Device for dispensing a liquid or pasty product, comprising a wringer part

• US 5,803,638 A
• Filed: 02/23/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• 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:
  US08/606,406
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 401/122, 401/129
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A device (D) for dispensing a liquid or pasty product (P) comprises a reservoir (1) of product equipped with a neck (2), and a cap (4) to close the neck of the reservoir. The cap (4) is provided with a rod (9) carrying an applicator part (7) extending into the reservoir when the cap is in the closed position. The neck (2) of the reservoir is equipped with a wringer (5) in the shape of an hourglass (10) made of a deformable elastic material through which the applicator part (7) passes as it is drawn out of the reservoir (1). The wringer (5) being designed to wipe the rod (9) and enlarge the cross-section of its opening to allow the applicator part (7) to pass through. The cross-section (S) of this applicator part being distinctly greater than that (s) of the rod (9).

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a liquid or pasty product, comprising a product reservoir having a longitudinal axis surmounted by a neck and provided with a wringer part made of a resiliently deformable material;

and

a cap to close the neck of the reservoir, the cap having a rod passing through the wringer part, one end of the rod being provided with an applicator part extending into the reservoir when the cap is in the closed position;

the wringer part being so shaped that during the extraction of the applicator part out of the reservoir, the wringer part first wipes the rod and is subsequently expanded under the pressure of the applicator part, the applicator part having a cross-section (S) measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that is distinctly greater than that (s) of the rod;

wherein in the wringer part has a portion in the shape of an inner portion of a torus whose convexity is turned towards the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and with one end of the torus being free.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the wringer part includes a cylindrical portion of cross-section slightly greater than that (S) of the applicator part the cylindrical portion being connected to the neck of the reservoir.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the portion in the shape of a torus has a first end integral with the cylindrical portion of the wringer part and a second end, pointing towards the reservoir, being free.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the portion in the shape of a torus has a first end pointing towards the reservoir and integral with the cylindrical portion of the wringer part and a second end, pointing towards the neck of the reservoir, being free.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the inner portion of the torus is given at least one longitudinal slit.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis the torus is annular.

7. A device according to claim 2, wherein the inner portion of the torus is given at least one longitudinal rib .

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the torus, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is in the shape of a star.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rod has a portion of reduced cross-section which, when the device is in the closed position, is situated inside the wringer part so that no radial pressure is exerted on its walls.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator part is a brush.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator part is a tip made of an elastomeric material.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the elastomeric material is selected from foams and flock-coated elastomers.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wringer part is made of a material whose expandability is from 1% to 200%.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wringer part is made of a material whose expandability is from 20% to 100%.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wringer part is made of an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyurethane and polyester elastomers;

block polyether amides;

polyvinyls;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM);

styrene-butadiene block polymers (SEBS-SIS);

silicones and nitrile or natural rubbers.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the product is a liquid lipstick composition.

17. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the ratio S/s is in the range of 4:

1 and 65;

1.