Device and method for applying a product

• US 6,755,585 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/232,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 401/206, 401/125, 401/123, 401/124, 401/202, 401/205, 401/207, 132/317
• US Class Current: 401/125
• 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 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• 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 may include a container configured to contain a product. The container may include an opening and a valve associated with the opening. The device may also include a structure configured to be removably fitted to the container, and the structure may include a closing element and a housing at least partially defined by the closing element. The housing may include at least one passage configured to provide flow communication between the container and the housing via the opening of the container when the structure is in a fitted position on the container. The structure may also include an applicator configured to be at least partially received in the housing. The device may be configured so that the valve is placed in an open position in response to fitting of the structure to the container.

Claims

1. A device for applying a product, the device comprising:

a container configured to contain a product, the container comprising an opening and a valve associated with the opening; and

a structure configured to be removably fitted to the container, wherein the structure comprises

a closing element,

a housing at least partially defined by the closing element, the housing comprising at least one passage configured to provide flow communication between the container and the housing via the opening of the container when the structure is in a fitted position on the container, and

an applicator configured to be at least partially received in the housing,

wherein the device is configured so that the valve is placed in an open position in response to fitting of the structure to the container.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to close via a return force when the structure is separated from the container.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the valve comprises at least one elastically deformable portion configured to exert the return force.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the valve further comprises a movable valving element, and wherein the movable valving element and the elastically deformable portion are integral with one another.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the movable valving element and the elastically deformable portion are defined by a single piece, unitary construction.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the elastically deformable portion is configured to retain the movable valving element in the opening of the container.

7. The device of claim 2, further comprising a spring, wherein the return force is exerted by the spring.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the container defines a reservoir, and wherein the valve comprises a movable valving element configured to place the valve in the open position via displacement of the movable valving element toward the reservoir.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a member that is at least one of situated in the at least one passage of the housing and situated facing the at least one passage of the housing, wherein the member is configured to contact the valve when the structure is fitted to the container.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve of the container is a first valve, and wherein the device further comprises a second valve associated with the at least one passage of the housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the second valve comprises a movable valving element configured to place the second valve in an open position via displacement of the movable valving element toward the housing.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the second valve is configured to be placed in an open position via pressure of a product exiting the container.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second valve comprises a flap valve element configured to bend via displacement toward the housing, and wherein the second valve is configured to resume a closed position via elastic memory as the pressure of a product exiting the container is reduced with an intake of air.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the second valve comprises a flap valve element configured to be displaced toward the housing via the pressure of the product exiting the container, and wherein the second valve is configured to resume a closed position via elastic memory as the pressure of a product exiting the container is reduced without an intake of air.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is configured so that the second valve is placed in the open position in response to the fitting of the structure to the container.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is configured so that when the structure is removably fitted to the container, a portion of the first valve contacts a portion of the second valve, thereby causing the first valve to be placed in its open position and the second valve to be placed in its open position.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the second valve is configured to close via an elastic return force when the structure is separated from the container.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the second valve comprises a movable valving element and at least one elastically deformable portion integral with the movable valving element, and wherein the return force is exerted by the at least one elastically deformable portion.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one elastically deformable portion retains the valving element in the passage.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising a spring, wherein the return force is exerted by the spring.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator is integral with the closing element.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the applicator is fitted to the closing element via at least one of adhesive bonding, welding, pinch fitting, and snap fitting.

23. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support configured to removably fit the structure to the container, wherein the support is integral with the applicator and the passage of the housing extends through the support.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the applicator is fitted to the support via at least one of adhesive bonding, welding, pinch fitting, and snap fitting.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator is not fixed to the housing.

26. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support, wherein the closing element comprises a lid configured to be fitted to the support, the lid comprising a bottom portion, and wherein the device further comprises an auxiliary product at least partially contained in the bottom portion of the lid, the device being configured so that the applicator contacts the auxiliary product when the lid is fitted to the support.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the auxiliary product comprises one of a compressed powder, a cream, and a gel.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises at least one material selected from elastically compressible materials, open-cell foams, and semi-open-cell foams, and wherein the device is configured so that the applicator is at least partially compressed elastically when an opening of the housing is closed.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the applicator comprises at least one material selected from polyurethane foams, polyester foams, polyether foams, PVC foams, NBR foams, felts, and multilayer composites.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the container comprises at least one rigid wall defining a reservoir portion of the container.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the at least one rigid wall comprises glass.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to define a variable volume.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the container comprises a flexible-walled tube.

34. The device of claim 32, further comprising a piston configured to slide inside the container.

35. The device of claim 1, further comprising a product contained in the container.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the product in the container is not pressurized.

37. A method for applying a product comprising:

providing the device of claim 35;

fitting the structure to the container, wherein the valve is placed in an open position in response to the fitting of the structure to the container; and

applying at least a portion of the product to a body portion using the applicator.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising removing the closing element from the remainder of the structure so as to expose the applicator.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising removing the structure from the container.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the closing element comprises an auxiliary product, and wherein the method further comprises loading at least a portion of the applicator with at least a portion of the auxiliary product.

41. The device of claim 35, wherein the product comprises at least a portion of a cosmetic product.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the product comprises at least one of a liquid, a milk, a cream, and a gel.

43. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured so that the valve remains in the open position while the structure is fitted to the container.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the device is configured so that the valve remains in the open position while the structure is fitted to the container regardless of axial force applied to the structure.

45. The device of claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to be fitted to a portion of the container other than the valve.

46. The device of claim 1, wherein the container defines a reservoir, wherein the reservoir and at least a portion of the structure are substantially not axially movable with respect to one another when the housing is fitted to the container.