DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND/OR APPLYING A COSMETIC OR CARE PRODUCT, WITH TRANSLATION DRIVING OF THE PRODUCT

• US 20090028625A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: BONNEYRAT, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/55
• 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 40/20 Pencil-like cosmetics; Simple holders for handling stick-shaped cosmetics or shaving soap while in use
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/205 Holders for stick-shaped cosmetics whereby the stick can move axially relative to the holder casings for lipstick A45D40/02, A45D40/06; refill sticks or moulding devices for producing sticks A45D40/16
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball

Abstract

A device for packaging and/or applying a cosmetic or care product includes a hollow body forming a housing for the product, a base adapted to support the product and a driving arrangement or means for moving the base in translation so as to vary the volume of the housing. In a disclosed example, the driving arrangement or means includes an actuating member mounted movably in rotation about a shaft and able to be moved along the hollow body that is fixedly attached to the base. The actuating member includes at least one portion forming alternatively a stress surface configured to be put under stress by manual contact and an actuating surface configured to be in engagement along the hollow body.

Claims

1. A device for packaging and/or applying a cosmetic or care product comprising:

a hollow body forming a housing for the product;

a base adapted to support the product in said housing;

means for driving the base in translation so as to vary the volume of the housing, said driving means comprising an actuating member which is rotatably mounted on a shaft and which moves along the hollow body, wherein said actuating member is fixedly attached to the base, and wherein said actuating member comprises at least one portion forming alternatively a stress surface configured to be put under stress by manual contact and an actuating surface configured to be in engagement along the hollow body.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating surface engages and moves along an outer surface of the hollow body.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body has an inner zone comprising the housing, and the base delimits the housing relative to the rest of the inner zone, and wherein the shaft of the actuating member is positioned outside of the inner zone.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a delivery opening through which the product passes when the base moves.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the base is movable to translate along a sliding axis.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the hollow body includes an opening through which the product passes when the base moves, and wherein the base is movable between a low position furthest from the opening along the sliding axis, and a high position closest to the opening.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the hollow body comprises a top portion extending between the opening and the base in the low position, wherein the top portion surrounds the housing and includes a continuous inner surface.

8. A device according to claim 5, wherein the hollow body has an outer surface provided with a rolling track which is substantially parallel to the sliding axis of the base and which interacts with the actuating surface of the actuating member when a force is applied to the stress surface of the actuating member.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the rolling track comprises a plurality of reliefs which keeps the actuating member stable at various heights of the hollow body.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the actuating member comprises a thumbwheel and the rolling track comprises a rack, and wherein the thumbwheel comprising the stress surface includes teeth meshing with the rack.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the rack includes teeth which extend in a direction perpendicular to the sliding axis.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the teeth of the rack have a length lying between 30% and 70% of the greatest width of a cross section of the hollow body relative to the sliding axis.

13. A device according to claim 8, wherein the rolling track has a concave portion and the actuating member has a matching convex portion or vice-versa.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the driving means comprise a link arm connecting the actuating member to the base so as to vary the volume of the housing between a maximum volume and a minimum volume, the hollow body having a link opening extending outside the housing of maximum volume and traversed by the link arm.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the link arm has a U shape and comprises an inner branch situated in an inner zone of the hollow body and connected to the base, and an outer branch extending parallel to an outside of the hollow body and connected to the inner branch by a connecting brace, and wherein the connecting brace is positioned axially at a distance from the base.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the outer branch has a substantially flat portion, and wherein the hollow body has rails which axially guide the flat portion.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the hollow body has a tubular shape having a side wall, and wherein the link opening comprises a sliding groove arranged in the side wall through which the connecting brace passes.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the sliding groove extends along a height of the hollow body which does not face the product throughout movement of the base from a lowermost position to an uppermost position.

19. A device according to claim 17 wherein the actuating member includes a thumbwheel which engages a rack on the hollow body, and wherein the rack extends along an extension aligned with the sliding groove.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member is rotatably mounted in two bearing surfaces situated on either side, along the shaft of the actuating member, of the stress surface.

21. A device according to claim 1, comprising a casing provided with a cap that can be closed on a seat, the casing having, when the cap is closed, a sealed inner casing space, containing the hollow body and the driving means.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the driving means includes a link arm having a U shape, said link arm including an inner branch inside of the hollow body, an outer branch outside of the hollow body, and a connecting branch extending between the inner and outer branches, and wherein a free end of the outer branch of the link arm protrudes from the seat, and the actuating member is rotatably mounted on said free end.

23. A device according to claim 1, further including a seat, wherein said hollow member is fixed relative to said seat, and wherein said means for driving is at least partially housed within said seat, and further wherein at least a portion of said means for driving progressively emerges from said seat as said actuating member moves along said hollow body to feed the product out of the hollow body.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the means for driving includes a guide plate which progressively emerges from the seat as the actuating member moves along the hollow body, and wherein the guide plate is guided by at least one rail provided on the hollow body, and further wherein the actuating member is rotatably mounted on the guide plate.

25. A device for packaging and/or applying a cosmetic or care product comprising:

(a) a hollow body forming a housing for the product, said hollow body including an opening;

(b) a base which supports said product in said housing and which is movable relative to said hollow body;

(c) a drive arrangement which moves said base relative to said hollow body in order to feed the product through the hollow body and out of said opening, said drive arrangement including;

(i) a rotatable actuator member which engages said hollow body such that upon rotation of said rotatable actuator member said rotatable actuator member travels along an outer surface of said hollow member in a lengthwise direction of said hollow member, and wherein at least a portion of said actuator member is exposed to outside of said device for a user to engage said portion and rotate said rotatable actuator member; and

(ii) at least one link coupling said rotatable actuator member to said base such that said base moves relative to said hollow member as said rotatable actuator member travels along said hollow member; and

(d) a seat which houses at least a portion of said driving means and wherein said hollow member is fixed relative to said seat.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein said at least one link includes a guide plate which is at least partially housed in said seat, and wherein said rotatable actuator member is rotatably mounted on said guide plate;

and

wherein as said rotatable actuator member travels along said hollow member to feed the product through the opening of said hollow member, the guide plate is progressively moved out of the seat and an amount the guide plate projects from the seat progressively increases.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein said guide plate is guided by at least one rail provided on said hollow member, and wherein the device further includes a cap which is selectively mountable on said seat, and wherein when said cap is in a mounted position on said seat said cap covers said hollow member.