Abstract:
A device for packaging and dispensing a substance having a housing containing the substance and a screen through which the substance is dispensed. The packaging device includes first and second elements capable, in a first state of the device prior to the filling with the substance, of enabling one of the elements to be positioned on a predetermined position relative to the other After filling, in a subsequent state of the device, one of the elements slides relative to the other element, to provide a corresponding decrease in the volume of the housing as the substance is used.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims priority to French application 0109527 filed Jul. 17, 2001, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to devices for packaging and dispensing a substance. The invention is particularly advantageous for dispensing a cosmetic, for example makeup, in powder or semisolid form. The preferred form includes a housing containing the substance and a screen through which the substance is fed or dispensed.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       DISCUSSION OF BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Devices that contain and dispense various cosmetic substances are well known. However, there continues to be a need for improved devices which are relatively simple in structure and practical to use. Devices are also needed that can easily be filled with a substance for subsequent dispensing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The novel device of the invention includes a first element and a second element capable, in a first state of the device prior to the filling with said substance, of enabling one of the elements to be positioned in a predetermined position relative to the other element. In a subsequent state, one of the elements of the device can slide, corresponding to a decrease in the volume of the housing.  
           [0005]    With the arrangement of the invention, the housing can present a predetermined volume while it is being filled without requiring an arrangement or assembly outside of the device for positioning one of the elements relative to the other. The operation of filling the device with a substance is thereby simplified.  
           [0006]    In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the device includes at least two cooperating portions arranged to enable one of the elements to be prepositioned relative to the other. Examples of arrangements to provide prepositioning of the elements include a projection and/or a recess disposed on one or both of the elements. In one form, the two elements are arranged to co-operate with each other with a snap-fastening or snap-connection in the predetermined position. The first element can include an end wall of the housing, and the other element can include a side wall of the housing.  
           [0007]    In one exemplary embodiment, a screen is carried by the second element, i.e., the element having a housing side wall. Advantageously, a seal arrangement is carried by one of the elements to press against the other element so as to prevent leakage of the substance or of a component of the substance through any sliding clearance that exists between the two elements. The seal arrangement can include, e.g., a sealing lip made integrally with a wall of one of the elements, in particular the first element, or an O-ring received in a groove formed in a wall of one of the elements.  
           [0008]    By way of example, in accordance with one embodiment, the first element can include an inner skirt and an outer skirt defining groove between them. The second element can be engaged in the groove and free to slide. The outer skirt can advantageously have an outside thread, with the device also including a lid that can be screwed onto the outer skirt. When the first and second elements are in the predetermined position discussed above and while the lid is being screwed on, the lid can be arranged to move one of the elements relative to the other so as to vary the volume of the substance-containing housing. In particular, the lid can include a shoulder suitable for bearing against the outer periphery of the screen or other portion of the second element when the second element is in the predetermined position relative to the first element. Thus, the first time the cap or lid is mounted upon the device after filling, the second element can be moved from the predetermined position. Thereafter, with the first and second elements movably disposed relative to each other, the tube elements can move to reduce the volume of the housing as the product is used.  
           [0009]    According to a preferred embodiment, the device can include a powder puff housed beneath the lid and above the screen. Also, the screen can be held by a support overmolded on the screen.  
           [0010]    The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a packaging and dispensing device in which a housing contains the substance and a screen through which the substance is fed or dispensed. In addition, two elements are capable of sliding relative to each other, with relative movement thereof corresponding to a change in the volume of the housing. In accordance with the method, the two elements are brought into a predetermined position, and the housing is filled with a substance. In a particular implementation of the invention, the method further includes the step of putting the screen into place after the device has been filled with substance.  
           [0011]    In accordance with another aspect, one of the elements is caused to move relative to the other by fitting the lid onto one of the elements, with the other element being arranged in such a manner that the lid can bear against it and move it while being put into place, e.g., by being screwed on. The two elements can be brought into the predetermined position by cooperating relief portions on the two elements. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    Other features and advantageous aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-section of a device of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 depicts the FIG. 1 device in a predetermined position for being filled with a substance;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 depicts the screen put into place;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 shows the device after the lid has been screwed on;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the device once the substance has been used up;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 shows a detail of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 7 and 8 show alternate embodiments of the co-operating portions in relief; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 shows a base constituting an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numbers designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 depicts a packaging and applicator device  1  having a base  2 , a powder puff  3 , and a lid  4 . The base  2  has a first element  5  and a second element  6  which is capable, under certain conditions, of sliding relative to the first element  5  along an axis X. In this example of the invention, the first element  5  is formed by an assembly including a body  7  and an end wall  8 . The first element  5  co-operates with the second element  6  to define a housing  9  containing a supply of a substance P, for example a cosmetic. It is to be understood that the arrangement of the invention can be used for a variety of substances. The arrangement is particularly preferable for semisolid products such as semisolid cosmetics, e.g., a foundation makeup. Preferably, the product is in the form of a powder. However, the substance could take various forms such as a cream or liquid (preferably a viscous liquid), or a cake product. Although a powder puff is illustrated in the preferred arrangement, the applicator (if provided) could take various forms depending upon the product. Also, although the applicator depicted is removable, it could also be coupled to the device. Further, depending upon the product, the nature of the screen (if utilized) can vary (e.g., size and number of openings in the screen).  
         [0022]    The body  7  has a wall  10  defining the end wall of the housing  9  (an upper or top wall of the first element  5 ). The second element  6  has an annular part  11  with a wall  12  defining the side wall or peripheral wall of the housing  9 . The wall  10  is connected to an inner skirt  14  having an annular groove  15  formed in the top portion thereof and housing in the example described a sealing gasket  17  that bears in leaktight manner against the wall  12 . The body  7  also has an outer skirt  19  provided with a thread  20 .  
         [0023]    The inner and outer skirts  14  and  19  are joined together, e.g., by a wall  21 . An annular groove  22  is defined between the inner and outer skirts, and the second element  6  is capable of sliding within the groove  22 . Although the groove  22  is annular in the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that other shapes are also possible. Above thread  20  an annular sealing lip  23  is preferably provided for pressing in leaktight manner against the surface of the lid  4  when the lid is in place on the base  2 . The body  7  preferably includes a peripheral rim  25  defining a housing for the separate end wall  8 , as can be seen in FIG. 1. The end wall  8  is pierced, in its center in the illustrated embodiment, to provide an orifice  39 .  
         [0024]    In the embodiment illustrated, the second element  6  includes not only the part  11 , but also a screen  26  supported at its periphery by a ring  27 . The ring rests on the top end edge of the wall  12  of the part  11  and on an inwardly-directed flange  29  of a support  28  fixed on the part  11 . The ring  27  can have, e.g., a rib  30  to assist in positioning upon the support  28 . The part  11  has an assembly part  32  coaxial with the wall  12 , with the support  28  being engaged thereon. The part  11  also has an annular lip  34  at its outer periphery for co-operating with the inside surface of the outer skirt  19  so as to hold the second element  6  relative to the first element  5  in a predetermined position while the housing  9  is being filled with substance P as described below.  
         [0025]    It is to be understood that various alternate configurations are also possible for the first and second elements. For example, in an alternate embodiment, the annular lip  34  is not continuous with the part  11 , or lip  34  can be replaced by tabs. The lip  34  can also be provided on its radially outer side with a bead  37  capable of bearing against one or more portions  38  as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6. The or each portion in relief  38  can be in the form of a projection, e.g., annular rib portions or beads made on the radially inside surface of the outer skirt  19 , past which the bead  37  can be moved by causing the lip  34  to deform elastically. In another variation, the rib portions  38  can be replaced by a groove  38 ′ into which the bead  37  can snap as shown in FIG. 7 so that the first and second elements can be snap-fastened or snap-coupled together in the predetermined position. The part  34  could also include a groove  37 ′ as shown in FIG. 8 to provide a snap-coupling of the elements. As should be apparent, various combinations of abutting and/or snap-coupling elements can be utilized to position the first and second elements at the predetermined position, and alternate positioning expedients could also be utilized.  
         [0026]    The applicator, such as a powder puff  3 , can be made in various ways, for example, it can be constituted by a piece of foam, optionally carrying flocking on its surface. As noted earlier, it is to be understood that various forms of applicators are possible.  
         [0027]    The lid  4  has a skirt  41  whose bottom portion has an inside thread  42  and whose top portion is stepped to define a shoulder  43  that bears against the second element  6  while the lid is being screwed on. Above the shoulder  43 , the lid  4  presents a housing  44  for receiving the powder puff  3 .  
         [0028]    The following describes how the end wall  8  is fixed to the body  7 , and the O-ring  17  is placed in the corresponding groove  15 . The second element  6  is then fitted onto the first elements, until the bead  37  comes to bear against the rib portions  38 , thus enabling the second element  6  to be held relative to the first element  5  in a predefined position defining a housing  9  of a predetermined volume. This housing  9  is then filled with a quantity of a substance P. Preferably, the quantity of the substance or product P is selected such that the level of the top surface S of the substance remains below the top edge  18  of the wall  12 . Thereafter, the ring  27  carrying the screen  26  and secured to the support  28  is put into place on the part  11 , as shown in FIG. 3. The powder puff  3  is then placed on the screen  26  and the lid  4  is then screwed onto the outer skirt  19 , as shown in FIG. 4. While the lid is being screwed on, the shoulder  43  comes to bear against the second element  6 , more particularly the ring  27  of the second element in the illustrated embodiment, with continued screw tightening causing the second element  6  to be moved downwards relative to the first element  5 , thereby causing the bead  37  to go past the rib portions  38 . Once the lid has been screwed home, the bottom edge of the skirt  41  of the lid  4  comes to bear against the rim  25 . The stroke through which the second element  6  is moved downwards while the lid  4  is being screwed on corresponds substantially to the distance d between the surface S of the substance P and the screen  26  after the screen has been fixed on the part  11 , with the stroke preferably slightly smaller than that distance. It should be observed that the lip  23  comes to bear in leaktight manner against the inside surface of the skirt  41  of the lid.  
         [0029]    As progressively more of the substance is used, the second element  6  can move downwards relative to the first element  5  since it is the substance P which prevents the second element  6  from moving downwards by being interposed between the wall  10  and the screen  26 . Thus, because the second element  6  sits upon the product (by way of the screen in the illustrated embodiment) and is movably disposed with respect to the first element  5 , as the product is used, the level of the second element is lowered (with the second element moving by gravity in the illustrated embodiment) and the housing volume is reduced. The rib portions  38  serve to retain the second element  6  in the body  7 , e.g., in the event of the device being accidentally turned upside-down.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 shows the device  1  after all of the substance has been used. It can be seen that the screen  26  then rests against the wall  10 . As should be apparent, in accordance with one of the advantages, the invention makes it possible to use practically all of the packaged substance.  
         [0031]    As noted earlier, various alternate arrangements can be utilized in accordance with the invention. By way of example, alternate assemblies or structures can be utilized for the first and/or second elements, and an alternate seal arrangement can be provided between the two elements instead of the O-ring  17 . By way of example, FIG. 9 shows a base  2 ′ having a first element  5 ′ and a second element  6 ′ which differ from those described above in the absence of the O-ring  17  and the corresponding groove  15 , since they are replaced by an annular lip  17 ′. In the first element  5 ′, the end wall  10  is replaced by an end wall  10 ′ of smaller diameter than the end wall  10  of the preceding example, since it is surrounded by the lip  17 ′. The lip is separated from the end wall  10 ′ by an annular groove and it is connected to the top portion of the inner skirt of the first element  5 ′. The base  2 ′ also differs from the base  2  by the fact that the ring  27  and the part  11  of the second element  6 ′ are provided as a single part  11 ′, when it is assembled with the screen  26  by being overmolded onto the screen (e.g., the parts can be molded together or one molded onto the other). Thus, the screen  26  and the part  11 ′ form a single component when it is put into place on the remainder of the second element  6 ′. The assembly skirt  32  also does not exist in the embodiment of FIG. 9.  
         [0032]    As should be readily apparent from the foregoing, many variations are possible, and therefore the invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described above. By way of further example, the arrangement enabling the second element to be held in a predefined position relative to the first element while the housing is being filled with the substance P can be implemented in many other ways. Although it is advantageous for the cooperating portions in relief on the two elements to be formed integrally therewith, it is possible to make a portion in relief on one of the elements by depositing a drop of adhesive or other material for example, or by fixing an alternate form of stop or abutment.  
         [0033]    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 therein.