Patent Publication Number: US-6220254-B1

Title: Packaging and applicator device comprising a receptacle, an ergonomic applicator, and a wiper member

Description:
The present invention relates to devices for packaging and applying a substance that is a liquid, a semiliquid, or a powder, and in particular a cosmetic product. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates more particularly to a device of the type comprising a receptacle that is open at one end, suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator having at one end an applicator element and at its other end a handle element which can also be used as a cap for closing the receptacle. The applicator element and the handle element are interconnected by a link member such as a stalk. International application WO 97/31553 discloses a device in which the applicator element, the stalk, and the handle element are in alignment and in which the applicator element is inserted into the receptacle and is withdrawn therefrom via a wiper member constituted at least in part by an elastically deformable porous material such as a foam having at least 5% open cells. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide a novel device of the above-specified type, making it possible in particular to facilitate the operation of applying makeup and to further increase the possibilities of applying novel cosmetic or care products. 
     In the packaging and application device of the invention the applicator element, the handle element, and the link member are not in alignment. 
     In other words, at least one of the link member and the applicator element is curved or bent so that the applicator element is off-axis relative to the direction in which the link member extends in its region adjacent to the handle element. 
     After making the invention, the Applicant company has observed in quite surprising manner that, even when inclined relative to the axis of the wiper member, the applicator element can be wiped in satisfactory manner by the wiper member, even though it could have been expected a priori that the inclination thereof would give rise to wiping that is unsatisfactory. 
     The invention makes it possible in particular to provide applicators that are more ergonomic, facilitating the operation of applying makeup and enabling the user to make herself up with even greater precision. 
     In a particular embodiment, the link member is bent. 
     Still in a particular embodiment, the link member is constituted by a stalk that flares at its end remote from the handle element to form a housing which serves for fixing the applicator element. 
     The housing can extend in a direction that is at a non-zero angle relative to the direction of the stalk in its region adjacent to said housing. 
     The applicator element can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. 
     In a particular embodiment, the applicator element is curved. 
     In another particular embodiment, the applicator element is substantially flat, and forms an angle with the direction of the link element in its region adjacent to the handle element. 
     In another particular embodiment, the applicator element presents corrugations. 
     In another particular embodiment, the applicator element has a core of rigid or semi-rigid material having connected thereto the link member so as to form a bend. 
     Still in a particular embodiment, the applicator element is made at least in part out of an injected plastics material, e.g. an elastomer. 
     In a particular embodiment, the applicator element has bristles. 
     In a particular embodiment, the applicator element is asymmetrical. 
     In a particular embodiment, the applicator element has at least one helical filament. 
     In another particular embodiment, the applicator element is generally curved in shape. 
     In another particular embodiment, the applicator element has one or more slots or cavities. 
     The packaging and application device of the invention can be used in particular for making up the eye, for applying nail varnish or the like, or indeed for applying lipstick or the like, the shape and the characteristics of the applicator element and the height and the density of the porous material of the wiper member being selected as a function of the nature of the substance, the purpose thereof, and the effect desired therefore. 
     The cross-section of the link member in its region that is in contact with the wiper member when the applicator is in place in the receptacle is preferably smaller than the cross-section of the applicator element. 
     When the link element is constituted by a stalk, the diameter of the stalk in its region extending in contact with the wiper element when the applicator is in place in the receptacle, preferably lies in the range 0.2 mm to 2 mm, and more preferably in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the wiper member is constituted by an axially slotted block of foam, with the edges of the slot or of the slots touching at rest. When the block of foam has a plurality of slots, they may be disposed in a cross or a star configuration. 
     Thus, wiping takes place preferentially by means of a block of foam which is not deformed substantially by the link member when the applicator is in place, having at least one slot and the ability to close up after the applicator has been removed. 
     The use of such a wiper member makes it possible to obtain very good results in terms of uniformity of substance distribution on the applicator element. 
     Preferably, the applicator element extends in line with the link element, being connected thereto via one axial end, with the other axial end of the applicator element constituting the free end of the applicator. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIGS. 1 to  4  are diagrammatic axial sections of four packaging and applicator devices constituting respective variant embodiments of the invention; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are two diagrammatic perspective views showing separately a receptacle and an applicator of a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 7 to  15  are diagrammatic perspective views of various embodiments of the applicator element; and 
     FIGS. 16 to  18  show the use of applicators of the invention in making up the eye, in applying nail varnish, and in applying lipstick, respectively. 
    
    
     MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The packaging and applicator device  10  shown in FIG. 1 comprises a receptacle  11  that is open at one end, together with an applicator  12 . 
     The applicator comprises a rectilinear stalk  13  of axis X, provided at one end with a handle element  14  which constitutes a cap element for closing the receptacle  11 . The stalk  13  has an applicator element  15  at its other end. 
     The receptacle  11  has a neck  17  which houses a wiper member constituted by a block of foam  16 . This wiper member  16  is fixed via its radially outer surface to the neck  17 , e.g. by adhesive. 
     The handle member  14  comprises an assembly skirt  18  with an inside thread for screwing on an outside thread on the neck  17  of the receptacle  11 . 
     The above-mentioned block of foam  16  is axially slotted in the plane of FIG. 1 so as to allow the applicator element  15  to pass therethrough when it is withdrawn from the receptacle  11  in order to be used. 
     Reference can usefully be made to international application WO 97/31553 which describes various embodiments of the wiper member. 
     Preferably, care is taken to ensure that the foam of the wiper member  16  is not excessively compressed by the stalk  13  of the applicator  12  while it is in place in the receptacle, so as to avoid any risk of permanently deforming the foam, since that would spoil wiping quality. 
     The block of foam  16  can have an axial recess of diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the portion of the stalk  13  that comes into contact therewith, or in a variant it may be axially slotted. 
     The stalk  13  may be made of metal in its smallest-diameter portion, and the diameter of said portion can lie in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, for example. 
     It will also be observed that because the block of foam  16  is stuck to the inside of the neck of the receptacle  11 , the block is stiffened vertically and prevented from compressing axially when the applicator element  15  passes therethrough. 
     The bottom end of the stalk  17  expands to form a housing  19  on the axis X that serves to fix the applicator element  15 , with the applicator element being received in part therein. 
     The applicator element  15  can be of any structure adapted to the type of makeup with which it is to be used. 
     In the example described, the applicator element  15  is curved and extends in a direction that makes a progressively increasing angle with the axis X on going towards the free end thereof. In the vicinity of the free end, the applicator element extends in a direction Y that is at an angle close to 60° relative to the axis X, for example. 
     The receptacle  11  is filled with a cosmetic, preferably a liquid, which is not shown in order to clarify the drawing. 
     Surprisingly, the applicator element  15  can be wiped in uniform manner as it passes through the block of foam  16  without leaving traces of excess substance, which traces could be detrimental to the quality of application of the makeup. 
     This result is achieved because of the porosity and the deformability of the block of foam  16  which is capable both of being impregnated with makeup that is present to excess on certain portions of the applicator element  15  and of depositing makeup by capillarity on other portions of the applicator element that are insufficiently charged therewith. 
     The block of foam  16  is adapted to wipe the stalk  13  while the applicator  12  is being withdrawn from the receptacle  11  for use, or while it is being put back into place. 
     Such wiping of the stalk  13  turns out to be particularly advantageous since it avoids any solid residue building up on the stalk because of drying. 
     To make the wiper member, it is possible to use an open-cell foam of polyurethane or polyether, for example. 
     Such a foam preferably comprises at least 5% of open cells, having a diameter lying preferably in the range 5 mm to 3 mm. 
     By way of example, the height of the block of foam  16  may lie in the range 1.5 mm to 80 mm. 
     Depending on the density of the foam and on the height of the block of foam, the wiper member will fit more or less closely to the outline of the applicator element as it passes through the block of foam. 
     Tests have shown that it is possible in some cases to deposit a film of substance on the applicator element that accurately matches the outline of the applicator element, while in other cases the film of product as held by surface tension hides any relief on the applicator element. 
     In general, the softer the applicator element, the more it tends to deform as it passes through the block of foam, and the smaller the amount of substance that remains on the applicator element after it has been wiped. 
     In particular, when the applicator element is a brush, the softer the bristles thereof, the more they tend to deflect and come close to the axis of the brush on passing through the wiper member and the smaller the quantity of substance that remains on the brush once the applicator has been fully extracted from the receptacle. 
     The orientation of the bristles when at rest can be arbitrary, for example they may extend perpendicularly to the axis of the handle element. 
     It will also be observed that if the substance contained in the receptacle is a liquid cosmetic whose solvent is water, for example an aqueous formulation of an acrylic or a polyurethane resin, then the block of foam can retain sufficient moisture until the substance in the receptacle has been used up to prevent the resin cross-linking within the foam, thus enabling it to moisten the stalk and the applicator element as they pass therethrough. 
     The block of foam constituting the wiper member can perform the following simultaneously: 
     a mechanical action of wiping and cleaning the applicator element by pressing thereon and scraping off excess substance together with any solid residue that may have resulted from the substance drying out if it is a liquid or a semiliquid; 
     an absorption action performed by capillarity; 
     an absorption action performed by suction when the block returns to its initial shape after being locally compressed by the applicator element passing therethrough; and 
     optionally an action of impregnating the applicator element with substance in the event of it carrying less substance than the wiper member. 
     It will be observed that the receptacle  11  is large enough to ensure that the applicator element  15  does not touch its wall when the applicator  12  is in place inside the receptacle  11 . 
     It will also be observed that the opening of the receptacle  11  is large enough to allow the applicator element  15  to pass therethrough on being taken out of or put back into the receptacle  11 . 
     To remove the applicator  12 , the user unscrews the handle element  14  and then moves it upwards, parallel to the axis X. 
     The shape of the applicator element  15  may be suitable for enabling it to go through the block of foam  16  without it being necessary for the user to tilt the stalk  13 . 
     It will be understood that the applicator element  15  passes more easily through the block of foam  16  if it is itself elastically deformable. 
     The shape of the applicator element  15  can also lead the user naturally to incline the stalk  13  when the applicator element  15  is passing through the block of foam  16 . 
     To put the applicator back into position, the user inserts the applicator element  15  into the opening of the receptacle and pushes the applicator element  15  through the block of foam  16 . 
     The block of foam is preferably sufficiently flexible to enable the applicator element  15  to pass back therethrough without any need for the user to pay particular attention or to put the applicator element  15  in any given orientation. 
     In the description below, the wiper member is similar and in FIGS. 2 to  4 , it retains the reference  16 . It is not described again in detail and reference can be made to the description above. 
     The packaging and applicator device  20  shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the device  10  as described above with respect to the handle element and the top portion of the receptacle, now referenced  21 . 
     The applicator, now referenced  22 , comprises a rectilinear stalk  23  of axis X extending to a bottom end where it enlarges to form an inclined housing  28  for fixing the applicator element  25 . 
     The housing  28  extends along an axis Y which forms an angle  w  relative to the axis X of the stalk  23 , where  w  is preferably greater than 10° and less than 60°, being about 45° in the example described. 
     The applicator element  25  is substantially rectilinear on the axis Y when at rest, but in a variant which is not shown it could be curved. 
     It should be observed that in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the stalk  23  needs to be inclined somewhat to return or extract the applicator element, since the applicator element is longer than the inside radius of the neck of the receptacle. 
     The receptacle can be closed other than by screwing the handle element onto the neck of the receptacle, and by way of example, FIG. 3 shows a packaging and applicator device  30  in which the handle element is held on the neck of the receptacle  31  by friction. 
     The applicator, now referenced  32 , comprises a bent rod  33  having two rectilinear portions at an angle  v  to each other, where  v  preferably lies in the range 10° to 60°, and is equal to about 30° in the example described. 
     The bend  36  in the stalk  33  is situated immediately beneath the block of foam  16  when the applicator  32  is in place. 
     The applicator element  35  extends in line with the bottom rectilinear portion  34  of the stalk  33 . 
     By way of example, the applicator element  35  is shown having a maximum transverse dimension that is about twice the diameter of the enlarged portion  38  of the stalk  33  at its bottom end, said enlarged portion  38  defining a housing in which the applicator element  35  is fixed. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the link member between the handle element, referenced  44 , and the applicator element, referenced  43 , comprises two parallel rectilinear branches  41  which are interconnected at their bottom ends on either side of a housing  42  to which the applicator element  43  is fixed. The applicator element is constituted in this case by a plurality of concentric loops disposed substantially parallel to a common plane forming a dihedral angle with the plane of the branches  41 , which dihedral angle  r  preferably lies in the range 100° to 170°. 
     The plane of the branches  41  is parallel to the section plane of FIG. 4, and to the plane of the slot made through the block of foam  16  through which the applicator element  43  passes. 
     In this case, it can be advantageous to provide means for indexing the angular position of the handle element relative to the neck of the receptacle on the neck of the receptacle and on the handle element  44  so that when the applicator is in place, the plane of the branches  41  coincides with the plane of the slot in the block of foam  16 . 
     The branches  41  can be as small as possible in diameter so as to deform the foam very little. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a packaging and applicator device  50  in which the applicator  52  is very wide and has undulations. 
     The receptacle is shown in isolation in FIG. 5 while the applicator  51  is shown in isolation in FIG.  6 . 
     The wiper member is constituted by a block of foam  56  substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped that is slotted over a length that is sufficient to allow the applicator element  52  to pass therethrough. 
     The link element  53  connecting the applicator element  52  to the handle element  54  is constituted by a plane wall which thickens at its bottom end to form a groove in which the applicator element  52  is fixed. 
     The handle element  54  comprises a skirt surrounding the link member  53  and suitable for engaging on the receptacle to close it in sealed manner and to hold the applicator  51  in place. 
     The applicator element  52  can be wiped properly in spite of its undulations, because the foam is deformable. 
     The foam can thus be sufficiently flexible to come into contact with the troughs in the applicator element. 
     In the example described, the applicator element  52  extends in a direction that makes an angle of about 45° with the plane wall of the link member  53 . 
     In general, the use of a block of foam for wiping purposes makes a wide variety of shapes possible for the applicator element. 
     By way of example, FIG. 7 shows an applicator element  71  which is curved in shape about an axis Z, which axis is at an angle  u  with the axis of the link element  74 , where  u  preferably lies in the range 10° to 60°, with the applicator element  71  having a cross-section in a section plane perpendicular to the axis Z that is generally in the form of an arc of a circle. 
     The lateral edges  72  of the applicator element  71  diverge slightly on going away from the link member  74 , and the edge  73  furthest from the link member  74  in the example described is of a shape that is slightly concave towards the outside. 
     The applicator element  71  is designed, for example, for applying makeup to the surface of a fingernail. 
     The applicator element  80  shown in FIG. 8 is asymmetrical in shape, being provided with a notch  81  on one side. 
     This applicator element  80  is made, for example, out of a porous material. 
     By selecting the foam of the wiper member to be sufficiently dense to ensure that it does not reach the bottom of the notch  81  during wiping, it is ensured that substance remains in the bottom of the notch  81  after wiping. 
     The notch  81  can thus constitute a supply of substance enabling the applicator to be used to a greater extent after it has been removed from the receptacle. 
     The applicator element  80  extends in a direction that is at a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the link member  82 , as can be seen in FIG.  8 . 
     The applicator element  80  also includes fluting, as shown. 
     The applicator element  85  shown in FIG. 9 comprises a helical filament of axis Z extending at an angle  t  relative to the axis X of the stalk  86 . 
     This angle  t  can be close to 30°, for example. 
     FIG. 10 shows an applicator element  90  having a core  91  of semi-rigid plastics material comprising two branches  91  and  92  that are interconnected by a bend  93 , the branch  92  being engaged in a housing formed at the bottom end of the stalk  95  of the applicator. The other branch  91  serves to stiffen and support a block of foam  94  for applying the substance. 
     FIG. 11 shows an applicator element  100  that is generally elongate in shape along an axis U, and of substantially trapezoidal cross-section. 
     Each face of the applicator element is slightly indented so as to be concave towards the outside. 
     The applicator element  100  has a tapering end  101 . 
     By way of example, the applicator element  100  can be made by injecting a rigid, a semi-rigid, or an elastomer plastics material. 
     In the example described, the applicator element  100  is inserted in a housing formed at the bottom end  102  of the stalk  103  of the applicator, said housing forming a non-zero angle with the axis X of the stalk  103 . 
     In a variant (not shown), the applicator element is integrally molded as a single piece with the stalk. 
     The applicator element may also be constituted by a brush whose outline can be arbitrary, and in particular can have portions of greater or smaller diameter, as illustrated by the applicator  105  shown in FIG.  12 . 
     This applicator  105  has a metal core  106  constituted by twisted metal wires and it supports bristles  107 , with the axis of the brush being at an angle  s  that is close to 30°, for example, relative to the axis X of the stalk  108 . 
     In this example, the core  106  is bent and is fixed to the inside of a housing formed in an enlargement  109  of the stalk  108  at its bottom end, said housing being of axis X. 
     In a variant (not shown), this housing is inclined while the core of the brush is entirely rectilinear. 
     FIG. 13 shows an applicator element  112  whose surface is flocked, i.e. it is covered in fine hairs. 
     On examining this figure it will be observed that the applicator element  112  is non-symmetrical in shape about the axis X of the applicator stalk  113 . 
     Because of its asymmetrical shape, it can be considered that the applicator element  112  does not lie in line with the stalk  113 . 
     FIG. 14 shows an applicator element  115  that is curvilinear, extending substantially over one-fourth of a circle, that is generally circular in section, and that has a knurled surface. 
     This applicator whose general shape is similar to that of the applicator  15  described above, is made, for example, by injecting a plastics material. 
     FIG. 15 shows an applicator  118  made by molding a plastics material and having slots or cavities  119 . 
     By surface tension, these slots or cavities  119  serve to retain a supply of substance inside the applicator element  118  after it has been wiped, since it is difficult for the wiper member to penetrate therein. 
     FIG. 16 shows how the above-described applicators  10  and  20  can be used for making up the eye. 
     The use of an off-axis applicator element makes it easier for the user to make up the eye. 
     In addition, an off-axis applicator element of the invention, e.g. an applicator element  72  as described above, turns out to be very ergonomic in applying makeup to a fingernail, as shown in FIG.  17 . 
     Finally, the asymmetrical applicator element  112  can be used to make up the lips, as shown in FIG.  18 . 
     A packaging and applicator device of the invention can also be used for applying a hair-care product, for example. 
     It can be observed that when a stalk is used as a link member, the handle element can be oriented in an arbitrary direction relative to the neck of the receptacle when the applicator is in position provided the receptacle is large enough to receive the applicator element regardless of its orientation about the axis of the neck of the receptacle. 
     In all of the embodiments, the link member is preferably flexible to a certain extent. 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, and covers in particular any variant made by combining the characteristics specific to any of the embodiments described.