Assembly comprising two packaging devices connected by a coupling member

• US 7,424,890 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Noel, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan; Robyn
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEITZ, RACHEL RUNNING
• Application Number:
  US11/286,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 132/294, 132/297, 132/314, 206/581, 401/118, 401/121, 401/122, 401126-130, 220/4.07, 220/4.27, 220/23.4, 220/504, D28 78- 84
• US Class Current: 132/294
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/24 Casings for two or more cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/265 connected to the cap of the container

Abstract

A packaging assembly includes two packaging devices, with each device including a container able to contain a cosmetic and/or care product and a removable closure cap able to close off the container. In addition, a coupling member includes two housings communicating with one another and each opening via a respective opening. Each housing is able to at least partially accommodate one device. Further, the devices are configured to cooperate with one another so as to limit the respective clearances with which they are mounted in their respective housings.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a) first and second packaging devices, each device comprising a container able to contain a cosmetic and/or care product and a removable closure cap able to close off the said container;

b) a coupling member comprising first and second housings communicating with one another through an opening between the first and second housings, wherein the first and second housings open via respective first and second openings, and wherein each housing is able to at least partially accommodate one device; and

wherein the first and second devices cooperate directly with one another through the opening so as to limit the respective clearances with which they are mounted in their respective housings, and

wherein an axis of insertion (X1) of the first device into the coupling member is distinct from an axis of insertion (X2) of the second device into the coupling member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises a longitudinal axis (X), and wherein axially opposed ends of the assembly are bevelled so that the projection of the center of mass (S) of the assembly along an axis perpendicular to one of the bevelled ends is not defined within the outline of said one of the beveled ends.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure caps define axially opposed ends of the assembly.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member comprises means for collaborating with the first device and the second device in order to limit their respective clearances in the coupling member.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member comprises a first means to hold the first device in the first housing.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first means includes a first tab.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first tab extends from a periphery of the first opening.

8. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the container of the first device comprises a first lug able to cooperate by butting against the first tab and wherein the first lug deforms the first tab as the first device is inserted into the first housing.

9. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first tab extends parallel to the axis of insertion (X1) of the first device through the first opening.

10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the openings have a cross section that is not axi-symmetric, with each complementing a cross section of one of the devices.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the openings are each symmetrical about a plane.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first and second devices are each symmetrical about a plane.

13. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the containers and the closure caps of the devices are identical to one another.

14. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the devices has a neck protruding beyond one of the openings.

15. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is obtained by overmoulding or two-shot injection moulding, with walls delimiting the second housing being overmoulded over walls delimiting the first housing.

16. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises, on its internal periphery, at least one rib able to cooperate with an external periphery of the first device so as to limit its radial clearance within the coupling member.

17. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a center of symmetry.

18. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the devices includes an applicator member secured to either the container or the cap.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the containers includes a wringing-out arrangement for the applicator.

20. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the devices houses an applicator member secured to the corresponding closure cap.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein the applicator member is snap-fastened to the closure cap.

22. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein the applicator member is mounted at the end of a wand held in the closure cap in such a way that, in a closed position, sealed contact is established between the wand and a sealing means exhibited by the container.

23. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein each device comprises an applicator member.

24. An assembly according to claim 23, wherein the applicator members are different.

25. An assembly according to claim 24, wherein one of the applicator members is a brush and the other of the applicator members is a comb.

26. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second openings open at axially opposite ends of the assembly.

27. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the two axes of insertion are parallel to one another.

28. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices are positioned side by side, at least partially contiguous, in the coupling member.

29. An assembly according to claim 1, further including means for indexing the position of the closure cap relative to the coupling member in the closed position.

30. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the containers contain different products, which are such that a first product contained in the first device is to be applied prior to applying a second product contained in the second device.

31. An assembly according to claim 30, wherein the products are make-up products.

32. An assembly according to claim 31, wherein the products are eye make-up products.

33. An assembly according to claim 32, wherein an applicator is associated with each of the first and second devices.

34. An assembly according to claim 33, wherein the applicators are respectively inserted into the respective first and second devices at opposite axial ends of the assembly and in substantially opposite axial directions.

35. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein axial movement of the first device is limited in a first axial direction by the second device and in a second axial direction opposite to said first by said coupling member.

36. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein said first and second openings respectively open at opposite axial ends of said assembly.

37. An assembly according to claim 36, wherein first and second applicators are respectively associated with each of said first and second devices, and wherein a direction of removal of said first applicator from said first device is substantially opposite to a direction of removal of said second applicator from said second device.

38. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices cooperate directly with one another through the opening by coming into contact with each other.

39. An assembly according to claim 38, wherein each of the first and second devices include a neck, a base, and a sidewall arranged between the neck and the base, and wherein a portion of the sidewall of the first device comes into contact with a portion of the sidewall of the second device.

40. An assembly according to claim 38, wherein a side face of an external periphery of the first device extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first device, and wherein the side face of the first device includes a projection that comes into contact with the second device.

41. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices are respectively arranged in the first and second housings of the coupling member such that a longitudinal axis of the first device is offset with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second device.

42. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first and second openings respectively open at opposite axial ends of said assembly, and wherein the first and second devices are respectively arranged in the first and second housings of the coupling member such that a longitudinal axis of the first device is not co-linear with a longitudinal axis of the second device.

43. An assembly comprising:

a) first and second packaging devices, each device comprising a container able to contain a cosmetic and/or care product and a removable closure cap able to close off the said container;

b) a coupling member comprising first and second housings communicating with one another, wherein the first and second housings open via respective first and second openings, and wherein each housing is able to at least partially accommodate one device; and

wherein the first and second devices are configured to cooperate with one another so as to limit the respective clearances with which they are mounted in their respective housings, wherein the coupling member comprises a first means to hold the first device in the first housing, wherein the first means includes a first tab, wherein the container of the first device comprises a first lug able to cooperate by butting against the first tab, wherein the first lug deforms the first tab as the first device is inserted into the first housing, and wherein the container of the second device comprises a step which cooperates with the first lug in such a way as to keep the first lug between this step and an edge of the first tab.

44. An assembly according to claim 43, wherein the coupling member comprises a second tab which is elastically deformable and which cooperates with a second lug of the container of the second device, wherein the second lug is axially immobilized between an edge of this second tab and a step of the container of the first device.

45. An assembly comprising:

a) first and second packaging devices, each device comprising a container able to contain a cosmetic and/or care product and a removable closure cap able to close off the said container;

b) a coupling member comprising first and second housings communicating with one another, wherein the first and second housings open via respective first and second openings, and wherein each housing is able to at least partially accommodate one device; and

wherein the first and second devices are configured to cooperate with one another so as to limit the respective clearances with which they are mounted in their respective housings,

wherein axial movement of the first device is limited in a first axial direction by the second device and in a second axial direction opposite to said first by said coupling member, and

wherein said first device includes a first protrusion which engages with said second device to limit movement in said first axial direction and which engages said coupling member to limit movement in said second axial direction.

46. An assembly according to claim 45, wherein said second device includes a second protrusion which limits axial movement of said second device by engagement with said first device in one axial direction and by engagement with said coupling member in another axial direction opposite to said one axial direction.

47. An assembly according to claim 46, wherein said first and second openings respectively open at opposite axial ends of said assembly.