Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – With means for removing surplus material from tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-07-17
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
06261017
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of packaging and applicator devices for a substance that may be in liquid, semiliquid, or powder form, in particular for a cosmetic.
More particularly, the invention relates to a device of the type comprising a receptacle open at one end and suitable for containing said substance, and an applicator including a stalk provided at one end with an applicator element and at the other end with a handle member, the applicator element being inserted into the receptacle and being withdrawn therefrom in contact with an elastically deformable wiper member housed in the receptacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
French patent application No. 2 285 101 discloses a packaging and applicator device of that type, containing eye shadow in powder form. In that known device, the wiper member is constituted, for example, by cork or by rubber foam.
Makeup can only be applied properly providing the applicator element is wiped in satisfactory manner.
If the applicator element is wiped excessively, then the user needs to reload it frequently with makeup.
In contrast, incomplete wiping leaves excess makeup on the applicator element, thereby making it difficult to apply, and causing makeup to be wasted. In particular, the makeup can dry on the stalk and form a solid residue that is liable to flake off and produce solid fragments that spoil the quality of the makeup.
On going past known wiper members, the applicator element also behaves like a piston an causes a disagreeable popping noise to be given off.
When the makeup is a powder, the puff of air associated with the popping noise can blow the powder about, and naturally that is not desirable.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved packaging and applicator device.
In the device, said wiper member is constituted at least in part by foam comprising at least 5% of open cells.
The use of such a foam presents numerous advantages. When the makeup is a liquid or a semiliquid, the foam can absorb the makeup and moisten the stalk of the applicator, thus preventing the formation of a solid deposit that is liable to flake and generate solid fragments that can spoil the quality of the makeup.
Because the foam is porous, air can also pass through it while the applicator in being installed or withdrawn.
This prevents pressure inside the receptacle rising or falling and thus prevents a popping noise being given off. When the makeup is a powder, this prevents the powder being blown about.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the foam is in contact with the stalk of the applicator when the applicator is in place in the receptacle.
Advantageously, care is taken to ensure that the foam is not compressed excessively by the stalk of the applicator when the applicator is housed in the receptacle, in order to avoid any danger of permanently deforming the foam which could spoil wiping quality.
For this purpose, in a first variant of the invention, it in possible to provide a hole passing through the foam axially and of a diameter that is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the stalk. In a second variant, it is possible to make a slot passing through the foam axially and to use a stalk that is extremely fine, preferably made of metal, and having a diameter lying in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, for example.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the foam of the wiper member is disposed in such a manner as to be situated in contact with the portion of the stalk that is adjacent to the handle member when the applicator is in place on the receptacle. This prevents there being a volume of air present above the wiper member when the applicator is in place and the consequent formation of solid residue by drying.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the foam is permanently in contact with the substance contained in the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the foam is impregnated with all of the substance contained in the receptacle. In which case, it is preferable for the foam to occupy substantially all of the inside of the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the wiper member comprises a block of foam that is stiffened at its periphery and over at least a portion of its height by being stuck to the wall of the receptacle, in particular to prevent it being compressed when the applicator is inserted into the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the receptacle is elongate in shape and the applicator stalk is rectilinear. The width of the opening of the receptacle mouth is selected to avoid the edges of the receptacle being dirtied when the applicator moves past them, and preferably the width of the opening of the mouth of the receptacle is selected so as to allow the stalk to be tilted inside the receptacle by at least 10° relative to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the applicator stalk has a middle portion and a portion adjacent to the applicator element, with the outside diameter of said portion adjacent to the applicator element being greater than that of said middle portion.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device further includes a wiper lip.
The wiper lip is preferably situated at the outside of the mouth of the receptacle and it is extended outwards by a wall that flares going away from the foam.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the foam has a tapering hole.
The invention also provides a refill element for a packaging and applicator device of the above kind.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3132653 (1964-05-01), Gazdik
patent: 3146806 (1964-09-01), Ginsburg
patent: 4380841 (1983-04-01), Thomas
patent: 4446965 (1984-05-01), Montiel
patent: 5309929 (1994-05-01), Toll
patent: 5961238 (1999-10-01), De Bruin et al.
patent: 338327 (1959-06-01), None
patent: 2285101 (1976-04-01), None
patent: 452 640 (1936-08-01), None
patent: 2243762 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 82/02326 (1982-07-01), None
L'Oreal
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Walczak David J.
LandOfFree
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