Patent Application
20230095209
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to French patent application number 2110173, filed on Sep. 27, 2021, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a receptacle for dispensing a cosmetic product, such as a skincare cream or make-up powder, and more particularly to a receptacle that is refillable with cosmetic products.
The receptacles for dispensing cosmetic products are known, which are generally made of plastic, and include a base connected to a cover via a hinge-like pivot connection with a metal stud. A cup filled with cosmetic product is traditionally glued to the bottom of the base, so that it does not move relative to the base when the user takes some of the product.
A mirror can also be glued to the cover so that the user can look at himself when applying make-up.
When the cover is folded back onto the base, and preferably closed by snap-fitting, then the product contained in the cup is protected, and the receptacle is easily transportable.
When the cover is opened, the product is accessible, as well as the mirror.
One of the disadvantages of this type of receptacle is that it is not recyclable, in particular because of the presence of glue, and also because of the diversity of materials used (plastic and metal) to manufacture it.
To remedy this disadvantage, it is known to hold the cup in the base by a means other than glue, in this case by a pivoting platform interposed between the base and the cover, and bearing against the cup to hold it in position in the base. The platform has a large central window through which the product is accessible. Similarly, the mirror can be attached without glue.
It is also known to replace the metal stud with a plastic stud, in order to have the entire receptacle (excluding the cup) made of plastic, in a single material for recyclability purposes. However, the plastic stud is more fragile and causes the cover (and the platform) to rotate freely, without constraint due to the plastic to plastic contact.
However, when the platform bears against the cup, it may damage it if the pressure is too great when the platform or the cover is closed, or if it is not centered properly. In this case, the powder may crack.
If the pressure is not sufficient, then the cup may still move within the base, which is not recommended.
Flexible legs have been known to be placed in the bottom of the base to press the cup against the platform, thereby preventing any rotational movement of the cup, or more generally any movement of the cup relative to the base, but this does not result in the centering of the cup.
In addition, there may be slight dimensional variations in the cup, in height, or at the level of the diameter. The platform does not take these variations into account and presses the cup down evenly.
Finally, when closing the platform on the base, the platform may be slightly shifted according to the different bearing points it encounters and due to the flexibility of the plastic hinge, and be positioned too far forward, for example, which makes it impossible to snap-fit the platform onto the base. The platform can thus be opened accidentally.
The present invention aims to overcome the various disadvantages set out above, by means of a receptacle containing a removable cup, without the use of glue, and including a platform which allows the centering and the clamping of the cup, without damaging it, with a reliability in the closure of the platform.
The receptacle for dispensing cosmetic product according to the invention includes, in a conventional manner:
The main characteristic of this receptacle is that it includes a system for positioning the cup in order to limit any relative movement of the cup with respect to the base, this positioning system including an inclined bearing surface of the platform adapted to bear against an upper rim of the cup.
The main idea of this invention consists in adding a system for positioning the cup within the receptacle thanks to the platform, in order to avoid any relative movement of the cup with respect to the base. These means allow to compensate for any dimensional variations of the cup, and to ensure an optimal positioning of the cup within the base, in particular the centering, so that the clamping is then performed uniformly around the entire circumference of the cup, and in order to ensure the integrity of the cup and the product contained therein.
This positioning system cooperates with a hanging system provided between the platform and the base in order to prevent the platform from being shifted and badly locked on the base. This allows to ensure that the platform can be reliably closed. This also allows to prevent too much pressure when the platform is closed. The different systems are linked, and work in synergy to achieve the objective.
According to the various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:
The invention also relates to an assembly composed of a receptacle for dispensing a cosmetic product as described above and of a cup containing the product and housed in the base of the receptacle, the inclined bearing surface of the platform bearing against the upper rim of the cup
Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
In the following description, elements with identical structure or similar functions will be designated by same references.
By convention, the “axial” direction corresponds to the main extension of the receptacle, illustrated by the axis X in
In the following detailed description of the figures, the terms “upper” and “lower” or “top” and “bottom” will be used without limitation in reference to the axial direction. Thus, the term “upper” refers to a part located in the vicinity of a cover of the receptacle, and the term “lower” refers to a part located in the vicinity of a bottom of the receptacle.
Similarly, the terms “outer or external” and “inner or internal” are used with reference to the radial direction, an outer element being radially further from the axis X than an inner element.
This is a receptacle 1 particularly adapted for containing make-up products of the compacted make-up powder type. This cosmetic product is contained in a cup 34 located inside the receptacle 1.
This receptacle 1 is cylindrical.
This receptacle 1 traditionally consists of a base 2 to which a cover 3 is connected via a first pivot connection.
The pivot connection is located at the rear part AR of the receptacle 1, while the front part AV of the receptacle 1, located opposite the rear part, has a clasp.
This cover 3 is movable between a closed position as shown in
In this
A platform 4 for holding the cup 34 in position is visible here in closed position on the base 2. The cup 34 is interposed between the base 2 and the platform 4.
The platform 4 has a central window through which it is possible to perceive the cosmetic product contained in the cup 34.
The cup 34 may have any shape, and any particular technical area. In the illustrated figures, the cup 34 is cylindrical.
The cup 34 is made of treated steel or aluminum. Any other material may be considered within the scope of the present invention.
The platform 4 is connected to the base 2 via a second pivot connection, as can be seen in
The second pivot connection is also located at the rear part of the receptacle 1, like the first pivot connection.
In
The platform 4 is illustrated in
The cover 3 is shown in
This base 2 is open at the upper part. It includes a bottom 5 and a peripheral wall 37. It also includes an inner skirt 8 defining a housing for housing the cup 34. This skirt 8 thus allows to contain the cup 34 laterally.
In this inner skirt 8, there are two side tabs 7 allowing the user to hold the cup 34 when inserting it into the housing, and also when removing it from the housing, when the user wishes to replace the cup 34 with another.
In the rear part of the base 2, there are several elements belonging to the first pivot connection and to the second pivot connection. These elements will be detailed later in the description.
At the rear part of the base 2, there is also a part of the means for braking the cover 3 during opening and closing.
The other part of the means for braking the cover 3 is located at the rear part of the cover 3, as illustrated in particular in
More precisely, these means for braking the cover 3 consist of a first cam system inducing a constraint between two elements during the opening and the closing of the cover 3, and removing the constraint in open and closed position of the cover 3.
The first element of the first cam system belongs to the base 2, and consists of a leg 11 directed towards the outside of the receptacle 1. This leg 11 extends orthogonally to the axis X.
This leg 11 is located exactly in the middle of the rear part of the base 2.
The second element of the first cam system belongs to the cover 3 and consists of at least one rib 47 extending from a peripheral wall of the cover 3.
More specifically, this rib 47 is located on a hinge element 28 extending from the peripheral wall of the cover 3.
This rib 47 has a particular profile, in particular a first area 33 which is flat, followed by a second area 31 which is rounded, followed by a third area 32 which corresponds to an undercut.
The leg 11 of the base 2 has a contact wall, with a chamfer 17 in the vicinity of its free end, adapted to slide on the profile of the rib 47.
As can be seen in
As the user begins to lift the cover 3, the leg 11 begins to slide along the second rounded area 31 of the rib 47. This sliding is done with sufficient friction to create a constraint between the base 2 and the cover 3, so that the opening of the cover 3 is done with a certain restraint, i.e. with a braking in the opening movement and in the closing movement of the cover 3. Thus, as soon as the user stops his opening or closing effort, the cover 3 remains in the position as it is, and does not tend to fall back to its closed position or its open position.
Thus, the user can choose the desired inclination of the cover 3, and the latter is in position thanks to the constraint existing between the leg 11 and the rounded profile of the rib 47.
When the user fully opens the cover 3, i.e., when it is rotated 180°, as shown in
According to the configuration shown, the hinge element 28 of the cover 3 has two ribs 47 along which two contact surfaces provided on a same leg 11 of the base 2 rub.
These means for braking the cover 3 on opening and closing are very practical so that the user can incline the cover as he wishes, without it falling back, especially as the first pivot connection is made between two plastic parts and therefore induces a more fluid and easier pivoting than between a plastic part and a metal part (for example a metal stud), due to the differences in friction coefficients.
A similar principle is used for the braking of the platform 4 during its handling.
Indeed, the receptacle 1 includes means for braking the platform 4 on opening and closing, located in the rear part of the receptacle 1.
These means for braking the platform 4 are independent of the means for braking the cover 3. Indeed, they have no common elements, and they are not implemented simultaneously.
These means for braking the platform 4 consist of a second cam system inducing a constraint between two elements during the opening and the closing of the platform 4, and removing the constraint in open position and in closed position of the platform 4.
The first element of the second cam system belongs to the base 2 and the second element belongs to the platform 4, the two elements being in interference during the opening and the closing of the platform 4, the two elements being no longer in interference in open position and in closed position of the platform 4.
The first element of the second cam system consists of at least one ear 12 extending from the base 2, as is well illustrated in
The second element of the second cam system consists of at least one wedging protrusion 27 extending from the platform 4 towards the base 2.
More precisely, as is clearly visible in
The wedging protrusion 27 is adapted to slide over the profile of the ear 12.
As can be seen in
As the user begins to lift the platform 4, the wedging protrusion 27 begins to slide along the second rounded area 35 of the ear 12, as shown in
Thus, the user can choose the desired inclination of the platform 4, and the latter is in position due to the constraint existing between the wedging protrusion 27 and the rounded profile 35 of the ear 12.
When the user fully opens the platform 4, i.e., when the platform is rotated 90°, as shown in
According to the configuration presented, the base 2 has two parallel ears 12 arranged on either side of the rear part of the leg 11, and the platform 4 has two wedging protrusions 27 which cooperate with these two ears 12.
These means for braking the platform on opening and closing are very practical so that the user can incline the platform as he wishes, without it falling back, especially as the second pivot connection is made between two plastic parts and therefore induces a smoother and easier pivoting than between a plastic part and a metal part (e.g. a metal stud), due to the differences in friction coefficients.
In particular, the present invention focuses on a receptacle 1 that can be fully recyclable. For this purpose, all the parts that make up the receptacle 1 (excluding the cup 34) must be made of the same material, so that the consumer can throw the receptacle 1 in a single waste bin, and is not obliged to dismantle the parts to sort them and put them in different recycling bins.
For recyclability purposes, it is understood that the cup 34 is removable, and must be removed prior to throw the receptacle 1.
Thus, the base 2, the cover 3 and the platform 4 are all made of the same plastic material.
The plastic material may be selected from polypropylene (PP), recycled polypropylene (R-PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyethylene (PE), such as the low density polyethylene (LDPE) and/or the high density polyethylene (HDPE), composite material, post-consumer recycled material (PCR and/or similar material).
Preferably, it is polypropylene and/or polyethylene terephthalate, whether recycled or not.
Thus, advantageously, all the parts, namely the base, the platform and the cover are made of plastic material selected from polypropylene and/or polyethylene terephthalate.
In addition, the use of plastic materials, in particular similar plastic materials, for the entire receptacle allows to facilitate the recycling. In particular, the polypropylene (PP) and the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are two plastic materials whose recycling cycle is well known.
The receptacle can be made in 3D printing.
The base 2, the cover 3 and the platform 4 can be obtained by molding, by means of a plastic injection.
Alternatively, the base, the cover and the platform can be made in 3D printing. Such a printing method allows in particular to produce these parts with particular patterns and shapes very freely.
In this case, since there are no longer any metal studs in the receptacle according to the invention, the 3D printing is all the easier.
In the receptacle 1 according to the invention, there are no metal studs. The pivot connections are created directly in the base 2, the cover 3 and the platform 4, without any additional parts. This allows to make it easier to recycle the receptacle 1.
We will now describe the two pivot connections present on the receptacle 1 according to the invention.
These two pivot connections are of the hinge type.
The first pivot connection allows to connect the cover 3 to the base 2.
The hinge element 28 of the cover 3 includes two lateral sides, each lateral side having a central orifice 30.
The two ears 12 of the base 2 each have a lug 13, the two lugs 13 facing each other.
Thus, when the hinge element 28 of the cover 3 is inserted between the two ears 12 of the base 2 when mounting the cover 3 in the base 2, the lugs 13 of the base 2 penetrate into the orifices 30 of the cover 3, causing the cover 3 to snap-fit into the base 2. During this insertion, the two ears 12 deform slightly outwards to allow the hinge element 28 to be wedged between the two lugs 13, until the lugs 13 penetrate the orifices 30.
This snap-fitting is in particular visible in
Thus, there are no metal studs in this first hinge.
The second pivot connection allows to connect the platform 4 to the base 2.
As illustrated in
These hanging walls 15 are oriented perpendicular to the peripheral wall 37. Each hanging wall 15 has a lug 14 directed towards the adjacent ear 12.
As shown in
Each hinge element 21 has an orifice 22 on a lateral side opposite the corresponding hanging wall 15.
Thus, when the two hinge elements 21 of the platform 4 are inserted between the ears 12 and the hanging walls 15 of the base 2 during the mounting of the platform 4 in the base 2, the lugs 14 of the hanging wall 15 of the base 2 penetrate into the orifices 22 of the hinge elements 21 of the platform 4, causing the platform 4 to snap-fit into the base 2.
The platform 4 is mounted on the base 2 after the cover 3 has been mounted.
Thus, when the platform 4 is mounted, the ears 12 can no longer be deformed inwardly, as the hinge element 28 of the base 2 blocks. The insertion of the platform 4 into the base 2 must therefore be done by force.
There is an independence between the first hinge and the second hinge.
In fact, the first hinge consists of the ears 12 of the base 2 and the hinge element 28 of the cover 3, while the second hinge consists of the hinge elements 21 of the platform 4 and the hanging walls 15 of the base 2.
There is no connection between the hanging walls 15 and the ears 12 of the base 2. Moreover, the facing walls between the ear 12 and the hinge element 21 are flat, and are not connected.
Thus, the pivoting of the cover 3 does not induce any constraint on the pivoting of the platform 4, and vice versa. This allows to obtain two pivot connections with an optimum quality, without the need for a metal stud.
When the platform 4 is mounted in the base 2, the two pivot connections of the receptacle 1 are locked, as they prevent any deformation of the ears 12, since the space between the ears 12 and the hanging walls 15 is now occupied by the hinge elements 21 of the platform 4.
The disassembly of the cover 3 of the platform 4 is therefore no longer possible, without risk of breaking the components. This lock is important because there is no longer a metal stud to ensure this function.
The receptacle 1 according to the invention includes a system for positioning the cup 34 to limit any relative movement of the cup 34 with respect to the base 2. These means allow to compensate for any dimensional variations of the cup, and to ensure an optimal positioning of the cup within the base, so that the clamping is then performed uniformly around the entire circumference of the cup, and to ensure the integrity of the cup and of the product contained therein.
This positioning system is carried by the base 2 and the platform 4, and cooperates with a hanging system provided between the platform 4 and the base 2 in the front part of the receptacle 1.
This cooperation allows to prevent the platform from being shifted and poorly locked to the base. This allows to ensure that the platform is securely closed and cannot be opened accidentally when handling and transporting the receptacle. This also allows to prevent too much pressure when the platform is closed. The different systems are linked, and work in synergy to achieve the objective.
The positioning system consists of:
a plurality of pins 6 projecting from the bottom 5 of the base 2 and on which the cup 34 rests. These pins 6 are rigid and not flexible. These pins 6 allow the cup 34 to be positioned and wedged in height in the base 2.
an inclined bearing surface 25 of the platform 4 bearing against an upper rim of the cup 34 to center it. This inclined bearing surface 25 flares radially outwards. This is particularly apparent in the cross-sectional views of
The cup 34 is thus wedged between the rigid pins 6 and this inclined bearing surface 25, in a centered manner, thus limiting any rotation of the cup 34 within the base 2 during the handling of the receptacle 1 and during the withdrawal of cosmetic product. In particular, the rigid pins 6 act as means for blocking the cup 34 against rotation.
Furthermore, these pins 6 allow the blocking of the cup 34 to be functional even if the cosmetic powder comes under the cup 34, which would not be the case if the cup rested directly on the bottom of the receptacle, as it could slide on the powder.
In order to compensate the dimensional variations of the cup 34, once it is centered, it is necessary to provide a flexibility between the base 2 and the platform 4. Thus, a flexible geometry is provided to absorb the dimensional variations of the cup 34.
This flexible geometry is made possible thanks to a hanging system consisting of a snap-fit cooperation between flexible legs 24 provided on the platform 4 and windows 9 provided on the base 2.
In the present case, as illustrated in
Once the legs 24 are inserted into the windows 9, the platform 4 remains flexible in relation to the base 2. Indeed, the legs 24 have an inclined wall 49 along which the contact with the upper slice 50 of a frame 19 of the window 9 can be performed, as illustrated in
This flexibility allows to avoid over-clamping the cup 34, and thus allows to avoid cracking the powder contained therein.
In order to ensure an optimum clamping of the cup 34, in particular in the event of a change in height along the peripheral wall of the cup 34, clamping lugs 23 are provided which project from the inclined bearing surface 25 towards the cup 34.
Such a lug 23 can be seen in
The positioning system and the hanging system also cooperate optimally thanks to the wedging of the platform 4 in closed position in the base 2, via the wedging protrusion 27 which is housed in the hollow 16, as previously explained.
A closure system is provided between the cover 3 and the base 2 at the front part of the receptacle 1.
This closure system consists of hooks. For example, at least one protrusion 18 provided at the front of the base 2 is adapted to snap-fit into at least one groove 39 provided for this purpose at the front of the cover 3. The reverse could be considered, i.e. a protrusion in the cover, and a groove in the base.
It can be seen that the protrusion 18 has an inclined wall in sliding contact with another inclined wall of the groove 39 after snap-fitting. This sliding contact allows to maintain a clearance, or a flexibility, in the closing of the cover 3.
The sinking of the cover 3 into the base 2 is independent of the clamping of the cup 34 by the platform 4.
In the configuration shown, there are two protrusions 18 provided at the front of the base 2, as illustrated in
The receptacle 1 has a window 9/flexible leg 24 assembly opposite each protrusion 18/groove 39 assembly.
In order to be able to properly lift the cover 3, the base 2 has, at the front part, a hollow 20 in which the closing element 29 of the cover 3 is housed, while leaving the low part of the recess 20 free. The user can insert his finger into the low part of the recess 20 to be able to easily lift the cover 3 by pulling the closure element 29.
In order to be able to correctly lift the platform 4, the base 2 has, at the front part, a front tab 10 rounded towards the bottom 5 of the receptacle 1, above which is positioned another tab 26 rounded towards the top of the receptacle 1, provided at the front part of the platform 4. These two tabs 10, 26 allow to create a space within which the user can insert its finger to easily lift the platform 4 by pulling on the tab 26 of the platform 4.
In the configuration shown here, in
In the receptacle 1 shown in
Alternatively, a variant of the cover 3 as shown in
In this variant of the cover 3, the cover 3 is thicker as it incorporates a mirror 41.
The cover 3 includes a peripheral body 40 as well as a removable upper wafer 42 locked to the peripheral body 40 by a bayonet-type system. The mirror 41 is interposed between an internal rim 46 of the peripheral body 40 and the wafer 42.
Even more specifically, the mirror 41 is held between the internal rim 46 of the peripheral body 40 and internal flexible legs 45 provided on the wafer 42.
These internal flexible legs 45 are illustrated in particular in
In the bayonet-type system, the peripheral body 40 includes a plurality of lamellae 44 adapted to penetrate into grooves 43 provided for this purpose in the periphery of the wafer 42. Preferably, there are three assemblies of lamella 44/grooves 43.
In order to ensure the locking between the wafer 42 and the peripheral body 40, a conventional hard point system is put in place, so that the lamella 44 is locked in position in the groove 43 once the hard point has been passed, following a rotational movement of the wafer 42 with respect to the body 40.
Other systems for locking the wafer 42 to the peripheral body 40 may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The embodiments shown in the cited figures are only possible examples, in no way limiting, of the invention which, on the contrary, encompasses the variations of shapes and designs within the reach of the person skilled in the art.
Of note, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As well, the corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2110173 | Sep 2021 | FR | national |
