DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING A FLUID PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A FLUID COSMETIC PRODUCT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to French Application No. 2411234, filed Oct. 16, 2024, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The invention relates to a device for dispensing and applying a fluid product, in particular a fluid cosmetic product.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0003]There are a number of cosmetic products on the market with applicators specific to products, treatments or areas of application.

[0004]Some applicators need to be able to spread the product over a wide area, while others need to spread the product in a more localized or even very localized manner.

[0005]In the latter case, there are dispensers with special arrangements for delivering the product by exerting a pressure on the reservoir, or on one of the parts used for dispensing.

[0006]Very often these systems comprise systems of valves and/or pistons to move the cosmetic product to a dispensing orifice.

[0007]This is a structure comprising a large number of parts assembled and arranged in a complex way to obtain the distribution of the cosmetic product. The manufacture of such dispensers is therefore costly in terms of time and materials.

[0008]They may also be dispensers where simply squeezing the reservoir allows the distribution of the product.

[0009]There is then a risk of damaging the dispenser as it is used. The dispenser may also leak during storage if the reservoir is accidentally crushed.

[0010]In addition, the dispensing is not very even, with a large quantity of product being dispensed when the reservoir is crushed in a single area, rather than being dispensed progressively throughout the application.

[0011]There is therefore a need to improve dispensers, in particular to obtain dispensers with a homogenous and regulated dispensing in a precise area, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017]In the rest position, the opening and closing means close off the dispensing orifice and thus prevent the fluid product from exiting the device. A sealed closure is achieved by cooperation of the opening and closing means with the dispensing orifice.

[0018]When a pressure is exerted on the applicator end, the applicator undergoes a translation, causing the opening and closing means for opening and closing the dispensing orifice to move away. A passage for the fluid product is then formed at the level of the dispensing orifice, allowing it to exit and be dispensed, in particular as far as the applicator end of the applicator.

[0019]In addition, the return means allows the applicator to return automatically to the rest position when the user no longer exerts pressure, thus allowing the automatic return of the seal closure and ensuring that the device is reliably sealed.

[0020]By simply pressing the applicator end against the application area, the user is able to dispense the fluid product, which is stopped as soon as the user moves the applicator end away from the application area, i.e. when the user stops exerting a pressure on it, and the device automatically seals again without the need for any further action on the part of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0054]Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference is made to the attached drawings wherein:

[0055]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing and application device according to the invention comprising a first example of embodiment of an applicator of a dispensing and application head with an open cap and in the rest position of an applicator;

[0056]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device in FIG. 1 with the cap closed;

[0057]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device in FIG. 1;

[0058]FIG. 4 is a detail view of FIG. 2 showing the dispensing and application head;

[0059]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the dispensing and application head without the cap and with the applicator in the dispensing position,

[0060]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first example of a return means for the device in FIG. 1;

[0061]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second example of a return means for the device in FIG. 1;

[0062]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third example of a return means for the device in FIG. 1;

[0063]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second example of embodiment of an applicator of a dispensing and application head of a dispensing and application device according to the invention;

[0064]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a variant of embodiment of a dispensing and application head of a dispensing and application device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065]By convention, the “axial” or “longitudinal” direction in the figures corresponds to that of the main axis X of a device for dispensing and applying a fluid product, and the “transverse” direction is orthogonal to the axial direction.

[0066]In the following detailed description of the figures, the terms “upper” and “lower” or “top” and “low” will be used without limitation in reference to the axial direction. The lower part of the dispensing and application device corresponds, in this case, to the part where a dispensing and application head is positioned. Similarly, the terms “outer or external” and “inner or internal” are used in reference to the transverse direction, an external element being radially further from the axis X than an inner element.

[0067]FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate an example of a device 10 for dispensing and applying a fluid product, in particular a cosmetic product, extending along a main longitudinal axis X.

[0068]The fluid product is more particularly a cosmetic hair product, such as a hair tonic, a hair growth product or a hair care product.

[0069]Advantageously, the device 10 takes the general form of a pen.

[0070]The device 10 comprises a reservoir 12 configured to contain the fluid product and a dispensing and application head 14 mounted on the reservoir 12.

[0071]The reservoir 12 extends along the main longitudinal axis X from a closed bottom arranged at one axial end towards an opposite open axial end.

[0072]The reservoir 12 delimits a fluid product reservoir volume.

[0073]The dispensing and application head 14 is located at the open axial end of the reservoir 12.

[0074]In the embodiment shown here, the reservoir 12 further comprises a removable refill 16 configured to contain the cosmetic product and an external sheath 18 into which the refill 16 is configured to be inserted axially and attached in a removable manner.

[0075]Advantageously, this arrangement allows the external sheath 18 of the device 10 to be retained when the refill 16 needs changing, for example when it is empty, when the fluid product has become unusable, or when the user wants to change the fluid product. Such a design is economic and ecological.

[0076]It is in particular possible to provide the external sheath 18 in a solid material and/or made with a high quality degree of finish, while the refill 16 is made of a lighter and less expensive material.

[0077]As shown in FIG. 3, the refill 16 has an elongated shape and extends along the main axis X from a bottom 20 arranged at one axial end towards an opening 22 arranged at an opposite axial end.

[0078]The cross-section of the reservoir 12 is, here, circular. Alternatively, the cross-section of the reservoir 12 may have another shape, for example polygonal.

[0079]Advantageously, before the first insertion of the refill 16 into the external sheath 18, the opening 22 of the refill 16 is closed by a sealed lid (not visible).

[0080]The lid may be removable, i.e. removed by a user before the refill 16 is inserted into the external sheath 18.

[0081]The lid may also be pierced by the dispensing and application head 14 when the refill 16 is inserted into the external sheath 18 and/or when the dispensing and application head 14 is placed on the reservoir 12.

[0082]The external sheath 18 has a tubular shape extending along the main axis X and comprises two opposite open ends: an orifice 24 for inserting the refill and an open end 26 for dispensing the fluid product.

[0083]Advantageously, the external sheath 18 has a shape complementary to the shape of the refill 16 so that the refill 16 may be inserted axially into the external sheath 18 through the refill 16 insertion orifice 24 located, in this case, at the end opposite the dispensing and application head 14.

[0084]Advantageously, the refill 16 comprises an external thread 28 cooperating with an internal thread 30 (visible in FIG. 4) of the external sheath 18 of the reservoir 12. The cooperation of the two external and internal threads 28, 30 allows the refill 16 to be reversibly attached in the external sheath 18 by screwing or unscrewing the refill 16 in relation to the external sheath 18.

[0085]The open end 26 opposite the refill 16 insertion orifice 24 also comprises an external thread 32 for mounting the dispensing and application head 14 on it.

[0086]Advantageously, the dispensing and application head 14 may thus be removably mounted on the reservoir 12, in this case the refill 16.

[0087]The dispensing and application head 14 comprises a body 34 mounted on the reservoir 12 and a fluid product applicator 36.

[0088]The body 34 has a general frustoconical outer shape extending from a wide end having a large diameter towards an opposite narrow end comprising a dispensing orifice 38 allowing the fluid product to exit.

[0089]Advantageously, the dispensing orifice 38 is located at a distal end of the body 34 of the dispensing and application head 14. This prevents product from accumulating and drying out upon contact with the exterior in the rest position. The wide end of the body 34 is provided with an internal thread 40 cooperating with the external thread 32 of the reservoir 12, in this case of the external sheath 18. The cooperation of the two internal and external threads 40, 42 allows the dispensing and application head 14 to be removably mounted on the reservoir 12, in this case on the external sheath 18.

[0090]The applicator 36 extends through the body 34 from an external applicator end 44 to an internal end 46 in contact with the fluid product. In other words, the applicator end 44 of the applicator 36 is outside the body 34 and the internal end 46 is inside the body 34.

[0091]The applicator 36 comprises a rod 48 extending longitudinally from the applicator end 44 inwardly of the body 34 of the dispensing and application head 14 to the internal end 46.

[0092]The rod 48 passes through the dispensing orifice 38 and then extends inside the body 34 to the internal end 46 of the applicator 36 which is located at the level of the open end 26 of the external sheath 18 so as to be in contact with the fluid product.

[0093]Advantageously, the rod 48 allows to guide the fluid product from the reservoir 12 towards the applicator end 44.

[0094]The fluid product will flow along the rod 48 to the applicator end 44, which will allow the fluid product to be applied to an application area 49 to be treated.

[0095]In the case of a refill 16, the rod 48 may be used to pierce the lid of the refill 16 when it is first inserted into the external sheath 18 and/or when the dispensing and application head 14 is fitted to the reservoir 12.

[0096]Preferably, the applicator end 44 is rounded. This could be a sphere, as in the examples shown here.

[0097]The size of the applicator end 44 may vary. This could be a large diameter sphere, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, or a small diameter sphere, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0098]The type, the design, the shape and the size of the applicator end 44 may be chosen, for example, as a function of the product to be applied, the desired feel and the user's preferences.

[0099]Advantageously, the dispensing and application head 14, in particular the applicator end 44, may be protected by a cap 50.

[0100]The cap 50 also prevents any unfortunate pressure being applied, which could cause the fluid product to leak.

[0101]The cap 50 surrounds the dispensing and application head 14 and rests on a shoulder 52 of the reservoir 12, in this case the external sheath 18.

[0102]The cap 50 is removable. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap 50 is held axially on the reservoir 12 by cooperation of an internal bead 54 of the cap 50 with an external bead 56 of the external sheath 18.

[0103]The applicator 36 may be moved in translation between a rest position (shown in FIG. 4) and a fluid product dispensing position (shown in FIG. 5), the dispensing position being reached by applying a pressure to the applicator end 44.

[0104]In the rest position, the fluid product is not dispensed and the applicator end 44 is in an extended position.

[0105]In the dispensing position, the fluid product may exit the dispensing and application head 14 through the dispensing orifice 38 and the applicator end 44 is in a retracted position.

[0106]Thus, in the rest position, the portion of the applicator 36 outside the body 34 is larger than the portion of the applicator 36 outside the body 34 in the dispensing position.

[0107]Advantageously, the rod 48 of the applicator 36 will allow to guide the applicator 36 from the rest position towards the fluid product dispensing position, and vice versa, allowing the applicator 36 to maintain its axial alignment and favoring its correct translation inside the body 34 of the dispensing and application head 14.

[0108]The dispensing and application head 14 also comprises a return means 58 allowing the applicator 36 to return automatically to the rest position when the pressure is no longer exerted on the applicator end 44.

[0109]The return means 58 extends from a first end 60 located at the level of the dispensing orifice 38 of the body 34 towards a second end 62 bearing on a border 64 of the open end 26 of the reservoir 12. The first end 60 and the second end 62 are connected by at least one flexible strand 66.

[0110]Preferably, the return means 58 has a frustoconical shape similar to an internal frustoconical shape of the body 34 delimited by an internal wall of the body 34. Preferably, the at least one flexible strand 66 is wound in a helix. This could be a conical spring, for example. In other words, the first end 60 of the return means 58 comprises a smaller diameter than the second end 62.

[0111]The number of turns of the return means 58 depends on the force that the user wishes to exert on the applicator end 44 to dispense the fluid product.

[0112]The greater the pressure required from the user to dispense a fluid product, the greater the number of turns. This may be a return means 58 comprising 3.5 turns as shown in FIG. 6.

[0113]On the other hand, if low user pressure is required to obtain the fluid product dispensing, then the number of turns is low. This may be a return means 58 comprising 1.5 turns as shown in FIG. 8.

[0114]It may also be desirable for the user to exert an intermediate pressure to dispense the fluid product and the return means 58 will then comprise, for example, 2.5 turns, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0115]Advantageously, the second end 62 of the return means 58 comprises a through hole 68 comprising a center 70 through which the rod 48 of the applicator 36 passes so that the rod 48 reaches the reservoir 12.

[0116]As may be seen in FIGS. 6 to 8, the through hole 68 comprises at least one branch 72 extending radially from the center 70 so as to allow the fluid product to circulate.

[0117]In other words, advantageously, the through hole 68 is star-shaped.

[0118]According to the invention, the applicator 36 also comprises opening and closing means 74 for opening and closing the device 10 cooperating with the dispensing orifice 38 of the dispensing and application head 14 so as to prevent dispensing of the fluid product when the applicator 36 is in the rest position.

[0119]The opening and closing means 74 extends from a first end cooperating with the dispensing orifice 38 to a second end cooperating with the return means 58. The first end of the opening and closing means 74 is adjacent to the applicator end 44 of the applicator 36.

[0120]The second end of the opening and closing means 74 is adjacent to the rod 48. Advantageously, the opening and closing means 74 extends axially between 1/15 and ⅓ of the length of the applicator 36, preferably between 1/10 and ⅙ of the length of the applicator 36.

[0121]The opening and closing means 74 also cooperate with the return means 58 of the dispensing and application head 14 in the fluid product dispensing position so that the applicator 36 automatically returns to the rest position.

[0122]In the rest position, the opening and closing means 74 close off the dispensing orifice 38 of the body 34 and thus prevent the fluid product from exiting the device 10. A sealed closure is achieved by cooperation of the opening and closing means 74 with the dispensing orifice 38 of the body 34.

[0123]When a pressure is exerted on the applicator end 44, the applicator 36 undergoes a translation causing the opening and closing means 74 to move away from the dispensing orifice 38. A passage for the fluid product is then formed at the level of the dispensing orifice 38, allowing it to exit and be dispensed, in particular as far as the applicator end 44 of the applicator 36. In addition, the return means 58 automatically returns the applicator 36 to the rest position when the user no longer applies pressure, thereby automatically returning the seal closure and ensuring that the device 10 is reliably sealed. By simply pressing the applicator end 44 against the application area, the user obtains dispensing of the fluid product, which is stopped as soon as the user moves the applicator end 44 away from the application area, i.e. when he stops exerting a pressure on it, and the seal of the device 10 returns automatically without the user needing to make an additional gesture.

[0124]Advantageously, the opening and closing means 74 bears on the first end 60 of the return means 58 so that the pressure on the applicator end 44 causes the return means 58 to be compressed and the dispensing orifice 38 of the dispensing and application head 14 to open, and releasing the pressure causes the applicator 36 to return to its rest position.

[0125]In the illustrated embodiment, the opening and closing means 74 is in the extension of the applicator end 44.

[0126]The opening and closing means 74 is generally frustoconical in shape, complementary to the internal frustoconical shape of the body 34, so as to seal the device 10. Indeed, the complementary shape of the opening and closing means 74 and the inside of the body 34 means that, in the rest position, the dispensing orifice 38 of the dispensing and application head 14 is blocked. The fluid product is thus contained in the device 10 without any risk of leakage. When a pressure is exerted on the applicator end 44, the opening and closing means 74 moves away from the internal wall of the body 34, leaving a passage for dispensing the fluid product to the dispensing orifice 38. In other words, in the dispensing position, a space is formed between the opening and closing means 74 and the internal wall of the body 34, allowing the fluid product stored in the reservoir 12 to pass through to the applicator end 44, as may be seen in FIG. 5.

[0127]The opening and closing means 74 corresponds to a bulge of the rod 48 in the extension of the applicator end 44. This bulge is frustoconical and has a small diameter adjacent to the applicator end 44 and a large diameter opposite.

[0128]The large diameter forms a shoulder 76 which cooperates, in this case with a shoulder 78 of the return means 58 located at the level of its first end 60. In this way, the first end 60 of the return means 58 cooperates with the opening and closing means 74. Thus, when a user exerts a pressure on the applicator end 44, this causes the return means 58 to be compressed and the dispensing orifice 38 of the dispensing and application head 14 to open, and releasing the pressure causes the applicator 36 to return automatically to its rest position. In an alternative embodiment of the dispensing and application head 14 of the device 10 illustrated in FIG. 10, the dispensing and application head 14 comprises a plurality of flexible tabs 80 extending longitudinally from a base 82 connected to an outer surface of the body 34 towards a free end 84.

[0129]The flexible tabs 80 allow the fluid product to be applied, but also the hair to be spread apart and/or the scalp to be massaged, which may be desirable and advantageous in the case of certain hair products.

[0130]Preferably, the flexible tabs 80 are evenly distributed around the dispensing orifice 38 of the dispensing and application head 14.

[0131]In this embodiment, the dispensing and application head 14 comprises four flexible tabs 80.

[0132]Each of the free ends 84 of the flexible tabs 80 is rounded, and in particular is spherical in shape.