Application unit for liquid or viscous product usable in cosmetics, paints or glues

An application unit for a product includes a reservoir (4) having a neck (10) delimiting an opening (15) obturated in a detachable manner by an obturating element (26). The neck comprises a wiper element (22) joined to the neck (10) by an elastically deformable connecting means (24), the wiper element (22) forming at least one ring portion (22, 40) having an edge (25) capable of permitting the wiping of an application element (30). The wiper element (22) is capable of pivoting from a first position wherein the ring portion is situated substantially inside the neck (10) under the constraint of the obturating element (26), to a second inclined position obtained during the withdrawal of the obturating element. The obturating element (26) is connected to the application element (30) by a stem (34) which, in the first position, is situated inside the ring portion so that during the withdrawal of the application element (30) by a movement substantially in the axis X of the neck opening, by pivoting from the first position to the second, the edge portion produces the wiping of the application element, and/or of the stem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to an application unit for a liquid or viscous 
product that can be used in particular in the field of cosmetics, paints 
or glues. In the field of cosmetics, the product may be a composition of 
nail varnish or a nail care composition, or a liquid lipstick. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In general, an application unit for nail varnish comprises a varnish 
reservoir provided with an opening and an element for applying the 
varnish, such as a brush comprising a tuft of bristles fixed to a first 
end of a stem, the stem being secured at its other end in a cap serving as 
a gripping element intended to close the reservoir so that the tuft of 
bristles is immersed in this varnish when the application unit is closed. 
To ensure a proper closure of the unit, the reservoir has a neck provided 
with a first thread that cooperates with a second thread provided in the 
cap. The neck is generally thick and flat, and fitted with a sealing ring. 
The stem is held in position in the cap by means of a support such as a 
sealing disk. This sealing disk is in contact with the sealing ring of the 
neck when the application unit is closed. 
To apply the varnish to the nail, the user removes the brush, impregnated 
with the product, from the reservoir. Generally, the brush has an excess 
of the product. It is therefore necessary to eliminate this excess and, 
for this purpose, the user removes the excess by wiping the brush on the 
free end of the neck of the reservoir. Since the end of the neck is flat 
and thick, some of the product will remain on the neck and flow along its 
outer side and thus foul its thread. When the user again screws the cap 
down to close the reservoir, the product expands over the neck and into 
the thread. After the product on the cap-neck assembly has dried, it forms 
an accretion so that in subsequent use it is difficult or even impossible 
to unscrew the cap from the reservoir. Moreover, the product on the neck 
prevents proper sealing of the application unit because the sealing disk 
is no longer in leakproof contact with the sealing ring of the neck. Also, 
because of the bearing of the disk on the neck, it is no longer possible 
to take up the play between the neck and the bearing surface after the 
first use; this reduces the sealing effect still further. 
It has been proposed, in GB-A-2 198 423, to dispose within the neck tongues 
which form a collar for wiping the brush. In FR-A-1530702 it has been 
proposed to arrange in the neck an annular channel provided with a central 
duct into which the brush may be inserted, the brush being wiped on the 
free end of the duct. However, these wiping devices are disposed in the 
neck and are bulky, however the currently used units for applying nail 
varnish the neck have an opening of a small diameter which cannot 
accommodate these wiping devices. While would be possible to increase the 
diameter of the neck, this would involve a modification of the form of the 
varnish bottles, making it necessary to also adapt the accessories such as 
the cap to the new dimensions of the neck. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,146 describes a pot intended to contain a liquid such 
as a paint, there being disposed in the opening of the pot a wiper element 
in the form of an annular ring which has a portion capable of emerging 
from the opening by resilience when the lid of the pot is lifted. Thus an 
application element such as a brush can be wiped on the ring, and fouling 
of the edge defining the opening of the pot is avoided. But the pot 
according to this patent is not designed to form a unit ready for use and 
does not include the closing element associated with an application 
element. 
DE-A-15 57 355 describes a wiper device for bottles of nail varnish. In one 
embodiment, a wiper tube is elastically suspended in the neck of the 
bottle, the free end of the tube emerging from the neck in the open 
position. In the closed position, the neck pushes the tube into the inside 
of the neck by axial translation. The device has the drawback that, after 
extracting the brush, the user must again pass it into a position on the 
free end of the tube which is inclined relative to the axis of the tube. 
Easy wiping of the brush or of the stem of the brush cannot be ensured by 
this device. Indeed, to dry the brush it is necessary either to perform a 
movement distinct from the movement causing the withdrawal of the brush 
from the bottle, or to substantially modify the extracting movement so as 
to wipe the brush against the edge of the wiping means at the end of the 
travel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to remedy the abovementioned 
drawbacks. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an application 
unit which makes it possible to wipe the application element in a better 
way, while avoiding the fouling of the neck of the reservoir, which would 
inevitably lead to the cap sticking on the neck of the reservoir. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an application 
unit which makes it possible to effect the wiping of the application 
element, and optionally of its stern, in a single movement during their 
extraction from the reservoir. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an application 
unit which makes it possible to effect the wiping of the stem of the brush 
over substantially the whole of its length. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide wiping means 
which are not bulky and are easily accommodated in the neck of the 
reservoir, while permitting the user to measure out the quantity of the 
product which he or she intends to apply. 
According to the invention, it has unexpectedly and surprisingly been 
discovered that the above and other objects can be achieved by placing 
into the neck a ring whose upper edge makes it possible to wipe the 
applicator. Although intended especially for the packaging of nail 
varnish, the application unit of the invention may be suitable for the 
application of any other liquid or viscous product, and in particular 
paints, especially paints and inks for models and for drawings and glues. 
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a unit for applying a 
liquid or viscous product comprising a reservoir having a neck with an 
axis delimiting an opening obturated in a detachable manner by an 
obturating element, the neck comprising a wiper element joined to the neck 
at at least one point by means of an elastically deformable connecting 
means, the wiper element forming at least one ring portion having an edge 
capable of permitting the wiping of an application element, the wiper 
element being capable by an elastic restoring movement of pivoting from a 
first position wherein the said ring portion is situated substantially 
inside the neck under the constraint of the obturating element, to a 
second inclined position obtained during the withdrawal of the obturating 
element and wherein at least one portion of the edge is brought 
substantially close to the axis of the neck. 
According to the invention, the obturating element is connected to the 
application element by a stem which is situated in the first position 
inside the ring portion so that, during the withdrawal of the application 
element by a movement substantially within the axis of the neck by 
pivoting from the first position to the second position, the edge portion 
produces the wiping of the application element, and optionally of the 
stem. 
During wiping on the edge of the ring, this wiper element permits the 
excess of the product removed from the application element to flow into 
the reservoir without fouling the neck. Besides, the ring is not bulky 
and, thanks to the flexible connecting means, can be accommodated in the 
opening of the neck without encumbering the neck. Furthermore, the 
arrangement of the ring allows the user to see and to control the wiping 
operation, and hence to measure out the quantity of the product which must 
remain on the application element after the wiping, in order to obtain a 
precise and impeccable application. 
Advantageously in the second position, when the application unit in 
accordance with the invention is opened (that is to say, when the 
application element has been withdrawn from the reservoir and the wiper 
element is in its rest position), the wiper element is situated 
substantially in an inclined plane, so that an angle is formed between 
said plane and the normal of the axis of the neck, ranges from 10.degree. 
C. to 60.degree., and preferably from 30.degree. to 50.degree.. 
The elastically deformable connection can give a spring action to the wiper 
element; it then oscillates between a closed position and an open 
position. This elastic connection also permits automatic wiping of the 
application element charged with the product during the extraction of the 
application element from the neck. It should be noted that when the 
application element is withdrawn from the neck in one motion by a 
substantially axial movement, the wiping of the stem and of the 
application element are effected in such a way that it is not necessary to 
proceed with a wiping movement that is distinct from the extracting 
movement. 
In accordance with the invention, the wiper element may be a ring or a ring 
portion. This shape makes it possible to obtain a wiper element which is 
of a small size and can be easily accommodated in the opening of the neck, 
while occupying little space. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the neck is provided 
with an upper edge, and at least a portion of the wiper element is 
situated above the upper edge of the neck. The user will preferably wipe 
the application element on the highest portion of the wiper element, which 
makes the wiping operation easier and more precise, the highest portion 
being advantageously situated in the vicinity of the longitudinal axis of 
the unit. This arrangement permits easy wiping in good ergonomic 
conditions. In particular, the wiping operation is effected without any 
substantial modification of the movement of extracting the application 
element. 
When the application unit is closed, that is to say when the application 
element is kept in position in the reservoir, the wiper element is 
situated in a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the 
reservoir. 
Advantageously the wiper element may be connected, by the elastically 
deformable connecting means, to holding means fixed on the neck. It may, 
for example, comprise a tube force-fitted in the opening of the neck. 
According to another variant, the tubular holding means may be obtained by 
the winding of a rigid wire. In this case, the wiper element may be formed 
by a loop of the rigid wire in continuity with the winding forming the 
tube. 
The means for holding the wiper element may have, on its upper portion, a 
flank intended to bear on the upper edge of the neck, thus ensuring proper 
fixing of the holding means and the wiper element in the opening of the 
neck. 
The application element may be a brush, a foam, a quill, a flocked plastic 
material or a molded plastic material. When the application element is a 
brush, the brush is formed by a tuft of bristles, which can be made of any 
conventional form or material. 
The application unit of the invention is perfectly suited for packaging 
nail varnish. Thus the invention also provides a unit for the application 
of nail varnish, comprising a reservoir having a neck and a gripping 
element carrying an application element immersed in the storage position 
in the product contained in the reservoir, the neck defining an opening of 
the reservoir, wherein the opening of the neck has a wiper element such as 
is defined above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the attached FIGS. 1 to 3, an application element 2 includes a 
reservoir 4 having a longitudinal axis of symmetry X and a cap 6. The 
reservoir 4 contains a liquid or viscous product 8 to be applied, which 
may, for example, be a nail varnish composition. The reservoir is 
generally made of glass. 
The reservoir 4 has a neck 10 provided with an internal face 12, an 
external face 13 having a thread 14 and an opening 16 which includes a 
wiper element 18. This element 18 has a cylindrical skirt 20 open at its 
two ends 21, 23, and a ring 22. The skirt 20 is force-fitted in the 
opening 16 of the neck 10. As may be better seen in FIG. 2, the ring 22 
takes the form of a circular flat ring situated substantially in a plane P 
and has an upper edge 25. The upper edge 25 is connected to the upper end 
21 of the skirt 20 by a tongue 24 forming a flexible, elastically 
deformable connecting means. The wiper element 18 is made from a single 
piece, in particular of a plastic material or metal. 
The cap 6 has a cylindrical sleeve 26 serving as a gripping element whose 
internal side is provided with a thread 28 complementary to the thread 14 
of the neck 10. The cap 6 also has an application element 30 which, in the 
present case, is a brush having a tuft of bristles 32 fixed to the free 
end 34a of a stem 34. The other end 34b of the stem is fixed to a bottom 7 
in the cap 6. 
When the application unit is closed, as may be seen in FIG. 3, the cap 6 is 
screwed onto the reservoir 4. The ring 22 is held in a closed position by 
the bottom 7 of the cap 6 in such a way that the plane P of the ring is 
substantially perpendicular to the axis X of the reservoir. The ring 22 is 
then entirely accommodated in the opening 16 of the neck 10 and does not 
project from the neck 10 when the application unit 2 is closed. 
When the user wishes to apply the product 8, she unscrews the cap 6 and 
withdraws the brush 32 from the reservoir. Since the ring 23 is then 
released from contact with the bottom 7 of the cap, the flexible tongue 24 
causes the ring 22 to pivot from the closed position to a position such 
that the plane P thereof is inclined at an angle .alpha. with the axis X, 
as may be seen in FIG. 2. The angle .alpha. may, for example, be equal to 
40.degree. for a neck 10 mm in diameter. 
The brush 30 withdrawn from this reservoir has an excess of the product. To 
eliminate this excess, the user wipes the brush on the upper edge 25 of 
the ring 22, this edge being preferably situated in the vicinity of the 
axis X, and hence in the vicinity of the stem of the brush during its 
extraction. During this wiping operation, the brush remains substantially 
orientated along axis X, which is an advantage from the ergonomic point of 
view (see also FIG. 2). The eliminated excess product will then flow into 
the reservoir and does not flow along the outer side of the neck 10 to 
foul the thread 14. Moreover, the emergence of the ring 22 from the 
reservoir allows the user to see the wiping operation. The user can thus 
visually measure out the quantity of the product which remains on the 
brush after the wiping. 
When the user has finished applying the product to the surface to be 
treated, she screws the cap 6 back onto the neck 10 of the reservoir. The 
ring 22 is then in contact with the bottom 7 of the cap 6 and pivots by 
flexure of the tongue 24 in such a way that when the cap 6 is screwed onto 
the neck 10, the plane P of the ring 22 is substantially perpendicular to 
the axis X. Thus, when the application unit 2 is closed, the ring 22 
returns into the initial closed position it occupied before the use of the 
application unit 2. 
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the wiper element in accordance with the 
invention, in which the skirt 20 of the wiper element 18 is formed by a 
cylindrical winding of a wire 36 made, for example, of a metal or plastic 
material. The ring 22 is formed in continuity with the winding by a turn 
23 of the wire and is joined thereto by a small portion 24 of the wire, 
this portion forming a flexible and elastically deformable connecting 
means. The wiper element 18 functions in the same way as that described 
for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. 
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, other variants of the embodiment of the wiper 
element of the application unit in accordance with the invention may be 
seen. The differences relate in essence to the shape of the wiper element. 
Thus the wiper element 22 of FIG. 5 includes a strip-like core 38, a first 
end 38a whereof is fixed to the flexible and elastically deformable tongue 
24, the second end 38b having an arc 40 provided with an upper edge 25 
allowing the brush to be wiped. The core 38 and the arc 40 are disposed 
substantially in the plane P. In FIG. 6, the wiper element 22 is formed by 
a portion of the ring of FIG. 1. This shape makes it possible to reduce 
the bulk of the wiper element in the opening of the neck. The wiper 
elements illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 function in the same way as that 
described in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. 
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention 
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be 
understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as 
specifically described herein.