EP0044781B1 - Covered type container with at least a translucent portion of non uniform thickness - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A container comprising a body closed by a cover and intended to receive a product such as a cosmetic cream which can be used up by taking successive amounts, causing the surface condition of the said product to vary, characterised in that the cover is formed from two pieces of which one, the inner piece, is opaque and exhibits a uniform surface simulating that of the product before any of it has been removed and the other, outer, piece is translucent and has a non-uniform thickness to create an optical effect as a result of which an observer sees an image which simulates the product and gives a not necessarily enlarging relief impression.

Description

The present invention relates to a container whose essential characteristic is to be greatly enhanced, which makes it particularly well suited to its application to cosmetics, beauty products and the like.

We know, in fact, that the presentation of these products is of paramount importance and that the high quality of the product itself must correspond to an impeccable packaging and at least of equivalent quality.

The present invention makes it possible to comply with these requirements by simple means.

• - Le brevet FR-A-1.462.579 décrit une boîte à parois transparentes dont le couvercle comporte une lentille optique qui est destinée à grossir les détails des objets placés dans la boîte.

We have already thought of using the lid of a container as an optical means to observe the content. This is the case with the following patents.

• - Patent FR-A-1,462,579 describes a box with transparent walls, the cover of which includes an optical lens which is intended to magnify the details of the objects placed in the box.

• - Le brevet US-A-2.421.646 décrit un contenant du genre poudrier qui prévoit un miroir 30 au centre du couvercle 13 et un décor en tissu 32 autour du miroir et sous une partie transparente du miroir.

The present invention provides, on the contrary, to interpose a mask to conceal the content, the volume and appearance of which change as the fragments are removed.

• - US-A-2,421,646 describes a container of the powder compact type which provides a mirror 30 in the center of the cover 13 and a fabric decoration 32 around the mirror and under a transparent part of the mirror.

• - Le brevet US-A-3.430.829 concerne une boîte dont le couvercle fait loupe pour donner une image agrandie des divers objets mis dans la boîte.

Unlike the invention, the cover does not have a variable thickness to create optical effects in order to observe, in this case, a sheet not arbitrarily decorative but imitating the content by its color, its mattness, etc. ...

• - US-A-3,430,829 relates to a box with a magnifying lid to give an enlarged image of the various objects put in the box.

• - Les brevets US-A-531.924 et 3.374.911 concernenttous deux un pot muni d'une étiquette emprisonnée entre deux- parois. La paroi extérieure n'a aucune caractéristique optique puisque, contrairement à l'invention, elle a une épaisseur uniforme. L'étiquette est décorative et ne se combine pas à la paroi extérieure pour créer un effet d'optique.

The cover is made in one piece and does not include an opaque piece as with the present invention.

• - The patents US-A-531,924 and 3,374,911 both relate to a jar provided with a label trapped between two walls. The outer wall has no optical characteristic since, unlike the invention, it has a uniform thickness. The label is decorative and does not combine with the exterior wall to create an optical effect.

• La figure 1 est une vue en coupe d'un contenant conforme à l'invention consistant en un pot à couvercle coiffant formé d'une pièce translucide et d'une pièce opaque.
• La figure 2 est une vue schématique montrant les deux pièces séparées du couvercle et une feuille devant être emprisonnée entre elles.
• Les figures 3 et 4 sont deux vues en coupe d'un couvercle selon l'invention, réalisé selon deux variantes différentes de la pièce translucide.
• La figure 5 est une vue en couple et en perspective d'un couvercle selon l'invention réalise selon une autre variante de la pièce translucide.
• La figure 6 est une vue extérieure en perspective du pot à couvercle coiffant des figures 1 et 2.
• La figure 7 est une vue en coupe d'un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given as an indicative and non-limiting example.

• Figure 1 is a sectional view of a container according to the invention consisting of a pot with a covering lid formed of a translucent part and an opaque part.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the two separate parts of the cover and a sheet to be trapped therebetween.
• Figures 3 and 4 are two sectional views of a cover according to the invention, produced according to two different variants of the translucent part.
• Figure 5 is a perspective pair view of a cover according to the invention produced according to another variant of the translucent part.
• FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the cover pot covering FIGS. 1 and 2.
• Figure 7 is a sectional view of a particular embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that a container according to the invention is of the type comprising a body 1 and a cover 2 and is characterized in that at least part of the container is made up of two parts 10-11 and 20-21, one interior 10-20 is opaque and the other exterior, 11-21 is translucent, possibly colored, and of non-uniform thickness eE, these two parts 10-20 and 11-21 preferably being united.

The example shown is that according to an embodiment of the invention according to which the part 21 made up at least partially of a translucent material possibly colored and having a non-uniform thickness e-E is provided on the cover 2 of the container 1.

The two parts 20 and 21 can be simply fitted together by force, but when it is preferred to make them more effectively attached, any known means can be used: glue, ultrasonic welding, etc.

We could also obtain the association of the two parts 20 and 21 by molding the part 21 on the part 20, as soon as the external face 21a of the part 21 is not parallel to the external face 20a of the part 20, because the part 21 must have a non-uniform thickness.

Indeed, according to the invention, the translucent part (provided here on the cover 2) has real optical qualities thanks to which a depth effect is obtained because the light rays that the eye observes appear to be different depending on the thickness of the translucent part they crossed.

This is all the more marked as the translucent material is judiciously colored.

The part 20 can be white, colored, shiny, reflective, etc., depending on the desired effect, in particular an imitation of the product: color, dullness, etc. so as to allow its identification without requiring the opening of the container or reading a side label.

According to a variant of the invention, the facing faces 20a and 21b of the two parts 20 and 21 are parallel and in contact with one another.

It is this variant which has been chosen for FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a sheet 3 is trapped between the two parts 20 and 21, this sheet constituting, for example, an imitation of the content. It may include inscriptions, the whole being visible through the translucent external part 21.

If the sheet 3 covers the entire surface of the face 20a, this may be arbitrary since it is completely hidden.

The visual impression is thus entirely given by the combination of the appearance of the sheet 3 and the optical transformation provided by the external part 21.

The sheet 3 can also use only part of the face 20a. This sheet can then be a label.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the upper face 20a of the opaque inner part 20 is provided with marks, decorations, mentions and the like, visible through the translucent outer part 21.

With these provisions, sheet 3 should not be provided. It is Exhibit 20 itself that must be observed.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the thickness e of the piece 21 is small in the center and increases regularly up to the periphery where it reaches its maximum E.

The outer face 21a is flat and is connected to the peripheral edge by a relatively large fillet. The inner face 21b is substantially in the form of an arch.

This geometry provides an optical effect according to which the face 20a of the part 20 appears situated deeper than it actually is, especially around the central area, which increases its dome shape.

Referring to FIG. 3, we see another example of embodiment of the part 21 according to which the geometry is exactly the opposite of that which is described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The thickness E is maximum in the center and decreases regularly up to the periphery e. This is obtained by giving the exterior and interior faces two profiles, respectively in dome and in vault of different curvatures.

The optical effect obtained is the opposite of the previous one, namely that the central zone of the upper face of the interior part (not shown) appears more depressed than the peripheral zone. Far from increasing its domed shape, it gives it the appearance of being flattened, even slightly hollowed out in a bowl.

In Figure 4, there is shown a geometry similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but accentuated because the outer face 21a is no longer entirely flat but slightly concave.

In FIG. 5, the part 21 has a substantially uniform thickness e and has concentric rings of increased thickness E. The optical effect obtained gives the impression that the internal part 20 (not shown) has concentric undulations.

According to the variant indicated above, the upper face of the inner part 20 (not shown) must be parallel and in contact with the inner face 21b of the part 21.

The examples cited above show that one can adopt very numerous variants to obtain different optical effects.

The proportion between the height h of the lid and the total height H of the closed container influences the visual impression, but the invention can also be applied to non-styling lids when the product contained is compatible with the engagement of part of the lid in the container.

Referring now to Figure 7, we see another embodiment of the invention.

According to this embodiment, the body 1, and no longer only the cover 2, are each formed of two parts 10-11 and 20-21 so that the complete container is made up of a cover 20 and an internal body 10 opaque for a product to be contained as well as a cover 21 and a translucent external body 11 each secured to its internal counterpart 10-20.

It can be seen in this FIG. 7 that the cover 2 comprises, as before, two parts 20 and 21. But, in addition, the body 1 is itself formed by an opaque inner part 10 and an translucent outer part 11 and possibly colored.

The parts 20 and 21 of the cover 2 on the one hand and the parts 10 and 11 of the body 1 on the other hand are integral. The product to be contained, such as a cosmetic, a cream for skin care, a make-up, etc., is placed in the interior part 10 of the body 1 and is accessible after removal of the cover 2, it is that is to say of the two integral parts 20 and 21.

When the cover 2 is placed on the body 1, the container forms a homogeneous whole which includes an opaque interior assembly 10-20 and a translucent exterior assembly 11-21.

The entire outer part 11-21 of the container is therefore made of a translucent material, possibly colored, of non-uniform thickness with respect to the inner assembly 10-20.

As explained above, the translucent part provides optical effects and is not a simple exterior coating. On the contrary, to take advantage of the optical effects, you must see the inner part forming a mask between the observer's eye and the content: either a sheet 3, or an opaque piece (10 and / or 20).

One of the effects obtained can be, as indicated, an impression of greater thickness of the translucent part at least in line with its thin spots. As a result, the inner part seems more deeply located than it actually is. In sum, unlike certain commercial practices, the "content" imitated by sheet 3 or parts 10-20 seems less voluminous than it is.

According to another embodiment of the invention which is not shown in the drawing, the container comprises an opaque body 10 and two ends respectively forming a base and a cover 2, which are made at least partially of a translucent material possibly colored , of non uniform thickness eE.

Such a container has a base, or bottom, identical to the cover 2, but, of course, inverted relative to the cover. The base, or bottom, is made permanently secured to the central body, unlike the cover which itself obviously be removable.

One could, also, adopt a solution opposite to the previous one and provide one or two opaque ends, without translucent part and a central body comprising an internal opaque part and an external translucent part.

On the basis of the characteristics of the invention, it is possible to design containers of all shapes and proportions: pots, bottles, tubes; angular or curved contours; ovoid, pebble, meniscus, with opposite convexities, opposite concavities, etc ...

Depending on the desired effect, similar or very dissimilar shapes can be provided for the opaque and translucent parts associated as soon as the translucent material has a non-uniform thickness.

The invention is therefore not limited to the embodiments described and shown but embraces, on the contrary, all variants. In particular, the translucent material can be given a uniform or heterogeneous appearance, associated with marbled, mottled, cloudy areas, etc.

Claims (3)

1. A container comprising a body closed by a cover and intended to receive a product such as a cosmetic cream which can be used up by taking successive amounts, causing the surface condition of the said product to vary, characterised in that the cover is formed from two pieces of which one, the inner piece, is opaque and exhibits a uniform surface simulating that of the product before any of it has been removed and the other, outer, piece is translucent and has a non-uniform thickness to create an optical effect as a result of which an observer sees an image which simulates the product and gives a not necessarily enlarging relief impression.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that the mutually opposite faces of the two pieces are parallel and in contact with one another.

3. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that the uniform surface which simulates that of the product consists of a film trapped between the two pieces so that the inner piece can itself have any desired surface.

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