Dispensing and applicator assembly with self-loading applicator

• US 6,305,863 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEVORE, PETER T
• Application Number:
  US09/503,850
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 401/126-130, 401/120, 401/125
• US Class Current: 401/126
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/055 Piston or plunger for supplying the liquid to the applicator
• 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 34/045 connected to the cap of the container

Abstract

An assembly for dispensing and applying a product, such as a cosmetic product, includes a first portion defining a reservoir having a varying volume and containing the product to be dispensed. A flow passage and a one-way valve selectively establish flow communication between the reservoir and the space. The space is configured to removably receive an application member receiving the product to be applied. The space is closed by a cap removably mounted on the second portion. A piston slidably disposed within the second space causes a pressure decrease inside the second space, which opens the one-way valve and causes the product to flow from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage.

Claims

1. An assembly for dispensing a product, comprising:

a first portion defining a variable volume reservoir for containing the product, the reservoir decreasing in volume in response to removal of the product from the reservoir;

a second portion defining a space configured to removably receive an application member;

an application member configured to be removably received in the space;

a flow passage providing flow communication between the reservoir and the space;

a flow valve configured to selectively enable flow of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage;

a removable cap on the second portion; and

a piston configured to cause a pressure decrease in the space,

wherein the valve opens in response to the pressure decrease in the space to enable flow of at least a portion of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to seal the space when the cap is mounted on the second portion.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the application member includes a porous element configured to absorb the product.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the application member has an absorption capacity sufficient to enable absorption of the amount of product passing from the reservoir to the space in response to the pressure decrease caused by the piston.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the porous element is formed from one of an open-cell foam, a semi-open cell foam, and a frit.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the application member is provided on the cap, and wherein the piston is configured to cause the decrease in pressure when the cap is moved from a closed position to an open position.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the piston is configured to be in either a disengaged position or an engaged position, such that in the disengaged position the piston does not cause a pressure decrease in the space when the cap is moved from the closed position to the open position, and in the engaged position the piston causes a pressure decrease in the space when the cap is moved from the closed position to the open position.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a selector configured to cause the piston to be selectively placed in one of the disengaged and engaged positions.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a vent passage configured to place the space in selective flow communication with the atmosphere to vent the space to atmospheric pressure when a pressure increase occurs in the space.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a one-way vent valve configured to establish the selective flow communication with the atmosphere via the vent passage.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the one-way vent valve is one of a shutter valve and a ball valve.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the space is defined at least in part by a cylinder in which the piston slides.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the piston is made of a non-porous portion and includes the application member.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the piston is provided on the application member on a side of the application member opposite to the flow passage.

15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the piston defines a vent passage configured to vent the space to atmospheric pressure.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an annular space is formed between the second portion and the cap when the cap is mounted on the second portion, said annular space being in flow communication with the space and the piston being disposed in the annular space.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the piston includes a sealing lip provided on the second portion, the sealing lip being configured to slide against an interior surface of the cap when the cap is opened.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the piston is configured to be in a sealed relationship with the interior surface of the cap when the pressure decrease occurs in the space and in an unsealed relationship with the interior surface of the cap when a pressure increase occurs in the space, said unsealed relationship allowing the space to be vented to atmospheric pressure.

19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are provided on a rigid body including a transverse wall defining said flow passage.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the body includes a skirt at least partially defining the space, said skirt having a free edge which delimits an opening.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the skirt includes a screw thread configured to engage with a corresponding screw thread on the cap.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the piston is disposed outside of the skirt and is secured to the skirt.

23. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the reservoir is disposed on a side of the transverse wall opposite to the skirt.

24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the body includes a second skirt defining at least a portion of the reservoir, said second skirt including a free edge disposed at an end of the assembly opposite to the space.

25. The assembly of claim 24, further comprising a follower piston slidably mounted in the second skirt.

26. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the free edge of the second skirt defines an opening which is closed by a deformable diaphragm.

27. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the reservoir is formed of a bag including at least one flexible wall mounted on the body and configured to collapse as product is removed from the reservoir.

28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the bag is disposed inside one of a rigid chamber and a semi-rigid chamber.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein a space defined between the chamber and the bag is in flow communication with the atmosphere.

30. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the application member is formed at least in part from a material chosen from a foam of polyether, polyester, polyurethane, natural butadiene rubber, synthetic butadiene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, latex or silicone or from a frit of polyethylene, nylon, bronze, or glass.

31. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the application member rests elastically against the flow passage when the cap is closed.

32. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the application member is made of a material which is relatively incompressible and wherein an elastically compressible element is arranged between the porous element and the piston.

33. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow valve is a one-way valve.

34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the flow valve is one of a shutter valve and a ball valve.

35. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cosmetic product contained in the reservoir.

36. A method of dispensing a cosmetic product using the assembly of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is provided with the cosmetic product to be dispensed, comprising actuating the piston to cause the pressure decrease in the space to enable flow of at least a portion of the cosmetic product from the reservoir into the space via the flow passage.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing an application member within the space and loading the application member with the cosmetic product as the product flows from the reservoir to the space.

38. A dispensing assembly for dispensing a product, comprising:

a first portion defining a reservoir configured to contain the product prior to dispensing;

a second portion defining a space and an opening enabling access to the space, said space being in selective flow communication with the reservoir;

a cap configured to be removably mounted on the second portion to sealably cover the opening; and

an actuator configured to selectively cause a pressure difference between the reservoir and the space in response to removal of the cap from the second portion,

wherein the pressure difference causes the product to flow from the reservoir to the space.

39. The assembly of claim 38, further comprising a one-way valve disposed between the reservoir and the space, the one-way valve being configured to selectively establish the flow communication between the reservoir and the space.

40. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the actuator includes a piston slidably mounted in the second portion.

41. The assembly of claim 40, wherein the volume of the space changes as a position of the piston in the second portion changes.

42. The assembly of claim 41, wherein as the volume of the space increases, the pressure of the space decreases causing the product to be drawn from the reservoir to the space.

43. The assembly of claim 41, wherein as the volume of the space decreases, the pressure of the space increases thereby establishing flow communication between the space and the environment surrounding the assembly.

44. The assembly of claim 38, further comprising a removable application member disposed in the space, said application member being configured to receive product as it is forced from the reservoir to the space.

45. The assembly of claim 44, wherein the application member is provided on the actuator.

46. The assembly of claim 44, wherein the application member is made at least in part of a porous material configured to absorb the product.

47. The assembly of claim 46, wherein the application member is configured to be in selective flow communication with a vent passage that opens to the environment surrounding the assembly, said selective flow communication being established by an increase in pressure in the space as compared to the pressure of the environment surrounding the assembly.

48. The assembly of claim 38, further comprising a vent passage selectively communicating the space with the atmosphere.

49. The assembly of claim 48, further comprising a one-way vent valve configured to selectively permit flow from the space to the atmosphere via the vent passage.

50. The assembly of claim 38, further comprising an application member on the cap.

51. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the reservoir and the space have variable volumes.

52. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the reservoir has a volume that decreases as product is forced from the reservoir to the space.

53. A method for dispensing a product, comprising:

providing an assembly defining a reservoir containing the product, a space in selective flow communication with the reservoir, an opening permitting access to the space, a removable cap configured to sealably close the opening, and an actuator;

removing the cap to permit access to the opening;

actuating the actuator to cause a pressure difference between the reservoir and the space; and

causing the product to flow from the reservoir to the space as a result of the pressure difference.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the actuator is a piston slidably disposed relative to the space.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the actuating includes varying the volume of the space by moving the piston.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the movement of the piston increases the volume of the space and decreases the pressure in the space, thereby causing the product to flow from the reservoir to the space.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising moving the piston so as to decrease the volume of the space and increase the pressure in the space, thereby establishing flow communication between the space and the environment surrounding the assembly.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the moving of the piston to decrease the volume of the space causes a valve to open to establish the flow communication between the space and the environment surrounding the assembly.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the removing of the cap actuates the actuator.

60. The method of claim 53, comprising providing an application member removably disposed within the space and configured to receive the product forced from the reservoir to the space.

61. An assembly for dispensing a product, comprising

a first portion defining a reservoir containing the product to be dispensed;

a second portion defining a space in selective flow communication with the reservoir;

an application member for applying the product to a surface, said application member being removably disposed in the space, the application member being configured such that removal of the application member from the space induces flow of the product from the reservoir to the space, thereby permitting the application member to receive the product.

62. The assembly of claim 61, wherein removal of the application member from the space causes a pressure difference between the space and the reservoir.

63. The assembly of claim 62, further comprising a flow valve disposed between the reservoir and the space, said flow valve opening in response to the pressure difference caused by removal of the application member.

64. The assembly of claim 61, wherein the application member is provided on a piston, said piston being configured to slidably engage with said second portion to define said space.

65. The assembly of claim 64, wherein removal of the application member moves the piston, thereby increasing the volume of the space to cause a pressure decrease in the space with respect to the reservoir.

66. An assembly for dispensing a product, comprising:

a first portion defining a variable volume reservoir for containing the product, the reservoir decreasing in volume in response to removal of the product from the reservoir;

a second portion defining a space configured to removably receive an application member;

a flow passage providing flow communication between the reservoir and the space;

a flow valve configured to selectively enable flow of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage;

a removable cap on the second portion;

a vent passage configured to place the space in selective flow communication with the atmosphere to vent the space to atmospheric pressure when a pressure increase occurs in the space; and

a piston configured to cause a pressure decrease in the space,

wherein the valve opens in response to the pressure decrease in the space to enable flow of at least a portion of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage.

67. An assembly for dispensing a product, comprising:

a first portion defining a variable volume reservoir for containing the product, the reservoir decreasing in volume in response to removal of the product from the reservoir;

a second portion defining a space configured to removably receive an application member;

a flow passage providing flow communication between the reservoir and the space;

a flow valve configured to selectively enable flow of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage;

a removable cap on the second portion; and

a piston configured to cause a pressure decrease in the space,

wherein the valve opens in response to the pressure decrease in the space to enable flow of at least a portion of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage,

wherein the space is defined at least in part by a cylinder in which the piston slides, and

wherein the piston defines a vent passage configured to vent the space to atmospheric pressure.

68. An assembly for dispensing a product, comprising:

a first portion defining a variable volume reservoir for containing the product, the reservoir decreasing in volume in response to removal of the product from the reservoir;

a second portion defining a space configured to removably receive an application member;

a flow passage providing flow communication between the reservoir and the space;

a flow valve configured to selectively enable flow of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage;

a removable cap on the second portion; and

a piston configured to cause a pressure decrease in the space, the piston including a sealing lip provided on the second portion, the sealing lip being configured to slide against an interior surface of the cap when the cap is opened,

wherein the valve opens in response to the pressure decrease in the space to enable flow of at least a portion of the product from the reservoir to the space via the flow passage, and

wherein an annular space is formed between the second portion and the cap when the cap is mounted on the second portion, said annular space being in flow communication with the space and the piston being disposed in the annular space.