Abstract:
A packaging device having a magnetic closure system establishing a particular angular orientation between two elements of the device. The packaging device for a cosmetic product comprises a container to house the product. The container comprises a visual mark on a side surface thereof and a removable case including an internal cavity to receive the container which can slide inside the cavity until it is fully housed inside the case. The case comprises a side hole that opens into the internal cavity. The device comprises at least a first permanent magnet borne by the container and at least a second permanent magnet borne by the case. The magnets being configured such as to define the angular position of the container in relation to the second axis, such that the visual mark on the container is positioned in line with the hole in the case.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a §371 application from PCT/FR2012/050928 filed Apr. 26, 2012, which claims priority from French Patent Application No. 11 53721 filed May 2, 2011, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a device for packaging products, particularly in the cosmetic field. More precisely, the invention refers to a device having two parts, said two parts being assembled by means of magnets, said magnets allowing a particular positioning of one of the two parts relative to the other. The invention is applicable to a variety of cosmetic products, but refers particularly to a tube of lipstick for cosmetic or care purpose. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Classically, a tube of lipstick comprises a container receiving the lipstick. The container is provided with a mechanism making it possible to move the lipstick between a storage position retracted into the body and a use position projecting from said body. The mechanism is in general operated by means of a wheel rotatingly mounted onto the body. Such a mechanism is described for example in document FR2787970. 
     The container comprises an open end, through which the lipstick can project in order to be used. In order to protect the lipstick between uses, this end is typically inserted into a removable tubular cover. 
     The cover must be maintained fixed on the container in order to prevent it from being detached inadvertently. However, an intentional opening in order to use the lipstick must remain easy. 
     Document FR2680761 describes a lipstick whose container and cover are maintained in contact by the magnetic attraction between a magnet, supported by the container or the cover, and a magnetic material, respectively supported by the cover or the container. 
     The force of attraction generated by the magnet is sufficient to hold the cover on when carrying the tube, while allowing a user to open it easily. 
     When such a container has the shape of a cylinder of revolution, such a system does not make it possible however to determine in a selective way the angular position of the container relative to the cover. 
     In addition, in a conventional way, a tube of lipstick can be opened by taking hold of the cover with one hand and the other end of the container with the other hand, and then by exerting a traction thereupon. Indeed, the cover usually covers only part of the container. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to propose a new packaging design for cosmetic products, the Applicant has however carried out a packaging device comprising a container, as well as a case serving as a cover, in which the container is fully housed in the closed position. 
     In order to reach the container, the case is provided with a side hole. This hole makes it possible to exert on the container an axial thrust so that it can slide out of the case. 
     It is advantageous to make the hole in the case coincide with a visual mark on a side surface of the container, this mark being for example a logo or a decorative pattern. 
     It is thus interesting to provide the case and/or the container with means making it possible to angularly position the container relative to the case when the device is in the closed position. 
     The invention aims at solving this problem and moreover at providing a holding means between the case and the container. 
     Indeed, the invention refers to a packaging device for a cosmetic product, including a container for containing the product, said container having substantially the shape of a cylinder of revolution about a first axis, said container comprising along said axis an open end opening to the product, said container comprising a visual mark on a side surface, said device moreover including a removable case, substantially cylindrical about a second axis, the case including an internal cavity able to receive the container, the container being able to slide inside said cavity along the second axis, until it occupies a so-called closed position, in which the open end of the container is closed by the case, the container being then fully housed in the case, said case comprising a side hole opening into the internal cavity, said device comprising at least one first permanent magnet supported by the container and at least one second permanent magnet supported by the case, said magnets being positioned so as to be substantially in the same plane perpendicular to the axes when the device is in the closed position, one of the magnets including two opposite magnetic poles on a surface oriented towards the other magnet, the polarity of said other magnet being chosen in order to determine the angular position of the container relative to the second axis, so that the visual mark of the container is positioned in line up with the hole in the case. 
     Thus, when the container is inserted into the case in an inappropriate angular position, the two magnets are positioned with their opposite faces having the same polarity. A magnetic repulsion between the first and second magnets then generates a rotation of the container inside the internal cavity, so that the magnets are positioned with their opposite faces having opposite polarities. In this position, the visual mark of the container coincides with the hole in the case and can thus be seen from the outside of the device. In addition, the magnetization maintains the case on the container and prevents it from being detached inadvertently. 
     In a preferential way, the case comprises two permanent magnets arranged substantially symmetrically relative to the second axis, said two magnets having opposite polarities. 
     Thus, in the event of a bad angular positioning of the container, the two magnets of the case exert a magnetic force of repulsion on the magnet of the container, which facilitates the rotation thereof. In the same way, in the event of a correct angular positioning, the two magnets of the case contribute to hold the container on. 
     In a preferential way, the container is of lipstick type, comprising a body for housing the product, as well as an actuation wheel rotatingly mounted on the body, said body and said wheel being in line up with the first axis. However, the container can contain another cosmetic product, such as for example a cream or a paste. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood when reading the following description and examining the annexed figures. These are given as an indication and by no means a restriction of the invention. The figures show: 
         FIG. 1 : a perspective view of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2 : a sectional view of the device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3 : a partial exploded view of the device in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a view of a packaging device  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The device  10  is of lipstick type. The device  10  includes a container  11 , able to contain a lipstick. The container  11  has substantially the shape of a cylinder of revolution along a first axis  12 . An external side surface  13  of the container  11  has a visual mark  14 , for example a logo or a decorative pattern. 
     The device  10  also comprises a case  15 , into which the container  11  can be inserted. The case is substantially cylindrical, said cylinder which can have a base of varied shape, such as for example a round, oval or polygonal shape. In the example in  FIG. 1 , the cylinder forming the case  15  has a square base. 
     Said cylinder develops along a second axis  16 . In the position represented in  FIG. 1 , the axis  16  coincides with the axis  12 . 
     A frontal face  17  of the case  15  has an opening  18  into an internal cavity  19  (see  FIG. 2 ), along the axis  16 . The internal cavity  19  has substantially a cylindrical shape, so that the case  15  can be fitted onto the container  11 . It is possible to insert the container  11  into the cavity  19  through the opening  18 , then to push said container along the axis  16  until it occupies a so-called closed position, represented in  FIG. 1 . In this closed position, an end of the container  11  abuts against a bottom  20  of the case  15 . All the container  11  is then housed in the cavity  19 . More precisely, a bottom  21  of the container  11  is coplanar with the face  17  of the case, or is set back from this face, but not projects therefrom. 
     A side surface  22  of the case  15  comprises a hole  23  opening into the internal cavity  19 . Thus, when the device  10  is in the closed position, a side surface  13  of the container  11  can be seen from the outside. 
     Preferentially, the hole  23  has a shape and dimensions adapted so that the end of a finger can be applied onto the surface  13  and a thrust can be exerted on this surface along the axis  16 . This thrust allows the bottom  21  of the container to project from the face  15  of the case, which makes it possible to take hold of the container  11  in order to use the product therein. 
     An edge  24  of the hole  23  can have varied shapes, for example a round, oval or polygonal shape, or a succession of arcs of circles and/or rectilinear segments. 
     In particular for esthetic reasons, it is advantageous to arrange the mark  14  in line up with the hole  23 , in order to make said mark visible when the device  10  is in the closed position. 
     However, because of the round shape of the opening  18 , the container  11  can be inserted into the cavity  19  with an unspecified angular orientation between the hole  23  and the mark  14 . The device thus comprises means for aligning these two elements. 
       FIG. 2  shows an axial sectional view of the device  10  in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , the device  10  is also represented in the closed position. 
     In particular,  FIG. 2  shows the interior of the cavity  19 , receiving the container  11 . Said container  11  is of lipstick type. It comprises in particular a body  25  for housing a lipstick, said lipstick being able to be placed into a cylindrical housing  26 . Said body  25  is surrounded by an external sheath  27 . The body  25  is part of a rotating mechanism, which allows the lipstick to slide out of the housing  26  through an open end  28 . Such a mechanism is conventional for lipsticks for cosmetic or care purposes. An example of such a mechanism is described in document FR2787970 in the name of the Applicant. 
     When the device  10  is in the closed position, the end  28  is closed by the bottom  20  of the case  15 , which fulfills its function of stopper of the container  11 . 
     The container  11  moreover comprises an actuating wheel  29  for said mechanism. The wheel  29  is mounted onto the body  25  so as to rotate relative to the axis  12 , said body and wheel being in line up with the axis  12 . 
     The wheel  29  has a substantially cylindrical shape about the axis  12 . Said wheel is hollow and delimits a cavity  30 . 
     A permanent magnet  31 , having an annular shape, is inserted into said cavity. The magnet  31  is in a plane perpendicular to the axis  12 . 
     An external side surface of the magnet  31  has two opposite polarities. More precisely, the ring  31  comprises two parts  31  a and  31   b , symmetrical to a plane passing through the axis  12  and perpendicular to the cutting plane in  FIG. 2 . The magnet  31  is diametrical, i.e. the parts  31   a  and  31   b  have opposite polarities. 
     Such polarities are obtained by a particular process for manufacturing the annular magnet  31 . Such magnets are known from the state of the art. 
     According to an alternative, the diametrical magnet  31  can be replaced by two magnets having the shape of half-circles, having opposite polarities. 
     The ring  31  is fitted onto a stopper  32 , which closes the cavity  30  and forms the bottom  21  of the container  11 . Preferably, the stopper  32  is made from a heavy material, for example a metal, in order to make the bottom  21  heavier. 
     In addition, near the opening  18 , the case  15  contains two permanent magnets  33   a  and  33   b .  FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the case  15  and the magnets  33   a  and  33   b.    
     The magnets  33   a  and  33   b  have a substantially symmetrical shape and position relative to the axis  16 . The magnets  33   a  and  33   b  have in particular the crescent shape. An internal side surface  34  of the magnets  33   a  and  33   b  opens onto the cavity  19  and is substantially complementary to an external side surface of the wheel  29 . In the closed position as in  FIG. 2 , the magnets  33   a  and  33   b  are substantially coplanar with the magnet  31 . 
     The internal side surfaces of the magnets  33   a  and  33   b  have opposite polarities. More precisely, the magnet  33   a  has a polarity opposite that of the part  31   a  of the magnet  31  and the magnet  33   b  has a polarity opposite that of the part  31   b.    
     Thus, when the container  11  and the case  15  are positioned as in  FIG. 2 , a magnetic attraction takes place, respectively between the magnet  33   a  and the part  31   a , and between the magnet  33   b  and the part  31   b  of magnet  31 . 
     This magnetic attraction is sufficient to maintain the container  11  in contact with the case  15 , in order to prevent said container from sliding out of the case under the effect of its own weight. 
     For example, the force of attraction exerted by the magnets ( 31 ,  33   a ,  33   b ) is preferentially comprised between 1.5 and 3 Newton, while the total weight of the device  10  is approximately 30 grams. 
     In addition, this force of attraction is easily compensated by a user placing his/her finger against the surface  13  of the container  11  at the hole  23  and exerting a thrust having a component along the axis  12 . The bottom  21  of the container  11  is thus moved so as to project from the case  15 . The magnets ( 33   a ,  33   b ) are not then opposite the annular magnet  31  anymore and the attraction is suppressed. 
     In addition, when the container  11  and the case  15  are positioned as in  FIG. 2 , the mark  14  of the surface  13  can be seen through the hole  23 . 
     On the other hand, if the container  11  is inserted into the cavity  19  in an angular position different from that in  FIG. 2 , it is possible that the magnets ( 33   a ,  33   b ) are placed opposite a part of the magnet  31  having a polarity identical to that of said magnets ( 33   a ,  33   b ). 
     A magnetic repulsion will then tend to make the container  11  swivel in the cavity  19 , so that the part  31   a  is placed opposite the magnet  33   a  and the part  31   b  opposite the magnet  33   b , respectively. 
     The mark  14 , which could be dissimulated by the case  15 , will be then seen through the hole  23 . 
     In the example represented in  FIG. 3 , the surfaces  34  of the magnets ( 33   a ,  33   b ) form an arc of circle having an apical angle of approximately 120°. The magnets ( 33   a ,  33   b ) thus do not form a complete periphery of the cavity  19 . Thus, the angular position of the container  11  relative to the case  15  can vary from a low angle, without a magnetic repulsion occurring between the magnets ( 31 ,  33   a ,  33   b ). This angle of variation can be modified according to the dimensions and/or the force of attraction of the magnets. 
     Preferably, in order not to interfere with the magnets ( 31 ,  33   a ,  33   b ), the other components of the device  10  are made from materials having a low or zero magnetic susceptibility, such as plastic or diamagnetic metals.