Make of unit comprising a container and an applicator closing the container

A make-up applicator has a container and an applicator which closes the container in a substantially leakproof manner and carries an applying member to draw up liquid make-up from the container and apply it to the surface to be made up. The container neck terminates within the barrel of the container at a wiper lip around a non-circular opening and the make-up applying member is of similar non-circular section so rotation within the wiper lip is prevented. A movement permitting connection between the container cap (part of the applicator) and the applying member allows substantially leakproof sealing of the container by the applicator and secure fastening of the cap to the neck while still permitting the flat spatula end of the make-up applying member to co-operate with the wiper lip around the non-circular opening therewithin.

DESCRIPTION 
The present invention concerns a make-up unit comprising a container for a 
make-up product such as eye-shadow, a cheek blusher or any eye ring 
camouflager, and a detachable applicator carrying a make-up applying 
member allowing the make-up contained in the container to be drawn off, 
transported and spread on the skin surface. 
A make-up unit of this kind has already been described in U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 349,404. The detachable make-up applicator of this 
unit carries a cap screwed on to the threaded neck of the liquid make-up 
container. The make-up applying member of the applicator is formed by an 
elongate soft rubber spatula shape made of a soft, elastically deformable 
material; in the side of the spatula, are two cavities each constituting a 
reservoir wherein the liquid make-up is maintained by capillarity. The 
threaded neck of the liquid make-up container is extended internally by a 
flexible sleeve whose bottom end opening receives the make-up spatula. The 
spatula is provided with an annular rim which is pressed against the edge 
of the opening to ensure a leak proof closure when the applicator is 
screwed on to the container neck. 
In this make-up unit, the edge of the withdrawal opening cannot form a 
wiper lip for the make-up spatula, that is to say a lip with a thin edge 
which could tightly grip the flat profile of the spatula and which would 
therefore have the configuration of a circle flattened into an ellipse, 
because the make-up spatula could then not rotate within the wiper lip in 
the screwing-up process. However, it is frequently desirable to provide 
make-up containers with a wiper lip for removing any excess product drawn 
off by the make-up applying member. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a make-up 
unit whose make-up applying member, because it does not have a cylindrical 
profile based on a director circle, and could not turn within the wiper 
lip, nevertheless has its annular rim capable of being pressed against the 
wiper lip to ensure the tightness of the container in its closed position, 
either by screwing-up or by catch engagement of the applicator on the 
container neck. 
Accordingly the present invention provides a make-up unit comprising a 
necked container for fluid make-up, and a detachable applicator passing 
through said neck and ending in a make-up applying member for drawing off 
the liquid make-up from the container, and for transporting it to and 
spreading it on the surface to be made up, wherein the make-up applying 
member is of non-circular cross-section and in the closed condition of the 
container received within a conforming non-circular withdrawal opening of 
the said container so as to stopper it in a substantially leakproof 
manner, wherein said withdrawal opening is bounded by a wiper lip gripping 
the make-up applying member and preventing it from turning within the 
wiper lip, wherein the applicator comprises two elements fitted one within 
the other and interconnected so that they are capable of relative motion 
with respect to one another, and wherein that one of the two interfitted 
elements which does not carry the make-up applying member is provided with 
means for releasably engaging the wall of the container neck. 
It is preferable for the applicator or the make-up applying member thereof 
to have an annular sealing rim abutting the base of the wiper lip as the 
container is being closed. 
The make-up container advantageously contains a liquid make-up, in 
particular eye shadow, a cheek blusher or an eye-ring camouflager. 
In a first variant of the invention, the two elements of the applicator can 
have a relative rotational motion and that one of these two elements which 
does not carry the make-up applying member preferably comprises screwing 
devices allowing it to be fixed on the threaded neck of the container. In 
view of this, as the container is being closed, the other element carrying 
the make-up applying member can be inserted inside the container without 
being caused to rotate by the top element, and the annular sealing rim may 
thus be pressed against the wiper lip. 
In this variant, it is preferable for the screwing device of the one said 
fitted element to be a screw cap engaging threads on the neck of the 
container. The cylindrical articulation may be formed by means of, on the 
one hand, a peripheral groove in the associated one of the two elements 
and, on the other hand, a continuous or discontinuous retaining bead 
arranged on the other element, which retaining ring engages within the 
above mentioned peripheral groove. 
To prevent the one applicator element which carries the make-up applying 
member from being caused to rotate by the other element as the container 
is being closed, the said one element has a non-circular cross-section 
preventing it from turning within the neck of the container. 
In a second preferred variant of the invention, the two elements of the 
applicator may be capable of relative translational motion and the top 
applicator element which does not carry the make-up applying member is 
catch-fitted within the container neck. An elastic member is inserted 
between the two interfitted elements so that when the top element is 
catch-engaged with the neck the said elastic member is compressed and 
allows the necessary elastic tightening for a good seal of the annular rim 
against the wiper lip. 
Advantageously the active part of the make-up applying member is a flat, 
elongate spatula. The spatula is traversed from side to side by at least 
one cavity constituting a reservoir wherein the liquid make-up is kept by 
capillarity. The make-up applying member is made of a soft, elastically 
deformable material, for instance of natural or synthetic rubber. 
The elastic member may be a plastic foam plug inserted between the two 
applicator elements within that of the two fitted elements which 
accommodates the other, that is to say, preferably the element which does 
not carry the make-up device. 
Advantageously, the catch fitting of the top element in the neck is 
achieved by catch engagement means, integrally moulded with the said top 
element, the said catch engagement means being pushed radially outwardly 
by the elastic member into an opening in the side wall of the container 
neck. The said applicator element which carries the make-up applying 
member advantageously has a non-circular cross-section preventing it from 
turning within the neck of the container. 
The wiper lip of the make-up device, in either variant, is preferably 
formed by the bottom end opening of a sleeve arranged within the container 
barrel as an extension of the container neck.

Referring now to the drawings, there will be seen a first type of eyelid 
make-up unit generally designated 1. 
The make-up unit 1 derives from the association of an applicator 2 with a 
container 3 containing liquid eye shadow. The threaded neck 4 and the 
barrel 5 of the container have an oval cross section, arranged such that 
the plane of section of FIG. 1 passes through the major axis of the said 
oval. The threaded neck 4 is extended within barrel 5 of the container by 
a sleeve 6 having its bottom end opening 7 serving as a withdrawal opening 
for the make-up applying member 10 comprising a spatula 11. 
The applicator 2 carries the make-up applying member 10 for drawing off the 
liquid make-up from the barrel 3 of the container, transporting it, and 
then spreading it on the eyelids. The make-up device 10 is obtained by 
moulding; it is made of soft natural or synthetic rubber. The active part 
of the make-up applying member 10 consists of the spatula 11 of flat, 
elongate shape. Two circular cavities 12 near the rounded free end of the 
spatula 11 pass through it from side to side. Each cavity 12 is 
dimensioned in such a way that once it is charged with liquid make-up, the 
liquid drawn off should be maintained within the cavity by capillarity 
during the transit of the spatula from container 3 to the eyelids to be 
made up, the liquid then being applied to the eyelids by a slight pressure 
exerted on the spatula 11. A make-up applying member 10 of this kind has 
been described in detail in the above-mentioned U.S. patent application 
Ser. No. 349,404. 
During making up, when the applicator 2 is withdrawn from container 3, the 
peripheral lip 8 around the withdrawal opening of the sleeve 6 exerts a 
wiping action, that is to say it removes the excess liquid make-up drawn 
off by the spatula 11. The wiper lip 8 closely fits the side of spatula 11 
when the container 3 is closed; as may be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing, 
the cross section of wiper lip 8 has the shape of a circle flattened into 
an ellipse, which prevents any rotation of the spatula 11 within the wiper 
lip 8. 
An annular rim 13 integral with the spatula 11 engages the wiper lip 8 when 
the container 3 is closed, to ensure the leakproof stoppering of the 
withdrawal opening delimited by the wiper lip. 
The make-up applicator 2 is formed by two substantially coaxial elements 
20, 30 fitted together, interconnected by a cylindrical articulation 
allowing them relative rotation around their common axis. Element 20 is a 
rod, having captive in one of its ends the tail 14 of the make-up applying 
member 10. The other end of rod 20 is fitted within the hollow sleeve 
element 30 of the cap 32 serving to close the container. The cylindrical 
articulation connecting the two elements 20 and 30 is formed on the one 
hand by a peripheral groove 21 in rod 20 and on the other hand, by a 
retaining bead 31 in relief on the radially inner surface of the hollow 
element 30 and which cooperates with the peripheral groove 21. 
The cross section of rod 20 has an oval shape so that rod 20 cannot turn 
within the also oval threaded neck 4. On the other hand, the hollow 
element 30 has a cylindrical shape and can therefore swivel around its 
longitudinal axis within the threaded neck 4. 
The hollow element 30 is surmounted by the integral cap 32 whose skirt 33 
carries an internal thread intended to cooperate with the outer thread of 
the container neck 4. 
The container 3 is stoppered by means of the applicator 2 which has just 
been described, and this is effected by suitably orientating the 
applicator 2, inserting it inside the threaded neck 4 so that spatula 11 
enters the end opening delimited by the wiper lip 8, and continuing this 
motion until the annular rim 13 of the make-up applying member 10 abuts 
the wiper lip 8. When cap 32 is then tightly screwed on the threaded neck 
4 of the container, the hollow element 30 and hence of rod 20 are lowered 
and the rim 13 becomes squashed against the edge of wiper lip 8; as a 
result, leakproof closure of the container 3 is achieved. During the 
screwing-up operation, the rotational movement imparted to the hollow 
element 30 is not transmitted to rod 20 since the inner retaining bead 31 
of element 30 slidably turns the peripheral groove 21 and since rod 20 
held stationary because of its oval profile is unable to turn within the 
threaded neck 4. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6 of the drawings, there will be seen a second 
type of a make-up unit according to the invention. 
This make-up unit also derives from the association of an applicator 40, 
which bears a make-up applying member 10 in all respects analogous to that 
of FIG. 1, with a liquid make-up container 50 whose neck 51 and barrel 52 
have an oval shape. Near its top end the neck 51 has two diametrically 
opposite rectangular openings 53, in the side wall. Neck 51 is continued 
within the barrel 52 of the liquid make-up container by an oval cross 
section sleeve 54 whose bottom end opening is intended to be closed in a 
leakproof manner by the make-up applying member 10. The above mentioned 
opening, which is of oval cross section, is bounded by a wiper lip 55 
which tightly grips the spatula 11 of the make-up applying member 10. 
The detachable applicator 40 is formed by two substantially coaxial 
connected elements 60, 70 which are assembled together in such a way that 
the one is capable of a limited translational motion relative to the 
other, along their common axis. The tail 14 of the make-up applying member 
10 is captive in one of the ends of element 60 of the applicator. Element 
60 is a rod comprising two sections of different profiles, the one 
cylindrical and the other oval, the cylindrical section being disposed at 
the end nearer the make-up applying member 10. The oval part has a cross 
section which increases towards the end of element 60 which is further 
from the make-up applying member 10. By reason of its oval cross-section, 
the element 60 of the applicator cannot turn within the neck 51 of the 
container. At its end furthest from the make up applying member 10, the 
element 60 of the applicator terminates in a constriction 62 which also 
has an oval cross-section. Two stops 63, provided in relief at the upper 
end of constriction 62, are disposed on the ends of the major axis of the 
oval profile of the constriction 62. 
The element 60 of the applicator has its constriction 62 fitted within the 
hollow element 70 which also has an oval cross section. The hollow element 
70 comprises two opposite internal teeth 72 disposed along the major axis 
of the oval. The hollow element 70 can slide axially on constriction 62, 
without the possibility of any rotation relative thereto, from a position 
where it substantially abuts the annular shoulder 64 (FIG. 3) to another 
position where the two teeth 72 of the hollow element 70 engage the two 
stops 63 of element 60. 
A plastic foam plug 80, inserted within the hollow element 70, forms a 
spring abutting, on the one hand, the adjacent end of the constriction 62 
of the element 60 and, on the other hand, an inner pin 73 (FIG. 4) 
integral with the hollow element 70. 
Two outward catches 74, arranged on the side wall of the hollow element 70, 
serve to hold the element 50 in place in the top of neck 51. They are 
formed integrally with the hollow element 70 and each comprises a 
protruberance 74a connected via a thin plate 74b to the side of the hollow 
element 70; the plane of symmetry of the two catches 74 includes the minor 
axis of the oval profile of the hollow element 70. The plastic foam plug 
80 is inserted between the two thin plates 74b of the two catches 74, 
which thus have the tendency to move apart from each other under the 
action of the spring plug. 
The closure of the liquid eyeshadow container 50, by means of applicator 
40, is effected as follows: Once suitably orientated, the applicator 40 is 
inserted in the neck 51 of the container so that the spatula 11 of the 
make-up applying member closes the opening bounded by the wiper lip 55. In 
the course of this insertion, the two catches 74 are squeezed together to 
compress the plastic foam plug 80 which makes it possible to cause the 
catches to enter the neck 51; this action is continued until, under the 
effect of the compressed foam plug 80, the protruberances 74a are aligned 
with the two rectangular openings 53 of the container neck and are 
released to become accommodated in the two rectangular openings 53. The 
applicator 40 is then fixed within the container. In this position, the 
plastic foam plug 80 is axially compressed between the two elements 60 and 
70 of the applicator 40, and hence the annular rim 13 of the make-up 
applying member 10 is elastically pressed against the wiper lip 55. The 
liquid make-up container is thus hermetically closed. 
To withdraw the applicator 40 from the container, the user squeezes the two 
protruberances 74a of the two catches together against the action exerted 
by spring 80, causing them to release from the apertures 53 and to 
penetrate the upper end of the neck of the container. Pulling the 
applicator 40 upwards allows it to be withdrawn without difficulty from 
the liquid make-up container. 
It will be observed that, in this second type of make-up unit, the plastic 
foam plug 80 has a double function. On the one hand, it tends to push the 
two catches 74 towards their catch engagement position inside of the two 
rectangular openings 53 of the container neck; on the other hand, as the 
container is being closed the spring plug elastically presses the annular 
rim 13 of the make-up device against the wiper lip 55 to ensure the 
required seal. Leakproof closure of the liquid make-up container is in 
this case achieved by means of the make-up applying member 10 without 
causing the member 10 to turn within the wiper lip 55. 
It shall be duly understood that the two embodiments described above are in 
no way restrictive and may give rise to any desirable modification without 
thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the 
following claims.