Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – Tool supported out of communication with supply
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-03
2004-06-29
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Supply container and independent applicator
Tool supported out of communication with supply
C401S123000, C401S124000, C132S317000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06755585
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device applying a product, for example, one or more cosmetic products.
In the field of cosmetic products, for example, one or more products may be provided in a container, which is beneath a housing that may communicate via one or more passages with an applicator received by the housing. The applicator may be integral with an element which closes an opening of the housing and which provides a structure for holding the applicator. The one or more passages may be equipped with a valve, for example, a flap valve, that opens in response to pressure from the product.
An example of one such device for applying a product is generally described in French patent application FR-A-2 792 296, which discloses an application assembly for applying one or more products, for example, to the skin and/or to the hair. The application assembly may include a container containing a first product and one or more applicator caps containing a second product. The applicator cap may include a support having a structure attaching it to the container while an applicator member is fitted to the support. The applicator cap may be designed to convey the first product from an orifice formed in the support to an application face of the application member. The application member may be covered by a removable cap fitted to the support and a second product may be received in the bottom of the removable cap in the form of a solid cake or a powder. The application surface may press elastically against the second product.
According to some embodiments disclosed in that document, a valve may be provided in the vicinity of the orifice in order to selectively open or close the orifice. The valve may be opened by the pressure of the product or by pressure exerted upon the application member when, for example, it contacts the surface to which the product is to be applied. The first product may be, for example, a make-up base in the form of a cream, a gel, or a milk. The second product may, for example, be in the form of a compressed or loose powder and may contain colored fillers or pigments. In some other embodiments, the first product may be a moisturizing and/or soothing base, for example, in the form of a milk or a cream. The second product may be in the form of, for example, a powder or a cream, and may contain a filter for protection against ultra-violet (UV) radiation. The disclosed application assembly, however, is not configured so that the valve is placed in an open condition in response to fitting structure (e.g., the applicator cap or its support) to the container.
Experience shows that when the applicator cap is equipped with a valve which is opened by pressing the application member on the surface to be treated, it may be difficult to apply the desired amount of product. Moreover, the pressure applied to the surface that is to be treated can, depending on the surface to be treated, make for uncomfortable application of the product. In addition, the valve may close automatically when the pressure is removed, which may prevent air being drawn back into the container. If the container is a flexible-walled tube, its shape may remain at least partly squashed following use, which may render it less attractive.
One subject of the invention relates to providing a device for applying one or more products that may include a container having a structure provided with an applicator that fully or partly obviates one or more of the drawbacks associated with the related art. Another subject of the invention relates to providing a device that may allow easy application of a desired amount of one or more products. A further subject of the invention relates to providing a device that may result in a more comfortable application of the product(s). Another subject of the invention relates to providing a device that may be simple and inexpensive to produce.
In the following description, certain aspects and embodiments will become evident. It should be understood that the invention, in its broadest sense, could be practiced without having one or more features of these aspects and embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary.
In one aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a device for applying a product. The device may include a container configured to contain a product. The container may include an opening and a valve associated with the opening. The device may include a structure configured to be removably fitted to the container. The structure may include a closing element and a housing at least partially defined by the closing element. The housing may include at least one passage configured to provide flow communication between the container and the housing via the opening of the container when the structure is in a fitted position on the container. The structure may include an applicator configured to be at least partially received in the housing. The device may be configured so that the valve is placed in an open position in response to fitting of the structure to the container (e.g., the device may be configured to place the valve in an open position as a result of fitting the structure to the container, which is in contrast to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2
of FR-A-2 792 296, where a valve is not placed in an open position in response to fitting).
When the structure (e.g., a removable structure) is not fitted to the container, the product may be protected from the air without any auxiliary closing element such as a stopper or cap due, at least in part, to the presence of a valve in the opening of the container. The valve may be opened by fitting the structure to the container (and/or possibly closed by removing the structure). Since, in some embodiments, the product may be applied without exerting pressure on the skin, it may result in improved comfort when applying the product. When application of the product to the skin ceases, the valve may remain open. Thus, the valve may not prevent air from being drawn back into the container, and the container may maintain an attractive shape after use (e.g., the walls of an exemplary, flexible-walled container may not remain compressed).
According to another aspect, the valve may be configured to close via a return force when the structure is separated from the container. For example, the valve may include at least one elastically deformable portion configured to exert the return force. The valve may further include a movable valving element, wherein the movable valving element and the elastically deformable portion are integral with one another. For example, the movable valving element and the elastically deformable portion may be defined by a single piece, unitary construction (e.g., a construction molded from a single material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or another material). The elastically deformable portion may be configured to retain the movable valving element in the opening of the container. Some embodiments may include a spring (e.g., a helical spring), wherein the return force is exerted by the spring.
According to yet another aspect, the container may define a reservoir, and the valve may define a movable valving element configured to place the valve in the open position via displacement of the valving element toward the reservoir. This aspect may facilitate opening of the valve when the structure is fitted to the container.
In additional aspect, the device may include a member that is at least one of situated in the at least one passage of the housing and situated facing the at least one passage of the housing, wherein the member is configured to contact the valve when the structure is fitted to the container.
According to yet another aspect, the valve of the container may be a first valve, and the device may include a second valve associated with the at least one passage of the housing. According to this aspect, the structure may, for example, after loading the applicator with product, be removed from the container and placed in a handbag. The product r
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
L'Oreal (S.A.)
Walczak David J.
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