Patent Publication Number: US-10314379-B2

Title: Make-up item comprising an applicator and a make-up product dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2015/052614 filed on Sep. 30, 2015, which claims priority to French Application No. 1459612 filed on Oct. 7, 2014, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The invention relates to make-up items. 
     Make-up items having an applicator and a make-up product dispenser intended to deposit such product on the applicator are known. Traditionally, the dispenser includes a make-up product container, into which the applicator is dipped and becomes loaded with product. However, in most cases this configuration loads an excessive amount of product on the applicator, so it is therefore best to remove the surplus product to avoid wastage and to facilitate making up as such. Thus, it is known to equip the container with a wiper intended to remove the excess product, some of which then falls back into the container. 
     However, the presence of a wiper generally creates certain problems. The applicator is loaded with product by dipping, a wiper retains the product which is on the surface of the applicator. The product which is towards the center of the applicator, in other words near the rod, is not wiped. Nor is it deposited on the eyelashes. This product dries over time. 
     A wiper does not allow optimized dosing of product on the applicator. A soft wiper provides effective wiping of the applicator but it does not guide it efficiently when extracting it from a vial. Thus, depending on the angle given to the applicator, some surface areas are more or less well wiped, in other words wiping is not uniform over the surface of the applicator, nor is it repetitive. 
     Due to the wiper, the applicator is subject to geometrical constraints. An applicator has a free end which is tapered to facilitate its passage through the wiper when inserted in the vial. This tapered shape offers no particular benefit for the make-up result. 
     In addition, the wiper creates a phenomenon generally called swabbing. When introducing or extracting the applicator into/out of the vial, the movement of the applicator creates a depression or an overpressure in the vial which hinders its free movement. To mitigate the effect produced by these pressure variations, a volume of free air must be provided between the product and the vial. Thus, when filling, the vial is not completely filled with product so as to keep a volume of air. It is therefore necessary to design a vial whose inner volume is greater than the volume of product which is initially contained. 
     An object of the invention is to avoid or at least reduce wastage of make-up product, due to depositing an excessive amount of product on the applicator and to drying of the product exposed to air. 
     The invention therefore relates to a make-up item which comprises:
         an applicator whose application head defines an envelope surface, and   a make-up product dispenser, comprising a site for receiving the applicator, and having at least one outer valve provided with at least one dispensing opening which faces a portion of the envelope surface when the applicator is received in the site, the valve being able to assume a closed position and an open position wherein the valve releases product directly against the head of the applicator.       

     Thus, the outer valve efficiently controls the area of the applicator where the product is dispensed. It can also be used to control the amount of product dispensed, and therefore to ensure that the dispenser releases only the required amount product against the applicator in a specific area of the applicator. In addition, after releasing the product, the valve closes to protect, from the air, the amount of make-up product supplied by the valve but which has not been released against the applicator. This prevents the product which has not been released from being exposed to the air and therefore the formation of a residue of dried product. 
     Advantageously, the valve opens and closes at the dispensing openings. 
     This provides optimum control over the amount of product dispensed on the applicator and minimizes the amount of product which, after dispensing, is exposed to the air. 
     Advantageously, the valve is arranged so that when in the closed position, the valve is located away from the applicator received in the site. 
     Thus, since the applicator received in the site is located at a non-zero distance from the valve when the valve is closed, the risks of damaging the applicator and the valve, in particular by friction or shock, are reduced. 
     Advantageously, the dispenser further comprises a flexible pouch for storing the make-up product, this flexible pouch being housed in a rigid container mounted movably relative to the valve. 
     Due to the arrangement of the flexible pouch and the container in the dispenser, the valve can be easily supplied with make-up product. 
     Preferably, the dispenser further comprises a return spring capable of bringing the container from a near position, in which the container is near to the valve, to a remote position, in which the container is remote from the valve. 
     Part of the container displacement during operation is therefore carried out automatically, thereby limiting the forces to be provided by a user of the make-up item. 
     Advantageously, the dispenser further comprises a pump, without air intake, for supplying the valve with make-up product. 
     This pump efficiently supplies the valve with make-up product, preventing the product from being discharged in the dispenser, which would otherwise occur when using a traditional pump. 
     Advantageously, the dispenser further comprises a outer member for controlling the valve, this control member being associated with a stop for controlling the supply of the valve with make-up product. 
     The control member allows the user of the item to easily supply the valve with make-up product. The control stop provides a simple means of delivering the necessary and sufficient amount of product to the valve, and therefore to the applicator. 
     According to a first embodiment of the invention, the item further comprises a channel adapted to be filled with make-up product, and the valve is formed by at least one elastic wall closing the channel, the wall having the dispensing opening, and the channel comprising at least one blocking relief arranged so that it blocks the opening when the valve is in the closed position. 
     According to a second embodiment of the invention, the item further comprises a channel adapted to be filled with make-up product, and the valve is formed by at least two upper and lower elastic walls, superimposed but spaced apart, the upper wall having the dispensing opening and the lower wall having at least one internal opening and at least one blocking relief arranged so that it blocks the dispensing opening when the valve is in the closed position. 
     In each of these embodiments, the valve design is simple. 
     Preferably, the wall(s) are arranged so that they deform to open the valve under the sole pressure of the make-up product filling the channel. 
     There is therefore no need to provide an additional member to open and close the valve, which would increase the cost and take up more space in the dispenser. 
     The invention also provides a method for depositing a make-up product on a make-up applicator using a product dispenser, wherein:
         make-up product is released directly against an application head of the applicator, by opening an outer dispenser valve supplied with make-up product, and   the valve is closed.       

    
    
     
       We will now describe the embodiments of the invention using the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a general view of a make-up item according to one embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view in longitudinal cross-section of the item of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the make-up item of  FIG. 1 , illustrating respectively remote and near positions of a container of the item of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a channel and a valve of the make-up item of  FIG. 1  according to a first embodiment of the invention, 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are cross-sectional views along VII-VII of the channel and of the valve of  FIG. 6 , in two different positions of the valve, 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a channel and a valve of the make-up item of  FIG. 1  according to a second embodiment of the invention, and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view along X-X of the channel and of the valve of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a make-up item  2  according to a first embodiment of the invention. This item  2  comprises an applicator  4  and a dispenser  6  of make-up product  8 . This product  8  is for example mascara, but any other make-up product could be used, such as gloss, lipstick or nail polish, or generally any cosmetic or perfumery product. 
     In this case, the applicator  4  consists of a rod  10  with teeth or protrusions  12  at one of its ends forming an applicator head  11 , so that the applicator  4  is comb-like. The application head  11  defines an envelope surface of the applicator  4 . Generally, the applicator  4  could belong to at least one of the following categories: injected brush, brush and comb. The applicator  4  could also have a different shape, including the shape of a paintbrush or of a rigid or flexible palette. 
     The dispenser  6  comprises a unit  14  forming a housing  16 , an intermediate lid  18  partially closing the housing  16 , and an external lid  20  completely closing the housing  16  and covering the intermediate lid  18 . The latter has a site  22  for receiving the applicator  4 , as well as a communication opening  24  between the outside of the dispenser  6  and the inside of the unit  14 , formed opposite the head  11  of the applicator  4 , and only thereof, when it is received in the site  22 . We will see below that this geometry is interesting for the operation of the item  2 . 
     The intermediate lid  18  is attached to the housing  16  and stationary relative thereto, whereas the external lid  20  is mounted movably in rotation relative to the housing  16  about an axis of rotation  26 , so that the unit  14  can be opened and closed. However, any other system for closing the unit  14  could be provided. 
     The dispenser  6  further comprises a flexible pouch  30  for storing the make-up product  8 , this flexible pouch  30  being housed in a rigid container  28  located in the housing  16 , with respect to which it is mounted movably by sliding along the X direction in the orthogonal coordinate system shown on  FIG. 2 , this direction being in this case the longitudinal direction of item  2 . 
     The dispenser  6  also comprises an outer valve  32  which can assume a closed position in which the valve is located remote from the applicator  4  received in the site  22 , and an open position in which the valve  32  releases product  8  directly against the head  11  of the applicator  4  received in the site  22 . In its closed position, the valve  32  could be in contact with the applicator  4 . The valve  32  is stationary relative to the housing  16  and the intermediate lid  18 , so that the rigid container  28  is mounted movably by sliding along the X direction relative to the valve  32 . 
     The dispenser  6  also comprises a channel or chute for supplying product  34  from the valve  32 . The valve  32  is located opposite the communication opening  24  of the intermediate lid  18 . The valve  32  and the channel  34  will be described in more detail below. 
     The dispenser  6  further comprises a pump  36 , without air intake, for supplying the valve  32  with make-up product  8 . The pump  36  is connected to the flexible pouch  30  and is in fluid communication with the product  8 . The pump is attached to the container  28 , so that it follows the displacements of the container. Since pumps without air intake are known, the operation of the pump  36  will not be described here. It is intended to pump product  8  from the pouch  30  to the channel  34 , via a supply duct  37 . The channel  34  is of the kind adapted to be filled with make-up product  8 . The container  28  and the pouch  30  could be mounted in the unit  14  and could be removably connected to the pump  36  in order to replace the container  28  when empty with a new container. 
     The dispenser  6  also comprises an external member  38  for controlling the valve  32 , consisting of a push-button. This control member  38  is mounted movably by sliding along the X direction relative to the housing  16  and is associated with a stop  40  for controlling the supply of the valve  32  with make-up product  8 . A free surface of the push-button  38  is formed on an outer surface of the dispenser  6 , so that the push-button  38  can be actuated by a user. The push-button  38  is arranged so that it drives the container  28  in its movement towards the valve  32 . 
     The dispenser  6  comprises no wiper. 
     Further details concerning the mechanism of the dispenser can be found in document EP-2687119, reference being made to this document herein. 
     We will now describe how the make-up product  8  is routed from the flexible pouch  30  to the outer valve  32 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates item  2  in a configuration such that the applicator  4  is received in the site  22  and ready to receive product  8 . The push-button  38  has not yet been pressed by the user, and the container  28  presses against the push-button  38 . In this case, the container  28  is in a remote position in which it is remote from the outer valve  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , we assume that a user presses the push-button  38  towards the valve  32 , in other words to the right when considering the orientation of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In its displacement, the push-button  38  moves the container  28  and the flexible pouch  30  towards the pump  36 . The container  28  therefore approaches the valve  32 , and when the push-button  38  comes into contact with the control stop  40 , the container  28  assumes a position near the valve  32 . 
     During the displacement of the container  28  between the remote and near positions, a predetermined dose of product  8  is extracted from the flexible pouch  30  by the pump  36  to fill the channel  34  via the duct  37  and therefore supply the valve  32 . The amount of product  8  contained in the predetermined dose depends on the position of the control stop  40 , since it determines the stroke of the push-button  38 , and therefore also that of the container  28  in the unit  14 . The shape or length of the stop  40  can therefore be adjusted when designing the dispenser  6  in order to adjust the amount of product  8  contained in the predetermined dose. 
     Once the push-button  38  is in contact with the stop  40 , the dose of product  8  is extracted from the flexible pouch  30  to supply the valve  32 . The user can now release the push-button  38 . A return spring (not shown on the figures) located in the unit  14  then pushes the container  28  away from the valve  32 , taking with it the push-button  38 . The container  28  therefore moves automatically from its near position to its remote position, and the dispenser  6  returns to the configuration illustrated on  FIG. 3 . In other words, the dispenser  6  comprises a return spring capable of bringing the container  28  from the near position, in which the container  28  is near the valve  32 , to the remote position, in which the container  28  is remote from the valve  32 . The amount of product dispensed is controlled by the stop  40 , but a smaller amount can be dispensed if the user stops pressing the push-button  38  before it reaches the stop  40 . It is also possible to increase the amount dispensed by releasing the pressure on the push-button  38  then pressing it again. 
     The valve  32  can therefore be supplied with make-up product  8 . 
     We will now describe how the make-up product  8  is released directly against the applicator  4 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated on  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the valve  32  consists of a flat elastic wall or membrane  42  closing the channel  34 , the wall  42  having at least one dispensing opening  44 . The dispensing opening(s)  44  are designed to dispense the product  8  locally against the envelope surface of the applicator  4 . In this case, the wall  42  has several dispensing openings  44  of circular contour distributed in a staggered pattern. The channel  34  has a shoulder  46  used to attach the periphery of the wall  42  to the channel  34 . The channel  34  also comprises at least one blocking relief  48 , formed under the wall  42 , arranged so that it blocks the openings  44  when the valve  32  is in the closed position. In this case, the channel  34  comprises one blocking relief  48  for each opening  44  in the wall  42 . The dispensing openings  44  face a portion of the envelope surface when the applicator  4  is received in the receiving site  22 . More precisely, the dispensing openings  44  are placed opposite the teeth or protrusions  12  against which product  8  is to be released. 
     When the dispenser  6  is not used, in other words when the push-button  38  is not pressed, the valve  32  is closed and is located at a non-zero distance from the applicator assembly  4  received in the site  22 . The valve  32  in the closed position is shown on  FIG. 7 . In this position, the blocking reliefs  48  block the openings  44 . No dose of product  8  can therefore come out. Thus, preferably, the valve  32  opens and closes at the dispensing openings  44 . This arrangement provides optimum control over the amount of product  8  dispensed on the applicator  4  and minimizes the amount of product  8  which, after dispensing, is exposed to the air on the outer surface of the valve  32 . Other valves constructions may nevertheless be suitable. The valve is adapted to the type and rheology of the product  8 . Liquid and pasty products can be dispensed with this type of dispensing. 
     When the dispenser  6  is used for the first time, the channel  34  contains no product  8  and is filled with air. When the push-button  38  is pressed, the pump  36  fills the channel  34  with make-up product  8  via the supply duct  37 , and the air contained in the channel  34  is released by the valve  32 . In particular, at this stage, the valve  32  does not release any product  8 . The push-button  38  must be pressed and released several times to evacuate all the air contained in the channel  34  and replace it by product  8 . The product  8  builds up in the closed channel  34 . Since the valve  32  is in the closed position at rest, these operations can be performed in the factory. 
     Once the channel  34  has been filled with product  8  and the user presses the push-button  38  again, since the valve  32  is closed by the wall  42 , the pressure of the product  8  is increased. Under the sole pressure of the make-up product  8  filling the channel  34 , the wall  42  deforms to open the valve  32 . In fact, as the wall  42  lifts up, it moves away from the blocking reliefs  48  of the channel  34 . When the openings  44  are no longer blocked, the valve  32  releases product  8  directly against the applicator  4  received in the site  22 . More precisely, the valve releases one drop of product through each opening  44  in the wall  42 . The valve  32  therefore opens due to the elastic deformation of the wall  42 , under the sole pressure of the product  8 . Depending on the viscosity, surface tension and hydrophilic/hydrophobic or oleophilic/oleophobic nature of the make-up product  8 , the drops of product released by the valve  32  take the shape of a ball or spread over an outer surface of the wall  42 . 
     The valve  32  can deliver product locally in one or more precise areas of the applicator. Thus, the product  8  can be delivered in some areas and not in other areas. The areas loaded with product will therefore be more adapted to deposit the product on the eyelashes, and the areas not loaded to spread the product  8  on the eyelashes and separate the eyelashes. Preferably, the valve  32  can be used to release make-up product  8  only at the free ends of the teeth or protrusions  12  of the applicator  4 , in other words the parts of the applicator  4  intended to apply the product  8  on the user. In other words, the product  8  is deposited locally by the valve  32  on the envelope surface formed by the ends of the teeth or protrusions  12  of the applicator  4 , or more generally by the surface containing the application head  11  of the applicator  4 . Specifically, the rod  10  is not unnecessarily loaded with product, which reduces wastage of the product  8  and prevents it from becoming clogged in this area. 
     Once the push-button  38  comes up against the control stop  40 , the valve  32  is no loner supplied with product  8 , the pressure of the product  8  in the channel  34  then drops, and the valve  32  closes. 
     The invention therefore implements a method for depositing make-up product  8  on the make-up applicator  4  using the product dispenser  6 , wherein:
         make-up product  8  is released directly against the application head  11  of the applicator  4 , received in a receiving site  22  of the applicator  4  provided on the dispenser  6 , by opening the outer valve  32  of the dispenser  6  supplied with make-up product  8 , and   the valve  32  is closed.       

     The second embodiment of the invention, illustrated on  FIGS. 9 and 10 , differs from that described above in that the valve  32  is formed by two upper  52  and lower  54  elastic walls, superimposed but spaced apart, the upper wall  52  having at least one dispensing opening  56  and the lower wall  54  having at least one internal opening  58  and at least one blocking relief  60  arranged so that it blocks the dispensing opening  56  when the valve  32  is in the closed position. The dispensing openings  56  are central and elongated. The internal openings  58  have a circular contour and are arranged in a staggered pattern. 
     A space is formed between the two walls to allow their openings  56 ,  58  to communicate when the valve  32  is open. In other words, when the valve  32  is open, the product moves successively from the channel  34  to the space through the internal opening(s)  58 , then from the space to the outside of the dispenser  6  through the dispensing opening(s)  56 . Only the upper wall  52  is deformable to allow the valve  32  to open. The lower wall  54  could be rigid. 
     The valve  32  opens and closes in the same way as in the first embodiment, in other words under the sole effect of the pressure of the make-up product  8  filling the channel  34 . 
     Obviously, numerous modifications can be made without leaving the scope of the invention. 
     The applicator could be a curved comb, such as that described in document WO2009032443. 
     The teeth or protrusions of the applicator can all be the same length or some of them can be longer than the others. 
     The openings may be arranged in any other different configuration in the wall(s), in particular depending on the structure of the applicator. 
     If the applicator forms a brush, it can have bristles and/or teeth.