EP1275322A1 - Wiper with simplified assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A wiping device comprises a coupling member including a flexible lip on the exterior surface of a body. The flexible lip has a first end attached to the body at a joining region and a free second end. The flexible lip makes an acute angle with the body to exhibit a resistance less than that exhibited during extraction of the wiping device from a container in the absence of stress. <??>A wiping device comprises a body (11), a wiping portion (21), and a coupling member to couple the wiping device to a container. The coupling member includes a flexible lip on the exterior surface of the body. The flexible lip has a first end attached to the body at a joining region (16) and a second end (15) which is free. In the absence of stress, the flexible lip makes an acute angle with the body to exhibit, during an introduction of the wiping device into the container, a resistance less than a resistance exhibited during extraction of the wiping device from the container. <??>Independent claims are also included for: <??>(1) an applicator unit comprising a container containing a product, an applicator member immersed in the product, and the inventive wiping device. The applicator member is configured to pass through the wiping device when it is withdrawn from the container to remove excess product member; and <??>(2) a wiping device comprising a body, a wiping member and bendable member(s) protruding from an outer surface of the body to form an acute angle when the member is unbent.

Description

The present invention relates to a wiper for equipping a set of conditioning and application, as used in particular in the field of cosmetic.

Typically, such a set of packaging and application comprises a container consisting of a body, in particular cylindrical, and one end of which opposite to the bottom, forms a collar whose free edge delimits an opening.

Such an assembly also comprises an application member, in particular a mascara brush or an eyeliner, one end of which is secured to a rod, which is secured to a stopper for removably sealing said opening. The plug forms a gripping member for the applicator member. In the screwed position of the cap on the container, the application member is immersed in the product contained in the container.

In the neck of the container is arranged a wiper, in particular in the form of a annular member, which, at the same time during the introduction of the application member into the container through said opening, and when removing the organ application, is crossed by the latter.

The wiper comprises a spinning part itself, carried out in particular in the form of an annular lip, with an edge of which the applicator member, and possibly the rod connecting the applicator member to the stopper, come into commitment. Thus, the amount of product remaining on the application member can be dosed in a relatively precise manner, so that it does not remain substantially no excess product on the application member. In addition, the stem can be literally wiped during this removal movement of the applicator out of container so that, when the product is applied, the user does not do not soil your fingers.

For certain applications, especially for applicators whose section transverse varies significantly over its length, or for applicators with whom we wish to take a small quantity of product, or for applicators of small section relative to the stem, it may be necessary to use a squeegee whose actual wringing part is made of material elastically deformable, in particular natural or synthetic rubber.

The use of a wiper in such an elastically deformable material is described in US-A-4,617,948. According to this patent, the wiper is placed on an edge inside the container, and held in place by means of an additional piece forming a threaded neck. Such an arrangement, by imposing the realization of the container in two parts, multiplies the assembly operations, and increases the cost of return of the whole.

Figures 1A and 1B to which reference is now made illustrate the configuration of a known wiper 1. This one is made of elastomer, and is intended for equip a container whose body and neck can be made in one room. Such a wiper 1 comprises a body 2, of generally cylindrical shape, and one end of which ends with a rim 3 intended to bear on the edge of a container. In the vicinity of the rim 3 is formed a bead 4 capable of improving the seal between the container and the wiper 1.

In the vicinity of its end opposite the rim 3, the wiper ends with a inner edge 5 of reduced section relative to the section of the body 2, and forming the wiper itself. Outside the body 2, the wiper forms a solid bead 6 for securing the wiper 1 on the container. Indeed, after crossing the neck of the container, the bead 6 is intended to position behind the shoulder of the container, thus ensuring the immobilisation of the wiper 1 in the mounted position on the container.

Due to the elastically deformable nature of the material forming the wiper, the bead 6 must be of sufficient radial width (typically of the order of mm) to ensure a good attachment of the wiper 1 in the container. Such a system has a major disadvantage, due to the fact that the presence of this bead 6 makes it difficult to insert the wiper into the neck of the container, particularly when it comes to doing it by means of an industrial tool. In practice such an industrial tool may comprise a rod that is introduced into the interior of the wiper 1, after having positioned it above the neck of the container, in order to induce the depression in response to pressure exerted axially on the rod. Experience shows that the significant resistance generated by the presence of the bead 6 can cause irreversible damage to the wiper 1 by the mounting tool used.

Configurations of the same type using one or more fastening beads relatively "massive" are also described in US-A-5 884 634 and US-A-5,875,791.

Also, is it an object of the invention to provide a resolving wiper in all or part of the problems discussed above with reference to known wipers.

It is in particular an object of the invention to produce a wiper which part at least is of elastically deformable material, which is simple to put in place, especially in industrial, and which, once mounted, is firmly hooked to the container.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a wiper which is economic to achieve.

Still other objects will appear in the following detailed description.

Also, is it an object of the invention to make a wiper, intended for equip a container containing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, to be applied to means of an applicator, said wiper being at least partly made of a elastically deformable material, said wiper comprising a body of which part forms the actual wringing device, and means to ensure the hooking of the wiper on the container, said attachment means being consisting of at least one flexible lip extending continuously or discontinuous, on the outer surface of the body, and of which a first end is attached to the body of the wiper according to a junction zone, a second end of the lip being free, said lip, in the absence of stress, forming with the body an acute angle, preferably not zero, so as to oppose a resistance to the introduction of the wiper into the container, substantially less than the resistance it opposes during the extraction.

In other words, with the wiper according to the invention, an axial stress exerted in a first direction, on the lip, causes a sagging movement elasticity of the latter relative to the body, different from the movement of elastic deflection resulting from the same axial stress exerted in a opposite to the first.

Thus, an axial stress exerted in a first direction on the means of attachment causes an elastic deflection of the lip tending to bring his free part closer to the body. In contrast, the same axial force, exerted in the opposite direction to the first, causes a elastic deflection of the lip tending, at least initially, to to move the free part away from the body.

Preferably, the bending motion designates a pivot movement or tilting substantially around the junction zone connecting the lip to the body of the wiper.

In other words again, the lip disappears at least in part, when the introduction of the wiper in the neck of the container, in response to a thrust axial exerted on the wiper. The introduction of the wiper is easy. In On the other hand, after having crossed the neck of the container, the lip "spreads" radially in order to oppose the disassembly of the wiper when axial traction is exercised on it. This fulfills the functions very satisfactorily "easy assembly" and "solid hooking", without having to penalize one costs of the other.

The body of the wiper may consist of a tubular element comprising a first end intended, in the mounted position of the wiper on the container, to be opposite a bottom of the container, and a second end, opposite the first.

Preferably, the zone of junction between the lip and the body of the wiper is disposed at a non-zero distance from said first end of the body. So, the body of the wiper defines under the junction zone, a skirt portion allowing to position the wiper in the opening defined by the neck of the front container to exert the axial thrust to insert it completely into the cervix container.

The body of the wiper, in its part intended to be in the neck, ie between the upper rim and the attachment means may be of external diameter such, it is slightly tight inside the collar. This however is not a need.

Preferably, said angle is between 30 ° and 60 °, and more preferably between 35 ° and 55 °, and more preferably about 45 °. Such an angle is chosen in particular as a function of the material forming the attachment means, and depending on the desired strength when hanging.

The actual wiper member may be formed of an inner section edge tubular element, said inner edge being at a non-zero distance from said first end. The diameter of the reduced section edge is chosen in particular depending on the desired spinning of the application member, and the diameter of the rod connecting the applicator member to the gripping member, in the assumption that said rod must be wiped during its passage in the wiper.

The edge of said first end may itself form an element with which all or part of the application body may come into engagement during its extraction, thus realizing in a way, with the reduced section edge, two spinning levels of the application member.

The inner edge of reduced cross section can be located axially between the first end and said junction zone, at a non-zero distance from this last. This avoids creating a stiffness of the wiper too important to vicinity of the junction zone, which too much rigidity would make more difficult the introduction of the wiper in the container.

Advantageously, said reduced section edge consists of the free edge of a annular lip inclined towards the first end. The angle of inclination of the lip may be of the order of 45 °.

Preferably, the second end of the tubular element forms a rim adapted to come to bear on an edge of the container delimiting an opening of the latter.

Preferably, at least the actual wiper member and the means hooking, are made of an elastically deformable material. Of however, the entire wiper is made of elastically deformable.

The elastically deformable material may be chosen from elastomers thermoplastics or crosslinked, in particular EPDM, natural rubbers, elastomers of nitrile, butyl or silicone. In the case of an elastomer crosslinked, the manufacture of the wiper is done in a compression mold, heated at the proper temperature.

According to another embodiment, a first portion of the wiper may be made with a first material, elastically deformable, said means as well as the actual wiper member being arranged on said first portion, a second portion being made of a second material, different from the first, said wiper being produced in particular by bi-injection or overmolding. For this purpose, particularly in the case of bi-injection, we will use preferably two physico-chemically compatible materials.

The second material is preferably a polyolefin, especially a polypropylene or polyethylene.

According to another aspect of the invention, a set of conditioning and application of a product, in particular a cosmetic product, set comprising a container containing the product, and an application member for applying said product, said assembly being equipped with a wiper according to the invention and being able to be traversed by said applicator member when this the last is removed from the container, so as to allow the quantity of product present on the application member.

Preferably, the container is formed of a body separated from a neck by a shoulder, a free edge of the neck defining an opening in the vicinity of which is mounted said wiper. Such a container can be obtained by molding a material such as polypropylene.

Advantageously, in the mounted position of the wiper on the container, the means hooking are substantially in abutment against the shoulder. In this position, the attachment means are arranged under the shoulder, and are in against it, or able to be.

Preferably, in the mounted position of the wiper on the container, the means fastening are elastically constrained. We thus free ourselves from the problems related to the manufacturing tolerances of the wiper relative to the height of the neck of the container.

The applicator member may be integral, via a connecting element, with an element for gripping, said gripping member forming an element capable of closing off detachably opening said opening. Preferably, the gripping member forming cap is screwed onto the neck of the container.

The application member may consist for example of an applicator for eyelashes or eyebrows, especially in the form of a twisted or molded brush, a a brush, an eyeliner, a block of foam, a sinter, a feather, or a felt.

• les figures 1A-1B sont relatives à un essoreur connu, tel que discuté ci-avant ;
• les figures 2A-2B sont relatives à un essoreur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe d'un ensemble de conditionnement et d'application équipé d'un essoreur selon l'invention ;
• les figures 4A-4E illustrent les différentes étapes de montage d'un essoreur selon l'invention sur l'ensemble de conditionnement et d'application de la figure 3 ; et
• les figures 5A et 5B sont relatives respectivement à un second mode de réalisation et à un troisième mode de réalisation de l'essoreur selon l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements described above, in a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figures 1A-1B relate to a known wiper, as discussed above;
• FIGS. 2A-2B relate to a wiper according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of a packaging and application assembly equipped with a wiper according to the invention;
• FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate the various steps of mounting a wiper according to the invention on the packaging and application assembly of FIG. 3; and
• FIGS. 5A and 5B relate respectively to a second embodiment and to a third embodiment of the wiper according to the invention.

The wiper 10 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B comprises a tubular body of substantially cylindrical shape 11. The wiper according to this embodiment is made of EPDM. One end 18 of the tubular body comprises a flange 12, intended, as will be seen later, to bear on the edge of a container. Below the rim 12, the outer surface of the body 11 forms a bead 13 intended to improve the seal between the wiper 10 and the neck of the container.

About two-thirds of its axial height, starting from the rim 12, the wiper 11 has on its outer surface an annular lip 14 inclined at about 45 ° relative to the tubular body 11, and a free end 15 is turned towards the high. The annular lip 14 is connected to the tubular body 11 via a zone of annular junction 16 extending substantially in a plane perpendicular to a X axis of the wiper 10.

In front of the lip 14, and on a height substantially corresponding to the height of the latter, the outer surface of the tubular body 11 forms a recess 17 whose depth is decreasing progressively since the junction area 16.

Below the lip 14, the body has a portion 23, of outer section substantially cylindrical, and extending to the end 19 of the tubular body 11.

Inside the tubular body 11, below the junction zone 16, is formed a transverse flange 20 connecting to an inclined lip 21 approximately 45 ° towards the end 19 of the tubular body. A free edge 22 of the lip determines the spin diameter of the wiper. In the absence of constrained, the diameter of the edge 22 is smaller than the maximum diameter of the organ application to which the wiper 10 is intended.

FIG. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a set of packaging and application of mascara 100 equipped with a wiper 10 such as described with reference to Figures 2A-2B.

Such an assembly 100 comprises a container 101 comprising a cylindrical body 102 whose one end is closed by a bottom 103. At the opposite of the bottom 103, the body 102 is surmounted by a threaded neck 104, a free edge delimits a 105. The neck 104 is connected to the cylindrical body 102 by a shoulder 106.

In the neck 104 is mounted a wiper 10 as discussed with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. As it is clear, in this mounted position, the lip 14 is disposed under the shoulder 106 being slightly elastically constrained against the shoulder 106. In this position, the radial width of the lip 14 is Max. In this mounted position, the rim 12 of the wiper is in support against the edge of the container defining the opening 105. The annular bead 13 ensures a good seal between the wiper 10 and the inner surface of the neck 104.

On the threaded neck 104 is screwed a cap 107. The cap 107 is secured a rod 108, one end, opposite the cap 107, is integral with a mascara brush 109, molded or formed from a twisted wire trapping a helical arrangement of bristles.

In this screwed position of the cap 107 on the neck 104, the applicator 109 is substantially at the bottom of the container 101 and is in contact with the product it contains. The rod 108 passes through the wiper, and has a portion in engagement with the squeezing edge 22 of the lip 21.

With each use, the user unscrews the cap 107, and with a movement substantially axially in a direction opposite to the bottom 103, extracts the brush mascara 109 of the container 101.

During this extraction movement, the rod 108 is wiped by the spinning edge 22 of the lip 21. Any excess product on the brush 109 is removed when this last crosses said spin edge 22.

After application, it closes the whole, by a reverse gesture of that described for the extraction of the applicator 109.

Figures 4A-4E to which reference will now be made illustrate the steps of mounting a wiper 10 as described in Figures 2A-2B on a set of packaging and application as shown in Figure 3.

In FIG. 4A, the cylindrical portion 23 of the wiper 10 is disposed inside. of the neck 104. The lip 14 forms a stop ensuring the retention of the wiper 10 in this position.

In FIG. 4B, an elongated tool 150 is inserted inside the wiper until abutting against the transverse flange 20 of the latter.

At this moment, by continuing the axial movement of the tool 150 towards the bottom of the container (Figure 4C), the wiper 10 is engaged further forward within the collar 104 of the wiper. In doing so, the lip 14 of the wiper 10 folds in the direction of the tubular body 11. Due to the presence of the recess 17, inside which is housed the lip 14, the latter does not form substantially any extra thickness relative to the outer surface of the tubular body 11. Thus housed in the recess 17, the lip does not appreciably affect the movement of descent of the wiper inside the neck 104 of the container.

The descent movement of the wiper 10 in the neck 104 continues until that the free end 15 of the lip 14 is no longer facing the neck 104 (FIG. 4D). In this position, the wiper 10 is slightly constrained in elongation, and the lip 14 extends radially to resume its original shape at 45 °. The flange 12 of the wiper 10 is supported on the edge of the container 101

In FIG. 4E, the tool 150 initiates its withdrawal movement in the direction opposite to the bottom of the container. By elastic return, the lip 14 is constrained by commitment against the shoulder 106, and thus strongly opposes any movement tending to cause the release of the wiper 10. This is now securely hooked into the neck 104 of the container.

In the variant of FIG. 5A, the attachment means consist of a lip in the form of a plurality of discontinuous sectors 14 ', 14 ", 14"', regularly spaced over the entire periphery of the tubular body 11. This provision further reduces the resistance offered to the introduction of the wiper by the attachment means. In addition, it requires a quantity of material lower than that required by the previous embodiment.

In the variant of Figure 5B, the wiper 10 is made of two materials different.

Thus, according to a first embodiment of this variant, the part 24 of the tubular body 11 and the rim 12 are made of polyethylene. The remainder 25, including the hooking skirt 14 and the wringing member itself (20-22), is overmolded with the upper part 24, using a material known under the trade name Santoprene®. Systems to rushes, not shown, ensure the mutual attachment of the two parts 24 and 25.

According to a second embodiment of the variant of FIG. 5B, the wiper 10 is produced by bi-injection of two physico-chemically compatible.

The presence of a rigid part to form the upper part of the wiper 10 allows, unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2B, to introduce the wiper in the neck 104 of the container without having to use a tool that is inserted inside the tubular body 11. Indeed, in this case, a simple pressure exerted directly on the flange 12 "rigid" of the wiper is sufficient to cause the depression inside the neck 104.

In the above detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that variants can be without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Claims (19)

Wiper (10) for equipping a container (101) containing a product, particularly cosmetic, to be applied by means of an applicator, said wiper being at least partly made of an elastically deformable material, said wiper comprising a body (11) of which a part (21, 22) forms the organ actual wringing, and means (14, 14'-14 "') for ensuring hooking the wiper (10) on the container (101), said hooking means (14, 14'-14 "') being constituted by at least one flexible lip (14, 14'-14"') extending on the outer surface of the body (11), and a first end of which is attached to the body (11) of the wiper according to a junction zone (16), a second end (15) of the lip (14, 14'-14 "') being free, said lip (14, 14'-14"'), in the absence of stress, forming with the body (11) an acute angle of in order to oppose a resistance to the introduction of the wiper in the container, significantly lower than the resistance it opposes during its extraction. Wiper (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that the body (11) consists of a tubular element (11) comprising a first end (19) for the mounted position of the wiper (10) on the container, to be facing a bottom (103) of the container (101), and a second end (18), opposite the first. A wiper (10) according to claim 2 characterized in that said junction zone (16) is disposed at a non-zero distance from said first end (19) of the body. The wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said angle is between 30 ° and 60 °, and preferably between 35 ° and 55 °, and preferably about 45 °. Wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the outer surface of the body (11) has, opposite the attachment means (14, 14'-14 "'), a recess (17 ), so as to further reduce the resistance to the introduction of the wiper (10) in the container (101) by said attachment means (14, 14'-14 "'). Wiper (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the actual wiper member (21, 22) is formed of an inner edge (22) of reduced section of the tubular element ( 11), said inner edge (22) being at a non-zero distance from said first end (19). A wiper (10) according to claim 6 characterized in that said inner edge of reduced cross section (22) is located axially between the first end (19) and said junction zone (16) at a non-zero distance from the latter. A wiper (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said reduced-section edge (22) consists of the free edge of an annular lip (21) inclined towards the first end (19). Wiper (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 8 characterized in that the second end (18) of the tubular element (11) forms a flange (12) adapted to bear on an edge of the container defining a opening (105) of the latter. Wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that , at least the actual wiper member (21, 22) and the attachment means (14, 14'-14 "' ), are made of an elastically deformable material. The wiper (10) according to any preceding claim characterized in that said elastically deformable material is selected from thermoplastic elastomers or crosslinked, including EPDM, natural rubbers, elastomers of nitrile, butyl or silicone. Wiper (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a first portion (25) made of a first material, elastically deformable, said attachment means (14, 14'-14 "') and that the actual wiper member (21, 22) being disposed on said first portion, and a second portion (24) made of a second material, different from the first, said wiper (10) being made in particular by bi-injection or overmolding. Wringer (10) according to claim 12 characterized in that the second material consists of a polyolefin, in particular a polypropylene or a polyethylene. A packaging and application assembly (100) for a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said assembly comprising a container (101) containing the product, and an applicator member (109) for applying said product, said assembly being characterized in that that it is equipped with a wiper (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, said wiper (10) being able to be traversed by said applicator member (109) when the latter is removed from the container, so as to allow a determination of the amount of product present on the applicator member (109). Assembly (100) according to claim 14 characterized in that the container (101) is formed of a body (102) separated from a neck (104) by a shoulder (106), a free edge of the neck defining an opening ( 105) in the vicinity of which is mounted said wiper (10). Assembly (100) according to claim 15 characterized in that , in the mounted position of the wiper (10) on the container, the attachment means (14, 14'-14 "') are substantially in abutment against the shoulder (106). Assembly (100) according to claim 16 characterized in that , in the mounted position of the wiper (10) on the container (101), the attachment means (14, 14'-14 "') are elastically constrained. Assembly (100) according to any one of claims 14 to 17 characterized in that the applicator member (109) is secured, via a connecting element (108), to a gripping member (107), said gripping member (107) forming an element capable of removably sealing said opening (105). Assembly (100) according to any one of claims 14 to 18 characterized in that the applicator member (109) consists of an applicator for the eyelashes or the eyebrows, especially in the form of a twisted or molded brush , an eyeliner, a brush, a block of foam, a sinter, a feather, or a felt.

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