Dispenser for a product with a liquid-to-pasty consistency

• US 5,772,347 A
• Filed: 12/06/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US08/568,324
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 401/175, 401/263, 401/266
• US Class Current: 401/263
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/04 effected by a screw
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/262 using a brush or the like

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator nozzle (2) for the dispensing and the application of a product (P) with a liquid-to-pasty consistency, comprising an application surface (5) provided with at least one dispensing orifice (61). This nozzle is provided with a one-way valve (62b) allowing the product to be dispensed and preventing the ambient air from coming into contact with the product. The invention also relates to a dispensing unit comprising such an applicator nozzle (2), a reservoir for the product (P), and system (M) capable of producing the ejection of the product (P) through the dispensing orifice (61) of the applicator nozzle (2).

Claims

1. An applicator tip for dispensing a product with a liquid-to-pasty consistency from a container, the tip comprising:

an oblique applicator surface of a resilient elastomeric material and with a continuous peripheral spreading board for application of the product to a person'"'"'s lips;

plural one-way closures, each comprising a resilient closure means for flexibly closing a rigid opening which provides a passageway for the product from the container to said applicator surface, each said closure means flexing under pressure of the product being expelled through the associated said opening to dispense the product; and

plural grooves in said applicator surface, each of said grooves in communication with at least one of said one-way closures for spreading the dispensed product across said applicator surface.

2. The applicator tip of claim 1, wherein each of said grooves communicates with a different one of said one-way closures.

3. The applicator tip of claim 1, wherein each of said plural grooves communicates with at least another one of said grooves to spread the dispensed product.

4. The applicator tip of claim 1, wherein a surface of each said closure means is substantially flush with said applicator surface.

5. The applicator tip of claim 1, wherein each said closure means is in one of said grooves and entirely recessed beneath said applicator surface.

6. The applicator tip of claim 1, wherein said grooves define a grid of generally linear and parallel column ridges and generally linear and parallel row ridges which intersect to define a plurality of generally square interstices, each of said interstices being a depressed surface between adjacents ones of said column and row ridges into which a respective one of said one-way closures opens.

7. The applicator tip of claim 1, wherein said grooves define a grid of generally annular ridges and generally radial rises which intersect to define a plurality of interstices, each of said interstices being a depressed surface between adjacents ones of said ridges and rises into which a respective one of said one-way closures opens.

8. An applicator nozzle for dispensing a product with a liquid-to-pasty consistency from a container, the nozzle having an oblique applicator surface for application of the product, the nozzle comprising:

a grid of generally linear and parallel column ridges and generally linear and parallel row ridges which intersect to define a plurality of generally square interstices, wherein tops of said row ridges define said applicator surface, tops of said column ridges not extending to said applicator surface, and each of said interstices being a depressed surface between adjacents ones of said column and row ridges;

a one-way orifice opening to said depressed surface within each of said interstices for dispensing the product to said applicator surface, each said orifice having a flexible closure for opening in response to pressure of the product being ejected from the container to permit the product to be dispensed onto said depressed surface and for closing in the absence of pressure of the product to prevent ambient air from entering the container when the product is not being dispensed; and

a duct for providing the product from the container to each said orifice.

9. An applicator nozzle for dispensing a product with a liquid-to-pasty consistency from a container, the nozzle having an oblique applicator surface for application of the product, the nozzle comprising:

a grid of generally annular ridges and generally radial rises which intersect to define a plurality of interstices, wherein tops of said ridges define said applicator surface, tops of said radial rises not extending to said applicator surface, and each of said interstices being a depressed surface between adjacents ones of said ridges and rises;

a one-way orifice opening to said depressed surface within each of said interstices for dispensing the product to said applicator surface, each said orifice having a flexible closure for opening in response to pressure of the product being ejected from the container to permit the product to be dispensed onto said depressed surface and for closing in the absence of pressure of the product to prevent ambient air from entering the container when the product is not being dispensed; and

a duct for providing the product from the container to each said orifice.