ES2385381T3 - Applicator for packaging device and distribution of a product, especially a hair product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator for a device for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a hair-care product, that comprises a dispensing head (18) provided with at least two application end pieces (34, 36) each including at least one product dispensing opening (52, 54) having a longitudinal axis (Y-Y'), and means (56, 58) axially protruding relative to said dispensing openings (52, 54), said means being capable of bearing against the scalp in order to guide the applicator and to massage the scalp during the movement of said applicator.

Description

Applicator for packaging and distribution of a product, especially a hair product

The present invention concerns the general scope of the containers intended for packaging and distribution of a fluid product, a gel or a cream and especially a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or veterinary product.

More particularly, the present invention concerns an applicator that can be used with such containers.

One of the interesting uses of the invention concerns the application on the scalp of a hair product comprising a hair care composition with a view to preventing hair loss and / or favoring its growth. Another use of the invention may be the application on the hair of a coloring composition. Another use of the invention may be the application on the skin of an animal of a composition for veterinary use.

The invention therefore concerns, in general, a device for applying a product on an application surface.

The products to be applied can be classically stored in a deformable wall storage tank provided with a neck comprising a filleting to which an applicator for the distribution and distribution of the product is screwed. For more details, you may refer, for example, to patent application FR-A1-2 810 857.

By product is meant a hair product, a composition for pharmaceutical use, a composition for cosmetic use or a composition for veterinary use.

From the US patent application 2002/0096184, an applicator is known for the application of a capillary product comprising a mounting skirt and a row of teeth each comprising a product feed channel that flows through holes output arranged in an applicator distribution head.

In order to allow an application of a hair product, it is also known from US Patent 4,617,949, a hairpin-shaped applicator comprising at its free end a product distribution hole.

This applicator, although effective for spreading a hair product on the scalp of a user, does not allow the penetration of the applied product.

The present invention, then aims to remedy this inconvenience.

More particularly, the present invention is intended to provide an applicator that allows a satisfactory distribution and penetration of the product inside the scalp to be obtained satisfactorily.

The present invention is still intended to provide a product applicator that has a good acceptance of use.

The present invention aims finally to provide an applicator of simple, economical and easy to use design.

The object of the invention is an applicator for packaging and distribution device of a product, especially of a capillary or veterinary product, of the type comprising a storage container of said product, the applicator comprising a distribution head provided with at least two nozzles of application comprising, each, at least one distribution hole of the longitudinal axis product, and means in axial projection with respect to the distribution holes, said means being able to rest against the scalp to ensure guiding of the applicator and a scalp massage during a displacement of said applicator.

The applicator also comprises an applicator mounting base on the neck of the container that may be different from the distribution head.

The distribution head is mobile with respect to the mounting base to allow the passage of an approximate relative position in which a product distribution conduit of the base is sealed, to a relative position remote in which said conduit allows a product distribution in the direction of the distribution holes.

The use of a means in axial projection with respect to each distribution hole allows to improve the treatment efficiency of the cosmetic product. In effect, they form massage organs that facilitate the penetration of the product applied to the scalp.

On the other hand, these means also allow the applicator to be adjusted against the user's scalp before the start of the application of the cosmetic product, and then, during use, make it slide supported along the scalp.

In one embodiment, each massage and guiding means extends from a front surface on which the associated distribution hole is arranged. Each medium can also extend along the associated distribution hole.

Preferably, the distribution head comprises a skirt to which the application nozzles are connected, the volume of said nozzles being delimited in the width of the skirt. In this way, a fitting can be provided by fitting a sealing cap on the distribution head.

The distribution head may be mobile with respect to the base about a longitudinal axis of said head.

In order to obtain the relative displacement of the distribution head and the mounting base, it can comprise at least one ramp inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head and cooperating with a complementary filleting of the distribution head.

Preferably, the mounting base comprises stops arranged on its outer surface for the relative angular positioning of the base and the distribution head in the approximate and / or remote position.

In one embodiment, the distribution head comprises a seal suitable for cooperating tightly with the distribution conduit in the approximate position.

In order to obtain a good seal of the applicator, the mounting base can also comprise an axial guide collar capable of cooperating in a sealed manner with the inside of the neck of the container. For this purpose, it is also possible to provide an annular sealing surface in friction contact with the distribution head.

In one embodiment, the mounting base comprises an external skirt provided with a fixing means for mounting on the neck of the container.

The invention also concerns a device for packaging and distributing a product to be applied to the scalp, especially a hair product, provided with a container for storing the product comprising a closed end and an open opposite end which it forms a neck, and an applicator such as the one defined above mounted on the neck.

The present invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description of an embodiment taken by way of example in any way limiting and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

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Figure 1 is a perspective view of an applicator according to the invention,

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Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of the applicator of Figure 1 in a closed position,

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Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the applicator of Figures 1 to 3,

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Figure 5 is a sectional view along the V-V axis of Figure 2,

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Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 in an open position of the applicator,

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Figure 7 is a front view of a base of the applicator of the invention, and

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Figure 8 is a sectional view according to axis VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, an applicator 10 intended to allow distribution and application of a product contained within a storage container 12 is shown. The applicator 10 is represented in an assumed vertical position in Figures 2 and 3.

In the application considered, the applicator 10 is intended for the distribution of a cosmetic product, especially a treatment or scalp care product to prevent hair loss and / or to favor its growth. However, it is easily conceived that this could also apply to the application of other types of products.

As will be described, the applicator 10 is provided, not only to allow distribution and application of the product, but also to favor its penetration into the scalp of a user.

The storage container 12 is provided with a lower end (not shown) and an upper end comprising a neck 14 extending along a longitudinal X-X 'axis.

The applicator 10, of X-X 'axis, mainly comprises a base 16 for mounting on the container 12, on which a product distribution head or head 18 is mounted.

The mounting base 16 comprises an annular outer skirt 19 provided with a hitch 20 to allow the axial fixation of the applicator 10 on the container 12. The hitch 20 is circularly discontinuous and is disposed on the inner edge of the skirt 19, substantially at medium height. . The hitch 20 is directed radially inwards and is suitable for cooperating with a shoulder (not indicated) of the neck 14.

In a variant, it is easily conceived that it is also possible to provide a shoulder and a hitch arranged, respectively, on the skirt 19 and the neck 14. Alternatively, it could be equally possible to have a continuous hitch in the circumferential direction. Naturally, it may be possible to provide any other appropriate fixing means in the internal skirt 19 for mounting the applicator 10 on the container 12. It is possible, for example, to provide an internal thread in the skirt 19 to obtain a screw-in assembly, or also a sealing of this to the container 12 for example by gluing or welding.

The mounting base 16 also comprises a radial portion 22 that extends an upper end of the outer skirt 19, in turn extended from a small diameter edge by a truncated portion 24. The truncated portion 24 extends axially on the side of the skirt 19, that is, towards the bottom, which widens inwards. This internally delimits a distribution conduit 26 for the product contained in the storage container 12. The distribution conduit 26 is centered on the X-X 'axis.

The base 16 also comprises an axial collar 28 that extends axially towards the lower part from the radial portion 22 and which forms an internal guide skirt for mounting the base 16 inside the neck 14 of the container. The collar 28 is located radially between the outer skirt 19 and the frustoconical portion 24. The lower end of the collar 28 is here axially displaced towards the bottom and the top with respect to those of the trunk portion 24 and the skirt 19, respectively.

The collar 28, coaxial with the X-X 'axis, cooperates tightly with the inside of the neck 14 of the container. The neck 14 is located radially between the collar 28 and the outer skirt 19 resting against them to obtain a seal between the container 12 and the mounting base 16. For this purpose, the upper extremity of the neck 14 also rests against the radial portion 22.

In order to obtain a good seal between the distribution head 18 and the mounting base 16, it comprises, axially on the side opposite to the skirt 19, an annular sealing surface 30 that axially extends the radial portion 22 and that rests or comes into contact by friction against the anima of a cylindrical skirt 32 of the distribution head 18. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the base 16 also comprises two diametrically opposed recesses 66 made at the level of a lower end of the skirt 19 to allow its mounting on the neck 14 of the container and the passage of radial (not indicated) lugs of the aforementioned neck.

The distribution head 18 comprises application nozzles 34 and 36, here in number of two, which are joined to the skirt 32 and which form a fork. Said skirt 32 comprises on its internal surface a fixing means designed to allow the mounting of the distribution head 18 on the base 16. In the case of the skirt 32, a filleting 38 is provided in this case to cooperate with a corresponding ramp 40 disposed on the outer surface of the skirt 19, in the vicinity of the sealing surface 30. The ramp 40 extends helically around the longitudinal axis XX 'in a sector advantageously between 260� and 320�. In a variant, it would be possible to arrange the filleting 38 and the ramp 40 respectively in the skirt 19 and in the skirt 32.

Advantageously, the ramp 40 is constituted by two different symmetrical parts considering an average plane of the applicator containing the longitudinal axis X-X '. Each part extends helically around the longitudinal axis X-X 'in an angular sector advantageously comprised between 130� and 160�, preferably extending in 140�. These two parts of the ramp 40 form an angle of 6� to 10�, preferably 8� with respect to a plane perpendicular to the median plane that contains the longitudinal axis X-X '.

The ramp 40 and the filleting 38 make it possible to ensure the assembly of the distribution head 18 on the base 16 but also to obtain a relative displacement between these two elements, without axial de-consolidation, to allow the passage of a closing position of the applicator 10 illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5 towards an opening position illustrated in Figure 6, and vice versa, as will be described in more detail in the following. Naturally, the fillet passage 38 and the propeller passage of the ramp 40 are adapted as a function of the desired axial displacement of the distribution head 18 during its rotation around the X-X 'axis.

The distribution head 18 still comprises a central radial wall 42 that extends radially inwardly an upper end of the skirt 32, and a teat 44 centered on the axis XX 'and that seals the distribution conduit 26 of the base 16. The teton Sealing 44 extends axially toward the bottom the radial wall 42. The radial wall 42 also comprises a skirt 46 that radially surrounds the sealing pin 44 and that rests against the radial portion 22 of the base 16 in the approximate position. Thus, good support is obtained from the distribution head 18 on the mounting base 16.

The application nozzles 34, 36 of the head 18 internally delimit product routing channels 48, 50, intended to communicate with the interior of the container 12, through the distribution conduit 26. Each application nozzle 34, 36 comprises a base 34a, 36a that splices to the skirts 32, 36 and of cross section more important than the cross section of its free end 34b, 36b. The application nozzles 34, 36 extend axially considering the longitudinal axis X-X ', and are symmetrical with respect to each other considering the median plane of the applicator containing said axis. The volume of the application nozzles 34, 36 remains delimited in the width of the skirt 32 in order to allow the mounting by fitting of a cylindrical cap (not shown) cylindrical on the distribution head 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, the distribution head 18 comprises two application nozzles. However, it is conceived that it might also be possible to provide a higher number of nozzles.

Each free end 34b, 36b is delimited by an upper radial front surface 35, 37 in which an orifice 52, 54 for distributing the cosmetic product is arranged in communication with the routing channels 48, 50. Each distribution hole 52, 54 extends along a longitudinal axis �-� 'parallel to the X-X axis' and orthogonal to the plane defined by the radial front surface 35, 37. Naturally, in a variant embodiment, it may be possible to provide the secant X-X 'and �-�' axes.

Each application nozzle 34, 36 comprises a shoulder 56, 58 or bulge that extends axially from the front surface 35, 37 and intended to rest against the user's scalp during use of the applicator 10. The shoulder 56, 58 extends transversely on the front surface 35, 37 along the distribution hole 52, 54. Each shoulder 56, 58 is radially displaced towards the periphery of the front surface 35, 37, considering the axis �-� ', with respect to the distribution hole 52, 54. The projections 56, 58 are in axial projection with respect to the distribution holes 52, 54. The projections 56, 58 may have an axial dimension between two and five millimeters.

In other words, the application nozzles 34, 36 comprise two teeth 56, 58 that are spliced to the front surfaces 35, 37 and extend continuously in the transverse direction, on one side of the distribution holes 52, 54.

By � front surface �, in this case the terminal surface is defined which axially delimits the application nozzles and intended to face the user's scalp during use of the applicator 10. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the surfaces front 35, 37 extend radially considering the axis �-� '. Naturally, as a variant, it might be possible to provide front surfaces that extend obliquely or still staggered surfaces.

The projections 56, 58 especially allow the positioning of the applicator 10 against the scalp of the user and ensure the guidance of the distribution head 18 during the movement of said applicator. Indeed, before the start of the application, the applicator 10 is placed against the scalp, by means of the projections 56, 58. These therefore allow to rest on the scalp and stably position the distribution head 18. For this purpose, the projections 56, 58 may have a generally rounded shape so as not to injure the user's scalp.

Next, the applicator 10 is moved along the area to be treated by keeping the protrusions 56, 58 resting against the scalp. During the movement of the applicator 10 on the scalp and the application of the product, the projections 56, 58 allow to maintain a substantially constant spacing between the distribution holes 52, 54 and the scalp. This ensures a regular distribution of the product. With the applicator 10, the circulation or the exit of the product through the distribution holes 52, 54 is carried out in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the applicator 10. A good deposit of product on the leather is thus favored. scalp

The projections 56, 58 still have the function of facilitating the penetration of the product after its application on the scalp of the user. In fact, they form massage organs located at the back of the applicator 10, considering the direction of travel during use. Thus, once the product is applied on an area of the scalp and the applicator moves slightly, the projections 56, 58 massage the area considered. This favors the penetration of the product into the scalp.

On the other hand, the projections 56, 58 allow to limit a superfluous deposit of product on an area of the scalp that has already been treated. In fact, during use, these form barriers to limit the circulation of the product towards an area located at the rear of these, considering the displacement of the applicator 10.

In order to obtain the passage of the applicator 10 from a closed position as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 to an opening position as illustrated in Figure 6, the rotation drive of the distribution head 18 with respect to the mounting base 16. During this rotation, the ramp 40 of the skirt 19 cooperates with the corresponding filleting 38 to obtain an axial displacement towards the top of the distribution head 18. Thus, the distribution duct 26 sealed until now by the teat 44 is released, which allows a circulation of product contained in the container 12 to the routing channels 48, 50 and then to the distribution holes 52, 54.

Thus, it passes from an approximate axial position of the distribution head 18 with respect to the base 16 in which the pin 74 obstructs the distribution conduit 26 and in which the skirt 46 rests against the radial portion 22, at a remote position in which the pin 44 leaves said distribution conduit 26 free and an axial space is arranged between the radial portion 22 and the skirt 46. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the passage of the

The position approximated to the remote position is effected by a rotation in the trigonometric direction of approximately 90 °.

In order to obtain the relative angular positioning of the mounting base 16 and the distribution head 18 in the approximate position and in the remote position, the skirt 19 comprises on its outer surface, axially below the ramp 40, stops 60 and 62 (see Figures 5 to 7) that extend radially outward. The

10 stops 60 and 62, in number of four, are opposite two to two and are able to rest against two corresponding diametrically opposed stops 64 arranged on the inner surface of the skirt 32. In the closed position of the applicator 10, the stops 60 and 64 rest against each other and in the closed position the stops 62, 64 are in contact.

To obtain a particularly economical applicator 10, the mounting base 16 may be made

Advantageously in one piece, for example, by molding a synthetic material such as polypropylene (PP). Similarly, the distribution head 18 can be obtained by molding a synthetic material such as polyethylene (PE).

Thanks to the invention, an applicator is available that allows the penetration of the product applied on the scalp of the user while giving a good acceptance of comfort during use.

Claims (15)

one.

Applicator for packaging and distribution of a product, especially a hair product, of the type comprising a storage container (12) of said product, the applicator comprising a distribution head (18) provided with at least two application nozzles (34, 36) each comprising at least one hole (52, 54) for distributing the longitudinal axis product (�-� '), and means (56, 58) in axial projection with respect to the holes ( 52, 54) of distribution, said means being able to rest against the scalp to ensure a guide of the applicator and a massage of the scalp during a movement of said applicator, the applicator also comprising a base (16) for mounting on the neck of the container (12), characterized in that the distribution head (18) is movable with respect to the mounting base (16) to allow the passage of an approximate relative position in which a distribution duct (26) The base of the mounting base is sealed, to a remote relative position in which said conduit allows a product distribution in the direction of the distribution holes (52, 54).

2.

Applicator according to claim 1, wherein each means (56, 58) of massage and guidance extends from a front surface (35, 37) in which the orifice (52, 54) of distribution is arranged associated.

3.

Applicator according to claims 1 or 2, wherein each means (56, 58) of massage and guidance extends along the associated distribution hole (52, 54).

Four.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distribution head

(18) comprises a skirt (32) to which the application nozzles (34, 36) are connected, the volume of said nozzles being delimited in the width of the skirt (32).

5.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the mounting base (16) is different from the distribution head (18).

6.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distribution head

(18) is mobile with respect to the mounting base (16) around a longitudinal axis (X-X ') of said head. 7. Applicator according to claim 6, wherein the mounting base (16) comprises at least one ramp (40) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (X-X ') and cooperating with a fillet (38) complementary to the distribution head.

8.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting base (16) comprises stops (60, 62) arranged on its outer surface for the relative angular positioning of the mounting base and the distribution head in the approximate position and / or the remote position.

9.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distribution head

(18) comprises a sealing pin (44) capable of cooperating in a sealed manner with the distribution conduit (26) in the approximate position.

10.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting base (16) comprises an axial guide collar (28) capable of cooperating in a sealed manner with the inside of the neck of the container.

eleven.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting base (16) comprises an annular sealing surface (30) in friction contact with the distribution head (18).

12.

Applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting base (16) comprises an external skirt (19) provided with a fixing means (20) for mounting on the neck of the container.

13.

Use of an applicator according to any one of the preceding claims, for the application of a product with a view to preventing hair loss and / or promoting hair growth.

14.

Use of an applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 12, for the application of a product for veterinary use.

fifteen.

Device for packaging and distributing a product to be applied to the scalp, especially a hair product, provided with a container for the storage of the product comprising a closed limb and an open opposite limb that forms a neck, and a applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 12 mounted on the neck.