Device for applying a product to a surface

• US 6,666,216 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Bourjal, Laure
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US09/910,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 132/320, 132/108, 132/110, 132/112, 132/114, 401/134, 401/132, 401/133, 401/28, 401/135, 401/183, 601/128, 601/129, 601/130
• US Class Current: 132/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/42 with pads or like contents-applying means contents-applying means associated to aerosol container nozzles B65D83/285; brushes combined or associated with containers A46B11/00; swabs for applying media to the human body from an integral supply A61F13/40

Abstract

A device for applying a product to a surface is provided. The device comprises an applicator member defining an applicator surface and a support coupled to the applicator member. The support defines a first attachment member and at least one opening member. The device further comprises a container containing the product, the container defining an orifice, and a sealing element configured to seal the orifice. The device also comprises a base defining a second attachment member configured to engage the first attachment member. The base is configured to receive the container. The at least one opening member engages the sealing element and at least partially opens the orifice when the second attachment member engages the first attachment member.

Claims

1. A device for applying at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to a skin surface, the device comprising:

an applicator member defining an applicator surface;

a support coupled to the applicator member, the support defining a first attachment member and at least one opening member stationary with respect to the applicator member;

a container containing at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product, the container defining an orifice;

a sealing element configured to seal the orifice; and

a base defining a second attachment member configured to engage the first attachment member,

wherein the base is configured to receive the container, and

wherein the at least one opening member engages the sealing element and at least partially opens the orifice when the second attachment member engages the first attachment member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator member defines at least one passage, and wherein the at least partial opening of the orifice enables at least a portion of the product to reach the applicator surface via the at least one passage.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first attachment member and the second attachment member reversibly engage to enable removal of the container from the base.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the container is a single dose container.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening member is configured to perforate the sealing element.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the sealing element is a heat-sealed film.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a substantially rigid handling element.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one opening member defines a free edge and at least one tubular duct in flow communication with the at least one passage.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one tubular duct is in flow communication with the container when the opening member at least partially opens the orifice.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one opening member defines a trocar having a chamfered free edge.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein the applicator member defines a plurality of passages configured to distribute at least a portion of the product to substantially the entire applicator surface.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a substantially rigid handling element.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the substantially rigid handling element defines an annular element configured to encircle the container.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises a sintered material.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the sintered material comprises one of a thermoplastic material, a felt material, and an elastically compressible material.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the elastically compressible material is a thermally-compressed foam.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the applicator surface comprises a material capable of being permeated by the product.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the material comprises one of a woven sheet and a non-woven sheet.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the material comprises one of a lycra®

material, a polyamide material, a polyurethane material, a polyvinyl chloride material, a plush loop material, a velour material, and a perforated film material.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator surface defines raised portions.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the container is formed at least partially of a relatively flexible material.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein pressure exerted on the container encourages at least a portion of the product within the container to leave the container.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a thermoformed container.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the container is translucent.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the thermoformed container comprises one of a polypropylene material, a polyvinyl chloride material, and an acrylonitrile copolymer material.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises one of a film, a sheet, and a membrane.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises one of a sheet of aluminum and a sheet comprised of at least one metal layer and at least one thermoplastic layer.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement of the first attachment member to the second attachment member comprises one of a screw-fastening engagement and a snap-fastening engagement.

29. A device for applying at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to a skin surface, the device comprising:

an applicator member defining an applicator surface and at least one passage;

a support coupled to the applicator member, the support defining a first attachment member and at least one opening member, the at least one opening member defining a free edge and at least one tubular duct in flow communication with the at least one passage, wherein the at least one tubular duct comprises a wall having a slot extending from the free edge along at least a portion of the wall;

a container containing at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product, the container defining an orifice;

a sealing element configured to seal the orifice; and

a base defining a second attachment member configured to engage the first attachment member,

wherein the base is configured to receive the container, and

wherein the at least one opening member engages the sealing element and at least partially opens the orifice when the second attachment member engages the first attachment member to enable at least a portion of the product to reach the applicator surface via the at least one passage.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the slot extends axially.

31. A device for applying at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to a skin surface, the device comprising:

an applicator member defining an applicator surface;

a support coupled to the applicator member, the support defining a first attachment member and at least one opening member stationary with respect to the applicator member;

a base defining a second attachment member configured to engage with the first attachment member; and

a sealed container received by the base and containing at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product,

wherein the at least one opening member is configured to at least partially open the container when the second attachment member engages the first attachment member.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the applicator member defines at least one passage in flow communication with the applicator surface.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the first attachment member and the second attachment member reversibly engage.

34. The device of claim 31, further comprising a substantially rigid handling element.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one opening member defines a free edge and at least one tubular duct in flow communication with the at least one passage.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the at least one tubular duct is configured to be in flow communication with the container when the opening member opens the container.

37. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one opening member defines a trocar having a chamfered free edge.

38. The device of claim 35, wherein the at least one tubular duct comprises a wall having a slot extending from the free edge along at least a portion of the wall.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the slot extends axially.

40. The device of claim 32, wherein the applicator member defines a plurality of passages configured to distribute the product to substantially the entire applicator surface.

41. The device of claim 31, wherein the applicator member comprises a sintered material.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the sintered material comprises one of a thermoplastic material, a felt material, and an elastically compressible material.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the elastically compressible material is a thermally-compressed foam.

44. The device of claim 41, wherein the applicator surface comprises a material capable of being permeated by the product.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the material comprises one of a woven sheet and a non-woven sheet.

46. The device of claim 44, wherein the material comprises one of a lycra®

material, a polyamide material, a polyurethane material, a polyvinyl chloride material, a plush loop material, a velour material, and a perforated film material.

47. The device of claim 31, wherein the applicator surface defines raised portions.

48. The device of claim 31, wherein the engagement of the first attachment member to the second attachment member comprises one of a screw-fastening engagement and a snap-fastening engagement.

49. The device of claim 31, wherein the base comprises a substantially rigid handling element.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the substantially rigid handling element defines an annular element configured to encircle the container.

51. The device of claim 31, wherein to container defines an orifice, and p1 wherein the device further comprises a sealing element configured to seal the orifice.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the container is a single dose container.

53. The device of claim 51, wherein the at least one opening member is configured to perforate the sealing element, and the sealing element comprises one of a film, a sheet, and a membrane.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the sealing element is a heat-sealed film.

55. The device of claim 51, wherein the container is formed at least partially of a relatively flexible material.

56. The device of claim 51, wherein the container comprises a thermoformed container.

57. The device of claim 51, wherein the product is a skin cosmetic product.

58. The device of claim 51, wherein the product is chosen from a thinning product and a toning product.

59. A method for applying a product at least one of skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to skin, comprising:

providing the device of claim 51; and

placing the applicator surface in contact with the skin to apply the product thereto.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the product comprises one of a thinning product and a toning product.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising reversibly engaging the first attachment member with the second attachment member.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising passing the product from the container to the applicator surface via a plurality of passages defined by the applicator member.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the applicator surface defines raised portions, and wherein the placing comprises putting the raised portions in contact with the skin.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising at least partially opening the container with the at least one opening member, and passing at least a portion of the product to the applicator surface.

65. The method of claim 61, further comprising disengaging the first attachment member from the second attachment member and removing the container from the base.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the passing comprises passing at least a portion of the product through at least one passage defined within the applicator member.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the opening comprises perforating the sealing element with the at least one opening member.

68. The method of claim 59, further comprising applying pressure to the applicator member and massaging the product onto the skin.

69. A device for applying at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to a skin surface, comprising:

a support comprising a first fixing means and at least one opening member;

an applicator member defining an applicator surface fed by at least one passage and being mounted on the support;

a base comprising a second fixing means configured to collaborate with the first fixing means;

a container containing at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product, the container being mounted on the base, the container defining an orifice; and

a sealing element configured to seal the orifice,

wherein the collaboration between the first and the second fixing means causes engagement of the sealing element with the at least one opening member, so as to cause at least partial uncovering of the orifice and to allow the product to be fed to the applicator surface via the at least one passage.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein the at least one opening member is stationary with respect to the applicator member.

71. A device for applying at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to a skin surface, the device comprising:

an applicator member defining an applicator surface;

a support coupled to the applicator member, the support defining a first attachment member and at least one opening member;

a container containing at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product, the container defining an orifice;

a sealing element configured to seal the orifice; and

a base defining a second attachment member configured to engage the first attachment member,

wherein the base is configured to receive the container, and

wherein the device is configured so that engagement of the first attachment member with the second attachment member causes movement of the at least one opening member with respect to the sealing element so as to at least partially open the orifice.

72. A device for applying at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product to a skin surface, the device comprising:

an applicator member defining an applicator surface;

a support coupled to the applicator member, the support defining a first attachment member and at least one opening member;

a base defining a second attachment member configured to engage with the first attachment member; and

a sealed container received by the base and containing at least one of a skin cosmetic product and a skin care product.

wherein the device is configured so that engagement of the first attachment member with the second attachment member causes movement of the at least one opening member with respect to the container so as to at least partially open the container.