WIPER DEVICE FOR A RECEPTACLE CONTAINING A PRODUCT, NOTABLY A COSMETIC PRODUCT

Abstract

The wiper device designed to equip a receptacle containing a product, notably a cosmetic product, comprises a tubular body (12) and a wiper member (14) made as one piece with said tubular body. The wiper member (14) comprises at least one helical winding (28) coaxial with an axis of elongation X-X′ of the tubular body and provided with a plurality of successive coils along said axis of elongation.

Claims

1. Wiper device designed to equip a receptacle containing a product, notably a cosmetic product, comprising a tubular body (12) attaching into the neck of said receptacle and a wiper member (14) made as one piece with said attaching tubular body, characterized in that the wiper member (14) comprises at least one helical winding (28) coaxial with an axis of elongation (X-X′) of the attaching tubular body and provided with a plurality of successive coils along said axis of elongation.

2. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said helical winding (28) of the wiper member extends at least in part inside the attaching tubular body (12).

3. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said helical winding (28) of the wiper member is arranged entirely inside the attaching tubular body (12).

4. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the attaching tubular body (12) comprises a first end face (16) designed, in the assembled position of said wiper device on the receptacle, to face an end wall of said receptacle, and a second end face (18) opposite the first end face, said helical winding (28) of the wiper member extending from the attaching tubular body (12) axially on the side of the second end face (18) of said body.

5. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said helical winding (28) of the wiper member is connected to the attaching tubular body (12) along a joining zone arranged at a non-zero distance from the first end face (16) of said body.

6. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the attaching tubular body (12) comprises a wiper orifice (26) of reduced passage cross section relative to that of the rest of said tubular body.

7. Wiper device according to claim 6, wherein the wiper orifice (26) opens out on a first end face (16) of the attaching tubular body.

8. Wiper device according to claim 6, wherein the inside diameter of said helical winding (28) of the wiper member is different from the passage cross section of the wiper orifice (26), notably greater than said passage cross section.

9. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the attaching tubular body (12) comprises a wall (12c) extending radially inwards and from which extends said helical winding (28) of the wiper member (14).

10. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said helical winding (28) of the wiper member is provided with at least a plurality of coils that are non-contiguous in the free state.

11. Wiper device according to claim 10, wherein said helical winding (28) of the wiper member is formed by said plurality of non-contiguous coils.

12. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said helical winding (28) of the wiper member is a spring.

13. Wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper member (14) comprises two helical windings (28, 30) arranged such as to obtain an alternation of the coils of one of the windings with the coils of the other winding in the axial direction.

14. Device for packaging and applying a product, notably a cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle (42) for storing said product, an applicator (44) provided with at least one application member (56) and mounted removably between a withdrawing position in which said application member is located inside the storage receptacle (42) and an application position in which the applicator is separated from said receptacle, and a wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims fixed in the neck of the storage receptacle (42), the wiper device (10) being traversed by said application member (56) of the applicator when said applicator is separated from the storage receptacle.

15. Method for manufacturing a wiper device according to claim 1 by moulding using a moulding impression produced by additive fabrication.

Description

[0032] The present invention will be better understood from studying the detailed description of one embodiment that is given by way of entirely non-limiting example and is illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[0033] [FIG. 1] is a perspective view of a wiper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0034] [FIG. 2] is a front view of the wiper device of FIG. 1,

[0035] [FIG. 3] is a sectional view on the axis III-III of FIG. 2,

[0036] [FIG. 4] is a perspective sectional view on the axis IV-IV of FIG. 2, and

[0037] [FIG. 5] is a sectional view of a packaging and application device equipped with the wiper device of FIG. 1.

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a wiper device, referenced 10 overall, provided to equip a receptacle for storing a product, notably a cosmetic product. The wiper device 10 is illustrated in a position that is presumed to be vertical.

[0039] The wiper device 10 comprises an attaching tubular body 12, of longitudinal axis X-X′, and a wiper member 14 extending from said body. The body 12 and the wiper member 14 are made as one piece. In other words, the body 12 and the wiper member 14 are produced as a single component. More generally, the wiper device 10 is produced as a single component, notably by means of moulding. By way of indication, the wiper device 10 may, for example, be made from a stiff material, for example PE.

[0040] As will be described in greater detail below, the wiper member 14 is designed such as to have a degree of flexibility irrespective of the stiffness of the material of the wiper device 10.

[0041] The tubular body 12 of the wiper device extends on the axis X-X′. The axis X-X′ forms an axis of elongation of the body 12. The body 12 is delimited axially by a lower, first end face 16 and by a upper, second end face 18 opposite the first end face 16. The end faces 16, 18 form front faces of the body 12.

[0042] The body 12 has, here, a circular cross section. In a variant, the body 12 may have a cross section that is polygonal, notably a square cross section, or an oval cross section.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the body 12 of the wiper device comprises a first axial portion 12a provided with the upper end face 18, a second axial portion 12b of reduced cross section and provided with the lower end face 16, and an intermediate portion or wall 12c connecting the axial portions 12a, 12b. The intermediate wall 12c extends between the axial portions 12a, 12b. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the intermediate wall 12c has a frustoconical form that extends radially inwards and axially downwards. Alternatively, it might be possible to provide an intermediate wall 12c that has another form, for example a purely radial form.

[0044] The body 12 of the wiper device comprises, furthermore, upper and lower radial collars 20, 22 provided such as to axially bear against the associated storage receptacle, as will be described in greater detail below. The collars 20, 22 are annular. The upper collar 20 extends the upper end face 18 of the body 12 radially outwards. The lower collar 22 extends the intermediate wall 12c of the body radially outwards. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the collar 22 has a form such that it is curved on itself. In a variant, the collar 22 may have other forms, for example a radial or oblique form. In a variant, it is also possible to omit this collar 22 on the body.

[0045] The body 12 of the wiper device further comprises a retention bead 24 extending radially outwards and provided such as to engage in a corresponding groove provided on the interior surface of the neck of the associated storage receptacle. The bead 24 is located on the exterior surface of the axial portion 12a axially below the collar 20 and axially in the vicinity thereof. The bead 24 is, here, of annular form. Alternatively, the bead 24 may be discontinuous in the circumferential direction. In a variant, it might also be possible to provide a plurality of retention beads.

[0046] The body 12 of the wiper device further comprises a wiper orifice 26. The wiper orifice 26 has a reduced passage cross section relative to that of the body 12. The intermediate wall 12c and the axial portion 12b delimit the wiper orifice 26. The wiper orifice 26 opens out on the lower end face 16.

[0047] The wiper member 14 comprises two helical springs 28, 30 extending from the body 12 and inside the latter. Each spring 28, 30 comprises a first end connected to the body 12 and a second, opposite end that is free, i.e. not connected to said body. The second free end of each spring 28, 30 is located axially on the side of the upper end face 18 of the tubular body.

[0048] The joining zone of each spring 28, 30 with the body 12 is arranged at a non-zero distance from the lower end face 16. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, each spring 28, 30 extends from the intermediate wall 12c of the tubular body. Each spring 28, 30 extends axially inside the body 12 in the direction of the upper end face 18, while remaining at a non-zero distance therefrom. A radial annular space remains between each spring 28, 30 and the axial portion 12a of the tubular body.

[0049] The springs 28, 30 are concentric and coaxial relative to the axis X-X′. Each spring 28, 30 is provided with a plurality of turns or coils connected together in the circumferential direction and in succession along the axis X-X′. The coils of each spring 28, 30 are arranged axially one above another. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, none of the coils of each spring 28, 30 are contiguous. The coils of the springs 28, 30 have a circular form, here, in cross section. In a variant, it is possible to provide other forms, for example rectangular, square, etc.

[0050] The winding direction of the springs 28, 30 is identical. The winding direction of the springs 28, 30 is, here, “to the left”. The winding length of the springs 28, 30 is identical such as to achieve uniform wiping. The inside diameter and also the pitch of the springs 28, 30 are likewise identical. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the springs 28, 30 are thus identical to one another. The springs 28, 30 are arranged such that the coils of these two springs are arranged alternately along the axis X-X′.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a device 40 for packaging and applying a cosmetic product P, which comprises a storage receptacle 42 containing said product and equipped with the wiper device 10, and an applicator 44 for the product.

[0052] The receptacle 42 extends on a geometrically longitudinal, in this case vertical, axis 46. The axis 46 of the receptacle is coaxial relative to the axis X-X′ of the wiper device 10. The receptacle 42 delimits, within, an internal reservoir 48 for storing the cosmetic product P. The receptacle 42 comprises a lower end that forms an end wall and an opposite, open end that forms a neck 50. The neck 50 is separated from the perimeter of the receptacle by an annular shoulder. The free upper edge of the receptacle 42 delimits an access opening to the reservoir 48. More precisely, the neck 50 delimits this opening.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the receptacle 42 has a circular cross section. In a variant, the receptacle 42 may have a cross section that is polygonal, notably square, or else an oval cross section.

[0054] The applicator 44 comprises a stem 52, a grip member 54 integral with the stem, and an application member 56 mounted at the free end of this stem.

[0055] The grip member 54 of the applicator is configured such as to form a cap suitable for removably closing the receptacle 42. In order to provide removable mounting on the receptacle 42, the grip member 54 here comprises a thread that engages with an outside thread on the neck 50 of the receptacle. Alternatively, it is possible to provide other types of removable securing, for example by clip-fastening.

[0056] The application member 56 is secured to the stem 52 on the side opposite the grip member 54. The stem is coaxial relative to the axis 46 of the receptacle. In FIG. 5, the application member 56 has been shown schematically. The application member 56 may, for example, be a moulded mascara brush or one that is formed from twisted branches between which bristles are held. Alternatively, the application member 56 may be provided for the application of types of product other than mascara, for example gloss or, furthermore, an eye liner. The application member 56 may thus have forms other than those of a brush or comb, for example the form of a straight or curved applicator tip.

[0057] The wiper device 10 is mounted in the neck 50 of the receptacle. In the assembled position, the end face 16 of the tubular body faces the receptacle. The tubular body of the wiper device 10 bears radially against the neck 50 of the receptacle. The upper collar 20 of the wiper device bears axially against the neck 24 of the receptacle. The lower collar 22 is located inside the reservoir 48 of the receptacle and bears axially against the shoulder thereof.

[0058] When the grip member 54 is in the position in which the receptacle 42 is closed, which also corresponds to a position for withdrawing the product the by means of the application member 56, a part of the stem 52 and a part of said application member 56 are located inside the reservoir 48 of the receptacle. The stem 52 of the applicator traverses the springs 28, 30 of the wiper member and the wiper orifice 26.

[0059] At the time of each use, the user secures the grip member 54 of the applicator of the receptacle 42 and withdraws the applicator 44 therefrom, using a substantially axial withdrawal movement. At the time of this withdrawal movement, excess product loaded on the application member 56 is removed as it passes through the springs 28, 30 of the wiper member 28 of the wiper device.

[0060] The inside diameter of the springs 28, 30 is chosen such as to touch at least the application member 52 upon withdrawal from the receptacle 42. The inside diameter of the springs 28, 30 is less than or equal to the outside diameter of the application member 52. The inside diameter of the springs 28, 30 is chosen as a function of the degree of wiping required from the application member.

[0061] Upon withdrawal of the applicator 14 from the receptacle, the coils of the springs 28, 30 move apart axially from one another, which promotes good wiping of the application member 56 of the applicator and the flow of excess product between these coils. Upon this withdrawal of the applicator 14, the springs 28, 30 thus deform through the action of the stress exerted by the application member 56. The springs 28, 30 then resume their initial position through elasticity once the applicator 14 has been totally withdrawn from the receptacle.

[0062] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the wiper orifice 26 of the wiper device has a diameter less than that of the springs 28, 30. Upon withdrawal of the applicator, the orifice 26 also contributes to wiping the application member 52. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the wiper orifice 26 has a diameter greater than that of the stem 52 of the applicator. Alternatively, the diameter of the wiper orifice 26 may be less than or equal to the outside diameter of the stem 52 such as to prevent the product contained in the receptacle 42 from escaping towards the outside.

[0063] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the wiper device lacks a wiper lip extending obliquely towards the stem 52 of the applicator. In a variant, it may be possible to provide a wiper device equipped, furthermore, with such a wiper lip. In such a case, the free end of this lip defines the wiper orifice.