Packaging item

• US 8,206,049 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Thiebaut, Laure
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiang, Jennifer C
• Application Number:
  US12/488,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20090317171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 401/118, 401/121, 401/122, 401126-130, 220/521, 220/529, 220/23.83, 220/23.9, 220/23.86, 220/23.87, 206/572, 206/229, 206/361
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/0075 with dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A packaging item for a cosmetic product includes a receptacle provided with an opening and a plate mounted on the receptacle and carrying at least one wiping member, the wiping member being displaceable in a slot or a port of the plate to occupy different positions in the opening of the receptacle, the positions allowing product to be removed with an applicator from different zones of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A packaging item for a cosmetic product, the packaging item comprising:

a receptacle provided with an opening and configured to contain a product; and

a plate including a slot, the plate configured to be mounted on the receptacle and to carry at least one wiping member having an orifice through which an applicator may be passed to remove product from the receptacle,

wherein the slot has an elongated shape and comprises a length larger than its width, said length being measured in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the opening of the receptacle and to an axis of the opening of the wiping member,

wherein the wiping member has an outer diameter or outer transverse dimension which is smaller than the length of the slot so as to occupy partially the slot, and

wherein the wiping member is displaceable in the slot of the plate along its length and is configured to occupy different positions in the opening of the receptacle, said different positions allowing the product to be removed with the applicator from different portions of the receptacle.

2. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiping member is movable in the slot of the plate in at least one direction, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the opening of the receptacle.

3. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiping member is movable in at least one of rotation and translation in the slot of the plate.

4. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiping member is guided by the slot of the plate.

5. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is substantially radial with respect to an axis of the opening of the receptacle.

6. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate includes at least two slots which are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other, a wiping member configured to be displaced in each slot.

7. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate includes a plurality of slots which are connected together so that at least one wiping member can be moved from one slot to another in the plate.

8. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiping member includes a ring configured to be engaged in the slot by elastic snap-fitting and to be slidably supported on an upper face and a lower face of the plate including the slot.

9. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiping member includes two outer annular rims which are substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other, one of said rims configured to be slidably supported on one face of the plate, and the other of said rims configured to be slidably supported on another opposed face of the plate or to be engaged in a slidable manner in an inner groove of an edge of the plate defining the slot.

10. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate is movable in at least one of translation and rotation on the receptacle in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the opening of the receptacle.

11. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate carries two or three wiping members.

12. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate has a circular, square or rectangular outer contour.

13. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate covers at least a portion of the opening of the receptacle.

14. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of slots are provided in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of the opening of the receptacle.

15. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is arcurate.

16. The packaging item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wiping member includes a ring configured to be engaged in the slot, and wherein opposed faces of the plate forming the slot are not parallel.

17. A method for removing a product from a packaging item, the method comprising:

providing a receptacle including an opening, the receptacle configured to contain the product;

providing a plate including a slot, the plate configured to be mounted on the receptacle and to carry at least one wiping member having an orifice through which an applicator may be passed, wherein the slot has an elongated shape and comprises a length larger than its width, said length being measured in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the opening of the receptacle and to an axis of the opening of the wiping member, and wherein the wiping member has an outer diameter or outer transverse dimension which is smaller than the length of the slot so as to occupy partially the slot;

moving the wiping member above an area of an internal portion of the receptacle;

inserting an applicator at least partially through the wiping member; and

removing the applicator from the wiping member to remove product from the receptacle.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

displacement of the plate on the receptacle, wherein the wiping member is moved above the product contained in the receptacle by movement of the wiping member in the slot of the plate and by movement of the plate on the receptacle.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

rotating the plate on the receptacle; and

moving the wiping member in at least one of rotation and translation in one or more slots of the plate.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

moving at least one wiping member within a corresponding at least one slot contained in the plate;

rotating the plate to a first position on the receptacle;

inserting an applicator into each of the at least one wiping members;

contacting the product with an end portion of the applicator;

removing the applicator from the wiping member to remove product from the receptacle;

rotating the plate to a second position on the receptacle different from the first position; and

removing product from the receptacle.