REFILL FOR LIQUID MAKEUP CASE AND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CASE AND SUCH A REFILL

Abstract

The invention concerns a refill (2) intended to be inserted into a makeup case (1). The refill (2) comprises a vessel containing a liquid makeup, the vessel comprising a tank (6) comprising an open top face forming an opening for dispensing the makeup. The tank (6) is delimited by a side wall (18) in line with the opening and a bottom (22) of the tank. The refill (2) comprises an absorbent complex (7) in the tank (6). The vessel further comprises at least one additional volume (13) outside the tank (6), in fluid communication with the inside of said tank (6). This helps optimise the volume available for containing a liquid make-up, while allowing the latter to be effectively retained in the refill. The invention also concerns an assembly comprising a case (1) and such a refill (2).

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A refill configured to be inserted into a makeup case, said refill comprising: a vessel containing a liquid makeup, the vessel comprising a container comprising an open upper face forming an opening for the delivery of the makeup, the container being delimited by a lateral wall aligned with the opening and a bottom of the container, an absorbent complex within the container; and the vessel further comprising at least one additional volume outside the container in fluidic communication with the inside of the container.

16. A refill according to claim 15, wherein: the refill has a six-sided shape with a four-sided base and a height less than half of one side of its base.

17. A refill according to claim 15, wherein: the container has a round cross-sectional shape.

18. A refill according to claim 15, wherein: the vessel comprises a first part forming outside walls of the vessel and of the refill, and a bottom of the vessel and of the refill; and the vessel comprises a second part forming the lateral wall of the container and an upper wall of the vessel comprising the opening for delivery of the makeup.

19. A refill according to claim 18, wherein: the second part furthermore forms the bottom of the container.

20. A refill according to claim 18, wherein: the first part forms the bottom of the container.

21. A refill according to claim 18, wherein: the second part forms a hinge; and the refill further comprising a flap connected to the hinge, the flap being configured to be tiltable between a closed position obturating the opening for delivery of the makeup and an open position freeing the opening for delivery of the makeup.

22. A refill according to claim 15, further comprising: passages formed in the lateral wall of the container providing the fluidic communication.

23. A refill according to claim 20, further comprising: a space between the lateral wall of the container and the bottom of the container providing the fluidic communication.

24. A refill according to claim 15, further comprising: a film configured to tightly obturate the delivery opening formed by the open face of the container in a fluid-tight manner prior to a first use of the refill.

25. A refill according to claim 24, wherein: the film is fastened to a rigid ring connected to an upper edge of the lateral wall of the container.

26. A refill according to claim 24, wherein: the film is fastened to a rim formed on an upper edge of the lateral wall of the container.

27. An assembly comprising; a refill configured to be inserted into a makeup case, said refill comprising: a vessel containing a liquid makeup, the vessel comprising a container comprising an open upper face forming an opening for the delivery of the makeup, the container being delimited by a lateral wall aligned with the opening and a bottom of the container, an absorbent complex within the container; the vessel further comprising at least one additional volume outside the container in fluidic communication with the inside of the container; and a makeup case comprising a main body forming an inside volume for receiving the refill having a shape matching the inside volume of the makeup case, and the refill inserted and fastened inside the receiving volume of the makeup case.

28. An assembly according to claim 27, further comprising: a pad configured to enable recovery of liquid makeup by an application of pressure on the absorbent complex of the refill; and the makeup case further comprising a lid forming a reception space for the pad when the makeup case is closed by the lid.

Description

[0035] In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows, in a three-dimensional view, an assembly comprising a case and a liquid makeup refill according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows, in a three-dimensional view, the assembly of FIG. 1 in which the refill has been detached from the case;

[0038] FIG. 3 presents, in a first cross-section view, an assembly comprising a case and a liquid makeup refill according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the assembly of FIG. 3 in a second cross-section view;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows, in a first cross-section view, an assembly comprising a case and a liquid makeup refill according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 6 shows the assembly of FIG. 5 in a second cross-section view.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a nomadic or transportable makeup assembly. The assembly comprises a case 1 which contains a refill 2, holding liquid makeup. In the example represented here, the case has a shape referred to as substantially square, that is to say a substantially parallelepiped shape having a square base, which is flattened that is to say of small height compared with its sides, for example of height less than half of one side of the base. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the base is not strictly square in that it has sides that are slightly rounded outwardly giving the case an attractive appearance.

[0043] The case may be closed using a lid 3. The lid 3 may tilt relative to a main body 4 of the case 1. A primary function of the lid 3 is to serve for the closing and the opening of the case for the delivery of makeup, but may have other functions. It may form an internal volume, above the refill 2, able to serve as reception space to accommodate therein an an accessory for makeup application, for example a pad. The lid 3 may also, in its bottom, be equipped with a mirror 5 enabling the user to apply make-up to herself easily. The refill is provided with a container 6 having an open upper face for the delivery of the makeup. The container is central in relation to the case 1 and the refill 2. In the example shown, the container 6 has the shape of a cylinder of revolution and the opening it forms is thus round. The container is defined in the refill by a lateral wall, which here is a peripheral wall, the container being cylindrical. An absorbent complex 7 is disposed in the container. The absorbent complex fills the entire volume of the container 6, and for this has a shape substantially matching the internal volume of the container 6. The dimensions of the absorbent complex may be slightly greater than those of the container such that the absorbent complex is slightly compressed therein. The absorbent complex 7 is conventionally a natural or synthetic sponge, or any other type of open solid foam. The absorbent complex 7, may also be formed, in non-limiting manner, from non-woven materials or laminated fibers. The absorbent complex 7 has a high capacity for absorbing fluid, but must nevertheless enable the retention of the liquid makeup in the absence of externally applied forces other than gravity for example.

[0044] In order to apply makeup to herself, the user presses or dabs the pad (or other accessory for applying makeup, or a finger) on the absorbent complex 7. Under the effect of the applied pressure, the absorbent complex releases some of the liquid makeup it contains, at the location of its compressed zone. The surface of the pad is then covered with makeup, so enabling the user to apply it to herself easily.

[0045] The refill also comprises a flap 8, which may also be called a plate. The flap 8 is connected to the edge of the container 6 by a hinge 9. The flap typically has a general shape which matches that of the opening formed by the open face of the container 6.

[0046] When in a closed position, the flap enables sealing to be ensured for the liquid makeup at the location of the open face of the container 6 that forms an opening for delivery of the makeup. This avoids any leakage of makeup during transport, for example in a bag.

[0047] In an open position, shown in FIG. 1, the delivery opening of the refill is freed, enabling makeup to be collected from the container.

[0048] A particular feature of the refill 2 is that, in addition to the container 6, it has an additional volume (or volumes) for storing liquid makeup, fluidically connected to the container. The additional volume is thus defined outside the container, typically between a lateral wall of said container 6 and an outside wall of the refill. Typically, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the four corners 10 of the square formed by the base of the case, and correspondingly by the refill inserted into the case, are employed as additional volumes as detailed with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0049] This is can be seen in particular in FIG. 2 which shows the assembly of FIG. 1, the refill 2 being detached from the main body 4 of the case 1, for example for it to be replaced by a full refill. The refill 2 has an external shape which matches the geometry of the internal volume of the main body 4. In the example shown here, the case 1 has a square general shape, and the refill 2 correspondingly has a substantially square shape. The refill thus has as large a volume as possible in relation to the volume available in the main body 4 of the case 1.

[0050] When the refill 2 is inserted into the case 1, the refill 2 is held there by matching of shape and/or snap engagement.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view, on a median plane A-A shown in FIG. 1, of an assembly comprising a case 1 and a refill 2 such as that of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows the same assembly in a cross-section view, on a diagonal plane B-B shown in FIG. 1.

[0052] The case is shown in closed position, that is to say that its lid 3 is closed.

[0053] A pad 11 is disposed between the mirror 5 and the flap 8 of the refill 2.

[0054] In FIGS. 3 to 6, the flap 8 is in closed position, and sealingly obturates the open face of the container 6 that forms an opening for delivery of the makeup. The sealing is obtained by the pinching of a seal 12 carried by one face of the lid, as in the example shown here. Alternatively, the seal 12 may be disposed on the upper edge of the container 6.

[0055] The refill is constituted as described below. The refill comprises a vessel to contain the liquid makeup. The vessel comprises the container 6, which contains a sponge, and the additional volume 13.

[0056] In order to form the vessel, the refill 2 comprises: [0057] a hollow first part 14 forming the outside walls 15 of the vessel and of the refill, and the bottom 16 of said vessel and of the refill, and [0058] a second part 17 forming the lateral wall 18 of the container and an upper wall 19 of the vessel comprising the opening for delivery of the makeup, that is to say the open face of the container 6.

[0059] The second part 17 is fastened to the first part 16, for example by fitting inside the latter.

[0060] The parts constituting the vessel may be made from plastic material, and for example be obtained by molding.

[0061] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 4, a ring 20 is mounted, for example by snap engagement, on the upper edge of the lateral wall 18 of the container 6. The ring 20 bears a film 21 (or label), which sealingly obturates the refill 2 against liquids and air before its first use for which the sealing film 21 is removed.

[0062] The ring 20 can also form a slight restriction of the opening of the container 6, so making it possible to improve the holding of the absorbent complex 7 in the container 6.

[0063] In order to enable the extraction of the refill 2 from the case 1, the latter may, as in the example represented here, be provided with an open bottom. The open bottom of the case enables the user to press on the bottom of the refill 2 inner make it come out from the case 1. The bottom of the refill 2, formed by the first part 14 may advantageously comprise a step formation which comes to be inserted into the opening of the bottom of the case 1, in order for the assembly constituted by the case 1 and the refill 2 to present a flat bottom.

[0064] In general terms, the extraction of the refill 2 from the case 1, preferably when the refill is empty of makeup, enables its replacement in the case by a full refill.

[0065] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the second part 17 also forms a bottom 22 of the container 6. On mounting the refill 2, the bottom 22 of the container 6 comes to rest on the bottom of the refill constituted by the first part 14.

[0066] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the second part 17 forms both the lateral wall 18 of the container 6 and its bottom 22, the lateral walls 18 comprise passages 23 enabling the liquid makeup contained in the additional volume 13 to pass into the container 6 in order to imbibe or re-imbibe the absorbent complex 7. In other words, the passages 23 put the container 6 in fluidic communication with the additional volume 13.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the additional volume is mainly located in the corners 10, but nevertheless extends all around the container 6. The additional volume is thus, in the example shown, a single volume formed around the container. If several additional volumes are provided, for example an independent additional volume in each corner of a refill, a passage must be provided between each additional volume and the container 6.

[0068] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 substantially corresponds to that of FIGS. 3 and 4, optimized in two respects. The above description made with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 thus applies, except for the differences detailed below, to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0069] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view, on a median plane A-A shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a cross-section view, on a diagonal plane B-B shown in FIG. 1.

[0070] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a first difference arises from the fact that the second part 17 does not form a bottom for the container 6. In this embodiment, the bottom of the container 22 corresponds to the bottom of the refill. The bottom of the container 22 is thus formed by the first part. This configuration has two advantages. One is that the volume of the container is increased. The other is that the fluidic communication between the additional volume 13 of the container 6 can be formed simply by providing a space 24 between the lateral wall of the container (formed by the second part 17) and the bottom 22 of the container (formed by the first part). The liquid makeup is thus able to flow freely between the additional volume 1 and the container 6, over the entire periphery of the container.

[0071] A second difference comes from the fact that there is no ring 20 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The functions of the ring 20 are provided by a rim 25 formed at the location of the upper edge of the container 6, directed inwards of its open face. The rim 25 enables the fastening of the film 21. The rim 25 also enables proper holding of the absorbent complex 7 in the container 6.

[0072] Naturally, each of the two differences raised above between the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 and that of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be adopted independently of each other.

[0073] In all the embodiments represented, the additional volume is free of any member (typically, it contains no absorbent complex), which enables the total capacity for liquid makeup of the refill to be maximized.

[0074] In an embodiment not represented, the lateral wall of the container may be apertured with multiple orifices in order to facilitate the fluidic communication between the additional volume 13 and the container 6.

[0075] The invention thus provides a refill for a makeup case, containing a liquid makeup offering a presentation unknown in the state of the art. Thanks to the configuration developed in the invention, the refill provides an optimized storage volume for makeup, within a limited total volume enabling the case and its refill to be transported easily, while preserving the ease of use compared with the refills having a sponge of the state of the art, and the advantage of being adapted to very fluid products.

[0076] For example, the refill provided in the invention may contain and release of the order of 15 grams of a product, even if very liquid, in a case that is for example substantially square with very small bulk.