EP3131517A1 - Application head for a product, in particular for skincare, comprising an applicator ball held by a magnet - Google Patents

Abstract

An application head for a product, comprising a body (2) that is substantially of revolution and has at its front axial end a hollow spherical surface forming a housing (6) that receives a magnetizable applicator ball (8) with a tight fit, said applicator ball (8) being held by a magnet (16), this body being intended to hold the product on its inside, characterized in that the body (2) comprises a chamber (12) located along the passage of the product coming from the inside of this body so as to lead into the housing (6), this chamber containing a magnetized or non-magnetized valve (16, 40, 62) held on its inside, which can slide through a short axial travel while remaining stuck to the applicator ball (8), so as to close the passage in the rear position and to open this passage in the front position.

Description

 Application head of a product, in particular for skin care, comprising an application ball held by a magnet

The present invention relates to an application head of a liquid product, semi-liquid or viscous, in particular for skin care, and an applicator of this product equipped with such an application head.

 To perform an application of a cosmetic product performing skincare of a patient at the same time as a massage of this skin, a known application head, presented in particular by the document WO-A1 - 201 1067500, comprises an elongate body having at its forward end a spherical shaped housing receiving in a controlled manner a massage ball of the skin.

 The spherical housing has an outer diameter a little smaller than that of the ball, so as to leave a large surface of this ball outside the housing, which can come into contact with the skin while rolling on it.

 The application ball is held at the bottom of its housing by a magnet which is held in the body a little behind this housing, to permanently exert an attraction on the ball comprising a material attracted by the magnet.

 The care product contained in the body, such as a cream or a gel, can exit through holes in the surface of the spherical housing in order to come into contact with the rear part of the ball, then spread on the skin during of his massage by the rolling of this ball which drives and distributes the product.

 In order to facilitate a passage of the care product between the surface of the spherical housing and the ball, this housing has small internal bosses which maintain a certain distance between the ball and this surface, allowing an output of the product through the holes of this surface.

A problem that arises with this type of application head is that the passage allowing the exit of the product is never closed, even pressing on the ball during massage of the skin, the bosses now permanently the gap that allows this passage. We can then during the use has an unintended output of product that applies too much.

 In addition, since the device is always open, the product contained in the tank can not be kept in good conditions, its volatile components can evaporate, while other components can oxidize or be contaminated by external agents. .

 The document of the prior art also presents alternatively a type of application head having small rolling balls held in recesses formed in the spherical housing, which can slide slightly axially to protrude inside this housing forming internal bosses.

 The rolling balls are held back by magnets arranged in the body, which attract them, and which also attract the ball application. This provides a small possible axial movement of the application ball, which can following the rolling balls away from the spherical surface to leave a passage of the care product, or to tighten on this surface to close the passage.

 However, this type of application head containing rolling balls held by a magnet, is relatively complex to achieve, and has a high cost. In addition, the product from the reservoir can seep into the bearings of the bearing balls, causing operating discomfort, oxidation of metal parts, or proliferation of bacteria.

 The present invention is intended to avoid these disadvantages of the prior art.

It proposes for this purpose a product application head, comprising a body substantially of revolution, having at its forward axial end a hollow spherical surface forming a housing receiving in a controlled manner a magnetizable application ball held by a magnet, this body being designed to receive the product inside, characterized in that the body comprises a chamber located on the axial passage of the product coming from the interior of this body to open into the housing, this chamber containing a valve, magnetized or not, kept indoors, which can slide along a small axial stroke remaining glued to the magnetizable application ball, to achieve in the rear position a closure of the passage and in the position before an opening of this passage.

 An advantage of this application head is that simply and economically, with only a movable element a central magnet arranged in the chamber performing a small axial stroke, it is obtained both when the application ball is not pressed back, the opening of the passage of the product by the uprising of this ball which is maintained in its housing with the pull of the magnet can not leave its chamber, and a closure of the passage by the pressure of the ball application on the skin during the massages that recedes this ball and the magnet. This lifting of the ball is done by the pressure of the product, which can be generated by a tightening of the flexible walls of the tank by the user.

 The application head according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

 Advantageously, the chamber has a substantially cylindrical shape disposed parallel to the axis of the body.

 In particular, the chamber may be offset laterally with respect to the axis of the body.

 According to one embodiment, the valve is held forward in the chamber, by an interior relief of this chamber passing the product. The body can thus comprise a single main piece.

 According to another embodiment, the valve is held forward in the chamber by an upper part of the body being fixed on a base of this body. The body has two main parts, but the setting up of the magnet is easier to achieve.

 According to one variant, the valve is a magnetic ball.

The magnetized valve can close the passage by coming into its rear position resting on a bore of a rear wall of the chamber which constitutes the fluid passage. According to another variant, the valve is a cylindrical magnet having an outer shoulder which forms a stop before leaving the passage of the product. The cylindrical magnet provides a large volume magnet, generating a large magnetic retaining force for a small diameter. It is therefore suitable for tanks and application heads of reduced size.

 The application ball can close the passage by coming into its rear position in support of a boss of the housing surface, which surrounds the passage of the product opening into this housing.

 In addition, the application head may include a spring that continuously presses the valve forward. The passage of the product can be better ensured. In addition, this spring makes it possible to use a tank with rigid walls, the product contained exiting by capillary action, or by the action of gravity by reversing the reservoir.

 Advantageously, the application head comprises a cap comprising inside the shapes that keep the application ball plated in its housing. The passage of the product is thus closed when the cap is put.

 Advantageously, the application ball comprises a stainless steel, or a surface treatment protecting against oxidation.

 Advantageously, the application ball is hollow, which reduces its weight. The magnet can be enclosed in a waterproof protective case.

 The chamber may contain a valve, the magnet disposed near this chamber being fixed. You can have a magnet of large volume, which is not in contact with the product. The valve can then be made of plastic (polypropylene, polyethylene, polyoxymethylene, polyester terephthalate, or other), glass, ceramic (alumina, zirconium, silicon carbide), non-oxidizable metal, or any other rigid material, not oxidizable and non-magnetic.

The invention also relates to an applicator having a cosmetic product reserve, and an application head provided for performing massages of the skin, comprising any one of the preceding characteristics. The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will emerge more clearly on reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

 - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an application head according to the invention, presented without the application ball;

 - Figures 2 and 3 are views in axial section of the application head, presented successively in closed position with a plug, and in the open position;

 - Figures 4 and 5 are views in axial section of an application head according to a variant, presented successively in closed position with a plug, and in the open position;

 - Figures 6 and 7 are views in axial section of an application head according to another variant, presented successively in closed position with a plug, and in the open position;

 - Figures 8 to 10 are views of an application head according to another variant, presented successively in perspective without the application ball, and in axial section with and without plug;

 - Figures 1 1 to 13 are views of an application head according to another variant, presented successively in perspective without the application ball, and in axial section with and without plug; and

 - Figures 14 to 16 are views of an application head according to another variant, presented successively in axial section in closed and open position, and exploded view.

 FIGS. 1 to 3 show an applicator head comprising a molded body 2 made of plastic, having a symmetry around a vertical axis, having a lower volume 4 containing a care product, fed by a reserve located in below which is not represented. The body of the application head 2 comprises means for fixing the reserve which can be for example a tube, a bottle or a pocket.

The front face of the body 2 comprises a housing forming a hollow spherical surface 6, receiving in a controlled manner an application ball 8 comprising a material attracted by a magnet, such as a steel ball, or a ball made by molding a plastic material containing this material.

 A cylindrical cap 20 is fitted around the body 2 by internal threads 32, by tightening an external thread 22 made around this body, ensuring the maintenance and the sealing of this cap. The plug 20 comprises inside, on its front transverse face, a ring 24 centered on the axis which ensures the axial setting of the application ball 8 to maintain it in its rear position.

 The body 2 comprises a cylindrical chamber 12 arranged along the same axis, just behind the application ball 8, comprising a rear transverse partition having a central bore 14 allowing the passage of the care product from the lower volume 4 .

 The chamber 12 receives a valve, formed in this embodiment by a magnetic ball 16, with a radial clearance around this ball allowing the passage of the care product from the central bore 14, towards the front of the ball.

 The magnetic ball 16 is held forward by an inner circular relief 18 disposed in the cylindrical wall of the chamber 12, which has interruptions to let the care product when the ball is supported on it.

 The magnetic ball 16 is inserted into the chamber 12 from the front, forcing on the circular relief 18 to cause a slight elastic deformation of the material of the body 1 2 to separate this relief, which then returns to position by maintaining this ball.

During the application of the product, the application ball 8, which is in the position shown in FIG. 2, rolls on the skin with a certain pressure while resting on a continuous circular boss 10 of the spherical surface of its housing 6, surrounding the cylindrical chamber 12, which closes the passage of the care product from this room. This boss is optional, the ball can simply be supported on the generatrix surrounding the outlet port. The magnetic ball 16 has moved back freely in its chamber 12 without bearing on the rear transverse partition of this chamber, in order to allow the pressure of the application ball 8 on the continuous circular boss 10.

 Figure 3 shows the application head 2 comprising the care product pressurized in the lower volume 4, for example when the operator presses on the bladder containing this product.

 There is then a passage of the product through the chamber 12, which enters through the bore 14, bypasses the magnetic ball 16 which lifts remaining stopped by its inner relief 18, and raises at the same time the application ball 8 which is detached from the circular boss 10 to let this product outwardly following the arrows F, while remaining in its housing 6 by the magnetization.

 In this way, an application head 2 is produced in a simple and effective manner that makes it possible to obtain an exit orifice of the closed care product when the operator is carrying out the application, as well as an open orifice when stops this application allowing a certain output of the product coming under the applicator ball 8, which will then be distributed on this ball and then on the surface to be treated during the following applications.

 The application head 2 has few parts, which ensures good reliability, as well as economic realization.

 In general, the applicator ball 8 can be made of ferritic steel in order to be attracted by a magnet, or a mixture of ferritic and austenitic steel, in order to take advantage in addition to the stainless properties of the latter.

 The application ball 8 can also be protected from the environment by a surface treatment, such as a varnish, a paint or a plastic layer, to avoid any chemical reaction with the cosmetic product.

 In particular, the application ball 8 made of metal can provide a cold effect in contact with the skin, thus allowing decongestion of the sensitive parts of the skin to be treated.

In addition, the applicator ball 8 may be made of metal with an inner hollow, according to a known manufacturing process comprising welding assembly of two half-shells. Thus the weight of this ball 8 is limited, which allows the use of a smaller magnet to hold it.

 Figures 4 and 5 show a similar application head 2, the housing 6 of the application ball 8 having a completely spherical surface containing no circular boss, so that the ball can fit on it.

 In the closed position shown in FIG. 4, the applicator ball 8 wedged by the cap 20, or applied to the patient's skin with a certain pressure, presses on the small magnetic ball 16 which moves back and closes the rear bore 14 of the transverse partition of the chamber 12.

 Note that in this position there is a small axial clearance between the application ball 8 and the spherical surface of its housing 6, so as to obtain a pressure which is made on the magnetic ball 16 and not on this surface, for s ensure closure of the rear bore 14 by this magnetic ball.

 In the open position shown in FIG. 5, in the same way a pressure of the care product in the lower volume 4 pushes the magnetic ball 16 which lifts up, also lifting the applicator ball 8. An opening of the passage of this product indicated by the arrow F, the magnetic ball 16 now by its attraction the ball 8 application in its housing 6.

 Figures 6 and 7 show an application head comprising a body 2 in two parts. A base 50 is covered by an upper portion 44 comprising the housing 6 of the applicator ball 8, having an outer cylindrical shape 48 facing downwards, fitting to a shape complementary to this base 50 to ensure its positioning and fixation.

 The upper portion 44 also has an inner cylindrical shape 46 facing downwards, fitting into the cylindrical chamber 12 of the base 50 of the body 2. A valve, formed in this embodiment by a cylindrical magnet 40 disposed in this chamber 12, fits into an axial bore of the inner cylindrical shape 46 so as to slide in it.

Optionally a helical spring 42 disposed in the chamber 12 bears on its lower partition to press permanently on the magnet 40 upwards, this magnet being retained in its upper position by a circular shoulder located at its base, bearing on the lower end of the inner cylindrical shape 46.

 The spherical surface of the housing 6 comprises the circular boss 10, as for the first variant of the application head. In the closed position shown in FIG. 6, the applicator ball 8 bears against the circular boss 10, the magnet 40 and its spring 42 being pushed downwards, which closes the passage of the care product.

 In the open position shown in FIG. 7, the spring 42 pushes the magnet 40 which lifts the applicator ball 8 by opening the passage of the care product indicated by the arrow F, this ball remaining in its housing 6 thanks to the attraction of this magnet.

 In a version without the spring 42, as for the previous variants, the internal pressure of the care product can also lift the magnet 40 as well as the application ball 8.

 This latter variant of the body of the application head comprises an additional part constituted by the upper part 44. However, the upper face of the magnet 40 which is flat, has a surface closer to the application ball 8 which can ensure a better maintenance of this ball.

 Figures 8 to 10 show an application head comprising a body 2 comprising a cylindrical chamber 12 offset laterally with respect to the main axis of this body. This chamber 12 then opens into the housing 6 of the application ball 8, remotely while remaining inside this housing.

 This solution can bring a better stability of the application ball

8 at the time of care, as well as a better centering of this ball.

 The application ball is pressed on the magnetic ball 16. It is it that closes the product passage 14 at the bottom of the housing 12.

FIGS. 1 to 13 show an applicator head comprising a body 2 comprising a cylindrical chamber 12, which receives a cylindrical cartridge 62 forming a valve, fitted therein having a cylindrical portion and an upper bottom, equipped with a lower lid 64 closing this cartridge. The cover 64 has a central boss facing down, fitting on the rear bore 14 to close it when the cartridge 62 is in its low position.

 The cartridge 62 contains a magnet 60 forming a ring which is fitted therein.

 The cartridge 62 is held in the upper position by the inner relief 18 having vertical grooves allowing the care product to follow this cartridge to pass over.

 The cartridge 62 with its lower cover 64 is a protection of the magnet which is not in contact with the cosmetic product, which allows to choose ferritic steel magnets without surface treatment to protect it, which are more economical but sensitive to corrosion.

 FIGS. 14 to 16 show an application head comprising a body 2 in two parts, having a base 50 covered by an upper part 44 comprising the housing 6 of the applicator ball 8, having small spaced bosses 10. The upper portion 44 has downwardly an outer circular contour 48 fitting on a complementary shape of the base 50, to ensure positioning and fixation.

 The upper portion 44 also has an inner circular shape 46 facing downwards, fitting into the chamber 12 of the base 50, having the interrupted inner circular relief 18, which maintains a ball forming a valve 70 in this chamber.

 An annular magnet 72 surrounding the chamber 12 is fixedly held in a housing disposed between the upper portion 44 and the base 50. This annular magnet 72 attracts the application ball 8 to maintain it in its housing 6, the ball 70 , having a valve function by closing the rear bore 14 when it is in the rear position, pushed by the cap.

 The ball 70 made of a material that is not attracted by the magnet 72, can be plastic, glass, ceramic or nonmagnetic steel.

There is thus a magnet 72 of large size which can develop a high attraction force on the application ball 8, while being outside the passage of the care product which avoids to provide a material or a protective treatment against activated corrosion in contact with the care product. This magnet can be made economically.

 FIG. 16 shows the assembly of the components of this application head which is easily done by stacking the different parts, the upper part 44 fixed on the base 50 holding them in position.

 The main application was skin care or treatment. This device can also be used to apply any other liquid product on any surface. It can for example be used to apply a makeup product for the eyes, lips, nails or skin, a slimming product, deodorant, washing, anti-wrinkle or concealer, a household product, cleaner, washing, soap, liquid glue, paint, ink, without this list being exhaustive.

Claims

1 - Application head of a product, comprising a body (2) substantially of revolution having at its forward axial end a hollow spherical surface forming a housing (6) receiving in a controlled manner a magnetizable application ball (8) maintained by a magnet (16, 40), this body being adapted to receive the product inside, characterized in that the body (2) comprises a chamber (12) located on the passage of the product coming from the inside of the this body to open into the housing (6), this chamber containing a valve, magnetized or not (16, 40, 62) held inside, which can slide along a small axial stroke remaining glued to the application ball (8), to realize in the rear position closing the passage and in the position before an opening of this passage.  2 - Application head according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber (12) has a substantially cylindrical shape whose axis is parallel to that of the body (2).  3 - Application head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chamber (12) is offset laterally with respect to the axis of the body (2).  4 - Application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (16, 62) is held forward in the chamber (12), by an interior relief of this chamber (18) leaving pass the product.  5 - Applicator head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the valve (70) is held forward in the chamber (12) by an upper portion of the body (44) to be fixed on a base of this body (50).  6 - Application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve is a magnetic ball (16). 7 - Applicator head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (16, 62, 70) closes the passage coming into its rear position resting on a bore (14) of a rear wall of the chamber (12) which constitutes the passage of fluid product. 8 - Applicator head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the valve is a cylindrical magnet (40) having an outer shoulder which forms a stop before leaving the passage of the product.  9 - Application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application ball (8) closes the passage coming into its rear position bearing on a boss (1 0) of the housing surface (6), which surrounds the passage of the product opening into this housing.  10 - Applicator head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a spring (42) which continuously presses the valve (40) forward.  1 1 - Application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cap (20) comprising inside forms (24) which hold the application ball (8) plated in his dwelling (6).  12 - Application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application ball (8) comprises a stainless steel, or a surface treatment protecting from oxidation.  13 - Application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application ball (8) is hollow.  14 - Applicator head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnet (60) is enclosed in a sealed protective housing (62).  15 - Applicator head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber (12) contains a valve (70), the magnet (72) disposed near this chamber, being fixed.  16 - Applicator having a cosmetic product stock, and an application head (2) for performing massages of the skin, characterized in that the head is made according to any one of the preceding claims.