DEVICE COMPRISING A SCREEN COMPRISING A CELLUAR MATERIAL

Abstract

Packaging and application device (1), comprising: —a container (10) containing a product (P) to be applied, —a screen (30), comprising a cellular and deformable material, through which the product contained in the container (10) exits, the container (10) comprising a bottom (12), the screen (30) being able to come into contact with the bottom (12) of the container (10) when the product (P) in the container (10) has been used up.

Claims

1. Packaging and application device, comprising: a container containing a product to be applied, a screen, comprising a cellular and deformable material, through which the product contained in the container exits, the container comprising a bottom, the screen being able to come into contact with the bottom of the container when the product in the container has been used up.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is constituted by the cellular material.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is elastically deformable.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen comprises a polyurethane PU foam, a polyethylene PE foam, an EVA foam, a PVC foam, an impregnated PU foam, a cellular EPDM rubber, a cellular neoprene rubber, a cellular nitrile rubber (NBR/PVC), a compact neoprene rubber, a hard EPDM rubber, a solid SBR rubber, a compact nitrile rubber, a spongy rubber (EPDM, neoprene, silicone), a polyether and/or a polyester.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is single-layered or multi-layered.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen has through-orifices.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the product is fluid.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the product is between 0.37 and 0.57 Pa.Math.s.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the product is a cosmetic product.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a protective lid which covers the screen when the product is not being picked up, and the device does not have an applicator accommodated between the protective lid and the screen.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the screen is substantially constant in its part through which the product passes during use.

12. Device according to claim 1 wherein the screen is fixed at its periphery to the rest of the device.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the screen is fixed at its periphery to the rest of the device by at least one lower ring for holding the screen and at least one upper ring for holding the screen, the lower ring and the upper ring engaging with one another.

14. Device according to claim 12, wherein the screen is fixed at its periphery to the rest of the device by at least one ring overmoulded with the screen.

15. Device according to claim 12, wherein the screen is fixed at its periphery to the rest of the device by being clamped between the container and at least one fixing ring.

16. Device according to claim 13, wherein the container comprises an annular groove for receiving the lower ring.

17. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cellular material is an open-cell material.

18. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cellular material is a closed-cell material, the screen having one or more through-orifices passing through it.

19. Device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the container has a concave shape towards the screen.

20. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is able to mould itself to the shape of the bottom of the container when the product in the container has been used up.

21. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen is not a follower.

22. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screen comes into contact in a reversible manner with any point on the bottom of the container, when there is no product, and when a corresponding pressure is exerted from above in order to press it against the bottom of the container.

23. Makeup method, comprising the steps of: loading an applicator with product by using a device according to claim 1, applying the product to a region to be treated of human keratin materials.

Description

[0081] The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0082] FIG. 1 shows, in axial section, an example of a device according to the invention,

[0083] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device from FIG. 1,

[0084] FIG. 3 shows, in axial section, the container of the device from FIGS. 1 and 2 on its own,

[0085] FIG. 4 shows, in axial section, the lower ring of the device from FIGS. 1 and 2 on its own,

[0086] FIG. 5 shows, in axial section, the upper ring of the device from FIGS. 1 and 2 on its own,

[0087] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of picking up the product, and

[0088] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a variant embodiment of the invention.

[0089] The packaging device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a container 10 of axis X containing a cosmetic product P to be applied, a screen 30 and a protective lid 40.

[0090] The protective lid 40 comprises an internally threaded mounting skirt 23 that is designed to be screwed onto a threaded neck 13 that is present in the upper part of the body 11 of the container 10.

[0091] The protective lid 40 may accommodate a seal 24 which, when the lid is screwed onto the threaded neck 13, presses against the upper end edge of the latter.

[0092] The seal 24 is, for example, in the form of a disc.

[0093] In the example in question, the screen 30 is in the form of a film of cellular material of substantially constant thickness e in its part through which the product passes during use.

[0094] This thickness e of the screen 30 is for example between 0.4 and 5 mm.

[0095] The area of the upper surface S.sub.sup of the screen 30 is for example between 180 mm.sup.2 and 3800 mm.sup.2.

[0096] The area of the lower surface S.sub.inf of the screen 30 is for example between 180 mm.sup.2 and 3800 mm.sup.2.

[0097] The screen 30 is elastically deformable, being made for example of polyurethane foam.

[0098] The product P is preferably fluid at ambient temperature (20° C.), being for example a foundation or a complexion corrector, a concealer product, a composition for the lips, or an eyeshadow.

[0099] The packaging and application device 1 comprises a lower ring 60 and an upper ring 70 for holding the screen 30, which is gripped between the two rings.

[0100] The body 11 of the container 10, shown on its own in FIG. 3, comprises an annular groove 19 for receiving the lower ring 60. The bottom of the annular groove 19 has a rectangular shape.

[0101] The annular groove 19 is delimited radially towards the inside by a rib 18 against which the screen 30 bears.

[0102] The screen 30 is folded down at its periphery 31 between the two rings 60 and 70.

[0103] The lower ring 60 and the upper ring 70 engage by snap-fastening.

[0104] FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show the lower ring 60 and upper ring 70 on their own.

[0105] The upper ring 70 comprises coupling reliefs 71 and the lower ring 60 a corresponding annular groove 61 in which the coupling reliefs 71 are snap-fastened.

[0106] The upper ring 70 and lower ring 60 each comprise catching spikes 81 which pass into the screen 30. These catching spikes 81 have for example a pyramidal or conical shape and their height is for example between 0.5 and 4 mm.

[0107] The catching spikes 81 of the upper ring 70 and of the lower ring 60 may be situated opposite one another. The screen 30 is thus both gripped between the two rings 60 and 70 and caught on the two rings via the catching spikes 81.

[0108] The lower ring 60 may comprise, as illustrated, a radially innermost first upright 62a, an intermediate upright 62b and a radially outer ost third upright 62c.

[0109] The uprights 62a and 62b are connected by a first annular wall 63a, and the uprights 62b and 62c are connected by a second annular wall 63b.

[0110] The walls 63a and 63b are oriented perpendicularly to the axis X, while the uprights 62a, 62b and 62c are tubular and coaxial with the axis X.

[0111] The groove 61 is produced on the radially inner face of the upright 62c. The spikes 81 are carried by the wall 63a. The latter extends in a manner set back from the upper edge of the uprights 62a and 62b, such that the spikes 81 extend in an annular groove formed between the uprights 62a and 62b, above the wall 63a. The spikes 81 do not project out of this groove. The upright 62c is taller than the others.

[0112] The upper ring 70 comprises a tubular first upright 72a which is connected at the top to a transverse wall 73. This first upright 72a carries the coupling reliefs 71.

[0113] The upper ring 70 comprises a second upright 72b, radially inside the first upright, the lower end of said second upright 72b carrying the spikes 81, and a third upright 72c radially inside the second upright 72b.

[0114] When the rings 60 and 70 are assembled, the third upright 72c is positioned next to the first upright 62a, the screen 30 being gripped between the two. The second upright 72b is inserted into the groove formed between the uprights 62a and 62b, above the wall 63a. The first upright 72a is inserted between the uprights 62b and 62c, and presses the screen 30 at its periphery 31 against the upright 62b.

[0115] The wall 73 bears against the upper edge of the upright 62c.

[0116] The radially inner surface of the neck 13 comprises an annular groove 14 in which the radially outer edge 91 of the upper ring 70 is snap-fastened.

[0117] The container 10 comprises a bottom 12, of spherical shape, that is concave towards the screen 30, for example with a radius of curvature of between 30 and 60 mm, for example 45 mm.

[0118] In order to use the device 1, the user takes off the protective lid 40.

[0119] The user can then apply an applicator 20 to the upper surface S.sub.sup of the screen 30, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0120] The user can simply apply the applicator to the upper surface S.sub.sup of the screen 30 without moving the applicator 20 other than by moving it into contact with and then away from the screen 30, preferably applying a pressure to the latter during the contact between the applicator 20 and the screen 30, this causing the product P to be deposited on the applicator 20.

[0121] In a variant, at the time that product is picked up, the user can turn the applicator 20 or the upper surface of the screen 30 and/or move it in translation.

[0122] The user can load the applicator 20 as desired by pressing on the screen 30. The user can in particular press on the screen 30 a number of times in a compression/relaxation cycle of the cellular material, in order to increase the loading of the screen 30 with product P.

[0123] Once the applicator has been loaded with product P, the user can dab his/her skin with the applicator 20 in order to apply the product P present on the applicator 20 thereto.

[0124] The user can blur the product P thus deposited as much as required with the same applicator 20, by moving it over the skin, or with the aid of another applicator.

[0125] FIG. 7 shows a variant of the device according to the invention, comprising a lower ring 60 having holes into which spikes 100 of the upper ring are inserted, the screen 30 being gripped between the two rings and perforated by the spikes 100.

[0126] The screen 30 is shown schematically between the lower ring 60 and upper ring 70 in FIG. 7: the gripping of the screen 30 between said rings and the corresponding deformation have not been reproduced.

[0127] The seal 24 is annular in the example in FIG. 7.

[0128] The protective lid 40 may accommodate a mirror 80.

[0129] The screen 30 may comprise through-orifices 35, as illustrated.

[0130] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated, and it is possible in particular to combine the characteristics of the examples illustrated with one another as parts of variants which are not illustrated. For example, the screen in FIG. 1 may be provided with through-orifices. It is possible for the one in FIG. 7 not to have through-orifices.

[0131] Further variants are possible. For example, the screen 30 may be movable in the container 10 along the axis X in order to accompany the drop in the level of product P as the latter is removed. In this case, it is for example fixed at its periphery to a rigid frame sliding in the housing containing the product.

[0132] The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”.