Patent Application
20070044488
The present invention relates to a cooling device, an assembly that includes a cooling device, and a device for packaging a product, preferably a cosmetic product, to be cooled.
“Cosmetic product” means a product as defined in Council Directive 93/35/EEC of 14 Jun. 1993.
When a user wishes to apply a cosmetic product with a cooling action to their skin, he or she sometimes leaves the jar of product in a refrigerator prior to applying the product. The product is thus cooled to a temperature that causes it to have a cooling action on the skin to which it is applied. However, when the user wishes to apply the product when not at home, for example when at the beach, the previously cool product rapidly becomes warm and no longer has the desired effect.
WO 2004/100704 describes a dispenser for a cosmetic product, with the dispenser having its own cooling device. The dispenser includes a first container containing the product to be applied and a second container containing a coolant gas. The product to be dispensed flows through a coiled tube to the dispensing orifice. The coolant gas in turn flows via an annular channel surrounding the product dispensing tube, so as to cool the tube and the product therein as the product is dispensed. As the volume of product flowing in the tube is relatively large with respect to the quantity of coolant gas, it is necessary for the tube to be long in order for the gas to have time to cool the product. The dispenser described in this document is therefore relatively bulky, which is not ideal for a dispenser that is supposed to be portable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,847 describes an assembly that includes a lipstick and a device for cooling a lipstick. The lipstick is mounted so as to be movable relative to a support so that it can be moved from a storage position in which the lipstick is inside the support into a use position in which the lipstick projects from the support. The assembly includes a cap which can be mounted on the support when the lipstick is in the storage position, with this cap including the cooling device. This assembly has the problem that the lipstick cannot be cooled when in the use position, ready to be applied to a surface to be coated.
The cap according to this disclosure includes a base and a pressurized container containing a coolant gas. The pressurized container is mounted so as to be movable in the base in such a way that the valve of the pressurized container is actuated by moving the pressurized container relative to the base. The coolant gas is discharged in doses towards the lipstick. Most of the coolant gas escapes through the gap between the pressurized container and the base to allow the relative movement.
EP 0 459 508 also discloses a portable kit for cooling doses of product supplied with the kit. However, a user wishing to use such a kit has to perform numerous manual assembly operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,879 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,580 disclose devices for cooling the walls of empty drinking glasses, with a free edge of a glass being brought to bear against a platform of the device where a coolant gas is discharged.
There is a need for a cooling device which is simple to use, easy to manufacture, and whose coolant gas is used efficiently.
The invention provides a device which overcomes one or more of the problems identified above. The invention provides a cooling device, and an assembly for packaging and cooling a product, and is particularly advantageous for cosmetic products.
According to a preferred example, a device is provided which includes a pressurized container containing a coolant. The container includes a longitudinal axis and has, at a first end, a valve for discharging the coolant. A support is provided for housing the packaging device to be cooled, with the support mounted on the valve in such a way that the coolant discharged is conveyed against an external periphery of the packaging device. The arrangement also includes a base which is movable relative to the support, with the pressurized container placed between the base and the support such that the valve is actuated by moving the base relative to the support. The housing is preferably configured to house the packaging device such that an opening in the packaging device is axially opposite the valve, relative to the longitudinal axis. Thus, even when the valve is actuated, access to the product is possible. Another advantage of this configuration is that the coolant is brought into contact with a base of the packaging device such that a temperature gradient can be created inside the packaging device. Thus, for example if the packaging device has a pump connected to a dip tube, the coldest product near the base is taken up. If gradual cosmetic use of the cooling action is required, increasingly cooled amounts of product may be applied gradually, by taking up successive layers or portions of product from the packaging device.
The invention also relates to a device for cooling a device or assembly for packaging a product, preferably a cosmetic product. A preferred example of the cooling device includes a pressurized container containing a coolant, with the container including a longitudinal axis and having, at a first end, a valve for discharging the coolant. The device further includes a support for housing the packaging device to be cooled, with the support mounted on the valve such that the coolant discharged is conveyed against an external periphery of the packaging device. A base is movable relative to the support, with the pressurized container positioned between the base and the support such that the valve is actuated by moving the base relative to the support. Preferably, the valve does not have a diffuser. Thus, it is possible for the jet of coolant not to be dispersed into droplets at the outlet of the valve. It can thus stay in the liquid state (at least partially) for a longer period, with the change to a gaseous state thus being slowed down. This configuration makes it possible to prolong the cooling of the device to be cooled. Cooling can be more homogeneous with such an arrangement.
The invention also relates to a device for cooling a device or assembly for packaging a product, preferably a cosmetic product, in which a preferred example includes a pressurized container containing a coolant. The container includes a longitudinal axis and has, at a first end, a valve for discharging the coolant. A support defines a housing to house the packaging device to be cooled, with the support mounted on the valve such that the coolant discharged is conveyed against an external periphery of the packaging device. A base is movable relative to the support, and the pressurized container is placed between the base and the support such that the valve is actuated by moving the base relative to the support. In addition, a cover is provided which can interact with the support to enclose the packaging device inside the housing. In other words, the valve opens out in the housing closed off by a cover. The housing thus defines a confined space between the support and the packaging device placed therein. Since the space is confined, the expansion of the coolant is thus limited. The coolant thus stays longer at least partially in the liquid state, and it is thus possible to prolong the cooling provided by a dose of coolant discharged.
The external periphery of the container may advantageously be concealed between the base and the support. For example, the base may be mounted on a second end of the pressurized container, with the first end and the second end being axially opposite each other, relative to the longitudinal axis of the pressurized container. The base may move relative to the support, for example by sliding along this longitudinal axis. The support may be mounted on the stem in a fixed axial position relative to the actuation stem of the valve.
The cooling device can include, for example, a covering skirt retained on the support in such a way that the base is able to slide inside the covering skirt. In this example, the pressurized container can be concealed and protected inside the volume delimited by the support, the covering skirt and the base.
The cooling device may thus include a cover able to interact with the support to enclose the packaging device. Thus, when the coolant is discharged against the external periphery of the packaging device, it can be kept there to prolong its cooling action.
By way of example, the support can be brought or moved from a first position relative to the base in which the support interacts with the base to prevent the valve from being actuated, into a second position in which the valve can be actuated. Thus, the device can be equipped with an “on/off” system. With an on/off system, the device can be placed in a mode in which the coolant will not be wasted due to accidental operation of the device. This feature can be particularly advantageous when the device is carried around in a bag where it could be subjected to accidental knocks.
To help ensure the valve is actuated only when the user wishes to cool a packaging device, the act of opening the cover can move the support from the first position into the second position. Thus, when the cover is opened to place the packaging device in the support, the valve is not thereby actuated. By contrast, as soon as the cover is mounted on the support, then the assembly is ready for use and cooling may proceed more optimally.
Preferably, the cooling device can include an arrangement for retaining the packaging device on the support. Preferably, the packaging device can be detached from the cooling device and carried around alone, or alternatively can be retained firmly on the support with the device in the form of a working assembly.
Preferably, the coolant is a liquefied gas. For example, the coolant can be selected from hydrocarbons, “Freon” or dimethyl ether. The coolant is for example a gas HFC 134a packaged in liquefied form.
Further by way of example, the support can include a porous seat for receiving the packaging device. Thus, the device can be held by being lightly wedged in place, for example with the porous seat made (entirely or partially) of an elastically deformable material. Another advantage of a porous seat that it can absorb some of the coolant expelled and allow it to expand gradually, which is beneficial when the valve discharges at a high flow rate and/or continuously. For example, this porous seat may be made from an open-cell synthetic expanded foam.
For example, the support can include a threaded inner wall so as to form a guide for the coolant discharged. For example, the threaded wall can interact with the external periphery of the packaging device so as to form a helical coil around the packaging device.
Further by way of example, the support can also include a flow channel for conveying the coolant emerging from the valve directly to a periphery of an opening in the packaging device, with the coolant then flowing toward a base of the packaging device. Thus, maximum cooling is provided around the mass of product near the opening in the packaging device, from where the product will be taken or dispensed first, and where it is most logical to provide cooling. By contrast, in cases where the packaging device has a dispensing arrangement such as a pump, and where this pump has a dip tube, the coolant is preferably discharged primarily near a base of this packaging and dispensing device, where the dip tube removes the product.
The invention also relates to an assembly which includes a cooling device according to the invention and a product packaging device. In such assembly, the packaging device may be removable from the support. For example, an opening in the packaging device can be on a side of the package axially opposite the side on which the valve is located, relative to the longitudinal axis, such that even when the valve is actuated, access to the product is possible. The packaging device can be, for example, a dish covered by a film.
Preferably, the invention also provides an assembly as described which can be used to cool a cosmetic product, for example a care product for the face or body, a product for protecting the skin against the harmful effects of the sun or sunscreen, or an after-sun product. The product contained in this packaging device is in the form of a liquid, cream, gel or mousse. The product may also be impregnated on a wipe.
As should be apparent, the invention can provide a number of advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that, in practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to include one or more features or benefits of embodiments disclosed herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples and are not to be construed as limiting, particularly since embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not include each of the features of the disclosed examples.
A better understanding of the invention will be gained from reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are offered purely as a guide and by way of example, and in no way limit the invention.
FIGS. 8 to 10 are exploded perspective views of a support for a cooling device according to
Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals are utilized to designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.
By way of example, the actuation stem 4 is hollow and the coolant is discharged when the actuation stem 4 is pushed down, via the stem. As a variant, for example, use could be made of stems actuated by tilting, or stems actuated by pushing down and/or tilting.
The cooling device 1 of the invention is designed to cool a product P contained in a packaging device 5. In the illustrated example, the packaging device 5 is placed in a support 6 held on the actuation stem 4. The support 6 includes an orifice 7 in fluid communication with the discharge orifice of the actuation stem 4, and opening out into a housing 8 in this support 6 in which the packaging device 5 is housed. Thus, when the actuating stem 4 is pushed down, the coolant is primarily, and preferably exclusively, directed into the housing 8 in contact with the external periphery of the packaging device 5.
In the example shown in
The film 52 is a thermoplastic film for example. By way of example, the film 52 is designed to be pierced when the cooled product P is to be taken up. Thus, when the user applies the cooled product P, application is accompanied by a sensation of freshness and comfort, especially in the case of a sun care product, generally applied outdoors when it is hot. If the product is an anti-wrinkle cream, the immediate effectiveness of the product applied cold can be improved, since the constituent molecules of the cooled product can shrink and penetrate the skin more effectively.
The coolant is for example a gas which is in a liquefied state when under pressure in the container, and which has the property of falling in temperature as it expands to the gaseous state. Use can be made for example of a hydrocarbon, for example 3,2 butane, dimethyl ether, or a “Freon”, for example HFC 134a.
By way of example, the pressurized container 2 is formed of a cylindrical body 9 having a longitudinal axis X, preferably axisymmetric about this axis X. A first upper end 10 is closed off by a dish 11 crimped over a rolled edge 12 of the body 9. The valve 3 is held in the dish 11 by crimping. The first end 10 is axially opposite, relative to the axis X, a second end 13 forming a closed base of the body 9. It is to be understood that alternate container configurations could be utilized.
The packaging device 5 is placed on a side of the support 6 which is axially opposite, relative to the axis X, the side of the support 6 via which it is mounted on the valve stem 4. Preferably, the opening 54 is axially opposite the valve 3 on either side of the support 6, with the packaging device 5 positioned in its housing such that the opening 54 faces away from the support, so as to be accessible even when the valve 3 is actuated.
A base 14 is mounted on the external periphery of the body 9 near the second end 13. The base 14 for example holds the container 2 by clamping it via an annular skirt 15. The base 14 includes a transverse wall 60 from which the annular skirt 15 extends. Concentrically, the base 14 includes a second annular skirt 61 surrounding the annular skirt 15. The second annular skirt 61 rises up higher, along the axis X, than the annular skirt 15, for example five times higher.
The support 6 includes a flow channel 31 opening out via the orifice 7 into the housing 8. This channel 31 is formed at least partially in a base 70 of the support 6. In the embodiments of
Opposite the mounting skirt 71, a side wall 72 projects from the base 70 to delimit the housing 8. The side wall 72 is for example such that the housing 8 is cylindrical.
The support 6 is preferably mounted so as to be integral with a covering skirt 16 surrounding the container 2 along the axis X. To this end, a fastening arrangement 73 can interact, for example by snap-fastening as shown in
In
The internal configuration of the covering skirt 16 is such that when the lugs 63 on these tongues 17 have passed the bulge 18, the base 14 is held on the covering skirt 16, while still being movable in translation, according to the example of this embodiment, along the longitudinal axis X. The base 14 includes a lateral recess 19 projecting outwards beyond the second annular skirt 61, against which an edge face 20 of the covering skirt 16 may be brought into abutment to limit the relative axial movement tolerated between them.
In
In the example illustrated, the retaining skirt 25 supplements an arrangement 26 which retains the dish 51 forming a reservoir inside the housing 8. This arrangement 26 is in the form of a retaining ring (
As shown in the example of
Preferably, the porous seat 27 includes open cells so as to be permeable to the coolant discharged under pressure in order to partially retain it in the seat while allowing the coolant to expand gradually. Thus, the gas expands mainly in the seat 27, so that the product P is directly cooled by conduction by the seat 27 through the wall of the dish 51. This wall forming the dish 51 has a low thermal resistance ensuring good transmission of the cooling energy provided to the product P.
The dish 51 is placed in the seat 27 in such a way that the opening 54 of the device 5 is opposite the bases 28 and 70 where the coolant is released.
If the dish 51 contains more than a single dose of product, the dish can be kept permanently on the cooling device 1 until it is completely empty. In this case, the product applied is that which is most immediately accessible via the opening 54.
This is why in a variant of the invention the flow of coolant is conveyed via the flow channel 31 near to this opening 54. The orifice 7 then opens out not at the base 70 but on an internal face of the side wall 72. In this variant, shown for example in
To this end, the first unit 6a (
The second unit 6b (
When the units 6a and 6b are assembled, the transverse walls 100 and 103 form the base 70, and the annular skirts 102 and 105 together form the side wall 72.
At the point where the coolant emerges in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 10, the orifice 7 is located near the opening 54. The face of the second lateral skirt 105 interacts in this embodiment directly with the outer periphery of the dish 51, in such a way that it presents a screw thread 106 interacting with the dish 51 to form a helical duct winding several times around this dish, until it brings the coolant to an outlet vent 107 passing through both the upper 103 and lower 100 transverse walls, so as to emerge in the space of the covering skirt where it can ultimately be received.
In this example, the outlet vent 107 provides an arrangement for attaching the units 6a and 6b together. Specifically, in the embodiment shown, the second unit 6b includes a tubular portion 108 engaged through an outlet 109 made through the lower transverse wall 100.
In the embodiment shown, there is no seat made of porous material such as the seat 27. In a variant, not shown, a seat like 27 may be provided. In particular, the screw thread designed to interact with the external periphery of the dish 51 to form a helical duct for the coolant may be formed in this seat 27.
As a variant, in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, where the cooling device 1 has an external cross section which is substantially circular all along the height of the axis X, this cross section can alternately be, for example, polygonal, and substantially diamond-shaped as shown for example in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 10.
In variant embodiments of a cooling device 1 according to the invention, shown for example in
In the variant embodiment of
In
In
As the container 2 is held immobilized inside the base 14 by the first annular skirt 15, and since the support 6 is held via the mounting skirt 71 on the actuating stem 4, tilting of the support 6 relative to the base 14 causes the coolant to be released. The support can be tilted by exerting pressure off-center, and on a side opposite the fastening point, for example on the cover 21 along the arrow shown in
In the variant of
In the embodiment of
The gripping skirt 51 interacts preferably with the side wall 72 to hold the packaging device 5 on the support 6. The cover 21 in this case interacts directly with the reservoir 52 to isolate the product P from the outside.
The external periphery 54 of the reservoir 52 is threaded in such a way that the conveyor channel 50 opens out in a top part of the reservoir 52, and the coolant is then conveyed along a coil formed between this threaded external periphery 54 and the porous member 53 until it surrounds a lower part of the reservoir 52.
In this embodiment also, a vent 55 is provided. In this case it is formed through the gripping skirt 51. This vent 55 prevents an excessive overpressure forming inside the space where the coolant has to expand. Moreover, it makes it possible to further regulate the expansion of the coolant.
When a user wants to cool a cosmetic product, for example an anti-wrinkle cream, prior to applying it, the user places the packaging device or container containing the product on the support 6 of the device 1 according to any embodiment, and then exerts pressure on the support in the direction of the base 14, so that the actuating stem 4 of the valve 3 is brought into a position where the coolant contained under pressure in the pressurized container 2 is discharged. The user then releases the pressure on the support. The user can then wait, for example for between one and three minutes, for the coolant to expand and cool, by conduction, the packaging device 5 and hence the product contained therein. The cold product can then be applied.
If the packaging device 5 contains a single dose, the user can remove it from the support 6, which can then receive a new product to be cooled.
Preferably, and by way of example, the support 6, the base 14, the cover 21 and the covering skirt 16, where applicable, are parts obtained by moulding a thermoplastic such as a polyolefin. Preferably, the part of the packaging device defining the reservoir of product to be cooled is made of a conducting material, for example a metallic material.
By way of example, the porous seat 27 and optionally the porous member 53 can be made from a frit or an open-cell expanded foam. They act as an accumulator maintaining the cold temperature.
Throughout the description and claims phrases such as “comprising a”, “including a”, “having” or “has” should be considered as a synonym for “comprising at least one” unless specified otherwise. The same is also true with respect to phrases having higher numerical designations such as “comprising two,” which should be understood as at least two (or other numerical designation) unless specified otherwise.
In the above detailed description, reference was made to preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously, modifications may be made thereto without exceeding the scope of the invention as claimed below. For example, the coolant may be replaced with a product which can heat a packaging device when this product is discharged around the packaging device.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0552654 | Sep 2005 | FR | national |
This document claims priority to French Application Number 05 52654, filed Sep. 1, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/716,126, filed Sep. 13, 2005, the entire content of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60716126 | Sep 2005 | US |
