Applicator unit including device for compacting the product on the applicator

• US 4,930,919 A
• Filed: 08/31/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US07/238,426
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 401/176, 401/180, 401/171, 401/126, 401/125, 401/124, 401/123, 401/118, 401/129, 401/4
• US Class Current: 401/126
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/00 Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

The applicator unit (1) comprises a bottle (2) provided with a neck (3) intended to contain the product (P), a cap (4) for closing the bottle and an applicator (6) disposed at the end of a stem (7) integral with the cap (4). The bottle (2) comprises at its end (23) on the opposite side to that provided with the neck (3), means (C) for compacting the product around the applicator (6) on which means the user can act and elastic means (R) for restoring these compacting means (C) into their rest position when the user'"'"'s action ceases.

Claims

1. An applicator unit for applying a powder or paste product comprising:

a bottle for containing the product, said bottle having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end having an opening defined therethrough and a neck defined about said opening;

a cap element for engaging said neck to close said opening;

a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said stem being coupled to said cap so that said stem is disposed within said bottle when said cap closes said opening;

an applicator defined on the distal end of said stem;

means defined at said distal end of said bottle for compacting the product around the applicator, said compacting means having a rest position and an actuated position wherein the product is compacted around the applicator, said compacting means being actuatable by a user of the unit to move said compacting means from said rest position to said actuated position; and

elastic means for restoring the compacting means to said rest position following actuation by the user;

said compacting means comprising a piston slidably mounted in the distal end of the bottle, said piston being joined to a push button projecting beyond the distal end of the bottle.

2. An applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein the piston is provided with a central hole allowing the applicator to be filled with the product and further comprising means for closing the central hole after the applicator has been filled.

3. An applicator unit according to claim 2, wherein the piston is mounted at one end of a cylindrical sleeve (33) and the means for closing the central hole comprise a cylindrical extension of the push button engaged in the sleeve.

4. An applicator unit according to any one of the claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elastic restoring means comprise a helical spring disposed between the piston and a wiper carrier surrounding the applicator.

5. An applicator unit according to claim 4, wherein the external diameter of the turns of the spring is such that the external surface of the turns can scrape the internal surface of the bottle so as to return the product to its state of suspension when the push button is released.

6. An applicator unit according to claim 5, wherein the helical spring is configured so that when its turns are contiguous, the piston is spaced from the distal end of the applicator, so that at the end of its travel, the piston is spaced from said applicator.

7. An applicator unit according to claim 4, wherein the applicator has a pointed conical shape, provided with a fibrous coating by flocking.

8. An applicator unit according to claim 4, wherein the spring is mounted for rotation relative to the piston and the push button in such a way that it is possible to impart a rotational movement to this spring from the push button to agitate the product.

10. An applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein the powder comprises micro-capsules containing at least one of oils, binding agents and active substances, the micro-capsules releasing their product in the vicinity of the applicator during compacting.

9. An applicator unit according to claim 12, wherein the distal end of the chamber has a frustoconical shape converging towards the applicator to promote the compacting of the product around the applicator.