FRAGRANCE SAMPLING DEVICE

Abstract

Fragrance sampling device comprising a reservoir in the form of a pouch, having two outside walls facing one another, intended to receive an applicator in the form of a tongue, characterized in that at least one of the faces of the tongue and/or the inside face of at least one of the walls of the pouch contains a fragrant substance and in that the applicator further comprises a grasping means connected to the tongue and fully emerging from the reservoir, the applicator being devoid of means for the temporary connection thereof to the walls of the pouch.

Claims

1. Fragrance sampling device (5) comprising a reservoir in the form of a pouch (1), having two outside walls (1a, 1b) facing one another, intended to receive an applicator in the form of a tongue (2), at least one of the faces of the tongue (2) and/or the inside face of at least one of the outside walls of the pouch (1) containing a fragrant substance (5), the applicator further comprising a grasping means (3) connected to the tongue (2) and fully emerging from the reservoir (1), the applicator being devoid of means for the temporary connection thereof to the walls of the pouch, characterized in that the pouch (1) has an intermediate wall (1c) sandwiched between the two outside walls (1a, 1b), the intermediate wall having a precut tongue-shape.

2. Fragrance sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pouch (1) takes the shape of a bottle, or of a pot, or of a bag, preferentially the shape of a bottle in the shape of a perfume bottle.

3. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outside walls (1a, 1b) and the intermediate wall (1c) are integral with one another outside of the surface occupied by the tongue (2).

4. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grasping means (3) constitutes a continuation of the tongue (2).

5. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grasping means (3) does not contain a fragrant substance (5).

6. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (2) has an overall trapezoidal shape having a long base and a short base, the long base being located at the opening of the pouch and the short base being located in the vicinity of the bottom of the pouch.

7. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made entirely or partially of paper, cardboard or silicone.

8. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragrant substance takes the form of a mixture of microcapsules (5).

9. Sampling device according to claim 8, characterized in that the microcapsules (5) have membranes with variable mechanical strengths.

10. Sampling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragrant substance takes the form of a cream or of a gel.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or both of the two faces of the tongue (2) contain a fragrant substance.

12. Method for manufacturing a fragrance sampling device comprising a reservoir (1) in the form of a pouch intended to receive an applicator in the form of a tongue (2), at least one of the faces whereof contains a fragrant substance (5), and a grasping means (3), the pouch having two outside walls (1a, 1b) and an intermediate wall (1c) sandwiched between the two outside walls (1a, 1b), the intermediate wall (1c) having a precut shape (6) in the shape of the tongue (2), comprising: in a first support (1a): identifying a first area (1a) corresponding to the first outside wall and a second area (7) in the continuation of the first area (1a) and having a larger surface area than that of the grasping means (3), recessing the second area (7), in a second support (1c), identifying a first area (1c) corresponding to the intermediate wall (1c) of the pouch (1), identifying a second area (8) corresponding to the shape of an applicator comprising a tongue (2) continued by a grasping means (3), precutting (6) at least the part corresponding to the tongue (2), selectively applying fragrance to at least one face of the tongue (2), in a third support (1b), identifying a first area (1b) corresponding to the second outside wall and a second area (7) in the continuation of the first area and having a larger surface area than that of the grasping means (3), recessing the second area, selectively laminating, in an identified manner, the first (1a) and third (1b) supports on the second support (1c) such that the grasping means (3) is positioned facing the recessed areas, cutting the assembly (1a, 1b, 1c) at the periphery of the first area (1a, 1b, 1c) and of the grasping means (3).

13. Method for applying fragrance on the skin implementing the device claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it consists of releasing the fragrant substance by friction between the applicator and the outside walls of the pouch when removing said applicator, then of brushing the skin with the applicator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The mode for carrying out the invention, in addition to the advantages resulting therefrom, will be understood from the following description of embodiments, given with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the sampling device of the invention according to one specific embodiment.

[0056] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the device in FIG. 1.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the method for manufacturing the sampling device in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0058] With reference to FIG. 1, the sampling device according to the invention, in one specific embodiment, comprises a reservoir, in the form of a pouch 1 made of paper. The pouch is characterized by an overall polygonal shape, preferentially rectangular, having a length d4 of 7 cm for example, with a width d3 of 4 cm for example. It thus has the shape of a standard perfume bottle. It has a central opening d2, the length whereof is, for example, equal to 1.5 cm, into which an applicator is inserted. For the purposes of the figure, the tongue of the applicator is shown in the form of dotted lines.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the applicator is composed of a tongue 2 continued by a cap 3, the height d5 whereof measures about 1 cm and the width d6 whereof measures about 2.5 cm. The tongue 2 has an overall trapezoidal shape, the long base whereof being situated perpendicular to the opening d2 of the pouch 1 and the short base whereof, of length d1, being situated in the vicinity of the lower base of the pouch 1. In the embodiment as shown, the long base of the tongue is equal to 1.4 cm such that it can be easily removed from the opening d2 of the pouch 1. The length of the lower base d1 equal to 0.5 cm combined with the length d7 of the tongue equal to 7 cm provides a surface area that is sufficient for receiving a fragrant substance.

[0060] In one embodiment as shown, the tongue 2 is impregnated, on the apparent face, with microcapsules 5 containing an odorous substance such as fragrance. Conversely, the cap 3 is devoid of capsules.

[0061] The microcapsules take the form of a mixture of microcapsules, the membrane whereof has variable mechanical properties. More specifically, the mixture contains microcapsules having weak membranes which are distributed on the surface of the tongue, in addition to microcapsules having strong membranes which are included in the thickness of the tongue, in the vicinity of the surface.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of the device in FIG. 1. The sampling device comprises three elements, respectively two outside walls 1a, 1b and one intermediate wall 1c constituting the pouch. The intermediate wall 1c is that provided with the applicator, which comprises the tongue 2 and the cap 3. The tongue 2 is precut 6 in the intermediate wall 1c. The two elements 1a and 1b are laminated on the element 1c with the exception of the surface facing the surface occupied by the tongue. Before first use, the tongue 2 is fastened to the device by the precut shape 6.

[0063] In practice, the user removes the tongue from the pouch, causing the precut shape 6 to break away and simultaneously causing the weakest membranes of the microcapsules to rupture, by friction. The user can then choose either to inhale the fragrance that has escaped from the microcapsules, or to brush the tongue over the skin. The operation can then be renewed by re-inserting and removing the tongue, causing the membranes of the microcapsules that did not break during the first passage to break. The microcapsules located in the body of the tongue in the vicinity of the surface will be able to reveal the fragrance contained therein by exerting pressure on the pouch when removing the tongue or by rubbing the tongue against the skin.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows the main steps of the manufacturing method.

[0065] In a first support 1a: [0066] a first area 1a is identified, corresponding to one of the two outside walls of the pouch and a second area 7 is identified in the continuation of the first area, the surface area whereof is larger than that of the cap 3, [0067] the second area 7 is recessed, [0068] in a second support 1c, [0069] a first area 1c is identified, corresponding to the intermediate wall of the pouch, [0070] a second area 8 is identified, corresponding to the shape of the applicator comprising the tongue 2, which is continued by the cap 3, [0071] the part corresponding to the tongue 2 is precut 6, [0072] fragrance is selectively applied to the face facing the tongue 2, [0073] in a third support 1b, [0074] a first area 1b is identified, corresponding to the second outside wall and a second area 7 is identified in the continuation of the first area, the surface area whereof is larger than that of the cap 3, [0075] the second area 7 is recessed, [0076] the first 1a and third 1b supports are selectively laminated, in an identified manner, on the second support 1c such that the cap 3 is positioned facing the recessed areas 7, [0077] the assembly 1a, 1b, 1c at the periphery of the first area 1a, 1b, 1c and of the cap 3 is cut.

[0078] For the selective lamination step, an adhesive layer is applied to the support 1c with the exception of the surface occupied by the tongue 2.

[0079] Advantageously, the device of the invention can be representative of a perfume bottle of a given brand, thus allowing users to feel like they are holding the perfume bottle.

[0080] The invention and the advantages resulting therefrom are clearly understood from the description given hereinabove. In particular, the possible implementation of the device of the invention both for inhalation and for applying fragrance to the skin should be noted. The possibility of diffusing olfactory materials in a repetitive manner without altering the aromas, and in the absence of alcohol, should also be noted.