Wringer for product applicator, application assembly comprising such a wringer, and its use in cosmetics

• US 8,926,207 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lvmh Recherche
• Original Assignee: Lvmh Recherche
• Inventors: Chevalier, Marc, Tranchant, Jean-Francois, Chevalier, Myriam
• Primary Examiner(s): WALCZAK, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US13/209,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 401/121, 401/122, 401/126, 401128-130, 337/22, 337/25, 152/181
• US Class Current: 401/129
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A wringer comprising an upper section having a first inner diameter, a lower section having a second inner diameter which is less than the first inner diameter, and an intermediate section which forms a single inwardly projecting annular crease delimiting a central throat having a third inner diameter which in the rest position is at least equal to the second inner diameter. The annular crease is deformable by compression between the upper and lower sections into a wringing position in which the central throat is narrowed.

Claims

1. A wringer in the form of an annular sleeve wherein the wringer which comprises:

an upper section designed to be secured by interlocking into the neck of a reservoir of product, said upper section having a first inscribed circle diameter,

a free lower section having a second inscribed circle diameter that is less than the first inscribed circle diameter,

an intermediate section which forms an inwardly projecting annular crease delimiting a central throat having a third inscribed circle diameter which is greater than the second inscribed circle diameter in a rest position, and said annular crease being deformable, by axial compression between the upper and lower sections, to a wringing position in which said central throat is smaller than in the rest position, said central throat having in said wringing position a fourth inscribed circle diameter which is less than the second and third inscribed circle diameters, and

wherein there is only one annular crease.

2. The wringer according to claim 1, wherein the lower section converges towards a lower end which delimits said second inscribed circle diameter.

3. The wringer according to claim 1, wherein the lower section has at least one lateral opening.

4. The wringer according to any claim 1, wherein the annular crease of the intermediate section has at least two lateral openings.

5. The wringer according to claim 4, wherein the lateral openings of the annular crease each have a maximum width at the central throat.

6. The wringer according to claim 1, wherein the third inscribed circle diameter is less than the first inscribed circle diameter.

7. The wringer according to claim 1, wherein the lower section has an upper portion, adjacent to the intermediate section, which has an external width greater than the first inscribed circle diameter.

8. The wringer according to claim 1, wherein the annular crease of the intermediate section comprises external protrusions on each side of the central throat, which abut against one another in the wringing position.

9. The wringer according to claim 1, injection molded as a single piece, of at least one synthetic material.

10. An applicator assembly for applying a product in the fluid state, wherein the applicator assembly comprises:

a reservoir to contain said product, said reservoir comprising a neck,

a wringer according to claim 1, in which the upper section is fixed in the neck of the reservoir,

an applicator comprising a cap designed to be removably attached onto the neck of the reservoir, a wand extending from the cap through the wringer when said cap is mounted onto the neck, and an applicator head having a width that is greater than the second inscribed circle diameter and which is designed to, when it leaves the reservoir and passes through the wringer, exert on the lower section of the wringer an axial force sufficient to compress axially the annular crease of the intermediate section and place it in its wringing position.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the wand has a diameter that is at most equal to the second inscribed circle diameter.

12. The assembly according to claim 10, additionally comprising said product contained in the reservoir, said product being chosen from among the following:

a mascara, a lipstick, a foundation, an eye shadow, or a cosmetic care product.