Device for packaging and applying a substance, the device including a wiper member

• US 7,967,519 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Khoa D
• Application Number:
  US10/849,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,595 Days
• Field of Search: 401/122, 401/121, 401/123, 401/126, 401/118
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A device for packaging and applying a substance includes: a receptacle for containing a substance; an applicator including an applicator element; and a wiper member for wiping the applicator element, wherein the wiper member includes a longitudinally split annular portion having a wall including at least one slot extending to a free end of the wiper member, the slot passing through an entire thickness of the wall. The split portion may have, in a plane in which an inside cross-section thereof is at a minimum, an outside cross-section that is greater than a maximum cross-section of the applicator element. The split portion deforms radially outward when the applicator element passes therethrough.

Claims

1. A device for packaging and applying a substance, the device comprising:

a receptacle for containing a substance;

an applicator including a stem with a free end;

an applicator element attached to the free end of the stem; and

a wiper member for wiping the applicator element, wherein

(a) the wiper member includes a split portion, the split portion including an annular bead, under the condition that the applicator element is outside of the wiper member and inside the receptacle such that the applicator element is not in contact with the wiper member, an outside diameter of the annular bead is larger than an outside diameter of the applicator element, wherein the outside diameter of the applicator element is measured from a radially outermost point on the applicator element to a diametrically opposite radially outermost point on the applicator element,

(b) the split portion extends over less than a height of the wiper member and has a wall that includes at least one slot extending to the free end of the wiper member, the slot being defined by opposing faces of the wall, the slot passing through an entire thickness of the wall,

(c) the split portion has, in a plane in which an inside cross-section thereof is at a minimum, an outside cross-section that is greater than a maximum cross-section of the applicator element,

(d) the split portion deforms radially outward when the applicator element passes therethrough, and

(e) when the wiper member is not engaged with the applicator element, the opposing faces of the wall are in substantial contact.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the annular bead projects radially outward.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the portion in relief comprises at least one rib placed level with the at least one slot.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall of the split portion lies in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 8 mm.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall of the split portion lies in the range of about 0.8 mm to about 6 mm.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall of the split portion lies in the range of about 1.2 mm to about 6 mm.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion is made of an elastically deformable material of hardness lying in the range of about 15 on the Shore A scale to about 40 on the Shore D scale.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion is made of a material selected from:

silicone elastomer;

ethylene propylene diene;

nitrile rubber;

butyle rubber;

latex;

thermoplastic elastomer;

polyurethane;

polyester;

polyethylene;

polyvinyl chloride;

ethylene vinyl acetate;

styrene-isoprene-styrene;

styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer;

styrene-ethylene-butaliene-styrene;

polyester elastomer; and

polyether-block co-polyamide polymer.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes at least two longitudinal slots.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes at least three longitudinal slots.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes more than four longitudinal slots.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes more than six longitudinal slots.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes a plurality of slots that are regularly distributed around the circumference of the split portion.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes at least one slot of length, measured along the longitudinal axis of the wiper member, that lies in the range of about 2 mm to about 15 mm.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper member has axial symmetry when at rest and in the absence of an applicator element.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper member has an outside envelope that is generally in the form of a body of revolution when at rest and in the absence of an applicator element.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion has an inside cross-section that is one of circular, oval, and polygonal.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the split portion has an inside cross-section that is one of square and triangular.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein, at least over a certain distance, an inside cross-section of the split portion tapers in a direction approaching a free end of the split portion.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion is secured to a fixing portion mounted on the receptacle.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the fixing portion is engaged in a neck of the receptacle.

22. A device according to claim 20, wherein the fixing portion has a collar at one end for bearing axially against an end edge of a neck of the receptacle.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the split portion and the fixing portion are made as a single piece by molding material.

24. A device according to claim 22, wherein the split portion is made as one part, and the fixing portion is made as another part, with the two parts being secured to each other.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein the two parts are made of different materials.

26. A device according to claim 20, wherein the fixing portion is made of a material selected from:

polyolefins;

polyethylene;

polypropylene;

polyacetal;

polyamide; and

polyethylene terephthalate.

27. A device according to claim 24, wherein the two parts are assembled together by a technique selected from:

mechanical assembly;

adhesive;

heat-sealing; and

overmolding.

28. A device according to claim 24, wherein the split portion comprises a fraction of a part that covers the fixing portion.

29. A device according to claim 27, wherein the split portion is made in a part which includes a portion arranged to be mechanically assembled with the fixing portion by snap-fastening.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein the annular bead of the wiper member is configured to snap-fastening inside the receptacle.

31. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot has a cross-section that diverges radially outward.

32. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot is V-shaped.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the at least one slot has facing faces that are flocked.

34. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper member includes a groove in an outside surface thereof above the split portion.

35. A device according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the applicator element is not circular over at least a fraction of a length thereof.

36. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator element includes a coating of flocking.

37. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator element comprises one of a brush and a comb, the applicator element being arranged to apply a substance to one of the eyelashes and the eyebrows.

38. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a substance contained in the receptacle, wherein the substance is for application to keratinous fibers.

39. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a substance contained in the receptacle, wherein the substance is for application to one of the lips and the eyelids.

40. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a stem having the applicator element fastened to an end thereof.

41. A device according to claim 40, wherein the stem comprises a first portion with a first cross-section and a second portion with a second cross-section smaller than the first cross-section, said second portion being positioned in the split portion of the wiper member when the applicator is in place on the receptacle.

42. A device according to claim 1, wherein an inside cross-section of the split portion tapers to a free end of the split portion.

43. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall of the wiper member is not constant.

44. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall of the wiper member is not constant over a bottom half of the wiper member.

45. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall of the wiper member is not constant over the split portion.

46. A device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the wall in the split portion is such that the applicator element does not project beyond an outside perimeter of the wiper member, such that the applicator element remains masked within the wiper member, and is wiped in a thickness of the at least one slot as the applicator element passes through the wiper member.

47. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot extends over less than half a height of the wiper member.

48. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot extends over less than one-third of a height of the wiper member.

49. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slot is made in a portion of the wiper member that extends therealong and that is such that an inside cross-section of the wiper member over said portion is less than or equal to a maximum cross-section of the applicator.

50. A device according to claim 1, wherein the split portion includes more than eight longitudinal slots.

51. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a cosmetic contained in the receptacle.

52. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a care product contained in the receptacle.

53. A device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator element has a raised surface.

54. A device according to claim 53, wherein the raised surface is flocking.

55. A device according to claim 53, wherein the raised surface is bristles.

56. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the wiper member is engaged with the applicator element, the applicator element does not project beyond the outer periphery of the wiper member.