Flexible tube with applicator cap

Abstract

A container (1) has an applicator cap (2) for a cosmetic product and a flexible tube (3) having a skirt (31) and a tube head (32) having a shoulder part (321) and a neck (322) with an opening (3221), The tube head (32) is connected to the skirt (31) by the shoulder part (321). The flexible tube (3) acting as a reservoir to contain some cosmetic product. The applicator cap (2has a base (21) and an applicator, the base (21) being designed to fix onto the tube head (32) and plug the opening (3221) and the applicator being fixed to the base (21) so as to be housed inside the flexible tube (3) when the base (21) is fixed to the tube head (32) and plugs the opening (3221). The skirt (2) is made of a multilayered plastics material (4) comprising at least one barrier layer (41).

Claims

1. Container with an applicator cap for a cosmetic product, comprising: a flexible tube having a skirt and a tube head comprising: a shoulder portion and a neck with an opening, the tube head being connected to the skirt by the shoulder portion, the flexible tube acting as a reservoir for containing cosmetic product; an applicator cap having a base and an applicator, the base being designed to be fixed to the tube head and to close the opening, and the applicator being fixed to the base so as to be housed inside the flexible tube when the base is fixed to the tube head and closes the opening; characterised in that the skirt is made of a multilayered plastics material comprising at least one barrier layer and an outermost layer of varnish; wherein a cumulative thickness of the at least one barrier layer is at least 10 m, and less than 40 m, and wherein the varnish is composed of a mixture of epoxy and acrylic resin cross-linked by ultraviolet light or a thermal varnish comprising 2-butoxyethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, polyacrylate and polymethylhydrosiloxane; and one end of the skirt is sealed with a seam made by compression.

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier layer is made of a material selected from: ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride or polyamide.

3. Container according to claim 2, wherein the at least one barrier layer is made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol.

4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the multilayered material comprises two supporting layers, wherein the at least one barrier layer is between the two supporting layers.

5. Container according to claim 4, wherein the multilayered material is coextruded using a binder between the at least one barrier layer and the two supporting layers.

6. Container according to claim 4, wherein the two supporting layers are made of HDPE, LDPE, metallocene polyethylene or combined layers produced by mixing LLDPE and HDPE, or LDPE and HDPE, or LLDPE and metallocene polyethylene, or HDPE and metallocene polyethylene.

7. Container according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is a brush for a nail varnish applicator.

8. Container according to claim 7, wherein the at least one barrier layer is made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol with a thickness of at least 20 m and less than 40 m.

9. Container according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is brush for a mascara applicator.

10. Container according to claim 9, further comprising a built-in wiper, the built-in wiper and the flexible tube being made of a same, single piece of material.

11. Container according to claim 9, wherein the at least one barrier layer is made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol.

12. Container according to claim 6 wherein the two supporting layers are combined layers produced by mixing LLDPE and metallocene polyethylene.

13. Container according to claim 11, wherein the at least one barrier layer is made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol having a thickness of at least 15 m.

14. Container according to claim 4, wherein the two supporting layers are arranged symmetrically with respect to the at least one barrier layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objectives, features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the drawings given by way of example and in a non-limiting manner, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container with an applicator cap; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a multilayered material which is suitable for manufacturing the container having an applicator cap.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a multilayered material which is suitable for manufacturing the container having an applicator cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) A container with an applicator cap for cosmetic product is described below with reference to FIG. 1.

(6) This container 1 comprises a flexible tube 3 having a skirt 31 and a tube head 32. The tube head 32 comprises a shoulder part 321 which is connected to a neck 322 having an opening 3221. The tube head 32 is connected to the skirt 31 by the shoulder part 321. The flexible tube 3 acts as a reservoir for containing the cosmetic product.

(7) The term flexible tube is to be understood in the context of the invention as a container that can be deformed under pressure exerted on its outer surface by the user.

(8) The flexible tube 3 can be made from a tube with a circular, oval or elliptical cross section, forming the skirt 31. The tube is cut transversely at the two ends thereof. One end 34 is sealed by compression perpendicular to a diameter of the cross section of the tube and by making a seam at this end to seal it against the cosmetic product.

(9) The skirt 31 is made of a multilayered plastics material 4 comprising at least one barrier layer 41. The multilayered material 4 must allow a percentage loss of weight of the cosmetic product in four weeks of less than 1%.

(10) The barrier layer(s) 41 can be made of a material selected from: ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyamide (PA), and preferably EVOH.

(11) The barrier layer 41 makes it possible to avoid evaporation of volatile compounds contained in the cosmetic products. For example, for nail varnishes, the solvent is an alcohol solvent and is therefore very volatile. In particular, nail varnishes mainly have ethyl acetate and/or butyl acetate as the volatile component. These two components usually represent around 70% by weight of the nail varnish. Another volatile component that can be contained in a nail varnish is isopropanol. Nail varnishes are usually contained in glass containers because the solvent they contain can pass through the walls of flexible tubes made of organic material. Other volatile compounds can be involved, such as the aromatic compounds present in lip glosses, or formaldehyde.

(12) The materials constituting the barrier layer(s) constitute a non-negligible proportion of the cost of materials. The aim is therefore to reduce the thickness of barrier layer used while preserving their function of preventing the evaporation of the volatile compounds. In the case of a single barrier layer 41, the thickness of the barrier layer 41 is preferably less than 40 m, preferably less than or equal to 34 m, more preferably less than or equal to 30 m. In the case of multiple barrier layers 41, the sum of the thicknesses of the barrier layers is less than 40 m, preferably less than or equal to 34 m, more preferably less than or equal to 30 m.

(13) In the case of a single barrier layer 41, made of EVOH and where the applicator is a nail varnish applicator, the thickness of the barrier layer 41 is preferably at least 20 m. In the case of multiple barrier layers 41 made of EVOH and where the applicator is a nail varnish applicator, the sum of the thicknesses of the barrier layers 41 is preferably at least 20 m.

(14) In the case of a single barrier layer 41, made of EVOH and where the applicator is an applicator for mascara, liquid liner or lip gloss, the thickness of the barrier layer 41 is preferably at least 10 m, more preferably at least 15 m. In the case of multiple barrier layers made of EVOH and where the applicator is a mascara, liquid liner or lip gloss applicator, the sum of the thicknesses of the barrier layers 41 is preferably at least 10 m, more preferably at least 15 m.

(15) The barrier layer(s) 41 can be positioned symmetrically within the multilayered material 4, i.e. with respect to a mid-plane of the multilayered material 4.

(16) The multilayered material 4 can further comprise an outer layer of varnish 42, preferably a varnish composed of a mixture of epoxy and acrylic resin cross-linked by ultraviolet (UV) light or a thermal varnish such as a mixture comprising 2-butoxyethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, polyacrylate and polymethylhydrosiloxane. The term thermal varnish is understood to mean a thermally cross-linked varnish. In this case, the mixture can comprise approximately 39% by weight 2-butoxyethyl acetate, approximately 19% by weight n-butyl acetate, approximately 30% by weight polyacrylate, approximately 10% by weight polymethylhydrosiloxane and water q.s. to 100%. This makes it possible to improve the translucency of the skirt 31, or even to make it translucent.

(17) The multilayered material 4 can be printed by offset printing, screen printing or hot stamping. In this case, it is useful to leave a non-printed window through which the colour of the product can be seen. Where the multilayered material 4 comprises a layer of varnish, printing is done before applying this layer of varnish.

(18) Furthermore, the multilayered material 4 can also comprise two supporting layers (an outer supporting layer 43 and an inner supporting layer 44 respectively). The outer 43 and inner 44 supporting layers can be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or metallocene polyethylene or combined layers. The combined layers are layers produced by mixing and can be composed of a mixture of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and HDPE, preferably in ratios ranging from 30/70 to 70/30 (PEBDL/HDPE) and in particular 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30. The combined layers can also be composed of a mixture of LDPE and HDPE, preferably in ratios ranging from 30/70 to 70/30 (LDPE/HDPE) and in particular 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30. The combined layers can also be composed of a mixture of LLDPE and metallocene polyethylene, preferably in ratios ranging from 30/70 to 70/30 (LLDPE/metallocene polyethylene) and in particular 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30. The combined layers can also be composed of a mixture of HDPE and metallocene polyethylene, preferably in ratios ranging from 30/70 to 70/30 (HDPE/metallocene polyethylene) and in particular 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30. The outer 43 and inner 44 supporting layers can be made of homo-polypropylene (homo-PP), co-polypropylene (co-PP), polypropylene random (PPR), metallocene polypropylene or combined layers. The combined layers are layers produced by mixing and can be composed of a mixture of homo-PP and co-PP, or a mixture of homo-PP and PPR, or a mixture of co-PP and PPR, preferably a mixture of metallocene polypropylene and polypropylene selected from homo-PP, co-PP or PPR, preferably in ratios ranging from 30/70 to 70/30 and in particular 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30.

(19) The supporting layers are preferably made of HDPE.

(20) The thickness of the supporting layers can be at most 400 m, preferably less than 300 m, more preferably less than 200 m. It is of interest to reduce the thickness of the supporting layers. This makes it possible to improve the translucency of the skirt 31, or even to make it translucent. Where the supporting layers comprise metallocene polyethylene or metallocene polypropylene alone or in combined layers, reducing the thickness of the skirt 31 makes it possible to improve its transparency or even to make it transparent. Reducing the thickness of the skirt 31 also allows the flexibility of the skirt 31 to be improved, and its weight reduced. The thickness of the supporting layers can be at least 100 m, preferably greater than 150 m, more preferably greater than 170 m. The supporting layer contributes to preserving the product and to the protection offered by the barrier layer(s).

(21) In these cases, the barrier layer 41 is contained between the two supporting layers 43, 44. The three layers 41, 43 and 44 are coextruded using a binder (or glue), for example a binder based on anhydride-modified polyolefin. The binder has no influence on the weight loss of the cosmetic product. Coextrusion makes it possible to produce the skirt without a longitudinal seam, which could represent a potential risk of the product leaking.

(22) The container 3 also comprises an applicator cap 2 having a base 21, a rod 22 and an applicator tip 23. The base 21 is designed to be fixed to the tube head 32 and to close the opening 3221. The base 21 and the neck 322 are preferably provided with helical threads capable of cooperating with one another in a screwing relationship so as to close the opening 3221. The threads maintain the sealing of the closure of the opening 3221.

(23) The rod 22 extends from the base 21 so that it can be housed inside the flexible tube 3 when the base 21 is fixed to the tube head 32 and closes the opening 3221. The rod 22 and the applicator tip 23 are designed to be able to pass through the opening 3221 of the neck 322. The rod 22 can be made in a single piece with the base 21 or fixed thereto.

(24) The base 21 and the rod 22 ensure that the tube head 32 is sealed against fluids. Sealing can be effected by compression, exerted by a collar of the base 21, of a knurled portion housed in the base 21 over the top of the tube head 32. The knurled portion is compressed against the rod 22. Sealing can also be effected by fitting a small skirt on the base 21 into the opening 3221 of the neck 322. The applicator tip 23 to which the cosmetic product is temporarily transferred before application to part of the user's body can be a straight brush fixed to the rod 21, which is advantageous for nail varnishes and liquid liners. The straight brush can be a tuft of fibres fixed to the rod by anchoring into metal. In particular, use is made of nylon fibres with a diameter of between 25 and 300 m, preferably between 50 and 100 m. The tip of the applicator 23 can also be a round brush for mascara or a pad for lip gloss.

(25) In the case of mascara, the container can further comprise a built-in wiper 33, the built-in wiper 33 and the flexible tube 3 being made of the same, single piece of material.

(26) Measurement

(27) A test for measuring the percentage of weight loss in four weeks of a cosmetic product, in this case nail varnish, through a multilayered material forming a flexible tube, is described below.

(28) At least two identical flexible tubes are filled with nail varnish and hermetically sealed with a cap against water and air. The flexible tubes have an inner contact surface with the nail varnish of approximately 30 cm.sup.2. The composition of the nail varnish comprises ethyl and/or butyl acetate at approximately 70% by weight.

(29) The weight of the two filled flexible tubes and an empty flexible tube (control) which is identical to the other two flexible tubes is measured. The three tubes being sealed when measured.

(30) The three flexible tubes are placed in a heat chamber heated to 40 C.

(31) After four weeks, the weight of the three flexible tubes is measured again.

(32) The percentage loss of mass is calculated according to formula 1. The percentage weight loss represents the loss of weight of nail varnish.

(33) $\begin{array}{cc}\%\mathrm{loss}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{weight}=\frac{\left(\mathrm{weight}\mathrm{at}4\mathrm{weeks}-\mathrm{initial}\mathrm{weight}\right)}{\mathrm{initial}\mathrm{weight}}& \mathrm{Formula}1\end{array}$

EXAMPLE 1

(34) An example of multilayered material suitable for manufacturing the skirt of the flexible tube is described below.

(35) This multilayered material is a coextruded material comprising, from the outside inwards, the following successive layers: a layer of varnish composed of a mixture of epoxy and acrylic resins cross-linked by UV light; a layer of high-density polyethylene which is 170 m thick; a layer of binder with a thickness of between 10 and 30 m; a layer of ethylene-vinyl alcohol which is 25 m thick; a layer of binder with a thickness of between 10 and 30 m; and a layer of high-density polyethylene which is 170 m thick.

(36) This multilayered material makes it possible to obtain a container with an applicator for which the percentage weight loss at four weeks for a nail varnish is 0.87%.

EXAMPLE 2

(37) Example 2 of multilayered material is similar to example 1, except that the thickness of the EVOH layer is different. Said EVOH layer is 33 m thick.

(38) This multilayered material makes it possible to obtain a container with an applicator cap for which the percentage weight loss at four weeks for a nail varnish is 0.7%.

EXAMPLE 3

(39) Example 3 of multilayered material is similar to example 1. However, the layers of HDPE are replaced with layers of LLDPE/HDPE which are 170 m thick and the layer of EVOH has a thickness of 26 m.

(40) This multilayered material makes it possible to obtain a container with an applicator cap for which the percentage weight loss at four weeks for a nail varnish is 0.63%.

EXAMPLE 4

(41) Example 4 of multilayered material is similar to example 1. However, the layers of HDPE are replaced with layers of co-PP which are 170 m thick and the layer of EVOH has a thickness of 25 m.

(42) This multilayered material makes it possible to obtain a container with an applicator cap for which the percentage weight loss at four weeks for a nail varnish is 0.55%.

EXAMPLE 5

(43) Example 5 of multilayered material is similar to example 1. However, the layers of HDPE are replaced with layers of LLDPE/metallocene PE which are 170 m thick and the layer of EVOH has a thickness of 25 m.

(44) This multilayered material makes it possible to obtain a container with an applicator cap for which the percentage weight loss at four weeks for a nail varnish is 0.67%.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES

(45) Three comparative examples have been produced and are similar to the multilayered material in example 1. The differences are summarised in the table below:

(46) TABLE-US-00001 Thickness % loss of of EVOH weight at 4 Outer layer of varnish (m) weeks Example 6 epoxy 34 1.22 Example 7 acrylate resins 30 1.38 Example 8 epoxy/acrylic resin 16 1.88 mixture

(47) A fourth comparative example is produced.

(48) The multilayered material of the fourth example comprises, from the inside outwards: a first supporting layer made of HDPE which is 90 m thick; a first binder layer made of ethylene-acrylic acid (EAA) copolymer which is 40 m thick; a layer of aluminium which is 18.6 m thick acting as a barrier layer; a second binder layer made of EAA copolymer which is 40 m thick; and a second supporting layer made of LDPE which is 315 m thick.

(49) The measured weight loss at four weeks of the nail varnish for this example is 3.3%.

(50) The weight loss at 4 weeks of the empty tube is, in each of the above examples, 0.02%.