SELF-CLEANING CASE FOR POWDER COSMETIC PRODUCT

The invention relates to a case for a powder cosmetic product comprising:          a base comprising a cavity opening out axially through an opening into a bowl;     a sifter arranged in the opening;     a closing cover which is intended to be screwed onto the base between a fully unscrewed position and a fully screwed position in which it is axially brought closer to the opening;     a seal attached to the cover and comprising a membrane that comprises a contact face over the entire surface of the sifter; characterised in that the contact face of the membrane is elastically deformable in flexion so that the contact face conforms to the shape of the sifter when the cover is screwed on, the contact face having relief elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority benefits from French Application No. 2111871, filed Nov. 9, 2021 and titled NOM ET ADRESSE DU DEMANDEUR OU DU MANDATAIRE À QUI LA CORRESPONDANCE DOIT ÊTRE ADRESSÉE, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a case for a powder cosmetic product comprising:a base comprising a cavity for receiving said product, the cavity opening axially through an opening;a sifter arranged in the opening;a closing cover which is intended to be screwed onto the base between a fully unscrewed position and a fully screwed position in which it is axially brought closer to the opening to allow its sealed closing;a seal attached to the cover by an upper end which comprises:a lateral section elastically deformable in an axial direction;a membrane which is attached to a lower end of the deformable section and which comprises a contact face intended to rest on the entire surface of the sifter;a chamber delimited between the cover and the membrane.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Various examples of case designs are known from the prior art for receiving a powder cosmetic product, such as loose powder or similar products used for make-up.

In a known design, the case comprises a base comprising a cavity for containing a powder cosmetic product, a sifter which is arranged at the level of the opening of the cavity and through orifices of which the cosmetic product is discharged for use.

One disadvantage of such a case is in particular that the powder cosmetic product is dispersed through the multiple orifices of the sifter, in other words uncontrolled discharge of said product from the cavity forming reservoir.

The dispersion of the cosmetic product through the sifter is likely to occur on the one hand during the transport of the case in the closed position and on the other hand during the use of the case in open position. During the transport, the dispersion of the cosmetic product is limited by a cover that covers the sifter in closed position.

To limit such a dispersion during the transport, it is in particular known to place an applicator—typically a sponge—above the sifter so that at least one portion of the cosmetic product dispersed through the orifices is captured by the sponge.

However, the sponge does not completely prevent the dispersion of the powder cosmetic product out of the cavity, which poses a problem for the cleanliness of the case.

In order to achieve a sealed closure of the case, the sponge is therefore pressed tightly against the walls of the case. However, when the sponge is removed, the powder cosmetic product is sucked through the sifter by the suction-cup effect. Thus, it is impossible to open the case without spilling the powder cosmetic product outside its cavity.

In addition, the sponge often comprises an excessive amount of cosmetic product on its face in contact with the grid, making it difficult to use the saturated sponge for make-up.

In an attempt to overcome the problem of dispersion during the transport, it is also known to use a plug, for example secured to the cover of the case. Such a plug is configured to cover the sifter in the closed position of the case so as to isolate it and thus prevent the powder cosmetic product from being dispersed.

However, after using the case, the sifter is covered with powder cosmetic product. However, such a plug does not allow the sifter to be cleaned by reintroducing the powder cosmetic product into the cavity.

As a result, the powder cosmetic product is found in the space between the sifter and the plug, said cosmetic product covers the surface of the plug, in the same way that the face of a sponge in the previous example. However, the cosmetic product on the surface of the plug is then likely to disperse everywhere after the opening of the cover, in particular to come to dirty the case, the hands of the user, etc.

One of the consequences of this dispersion of the powder cosmetic product in use, as well as during the transport, is finally the lack of cleanliness of the case. However, such a defect of cleanliness of the case is particularly badly perceived on the qualitative level, i.e. disappointing for a user.

It is understandable that the handling of a case soiled with powder cosmetic product thus dispersed risks dirtying the hands or even the inside of a bag in which such a case would be conveyed.

To solve this problem, it has already been proposed to use a rigid plug attached to the cover and equipped with fins that scrape the sifter when the cover is screwed. The sifter used is a rigid sifter.

However, such a rigid plug does not allow for satisfactory cleaning of the sifter because once the fins are in close contact with the sifter, they form a stop which prevents the cover from being tightened further.

In addition, such an arrangement requires very precise dimensioning and positioning of the parts in relation to each other to allow the cover to be attached correctly while benefiting from the scraping effect of the fins.

Such a solution is therefore complex and expensive to implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes a case for powder cosmetic product comprising:a base comprising a cavity for receiving said product, the cavity opening out axially through an opening;a sifter arranged in the opening;a closing cover which is intended to be screwed onto the base between a fully unscrewed position and a fully screwed position in which it is axially brought closer to the opening to allow its sealed closure;a seal attached to the cover by an upper end which comprises:a lateral section elastically deformable in an axial direction;a membrane which is attached to a lower end of the deformable section and which comprises a contact face intended to rest on the entire surface of the sifter;a chamber delimited between the cover and the membrane.

According to the teachings of the invention, the case is characterised in that the contact face of the membrane is elastically deformable in flexion so that the contact face conforms to the shape of the sifter when the cover is screwed on, the contact face having relief elements.

According to another aspect of the invention, the contact face has a different shape between the fully unscrewed position of the cover and the fully screwed position of the cover.

According to another aspect of the invention, the membrane is elastically deformable in flexion when the cover is screwed on between a state of partial contact of the contact face with the sifter when the cover occupies a first position and a state of total axial abutment of the contact face against the entire surface of the sifter when the cover occupies a second position.

According to another aspect of the invention, during screwing on, the contact face reaches its state of total axial abutment before the cover reaches its fully screwed position, the deformation of the deformable section allowing an axial sliding of the cover towards the sifter up to its fully screwed position.

According to another aspect of the invention, an annular sealing segment of the membrane, which surrounds the contact face, is intended to come into sealed contact with an annular face of the bowl in the fully screwed position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seal is configured so that, upon unscrewing, a periphery of the contact face begins to move axially away from the sifter to release a peripheral area of the sifter, with a complementary inner area of said peripheral area remaining entirely in contact with the contact face.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seal is configured so that the sealing segment is moved away from its bearing face prior to or simultaneously with the initiation of moving away from the periphery of the contact face of the peripheral area of the sifter to create an interstice for the passage of the air into the cavity through said peripheral area.

According to another aspect of the invention, the contact face of the seal has, in a resting state of the membrane, a periphery of convex shape.

According to another aspect of the invention, in a resting state of the membrane, the contact face has a convex shape over its entire surface from a central point arranged substantially at the level of a central axis of the sifter.

According to another aspect of the invention, the elastically deformable section is formed by an annular bellow that surrounds the chamber.

According to another aspect of the invention, the deformable section has a lower flexibility than that of the membrane so that the contact face begins to deform in flexion before the attachment section.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seal is made in one part.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seal and the cover are made of the same material.

According to another aspect of the invention, the relief elements are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the contact face.

According to another aspect of the invention, the relief elements are pimples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, elements with identical structure or similar functions will be referred to by the same reference.

In the remainder of the description, an axial orientation parallel to a main axis of the case, and indicated by the arrow “A” which is directed from bottom to top, will be adopted. Radial orientations extending radially with respect to the main axis of the case from the inside to the outside will also be adopted. Tangential orientations that are orthogonal to the axial and radial orientations will also be adopted.

In the embodiments of the case shown in the figures, said main axis constitutes an axis of rotation for screwing the cover onto a base of the case.

The terms “top” and “bottom”, “above” and “below”, “upper” and “lower” are used as geometric reference frame in relation to the axial orientation as shown in the figures and independently of the direction of the gravity of the earth.

FIG.1shows a case10for a powder cosmetic product in closed position, andFIG.2shows the same case10in open position.

A powder cosmetic product is for example loose powder to be used for make-up. For example, it is a powder cosmetic product applied to the face with an applicator (not shown), in particular by means of a brush or a sponge (or any other equivalent means).

Preferably, the powder cosmetic product is intended to be applied by means of a brush which is here separate from said case10.

The case10of powder cosmetic product comprises at least one cover12and a base14that are movably mounted relative to each other between at least one closed position, shown inFIG.1, and an open position of the case10, shown inFIG.2, in which the cover12is removed from the base14.

The cover12is intended to be screwed onto an associated thread34of the base14. The case10has a main axis O determining the axial direction. The base14is located at the bottom and the cover12at the top. The cover12is more particularly intended to be screwed by rotation about the main axis O on the base14.

The cover12and the base14have a complementary shape that gives the case10its aesthetic appearance, in particular in closed position.

In a non-limiting way, the case10has a general cylindrical shape of revolution centred on said main axis O.

Alternatively, the case could have another general shape, in particular a parallelepiped shape, in particular a square or rectangular shape.

Advantageously, the case10is a “compact” type case, i.e. sized so that it can be conveyed, in particular but not exclusively in a bag, for example a handbag of a user.

Preferably, the cover12is removable from the base14, i.e., the cover12is separate from the base14in the open position of the case10as shown inFIG.2.

Alternatively, the cover could be connected to the base by means of a flexible attachment allowing it to be screwed and unscrewed from the base.

The base14comprises a cavity16for receiving said product, visible for example inFIG.8. The cavity16opens axially upwards through an opening18into an axially upwardly open bowl20outside the base.

A sifter22equipped with passage orifices of the product is arranged in the opening18to form a delimitation between the cavity16and the bowl20.

Thus, the invention is applicable to a case10comprising mainly the cavity16for receiving the cosmetic product delimited upwardly by the sifter22and which opens into a bowl20.

As shown in more detail inFIG.3, in the example embodiment shown in the figures, the base14comprises, in a non-limiting way, several components assembled.

Here, the base14comprises a pedestal24, a container26and a ring28for attaching the container26in the pedestal24. This configuration allows the container26to be replaced when it is empty or when a cosmetic product is desired to be changed in a clean and quick manner, while retaining the rest of the case10. This configuration is therefore both economical and ecological.

For this purpose, the pedestal24comprises a housing29. The housing29is divided into two portions. A lower portion30of the housing29is intended to receive the container26, while the upper portion of the housing29is intended to remain free to receive the bowl20allowing to collect powder cosmetic product present on the sifter22by means of an applicator without risk of spilling it everywhere.

The upper portion of the housing29is radially delimited by a cylindrical wall32. The cylindrical wall32comprises on its external face the thread34for screwing the cover12. The cylindrical wall32comprises a free upper end edge35.

The upper portion of the housing29is delimited from the lower portion30by a face36with an annular bearing surface which is turned axially upwards.

The container26here comprises the cavity16which is delimited radially by a peripheral wall38and axially downward by a bottom40, visible for example inFIG.8. The sifter22is intended to be attached to an upper end edge42of the peripheral wall38.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, at least one of the peripheral wall38and the bottom40is made of a material sufficiently flexible that a user can lift the bottom40to bring it into contact with the sifter22by simply pressing on the bottom40with a finger of the hand. For this purpose, the housing29of the pedestal24is closed downwards by a bottom41which is perforated with a window43for access to the bottom40of the container26.

Such an arrangement thus allows the cosmetic product to be passed over the sifter22by lifting the bottom40, without having to tip the container26to drop the cosmetic product.

The sifter22is a flexible sifter which is made, for example, in the form of a grid, of nylon or other material, consisting of a set of meshes each delimiting one of the orifices for the passage of the powder cosmetic product out of the cavity.

To allow to keep the sifter22stretched across the opening18, the sifter22is carried by a frame44of complementary shape to that of the outline of the opening18, here of circular shape, centred on the main axis O. The frame44is made of a much more rigid material than the peripheral wall38and/or the bottom40of the container26.

The frame44is for example made of a plastic material over-moulded on the periphery of the sifter22.

The frame44is mounted by snap fitting on the upper edge42of the container26. Thus, the container26and the sifter22are attached to each other to form a single component that is easy to house in the pedestal24and replace. The frame44allows the upper end of the peripheral wall38to be made more rigid. The container26thus maintains an opening18of same shape, in this case circular, at all times during the use of the housing10.

The container26further comprises a rim46that surrounds the opening18. The rim46projects radially outwardly from the peripheral wall38. When the container26is positioned in its housing29, it rests by means of its rim46which rests on the bearing face36of the pedestal24, as shown inFIG.8.

Since the container26is very flexible, it would be complicated to extract it from the top of the housing29by exerting a pressure through the window43without spilling the remaining powder it contains to the outside. It is therefore preferable to be able to grip it by a more rigid portion, namely by the rim46, made more rigid by the frame44. To allow the container26to be easily grasped by the frame44and/or the rim46, the cylindrical wall32of the pedestal24comprises at least two radially opposed indentations48that provide access to at least the rim46of the container26. The indentations48are made in the upper edge35of the cylindrical wall32. They extend downwards up to the face36of the bearing surface. Each indentation48allows a user to grasp the rim46with the pad of two fingers.

The ring28for attaching the container26is attached by dismountable attachment means in the housing29by tightening the rim46of the container26against the bearing face36. The ring28will thus hold the container26firmly in its housing29.

The attachment ring28comprises a peripheral wall50which has an external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the cylindrical wall32of the pedestal24so that the ring28is received in the upper portion of the housing29with a radial clearance allowing the mounting and the dismounting.

The attachment ring28also comprises an annular upper wall52inclined in the direction of the opening18of the container26that radially delimits the bowl20. The upper wall52thus forms a funnel that allows the cosmetic product to slide towards the sifter22. For this purpose, the upper wall52has an inner diameter that is approximately equal to the diameter of the sifter22.

As illustrated inFIG.8, the upper wall52has a lower annular face54that is intended to press against the rim46of the container26when the attachment ring28is mounted in the pedestal24. Here, the annular face54presses against the rim26by means of the frame44of the sifter22. Thus, the attachment ring28holds the container26firmly in position in its housing29. The rim46is tightened axially between the attachment ring28and the bearing face36.

The attachment ring28is mounted in a sealing manner around the container26. To this end, the frame44has a flexible lip56that extends radially outward from the circumference of the frame44. An annular bead57on the upper wall52of the attachment ring28is intended to come into tight axial contact with the lip54to ensure a good sealing preventing the cosmetic product from passing between the container26and the attachment ring28.

The attachment ring28is attached to the pedestal24by snap fitting in an axial direction. For this purpose, the attachment ring28comprises two axially extending attachment tabs58which are elastically deformable in flexion. Each attachment tab58is equipped at its free lower end with a crampon60which is intended to be fitted, here radially outwards, into a notch62of the pedestal24. Thus, each attachment tab58is flexible between a fitting state of the crampon60in its notch62, towards which it is elastically biased, and a disengaged state, in which it is flexed radially inward and is stressed against the elastic biasing force.

An upper portion of the attachment tabs58, ensuring the connection with the rest of the ring28, is formed by a portion of the peripheral wall50delimited, along the circumference of the ring28, by two axial slits64which are made in the peripheral wall50and which open downwards. These two slits64thus promote the flexibility of each attachment tab58.

The attachment tabs58are here two in number and they are arranged diametrically opposite to the main axis O of the case10.

The notches62are here arranged in line with the indentations48. The notches62are more particularly arranged below the bearing face36. This arrangement allows a user to bias the attachment tabs58towards their constrained state by biasing them directly with their fingers through the indentations48. Thus, the attachment ring28can be easily removed.

To allow the attachment ring28to be properly positioned relative to the pedestal24, the upper portion of each attachment tab58, formed in the peripheral wall50, comprises a radially outwardly extending projection66that is axially nested with the indentation48. These projections66come in abutment against the upper edge35of the cylindrical wall32of the pedestal24when they are not aligned with an indentation48.

The projections66also allow the ring28to be immobilized in rotation about the main axis O with respect to the pedestal24.

The cover12for closing the housing29is intended to be screwed onto the thread34of the pedestal24between a fully unscrewed position, as shown inFIG.8, and a fully screwed position, as shown inFIG.11, in which it is brought axially closer to the sifter22to allow the cavity16to be sealed. The screwing is done by rotating the cover12around the main axis O of the case10.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, the cover12comprises an upper wall68from which a cylindrical wall70extends downward. An internal face of the cylindrical wall70comprises a thread71complementary to that of the pedestal24so that the cover12can be screwed to the pedestal24.

The cover12is equipped with a seal72which is intended to seal the opening18in the fully screwed position of the cover to prevent the cosmetic product from exiting its cavity16.

As shown inFIGS.4to7, the seal72comprises a sealed membrane74that extends generally parallel to the sifter22. The membrane74comprises a lower face which forms a contact face76intended to rest on the entire surface of the sifter22when the cover12is in its fully screwed position. The membrane74has a circular outline with a diameter at least equal to that of the sifter22.

The contact face76is made of a material that has substantially no porosity capable of retaining or storing grains of cosmetic products. In particular, the contact face76does not have the structure of a sponge. The seal72is made of an elastomeric material. Here, the seal72is made in one part, for example by moulding.

When the seal72is attached to the cover12, the membrane74is arranged away from the upper wall50so that a chamber78is axially delimited between the cover12and the membrane74. The chamber78extends over substantially the entire surface of the sifter22.

The membrane74is made of a flexible material. This chamber78allows the membrane to deform in flexion under the effect of a pressure applied upwardly on the contact face76. The contact face has, at rest, a different shape than that of the sifter22. The membrane74is thus elastically deformable in flexion so that the contact face76conforms to the shape of the sifter22during the screwing of the cover12as will be explained in more detail later.

The seal72comprises a section80that is elastically deformable in an axial direction and is attached to the interior of the cover12by an upper end. The membrane74is attached to a lower end of the deformable section. The elastically deformable section80radially delimits the chamber78. The membrane74is thus secured in rotation with the cover12around the main axis O.

The deformable section80is here formed by an annular bellow that surrounds the chamber78. An upper edge82of the bellow forming the deformable section80is intended to axially abut against a lower face of the upper wall68of the cover12.

To allow the seal72to be attached to the cover12, the upper edge82of the deformable section80has radially outwardly projecting teeth84. These teeth84are intended to be radially embedded in notches86made in a circular partition88that extends axially downward from the lower face of the upper wall68of the cover12. The circular partition88is here adapted to internally receive the upper edge82of the deformable section80, with or without clearance. The deformable section80is made of sufficiently flexible material to allow the teeth84to snap fit into the notches86.

During the screwing and the unscrewing of the cover12, the volume of the chamber78is intended to vary as a function of the deformations of the deformable section80, on the one hand, and the deformations in flexion of the membrane74, on the other hand. To allow the air to enter and exit the chamber78to promote these deformations, at least one vent90of air passage is provided between the chamber78and the exterior of the seal72. The vents90are here made in the form of grooves made in the upper edge82of the deformable section80. The vents90are arranged in correspondence with reserved passages92in the circular partition88.

As will be explained later, the contact face76is intended to rub against the sifter22during the rotation of the cover12. This rubbing allows to push the grains of cosmetic product through the orifices in the sifter22back into the cavity16. Thus, the sifter22and the contact face76are cleaned and do not comprise cosmetic product when the cover12is opened again.

In order to achieve this rubbing effect, the contact face76comprises relief elements. The relief elements form a multitude of roughnesses on the contact face76. More particularly, these relief elements are formed here by a multitude of pimples94, visible in more detail inFIG.4.

The pimples94are evenly distributed over the entire contact face76. In a variant of the invention not shown, the pimples are distributed with a greater density in the centre of the contact face76than at its periphery.

Here, the pimples94protrude axially by a height much less than the thickness of the membrane74, for example by a tenth of millimetre.

The pimples94are all the same height.

Alternatively, the pimples can have different heights depending on their location.

Moreover, the pimples have dimensions much smaller than the diameter of the contact face, for example in the order of millimetre or even tenth of millimetre. The pimples94are distributed with a high density. For example, the space between the summit of two adjacent pimples94is between one and two times the width of the base of a pimples94.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the compressive flexibility of the membrane74is much less than its flexural flexibility. Similarly, the compressive flexibility of the membrane74is much less than the axial deformation flexibility of the deformable section80. This means that when the membrane74is pressed against the sifter22, the pimples94are not deformed by crushing. The pimples94thus remain in relief even when the membrane74is pressed against the sifter22. When the cover12is pressed downwards, it is the deformation in flexion of the membrane74and the axial deformation of the deformable section80that absorb these forces.

This allows to ensure an optimal cleaning of the sifter22while avoiding creating a suction of the cosmetic product when removing the membrane74, as will be explained in more detail later.

In addition, the membrane74comprises an annular sealing segment96at its periphery that surrounds the contact face76.

This annular sealing segment96is here formed by two superimposed and parallel annular beads that project radially outward from a peripheral edge of the membrane74. The sealing segment96is intended to come into sealed contact with an annular face98of the base14in fully screwed position of the cover12.

As shown inFIG.11, when pressed against the sifter22, the membrane74has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the upper wall52of the attachment ring28. More particularly, the diameter of the membrane74is selected so that the sealing segment96is in radial abutment outwardly against the internal edge of the upper wall52, which thus forms the annular face98, when the contact face76is pressed against the sifter22.

As is particularly apparent inFIGS.8and9, the contact face76of the membrane74has, at rest, a convexly shaped periphery so that the sealing segment96is arranged axially above the level of the remainder of the contact face76.

More particularly, the contact face76here has a convex shape over its entire surface from a central point arranged substantially at the level of the main axis O of the case12.

Because of this convex shape, the membrane74is elastically deformable when the cover12is screwed on between a state of partial contact with the sifter22when the cover12occupies a first position, as shown inFIG.9, and a state of total axial abutment against the entire surface of the sifter when the cover occupies a second position, as shown inFIG.10.

The second partial screwed position is between the first position and the fully screwed position of the cover12. Thus, the contact face76is in contact with the entire sifter22before the cover12is completely screwed on. Thus, as the cover12continues to be rotated to complete the closing operation by screwing, the membrane74is driven in rotation by the cover12. This provides an effective cleaning of the entire surface of the sifter22and the contact face76of the membrane74.

To promote a proper cleaning of the sifter22and of the membrane74, the deformable section80has a lower flexibility than the flexibility in flexion of the membrane74so that the contact face76begins to deform before the deformable section80. Therefore, when the cover is screwed on, the membrane74will first reach its full contact state, and then the deformation of the deformable section80will absorb the axial displacements of the cover12.

The first position is preferably intermediate between the fully unscrewed position and the second position. This means that in its fully unscrewed position, i.e., when the cover12is placed on the base14without that the screwing having begun, as shown inFIG.8, the contact face76of the membrane74is located at a distance above the sifter22. This allows, for example, a user to use the case10by discharging cosmetic product onto the sifter22, and then placing the cover12on the base14, for example, to prevent an air stream from carrying away the cosmetic product, without the cosmetic product gluing to the membrane74.

To facilitate the recycling of the case10, the seal72and the cover are made of one or more materials that can be treated by the same recycling stream. The cover and the seal72are made of polypropylene (PP), for example.

The operation of the invention is now described with reference toFIGS.8to11.

As shown inFIG.8, the cover12is first placed on the base14without being screwed on. In this fully unscrewed position, the membrane74of the seal72is arranged at a distance above the sifter22. The deformable section80and the membrane74are in a resting state.

Then, the cover12begins to be screwed on by rotation about the main axis O with respect to the base14. By cooperation between the threads34and71, the cover12moves axially in the direction of the base14until it reaches the first position in which the membrane74comes into contact with the sifter22, as shown inFIG.9. In this first position, and due to its convex shape, the contact face76is in contact with the sifter22through a central point100located along the main axis O. In this first position, the sealing segment96of the membrane74is not yet in sealed contact with the annular face98of the base14. Thus, the air is still able to pass between the cavity16and the outside.

As the cover12continues to be screwed on, and due to the greater flexibility in flexion of the membrane74, the latter deforms in flexion as it abuts against the sifter22. Due to this deformation in flexion of the membrane74, the contact surface area between the contact face76and the sifter22gradually increases. The contact surface area here has a disc shape, the diameter of which increases as the cover12moves closer to the sifter22. Thus, an annular area of the sifter22, which surrounds the contact surface area, remains free. Air is therefore still likely to flow between the inside and the outside of the cavity16through this free annular area. The volume of the chamber78decreases as the membrane74deforms in flexion.

During the screwing, the cover12reaches its second position, as shown inFIG.10. The contact face76then reaches its fully axially supported state before the cover12reaches its fully screwed position. In this position, the sealing segment96is then in sealed contact with the annular face98of the base14. The cavity16is thus sealed by the membrane74. The contact face76is then pressed axially against the entire surface of the sifter22. The deformable section80is only slightly, if at all, axially deformed.

As the cover12continues to be screwed on, the contact face76rotates, rubbing against the entire surface of the sifter22. This forces the cosmetic product grains back into the cavity16through the sifter22. Thus, the surface of the sifter22and the contact face76are simultaneously cleaned of cosmetic product residue. The cover12is thus rotated about its main axis O until it reaches its fully screwed position on the base14, as shown inFIG.11. Between the second position, shown inFIG.10, and the fully screwed position, shown inFIG.11, the cover12can be rotated, for example, through an angle of rotation of between a quarter turn and two turns. Of course, the greater the angle of rotation, the more effective the cleaning.

Between its second position and its fully screwed position, the cover12moves even closer to the sifter22. To prevent the membrane74from pressing too hard against the sifter22, which could damage the latter, the deformation of the deformable section80allows the cover12to slide axially towards the sifter22up to its fully screwed position without the pressure of the contact face76against the sifter22being substantially augmented. The volume of the chamber78then becomes minimal, but not zero, with the membrane74still spaced from the upper wall68of the cover12in this fully screwed position.

The fully screwed position is stopped, for example, when a lug102carried by one of the cover12or the pedestal24is snap fitted into a notch104carried by the other of the cover12or the pedestal24. The lug102is here made in relief at the bottom of the internal face of the cylindrical wall70of the cover12, below the thread71as shown inFIG.4. The notch104is here made at the bottom of the external face of the cylindrical wall of the pedestal, below the thread34, as shown inFIG.3.

The case10is then sealed.

When the case10is opened again, the cover12is rotated in an unscrewing direction about the main axis O relative to the base14. The seal71is configured so that, upon unscrewing, the periphery of the contact face76begins to move axially away from the sifter22to release a peripheral area of the sifter22. A complementary inner area of the sifter22of said peripheral area remains in full contact with the contact face76.

The sealing segment96is moved away from its bearing face prior to or simultaneously with the initiation of the movement away from the periphery of the contact face76of the peripheral area of the sifter22to create an interstice for air to pass into the interior of the cavity16through said peripheral area.

This avoids a suction-cup effect that would oppose the opening of the cover12. This also prevents the suction of cosmetic product over the sifter22that could occur if the contact face had the same shape as the sifter22.

On the contrary, the fact that the contact face76progressively moves away from the sifter22, regaining its convex shape as the cover12is unscrewed, allows the surface of the sifter22to be progressively released from the outside inwards, thus avoiding the air streams above the sifter22.

Thus, when the user opens the case10again, not only the sifter22but also the contact face76of the seal72is cleaned. This allows to avoid spilling cosmetic product everywhere. In order to use the cosmetic product, the user must therefore voluntarily move the bottom40of the container26upwards by finger pressure to make the desired amount of cosmetic product pass over the sifter22.