Packaging and applicator unit for a product including a massage device

• US 20050020948A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/041 using a roller, a disc or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/261 using a ball, a roller or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics

Abstract

A packaging and applicator unit for a product including a container having lengthwise axis X, with the container capable of holding the product. The container is provided at a first end with an aperture intended to dispense the product, with the aperture closed in a reversible manner by a closure element. At a second end opposite the first, one or more rotatable skin massaging elements are mounted.

Claims

1. A packaging and applicator device for a product including:

a container which is capable of holding the product, the container having a lengthwise axis X, wherein the container includes an aperture at a first end to dispense the product, and wherein the aperture is closed in a reversible manner by a closure element; and

at least two skin massage elements, wherein said at least two skin massage elements are rotatably mounted, and wherein said at least two skin massage elements are disposed at a second end of said container which is opposite to said first end.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two skin massage elements are mounted to rotate about respective first and second axes of rotation, and wherein the first axis extends at a non-zero angle with respect to the second axis.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein in a first plane P₁, an angle α

between the first axis and the second axis is in a range of 80°

to 140°

.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said angle α

is in a range of 100°

to 120°

.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second axes of rotation form, in a second plane P₂ separate from P₁, an angle β

in a range of 0°

to 15°

.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said angle α

is in a range of 10 to 5°

.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second axes of rotation form, in a second plane P₂ separate from P₁, an angle β

in a range of 0°

to 15°

.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said angle β

is in a range of 10 to 5°

.

9. A device according to claim 3, further including means to adjust the angle α

.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two skin massage elements are detachably mounted.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two skin massage elements are mounted on the container.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two skin massage elements are mounted on a support and wherein the support is fixed to the container.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein at least part of said support is capable of pivoting relative to the container.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the support is detachably fixed on the container.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the support is detachably fixed on the container.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said support is detachably fixed to said container by one of a snap-on attachment and a screw-on attachment.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the support is detachably fixed to the container by a snap-on attachment.

18. A device according to claim 17, further including means to detach the support from the container.

19. A device according to claim 12, further including a locking arrangement to selectively lock the support to the container, and wherein the locking arrangement can be unlocked to detach the support from said container.

20. A device according to claim 1, further including at least one flange associated with each of the at least two massage elements to facilitate rotation.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two skin massage elements are each mounted to rotate about a pin.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the pin is made of a material different from a material of the at least two skin massage elements.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two skin massage elements include a flexible material.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the flexible material is an elastomer.

25. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two massage elements include a plurality of projections on their outer surface.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of projections have a constant height.

27. A device according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of projections have different heights.

28. A device according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of projections have heights which vary in a circumferential direction of the at least two skin massage elements.

29. A device according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of projections have heights which vary with respect to respective axial directions of the at least two skin massage elements.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein the closure element is selected from the group consisting of a hinged cap, a screw-on cap, a ball element and a push-pull type closure element.

31. A device according to claim 30, wherein the closure element includes a flat surface which, when the closure element is in a the closed position, is perpendicular to the axis X.

32. A device according to claim 1, wherein the closure element includes a flat surface which, when the closure element is in a the closed position, is perpendicular to the axis X.

33. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container forms a grasping element.

34. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container includes at least one wall capable of deforming in response to pressure exerted perpendicular to a surface of the at least one wall and of reverting to an initial shape when the pressure is relaxed.

35. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container contains a cosmetic.

36. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container contains a skin care product.

37. A device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two skin massage elements are mounted on a support and wherein said support is removably mounted on said second end of said container with at least a portion of said second end received inside of said support.

38. A device according to claim 37, further including a lock device to selectively lock and unlock said support to said container.

39. A device according to claim 1, wherein said closure element includes a substantially flat support so that said device can be supported on said closure element, and wherein said first end of said container does not include any massage elements.

40. A packaging and applicator device for a product including:

a container having a lengthwise axis X, capable of holding the product, wherein the container includes an aperture at a first end to dispense the product, and wherein the aperture is closed in a reversible manner by a closure element; and

a massaging device to massage the skin, wherein the massaging device is disposed at a second end of said container which is opposite to the first end, and further wherein the first end of the container does not include a massage device.

41. A device according to claim 40, wherein the container contains a cosmetic.

42. A device according to claim 40, wherein the container contains a skin care product.

43. A device according to claim 40, wherein said massage device includes a support which is removably mounted to said container.

44. A device according to claim 43, further including a lock device to selectively lock and unlock said support to said container.

45. A device according to claim 44, wherein said lock device includes a rib associated with said support and a recess associated with said container, and wherein said rib is positioned in the recess in said locked position.

46. A device according to claim 43, wherein said second end of said container is received inside of said support when said support is mounted on said container.

47. A device according to claim 40, wherein said massage device includes at least one massage element mounted on a support, and wherein said support is removably mounted on said container, and further wherein said support includes a skirt which receives said second end of said container when said support is mounted on said container.

48. A device according to claim 47, wherein said closure element includes a flat surface upon which said packaging and applicator device can be supported, and wherein when said packaging and applicator device is set on said flat surface said massage device is at a top of said packaging and applicator device.

49. A device according to claim 47, wherein said massage device includes at least two rotatable massage elements.

50. A device according to claim 49, wherein said at least two rotatable massage elements respectively rotate about first and second axes of rotation, and wherein said first axis of rotation is disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to said second axis of rotation.

51. A device according to claim 50, wherein each of the at least two rotatable massage elements includes a plurality of projections.

52. A device according to claim 40, wherein said massage device includes at least one rotatable massage element, and wherein said at least one rotatable massage element includes a plurality of projections.

53. A device according to claim 52, wherein said plurality of projections have heights which vary in an axial direction of said at least one massage element.

54. A device according to claim 53, wherein said plurality of projections have heights which vary in a circumferential direction of said at least one massage element.

55. A packaging and applicator device comprising:

a container having a first end and a second end, said container containing a product;

an aperture disposed at said first end, and wherein a closure element is associated with said aperture so that said product can be selectively dispensed through said aperture;

a support comprising a skirt, wherein said support is removably mounted to said second end of said second end of said container, and wherein when said support is mounted to said container said second end of said container is at least partially received in said skirt; and

at least one massage element mounted on said support.

56. A device according to claim 55, further including a locking device to selectively lock and unlock said support to said container.

57. A device according to claim 56, wherein said locking device includes a rib associated with said support and a recess associated with said container, and wherein in a locked position said rib is disposed in said recess.

58. A device according to claim 57, wherein said support includes a portion which, when pressed upon, moves said rib out of said recess to unlock said support from said container.

59. A device according to claim 55, wherein said at least one massage element includes a roller which is mounted to rotate about an axis.

60. A device according to claim 55, including at least two massage elements.

61. A device according to claim 60, wherein the at least two massage elements each include a roller rotatable about respective first and second axes.

62. A device according to claim 61, wherein said first and second axes are disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to each other.

63. A device according to claim 55, wherein said at least one massage element includes a roller which rotates about an axis, and wherein the device further includes means for adjusting a position of said axis.

64. A device according to claim 55, wherein said closure element is mounted on a skirt which is coupled to said first end of said container.

65. A device according to claim 55, wherein the product in said container is a cosmetic product.

66. A device according to claim 55, wherein the product in said container is a skin care product.