Abstract:
The present invention disclosed relates to a packaging and application device for a product, specifically a cosmetic product. The device includes a receptacle for cleaning the product having a longitudinal axis and a passageway. The receptacle also includes a porous or fibrous applicator element capable of communicating with the product in the receptacle through the passageway. A dispensing element adapted for opening and closing the passageway. The device further contains a dispensing element adapted for opening and closing the passageway and includes a mobile part rotatable about the longitudinal axis between a first position in which the passage is closed and a second position in which the passage is open. The device also includes a closure cap capable of engaging a dispensing element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention disclosed relates to a packaging and application device for a product, in particular a fluid product such as for example nail varnish remover.  
           [0002]    Nail vanish remover products are for the most part packaged in bottles and require the use of a cotton wool swab for their application. Wipes impregnated with remover also exist which have the advantage of being more readily transportable. However, these two types of application have the major drawback that it is difficult to remove the varnish from a nail on one hand without damaging the varnish on the other nails of both hands, particularly the hand in which the cotton wool swab or wipe is being held. It often happens that the varnish on a single nail is damaged and it is needed to remove the varnish from this nail only without re-applying varnish to both hands. Similarly, when it is desired to remove the varnish from the toenails, the use of a cotton wool swab or wipe impregnated with remover removes the varnish from the nails of the hand holding the swab or wipe.  
           [0003]    For this reason, the need has arisen for an applicator device for a nail varnish remover product which can be used to remove the varnish from a single nail if desired, without removing the varnish from the other nails.  
           [0004]    In particular, the need has arisen for a device of the type which includes a receptacle containing the product and an applicator element capable of communicating with the product contained in the receptacle through a passage which can be opened or closed in response to the actuation of an intermediate element placed between the applicator and the receptacle.  
           [0005]    Numerous application devices of this type have already been described for other types of products.  
           [0006]    In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,527 describes a device including a bottle onto which is screwed a collar integral with an applicator brush. When the collar is screwed to its maximum extent onto the bottle, the brush is isolated from the inside of the bottle by means of a centre-post which blanks off a communicating aperture between the bottle and brush. To use the device, the user unscrews the collar which moves the aperture away from the centre-post thereby providing sufficient clearance to allow the product to pass from the bottle to the brush. In this device, no closure cap is provided to cover the brush in the closed position so that the brush is not protected.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,409,933 describes in one of the embodiments a bottle including an outlet aperture formed outside the longitudinal axis of the bottle, and which is surmounted by an applicator having an inlet aperture also formed outside the longitudinal axis of the bottle. A cap is provided to cover the applicator in the closed position. In the closed position, the two apertures are offset in such a way that the product cannot reach the applicator. To place the applicator in communication with the product, the user removes the cap then turns the applicator so as to bring the two apertures into alignment with each other. To close the device, the user must first turn the applicator to place the two apertures in the offset position, then replace the cap. Two separate movements are thus necessary both to open and close the device.  
           [0008]    In certain devices, the cap serving to protect the applicator is also used to close the passage allowing communication between the inside of the receptacle and the applicator. This is notably the case in the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,106,742 wherein a screwing action applied to the closure cap causes the collar integral with the applicator to move downward. However, placement of the applicator in communication with the inside of the receptacle must be done by hand, i.e. the user must first unscrew the cap then pull on the collar in order to open up the passage between the inside of the receptacle and the applicator.  
           [0009]    In other devices, opening of the cap causes the applicator to be placed in communication with the product contained in the receptacle. This is notably the case in the devices described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,579 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,887. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,579, the cap is opened by means of a linear movement on the longitudinal axis of the device. When it is opened, the cap causes the movement by friction of an intermediate part carrying the applicator and the clearance of a passage aperture allowing the applicator to communicate with the product contained inside the receptacle. To shut off communication between the applicator and the product inside the receptacle, the user can use the cap to cause the intermediate part carrying the applicator to move downward on the longitudinal axis. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,887, the cap is screwed onto the receptacle, under a bellows formed in the neck of the receptacle. In this position, the bellows is compressed. When the cap is unscrewed, the bellows expands and a passage aperture is cleared enabling the applicator to communicate with the product inside the receptacle. When the cap is screwed back onto the receptacle, the bellows is compressed and the aperture recloses.  
           [0010]    In these two devices, the applicator is placed in communication with the product inside the receptacle by causing a part carrying the applicator to move along the longitudinal axis of the receptacle. When the product is applied to an area to be treated, pressure is exerted on the applicator along this axis, so that the passage aperture tends to reclose as the product is being applied, which is not at all desirable.  
           [0011]    Patent application Ser. No. FR 2 681 050 describes a device with a dispensing tip fitted with a cap in which screwing/unscrewing causes the tip to open/close. However, a dispensing tip of this kind is not suitable for the application of a nail varnish remover to remove the varnish from one nail. Moreover, unscrewing the cap causes the cap to move to the open position due to the presence of bosses on the sidewall of the tip. A configuration of this kind does not allow the cap to be screwed back onto the bottle, when the tip is closed by hand, owing to the presence of the bosses.  
           [0012]    One of the objects of the invention is to provide a packaging and application device for a fluid product which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.  
           [0013]    A particular object of the invention is to provide a device which enables nail varnish to be removed from one nail without damaging the varnish on the other nails.  
           [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is easy to use and which enables the product and applicator to be packaged in a manner such that the applicator is isolated from the product contained in the receptacle.  
           [0015]    A further object of the invention is also to provide a device of this kind wherein the applicator element can be changed without risk of leakage of the product from the receptacle.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by providing a packaging application device for a product. The packaging and application device includes a receptacle having a longitudinal axis in the passageway. The receptacle is adapted for containing various products. The packaging application device further includes a porous or fibrous applicator element capable of communicating with the product contained in the receptacle through the passageway. A dispensing element is located on the packaging device and is adapted for opening and closing the passageway. The dispensing element further includes a mobile part which may be rotated about a longitudinal axis. The mobile part is capable of moving between a first position in which the passageway is closed and a second position in which the passageway is open. The packaging device further includes a closure cap which is capable of being attachment to the dispensing element. In a preferred method, the closure cap contains threads which permits the closure cap to be screwed on to the dispensing element. The closure cap constitutes a holder for the applicator element. Additionally, the closure cap is adapted so that rotational movement of the closure cap about the longitudinal axis causes the opening and closing of the passageway.  
           [0017]    The mobile part of the dispensing element may be moved independently of the closure cap. The closure cap may be screwed onto the dispensing element irrespective of the position of the mobile part. The mobile part may further be mobile relative to the receptacle. Only in rotation about the longitudinal axis wherein the passageway is formed remote from the longitudinal axis. Additionally, rotational movement of the mobile part relative to the receptacle may be accompanied by a linier movement of the mobile part along the longitudinal axis.  
           [0018]    A second screw thread may be located on the dispensing element so that the mobile part may be moved relative to the receptacle by means of the second screw thread. The dispensing element may also include a fixed part having at least one wall with the passageway being closed off by engagement between the wall of the dispensing element and an opening being formed in the mobile part of the dispensing element.  
           [0019]    The applicator element may be mounted on the packaging and applicator device in a removable or non-removable manner. Also, the holder may be adapted for obtaining an addition applicator element or even a plurality of applicator elements. The holder may be further modified in that it may be formed in the closure cap.  
           [0020]    The applicator element may be a block of foam.  
           [0021]    The packaging applicator device may be used to facilitate the application of a product onto human nails. Additionally, the receptacle may include a deformable wall and/or contain a cosmetic product. The cosmetic product may be adapted for the removal of a beauty product from carotene material i.e., human nails. Additionally, the device may be adapted for the use of removal of nail varnish from human nails. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    Apart from the features described above, the invention includes a number of other arrangements which are described below by way of non-limitative examples described with reference to the attached figures in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the packaging and application device according to the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device in FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 shows a partial axial cross-section of the device in FIG. 1, in the closed position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows a partial axial cross-section of the device in FIG. 1, in the process of opening;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a partial axial cross-section of the device in FIG. 1, in the open position;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows a top view along arrow  6  of the collar of the device in FIG. 2;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 shows an axial cross-section of the applicator holder of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 shows an axial cross-section of a variant of the device in FIG. 1;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 shows a top view of the applicator holder of the device illustrated in FIG. 8, not containing an applicator;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 shows an axial cross-section of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, in the closed position; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 shows an axial cross-section of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in the open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0034]    Throughout the description, the terms “above” and “upper position”, “below” and “lower position” designate positions oriented respectively towards the top or bottom of the figures.  
         [0035]    FIGS.  1  to  7  illustrate a packaging and application device  1  according to the invention. The device  1  includes a receptacle  10 , an applicator  20  integral with the receptacle via a collar  30  and an applicator holder  40 , together with a closure cap  50 . The receptacle contains a fluid product, for example a nail varnish remover.  
         [0036]    In the example illustrated, the receptacle  10  has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis X, and includes a body formed by a side wall  11  and a bottom  12 . The receptacle also includes a neck  14  centred on axis X and circular in transverse cross-section. The side wall  11  is elastically deformable and is connected to the neck  14  via a shoulder  13  which defines an annular flat surface. The neck  14  comprises three tabs  15  spaced at different angles and designed, as will be described in detail below, to hold the collar  30  on the receptacle. The receptacle  10  is, for example, made of plastic, for example polyethylene, and is obtained by moulding from a single piece.  
         [0037]    The collar  30  is attached by a snap-on fixing to the neck  14  of the receptacle by means of a fixing skirt  31  cylindrical in shape. The fixing skirt  31  comprises three recesses  32  spaced at angles on the inner surface of the skirt, each designed to accommodate a tab  15  on the neck of the receptacle. The collar  30  is thus mounted on the receptacle without being capable of movement relative to the latter, either linearly along axis X or in rotation about axis X.  
         [0038]    The fixing skirt  31  on the collar  30  is connected at its upper part, by means of an annular transverse wall  34 , to a sealing skirt  35  concentric with the fixing skirt  31 . The sealing skirt  35  includes a first portion  35   a  extending parallel to the axis X to a free lower edge. This skirt portion  35   a  is designed to be inserted into the neck  14  of the receptacle, bearing against the inner surface of the neck. The sealing skirt  35  includes a second portion  35   b  extending axially beyond the first portion, above the annular transverse wall  34 , and which engages with the applicator holder  40 , as will be seen in detail below.  
         [0039]    A tapered centre-post  36  is formed on the axis X. The centre-post is connected to the sealing skirt  35  by three radial arms  37  spaced at angles and delineating, with the inner surface of the sealing skirt, apertures  38  enabling passage of the product. The centre-post  36  extends axially beyond the sealing skirt and terminates at an upper extremity  36   a  designed to fit into an opening  45  in the applicator holder  40  so as to shut off communication between the applicator and the product contained inside the receptacle.  
         [0040]    The fixing skirt  31  on the collar comprises on its outer surface two diametrically opposing tabs  33  designed to engage with a screw thread on the applicator holder  40  to allow the applicator holder to move relative to the collar and to place the applicator  20  in communication with the product contained inside the receptacle. The engagement of the collar with the applicator holder constitutes an element to open/close the passage allowing the applicator to communicate with the product contained inside the receptacle.  
         [0041]    The applicator holder  40  is mounted on the collar by means of a fixing skirt  41  cylindrical in shape. The fixing skirt  41  comprises a first screw thread  42  on its inner surface which engages with the tabs  33  on the collar. This engagement allows the applicator holder to be screwed/unscrewed on the collar between a first position termed the lower position and a second position termed the upper position. The first screw thread  42  is interrupted in the lower part of the skirt  41  to form a stop  42   a  for the tabs  33  so as to prevent the applicator holder from becoming detached from the collar when unscrewed to the maximum extent, i.e. in the upper position of the applicator holder on the collar. When the applicator holder is in the lower position on the collar, the screwing action is also limited as will be seen in detail below.  
         [0042]    The fixing skirt  41  additionally includes a second screw thread  43  on its outer surface allowing attachment of the closure cap  50 .  
         [0043]    The fixing skirt  41  of the applicator holder extends at its upper part into a tapering wall  44  to an opening  45  formed on axis X opening out into a support  46  for the applicator  20 . The applicator support  46  is formed by an annular transverse wall  46   a  terminating at its edge in a lateral wall  46   b  extending parallel to axis X to a free upper edge.  
         [0044]    To prevent the product from flowing into the screw thread  42 , provision is made for a sealing skirt  47  cylindrical in shape extending parallel to the axis X from the tapering wall to a free lower edge. This sealing skirt  47  is designed to form a contact seal with the upper portion  35   b  of the sealing skirt of the collar on which it slides axially when the applicator holder moves between its upper and lower positions. In the lower position, the sealing skirt  47  bears against the annular transverse wall  34  of the collar, thus limiting the downward travel of the applicator holder during the screwing action so as to prevent the fixing skirt  41  from moving past the shoulder  13  of the receptacle.  
         [0045]    The applicator  20 , mounted in the support  46 , is shaped like a flat cylinder having a transverse cross-section slightly larger than the transverse cross-section of the support  46  so that the side wall  46   b  holds it laterally whilst enabling it to be withdrawn axially when it needs to be changed. When the applicator is mounted in the support, it projects axially above the side wall  46   b  of the support. It consists of a block of open-cell foam, notably a relatively flexible polyurethane foam.  
         [0046]    Advantageously, the applicator is mounted in its support in a removable manner so that it can be readily withdrawn intact from its support and replaced by a fresh applicator or by the same applicator after cleaning, for example.  
         [0047]    With the device in the closed position, the applicator  20  is seated in an enclosed holder  51  delimited in part by the closure cap  50  designed to close the applicator. The cap  50  consists of a peripheral skirt  52 , cylindrical in shape, closed at the top by a transverse wall  53 . The inner surface of the skirt  52  comprises a screw thread  54  designed to engage with the screw thread  43  on the fixing skirt  41  of the applicator holder. The free lower edge of the skirt  52  bears against the shoulder  13  of the receptacle thereby preventing the applicator  20  from being compressed in the closed position by the transverse wall  53  of the cap in the event that the screw thread is tightened excessively.  
         [0048]    So that screwing/unscrewing of the cap  50  causes screwing/unscrewing of the applicator holder  40 , the force exerted laterally by the cap  50  on the applicator holder  40  is greater than that exerted by the applicator holder  40  on the collar  30 . To this end, the cap is fitted more tightly to the applicator holder than the applicator holder on the collar. Alternatively or additionally, appropriate materials are chosen to constitute the various parts, paying particular attention to the coefficient of friction or to the surface finish. Of course, the lateral force exerted by the cap on the applicator holder must still readily permit the screwing action.  
         [0049]    In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3, the cap  50  is screwed onto the applicator holder by the engagement of complementary screw threads  54  and  43  respectively comprised on the cap and applicator holder. The applicator holder  40  is in the lower position relative to the collar  30 , i.e. the tabs  33  are located in the upper part of the screw thread  42 . The upper extremity  36   a  of the centre-post  36  is seated in the opening  45  in the applicator holder so as to prevent any communication of the product contained in the receptacle with the applicator.  
         [0050]    To open the device, the user rotates the cap  50  relative to the receptacle, which, in the first instance, unscrews the applicator holder and displaces the applicator holder axially relative to the collar as illustrated in FIG. 4. The applicator holder  40  is then in the upper position relative to the collar  30 , i.e. the tabs  33  are situated in the lower part of the screw thread  42  and are brought to bear against the extremity  42   a  of the thread. The opening  45  is then cleared to allow the product contained in the receptacle to communicate with the applicator.  
         [0051]    The user then continues the unscrewing action, in this instance to unscrew the cap of the applicator holder so as to release the applicator, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The user is then able to place the applicator on a nail with the device positioned head downward, i.e. by placing the applicator below the receptacle so that the product flows by gravity into the applicator via the apertures  38  and the opening  45 . If the user wants the product to flow more quickly into the applicator, she may exert light pressure on the side wall  11  of the receptacle thereby pushing the product towards the applicator  20 . She may also use the device in a position with the head uppermost, pushing the product towards the applicator by pressing on the side wall  11  of the receptacle. Once the applicator is soaked with the product, the user can apply circular movements on the nail in order to remove the varnish. When the application is finished, the user places the cap  50  on the applicator holder  40  and rotates the cap relative to the receptacle  10 , during which the applicator holder  40  is screwed back into the collar  30 , until it is in its lower position and the cap is screwed back onto the applicator holder until it is brought to bear against the shoulder  13  of the receptacle.  
         [0052]    When, after using the device to remove nail varnish, the user considers that the applicator is excessively soiled and needs to be replaced, she screws the applicator holder into the collar by hand, i.e. without the cap, so as to block the opening  45  by the centre-post  36 . With no risk of leakage of the product, she can then easily withdraw the applicator from its support  46  and replace it with a fresh one. Alternatively, she can wash the applicator just removed and replace it in the support. The user can then screw the cap back onto the applicator holder which is in its lower position because the screw thread will permit this action.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a variant of the device described above with reference to FIGS.  1  to  7  and which is used in the same manner.  
         [0054]    According to this variant, receptacle  10  and the collar  30  are identical to the receptacle and collar in the first embodiment. The applicator holder  40  differs from the applicator holder in the first embodiment by the shape of the applicator support  46 . The support  46  in this case is formed by a tapered wall  48  which tapers from the opening  45  towards the outside. The tapered wall  48  comprises three projections  49  which serve to hold the applicator  20  laterally whilst allowing it to be withdrawn axially when it needs to be changed. The applicator  20  in this case is wedge-shaped.  
         [0055]    In this embodiment, the cap  50  defines a second holder  55  delimited by an axial extension  56  of the peripheral skirt  52 , above the transverse wall  53 , closed in a reversible manner at its upper part by a transverse wall  57  arranged to pivot on a film hinge  58 . A latching arrangement  59 , diametrically opposite the film hinge  58 , is provided to latch the transverse wall  57  onto the extension  56  of the skirt so as to keep the second holder  55  closed. The second holder  55  can accommodate several applicators  20  which are designed to successively replace the applicator previously used.  
         [0056]    The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 differs from the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  7  principally in that the applicator holder  40  is mobile relative to the collar only in rotation about the axis X.  
         [0057]    The screw thread on the inner surface of the fixing skirt  41  on the applicator holder is replaced by two grooves  143 , diametrically opposed, in which the tabs  33  move. The two tabs  33  are in this case formed at different axial heights. The grooves  143  are also formed at different axial heights and each extend in a transverse plane relative to axis X, in an angular portion of approximately 180° thereby allowing the applicator holder to move through 180° relative to the collar  30 . The opening  45  in the support  46  is in this case formed outside the axis X.  
         [0058]    The centre-post of the collar is replaced by a transverse wall  136  formed from the axial extension of the sealing skirt  35 , and which forms a contact seal with the transverse wall  46   a  of the support  46 . The transverse wall  136  comprises an orifice  136   a  also formed outside the axis X. The orifice  136   a  is situated in the wall  136  in a manner such that the opening  45  in the applicator holder is aligned with the orifice  136   a  when the tabs  33  bear against one extremity of their respective groove.  
         [0059]    In this embodiment, in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 10, the cap  50  is screwed onto the applicator holder and the wall  136  blocks the opening  45  to prevent any communication between the product contained in the receptacle and the applicator. The tabs  33  are each located at a first extremity of their respective groove.  
         [0060]    To open the device, the user rotates the cap  50  relative to the receptacle, which in the first instance causes the tabs  33  to move in their respective groove  143  from the first extremity of the groove to the second extremity, as in this case also the force exerted laterally by the cap  50  on the applicator holder  40  is greater than the force exerted by the applicator holder  40  on the collar  30 . The applicator holder thus moves through 180° relative to the collar so that the opening  45  in the applicator holder is aligned with the orifice  136   a  in the wall  136  thereby allowing the product contained in the receptacle to communicate with the applicator.  
         [0061]    The user then continues the unscrewing action, in this instance unscrewing the cap from the applicator holder in order to release the applicator, as illustrated in FIG. 11.  
         [0062]    In the foregoing detailed description, reference is made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is evident that variants can be introduced thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.