CASING FOR A REFILLABLE CONTAINER DEVICE FOR COSMETIC PRODUCT AND ASSOCIATED CONTAINER DEVICE

Abstract

A refillable cosmetic product container device. The casing is configured to receive a refill configured to contain the cosmetic product. The casing includes an opening forming a casing neck and is configured to receive the refill in a reception volume defined by an inside wall of the casing. The casing further includes a ring connected to the neck, the ring at least partly covering a portion of the inside wall of the casing forming the neck. The ring includes an inside surface connected to a member of elastomer material which is at least partly in relief relative to the inside surface of the ring. The casing thus formed can hold a refill in the reception volume, by virtue of the members in relief of elastomer material formed on the inside surface of the ring. The invention also relates to a cosmetic product container device that includes such a casing and a refill.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. Casing for a refillable container device for cosmetic product, the casing being configured to receive a refill configured to contain the cosmetic product, the casing comprising: an opening forming a neck of the casing and which is configured to receive the refill in order to put it in place in a reception volume defined by an inside wall of the casing; ring being connected to the neck, the ring extending over at least one portion of the inside wall of the casing forming the neck; and the ring comprising an inside surface to which is connected a member of elastomer material which is at least partly in relief in relation to the inside surface of the ring.

17. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the member of elastomer material is molded onto the ring.

18. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the ring is formed from a plastics material, wherein the ring and the member of elastomer material connected to it are formed together by bi-material injection-molding.

19. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: casing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastomer material is a thermoplastic elastomer or a silicone elastomer.

20. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the elastomer material has a hardness comprised between 20 degrees Shore and 80 degrees Shore, and preferably comprised between 40 degrees Shore and 60 degrees Shore.

21. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the member of elastomer material forms discrete projections distributed over the inside surface of the ring.

22. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the member of elastomer material extends in one or more strips parallel to the opening of the casing.

23. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the reception volume is the general shape of a cylinder of revolution, or frusto-conical or right prismatic.

24. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the casing is mainly comprised of plastics material, of glass, of stainless steel, of aluminum, or of wood.

25. Casing according to claim 16, wherein: the ring is connected to the neck by snap engagement and/or by bonding.

26. Container device for cosmetic product comprising: a casing according to claim 16; and a refill in which the refill comprises a lateral wall having clearance with respect to the inside wall of the casing, except at the location of all or part of the member of elastomer material, such that bearing zones of the member of elastomer material on the refill lateral wall are formed.

27. Container device according to claim 26, wherein: the member of elastomer material is deformed in said bearing zones by compression on the lateral wall of the refill compared with a configuration that the member of elastomer material adopts when not acted upon externally.

28. Container device according to claim 26, wherein: the lateral wall of the refill is devoid of asperities including one or more of the following: snap-fastening rings, studs, apertures or grooves, at least in a zone of interaction of said lateral wall with the member of elastomer material.

29. Container device according to claim 26, wherein: the shape, the dimensions and the constitution of the member of elastomer material are configured such that a force required for the extraction of the refill from the casing is greater than or equal to twice, and preferably greater than or equal to two and a half times, the weight of the refill.

30. Container device according to claim 26, wherein: the refill comprises a vessel; and the vessel comprises a lid connected by snap fastening or screwing to the rest of the vessel

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows, in a three-dimensional view, a first example of a refill that can be implemented in a container device for a cosmetic product in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows, in a three-dimensional view, a first example of a casing for a refillable cosmetic product container device according to a first example embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows, in a cross-section view, a cosmetic product container device, namely a pot, comprising the casing of FIG. 2 and the refill of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows, in a partial view in cross-section, the interaction between the casing and the refill in the container device of FIG. 3;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a ring implemented in the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 2 to 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pot 1 according to an embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows, in a three-dimensional view, a first example of a refill 1 configured to be used in a refillable cosmetic product container device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0048] The refill 1 comprises a vessel 2 which is hollow, that is to say of which the shape forms a volume configured to receive a cosmetic product. In the example shown here, the vessel 2 has a cylindrical general shape, which may be right cylindrical or slightly flared (frusto-conical). Any hollow shape can however be envisioned to form the vessel, in particular any right prismatic shape, in particular having a shape that is square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.

[0049] The vessel 2 in particular has a lateral wall 3 and a bottom 4.

[0050] The vessel comprises, in the example shown, an upper edge 5. The edge 5 is formed around an open face 6 of the vessel 2.

[0051] According to an embodiment not represented, the edge 5 may jut, that is to say that it forms a rim at the periphery of the open face 6. Such a rim may enable the snap engagement of a lid over the vessel 2. Such a rim may also form a bearing zone for the vessel when it is inserted into a corresponding casing.

[0052] in the example embodiment represented here, the vessel 2 has a screw thread 15 enabling the adaptation of a lid screwed onto the vessel. The vessel 2 can thus be used alone, independently of the casing described below for FIG. 2, in order to transport the cosmetic product it contains.

[0053] A cosmetic product, for example a cream, may thus be contained in the volume formed inside the vessel.

[0054] The open face 6 of the vessel may be covered with a removable cap, for example a plate for protecting the product, for example bearing on the rim 5 and/or on a shoulder formed in the upper part of the vessel. The vessel may also comprise a closure, for example heat-sealed, covering the open face 6 and that has to be removed when the refill is first used. The open face may be unobstructed, directly exposing the product contained in the vessel 2 of the refill, or be equipped with a regulating device, such as a screen, a net, or other device configured for the product to dispense. The refill thus has a simple shape.

[0055] Here the refill, and in particular its lateral wall 3 and more particularly the outside surface 7 of that lateral wall 3, is devoid of asperities or other snap-fastening means.

[0056] By asperity is meant a volume, a member that is hollow or in relief, formed on a surface and of dimensions substantially greater than the possible roughness linked to the material constituting said surface. The lateral wall surface 3 comprises in particular no snap-fastening ring, no pin, no aperture or any groove.

[0057] In the example embodiment shown here, the lateral wall 3 nevertheless comprises a peripheral bead 16 giving a bearing surface. The lateral wall 3 is thus devoid of any means for snap engagement in relation to a casing configured to receive the vessel 2, as detailed below.

[0058] The refill can thus be produced easily, or may consist of a standard container, for example a pot of plastics, glass or stainless steel.

[0059] As refill, it is possible to employ a preexisting receptacle, for example a conventional glassware receptacle, with no adaptation, as a refill for a cosmetic product container device.

[0060] The manufacturing cost of the vessel (and ultimately of the container device) can thus be reduced, compared with container devices of which the vessel has to comprise specific members for fastening inside a casing.

[0061] FIG. 2 represents an example of a casing 8 that can be employed to form a container device for a cosmetic product (here, a pot) with a refill 1, for example the refill of FIG. 1.

[0062] The casing designates a member configured to receive a refill and in which the refill will be held. The casing of FIG. 2 thus forms a reception volume configured to receive the refill 1 by an opening 9. More particularly, an inside wall 14 of the casing 2 defines the reception volume of the vessel 2 of the refill 1.

[0063] The casing 8 comprises a main body 10. In the example shown, the main body 10 is substantially prism-shaped with a square base, of which the side faces are slightly convex. As the casing 8 constitutes a visible part of the pot once the latter has been constituted, it has an important aesthetic function. The main body 10 of the casing 8 is surmounted with a neck 11 provided with a screw thread 12 making it possible to fit in place a screw lid (not shown in FIG. 2).

[0064] A shoulder 13 is formed in the vicinity of the mouth of the neck 11. The shoulder 13 is dimensioned so as to be able to receive, bearing thereon, a member of the vessel 2 of the refill 1, namely the peripheral bead 16 in the example embodiment shown.

[0065] The shoulder 13 is optional, it being possible for the refill to bear vertically, in other embodiments, on other surfaces of the casing, for example a rim 5 of the vessel 2 of the refill 1 can bear directly on the neck 11, or for example in the absence of a rim on the vessel 2 of the refill, the bottom 4 of the vessel can bear on a bottom of the casing, if the latter comprises a bottom. A bottomless casing 8 may be advantageous to facilitate the extraction of the refill.

[0066] More particularly, according to the present invention the casing 8 comprises a ring 17 which is connected to the neck 11. The ring 17 covers the neck 11 in the example shown, and is connected to it by snap engagement. Other kinds of connection, such as bonding, may be used alternatively or in addition to snap engagement.

[0067] The ring 17 here comprises the shoulder 13 enabling the vertical bearing of the vessel 2 of the refill.

[0068] According to the invention, the ring 17 comprises an inside surface 18 to which is connected a member of elastomer material 19.

[0069] The member of elastomer material 19 is intimately connected to the ring 17.

[0070] Typically, the member of elastomer material 19 may be molded onto the ring 17.

[0071] Molding of the member of elastomer material 19 onto the ring 17 is in particular possible onto a ring 17 made from plastics material, in particular from hard plastics material such as polypropylene.

[0072] Alternatively, the ring 17 and the member of elastomer material 19 may be formed by bi-material injection molding.

[0073] The elastomer materials usable to form the member of elastomer material all comprise thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) as well as silicone elastomers. The usable materials advantageously have a Shore hardness comprised between 19 degrees Shore and 80 degrees Shore (preferably between 40 and 60 degrees Shore).

[0074] The hardness of the material employed is an important parameter for optimization, and is chosen in particular according to the dimensions of the vessel of the refill and according to the material used for forming the ring 17 and its configuration.

[0075] The member of elastomer material 19 is in relief relative to the inside surface 18 of the ring 17.

[0076] In other words, over at least part of the member of elastomer material 19, the latter is proud relative to the inside surface 18.

[0077] In the example embodiment shown, the member of elastomer material 19 forms a peripheral strip on the inside surface 18 of the ring. This strip comprises three projections 20, distributed along the periphery of the inside surface 18 bearing said strip.

[0078] These projections 20 form the parts of the member of elastomer material 19 having a function of holding the refill 1 in the reception volume, as detailed below.

[0079] The number, the dimensions, the shape, and the orientation of the projections 20 may vary according to the application considered. More generally, the configurations that can be envisioned for the member of elastomer material are numerous.

[0080] In the example embodiment shown, the projections 20 have a vertical arrangement, that is to say that they form a relief of elongate shape from top (opening of the neck 11 of the casing 8) to bottom (bottom of the casing 8 if said casing has a bottom).

[0081] More generally, the projections 20 are oriented perpendicularly to a plane materialized by the opening 9 of the casing provided for insertion of the refill 1. The projections 20 may thus be designed as gadroons, in this embodiment.

[0082] In this embodiment, the number of projections formed by the member of elastomer material may easily be adapted, with few modifications to the production tools.

[0083] With the exception of the projections 20 which are necessarily in relief relative to the inside surface 8 of the ring 17, the rest of the member of elastomer material 19 may be in relief or flush with the inside surface 18 of the ring 17.

[0084] The distribution of the three projections 20 is preferably regular, that is to say that the projections are equidistant along the strip formed by the member of elastomer material 19. They are thus formed with an angle of 120° between them, if the ring 17 is circular. More generally, when the ring 17 is shaped as a surface of revolution, this results in a regular angular distribution of the projections 20 in the ring.

[0085] While in the embodiment shown, the member of elastomer material 19 extends continuously in the form of a strip, over a periphery of the inside surface 18 of the ring 17, according to another variant of this embodiment, the member of elastomer material 19 may be formed from several projections 20 within them being connected together by a strip of elastomer material.

[0086] Numerous other configurations of the member of elastomer material 19 may be envisioned, for example a single strip in relief relative to the inside surface 18 of the ring, a strip of zig-zag or undulating shape, a combination of one or more strips and projections 20, etc.

[0087] The casing of FIG. 2 may be formed mainly (for example with the exception of the ring 17 and of the member of elastomer material 19) from various materials. For example, the casing may be formed of glass. Any tint of glass may be employed, in particular transparent, translucent, opaque, colored or not colored.

[0088] The casing may be formed from numerous other materials, according to the appearance sought, the volume, the shape, and the manner of closure desired, etc. In particular, the casing may be of plastics material, wood, metal (such as stainless steel, tinplate, or aluminum).

[0089] FIG. 3 shows, in a cross-section view, a container device, namely a pot, formed from the casing of FIG. 2 and from the refill of FIG. 1.

[0090] The container device shown in FIG. 3 is furthermore equipped with a lid 21 configured to cooperate with the screw thread 12.

[0091] The cross-section plane is a diametrical plane of the casing 8, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0092] The pot shown in FIG. 3 thus comprises a casing 8, in the form of a receptacle with a thick wall, which forms a reception volume in which the refill 1 is received.

[0093] In the example shown the shape of the inside volume of the casing 8 thus matches, with clearance being the only difference, the shape of the outside of the vessel 2 (for example cylindrical or slightly frusto-conical). The depth of this volume is slightly greater than the overall height of the refill 1, such that the peripheral head 16 of the refill bears on the shoulder 13 formed at the mouth of the neck 11.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the interaction between the casing 8 and the refill 1 in the pot of FIG. 3, based on the same cross-section plane as that of FIG. 3.

[0095] FIG. 4 in particular shows the snap engagement of the ring 17 on the neck 11 of the vessel 2. To that end, the neck 11 may thus have a shape configured for the snap engagement, for example by virtue of a groove 22 formed in an upper part of the neck 11.

[0096] FIG. 4 also shows the bearing relationship formed between the peripheral bead 16 and the shoulder 13 of the ring 17.

[0097] The ring 17 extends along the upper part of the inside wall 14 of the vessel.

[0098] When a refill 1 is in position in the casing 8, in the example shown, its only interaction with the casing is with the ring 17.

[0099] As a matter of fact, there is an amount of clearance J1, for example of the order of 1 to 3 mm for a pot of cosmetic cream of conventional volume, for example of the order of 60 mL, between the inside wall 14 of the casing 8 and the outside surface 7 of the lateral wall 3 of the vessel 2.

[0100] The member of elastomer material 19 is provided on the inside surface of the ring 17. In the example shown there is a clearance J between the member of elastomer material 19 and the outside surface 7 of the lateral wall 3 of the vessel 2, with the exception of the zones projecting from said element of elastomer material 19. In practice, each projection 20 forms a projection of a thickness greater than the clearance J, when the projection is not subjected to an external mechanical stress, in particular when the projection 20 does not deformed by compression.

[0101] For example, the thickness of the projection may be of the order of 1 mm, for example of the order of 0.9 mm.

[0102] In order to insert the refill 1 into the casing 8 to attain the bearing relationship on the shoulder 13, it is necessary to deform the projections 20 to allow the insertion of the refill 1 into the casing 8.

[0103] When the refill 1 is in the casing 8, each projection 20 is compressed and thus has a thickness equal to the clearance J. The projection 20 thus fills up the clearance J and due to its elasticity applies a bearing force on the lateral wall 3 of the vessel 2 of the refill 1.

[0104] There are advantageously several bearing projections distributed around the vessel 2, so as to distribute the bearing over the lateral wall 3, and ensure effective and uniform holding of the vessel 2 in the casing 8.

[0105] An example of distribution of the projections can be seen in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows the ring 17 of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4, seen from below, that is to say having in the foreground the face of the seal oriented towards the bottom of the casing when the ring 17 is connected to the casing. The three projections 20 regularly spaced, with an angle of 120° between them, enables uniform holding and perfect centering of the vessel 2 when it is in place in the casing 8, in interaction with the ring 17.

[0106] Each bearing zone, formed at the location of each projection 20, forms a zone ensuring holding of the vessel 2 (and thus of the refill 1) in the casing 8. When a force tending to extract the refill 1 from the casing 8 is applied, a force opposing its extraction is created, by reaction, at the location of the projections, on account of the interaction between each projection 20 and the lateral wall 3 of the refill 1 onto which the projections 20 are compressed. This force is generated by friction of the projection 20 on the outside wall of the vessel 2.

[0107] So long as the vessel 2 is immobile in the casing 8, this is a so-called dry friction force, of which the intensity is, for each projection 20, at most equal to the coefficient of static friction between the projections 20 multiplied by the force applied between the inside wall 14 of the casing 8 and the projection 20 due to its compression. When the force tending to extract the vessel from the casing 8 exceeds the sum of the maximum forces of static friction applied at the location of the projections 20, the refill 1 begins to move relative to the casing 8 for its extraction.

[0108] It thus appears that the number of projections, their dimensions, the elastomer material employed, as well as the material constituting the vessel 2 and the state of the outside surface 7 of the lateral wall 3 of the vessel are parameters which make it possible to modulate the force required for the putting in place and for the extraction of the refill 1.

[0109] As regards the member of elastomer material 19, the material it constitutes, the total bearing surface area (sum of the bearing surface areas) between said member of elastomer material and the outside surface 7 of the lateral wall 3 of the vessel, and the sum of the forces applied on account of the compression of said member of elastomer material are crucial parameters when determining the configuration for the member of elastomer material.

[0110] Whatever the embodiment considered, it is recommended, for a pot of cosmetic product, for the force required for the extraction of the refill to be at least two times greater than the weight of the full refill, for example of the order of two and a half times the weight of the full refill.

[0111] The presence of at least three regularly distributed projections, as in the example shown in FIG. 5, furthermore enables the centering of the refill in the casing 8, as mentioned above.

[0112] In order to facilitate the putting in place of the refill 1 in the casing 8, the projections 20 have, in the example shown, a shape that is domed in the so-called vertical direction which, furthermore, corresponds to the direction of insertion (and of extraction) of the refill, which enables progressive compression of the projections on insertion of the refill 1 into the casing 8. The projections 20 could alternatively have a beveled or chamfered shape to obtain the same effect.

[0113] The present invention is of course not limited to the embodiment detailed above. In particular, the respective configuration of the member of elastomer material, of the refill and/or of the casing may be very different from the configurations described above. For example, the presence of projections on the member of elastomer material is optional, provided that at least part of said member of elastomer material is in relief relative to the inside surface of the casing. Very varied forms of members of elastomer material may be envisioned.

[0114] Several distinct members of elastomer material may be present on a same casing.

[0115] The vessel may have varied shapes and constitutions according to the application considered. Similarly, the casing can have varied shapes and constitutions.

[0116] For example, the vessel may be cubic, cylindrical, cubic or parallelepiped, spherical, and may or may not have a bottom, or be provided with an aperture in its bottom to facilitate the extraction of a refill.

[0117] The invention thus developed enables the removable holding of a refill of cosmetic product in a casing in order to form a cosmetic product container device that is aesthetic and refillable by exchanging the refill. The holding is obtained by friction of the member of elastomer material on an outside surface of a wall of the refill. The holding means, in particular the member of elastomer material, may be totally invisible once the pot has been constituted, and be inconspicuous in the casing.

[0118] Furthermore, the refill may have a shape that is simple to produce, since the outside surface of the vessel of the refill which is provided to interact with the member of elastomer material of the casing for the holding of the refill does not require the formation of any particular mechanical device for snap engagement. A preexisting receptacle, for example a conventional glassware receptacle, a simple vessel of plastic, of metal etc. may thus be employed without adaptation as a vessel for the refill of the cosmetic product container device.