DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING A COSMETIC COMPOSITION

Abstract

A device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic composition, including a housing receiving a cosmetic composition having a hardness of greater than or equal to 20 g, and at least one grid arranged for the passage of the cosmetic composition through the grid and having through-orifices. The device is configured such that the cosmetic composition undergoes a reduction in its hardness of greater than 50%, preferably greater than 70%, during the passage of the cosmetic composition through the at least one grid.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic composition, comprising: a housing receiving a cosmetic composition having a hardness of greater than or equal to 20 g; and at least one grid arranged for the passage of the cosmetic composition through the grid and having through-orifices, the device being configured such that the cosmetic composition undergoes a reduction of its hardness of greater than 50%, preferably greater than 70%, during the passage of the cosmetic composition through said at least one grid.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the through-orifices have a largest dimension of between 40 and 475 m.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the grid or at least one of the grids is woven.

20. The device according to claim 17, comprising at least two grids which follow on from one another in a direction of passage of the cosmetic composition through the grids.

21. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cosmetic composition is in anhydrous form.

22. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cosmetic composition is in the form of a simple or multiple emulsion.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the emulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion.

24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the emulsion is a water-in-oil emulsion.

25. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cosmetic composition is packaged in a form chosen from a cast composition, an aqueous gel and an oily gel.

26. The device according to claim 17, wherein the composition comprises 0.5% to 90% by weight of fatty phase-structuring agent chosen from waxes, pasty fatty substances, clays made hydrophobic, and silicone elastomers.

27. The device according to claim 17, wherein the composition comprises 0.01% to 80% by weight of oils that are liquid at 25 C., chosen from hydrocarbon-based and/or silicone oils.

28. The device according to claim 17, wherein the composition comprises at least one film-forming agent chosen from hydrocarbon-based and/or silicone-based film-forming agents.

29. The device according to claim 17, wherein the composition comprises 0% to 50% by weight of at least one ultraviolet screening agent.

30. The device according to claim 17, wherein the composition comprises 0% to 50% by weight of at least one pigment preferably chosen from titanium dioxide, iron oxides, cochenille carmine and organic lakes.

31. The device according to claim 17, wherein the composition comprises 0% to 50% by weight of at least one interference pigment, preferably comprising mica, silica, glass and/or titanium dioxide.

32. The device according to claim 17, wherein the cosmetic composition is a care composition, a fragrancing composition, or a non-labial makeup composition.

Description

[0200] It will be possible to understand the invention more clearly by means of the nonlimiting implementation examples described hereinafter, and on examining the appended drawing on which:

[0201] FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of one embodiment of the invention,

[0202] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grid attached to its support of the device of FIG. 1,

[0203] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2, and

[0204] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are views in longitudinal section respectively of the piston, of the tube and of the body of the device of FIG. 1.

DEVICE

[0205] The outer shell of the device 1 represented in FIG. 1 is formed by a body 2 and optionally by a cap (not represented). The cap can be reversibly removed. When the cap is in place, it fits onto a part of the body, delimited by a stop, formed by a shoulder, against which it is held by snap-fastening.

[0206] The body comprises two axisymmetric portions, preferably along the same axis, and with different cross sections. These two portions are separated by the stop. The body is hollow and open at its distal and proximal ends, which makes it possible to make a housing. The opening 11 of the proximal end of the body is partially blocked by a bottom part 3 of the body which extends, from this end, in a transverse plane, to the body of the applicator.

[0207] The housing made in the body 2 comprises means for supporting and moving a cosmetic composition. In particular, the housing advantageously has a piston 6 and a tube 5, the axes 13 of which are the same as the axis of symmetry of the body 2. Optionally, the housing may comprise a tubular element 4 which has a helical ramp, on its outermost part.

[0208] The tubular element 4 is detailed in FIG. 6. It is hollow and open at its two ends. It has a substantially smooth external face and an internal face which has a groove forming a helical ramp. This element lies, via its proximal end, on the bottom part 3. The distal end of this element 4 itself extends substantially to the stop. This element is rigidly attached to the body 2.

[0209] The tube 5 is detailed in FIG. 5 and forms a hollow cylinder with a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axis 13 and is open at its two ends. The distal end of the tube 5 is for example beveled. The tube 5 can have two indentations, as illustrated, forming two ramps 8 which extend from the proximal end of the tube to a median portion of the tube. The ramps have a general elongated rectilinear shape and are parallel to the axis 13. They are substantially diametrically opposite one another on either side of this axis. In FIGS. 1 and 5, the two ramps are located in symmetrical planes relative to the plane of the sheet, such that only the outline of the ramp in the background is apparent since it is a sectional view. In FIG. 1, the helical ramp 7 is thus apparent through the rectilinear ramp 8. However, in the example illustrated, the helical ramp is indeed carried by the tubular element 4 and the rectilinear ramp by the tube 5.

[0210] The piston 6 is detailed in FIG. 4 and forms a hollow cylinder with a substantially circular section in a plane perpendicular to the axis 13. The proximal end of the piston is open and its distal end is beveled and is closed by a portion 9 which is slightly set back relative to the distal end of the piston so as to form a bowl into which is fitted the base of a block of cosmetic composition or baton. This improves the link between the baton and the piston. In FIG. 1, the portion 9 of the piston which closes the distal end is flat and inclined relative to the axis 13 such that it is also beveled.

[0211] The piston has, at the level of the external face of its proximal portion, two diametrically opposed guiding blocks 10 which extend, protruding, from the external face of the piston. Of course, it is possible to envisage the blocks being placed at other sites on the external face of the piston. These blocks are each able to travel across both the rectilinear ramp 8 of the tube 5 and the helical ramp 7 of the tubular element 4. Other piston-guiding means may also be suitable.

[0212] Optionally, the piston also has, at its distal end, a sealing bead 12 which extends over the entire periphery of the distal end of the piston.

[0213] The proximal portion of the tube 5 is then housed within the body and the tubular element 4 and its distal part extends outside, protruding from the body 2 of the device 1. The tube is mounted so as to rotate about the axis 13 relative to the assembly formed by the body 2 and the tubular element 4, by suitable guiding means. The piston 6 is housed so that it moves translationally in the tube 5 by virtue of its blocks 10 capable of travelling across the different ramps 7, 8.

[0214] The device 1 also comprises a hard block 14 of cosmetic composition or baton. This baton 14 has a solid cylindrical general shape with a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axis 13. The distal end of the baton 14 has a beveled shape. Of course, it is possible to envisage other shapes of this end, these shapes being widely known to those skilled in the art. The baton 14 rests via its proximal part on the distal end 9 of the piston 6. The piston is thus capable of driving the baton 14 to slide along the axis 13 inside the tube 5.

[0215] This baton has a hardness of greater than 20 grams. The hardness is measured according to the protocol subsequently detailed.

[0216] The device 1 also comprises a grid 15 with a flat circular general shape. In the embodiment presented, the grid is a woven grid, for example made of metal, comprising warp threads 18 and weft threads 19, these threads forming orifices 16 with a rectangular general shape. The fact that the grid is made of metal is particularly advantageous since this provides, during the application of the composition to the body, a refreshing effect that is pleasing for the user. Advantageously, the grid may also be a cloth, preferably woven with a single type of thread. The use of a grid made of textile material makes it possible to obtain flexibility and better comfort on application for the user. A largest dimension d, in this a diagonal, of the orifices 16 is between 50 and 475 m. The weft and warp threads have a diameter a, b of between 100 and 300 m which thus also corresponds to the values of minimum distances between the orifices. The grid 15 is rigidly attached to the distal end of the tube 5 via a support 17. In the present example, the orifices are as follows: [0217] largest dimension: 280 m, [0218] width: 100 m, 30 [0219] length: 261 m, [0220] warp thread diameter a: 150 m, [0221] weft thread diameter b: 100 m, [0222] distance between orifices: 100 m.

[0223] The support 17 has a cylindrical general shape with a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axis 13. The grid 15 is for example linked to the support 17 by overmolding of the support on the grid, the support being made of plastic. The support is linked to the tube 5, this linkage occurring over the whole of the circumference of the distal end of the tube.

[0224] As illustrated, the grid(s) are for example oriented substantially along a plane oblique with respect to the axis 13, that is to say not perpendicular to the axis 13. Such an orientation can advantageously make it possible to closely match the beveled shape of the baton. It is also possible to envisage that the grid(s) are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axis 13.

[0225] Operation

[0226] When the applicator is not used, the piston 6 is in its lowest position, that is to say that its proximal end is in contact with the part 3 of the device. The baton 14 is located at a distance and facing the grid 15 (not illustrated).

[0227] At the time of use, the user holds the device 1 in both hands, their first hand holding the end of the tube 5 protruding out of the body of the device and their other hand holding the body 2 of the device at the level of its portion of largest dimension.

[0228] The user applies a rotational movement to the body 2 of the device relative to the tube, about the axis 13. This rotational movement drives the travel of the helical ramp 7 of the tubular element 4 and of the rectilinear ramp 8 of the tube 5 via the two guiding blocks 10 of the piston. This travel drives a translational or rectilinear sliding movement of the piston 6 according to the axis 13, the piston carrying along with it the baton 14. The translational movement continues until the baton 14 comes into contact with the grid 15.

[0229] The user continues to apply a rotational movement to the body 2 of the device, thus causing the end of the baton 14 to pass through the grid 15. This passage through the grid leads to a destructuring of an end fraction of the hard baton which is cut into thin slices which subsequently recombine after passing through the grid, out of the grid and over the grid so as to form a homogeneous paste. Once the baton has passed through the grid and has been destructured into a paste, this paste is ready to be applied. The user can thus easily apply this paste to their body, because of its improved spreading properties. Of course, only the end of the block of cosmetic composition is destructured at each application, the largest portion of the baton keeping its integrity. The block is gradually destructured as applications are made, while it rises toward the grid.

[0230] In one alternative embodiment that is not represented, the device 1 comprises two grids 15 at the distal end of the tube 5, these two grids being in contact with one another and being attached to the same support 17. The two grids are facing one another and parallel to one another.

[0231] At the time of use, the baton passes through the upstream grid then immediately through the downstream grid.

[0232] This arrangement has several advantages. Indeed, it makes it possible to have a greater destructuration of the block of cosmetic composition and to thus obtain a more fluid paste.

[0233] Furthermore, in particular if the largest dimensions of the orifices 16 of the proximal or upstream grid are greater than the largest dimensions of the orifices 16 of the distal or downstream grid, the effort to be applied in order to cause a portion of the baton to pass through the grids is reduced. The ratio between these two dimensions is greater than 1 and less than or equal to 100, and for example equal to 60.

[0234] These two grids 15 may be made of the same material or made of different materials. They may both also have orifices 16 with outlines of different shapes, whether that is within one and the same grid 15 or between the orifices 16 of the two grids. For example, it is possible to envisage a first grid in which the outlines of the orifices have a rectangular shape and a second grid in which the outlines of the orifices have the general shape of an oblong. Of course, a larger number of grids can be envisaged, for example three grids, four grids, five grids or six grids.

[0235] Measurement of the Hardness Before Extrusion Through the Grid:

[0236] Three cosmetic compositions, numbered 1 to 3, were prepared and their hardnesses were measured before and after extrusion using the cosmetic device according to the invention.

[0237] The compositions are presented in table No. 1 below, the amounts are represented as percentage relative to the total weight of the composition. The acronym qs (quantity sufficient for) means that it is necessary to add the substance in a proportion sufficient to reach 100% for the total formula.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 cosmetic compositions INCI names Composition 1 Composition 2 Composition 3 SYNTHETIC WAX & ETHYLENE/PROPYLENE 11-12 5-5.5 COPOLYMER SYNTHETIC WAX & BHT 1.5-2.sup. DIISOSTEARYL MALATE qs qs DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE 14-15 ISONONYL ISONONANOATE 22-23 JOJOBA ESTERS & TOCOPHEROL 4-5 5-5.5 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL 2-3 DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE & 10-11 STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE & PROPYLENE CARBONATE & TOCOPHEROL ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE & TRIBEHENIN & 3.5-4.5 SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE & PALMITOYL- TRIPEPTIDE-1 BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII 2 POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE 5 ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE 2-3 DIMETHICONE (100 cSt) 0-1 HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL 16-16.5 DIPENTAERYTHRITYL 5-5.5 TETRAHYDROXYSTEARATE/ TETRAISOSTEARATE OCTYLDODECANOL 8.5-9.5.sup. OCTYLDODECANOL & CERA ALBA 9-10 (BEESWAX) POLYBUTENE 20-22.sup. STEARYL HEPTANOATE & STEARYL 5.5-6.5.sup. CAPRYLATE C20-24 ALKYL DIMETHICONE 0-0.5 POLYETHYLENE 2-2.5 OCTYLDODECANOL & DISTEARDIMONIUM 6.5-7 HECTORITE & PROPYLENE CARBONATE PHYTOSTERYL/OCTYLDODECYL LAUROYL 2-2.5 GLUTAMATE CETYL PHOSPHATE 1.5 GLYCERIN 10 AQUA (WATER) 10 ARGININE 0.75 DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE 17.14 CANDELILLA CERA (EUPHORBIA CERIFERA 8 (CANDELILLA) WAX) & BENZYL ALCOHOL JOJOBA ESTERS & POLYGLYCERIN-3 & 8 ACACIA DECURRENS FLOWER WAX & HELIANTHUS ANNUUS CERA SEED (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED WAX) CERA ALBA (BEESWAX) 4 SUCROSE TETRASTEARATE TRIACETATE 2 BORON NITRIDE 1 ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE & BHT 5 SQUALANE 6.14 TITANIUM DIOXIDE & STEARIC ACID & 7 ALUMINA & SILICA ZINC OXIDE & TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE 2 DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE 6.67 Pigments 6.5-7.5 2-4.sup. 10.4 Preservatives 0.5 0.5 0.4 Fragrances 0.08 0.1 TOTAL 100 100 100

[0238] Compositions 1 to 3 are heated so that they are totally in the liquid state. Compositions 1 to 3 of table No. 1 are each poured while hot into three containers, in this case three glass jars with circular walls and a flat, round bottom, of diameter less than 30 mm0.3 mm. Three samples per composition are then prepared by introducing an amount of cosmetic composition sufficient to obtain a composition thickness of between 8 and 9 mm in the container. The samples are stored at 20 C. for a period of time greater than 24 h before being characterized.

[0239] The hardness of each sample is evaluated at 20 C. using a TA-XT Plus Microstable System texurometer from the company Swantech. A stainless steel cylindrical spindle with a diameter of 2 mm penetrates into each sample at a speed of 1 mm.Math.s.sup.1 to a depth of 3 mm, then returns to its initial position after each measurement. Four measurements are carried out on each of the three samplesthat is to say twelve measurements in totalby causing the spindle to penetrate in various places.

[0240] The hardness value retained for each composition corresponds to the mean of the twelve measurements carried out on the three samples. It is denoted d1 and is expressed in grams (g). The values are reported in table No. 2.

[0241] Measurement of the Hardness after Extrusion Through the Grid:

[0242] The samples for measuring hardness after extrusion through a grid of the cosmetic device according to the invention are prepared in two steps.

[0243] In a first step, compositions 1 to 3 are heated so that they are totally in a liquid state, and poured while hot into the reservoir of a cosmetic article corresponding to an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, fitted with two grids. The first grid upstream of the outlet of the cosmetic composition consists of a cloth woven with a single type of thread having a diameter of 112 m and openings of on average 160 m. The second grid downstream of the outlet of the cosmetic composition consists of a cloth woven with a single type of thread, different from the first grid, having a diameter of 36 m and openings of on average 75 m. A single sample per composition is prepared, and it is stored for a period of time greater than 24 h at 20 C. before being characterized.

[0244] The compositions are then extruded through the two successive grids of the cosmetic device, then transferred into glass jars with circular walls and a flat, round bottom, of diameter less than 30 mm0.3 mm. The surface of each sample is smoothed using a punch having a smooth, round surface of diameter 30 mm.

[0245] The hardness of each sample is evaluated at 20 C. using a TA-XT Plus Microstable System texurometer from the company Swantech. A stainless steel cylindrical spindle with a diameter of 2 mm penetrates into each sample at a speed of 1 mm.Math.s.sup.1 to a depth of 3 mm, then returns to its initial position after each measurement. Four measurements are carried out per sample, by causing the probe to penetrate at various places for each of these four measurements.

[0246] The hardness value retained for each of compositions 1 to 3 corresponds to the mean of the four measurements carried out per sample. It is denoted d2 and is expressed in grams (g). The values are reported in table No. 2.

[0247] The variation in the hardness of each composition before and after passing through the grids is denoted d and is expressed as percentage (%). It is obtained by means of the following formula:

[00001]$.Math..Math.d=\frac{\left(d.Math..Math.2100\right)}{d.Math..Math.1}-100$

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 values of hardness and of variations in hardness after extrusion through a first exemplary embodiment of the invention d1 (g) d2 (g) d (%) Composition 1 246.8 15 93.9 Composition 2 111.7 2.4 97.8 Composition 3 21.4 5.8 72.9

[0248] The negative values of d indicate that the composition experiences a reduction in its hardness after extrusion.

[0249] The three compositions make it possible to cover a wide range of cosmetic compositions of solid or semi-solid type. These results demonstrate that this exemplary embodiment of the cosmetic device makes it possible to obtain a reduction in hardness of at least 73%.

[0250] The hardness of composition No. 3, which has the lowest hardness before extrusion (d1), is again measured after extrusion through another set of grids in order to measure the impact of the size of the openings in the cloth constituting the grid. In the same way as previously, composition 3 is poured while hot into the reservoir of a cosmetic device according to the invention, fitted with a first grid upstream of the outlet of the cosmetic composition formed of a cloth woven from a single type of thread having a diameter of 236 m and openings of 475 m. The second grid downstream of the outlet of cosmetic composition consists of a cloth woven from a single type of thread, different than the first grid, having a diameter of 90 m and openings of on average 125 m. The values of the hardness after extrusion through the device, denoted d2, and also the variation in hardness after extrusion through this variant of the cosmetic device, d, are given in table No. 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 values of hardness and of variations in hardness after extrusion through a second exemplary embodiment of the invention d1 (g) d2 (g) d (%) Composition 3 21.4 6.6 69.1

[0251] The second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention allows a reduction in the hardness of composition No. 3 after extrusion of 70%, which remains satisfactory.

[0252] It is understood that the embodiments described are not limiting and that it is possible to introduce improvements into the invention without departing from the context thereof.

[0253] Unless otherwise specified, the word or is equivalent to and/or. Likewise, the term comprises a is equivalent to comprises, inter alia, at least one unless otherwise specified.