Packaging and applicator device, and a refill element for such a device

• US 6,290,416 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/262,361
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 401/122, 401/128, 401/130, 401/127, 401/126, 401/118, 401/121
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A device for packing and applying a substance that is in liquid, semiliquid or powder form, and in particular, a cosmetic. The device includes a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing the substance, and an applicator including a stalk having an applicator element at one end and a handle member at another end. The applicator element is inserted into the receptacle and withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable member. The wiper member is formed at least in part of foam comprising at least 5% of open cells.

Claims

1. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator closing the open end of the receptacle when the applicator is in place on the receptacle, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said block of foam has an upper face and is fixed by this upper face to the receptacle.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the block of foam has an upper face and is fixed only by said upper face to the receptacle.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said block of foam is cut through to define at least one slit that is at rest substantially closed and opens when the applicator element passes therethrough.

5. A device according the claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable wiper member is constituted entirely by a block of foam.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said stalk has a narrow portion which is positioned in contact with at least a part of said block of foam when the applicator is in place in the receptacle, said part of the block of foam not being substantially compressed by said narrow portion of the stalk.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said block of foam comprises at least 5% of open cells.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said block of foam is in direct communication with the substance contained in the receptacle.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a neck and wherein one of said stalk and handle member tightly fits into said neck when said applicator is in place in the receptacle.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a neck and wherein the applicator is designed to occupy substantially all of the inside of the neck when the applicator is in place in the receptacle thereby limiting the volume of air above said block of foam.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the stalk has a narrow portion the length thereof being greater than the height of said block of foam and wherein said block of foam is in contact with said narrow portion over all its height when the applicator is in place in the receptacle without being substantially compressed by said narrow portion.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said substance is a liquid.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said substance is a powder.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the stalk of the applicator is rectilinear and wherein the receptacle is elongate in shape, having a mouth with an opening of a width that is sufficiently large to enable said stalk to be tilted inside the receptacle through at least 10°

relative to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

15. A device according to claim, 1, further including a wiper lip.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the wiper lip is situated at an outer mouth of the receptacle and wherein it is extended outwards by a wall that flares away from the foam.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the handle member is suitable for being screwed onto a thread of the receptacle, the diameter of the thread being significantly greater than the diameter of the opening of the receptacle.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a double wall.

19. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular cosmetics, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided, at one end, with an applicator element and, at its other end, with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted, at least in part, by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has an elongated shape along an axis of the receptacle and has a lower part being free inside the receptacle.

20. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted, at least in part, by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has an upper part inserted into and in contact with an internal skirt of the receptacle and a lower part being free inside the receptacle.

21. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle, wherein said stalk has a narrow portion which is positioned in contact with at least a part of said block of foam when the applicator is in place in the receptacle, said part of the block of foam not being substantially compressed by said narrow portion of the stalk, and said narrow portion flares at its bottom end to define a housing to which the applicator element is fixed, said housing having an outside diameter that is greater than that of said narrow portion.

22. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle, and said block of foam has an upper face, and wherein one of said stalk and handle member comprises a wall coming flush with said upper face when the applicator is in place in the receptacle.

23. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle, wherein said block of foam has an upper face having a conical recess and wherein the stalk connects to the handle member by a flared portion designed to fit into said recess when the applicator element is in place in the receptacle.

24. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with a brush and at its other end with a handle member, the brush inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle.

25. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle, and said block of foam is stiffened at its periphery and over at least a portion of its height.

26. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle, said wiper member includes a disk suitable for being entrained by the applicator while being withdrawn.

27. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a plurality of blocks of foam of different densities substantially closed at rest, wherein said plurality of blocks of foam have a lower part free inside the receptacle.

28. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle, and said block of foam has a tapering hole.

29. A device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, said device comprising a receptacle that is open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator comprising a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at its other end with a handle member, the handle member is suitable for closing the receptacle in sealed manner when it is in place thereon, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member constituted at least in part by a block of foam substantially closed at rest, wherein said block of foam has a lower part being free inside the receptacle.