Abstract:
A container for packaging a product includes a casing made of a first material, and at least one deform able part in contact with the product and made of a second material with a lesser rigidity than the first material. The container is configured so that a pressure exerted on the deformable part causes a deformation of the latter and a displacement of the product towards the opening of the container. The deformable part can return to its undeformed shape when the pressure is released.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:  
         [0001]    This document claims priority to French application number 0202424 filed Feb. 26, 2002, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to containers, for example, used for packaging cosmetic products, such as a gel or a cream.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       DISCUSSION OF BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    In the field of cosmetics, a user often extracts an amount of a cosmetic product from a container using one or more fingers introduced into the container. Naturally, the operation can become increasingly difficult as the fingers reach for the product located near the bottom of the container, in particular for containers with a small cross section relative to their height.  
           [0004]    Containers equipped with plunger or bellows systems are known. These containers can be configured so as to cause dosed delivery of a product stored inside the container in response to a pressure exerted on the bottom of the container, or in response to a rotation of an operating component.  
           [0005]    For example, French Patent No. 1 570 600 describes a device having an outer packaging and an inner packaging, in the form of bellows, fitted on a plunger. The plunger is displaced upwards, so as to compress the bellows as the number of uses increases and to cause delivery of the product, either by manually pressing directly on the bottom or by rotating the outer packaging with respect to a dispensing device secured to the inner packaging. The mechanism is relatively complex. The price of the container is, therefore, relatively high and incompatible with the economic requirements dictated by large retail networks.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,134 describes another packaging system, in which the volume of a container is adjusted by reducing the height of a flexible part, for example, of the bellows type, by screwing two cylindrical parts onto one another to form an outer packaging. The visible height of the container is commensurately reduced. As for the previously discussed device, this system is relatively complex and expensive.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a container that facilitates the dispensing of its contents and that alleviates all or some of the problems discussed above with reference to the conventional devices. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a container that is relatively economical to manufacture and simple to use.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for which a similar hand movement can be used repeatedly for removing some of the product with a finger, and for which the ease of removing does not substantially deteriorate as the number of removing operations increases. Other objects will also become apparent from the following detailed description.  
           [0009]    According to the present invention, all or some of these objects can be achieved by a container including an openworked casing formed by at least one extension member extending over a substantial portion of the height of the container. The container also includes a deformable part, which can be in contact with the product inside the container. The deformable part can be made of a material with a lesser rigidity than the material used for the casing. The container can be configured so that a pressure exerted on the deformable part causes a deformation of the latter and a displacement of the product towards an opening of the container, the deformable part returning to its undeformed shape when the pressure is released.  
           [0010]    The presence of one or more deformable parts enables a user, as the level of the product decreases inside the container, to bring the product near the opening of the container so that the product can be removed easily with the finger.  
           [0011]    The presence of the casing can give the container a consistency and a rigidity which are sufficient for the casing to be stackable, for example, during its transport or storage. Preferably, the casing is rigid (i.e., it is formed of a material having a greater rigidity than the container shell). The presence of the rigid casing can also help return the container to its undeformed shape, which can be maintained throughout the life of the product.  
           [0012]    Preferably, the container has at least one deformable portion so that the container can be deformed in response to a pressure exerted transversely to a longitudinal axis of the container. The hand movements for using the container can thus be facilitated.  
           [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the extension members forming the openworked casing are secured to one another via their ends positioned near of the neck of the container. The ends positioned near the bottom of the container can be free. According to this preferred embodiment, the bottom can also form a deformable region.  
           [0014]    In another preferred embodiment, the angular width of these extension members increases towards the neck of the container. In contrast, the deformable regions lying between the members forming the openwork casing have an area which increases progressively towards the bottom. Such a configuration gives the container a greater deformability in the vicinity of the bottom, hence making it easier to empty the container.  
           [0015]    In one embodiment, the neck can be obtained by molding the casing. According to another embodiment, the neck is formed by a separate piece which is fitted on the casing, for example, by adhesive bonding, welding, such as ultrasonic welding, or snap-fastening.  
           [0016]    At the opposite end from the neck, the container can have a bottom, which, preferably and as indicated above, forms a deformable part. The pressure exerted on the container via the deformable part or parts can hence be exerted laterally and also axially. To that end, and preferably, the extension members of the casing can terminate in the vicinity of the bottom in a free end.  
           [0017]    Advantageously, the deformable part or parts can be molded over the casing. In this embodiment, the materials for the casing and the deformable parts can be chosen so as to be mutually compatible physico-chemically (i.e., so that they can be welded to one another relatively easily). For example, the casing can be made of polypropylene or polyethylene. The deformable part(s) can be made of an elastomeric material or a polyolefin obtained by metallocene catalysis. More specific examples include material (metallocene polyethylene) marketed under the brand name Exact™ by the company DSM, or alternatively a material (metallocene polypropylene) marketed under the brand name Metocene™ by the company TARGOR.  
           [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the rigid casing can be arranged inside the deformable part, and can also be in contact with the product. The rigid casing then improves the elastic return forces of the deformable part after the pressure exerted on it has been released. In a preferred embodiment, an outer surface of the neck can have a screw thread, which can interact with a corresponding screw thread of a lid.  
           [0019]    Preferably, the container has an alternating sequence of at least two rigid extension members forming the casing, and of at least two deformable parts. The deformable parts can extend over a substantial portion of the height of the container. The container can have a circular cross section, in which case the casing can be formed of two diametrically opposite extension members, or any other number, greater than two, of rigid members which are regularly spaced.  
           [0020]    The extension members can extend towards the bottom of the container along a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The extension members can thus have an axis which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The extension members can also extend towards the bottom of the container along a direction which is oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container. The extension members can thus have an axis which is generally oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container. In this context, “oblique” includes not only directions towards or away from the longitudinal axis so that the axes of the extension members can intersect the longitudinal axis of the container, but also includes directions, which are not parallel to, and which do not intersect, the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, each extension member can have a portion that extends towards the bottom of the container along a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, and another portion that extends towards the bottom of the container along a direction oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container. Alternatively, the extension members can extend towards the bottom of the container along a curve-linear direction.  
           [0021]    Advantageously, the material for the deformable parts can be transparent or translucent. In addition to seeing the level of product remaining in the container, this feature enables the user to know the positions where the pressure should be applied so as to deform the container. The container according to the invention can advantageously be used for packaging a cosmetic product, for example, a product for hairdressing, for skincare or for scalp treatment. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    A better appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will become further apparent from the following detailed description, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 1 and 2 are views relating to a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the container represented in FIGS. 1 and 2; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    The container  1  represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an openworked casing or frame  2 , of axis X, obtained, for example, by molding a rigid material, such as a polypropylene. The casing  2  forms a ring  3 , from one edge of which four regularly spaced members  4 - 7  extend. The height of these extension members corresponds substantially to the height of the container. Over a part of their height adjacent to the ring  3 , the members  4 - 7  are substantially parallel to the axis X. The members converge slightly towards the longitudinal axis X over the rest of their height, so as to provide a profile corresponding to the container. In this example, the ends of members  4 - 7 , opposite to the ring  3 , are free. Over their portions which converge towards the longitudinal axis X, the members  4 - 7  have an angular width which decreases slightly towards their free ends.  
         [0027]    The present invention is not limited to these configurations. For example, the members  4 - 7  can extend along other directions, for example, away from the longitudinal axis, or at an angle so that the axes of the extension members never intersect the longitudinal axis X. Furthermore, the width of the extension members can have other width profiles. For example, they can have a width that stays constant over their length, decreases over their entire length, increases towards their free ends, or alternately increases and decreases. In addition, different extension members of a same casing can have different width profiles.  
         [0028]    An outer shell  10  made of flexible material is molded over the rigid casing  2 . The outer shell  10  has a bottom  11  adjacent to the free ends of the members  4 - 7 , and a circumferential side wall  12 , which can be matched to the profile of the members  4 - 7  and extends substantially as far as the upper edge of the ring  3  of the casing  2 . The members  4 - 7  hence extend inside the shell  10 , the shell  10  being intended and configured to contain the product. The side wall  12  and the bottom  11  can be formed of a same material, or of different materials.  
         [0029]    Each member  4 - 7  extends from the ring  3  toward the bottom  11  along a portion of the side wall  12 . The bottom  11  is connected to the side wall  12  at a bottom-end of side wall  12 . The top-end of the side wall  12  defines a shell opening, which is co-axial with the ring  3 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ring  3  is coupled to the top-end of the side wall  12 . The side wall  12  has a profile such that the opening defined by the side wall  12  has a diameter greater than a diameter of the bottom  11 . The casing  2  has a profile that matches the profile of the side wall  12 . In particular, the members  4 - 7  converge toward the longitudinal axis X of the shell  10  as the members  4 - 7  extend toward the bottom  11 .  
         [0030]    The shell  10  defines four deformable portions (two of which are shown in FIG. 2 as portions  13 - 14 ). Each of these deformable portions are positioned between the portions of the side wall along which the members  4 - 7  extend. In other words, the members  4 - 7  are positioned against a first plurality of portions of an inside surface of the side wall  12 . The inside surface of the side wall  12  includes a second plurality of portions  13 - 14 , which are deformable and in contact with the product. The portions from these first and second pluralities alternate.  
         [0031]    The material used to produce the flexible shell  10  can be a soft material, which can be physico-chemically compatible with the material forming the casing  2 , so that they can be welded together intimately at the positions where the two materials overlap, in particular, over the entire surface of the ring  3 . For example, Exact™ or Metocene™ can be used. The material forming the flexible shell  10  is preferably transparent. By way of example, the color of the material forming the casing  2  can be such that the casing  2  can be seen through the deformable shell  10 .  
         [0032]    The arrangement of the openworked casing  2  and of the flexible shell  10  hence provides a structure which has deformable regions, such as portions  13 - 14 , between the members  4 - 7  of the casing. The bottom  11  likewise forms a deformable portion, on which it is possible to exert an axial pressure in order to help raise the product towards the opening.  
         [0033]    After the rigid casing  2  (i.e., with the casing more rigid than the shell  10 ) lined with the flexible shell  10  has been formed, a piece  20  can be ultrasonically welded to the upper part of the casing  2 . The piece  20  has a shoulder  21  and a neck  22 , which delimits an opening  23  of the container  1 . The piece  20  has a short peripheral skirt  24  with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the ring  3  of the casing  2 . The welding can be carried out level with the skirt  24 .  
         [0034]    On its outer surface, the neck  22  has a screw thread  25  which can interact with a complementary screw thread provided on an inner surface of a lid or stopper  30 . The piece  20  is made of a rigid material which can be identical to or different from the material forming the casing  2 .  
         [0035]    The container  1  is represented in its working configuration in FIG. 3. As can be seen from this figure, after having taken the stopper  30  off, the user presses the container between her thumb and index finger at the positions  13 - 14  of the flexible shell  10  which lie between two members  4 - 7  forming the casing  2 . In other words, the deformable portions  13 - 14  move through openings, defined in the casing  2  between the members  4 - 7 , when the deformable portions  13 - 14  move from an undeformed position to a deformed position as a result of the user applying pressure on the deformable portions  13 - 14 . In this way, the cross section of the container is reduced (i.e., the interior volume of the shell  10  decreases), and the product is forced towards the opening  23  of the container  1 . At that point, the user can relatively easily remove some of the product using a finger.  
         [0036]    When the user releases the pressure being exerted on the container  1 , the deformable parts  13 - 14  of the container  1  return to their original shape by elastic return forces, hence moving the product stored in the container away from the opening  23 . Some of the pressure exerted on the shell  10  can also be transmitted to the members  4 - 7 , the returning force of which can thus accentuate the elastic return of the deformable parts  13 - 14 .  
         [0037]    The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from the previous embodiment principally as follows. First, instead of the four members  4 - 7  arranged at 90°, the casing  2  includes two diametrically opposite members  40 ,  50 , having a height substantially equal to the height of the container and having a width which increases progressively towards an annular upper part  3 . Furthermore, the shoulder  21  and the neck  22  form an integral part of the casing  2 , and they are obtained by molding with the latter. Otherwise, the container according to this embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment and operates in the similar manner.  
         [0038]    This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it includes deformable regions  15  which, although there are fewer of them, have a larger area compared to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This feature improves the deformability of the container, and facilitates the removal of the product. Likewise, although there are fewer members  40 ,  50  form the casing  2 , they have a larger area. This feature leads to increased rigidity compared with the previous embodiment.  
         [0039]    Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.