Patent Application
20180220773
The invention disclosed herein relates to the field of packaging of cosmetic products, more specifically although not limited to the packaging of lipstick tubes. It relates to an outer case for a case of such a cosmetic product, a case-outer case packaging that includes the outer case, and lastly the cosmetic product so packaged.
A case for a lipstick tube conventionally comprises a body and a cap.
The elongated body firstly includes an elongated housing of generally cylindrical shape, with an opening at a proximal end and a means to guide the axial sliding of the stick of lipstick, adapted and intended to receive the stick which is slidable within the housing.
The body secondly includes a manually controlled driving mechanism, typically rotating and located towards the distal end, the mechanism thereby being adapted for sliding the stick relative to the body and its housing in order to extend or retract it through a proximal opening.
The removable cap is adapted and intended to be mounted on the body towards its proximal end portion, its function being to close the housing and protect the stick of material when the stick of material is not in use.
Most often, the case, as seen from the exterior by the purchaser or user, has two distinct parts identified as the body and the cap.
During use, typically the case is grasped manually so that the cap is at the top and the mechanism at the bottom, the case then being opened by moving the cap upwards relative to the body.
In the field of cosmetics, packaging is a decisive factor in the act of purchase by customers, and contributes to the attractiveness and the perceived quality of the product.
However, in conventional cases, the boundary between the body and the cap is visible to the user.
In addition, impacts can cause an unintentional separation of the body and cap, for example when the case is being carried in a bag, revealing the stick and exposing it to contaminants.
An outer case to protect the stick has been proposed as a replacement for the cap, to present the user with a product having a smooth external appearance and to reduce the risk of unintentional separation.
Document FR 2,942,116 provides an example of such an outer case. The outer case comprises a casing into which a cosmetic article is inserted. A pushing member, accessible to the user outside the casing and movable relative to the casing, allows the user to exert force on this member to cause the cosmetic product to come out of the casing to be grasped. Specifically, the cosmetic product is retained in the casing by a retaining assembly. By pressing the pushing member, this exerts force on the product which slides it out of the casing. When the product has moved beyond the retaining means, a spring, which is now compressed, expands to push the cosmetic product out of the case and to return the pushing member to its initial position.
However, such a solution is not entirely satisfactory.
The mechanism for pushing the cosmetic product and returning the retaining member to the initial position is complex, making it expensive to manufacture the outer case.
Furthermore, when the cosmetic product is released from the casing, it is still possible to press on the pushing member and wear out the mechanism unnecessarily.
The invention aims to provide an alternative which overcomes the above disadvantages.
More particularly, the invention aims to create a pleasant and aesthetic effect for the user by providing a product of smooth external appearance which is not used in the conventional manner, meaning by moving the cap upward, which does not increase the manufacturing costs but improves the robustness of the solution proposed in document FR 2,942,116.
Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides an outer case specifically adapted and intended for association with a case for a cosmetic product, in particular a stick of lipstick. The outer case comprises:
The outer case may also have the following features, alone or in combination:
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a packaging for a cosmetic article, in particular a stick of lipstick, comprising an outer case as presented above and a case suitable for containing the cosmetic product, the case being able to slide between two extreme positions along the longitudinal direction of the case:
The pusher is then brought from its usage position to its presentation position by movement of the case from its extended position to its retracted position.
The locking member of the pusher may comprise at least one groove of the sleeve which engages with a pin of the case.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a packaged product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a cosmetic product contained in a case of a packaging as presented above.
The cosmetic product is for example a stick of lipstick.
We will now briefly describe the figures of the drawings.
Below is a detailed description of two embodiments of the invention, accompanied by examples and with reference to the drawings.
The invention relates to an outer case 1 specifically adapted and intended for association with a case 2 for a cosmetic product 3, in particular a stick of lipstick, a packaging 100 comprising the outer case 1 and the corresponding case 2, as well as a product 3 packaged in such a packaging 100.
The outer case 1 into which the case 2 is inserted, the case containing the cosmetic product 3, provides a particularly attractive packaging that is easy to handle.
The outer case 1 comprises a sleeve 4 of elongate shape, preferably but not necessarily of circular cylindrical shape, extending in a main direction A.
In the following, the adjective “longitudinal” and its variants refer to that which is parallel to a main axis A; the adjective “transverse” and its variants refer to that which is perpendicular to the main axis A.
The sleeve 4 may have a generally cylindrical shape with a square, circular, or any other base shape. The sleeve 4 includes a housing 5, also elongate in shape, which comprises a side wall 6 extending between a first opening 7, called the distal opening, at a first longitudinal end of the sleeve 4, and a second opening 8, called the proximal opening, at a second longitudinal end of the sleeve 4. The housing 5 is adapted and intended for receiving the case 2, for its sliding longitudinally relative to the sleeve 4, and for its passage through the proximal opening 7 of the sleeve so that it can be extracted from the housing, by means of a pusher described below, and can be inserted into the housing 5.
The words “distal” and “proximal” herein are in reference to the case 2, the opening where the case 2 exits the sleeve 4 being proximal.
The outer case 1 further comprises a pusher 9, mounted so as to be movable within the housing 5 in longitudinal translation relative to the sleeve 4, on a predetermined stroke between two extreme positions, which are:
The pusher 9 provides a novel and enjoyable way to extract the case 2 placed in the housing 5 of the sleeve, by sliding it relative to the sleeve 4 so that it passes through the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4
The pusher 9 comprises an outer body 10, meaning a body forming the portion of the pusher 9 at least partly accessible to the user in the presentation position, and an inner body 11.
According to an exemplary embodiment which is the one in the figures, the outer body 10 has a tubular shape along the main axis A, complementary to that of the sleeve 4. The outer body 10 then comprises a side wall 12 forming a housing, extending longitudinally between a transverse wall 13 at a distal end, at least partially closing the distal opening 7 of the sleeve 4, and a transverse opening 14 at a proximal end. The dimensions are adapted to allow longitudinal translation of the outer body 10 within the housing 5 of the sleeve, the side wall 12 of the outer body 10 being guided by the side wall 6 of the sleeve 4.
The inner body 11 also has a tubular shape along the main axis A, substantially complementary to that of the outer body 10 so that it can be introduced into the outer body 10. More specifically, the inner body 11 comprises a side wall 15 and extends longitudinally between a transverse wall 16 at a distal end and a transverse opening 17 at a distal end. Alternatively, the transverse wall 16 may be replaced by a second transverse opening. The dimensions of the inner body 11 are adapted to allow longitudinal translation of the inner body 11 relative to the outer body 10, with the side wall 15 of the inner body 11 being guided by the side wall 12 of the outer body 10.
The two extreme positions of the pusher 9 are for example determined by the presence of stops between the outer body 10 and the sleeve 4.
More specifically, the sleeve 4 comprises a first stop 18 called the presentation stop, formed at the distal opening 7 of the sleeve by folding the side wall 6 of the sleeve 4 inward. When the pusher 9 is in the presentation position, the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 is in contact with the presentation stop 18 of the sleeve 4. In the presentation position, preferably the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 is flush with the edges of the distal opening 7 of the sleeve, forming a virtually invisible closure and giving a harmonious appearance to the outer case 1.
The sleeve 4 comprises a second stop 19, called the usage stop, formed between the openings 7, 8 of the sleeve by a shoulder in the housing 5, on the side wall 6. According to an exemplary embodiment, the usage stop 19 is formed by an intermediate part 20 inserted into the housing 5 of the sleeve 4 and rigidly fixed to the sleeve 4. The intermediate part 20 extends from the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4, towards but without reaching the distal opening 7, to the usage stop 19 and thus narrows the cross-sectional area of the housing 5. When the pusher 9 is in the usage position, the proximal end of the outer body 10 is in contact with the usage stop 19. The distance between the proximal end of the outer body 10 and the usage stop 19 when the pusher 9 is in the presentation position determines the longitudinal travel of the outer body 10 relative to the sleeve 4.
The outer case 1 also comprises an energy storage device 21, arranged between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11. The energy storage device 21, which will be described in detail below, has stored energy when the pusher is in the presentation position, exerting a longitudinal force between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11. The outer case 1 further comprises a locking member 22 for locking the pusher 9 in the presentation position, preventing both the outer body 10 from moving relative to the sleeve 4 and the inner body 11 from moving relative to the outer body 10.
The locking device 22 is releasable by moving the pusher 9 from the presentation position to the usage position, allowing the energy storage device 21 to exert a longitudinal force between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11. Thus, when the outer body 10 is moved longitudinally relative to the sleeve 4, towards the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4, and ends its travel against the usage stop 19, the inner body 11 continues to move longitudinally relative to the sleeve 4 under the force of the energy storage device 21, towards the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4: the longitudinal travel of the inner body 11 is greater than the longitudinal travel of the outer body 10.
For example, the longitudinal travel of the inner body 11 relative to the sleeve 4 is about five times, preferably ten times greater than the longitudinal travel of the outer body 10 relative to the sleeve 4.
The energy storage device 21 exerts force between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11 until it is empty of energy: in the usage position, the energy storage device 20 no longer exerts any force between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11.
As the energy storage device 21 is empty of energy when the pusher 9 is in the usage position, the outer body 10 remains in contact with the usage stop 19, so that the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 remains at a distance from the edges of the distal opening 7 of the sleeve 4. In order to limit the loss of visual harmony due to the gap between the wall 13 of the outer body 10 and the edges 7 of the distal opening of the sleeve 4, the travel of the outer body 10 between the two stops 18, 19 on the sleeve 4 is limited to a few millimeters. Preferably, the longitudinal travel of the outer body 10 relative to the sleeve is between 3 mm and 0.8 mm (millimeters), and more preferably about 1 mm. The energy storage device 21 allows increasing the travel of the inner body 11 relative to outer body 10: the short travel of the outer body 10 does not prevent proper operation of the outer case 1 to allow the case 2 to be extracted from the housing 5. In addition, in the usage position, force exerted on the pusher 9 is completely inoperative on the energy storage device 21, reducing any unnecessary wear.
Alternatively, the outer case 1 may further comprise a return mechanism for biasing the outer body 10 in longitudinal translation relative to the sleeve 4, toward the proximal opening 7 of the sleeve 4, without returning the pusher 9 to the presentation position in contact with the presentation stop 18. Thus, when the outer body 10 is in contact with the usage stop 19 and the user is no longer exerting force thereon, the return mechanism tends to push the outer body 10 toward the presentation position, so that the pusher 9 is placed in an intermediate position between the presentation position and the usage position. This increases the travel of the outer body 10 without decreasing the aesthetic aspect of the case 2 when the pusher 9 is not in the presentation position.
Thus, for example, the total travel of the outer body 10 between the presentation position and the usage position can be 1.4 mm, and the travel between the presentation position and the intermediate position can be 0.4, leaving a gap between the distal transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 and the edge of the proximal opening 7 of the sleeve of 1 mm. The return mechanism is for example a plate of elastic material, formed on the proximal end of outer body 10, which bears against the usage stop 19 and exerts a force on the outer body 10, similarly to a compression spring, which tends to move the pusher 9 into the intermediate position.
As explained below, the pusher 9 is returned to the presentation position, and the energy storage device 21 is recharged with energy, by replacing the case 2 in the housing 5 of the sleeve 4.
A first embodiment of the outer case 1 and its operation will now be described.
In this first illustrated embodiment, the energy storage device 21 is formed by a coil spring 23 placed between the side wall 12 of the outer body 10 and the side wall 15 of the inner body 11. The coil spring 22 bears longitudinally against and is fixed to wall 13 and to a shoulder 24 on the side wall 15 of the inner body 11.
Advantageously, as the spring 23 is located by the side wall 12 of the outer body 10 and leaves the transverse wall 16 of the inner body 11 unencumbered, by making the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 and, if necessary, the transverse wall 16 of the inner body 11 of material transparent to the human eye, the user is given the possibility of viewing the cosmetic product 3 through the transverse walls 13, 16 when the case is in the housing 5 of the sleeve. For example, when the cosmetic product is a stick of lipstick, the user can see the color of the stick.
According to the example shown here, the locking device 22 engages with the case 2.
Specifically, the case 2 can be in two positions relative to the outer case 1:
The locking device 22 then comprises at least one groove 26 forming a transverse recess in the housing 5 of the sleeve, for example on the intermediate part 20 engaging with at least one pin 25 projecting transversely from the case 2. Thus, when the case 2 is in the retracted position, the pin 25 of the case 2 engages the groove 26, which prevents any movement of the case 2 relative to the sleeve 4.
In
A user presses on the side wall 13 of the outer body 10, accessible through the distal opening 7 of the sleeve, moving the outer body 10 towards the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4, so as to bring the outer body 10 in contact with the usage stop 19 of the sleeve 4. Simultaneously, the inner body 11 moves relative to the sleeve 4 along the same longitudinal path as the outer body 10, towards the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4, displacing the case 2 along with it. The user must exert sufficient force for the pin 25 of the case 2 to exit the groove 26 of the sleeve 4 (
Once the locking device 22 is released, the spring 23 relaxes completely, so that the inner body 11 continues to move relative to the sleeve 4 towards its proximal opening 8, while the outer body 10 remains in contact with the usage stop 19. The inner body 11 is still displacing the case 2 along with it, which passes through the proximal opening of the sleeve 4 to present a sufficient portion for the user to grasp. The pusher 9 is then in the usage position, and the case 1 is in the extended position (
The case 2 can then be completely removed from the outer case 1 (
As the spring 23 is completely relaxed, even if the user presses again on the side wall 13 of the outer body 10, the spring 23 is not biased. Preferably, the side wall 12 of the outer body 10 is in frictional contact with the side wall 6 of the sleeve, so that in the absence of external stress, the outer body 10 does not move longitudinally relative to the sleeve. Thus, the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 remains retracted in the housing 5, providing the user with a visual indicator of the extracted position of the case 2.
When the user wants to replace the case 2 in the sleeve 4, it is sufficient to insert the case 2 through the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve in order to return it to the retracted position. The case 2 then drives the displacement of the inner body 11, and simultaneously the displacement of the outer body 10, relative to the sleeve 4, towards the distal opening 7 of the sleeve. When the outer body 10 comes into contact with the presentation stop 18, the user can insert the case 2 further into the housing 5 of the sleeve, pushing on the body 11 to compress the spring 22 and thus recharge the energy storage device 21. The pusher 9 is then once again in the presentation position.
Once the pin 25 of the case 2 is again housed in the groove 26 of the sleeve, the locking device 22 is once again locked and the outer case 1 is back in its initial position.
According to a second embodiment illustrated in
A first magnet 29 is fixed rigidly, for example by gluing, to the outer body 10 within the housing 5, and a second magnet 30 is fixed rigidly, for example by also by gluing, to the inner body 11 within the housing 5. The two magnets 29, 30 are arranged facing one another in the longitudinal direction and in opposition, meaning with the same magnetic poles towards each other. In other words, the north pole of the first magnet 29 is facing the north pole of the second magnet 30, or conversely the south pole of the first magnet 29 is facing the south pole of the second magnet 30. The two magnets 29, 30 thus exert a repulsive force on one another. For example, the first magnet 29 is fixed to the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10, and the second magnet 30 is fixed to the wall closing off the transverse wall 16 of the inner body 11.
The magnets 29, 30 are preferably ring-shaped, having transverse dimensions complementary to those of the outer body 10 so as to be located near the side wall 12 of the outer body 10. More specifically, each magnet 29, 30 leaves the side walls 13, 16 at least partially uncovered, for example by having a central opening, the two openings being aligned longitudinally. Thus, by making the transverse wall 13 of body 10 and the transverse wall 16 of the inner body 11 of a material transparent to the human eye, a user can see the case 2, and the cosmetic product 3 that it contains, through the openings of the magnets 29, 30.
The longitudinal travel of the inner body 11 relative to the outer body 10 is sufficient to completely discharge the energy storage device 21, such that the magnets 29, 30 no longer exert a perceptible repulsive force between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11.
Thus, in a first position illustrated in
When the user exerts a longitudinal force on the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10, the outer body 10 moves towards the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4, driving the inner body 11 along with it which in turn causes the case 2 to pass through the proximal opening 8, until the outer body 10 comes into contact with the usage stop 19.
The pin 25 of the case 2 then exits the groove 26, unlocking the locking device 22 and releasing the energy of the energy storage device 21: the inner body 11 is pushed towards the proximal opening 8 by the repulsive force, driving the case 2 which is then in the extended position (
At this stage, at least a portion of the case 2 is protruding from the sleeve 4, which can be gripped manually by the user in order to remove the case 2 completely from the sleeve 4. The energy storage device 21 is empty of energy, meaning it no longer generates repulsive force between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11, or in any case a repulsive force insufficient to cause further movement between the outer body 10 and the inner body 11. As in the first embodiment, the friction between the side wall 12 of the outer body 10 and the side wall 6 of the sleeve preferably prevents displacement of the outer body 10 relative to the sleeve 4 in the absence of external stresses. Thus, the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 remains at a distance from the edge of the distal opening 7 of the sleeve 4, retracted into the housing 5, providing a visual indication of the extended position of the case 2.
When the user replaces the case 2 in the outer case 1, he or she inserts the case 2 through the proximal opening 8 of the sleeve 4, until the case comes into contact with the inner body 11 in the housing 5. The user presses on the case 2 and inner body 11 in order to slide them within the sleeve 4 toward the distal opening 7. When the distance between the two magnets 29, 30 is again sufficiently small for a repulsive force to appear, the user continues to press on the case 2 to fight against this force, causing displacement of the outer body 10 until contact with the presentation stop 18, bringing the transverse wall 13 of the outer body 10 flush with the edge of the distal opening 7. Concurrently, the pin 25 of the case 2 is returned to its place in the groove 26 of the sleeve 4, locking the locking device 22.
The outer case 1 thus allows extraction of the case 2 in order to use the cosmetic product in a simple and enjoyable manner, maintaining the overall aesthetics of the outer case 1 throughout its use without increasing manufacturing costs.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 57711 | Aug 2015 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2016/052068 | 8/11/2016 | WO | 00 |
