RECEPTACLE FOR A PRODUCT, PARTICULARLY A COSMETIC PRODUCT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to French Application No. 2408917, filed Aug. 14, 2024, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002]The invention concerns a receptacle for a product, in particular a cosmetic product.

[0003]Many receptacles are known in this field, comprising a base containing the cosmetic product, also known as a formula. The base is closed with a cover to protect the formula.

[0004]In particular, receptacles are known that are configured to allow the cover to move between a closed position and an intermediate position and to tilt the cover relative to the base between said intermediate position and an open position, while keeping the cover attached to the base. So, while the person using the receptacle takes the formula contained in the base to apply make-up, the cover remains attached to the base.

[0005]This type of kinematics is achieved by means of a hinge linked, on the one hand, to the base and, on the other hand, to the cover. Compared to the base, said hinge is mobile in rotation with the cover between the closed position and the intermediate position. The hinge is further configured to allow the cover to tilt relative to the base between the intermediate position and the open position while remaining attached to the base.

[0006]More particularly, receptacles are known in which the base comprises an opening for the circulation of the hinge member, allowing a certain degree of integration of the latter. However, this opening is visible when the cover is open, which can be unsightly.

SUMMARY

[0007]The purpose of the invention is to alleviate at least some of the foregoing drawbacks and to this end proposes a receptacle for a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said receptacle having a longitudinal axis and comprising a base and a cover of said base, said receptacle comprising a ring, mobile in rotation with respect to the base about said longitudinal axis, and a hinge member, mobile in rotation with respect to the base with said ring to allow the cover to pass between a closed position and an intermediate position by rotation about said longitudinal axis and to pass between said intermediate position and an open position by tilting the cover with respective to the base while maintaining the cover secured to the base, said base comprising an opening for circulation of said hinge member, said ring concealing said opening.

[0008]The hinge member thus moves without leaving any visible traces, even when the receptacle is open, thanks to the ring that moves with it and masks the opening required for its movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041]The invention will be better understood, and other purposes, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will become clearer in the course of the detailed explanatory description which follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings among which:

[0042]FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in perspective an example of a receptacle according to the invention in the closed position;

[0043]FIG. 2 shows a exploded schematic perspective view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

[0044]FIG. 3 illustrates schematically, in a diametrical cross-sectional view, the receptacle of FIG. 1 in said closed position;

[0045]FIG. 4 illustrates schematically, in a diametrical sectional view, the receptacle of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position, along the same sectional plane as in FIG. 3;

[0046]FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1 in an open position;

[0047]FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a ring and a hinge member of the receptacle of FIG. 1, according to a tangential sectional plane passing through a body of said hinge member;

[0048]FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a cover and the hinge member of the receptacle of FIG. 1, in a tangential sectional plane passing through a head of said hinge member;

[0049]FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of part of the cover, the hinge member and part of the receptacle ring of FIG. 1;

[0050]FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the ring and the hinge member of the receptacle of FIG. 1, according to a diametrical sectional view through said hinge member, in the intermediate position of said receptacle;

[0051]FIG. 10 repeats FIG. 6 in a tilted position of the cover of said receptacle;

[0052]FIG. 11 schematically illustrates, partially and in perspective, the cover, hinge member and ring of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in a position between said intermediate position and said open position;

[0053]FIG. 12 repeats FIG. 8 in said intermediate position;

[0054]FIG. 13 schematically illustrates in perspective a part of the cover of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in a region intended to cooperate with the hinge member;

[0055]FIG. 14 schematically illustrates, partially in a cross-sectional plane, the cover, hinge member and ring of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in a position identical to that of FIG. 11;

[0056]FIG. 15 repeats FIG. 11, with the pieces in question in the same position as in FIG. 12;

[0057]FIG. 16 schematically illustrates, partially in perspective, the base and hinge member of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in the position in which the cover of said receptacle is tilted;

[0058]FIG. 17 shows partially and in perspective a schematic view of the receptacle cover of FIG. 1;

[0059]FIG. 18 illustrates schematically, in partial cross-sectional view, the base, ring, hinge member and cover of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in said open position;

[0060]FIG. 19 details a part marked XIX in FIGS. 3 and 4, the receptacle being in said closed position, in said intermediate position and/or between these two positions;

[0061]FIG. 20 schematically illustrates, in side view, the receptacle of FIG. 1, in a position just after arriving in said intermediate position when its cover is opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062]The invention concerns a receptacle for a product, in particular a cosmetic product. For example, a powder, semi-liquid or liquid product such as a foundation, cream, lotion or other product.

[0063]As shown in FIG. 1, said receptacle has a longitudinal axis X. Here it is in a closed position. It comprises a base 2 and a cover 4 for said base 2. Said base 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom 6 and a side wall 8 extending from said bottom 6 along said longitudinal axis X. Said cover 4 has a top wall 10 and a side skirt 12 extending from said top wall 10 to cooperate with the side wall 8 of the base 2. Said skirt 10 extends along the longitudinal axis X, at least in said closed position of the receptacle.

[0064]As will become apparent below, said cover 4 is rotatable about said longitudinal axis X, as illustrated by the arrow marked R.

[0065]As shown in FIG. 2, according to the illustrated embodiment, said base 2 comprises two pieces, namely an external piece 2a and an internal piece 2b received in said external piece 2a of said base 2. Said internal and external pieces 2a, 2b of said base 2 are embedded in one another. The bottom 6 of the base 2 is here jointly defined by a bottom of the external piece 2a and a bottom of the internal piece 2b of the base 2.

[0066]Said base 2 is configured to receive said product. Here, said receptacle comprises a reservoir 14 received in said internal piece 2b. Said product is configured to be located in said reservoir 14. Advantageously, said reservoir 14 is removable. This means that it can be replaced once the product has been used up.

[0067]Said cover 4 comprises, for example, two pieces, namely an external piece part 4a and an internal piece 4b received in said external piece 4a of said cover 4. Said internal and external pieces 4a, 4b of said cover 4 are embedded into one another.

[0068]Said receptacle also comprises a sealing member 16 configured to be received in said cover 4, in particular its said internal piece 4b. Said sealing member is formed by a disc. Advantageously, said receptacle is configured so that said sealing member 16 is compressed, in particular at a peripheral edge of said disc, between said base 2 and said cover 4, in particular between an upper edge of said reservoir 14 and a bottom wall of the internal piece 4b of said cover 4, in said closed position.

[0069]The receptacle also comprises a ring 20 and a hinge member 22.

[0070]As can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 5, to open and/or close the receptacle, said ring 20 is mobile in rotation relative to the base 2 about said longitudinal axis X. This is particularly apparent by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4 where it can be seen that, in the same cross-sectional plane, a part of the ring 20 in relation to the hinge member 22 is not present in the plane in question whereas, after the rotation allowing passage from the closed position (FIG. 3) to an intermediate position (FIG. 4), said part of the ring 20 receiving the hinge member 22 is now present in the cross-sectional plane.

[0071]In addition, said hinge member 22 is mobile in rotation relative to the base 2 with said ring 20 to allow the cover 4 to move between the closed position and the intermediate position, according to the rotation about said longitudinal axis X mentioned above, and to tilt the cover 4 relative to the base 2 between said intermediate position and an open position according to the arrow marked B, while keeping the cover 4 attached to the base 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0072]In the embodiment illustrated, in the closed position, the cover 4 is axially stopped against the base 2. In the intermediate position, the cover 4 is axially spaced from the base 2. In the open position, the cover 4 is angularly stopped against base 2.

[0073]Between the closed position and the intermediate position, the person using the receptacle holding the base 2 with one hand and turning the cover 4 with the other, said cover 4, said ring 20 and said hinge 22 then turn together through a given angle relative to the base 2 about said longitudinal axis X between the closed position and said intermediate position. The person using the receptacle then tilts the cover 4 to the open position, leaving the ring 20 immobile relative to the base 2 in a position corresponding to a position reached in said intermediate position.

[0074]It is understood that said ring 20 is secured to said base 2 with at least one degree of freedom in rotation about said longitudinal axis X, this freedom of rotation being angularly limited to the angular displacement of the cover 4 between the closed position and the intermediate position.

[0075]Advantageously, said cover 4, in particular said internal and/or external pieces 4a, 4b of said cover 4, has a notch 5 configured to receive said hinge member 22, in particular a head 36 of said hinge member 22. Said cover 4 and said hinge member 22 are configured so that said head 36 is integrally housed in said notch 5 in said closed position, in said intermediate position and between these two positions so as not to protrude radially from said cover 4, at least towards the outside. At the level of the aforementioned notch 5, the aforementioned external piece 4a of said cover 4 has, for example, a radial edge 5a, which is particularly visible in FIG. 8.

[0076]According to a first aspect of the invention, said hinge member 22 has a pivoting articulation with respect to said ring 22 and with respect to the cover 4. In other words, said hinge member 22 is secured to said ring 20 with a degree of freedom contributing to said tilting of the cover 4, for a first part of the latter. Said hinge member 22 is also secured to said cover 4 with a degree of freedom contributing to said tilting of said cover 4, for a second part of the latter.

[0077]According to this aspect of the invention, the receptacle thus offers double articulation of the cover 4 in relation to the ring 20 and therefore in relation to the base 2 thanks to the hinge member 22. Thus, this allows the cover 4 to be tilted to a greater extent.

[0078]Advantageously, said hinge member 22 is rigid. It is understood that, rather than presenting a certain flexibility like the hinges known as the film hinge, said hinge member 22 cannot be bent or, at least, does not have a crease line.

[0079]In the illustrated embodiment, said ring 20 is formed by an outer flank 20a and an inner flank 20b connected by an upper transverse edge 20c. Said outer flank 20a is located internally opposite said external piece 2a of said base 2. Said inner flank 20b is located externally opposite said internal piece 2b of said base 2.

[0080]As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, advantageously, said receptacle comprises a first articulation axis Y1 allowing said hinge member 22 to pivot relative to said ring 20 according to a first articulation direction orthogonal to said longitudinal axis X. Said first articulation direction is, for example, substantially tangential to the base 2, at least to said internal piece 2b of said base 2, passing through said ring 20 and said hinge member 22.

[0081]To produce said first articulation axis Y1, said receptacle comprises, for example, first articulation lugs 24 configured to cooperate with first articulation housings 26. The first articulation lugs 24 are located, in particular, on the hinge member 22. The first articulation housings 26 are formed, in particular, in said ring 20.

[0082]Said receptacle comprises a second articulation axis Y2 allowing said cover 4 to pivot relative to said hinge member 22 in a second articulation direction parallel to said articulation direction of the first articulation axis Y1.

[0083]To produce said second articulation axis Y2, said receptacle has second articulation housings 28 configured to cooperate with second articulation lugs 30. Said second direction of articulation is, for example, substantially tangential to the cover, at least to said internal piece 4b (not visible in FIGS. 6 to 8), of said cover 4, passing through said hinge member 22 and said external piece 4a of the cover 4.

[0084]The second articulation housings 28 are formed, in particular, in the hinge member 22. The second articulation lugs 30 are located on the cover 4, in particular at the level of the radial edge 5a.

[0085]As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 8, said ring 20 comprises a clearance space 32 within which said hinge member 22 is articulated to allow pivoting of said second articulation axis Y2 with respect to said first articulation axis Y1. Said clearance space 32 has an angular span which is substantially identical, within a clearance, to an angular span of said hinge member 22, which contributes in particular to good pivot guidance about the first articulation axis Y1 of the hinge member 22 relative to the ring 20.

[0086]Said first lugs 24 and said second housings 28 are located at two opposite ends of said hinge member 22 so that said first lugs 24 are concealed in the base 2 and/or said second housings 28 are outside the base 2 in all positions of the cover 4.

[0087]In the illustrated embodiment, said hinge member 22 comprises a body 34 and said head 36 already mentioned above. Said head 36 comprises said second housings 28. Said body 34 forms a lever arm between said first lugs 24 and said head 34. Advantageously, said lever arm corresponds to an inter-distance between the first and second articulation axes Y1, Y2. Said head 36 is radially offset from said body 34.

[0088]Said ring 20 has, for example, an annular shape extending with a substantially constant radial thickness and/or axial height around its entire periphery, with the exception of a location of said clearance space 32. In line with said clearance space 32, said ring 20 comprises a connecting wall 38. Here, the connecting wall 38 is an integral part of said outer flank 20a. Said inner and outer sides 20a, 20b are connected by radial walls 20d located on either side of said clearance space 32. Said first articulation housings 26 are formed by recesses in said radial walls 20d. Said ring 20 includes extra thicknesses of material 27 to reinforce it in line with said recesses.

[0089]As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, advantageously, said receptacle has facing surfaces 40a, 40b to form a pivotal stop for said hinge member 22 on said ring 20 when the cover 4 is tilted. In these figures, the pivoting of the hinge member 22 with respect to said ring 20 about the first articulation axis Y1 is illustrated by an arrow marked P.

[0090]In FIG. 9, the hinge member 22 is shown before pivoting. It is parallel to said longitudinal direction X. This corresponds to a first, so-called vertical, position of said hinge member 22 relative to the ring 22 parallel to said longitudinal direction X. Such a configuration is encountered in said closed position, in said intermediate position and between these two positions.

[0091]FIG. 10 shows the hinge member 22 after pivoting. It is inclined about the first articulation axis Y1 at an angle of between 1° and 20° with respect to said longitudinal direction X. This corresponds to a second, inclined position of said hinge member 22 with respect to the ring 20. Such a configuration is encountered when the cover 4 is tilted just after passing into said intermediate position and into said open position when the receptacle is opened and vice versa when it is closed.

[0092]Here, a first one 40a of said facing surfaces comprises a portion, referred to as the top, of an external surface of the body 34 of said hinge member 22, said top portion being located in proximity to its head 36. A second 40b of said facing surfaces comprises a chamfer located at a free edge of said connecting wall 38 to cooperate with said top part of the external surface of the body 34. Cumulatively or alternatively, said first 40a of said facing surfaces comprises a so-called low area of the external surface of the body 34, said low area being located in the vicinity of said first articulation axis Y1. The second 40b of said facing surfaces comprises a free edge of one or more triangular flanks 42, in this case two, located in the clearance space 32 to cooperate with said low area of the external surface of the body 34. Said triangular flanks 42 extend radially from said connecting wall 38.

[0093]Said receptacle has a notch 44 (more clearly visible in FIG. 8) configured to cooperate with a first rib 46 to form a first overridable stop facilitating holding of said hinge member 22 with respect to the ring 20 in said vertical position of the hinge member 22.

[0094]In the illustrated embodiment, said notch 44 is located on the hinge member 22 at a lower part of the body 34. Said first rib 46 is located on said ring 20 at a lower part of the clearance space 32.

[0095]Here, said ring 20 further comprises a U-shape 48 provided on the ring 20 to promote pivotal guidance of the hinge member 22 between the vertical position and the inclined position by cooperating with said notch 44. Said U-shape 48 extends radially from said connecting wall 38. Said triangular flanks 42 are formed by an axial extension of the side flanks of said U-shaped 48.

[0096]Said ring 20 further comprises a radial flank 50 extending from said connecting wall 38. Said first rib 46 is located at an upper edge of said radial flank 50. Said radial flank 50 is located between the side flanks of said U-shaped 48.

[0097]When opening, once in the intermediate position, with a slight additional effort, the person using the receptacle allows the hinge member 22 to pass over this first overridable stop and tilt from the vertical position to the inclined position.

[0098]Said receptacle also has third lugs 52 configured to cooperate with a counterpart shape 54 to form a second overridable stop facilitating holding of said hinge member 22 in said inclined position.

[0099]Said third lugs are located on the ring 20, here at the level of said radial walls 20d. Said counterpart shape 54 is formed, for example, by a lateral edge ridge of the hinge member 22, here at the level of its body 34 at one of the ends of said body close to the head 36 of said hinge member 22.

[0100]During closing, once close to said intermediate position, the person using the receptacle uses a slight additional effort to allow the hinge member 22 to pass this second overridable stop, in order to tilt from the inclined position to the vertical position.

[0101]As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 15, advantageously, said receptacle has fourth lugs 56 configured to cooperate with a groove 58 to form a third overridable stop to drive said hinge member 22 with said cover 4 when moving from said open position to said intermediate position.

[0102]The fourth lugs 56 are located here on the cover 4, in particular at the radial edge 5a. Said groove 58 is formed, for example, in one of the side edges of the hinge member 22, in particular at the level of its head 36.

[0103]During closing, once the cover 4 reaches a certain degree of tilting, said fourth lugs 56 bear against an external face of the head 36 of the hinge member 22 (FIGS. 11 and 14), and, as tilting continues, allow said hinge member 22 to pivot from its inclined position to its vertical position. In other words, when the user closes the cover 4, said fourth lugs 56 drive the hinge member 22 to move it from its inclined position, having allowed the cover to open wide, to its vertical position, thus facilitating, from said intermediate position, the correct positioning of the various elements with a view to closing said cover 4. By exerting a slight additional effort at the end of the tilting movement, the person using the receptacle enables the cover 4 to pass this third overridable stop, the fourth lugs 56 then being housed in said groove 58 (FIGS. 12 and 15), more or less simultaneously with the passage of the second overridable stop.

[0104]As illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18, advantageously, said receptacle has fifth lugs 60 intended to cooperate with third housings 62 to form a fourth overridable stop configured to limit a movement of said cover 4 with respect to said hinge member 22 in the open position.

[0105]The fifth lugs 60 are located here on the cover 4, in a given angular position around the second lugs 30. Said third housings 62 are formed, for example, in the field of the lateral edges of the hinge member 22, in particular at the level of its head 36, in a given angular position around said second articulation housings 28.

[0106]When opening, by exerting a slight additional effort at the end of the tilting movement of the cover 4, the person using the receptacle allows said cover 4 to pass this fourth overridable stop, the fifth lugs 60 then being housed in said third housings 62 (FIG. 18). Conversely, when closing, the fifth lugs 60 emerge from the third housings 62.

[0107]As illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, advantageously, said receptacle comprises a sixth precompression lug 64 for the hinge member 22, active in said intermediate position so as to promote pivoting of said hinge member 22 about said first articulation axis Y1 on arrival in said intermediate position.

[0108]Said sixth lug 64 is located, for example, on the base 2, in particular said internal piece 2b of the base 2, facing the head 36 of the hinge member 22 to press on an internal face of said head 36 in the vertical position of said hinge member 22.

[0109]As can be seen in FIG. 20, this precompression causes at least the beginning of pivoting of the hinge member 22 and the beginning of tilting of said cover 4.

[0110]Referring again to FIGS. 3 to 5, it can be seen that said base 2 comprises an opening 100 for the circulation of said hinge member 22.

[0111]According to a second aspect of the invention, which may or may not be combined with the previous aspect, said ring 20 is further configured to mask said opening 100. In particular, this means that said ring 22 occupies and/or covers said opening 100.

[0112]The hinge member 22 moves in this way without leaving any visible trace at the level of the base 2, even when the receptacle is in the open position, thanks to the ring 20 which moves with it and conceals the opening 100 required for the angular movement of said hinge member 22.

[0113]In the illustrated embodiment, said base 2 comprises an inner wall and an external wall defining between them a cavity 102 opening at the top onto said opening 100 for circulation of the hinge member 22. Said inner wall is formed here by the internal piece 2b of the base 2. Said external wall is formed here by said external piece 2a of the base 2. Advantageously, said cavity 102 is annular. It is understood that the hinge member 22 angularly traverses part of said cavity 102 and its upper opening 100 as it moves between said closed position and said intermediate position.

[0114]Said ring 20 comprises a segment 104 that is mobile in said cavity 102. Here, said segment 104 comprises the outer flank 20a, the inner flank 20b and the upper transverse edge 20c of said ring 20. It also defines said clearance space 32. In this way, it complements the shape of the internal and external walls of the base and occupies said cavity 102. More generally, it is understood that said segment 104 is configured to be guided at least in rotation between said internal and external walls of the base 2.

[0115]Said segment 104 has an upper surface flush with said opening 100 in the intermediate position, in the open position and between said intermediate position and said open position. Said upper surface corresponds here to said upper transverse edge 20c. In other words, in the intermediate position, in the open position and between these two positions, said upper transverse edge 20c occupies said opening 100 by being flush just above a free edge of said external piece 2a of the base 2, which conceals said opening 100 from the person using said receptacle who sees said segment 104 and not said cavity 102 (see in particular FIG. 4).

[0116]According to a third aspect of the invention, which may or may not be combined with any of the preceding aspects, said receptacle is configured to allow the ring 20 and/or the hinge member 22 to be movable with the cover 4 according to a movement also having a translation component along said longitudinal axis X. For this reason, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 4 is axially at a distance from the base 2 in said intermediate position.

[0117]The transition between the closed position and the intermediate position is effected, for example, by screwing/unscrewing or by a bayonet movement.

[0118]Said receptacle comprises a first opening/closing thread 200 enabling the cover 4 to move from the closed position to the intermediate position. Said first thread 200 is located on the base 2, in particular on its inner wall, i.e., here, said internal piece 2b of the base 2, to cooperate with a first tapping located on said cover 4, in particular said internal piece 4b of the cover 4. Said first thread 200 allows the cover 4 to be screwed/unscrewed onto the base 2.

[0119]The receptacle comprises a second thread 202 for guiding the ring 20 on the base 2. Said second thread 202 is located on the base 2, in particular its inner wall, i.e. here said internal piece 2b of the base 2, below said first thread 200, to cooperate with a second thread located on said ring 20, in particular the inner flank 20b. Said second thread 202 allows the ring 20 to rotate about said longitudinal axis X and said ring 20 to move up and down along said longitudinal axis X, thereby giving both the ring 20 and the cover a spiral movement about said longitudinal axis X.

[0120]Advantageously, said first and second threads 200, 202 have an identical pitch.

[0121]According to this third aspect, in general terms, the invention relates to a receptacle for a product, in particular a cosmetic product, said receptacle 1 having a longitudinal axis X and comprising a base 2 and a cover 4 for said base 2, said receptacle comprising a ring 20, which can rotate with respect to the base 2 about said longitudinal axis X, and a hinge member 22, mobile in rotation with respect to the base 2 with said ring 20 to allow the cover to pass between a closed position and an intermediate position by rotation about said longitudinal axis X and to tilt the cover 4 relative to the base 2 between said intermediate position and an open position while maintaining the cover 4 secured to the base 2.

[0122]According to this third aspect, said receptacle also comprises a first opening/closing thread 200 enabling the cover 4 to move from the closed position to the intermediate position, the receptacle also comprising a second thread 202 for guiding the ring 20 on the base 2, said first and second threads 200, 202 advantageously having an identical pitch.

[0123]According to the illustrated embodiment, said ring 20 is secured to said cover 4, according to said rotation about the longitudinal axis X, at least via said hinge member 22.

[0124]As can be seen in FIG. 5, said receptacle also comprises studs 70 cooperating with recesses 72 to also contribute to driving said ring 20 by means of said cover 4. In addition, the various studs 70, once engaged in the recesses 72, take up the forces during rotation of the cover 4 when the cover 4 is closed and/or opened, and thus prevent all the forces from being concentrated at the level of the hinge member 22.

[0125]Said studs 70 are located, for example, on the ring 20, in particular at the level of said upper transverse edge 20c. The recesses 72 are located, for example, on the cover 4, in particular the internal piece 4b of said cover 4.

[0126]Said studs 70 are here in a number of three. A first of said studs 70 is located diametrically opposite said hinge member 22. A second and a third of said studs 70 are located on either side of said hinge member 22 (see also FIG. 8).