Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for packaging and applying a product, comprising:
       a receptacle for containing the product to be applied;   an applicator comprising a rod which is provided at one end with an application element,
 
the receptacle comprising:
   a tubular body;   a movable piston which is guided axially in the tubular body, which piston comprises a passage opening for the application element,
 
the applicator comprising an axial stop which protrudes radially relative to the rod and which is capable of being in abutment against the piston.
       
 
     The stop can be retracted radially in order to allow it to pass through the passage opening of the piston and comprises at least one orifice for the passage of air when the stop is in abutment against the piston. 
     Use for cosmetic products.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for packaging and applying a product, comprising:
       a receptacle for containing the product to be applied;   an applicator comprising a rod which is provided at one end with an application element which can be introduced into the receptacle in order to remove the product, the receptacle comprising:   a tubular body;   a movable piston which is guided axially in the tubular body, which piston defines a passage opening for the application element and the rod,
 
the applicator comprising, along the length of the rod, at least one axial stop which protrudes radially relative to the rod and which is capable of being in abutment against the piston along the periphery of the passage opening.
       
 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The term packaging device is intended to refer to any packaging which allows the sale, the transport, the protection and the storage of the product which it contains. 
         [0007]    The term application device is intended to refer to any device comprising means for applying and dispensing a composition, in particular a cosmetic composition, to keratinic materials, such as skin, or keratinic fibres (lashes, hair . . . ). 
         [0008]    It is known, in particular from document FR 2 884 500, to provide a piston which slides in the tubular body of a receptacle which is intended to receive an applicator comprising an application element which is arranged at the end of a rod, so that, when the applicator is introduced, the tubular piston is moved along the body so as to compress the product stored in the receptacle. The product is thus confined to the bottom of the tubular body and is held in contact with the application element, whilst being separated from ambient air, which promotes the preservation thereof. 
         [0009]    The use of such a piston is effective with regard to the removal of the product by the applicator and the preservation of the product. However, the travel of the rod of the applicator through the piston and movement of this piston generate excess pressure or reduced pressure within the receptacle, which lead to introduction or removal forces of the applicator relative to the receptacle which differ in accordance with the position of the applicator along the introduction or removal path thereof. This phenomenon which is referred to as “pulsing” is unpleasant for the user and can bring about irritating noises. Furthermore, the mechanical resistance counter to the movement of the applicator relative to the receptacle is perceived to be an irritation by the user. 
         [0010]    The object of the invention is to provide a solution to this non-homogeneous nature of the retention forces applied to the applicator during the movement path thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention relates to a packaging and application device of the above-mentioned type, wherein the stop can be retracted radially in order to allow it to pass through the passage opening of the piston and defines at least one orifice for the passage of air when the stop is in abutment against the piston. 
         [0012]    According to specific embodiments, the packaging and application device comprises one or more of the following features:
       the stop comprises, along the length of the rod, a radial widening which locally increases the cross-section of the rod and the at least one air passage orifice comprises at least one recess which is provided in the radial widening;   the radial widening has a plurality of separate lugs which are distributed at the periphery of the rod and which extend away from the shaft of the rod as far as radial tips in the direction of the application element, the lugs being separated by recesses which extend partially along the length of the rod;   the lugs have at the outer side a surface which diverges radially relative to the shaft of the rod in the direction of the application element;   the inclination of the lugs relative to the shaft of the rod is between 1 and 10 degrees;   the rod comprises a tubular casing and the lugs are integral with the tubular casing in the continuation thereof;   the radial tips constitute the free ends of the lugs;   the stop is radially resiliently deformable;   the retractable stop has a resistance to passage through the opening of the piston which is greater when the applicator is introduced into the receptacle than the passage resistance of the retractable stop though the opening of the piston, when the applicator is removed from the receptacle;   the piston comprises, upstream of the passage opening, when viewed in the direction in which the applicator is introduced into the receptacle, a guiding portion having a cross-section which decreases progressively as far as the passage opening, which portion forms a cam surface which is capable of providing radial retraction of the axial stop by means of co-operation with the stop when the applicator is introduced into the receptacle; and   the passage opening comprises, along the periphery thereof, corrugations which are capable of pressing on the rod.       
 
         [0023]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following description, given purely by way of example and with reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section of a packaging device according to the invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a larger scale perspective view of the stop of the applicator in abutment against the sliding piston; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a sectioned enlarged view of the stop, 
           [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are views identical to that of  FIG. 2  of the stop of the applicator as it passes the piston and after it has passed the piston, respectively; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the stop of a variation of a packaging device according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    The application and packaging device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is, for example, intended to contain and allow the application of mascara or any other viscous cosmetic product. It comprises a receptacle  12  and an applicator  4  which, when in the rest state, is held screwed to the receptacle  12 . 
         [0030]    The applicator  14  comprises a stopper  16  which forms a gripping member and which is extended by a rod  18  which carries an application element  20  at one end. The rod  18  and the application element  20  are capable of being engaged in the receptacle  12 , in particular in the position of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    In the example in question, the application element  20  comprises a mascara brush which comprises a twisted metal core and bristles which are retained transversely between the turns of the core. In a variant, the application element is an end-piece, which may or may not be flocked, or resiliently deformable, or a foam, or a felt or a soft brush or brush without any metal core, for example, a brush or a comb which is produced by plastics material being injection-moulded. 
         [0032]    The receptacle  12  comprises a tubular body  22  which has a circular cross-section and which has a main portion  24  which is open at one inlet end. In the region of this inlet, it comprises at the outer side a threaded portion  26  which is capable of co-operating with a corresponding tapped portion  28  provided in the stopper  16  in order to allow the receptacle to be closed in a sealed manner by screwing the stopper  16  onto the receptacle  12 . 
         [0033]    At the other end thereof, the main portion  24  is extended by a well  30  which is constituted by a blind cylindrical portion having a smaller cross-section than that of the main portion  24 . The well  30  is blocked at one end and is connected at the other end thereof to the main portion  24  by a convergent portion  32 . The well  30  has an inner cross-section which is substantially equal to or only slightly greater than that of the application element  20 . 
         [0034]    The receptacle further comprises an axially sliding piston  40  which is arranged inside the main portion  24  and is axially guided thereby. The product to be applied is confined in the tubular body  24  between the piston  40  and the bottom of the well  30 . 
         [0035]    The piston  40  has an axial opening  42  for the passage of the application element  20  and the rod  18 . The cross-section of the opening  42  is substantially equal to the cross-section of the rod  18  in the main portion thereof. 
         [0036]    The piston  40  comprises an outer collar  44  which is extended at each end by two divergent lips  46 ,  48  which press in a resilient manner on the inner surface of the main portion  24 , thereby bringing about the sealing between the piston  40  and the main portion  24 . The collar  44  is thus slightly remote from the main portion  24  in the central portion of the piston. 
         [0037]    The opening  42  is formed at the narrowed end of a generally frustoconical guiding portion  50  of the piston which is connected to the collar  44  by means of the widened end thereof which is directed towards the inlet of the receptacle. In this manner, the guiding portion  50  extends in the space of the collar  44  substantially over the entire length thereof. It has a circular cross-section which generally decreases from the inlet thereof which has a maximum diameter and which is directed towards the inlet of the receptacle as far as the opening  42 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the guiding portion has two successive portions with different opening angles. In this manner, the inlet portion opposite the opening  42  has an angle of inclination α relative to the longitudinal axis in the order of 45°, whilst the outlet portion which opens via the opening  42  has a smaller angle of inclination β of between 20° and 40°. 
         [0039]    The opening  42  has along the periphery thereof an assembly of regularly distributed corrugations which are capable of wiping the surface of the rod  18  by means of the upper surfaces of the corrugations and drying the application element  20 . 
         [0040]    The corrugations  52  are further capable of providing a flow of air between the rod and the piston. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the inner surface around the opening  42  forms an inner shoulder  54  which extends inwards. The corrugations  52  are defined by this shoulder  54  so as to extend radially towards the opening  42 . 
         [0042]    The peak of the corrugations  52  and the peak of this shoulder  54  form a frustoconical abutment zone  56  for an axial stop of the application element. 
         [0043]    This abutment zone  56  forms an angle γ of between 20° and 60° with the longitudinal axis of the receptacle. 
         [0044]    At the end thereof carrying the application element  20 , the rod  18  has an axial stop  70  which protrudes radially relative to the main portion designated  71  of the rod  18 , along which the cross-section of the rod  18  is constant. This axial stop is capable of being in abutment against the piston  40  along the periphery of the opening  42  on the abutment zone  56  and more generally on the inner surface of the guiding portion  50 . The stop is formed by a radial widening  70  which can be retracted radially by means of radial resilient deformation in order to allow the rod to pass through the piston. 
         [0045]    More precisely, in the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the axial stop is formed by an assembly of lugs  72  which extend the rod  18  and which are separated by air passage holes  76  when the stop is in abutment against the abutment zone  56 . The lugs widen from the rod  18  as far as the free ends  78  thereof forming radial tips. At the free ends thereof, the lugs have a shoulder which is directed towards the application element  20  and which is capable of being in abutment against the abutment zone  56 . 
         [0046]    The lugs delimit externally a surface which diverges radially from the rod  18  as far as the free ends  78 . In order to provide softening, the surface of the free ends  78  is chamfered or rounded. 
         [0047]    The inclined surfaces form surfaces which are capable of co-operating with the periphery of the opening  42  on the abutment zone  56 . 
         [0048]    The lugs  72  are each radially deformable and are separated by recesses  82  which form the air passage orifices  76 . The lugs  72  become deformed inwards upon contact with the opening  42 . These recesses  82  extend at least partially along the length of the rod and open between the ends  78  of the lugs. 
         [0049]    The rod has, in the main portion thereof, a tubular casing with which the lugs  72  are integrally moulded and constitute extensions thereof. 
         [0050]    The lugs  72  have an inclination relative to the shaft of the rod of between 1 and 10 degrees, this inclination being less than the inclination of the convergent portion  50  which forms a cam surface which is capable of deforming the lugs  72  by co-operating with the free end  78  of the lugs when the applicator is pressed into the receptacle. 
         [0051]    The lugs  72  have a length measured along the shaft of the rod of between 1 and 5 mm. Their width is substantially equal to the width of the recesses  82 . 
         [0052]    The recesses have a length, measured along the shaft of the rod, equal to that of the lugs and their width is between 1 and 3 mm at their opening end. 
         [0053]    The resilience of the lugs  72  and the inclination of these lugs and that of the frustoconical surface  50  are such that, when the application element  20  is introduced into the receptacle  12 , the force required for the retractable stop  70  to pass through the opening  42  is greater when the applicator is introduced than that required for the same passage when the applicator is removed. 
         [0054]    It will be noted that, initially, the application element  20  is received in the well  30  of the receptacle. 
         [0055]    When the receptacle is full, the piston is close to the inlet in the position illustrated with dot-dash lines in  FIG. 1 . When it is almost empty, the piston is pressed into the main portion  24  in the region of the well  30  as illustrated with solid lines in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0056]    In order to use the applicator  14 , it is removed from the receptacle. The traction on the rod  18  from the gripping member  16  brings about the travel of the rod  18  through the opening  42 . During this travel, the rod is wiped by the corrugations which are provided on the periphery of the opening  42 . The presence of the corrugations allows a circulation of air which prevents any pulsing effect. The corrugations are then cleaned when the brush passes. 
         [0057]    The passage of the lugs  72  through the opening  42  takes place after that of the rod. Owing to their inclined outer surfaces, the lugs become radially deformed so that the ends  78  thereof move closer to the shaft of the rod  18  allowing the opening  42  to be passed. The bristles or other members of the application element also become resiliently deformed in order to pass through the opening  42 . During this passage, they are subject, owing to the deformation, to a drying operation which limits the quantity of product removed by the application element. 
         [0058]    When the applicator  14  is reintroduced into the receptacle  12  after use, the application element passes the opening  42  by becoming deformed, then the ends  78  of the lugs move into abutment against the convergent surface  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In accordance with the resilience of the lugs  72 , the lugs become deformed and move downwards until they move into abutment against the abutment zone  56 . They bring about the movement of the piston  40  under the action of the thrust of the rod, thus bringing about the compression of the product contained in the receptacle downstream of the piston. 
         [0059]    When the force applied to the rod  18  is greater than the reaction force applied by the product to the piston and the friction forces of the piston on the body, the lugs  72  are radially compressed, the ends  78  thereof being guided by the abutment zone  56  of the convergent surface  50  which constitutes a cam surface. This deformation allows the opening  42  to be passed by the stop  70  which is thus retracted as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The movement of the applicator continues after the lugs  72  have regained their shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , by sliding the rod  18  through the opening  42  without additional movement of the piston, until the application element  20  is accommodated in the well  30  and the stopper is screwed to the open end of the receptacle. 
         [0060]    It will be appreciated that, when the piston moves, and the retractable stop  70  passes the piston, the pressures at one side and the other of the piston  40  are balanced owing to the circulation of air through the wide recesses  82 . 
         [0061]    Any pressure differences which could lead to unpleasant sensations are thus prevented. 
         [0062]    In a variant, the periphery of the opening  42  comprises axial apertures and the radial widening  70  has no apertures. In this instance, the passage of the radial widening is obtained by means of deformation of the piston around the opening  42 . 
         [0063]    A variant of application and packaging device  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As a difference compared with the device shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the lugs  72  of the axial stop  70  have externally a bulging shape with a convexity extending in the direction apart from the rod  18  axis. 
         [0064]    Each lug  72  converges radially towards the rod  18  axis at its free end  78 . 
         [0065]    As a consequence, the external surface of each lug  72  comprises a first region  100 , connected to the main portion  71  of the rod  18 , the first region  100  diverging radially apart from the main portion  71  of the rod  18 , and a second region  102 , for contacting the piston  40 , the second region  102  converging towards the rod  18  axis. 
         [0066]    The length of the second convergent region  102 , taken along the rod  18  axis, is higher than at least 10% of the length of the first diverging region  100 . 
         [0067]    When the applicator  14  is inserted in the receptacle  12 , the convergent regions  102  of the lugs  72  first enters in contact with the contact zone of the convergent surface  50 , which leads to a softer contact with piston  40 . 
         [0068]    As a consequence, the risk of deterioring piston  40  when reinserting the applicator  14  is lowered.