opening  18  by means of a collar  30 . Thus a reservoir of liquid is formed between the bottom and the lower end of the impregnated element. The impregnation of the element  14  is effected either by means of a wick (not shown) which is immersed in the liquid, or by upending the packaging unit to cause the liquid to be brought into contact with the element  14 . This operation is performed quite naturally, in particular when the unit is being carried in a handbag. After having been emptied, the reservoir can be refilled through the opening  24  in the bottom of the compartment  5 . According to this embodiment, a foam block  90 , impregnated with, for example, water or with any other solvent, is advantageously disposed in the bottom of the compartment  4  so as to humidify the atmosphere in this compartment and to prevent the premature drying out of the stick. The foam block  90  is preferably not in contact with the stick  6 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, each of the compartments is covered by an individual lid  32 ,  33 . The lid  32  obturates the compartment containing the liquid composition in a leakproof manner by means of the frustoconical part  20  carried by the internal surface of the lid  32 . The second lid  33  performs the function of a cover cap for the compartment containing the applicator. The two lids are mounted in an articulated way around one hinge pin situated substantially between the openings of each of the compartments. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 2C, the first compartment is detachably mounted on the second. For this purpose, groove/slide means  34 ,  35  are provided on the upper portion of the case and are optionally coupled with other fastening means  36 ,  37  in the bottom portion of the case. In this embodiment, the compartment  5  containing the liquid composition does not have an opening at its bottom. Thus, when the contents of the compartment  5  have been used up, the user separates the compartment  5  from the compartment  4  and replaces it with another. This makes is possible to use a single applicator in combination with different liquid compositions. The other parts of the device are identical with those described with reference to the preceding Figures and therefore do not require any additional detailed description. In the same way as in the embodiment of FIG. 2B, each of the compartments is individually obturated by a lid  32 ,  33 , of which the lid  32  obturates the opening  18  in a leakproof manner and the lid  33  obturates a cavity  38  formed above the compartment  4  and wherein there emerges the gripping element  9  of the applicator  6 . The two lids are kept in their closed position by fastening means  47 ,  48  disposed on the circumference of each of the lids and capable of cooperating with complementary means (not shown) carried by each one of the compartments  4  and  5 . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another embodiment in which the compartments are no longer disposed side-by-side, but head-to-tail. In this embodiment the two compartments  4  and  5  are orientated in directions opposite to one another and are aligned along a single axis X. The opening  11  of the compartment  4  containing the applicator is obturated by the gripping element  9  of the applicator. The gripping element  9  has a lateral skirt  40  with an external cross-section substantially identical with the external cross-section of the case  2  and surmounted by a top side  41 . Fastening means  45  are disposed inside the free edge of the lateral skirt  40  so as to cooperate with the complementary fastening means carried by the upper edge of the case  2  for fixing the applicator axially in position in the compartment  4 . The internal surface of the top side  41  carries an axial duct  42  extended in a frustoconical portion  43  capable of forming the seal for the opening  11 . The frustoconical portion is extended in a skirt  44  with its smaller diameter end forming a cup for the applicator  6 . On the opposite side to the element  9 , the compartment containing the impregnated element  14  is closed in a leakproof manner by a lid  32  comprising fastening means  48 . The other parts of the device are similar to those described above and therefore do not require any additional detailed description. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variants can be introduced therein without departing from the spirit of the invention such as claimed below.