Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – With means for removing surplus material from tool
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-12-11
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Supply container and independent applicator
With means for removing surplus material from tool
C401S121000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328495
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for packaging and applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic.
The invention relates more particularly to a packaging and applicator device comprising a receptacle for containing the substance and an applicator comprising an applicator element, the receptacle being provided with a wiper member for wiping the applicator element when the applicator is extracted from the receptacle at the time of use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous packaging and applicator devices of that type are known.
Application NO 91/01097 discloses a device comprising a receptacle and an applicator of circular cross-section that is constituted by a brush. Such a device has a wiper member constituted by a split membrane which is provided with a central orifice whose section corresponds substantially to that of the applicator. In particular because of the presence of the above-mentioned orifice, the end of the applicator element cannot be wiped in satisfactory manner.
British patent 452 640 discloses a device having a receptacle provided with a split wiper member designed to wipe a comb inserted through a slot of the receptacle. Nothing in such a device prevents the comb from reaching the ends of the slot of the wiper member while the comb is being withdrawn.
European patent application EP-A-0 761 123 discloses a device having an applicator element of elongate cross-section. Such a device does not enable the end of the applicator element to be wiped in completely satisfactory manner over its entire length.
There exists a need to improve the quality with which the applicator element is wiped when its cross-section is of elongate shape, since the quality of the resulting makeup depends to a large extent on the quality of the wiping.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the novel packaging and applicator device of the invention, firstly the wiper member has a slot whose edges are substantially touching at rest in the absence of the applicator, and secondly the device has a guide member for guiding the applicator while it is being withdrawn from the receptacle so as to keep the applicator element away from the axial ends of said slot while it is passing through the wiper member when the applicator is withdrawn.
In a preferred implementation of the invention, the guide member is organized to keep the applicator element far enough away from the axial ends of the slot to ensure that the edges thereof in the vicinity of said axial ends remain substantially touching while the applicator element is passing through.
By means of the invention, it is possible to wipe the applicator element in particularly satisfactory manner, particularly when the element is substantially flat, such as a brush, a comb, or a body covered in flock, with the plane of the element extending substantially parallel to the slot of the wiper member.
The applicator element may have bristles or teeth extending substantially on the axis of the applicator. In particular, the applicator element may be constituted by a comb having teeth extending substantially on the axis of the applicator, the bases of the teeth preferably being disposed along a line that is outwardly convex.
The wiper member is preferably organized in such a manner that the slot opens more easily while the applicator is being inserted into the receptacle than while it is being withdrawn therefrom.
This makes it possible to reduce the risk of the applicator element being damaged when the applicator is reinserted, while nevertheless maintaining satisfactory wiping of the applicator element while the applicator is being withdrawn.
In a particular embodiment, the receptacle has a body, and the wiper member has a resilient membrane that is clamped between a wall of the body of the receptacle extending parallel to the axis of the applicator, and an insert that is fixed on the body of the receptacle.
The said insert advantageously has a skirt at its top portion for co-operating in leakproof manner with the applicator when the applicator is in place on the receptacle, and on its bottom portion it has a guide part that converges towards the inside of the receptacle.
This guide part can be constituted, for example, by a sloping wall connected at its top end to a wall of the insert against which said membrane is clamped.
In a particular embodiment, the guide member is constituted by the neck of the receptacle and the axial ends of the slot are situated outside the smallest inside section of the neck when the device is observed on the axis of the receptacle.
The neck may be conical so as to enable the applicator to be tilted relative to the axis of the receptacle.
Still in a particular embodiment, the applicator can have a flat rod provided with the applicator element at one end.
The guide member can be organized in such a manner that the sides of the rod are prevented from coming into contact with the ends of the slot.
Advantageously, the applicator rod is provided at its other end with a handle element which also constitutes a cap for closing the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment, the neck has an oblong inside section whose shortest longitudinal dimension is only slightly greater than the width of the flat rod of the applicator.
Advantageously, the length of the slot is greater than or equal to 1.2 times the largest transverse dimension of the applicator element.
In a particular embodiment, the wiper member has a membrane made of an elastomer material.
The membrane advantageously comprises at least one preferred deformation zone facilitating opening of the slot as the applicator passes through.
In a particular embodiment, the above-mentioned preferred deformation zone is made by means of at least one zone of reduced thickness, e.g. in the form of one or more grooves formed in the outside and/or inside face of said membrane, around the above-mentioned slot.
In a particular embodiment, the slot is extended at its axial ends by cutouts for the purpose of conferring greater mobility to its longitudinal edges. These cutouts advantageously form an angle with the longitudinal edges of the slot.
Preferably, the membrane is fixed on a wall of the receptacle in such a manner that the longitudinal edges of the slot can pivot towards the inside of the receptacle, going away from said wall, while the applicator is being reinserted, and come to bear against said wall while the applicator is being withdrawn. In this way, the edges of the slot bear more strongly against the applicator element while the applicator is being withdrawn than while it is being reinserted into the receptacle, which is advantageous, as explained above.
The membrane can be fixed, for example, on an insertion cone of the receptacle for the purpose of facilitating insertion of the applicator into the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment, the receptacle has a body and a cover designed to be fixed on the body, the cover carrying the guide member and the wiper member.
The shape of the applicator is preferably chosen in such a manner as to facilitate insertion thereof through the wiper member.
The wiper member can be fixed on the guide member.
The wiper member can close the receptacle in leakproof manner when the applicator is removed therefrom.
The wiper member can press in substantially leakproof manner against the applicator when the applicator is in place in the receptacle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3763870 (1973-10-01), Montgomery et al.
patent: 5137387 (1992-08-01), Byrd et al.
patent: 6010265 (2000-01-01), Bouix
patent: 17 57 096 (1971-01-01), None
patent: 0 761 123 A1 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 452 640 (1936-08-01), None
patent: 683 932 (1952-12-01), None
patent: WO 91/01097 A1 (1991-02-01), None
patent: WO 96/04816 A1 (1996-02-01), None
patent: WO 96/32033 A1 (1996-10-01), None
L'Oreal
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Walczak David J.
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