WO2003076000A1

WO2003076000A1 - Fluid product applicator

Info

Publication number: WO2003076000A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/000793
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Paul Lecoutre; Alex Milian
Original assignee: Valois Sas
Priority date: 2002-03-13
Filing date: 2003-03-12
Publication date: 2003-09-18
Also published as: FR2837174A1; JP2005527266A; EP1487530A1; FR2837174B1; CN1642594A; BR0308043A

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid product applicator which is used to apply a fluid product to an application surface. The inventive applicator consists of: a shell comprising a body (1) and a removable cap (2) which is mounted thereto, the aforementioned shell being essentially rigid and elastically deformable on at least one of the faces thereof in order to define an actuation wall (10); an applicator pad (3) which is intended to be impregnated with the fluid product, said pad (3) being housed in the shell at least at the removable cap (2); and a sealed capsule (4) containing the fluid product, said capsule being disposed directly next to the applicator pad (3). Moreover, said capsule (4) can open when a sufficient amount of pressure is exerted on the actuation wall (10). The invention is characterised in that the capsule is housed in the shell.

Description

Fluid applicator

The present invention relates to a fluid product applicator for applying a fluid product to an application surface, such as for example the skin. By fluid product is meant first of all more or less viscous liquids, but also powders or more generally powdered products. Such an applicator can be used in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

In fact, it is very common, particularly in cosmetics and in pharmacies, to use applicator pads to apply a powder or a liquid to the skin, nails or hair. The fluid product, liquid or powder, is stored in a separate container or container, and the applicator pad is soaked or impregnated in the fluid product in order to soak it with liquid or to cover it with powder product. Next, this impregnated or coated pad is applied to the desired application surface. The application of the fluid product is therefore carried out in two stages: the first stage consisting in withdrawing the fluid product in the container where it is stored, and the second stage consisting in pressing or applying the applicator pad loaded on the application surface desired.

Since the container in which the fluid is stored and the applicator pad are two perfectly separate and distinct elements, the impregnation or coating operation is carried out in the open air, which can not only cause losses of fluid product, but still the fluid product is in contact with air which can contribute to its deterioration, by drying or oxidation.

The object of the present invention is to remedy, or at least reduce, the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a fluid product apperator in which the impregnation of the apperator pad is carried out without risk of loss of fluid product and without risk of deterioration or alteration of the fluid product. To achieve this object, the present invention provides a fluid applicator for applying a fluid product to an application surface, the applicator comprising a shell comprising a body and a removable cap mounted on said body, said shell being substantially rigid and elastically deformable on at least one of its faces to define an actuating wall, an appressor pad intended to be impregnated with fluid product, said pad being housed in the shell at least at the level of the removable cap, and a sealed capsule containing product fluid, said capsule being housed in the shell in the immediate vicinity of the apphcator pad, said capsule being able to open when sufficient pressure is exerted on the actuating wall. The shell is therefore pressed to open or burst the capsule, which has the effect of causing its liquid or pulverulent content to flow into the applicator pad which can then be applied to the desired application surface, after removal of the removable cap. According to a characteristic of the invention, the applicator pad comprises a part in contact with the capsule at the level where it is adapted to open.

According to another aspect of the invention, the capsule is housed in the body, said body defining the actuating wall, the tampon being integral with the body and extending in the cap when the latter is mounted on the body. Advantageously, the tampon is provided with fixing means inside the body. Preferably, the fixing means comprise a fixing plate on which the pad is fixed, said plate engaging inside the body, advantageously by snap-fastening of its external periphery in a snap-in housing formed in an internal wall of the body. As a variant, the fixing means comprise a collar formed by the tampon, said collar projecting radially outward on at least part of the external periphery of the tampon, said collar engaging inside the body, advantageously by latching of the flange in a latching housing formed in an internal wall of the body. On the other hand, the fixing means can be sealed, so that they isolate the interior of the body, the fluid being thus obhgée to pass through the tampon. According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the capsule is fixed to the tampon.

According to another aspect, the body forms a stable support plane on which the capsule rests. According to a practical embodiment, the capsule comprises a wall element pierceable by means of a needle, advantageously formed by the capsule, the buffer extending up to the level of said pierceable wall element. As a variant, the capsule defines a weak weld adapted to break apart when sufficient pressure is exerted on the actuating wall so as to open an outlet orifice through which the fluid product communicates with the pad.

According to another embodiment, the applicator pad at least partially surrounds the capsule.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of nonlimiting examples three embodiments of the invention.

In the figures:

- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view from above of a fluid applicator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, - Figure 2 is a vertical transverse view through the applicator of Figure 1,

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the applicator of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 for a fluid product applicator according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 for the apphcator of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 for the applicator of FIGS. 4 and 5, and Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fluid product applicator according to a third embodiment of the invention.

In the three embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the fluid applicator of the invention comprises a shell comprising a body 1 and a removable cap 2, a capsule 4 containing fluid and an applicator pad 3 intended to collect the fluid product to then apply it to an application surface, for example the skin.

The body here has a substantially rounded, oblong, ovoid or elliptical shape, seen from above as in FIG. 1, with a substantially flat configuration when viewed from the side or in profile, as shown in FIG. 'other shapes for the hull. The body

1 and the cap 2 both define a hollow interior volume which will serve as a receiving space for the capsule 4 and the apphcation pad 3. The cap 2 is removably mounted on the body 1. Once attached one to the other, the reception volumes defined respectively by the capsule and the body communicate directly and are isolated from the outside. The body 1 defines an outer edge 12 intended to come into engagement inside an inner edge 21 formed by the cap 2. For the maintenance of the cap 2 on the body 1, a retaining profile or d in the outer edge

12 of the body 1 and a complementary profile at the inner edge 21 of the cap 2. Thus, the cap 2 can be attached and fixed to the body 1 in a removable manner. On the other hand, the body 1 forms at its internal wall near the edge 12 a latching groove 13 which here extends in the form of a flattened loop over the entire internal periphery. The function of this casing groove will be given below.

According to the invention, the body 1 forms, at one of its faces, an actuating wall 10 which has an advantageously elastic deformability characteristic. In other words, when the actuating wall 10 is pressed, the latter tends to deform by depressing, then to return to its original form of rest as soon as the pressure is released on it. . The face 11 opposite the actuating wall 10 can be perfectly rigid and even provided with one or more reinforcement flange (s) 14 which define a stable support plane for the capsule 4, as will be seen below. after.

The capsule 4 is initially sealed and defines a reservoir 40 containing fluid, fluid or powdery product. This capsule 4 is adapted to open at a predetermined location when a pressure is applied to its reservoir at an appropriate wall. According to a practical embodiment, the capsule 4 can be produced from a shell 41, for example thermoformed, and from an opercular sheet 46. The shell 41 defines a dome 42 and a substantially flat periphery 44. The opercular sheet 46 is fixed to the shell 41 at the substantially flat periphery 44. An internal volume or reservoir 40 is thus formed between the opercular sheet 46 and the shell 41 at its dome 42. The dome 42 is deformable or pushable when the it is supported on it, which has the effect of opening the sealed capsule at a predetermined location which differs in the various embodiments. The capsule 4 in all the embodiments, is arranged inside the body 1, bearing with its lower face, here constituted by the opercular sheet 46, on the support flanges 14 formed at the face 11 of the body 1. The capsule 4 is thus positioned so that its deformable dome 42 is located just below the actuating wall 10 of the body 1, so that a depression of the actuating wall 10 has the effect of deform the dome 42 of the capsule 4.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the opening of the sealed capsule 4 is effected by means of a piercing needle 43, advantageously formed by the dome 42, which is oriented so as to come into contact and pierce the opercular film 46 when the dome 42 is deformed or depressed. The opercular film 46 thus constitutes a pierceable wall element through which the fluid stored in the reservoir 40 can flow once the piercing has been carried out.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, and even 7, the capsule 4 forms a channel 47 which forms a part or which opens into the reservoir 40. This channel 47 is closed at its end by a weak weld 48 adapted to break apart. when sufficient pressure is applied to the deformable dome 42. An opening or outlet orifice is thus created to allow the fluid product stored in the reservoir 40 to flow out of the capsule 4.

These two embodiments, respectively using a piercing needle and a weak weld, should not be considered as the only possible embodiments for opening the sealed capsule 4. One can of course imagine other techniques using cutting or tearing of part of the sealed capsule 4.

The applicator pad 3 comprises an application head 31 which defines at its external surface the applicator surface intended to come into contact with a target application surface such as the skin, the nails or even the hair. The application head 31, in all embodiments, is integral with the body 1. However, one can imagine embodiments in which the applicator pad 3 is integral with the cap 2. In the two embodiments of Figures 1 to 6, the apphcateur pad 3 is provided with a fixing plate 34 on which the application head 31 is fixed, for example by gluing or welding. This fixing plate 34 comprises an external peripheral edge 36 intended to come into engagement in the latching groove 13 formed inside the body 1. Advantageously, the latching of the edge 36 of the plate 34 provides a seal so that the fluid product coming from the capsule 4 cannot leak at the peripheral edge of the plate. The fixing plate 34 further comprises a window 35 which communicates the capsule 4 with the apphcation head 31 of the apphcator pad 3. In the two embodiments of Figures 1 to 6, the capsule 4 is fixed to the plate fixing 34 at the level of the window 35. In fact, the capsule 4 forms a fixing appendage 45, the edges of which are engaged inside the window 35. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, this appendage 45 forms the conduit 47 and the weak weld 48, while in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, this appendage 45 is formed only by the flat periphery 44 of the shell 41. The capsule 4 is thus perfectly stable at inside the shell 1, since it is supported on the support flanges 14 and further maintained at the fixing plate 34 on which the apphcation head 31 is itself fixed.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, in which the opening of the sealed capsule 4 is obtained by piercing a wall element formed by the opercular film 46, the applicator pad 3 forms a supply tongue 32 which extends below the capsule 4 up to the level of the opercular film 46 at the level where it will be pierced by the needle 43. This is clearly visible in FIG. 2. Thus, after piercing the capsule, the fluid product can flow into the tongue 32 and thus be conveyed to the level of the application head 31. To do this, the supply tongue 32 also passes through the window 35 formed by the fixing plate 34. This contributes still more to the cohesion of the assembly formed by the capsule and the apphcator pad 3. This embodiment is more particularly adapted to the liquid product. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, in which the opening of the capsule is obtained by the rupture of a weak weld 48, the fluid product, which here can also be powdery, is directly supplied inside the application head 31 through the window 35. In fact, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the weak weld 48 is actually placed inside the application head 31 on the other side of the window 35 relative to the body of the capsule 4. This direct supply inside the head of the tampon allows the delivery of fluid but also of powder.

In the two embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6, the applicator pad 3 is provided with or associated with a fixing plate 34. However, it can be imagined that this plate is integrated into the applicator pad 3, so that the latter forms a protruding peripheral edge similar to the edge 36 of the plate 34, which is adapted to snap into the groove 13 of the body 1. It suffices for this that the apphcator pad 3 has a certain rigidity or solidity at the peripheral edge of integrated fixing. In the embodiment of Figure 7, there is no fixing plate 34. In addition, the apphcateur pad 3 extends inside the body 1 of so that it occupies the majority of the volume. We see in particular that the applicator pad 3 extends under the capsule 4 at 38 and further surrounds the capsule 4 at 37 and 39. Thus, it can be said that the capsule 4 is practically submerged or at least partially surrounded by the applicator pad 3. In addition, it can be noted that the applicator pad 3 forms a fixing rib 36 'which has the same function as the projecting peripheral edge 36 of the fixing plate 34.

The use of an applicator according to any of the embodiments illustrated here is very simple: it suffices to press on the actuating wall 10 of the shell 1 to deform or depress the dome 42 which has the effect of opening the capsule 4 and thus allowing the fluid to flow or to be driven into the apphcator pad 3. After a relatively short time, the product reaches the application head 31. It suffices then remove the cap 2 and use the body 1 as a gripping member to apply the application head 31 to the desired surface. It should also be noted that the cap 2 can not only be removed from the body 1, but that it can also be very easily replaced or fixed to the body 1 after use. Thus, even after a first application of fluid, the application head 31 can be perfectly protected by replacing the cap 2. In all of the embodiments, it is advantageous that the capsule, the pad and the platen of possible fixing are received or removably mounted in the body, so that one can remove the assembly (capsule and buffer and / or platinum) unitarily from the body and replace it with an identical or similar assembly. The body and its cap can thus be used as a reusable covering in association with one or preferably several identical or different assemblies.

Thanks to the invention, a sterile and clean fluid product applicator is obtained which can very easily be reused several times.

Claims

claims

1.- Fluid product applicator for applying a fluid product to a surface of application, comprising:

a shell comprising a body (1) and a removable cap (2) mounted on said body, said shell being substantially rigid and elastically deformable on at least one of its faces to define an actuating wall (10),

- an applicator pad (3) intended to be impregnated with a fluid product, said pad (3) being housed in the shell at least at the removable cap (2), and - a sealed capsule (4) containing fluid product, said pad capsule being disposed in the immediate vicinity of the applicator pad (3), said capsule (4) being able to open when sufficient pressure is exerted on the actuating wall (10), characterized in that the capsule is housed in shell.

2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator pad (3) comprises a part (32; 33) in contact with the capsule (4) at the level where it is adapted to open.

3. Apphcateur according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the capsule (4) is housed in the body (1), said body defining the actuating wall (10), the pad (3) being integral with the body (1 ) and extending into the cap (2) when the latter is mounted on the body (1).

4. Apphcateur according to claim 3, wherein the pad (3) is provided with fixing means (36; 36 ') inside the body (1).

5. Applicator according to claim 4, wherein the fixing means (36) comprise a fixing plate (35) on which the pad (3) is fixed, said plate (35) engaging inside the body

(1), advantageously by casing its external periphery (36) in a casing housing (13) formed in an internal wall of the body (1).

6. Applicator according to claim 4, wherein the fixing means comprise a collar (36 ') formed by the pad, said flange (36 ') projecting radially outward on at least part of the external periphery of the pad, said flange engaging inside the body, advantageously by casing the cap in a casing housing (13 ) formed in an internal wall of the body.

7. Apphcateur according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixing means (36; 36 ') are sealed, so that they isolate the interior of the body, the fluid being thus forced to pass through the buffer (3).

8. Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the capsule (4) is fixed to the pad (3).

9. Apphcateur according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (1) forms a stable support plane (14) on which the capsule (4) rests.

10. Apphcateur according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the capsule (4) comprises a wall element (46) pierceable by means of a needle (43), advantageously formed by the capsule (4), the pad (3) extending to the level of said pierceable wall element.

11. Apphcateur according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the capsule (4) defines a weak weld (48) adapted to come apart when sufficient pressure is exerted on the actuating wall (10) of so as to open an outlet orifice through which the fluid communicates with the pad (3).

12. Applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apphcateur pad (3) at least partially surrounds the capsule (4).

13. Apphcateur according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the pad (3) and the capsule (4) are mounted in a removable mother in the body to allow their replacement.