Device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic or another care product

• US 7,377,296 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust; Timothy L.
• Application Number:
  US10/937,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 141/20, 141/113, 141/346, 141/352, 401123-125
• US Class Current: 141/352
• 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 34/042 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/262 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0056 with an additional opening for filling or refilling

Abstract

A device for packaging and dispensing a product includes: a unit that can be refilled with product using a container having a dispenser member, the unit comprising: a body; an element that can be refilled with product comprising a product application surface; and, a filling valve that is attached to the body and configured to pass from a closed configuration to a filling configuration under the effect of a thrust exerted by the dispenser member, and to return to the closed configuration in the absence of the dispenser member.

Claims

1. A device for packaging and dispensing a product, said device comprising:

a unit that can be refilled with product using a container having a dispenser member comprising a hollow stem, said unit comprising;

a body;

an element that can be refilled with the product, the element comprising a product application surface;

a filling valve that is attached to said body and configured to pass from a closed configuration to a filling configuration under an effect of a thrust exerted by the dispenser member, and to return to the closed configuration in the absence of the dispenser member, the filling valve comprising a portion movable relative to the body, the portion defining a housing for receiving the hollow stem, the filling valve comprising an inner duct opening at an end of the housing, the inner duct communicating with at least one orifice of the filling valve and allowing the product to flow from the hollow stem into the unit in a filling configuration.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow stem is a valve stem.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow stem is a pump stem.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the hollow stem is movable with respect to the container along an axis between a rest position and a position for dispensing the product.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the force necessary to cause the filling valve to go from the closed configuration to the filling configuration is less than or equal to the force necessary to make the hollow stem pass from the rest position to the dispensing position.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein the force necessary to cause the hollow stem to pass from the rest position to the dispensing position is between about 10 daN and about 15 daN.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve is configured to take up the filling configuration before the dispenser member delivers any product into the refillable unit.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve is made as a single piece by moulding a material.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve is made as a single piece by moulding an elastomer.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve is made by assembling several components.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve is attached to the body of the refillable unit.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the body of the refillable unit has an aperture passing therethrough, the filling valve being placed in the aperture.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the aperture is located in a depression opening out into an internal space of the unit.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the filling valve does not protrude from the depression.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein there is no contact between the filling valve and the product-refillable element.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve comprises an elastic return member for returning the filling member to the closed configuration when the dispenser member of the container is uncoupled from the filling valve.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the elastic return member is in the form of a lip made as a single piece with a stopper-forming part of the filling valve.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the return member is in the form of a spring that is not made as a single piece with a stopper-forming part of the valve.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the return member is a helical spring that is elastically interposed between an outer surface of the body and a shoulder made on the stopper-forming part of the filling valve.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve comprises a stopper-forming part that comprises at least one orifice that is closed off by the body of the refillable unit when the valve is in the closed configuration and that opens out into the internal space when the valve is in the filling configuration.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the stopper-forming part comprises at least two diametrically opposed and coaxial orifices.

22. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve comprises a stopper-forming part that comprises at least one boss making it possible to reduce the extent of the contacting surfaces of the filling valve and of the body.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the filling valve comprises at least one annular boss.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the filling valve comprises at least two annular bosses.

25. A device according to claim 23, wherein the annular boss is placed on a side of the orifice through which the product passes before reaching the internal space.

26. A device according to claim 24, wherein the two annular bosses are placed on either side of the orifices through which the product passes before reaching the internal space.

27. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve comprises a fixed part placed in an aperture of the body and a stopper-forming part that can move relative to the fixed part under the effect of a thrust exerted by the dispenser member of the container.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the stopper-forming part can move relative to the fixed part under the effect of a thrust exerted by the hollow stem of at least one of a pump and a valve bearing against the stopper-forming part so as to push the stopper-forming part away from the fixed part.

29. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve comprises an endpiece designed to cooperate with the dispenser member, the endpiece being movable relative to an elastomer part.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein the stopper-forming part is articulated to the fixed part via a hinge-forming part.

31. A device according to claim 1, wherein the filling valve comprises a head for retaining the filling valve in the body of the refillable unit.

32. A device according to claim 1, wherein the head has a wall that is thinner at its periphery.

33. A device according to claim 1, wherein the product-refillable element in the unit consists of an applicator member.

34. A device according to claim 33, further comprising a member for gripping the applicator member fastened removably to the body.

35. A device according to claim 33, wherein the applicator member is integral with the body during application.

36. A device according to claim 33, wherein the applicator member comprises an elastically deformable element.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein the elastically deformable element comprises a foam.

38. A device according to claim 1, wherein the unit comprises a handle.

39. A device according to claim 38, wherein the handle is removable.

40. A device according to claim 38, wherein the handle is foldable.

41. A device according to claim 1, wherein the unit comprises a grid inserted between the product-refillable element and the filling valve.

42. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a dip tube.

43. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a piston and wherein the container comprises a dispenser member.

44. A device according to claim 43, wherein the dispenser member comprises an airless pump.