DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND APPLYING A PRODUCT

• US 20080095566A1
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Bonneyrat, Philippe, THIEBAUT, Laure
• Granted Patent: US 8,066,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/52
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/155 Heating or cooling means, i.e. for storing or applying cosmetic products at a predetermined temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/02 Casings wherein movement of the lipstick or like solid is a sliding movement A45D40/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/262 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0068 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for solid substance that dissolves gradually
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/08 with heating means

Abstract

A packaging and application device for a cosmetic product. The device may include a platform, a tube forming a housing for the product and a driving mechanism for translational movement of the platform in the tube. The movement of the platform allows dispensing of product via a dispensing opening in the tube. A side wall of the tube includes an inner cross-section having an inwards-concave portion and an inwards-convex portion. The tube is arranged in a base having an outwards-convex outer cross-section.

Claims

1. A packaging and application device for a cosmetic product comprising:

a platform,

a tube forming a housing for said product, and

a driving mechanism for translational movement of the platform in the tube, the movement of the platform allowing dispensing of product via a dispensing opening in the tube, the tube being arranged in a base,

wherein at least one of an outer cross-section of the base or an inner cross-section of a side wall of the tube comprises an inwards-convex portion, and wherein the base and the tube include a non-homothetic cross-section.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cross-section of the side wall of the tube includes an inwards-concave portion and an inwards-convex portion, and the base includes an outwards-convex outer cross-section.

3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a cap configured to cooperate with the base.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the cap provides sealed closure of the base.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is contained within the maximum cross-section of the base.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a slot in which the driving mechanism can be slid.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the slot extends through an axial portion of the side wall that is surrounded by the base.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a pushbutton protruding longitudinally from the base, and a longitudinal portion extending into the base and having a lug passing through the slot.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the lug cooperates with a distal end of a rod sticking out from a bottom of the platform, the rod extending into the tube in the direction of a bottom of the base.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the pushbutton comprises a free end disposed substantially at the level of the platform, the slot being configured to allow the movement of the platform as far as the level of the opening in the tube.

11. A device according to claim 6, wherein the slot comprises two axial limit stops.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the platform forms a seat for receiving a stick of said product.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the platform is in sealed contact with the side wall of the tube, in at least one position of the platform in the tube.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the height of product before a first use of the device to the total height of the device is between 0.3 and 0.8.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the platform is permeable and the tube comprises a second opening, axially opposite the first opening, so as to allow casting of the product in the housing.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening in the tube is closed off.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the tube widens out in the direction of its dispensing opening.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening in the tube includes a perimeter inner cross-section substantially identical to that of the inner cross-section of the tube.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein separating/combing members are arranged at the periphery of the dispensing opening, the separating/combing members extending parallel to an axis of translational movement of the platform in the tube.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the inwards-concave portion and the inwards-convex portion are substantially superposable, and disposed opposite each other so that the dispensing opening forms a curved slit.

21. A method of applying a product on the eyelashes using a device according to claim 1, the method comprising:

moving the device along a defined path in a plane substantially perpendicular to a cornea of a user and parallel to the plane of the nose of the user.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the moving the device is done in an iterative loop defined in one or more planes substantially perpendicular to the cornea and parallel to the plane of the nose.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism includes a pushbutton, and wherein the driving mechanism is housed within the base such that only the pushbutton of the driving mechanism extends above the base when the driving mechanism is in a low position.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is disposed between an area of the sidewall of the tube having an inwards-convex portion and an area of the base having an inwards-concave portion.