EP2667744B1 - Product applicator device and use thereof - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to device applicators of products, in particular cosmetic products such as mascaras, and uses of such devices.

• un réservoir adapté pour contenir le produit à appliquer, ce réservoir s'étendant selon un axe central entre une extrémité proximale et une extrémité distale et ledit réservoir étant ouvert axialement à ladite extrémité distale,
• une chape communiquant avec l'extrémité distale du réservoir, ladite chape comportant une ouverture selon l'axe central,
• un boisseau sphérique monté pivotant dans la chape autour d'un axe transversal perpendiculaire à l'axe central, ledit boisseau comportant un passage central perpendiculaire à l'axe transversal et ledit boisseau étant pivotant entre :
  • une position fermée où ledit boisseau ferme l'ouverture de la chape,
  • et une position ouverte où ledit passage central du boisseau est aligné avec l'ouverture de la chape,
• un organe de commande de boisseau, mobile entre une position de fermeture et une position d'ouverture et adapté pour placer le boisseau dans la position fermée lorsque ledit organe de commande de boisseau est dans la position de fermeture et pour placer le boisseau dans la position ouverte lorsque ledit organe de commande de boisseau est dans la position d'ouverture,
• une tige s'étendant selon l'axe central jusqu'à une extrémité libre pourvue d'une tête applicatrice adaptée pour appliquer ledit produit, ladite tige étant mobile au moins en translation selon l'axe central, entre :
  • une position rentrée où la tête applicatrice se trouve dans le réservoir,
  • et une position sortie où la tige traverse le passage central du boisseau et la tête applicatrice est sortie du réservoir.

More particularly, the invention relates to a product applicator device comprising:

• a reservoir adapted to contain the product to be applied, this reservoir extending along a central axis between a proximal end and a distal end and said reservoir being open axially to said distal end,
• a clevis communicating with the distal end of the reservoir, said clevis having an opening along the central axis,
• a ball valve pivotally mounted in the yoke about a transverse axis perpendicular to the central axis, said plug having a central passage perpendicular to the transverse axis and said plug being pivoted between:
  • a closed position where said plug closes the opening of the yoke,
  • and an open position where said central passage of the plug is aligned with the opening of the yoke,
• a plug control member movable between a closed position and an open position and adapted to place the plug in the closed position when said plug control member is in the closed position and to place the plug in the position open when said plug control member is in the open position,
• a rod extending along the central axis to a free end provided with an applicator head adapted to apply said product, said rod being movable to less in translation along the central axis, between:
  • a retracted position where the applicator head is in the reservoir,
  • and an output position where the rod passes through the central passage of the plug and the applicator head is out of the reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The document WO01 / 60199 describes an example of such an applicator device, in which the user who wishes to use the applicator, must first directly actuate the plug control member to open the plug, then actuate a rod control member to make take out the applicator head through the bushel. The ergonomics of the applicator is therefore not satisfactory, since the user must successively actuate two control members without being guided as to the sequence of actions to be performed. In addition, the control members can be actuated accidentally, in particular the plug control member. This creates risks of leakage of product on the one hand and drying on the other hand, which is always very detrimental to any cosmetic product, especially a mascara.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages.

For this purpose, according to the invention, an applicator device of the kind in question is characterized in that the valve control member is rotatable about the central axis between the closed position and the open position,
in that the tank is mounted in an outer body secured to the yoke,
and in that the rod passes through the proximal end of the reservoir and is mounted in a base that axially extends the reservoir from the proximal end of said reservoir, said base being movable relative to the outer body in an actuating path comprising a first path portion between a rest position, an intermediate position, and a second path portion between said intermediate position and a use position, said first path portion including a rotational movement of the base relative to the body external to the central axis, said base being coupled to the plug controller for driving said plug control member to rotate from the closed position to the open position as the base moves from the rest position at the intermediate position, and said base being adapted to move the rod from the retracted position to the extended position during the second trajectory portion.

Thanks to these provisions, the ergonomics of the applicator is significantly improved, since the user only has to move the base relative to the outer body by following the actuation path of the base, which allows easily chain the opening of the plug then the exit of the applicator head, with a good sequencing of these operations imposed by the actuation path. The risks of actuation of the control elements have been eliminated and the sealing of the product improved.

• le dispositif applicateur comporte un piston monté coulissant avec étanchéité dans le réservoir et traversé avec étanchéité par la tige, le piston étant sollicité élastiquement vers l'extrémité distale du réservoir ;
• le piston est sollicité élastiquement par un ressort de piston ayant une première extrémité liée à la tige (notamment en appui sur une partie de la tige ou sur une pièce distincte mais solidaire de la tige) et une deuxième extrémité en appui sur le piston. On permet ainsi que le ressort de piston sollicite le piston vers l'extrémité distale du réservoir essentiellement pendant que le dispositif est en position d'utilisation et non en permanence, ce qui évite de provoquer des fuites de produit sous l'action du ressort de piston ;

• l'extrémité distale du réservoir comporte un essoreur qui est adapté pour essorer la tête applicatrice et/ou la tige lorsque ladite tête applicatrice sort du réservoir, l'extrémité libre de la tige étant adaptée pour faire étanchéité avec l'essoreur lorsque la tige est en position rentrée, ladite tige comportant en outre une partie intermédiaire qui est située en-deçà de la tête applicatrice et qui est adaptée pour faire étanchéité avec l'essoreur lorsque ladite tige est en position sortie : on garantit ainsi une fermeture étanche quasi permanente du réservoir, sauf pendant la sortie de la tête applicatrice, ce qui d'une part, évite un séchage du produit contenu dans le réservoir et d'autre part, évite des fuites de produit ;
• l'organe de commande de boisseau comporte un pion engagé de façon coulissante dans une rainure biaise du boisseau ;
• la chape comporte une lèvre annulaire, le boisseau est monté dans la chape avec jeu selon l'axe central, l'organe de commande de boisseau est monté avec jeu selon l'axe central par rapport à la chape et est sollicité élastiquement vers le boisseau, l'organe de commande de boisseau venant en appui contre le boisseau et appliquant ledit boisseau en contact axial contre la lèvre de la chape ;
• l'organe de commande de boisseau est sollicité élastiquement vers la lèvre annulaire par un ressort de boisseau prenant appui sur le réservoir (directement ou par l'intermédiaire d'une bague d'appui) ;
• le ressort de boisseau prend appui contre une bague d'appui elle-même supportée par l'extrémité distale du réservoir ;
• l'organe de commande de boisseau est solidarisé en rotation avec le réservoir (notamment par emboîtement, le cas échéant avec un certain jeu angulaire) ;
• le réservoir est monté rotatif à mouvement perdu par rapport au corps externe autour de l'axe central, ladite première portion de trajectoire incluant une rotation de la base avec le réservoir autour de l'axe central ;
• la base est montée rotative à mouvement perdu sur le réservoir autour de l'axe central à partir de la position initiale de ladite base, avec un angle de débattement inférieur à l'étendue angulaire de la première portion de trajectoire, ladite première portion de trajectoire incluant une rotation de la base par rapport au réservoir puis une rotation de la base avec le réservoir autour de l'axe central ;
• la base est reliée au réservoir par au moins une glissière en L comportant :
  • une branche orthoradiale permettant ladite rotation de la base par rapport au réservoir pendant la première portion de trajectoire,
  • et une branche axiale parallèle à l'axe central et permettant un coulissement de la base par rapport au réservoir en direction de l'extrémité distale dudit réservoir lorsque la base suit la deuxième portion de trajectoire de la position intermédiaire vers la position finale ;
• la base est sollicitée élastiquement à l'écartement par rapport au réservoir et est reliée au réservoir par un mécanisme de retenue adapté pour sélectivement soit retenir ladite base dans la position finale, soit libérer ladite base pour lui permettre de passer de la position finale à la position intermédiaire ;
• le mécanisme de retenue est adapté pour bloquer automatiquement la base lorsqu'elle arrive en position finale ;
• le mécanisme de retenue est un mécanisme bistable adapté pour libérer la base lorsqu'elle subit un actionnement axial vers l'extrémité distale du réservoir après avoir été bloquée en position finale ;
• le mécanisme de retenue comporte un chemin de croix ménagé dans une paroi externe du réservoir coopérant avec un pion porté par une languette élastique solidaire de la base ;
• la base est montée rotative sur le corps externe et la trajectoire d'actionnement comprend un mouvement circulaire autour de l'axe central qui inclut les première et deuxième portions de trajectoire, la tige étant guidée par une première glissière solidaire de la base et par une deuxième glissière solidaire du réservoir pour qu'une rotation de la base par rapport au réservoir entraîne un déplacement axial de la tige entre les positions rentrée et sortie ;
• la première glissière est parallèle à l'axe central et la deuxième glissière est hélicoïdale ;
• le réservoir est prolongé axialement au-delà de son extrémité proximale, par un tube de transmission qui est solidaire dudit réservoir, la deuxième glissière s'étendant hélicoïdalement à l'intérieur du tube de transmission entre une première extrémité éloignée du réservoir et une deuxième extrémité proche du réservoir, la tige s'étendant à l'intérieur dudit tube de transmission jusqu'à un pied qui comporte au moins un index guidé dans les première et deuxième glissières ;
• l'organe de commande de boisseau est solidarisé en rotation avec le réservoir et est sollicité élastiquement vers le boisseau par un ressort de boisseau prenant appui sur le réservoir,
  le réservoir est mobile axialement dans le corps externe entre une position embrayée et une position débrayée plus proche du boisseau que la position embrayée, le réservoir et le corps externe étant adaptés pour :
  • s'accoupler lorsque le réservoir est en position embrayée, de façon que le réservoir soit alors solidaire du corps externe,
  • et se désaccoupler lorsque le réservoir est en position débrayée, de façon que le réservoir puisse alors librement tourner dans le corps externe,
  au moins la position d'ouverture de l'organe de commande de boisseau est une position de butée,
  la base comporte un fond à l'opposé du réservoir et le tube de transmission est ouvert axialement en regard dudit fond, le pied de la tige est adapté pour prendre appui axialement sur le fond de la base dans la position rentrée de la tige, et la première extrémité de la deuxième glissière comporte un cran ouvert axialement vers le fond de la base et adapté pour recevoir l'index du pied de la tige lorsque le pied de la tige est en appui contre le fond de la base, le cran et l'index étant conçus pour maintenir le réservoir en position débrayée et permettre un entraînement du réservoir en rotation par la base lorsque l'index est engagé dans le cran, ledit cran étant conçu pour que l'index du pied de la tige puisse échapper audit cran lorsque la base est actionnée dans un premier sens angulaire correspondant à l'ouverture du boisseau et que l'organe de commande de boisseau est arrivé en position d'ouverture, en permettant alors au réservoir de passer en position embrayée de façon à bloquer le boisseau en position ouverte et de façon qu'une rotation supplémentaire de la base dans le premier sens angulaire entraîne alors un coulissement de l'index de la tige dans les première et deuxième glissières en faisant sortir la tête applicatrice de la tige à travers le boisseau ;
• le réservoir est solidaire d'un pion maintenu par le ressort de boisseau en appui axial contre un rebord formé dans le corps externe, ledit rebord s'étendant angulairement autour de l'axe central entre une première butée et une deuxième butée selon le premier sens angulaire, et ledit rebord étant interrompu par une indentation au voisinage de la deuxième butée, cette indentation étant adaptée pour recevoir le pion du réservoir lorsqu'il bute contre la deuxième butée, le réservoir étant en position débrayée lorsque le pion dudit réservoir est en appui contre le rebord et en position embrayée lorsque le pion du réservoir est reçu dans l'indentation ;
• l'organe de commande de boisseau est monté coulissant en biais par rapport à l'axe central par rapport à une bague d'appui en appui axial contre l'extrémité distale du réservoir, de façon qu'un éloignement de la bague d'appui par rapport à l'organe de commande de boisseau provoque une rotation de l'organe de commande de boisseau de la position de fermeture à la position d'ouverture,

l'organe de commande de boisseau est sollicité élastiquement vers le boisseau par un ressort de boisseau prenant appui sur la bague d'appui,
le réservoir est solidarisé en rotation avec le corps externe mais est mobile axialement dans le corps externe entre des première et deuxième positions, la première position étant plus proche du boisseau que la deuxième position,
la base comporte un fond à l'opposé du réservoir et le tube de transmission est ouvert axialement en regard dudit fond, le tube de transmission et le pied de la tige étant adaptés pour prendre appui tour à tour axialement sur le fond de la base,
le pied de la tige comporte un zone d'appui décalée axialement vers le fond de la base par rapport à l'index dudit pied, ladite zone d'appui étant adaptée pour prendre appui contre le fond de la base dans la position rentrée de la tige et tant que la base est dans la première portion de trajectoire, pendant que le tube de transmission est écarté du fond de la base,
et le tube de transmission est adapté pour venir en appui contre le fond de la base pendant la deuxième portion de trajectoire de la base, de façon qu'une rotation de la base par rapport au corps externe provoque alors un déplacement axial de la tige par rapport au corps externe.In various embodiments of the applicator according to the invention, one or more of the following provisions may be used:

• the applicator device comprises a piston mounted slidably with sealing in the reservoir and traversed with sealing by the rod, the piston being elastically biased towards the distal end of the reservoir;
• the piston is biased elastically by a piston spring having a first end connected to the rod (in particular resting on a portion of the rod or on a separate piece but integral with the rod) and a second end bearing on the piston. It is thus possible for the piston spring to urge the piston towards the distal end of the reservoir essentially while the device is in use position and not permanently, which avoids causing product leakage under the action of the piston spring;

• the distal end of the reservoir comprises a wiper which is adapted to dewater the applicator head and / or the rod when said applicator head leaves the reservoir, the free end of the rod being adapted to seal with the wiper when the stem is in the retracted position, said rod further comprising an intermediate portion which is located below the applicator head and which is adapted to seal with the wiper when said rod is in the extended position: thus ensuring a substantially permanent sealing of the reservoir, except during the exit of the applicator head, which on the one hand, prevents drying of the product contained in the reservoir and secondly, avoids product leakage;
• the plug control member comprises a pin slidably engaged in a bi-groove of the plug;
• the yoke comprises an annular lip, the plug is mounted in the yoke with play along the central axis, the plug control member is mounted with play along the central axis relative to the yoke and is biased elastically towards the plug , the plug control member bearing against the plug and applying said plug in axial contact against the lip of the yoke;
• the plug control member is biased resiliently towards the annular lip by a plug spring bearing on the reservoir (directly or via a support ring);
• the plug spring bears against a support ring itself supported by the distal end of the reservoir;
• the valve control member is secured in rotation with the reservoir (in particular by interlocking, possibly with a certain angular clearance);
• the reservoir is rotatably mounted with lost motion relative to the outer body about the central axis, said first path portion including a rotation of the base with the reservoir about the central axis;
• the base is mounted rotatively with movement lost on the reservoir around the central axis from the initial position of said base, with a deflection angle smaller than the angular extent of the first trajectory portion, said first portion of trajectory including rotation of the base relative to the reservoir and rotation of the base with the reservoir around the central axis;
• the base is connected to the tank by at least one L-shaped slideway comprising:
  • an orthoradial branch allowing said rotation of the base relative to the reservoir during the first trajectory portion,
  • and an axial branch parallel to the central axis and allowing a sliding of the base relative to the reservoir towards the distal end of said reservoir when the base follows the second path portion of the intermediate position to the final position;
• the base is elastically biased to the spacing relative to the reservoir and is connected to the reservoir by a retaining mechanism adapted to selectively either retain said base in the final position, or release said base to enable it to move from the final position to the intermediate position;
• the retaining mechanism is adapted to automatically block the base when it reaches the final position;
• the retaining mechanism is a bistable mechanism adapted to release the base when it is axially actuated to the distal end of the reservoir after being locked in the end position;
• the retaining mechanism has a path of cross formed in an outer wall of the reservoir cooperating with a pin carried by an elastic tongue integral with the base;
• the base is rotatably mounted on the outer body and the actuating path comprises a circular motion about the central axis which includes the first and second trajectory portions, the rod being guided by a first slide secured to the base and by a second slide secured to the reservoir so that a rotation of the base relative to the reservoir causes an axial displacement of the rod between the retracted and the retracted positions;
• the first slide is parallel to the central axis and the second slide is helical;
• the reservoir is extended axially beyond its proximal end, by a transmission tube which is integral with said reservoir, the second slide extending helically inside the transmission tube between a first end remote from the reservoir and a second end close to the reservoir, the rod extending inside said transmission tube to a foot which has at least one guided index in the first and second slides;
• the plug control member is secured in rotation with the reservoir and is urged elastically towards the plug by a bushel spring bearing on the reservoir,
  the reservoir is axially movable in the outer body between an engaged position and a disengaged position closer to the plug than the engaged position, the reservoir and the outer body being adapted to:
  • mate when the reservoir is in the engaged position, so that the reservoir is then secured to the outer body,
  • and uncoupling when the reservoir is in the disengaged position, so that the reservoir can then freely rotate in the outer body,
  at least the opening position of the control member of bushel is a stop position,
  the base comprises a bottom opposite the reservoir and the transmission tube is open axially facing said bottom, the foot of the rod is adapted to bear axially on the bottom of the base in the retracted position of the rod, and the first end of the second slide has a notch open axially towards the bottom of the base and adapted to receive the index of the foot of the rod when the foot of the rod is in abutment against the bottom of the base, the notch and the index finger being adapted to keep the reservoir in the disengaged position and allow the tank to be rotated by the base when the index finger is engaged in the notch, said notch being designed so that the index of the foot of the rod can escape from said notch when the base is actuated in a first angular direction corresponding to the opening of the plug and the valve control member has arrived in the open position, then allowing the reservoir to move into position e mbrayée so as to lock the plug in the open position and so that an additional rotation of the base in the first angular direction then causes a sliding of the index of the rod in the first and second slides by removing the applicator head of the stem through the bushel;
• the reservoir is secured to a pin held by the plug spring in axial support against a flange formed in the outer body, said flange extending angularly about the central axis between a first stop and a second stop in the first direction angular, and said rim being interrupted by an indentation in the vicinity of the second abutment, this indentation being adapted to receive the pawn of the reservoir when it abuts against the second abutment, the reservoir being in the disengaged position when the pawn of said reservoir is in abutment against the rim and in the engaged position when the pawn of the tank is received in the indentation;
• the bushel control member is mounted sliding obliquely relative to the central axis relative to a support ring bearing axially against the distal end of the reservoir, so that a distance of the support ring relative to the control member of plug causes a rotation of the valve control member from the closed position to the open position,

the plug control member is elastically biased towards the plug by a plug spring bearing on the support ring,
the reservoir is secured in rotation with the outer body but is movable axially in the outer body between first and second positions, the first position being closer to the plug than the second position,
the base comprises a bottom opposite the reservoir and the transmission tube is open axially facing said bottom, the transmission tube and the foot of the rod being adapted to take support in turn axially on the bottom of the base,
the foot of the rod comprises a support zone axially offset towards the bottom of the base relative to the index of said foot, said bearing zone being adapted to bear against the bottom of the base in the retracted position of the rod and as long as the base is in the first portion of trajectory, while the transmission tube is spaced from the bottom of the base,
and the transmission tube is adapted to bear against the bottom of the base during the second trajectory portion of the base, so that a rotation of the base relative to the outer body then causes axial displacement of the stem by relation to the external body.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a use of an applicator device as described above, for applying a cosmetic product, preferably a liquid or pasty product, in particular a mascara or a gloss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective d'un dispositif applicateur selon une première forme de réalisation de l'invention, en position de stockage,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe axiale selon l'axe central X du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1, dans la position de stockage,
• la figure 3 est une vue du détail III de la figure 2, en coupe axiale montrant une partie du dispositif applicateur de la figure 2, dans un plan de coupe axiale différent de celui de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue éclatée en perspective du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1,
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues de détail éclatées en perspective, montrant une partie de la base et une partie du réservoir du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1, vues selon deux angles différents,
• la figure 7 est une vue de côté montrant la partie inférieure du réservoir du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1,
• la figure 7A est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VIIA-VIIA de la figure 7,
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective montrant la partie inférieure du réservoir du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1,
• les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues de détail éclatées en perspective montrant la chape, le boisseau et le dispositif de commande du boisseau du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1, ces éléments étant vus selon deux angles différents,
• la figure 11 est une vue de détail en coupe axiale de l'extrémité supérieure du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1, le boisseau sphérique étant non coupé,
• la figure 12 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XII-XII de la figure 11, le boisseau sphérique étant coupé,
• la figure 13 est une vue en perspective du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1, en position ouverte du boisseau,
• la figure 14 est une vue en coupe axiale de l'extrémité supérieure du dispositif applicateur de la figure 13, dans la position ouverte du boisseau, le boisseau sphérique étant non coupé,
• la figure 15 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XV-XV de la figure 14, le boisseau sphérique étant coupé,
• la figure 16 est une vue en coupe axiale montrant le dispositif applicateur de la figure 1 en position d'utilisation,
• la figure 17 est une vue en perspective écorchée, montrant le guide de la base et le corps du réservoir du dispositif applicateur de la figure 1, dans la position d'utilisation,
• la figure 18 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif applicateur selon une deuxième forme de réalisation de l'invention, en position de stockage,
• la figure 19 est une vue en coupe axiale du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18, en position de stockage,
• la figure 20 est une vue éclatée en perspective du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18,
• la figure 21 est une vue en coupe axiale en perspective montrant la base du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18,
• la figure 22 est une vue en coupe axiale et en perspective montrant le réservoir du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18 et le tube de transmission qui lui est lié,
• la figure 23 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XXIII de la figure 19,
• la figure 24 est une vue de détail en perspective montrant la jonction entre le réservoir et le tube de transmission du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18,
• la figure 25 est une vue en coupe axiale et en perspective montrant le corps externe du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18,
• les figures 26 et 27 sont des vues éclatées en perspective montrant la chape, le boisseau et le dispositif de commande de boisseau du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18, ces éléments étant vus selon deux angles différents,
• la figure 28 est une vue en coupe axiale de la partie supérieure du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18 en position de stockage,
• la figure 29 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XXIX-XXIX de la figure 28,
• la figure 30 est une vue en coupe axiale du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18, en position ouverte du boisseau,
• la figure 31 est une vue de détail de coupe axiale montrant la partie supérieure du dispositif applicateur de la figure 30, le boisseau étant non coupé,
• la figure 32 est une vue en coupe axiale selon la ligne XXXII-XXXII de la figure 31,
• la figure 33 est une vue en coupe axiale du dispositif applicateur de la figure 18, en position d'utilisation,
• la figure 34 est une vue en coupe axiale d'un dispositif applicateur selon une troisième forme de réalisation de l'invention, en position de stockage,
• la figure 35 est une vue de détail en coupe axiale montrant la partie supérieure du dispositif applicateur de la figure 34, en position de stockage,
• les figures 36 et 37 sont des vues de détail en perspective montrant le boisseau du dispositif applicateur de la figure 34 et son dispositif de commande, en position ouverte du boisseau, ces éléments étant vus selon deux angles différents,
• la figure 38 est une vue en coupe axiale du dispositif applicateur de la figure 34, dans la position ouverte du boisseau,
• la figure 39 est une vue de détail en coupe axiale montrant la partie supérieure du dispositif applicateur de la figure 37 en position ouverte du boisseau,
• et la figure 40 est une vue en coupe axiale montrant le dispositif applicateur de la figure 34 en position d'utilisation.

On the drawings:

• the figure 1 is an overall perspective view of an applicator device according to a first embodiment of the invention, in a storage position,
• the figure 2 is an axial sectional view along the central axis X of the applicator device of the figure 1 in the storage position,
• the figure 3 is a detail view III of the figure 2 , in axial section showing part of the applicator device of the figure 2 , in an axial section plane different from that of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the applicator device of the figure 1 ,
• the Figures 5 and 6 are exploded detail views in perspective, showing part of the base and part of the reservoir of the applicator device of the figure 1 , viewed from two different angles,
• the figure 7 is a side view showing the lower part of the reservoir of the applicator device of the figure 1 ,
• the Figure 7A is a sectional view along line VIIA-VIIA of the figure 7 ,
• the figure 8 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the reservoir of the applicator device of the figure 1 ,
• the figures 9 and 10 are exploded detail views in perspective showing the yoke, the plug and the control device of the plug of the applicator device of the figure 1 , these elements being seen from two different angles,
• the figure 11 is a detail view in axial section of the upper end of the applicator device of the figure 1 the spherical plug being uncut
• the figure 12 is a sectional view along the line XII-XII of the figure 11 the spherical ball being cut,
• the figure 13 is a perspective view of the applicator device of the figure 1 , in the open position of the bushel,
• the figure 14 is an axial sectional view of the upper end of the applicator device of the figure 13 in the open position of the bushel, the spherical ball being uncut,
• the figure 15 is a sectional view along line XV-XV of the figure 14 the spherical ball being cut,
• the figure 16 is an axial sectional view showing the applicator device of the figure 1 in use position,
• the figure 17 is a broken perspective view, showing the guide of the base and the reservoir body of the applicator device of the figure 1 , in the use position,
• the figure 18 is a perspective view of an applicator device according to a second embodiment of the invention, in a storage position,
• the figure 19 is an axial sectional view of the applicator device of the figure 18 , in storage position,
• the figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the applicator device of the figure 18 ,
• the figure 21 is an axial perspective sectional view showing the base of the applicator device of the figure 18 ,
• the figure 22 is an axial and perspective sectional view showing the reservoir of the applicator device of the figure 18 and the transmission tube linked to it,
• the figure 23 is a sectional view along line XXIII of the figure 19 ,
• the figure 24 is a detail view in perspective showing the junction between the reservoir and the transmission tube of the applicator device of the figure 18 ,
• the figure 25 is an axial and perspective sectional view showing the external body of the applicator device of the figure 18 ,
• the figures 26 and 27 are exploded perspective views showing the coping, the plug and the bushel control device of the applicator device of the figure 18 , these elements being seen from two different angles,
• the figure 28 is an axial sectional view of the upper part of the applicator device of the figure 18 in storage position,
• the figure 29 is a sectional view along line XXIX-XXIX of the figure 28 ,
• the figure 30 is an axial sectional view of the applicator device of the figure 18 , in the open position of the bushel,
• the figure 31 is a detail view of axial section showing the upper part of the applicator device of the figure 30 , the bushel being uncut,
• the figure 32 is an axial sectional view along line XXXII-XXXII of the figure 31 ,
• the figure 33 is an axial sectional view of the applicator device of the figure 18 in the position of use,
• the figure 34 is an axial sectional view of an applicator device according to a third embodiment of the invention, in the storage position,
• the figure 35 is a detail view in axial section showing the upper part of the applicator device of the figure 34 , in storage position,
• the Figures 36 and 37 are detailed perspective views showing the bushel of the applicator device of the figure 34 and its control device, in the open position of the plug, these elements being seen according to two different angles,
• the figure 38 is an axial sectional view of the applicator device of the figure 34 , in the position open bushel,
• the figure 39 is a detail view in axial section showing the upper part of the applicator device of the figure 37 in the open position of the bushel,
• and the figure 40 is an axial sectional view showing the applicator device of the figure 34 in position of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

A. First embodiment of the invention

The figure 1 represents an applicator device 1 of product, here a mascara, according to a first embodiment of the invention. This applicator device extends longitudinally along a central axis X and more precisely here has a substantially cylindrical shape of revolution centered on this axis X.

The applicator device comprises an outer body 2 and a base 3 which is rotatably mounted relative to the outer body 2 about the axis X, according to first and second angular directions 4, 5, said base also being able to slide parallel to the axis X inside the outer body 2, in the direction of the double arrow 6, as will be explained in more detail below.

As shown in more detail on figures 2 and 4 the outer body 2 may for example be a stamped piece of aluminum, light alloy, brass or the like, having a cylindrical side wall 7 centered on the X axis, which extends between an open lower end and an upper end which forms an inner rim 8 delimiting a central opening 9 (the terms such as "upper", "lower", "up", "down", as used in the present patent application, are only given to facilitate the understanding of the reader and refer to the current position of storage and manipulation of the applicator device 1, that is to say with the central axis X vertical and the opening 9 upwards).

• une chemise externe 10 emboutie en aluminium, en alliage léger, en laiton ou autre, cette chemise externe comportant une paroi latérale cylindrique 11 centrée sur l'axe X, qui s'étend entre, d'une part, une extrémité supérieure ouverte emboîtée dans l'extrémité inférieure ouverte du corps externe 2, et d'autre part, un fond 12,
• et un guide intérieur 13, réalisé par exemple en matière plastique moulée ou autre comme un polyoxyméthylène (POM), qui est emboîté sans jeu dans la chemise 10 et est solidarisé à celle-ci par tout moyen connu, par exemple par collage, ce guide intérieur 13 comportant une paroi latérale cylindrique 14 centrée sur l'axe X et emboîtée à l'intérieur de la paroi latérale 11 de la chemise 10, cette paroi latérale 14 s'étendant entre une extrémité supérieure ouverte voisine de l'extrémité supérieure de la chemise 10 et un fond 15 disposé contre le fond 12 de la chemise externe 10.

Furthermore, the base 3 can be made either in one piece or preferably in two pieces as in the example considered here where said base 3 comprises:

• an outer sleeve 10 embossed aluminum, light alloy, brass or other, this outer jacket having a cylindrical side wall 11 centered on the axis X, which extends between, on the one hand, an open upper end nested in the open lower end of the outer body 2, and on the other hand, a bottom 12,
• and an inner guide 13, made for example of molded plastic material or other such as a polyoxymethylene (POM), which is fit without play into the jacket 10 and is secured thereto by any known means, for example by gluing, this guide inside 13 having a cylindrical side wall 14 centered on the X axis and nested within the side wall 11 of the liner 10, this side wall 14 extending between an open upper end adjacent to the upper end of the liner 10 and a bottom 15 disposed against the bottom 12 of the outer liner 10.

A cylindrical rod 16 is also integral with the base 3. This rod 16 may for example be made in one piece of plastic material with the inner tube 13 of the base, said rod 16 extending longitudinally along the X axis between a lower end 17 integral with the bottom 15 and integral with the latter, and a free upper end 18 which is disposed inside the outer body 2.

In the vicinity of the free end 18, the rod 16 comprises an applicator head 19, for example a brush, which can be made in one piece with the applicator rod 16 or be attached to it for example by interlocking, as in the example considered here.

The applicator device further comprises a reservoir 20 which is filled with mascara 21 to be applied and which extends longitudinally along the X axis between a lower proximal end 22 sealingly closed for the mascara and an upper distal end 23 which is axially open.

• une chemise intérieure 24 réalisée par exemple en aluminium ou en inox, cette chemise intérieure comportant une paroi latérale cylindrique 25 qui s'étend entre une extrémité supérieure ouverte et un fond inférieur 26 percé d'une ouverture centrale 27 (voir les figures 2 et 3),
• et un corps 28 en matière plastique ou autre, par exemple en polyéthylène (PE), qui est emboîté à l'extérieur de la chemise 24 et est solidarisé à celle-ci par collage ou par tout autre moyen connu, ce corps 28 comportant une paroi latérale cylindrique 29, qui s'étend longitudinalement selon l'axe X entre une extrémité supérieure ouverte au niveau de l'extrémité distale 23 du réservoir et un fond inférieur 30 qui délimite une ouverture centrale 31 en correspondance avec l'ouverture centrale 27 de la chemise intérieure 24.

The reservoir 20 may optionally be made in one piece, but in the example considered here, it is preferably made in two parts:

• an inner liner 24 made for example of aluminum or stainless steel, this liner having a cylindrical side wall 25 which extends between an open upper end and a lower bottom 26 pierced with a central opening 27 (see FIGS. figures 2 and 3 )
• and a body 28 of plastic or other material, for example polyethylene (PE), which is fitted on the outside of the jacket 24 and is secured thereto by gluing or by any other known means, this body 28 comprising a cylindrical side wall 29, which extends longitudinally along the X axis between an upper end open at the distal end 23 of the reservoir and a bottom 30 which defines a central opening 31 in correspondence with the central opening 27 of the inner shirt 24.

As shown on Figures 2 to 4 a piston 32, made for example of plastics material (polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or the like), slides with sealing in the cylindrical side wall 25 of the jacket 24, this piston 32 also sliding with sealing on the rod 16 along the X axis.

The applicator device further comprises a reservoir spring 33 of helical shape, which surrounds the rod 16 and is mounted between the bottom 15 of the guide 13 and the bottom 30 of the tank body by urging the reservoir 20 and the base 3 to the mutual spacing.

In addition, a piston spring 34, for example of stainless steel 301, also of helical shape and surrounding the rod 16, is disposed inside the reservoir spring 33, this piston spring bearing, on the one hand, on the bottom 15 of the guide 13 and, secondly, on the piston 32, through the opening 31 of the bottom of the tank body and the opening 27 of the bottom of the tank jacket. This piston spring 34 is slightly compressed in the storage position of the applicator device, or even uncompressed if the piston is in the upper position in the reservoir.

• une branche orthoradiale 36 s'étendant angulairement autour de l'axe X, dans le premier sens angulaire 4 à partir d'une extrémité 36a jusqu'à une branche axiale 37, cette branche axiale 37 s'étendant vers le haut à partir de la branche orthoradiale 36 jusqu'à une extrémité supérieure 37a. Dans l'exemple représenté sur les dessins, le corps 28 du réservoir 20 comporte deux glissières 35 diamétralement opposées par rapport à l'axe X, mais il serait possible de n'utiliser qu'une seule glissière 35.

As shown in more detail on Figures 5 to 8 , the base 3 is connected to the reservoir 20 by an L-shaped slide 35 which, in the example considered here, is constituted by a groove or slot formed in the body 28 of the reservoir 20, and which comprises:

• an orthoradial branch 36 extending angularly about the axis X, in the first angular direction 4 from an end 36a to an axial branch 37, this axial branch 37 extending upwards from the orthoradial branch 36 to an upper end 37a. In the example shown in the drawings, the body 28 of the reservoir 20 comprises two slides 35 diametrically opposed with respect to the axis X, but it would be possible to use only one slide 35.

In each slide 35 is engaged a pin 38 projecting radially inside the guide 14 in the vicinity of its upper end. In the storage position of the applicator device 1, the pins 38 are arranged at the ends 36a of the orthoradial branches 36 of the slides 35.

Furthermore, the base 3 cooperates with the reservoir 20 by a retaining mechanism 39 which is also clearly visible on the Figures 5 to 8 and which is adapted to selectively hold the base in the use position of the applicator device, as will be explained hereinafter, or to release this base. This retaining mechanism 39 is here adapted to automatically block the base when it reaches a final position corresponding to the position of use, after an axial displacement of said base 3 upwards by sliding the pins 38 in the axial branches 37 of the slides 35 and said retaining mechanism is a bistable mechanism adapted to release the base when a user again urges the base 3 upward once it has been locked in the position of use of the applicator device.

More particularly, the retaining mechanism 39 may include a cross path 40 formed in the side wall 29 of the body 28 of the reservoir.

• une ouverture axiale 41 débouchant vers le bas,
• une première branche 42 disposée en face de l'ouverture 41 et s'étendant en biais vers le haut à partir de l'ouverture 41,
• une partie supérieure en forme de V comportant :
  • une deuxième branche 43 qui se raccorde à l'extrémité supérieure de la première branche 42 et qui présente un bord supérieur arrondi au niveau de son raccordement avec l'extrémité supérieure de la première branche 42,
  • une troisième branche 44 qui s'étend en biais vers le haut à l'opposé des première et deuxième branches 43 à partir du creux 45 du V, cette troisième branche 44 comportant un bord supérieur qui recouvre le creux 45 du V dans la direction axiale X
• et une quatrième branche 46 dans laquelle débouche ladite troisième branche 44 par l'intermédiaire d'un dénivelé 47, ladite quatrième branche 46 s'étendant en biais vers le bas pour rejoindre la première branche 42 au voisinage de l'ouverture 41.

In a manner known per se, this way of cross may be in the form of a groove substantially heart-shaped, which presents:

• an axial opening 41 opening downwards,
• a first branch 42 disposed opposite the opening 41 and extending obliquely upwardly from the opening 41,
• a V-shaped top comprising:
  • a second branch 43 which is connected to the upper end of the first branch 42 and which has a rounded upper edge at its connection with the upper end of the first branch 42,
  • a third limb 44 which extends upwardly obliquely opposite the first and second limbs 43 from the recess 45 of the V, this third limb 44 having an upper edge which covers the recess 45 of the V in the axial direction X
• and a fourth leg 46 into which said third leg 44 opens via a vertical drop 47, said fourth leg 46 extending obliquely downwards to join the first leg 42 in the vicinity of the opening 41.

The guide 13 of the base further comprises a pin 48 which is preferably carried by an elastic tongue 49 formed in the side wall 14 of the guide 13, this pin 48 being adapted to enter the way of cross 40 when the pins 38 of the internal guide 13 slide in the axial branches 37 of the slides 35: the pawn 48 then follows the first branch 42 of the way of the cross while the user presses axially on the base 3 upwards then said pin 48 follows the second branch 43 and falls into the recess 45 of the V of the way of the cross when the user releases the base 3, which then holds the base 3 in the position of use.

When the user presses the base 3 again upward, this support first moves the pin 48 of the inner guide 13 in the third branch 44 of the way of the cross until the piece 48 arrives at upper end of the fourth branch 46 and is maintained there by the presence of the difference in altitude 47: when the user releases the thrust, the pin 48 then descends the fourth branch 46 of the way of the cross and leaves through the opening 41 so that the base 3 can return to its initial position under the load of the reservoir spring 33.

Optionally, the tank body may comprise two cross paths 40 and the guide 13 two pins 48 respectively carried by two tabs 49, these pins 48 each cooperating with one of the cross paths 40.

As shown on Figures 9 to 12 , the reservoir 20 is conventionally provided, at its distal end, with a wiper 50 made for example of elastomer material, which is fixed inside the side wall 25 of the tank liner by interlocking in the control member of the plug 60 as explained in more detail below, this wiper 50 having an inner annular lip 51 which is adapted to wring the applicator head 19 and / or the rod 16 when it leaves the reservoir and which is also arranged to come into radial support sealed against the free end 18 of the rod 16, beyond the applicator head 19. When the applicator head 19 is out of the reservoir, the lip 51 of the wiper is also adapted to seal with the portion of the applicator rod 16 located below the applicator head 19.

Moreover, at the upper end of the outer body 2, a yoke 52 is fixed inside the body outside 2, that is to say at the distal end of the reservoir. This yoke 52 has a sealing lip 53 protruding radially at the rim 8 of the outer body 2, and said yoke 52 is traversed axially along the x axis by a central passage 54. The polypropylene yoke 52 may be made ( PP) or high density polyethylene (HDPE).

Inside the yoke 52 are formed elongated housings 55 elongate along the X axis, which receive pins 56 belonging to a spherical plug 57 and allowing said spherical plug to pivot about an axis of transverse rotation Y perpendicular to the central axis X. The spherical plug has a central passage 58 of cylindrical shape, which extends along an axis perpendicular to the transverse axis Y, the axis of the central passage being also perpendicular to the central axis X in the storage position of the applicator device.

• un organe de commande de boisseau 60,
• un ressort de boisseau 61 hélicoïdal, par exemple en inox 316L, centré sur l'axe X, qui sollicite vers le haut l'organe de commande de boisseau vers le boisseau sphérique 57,
• et une bague d'appui 62 qui est en appui sur l'extrémité distale du réservoir 20, le ressort de boisseau étant interposé entre l'organe de commande de boisseau 60 et la bague d'appui 62 en les sollicitant à l'écartement mutuel selon l'axe X.

The ball valve 57 is controlled by a control device 59 which comprises:

• a bushel control member 60,
• a helical spring spring 61, for example made of 316L stainless steel, centered on the X axis, which urges upwards the valve control member towards the ball valve 57,
• and a support ring 62 which is supported on the distal end of the reservoir 20, the plug spring being interposed between the valve control member 60 and the support ring 62 by urging them to the mutual spacing along the X axis.

The valve control member 60 comprises a pin 63 which is engaged in a groove 64 hollowed out of the ball valve, this groove 64 being oriented at an angle so that a pivoting of the valve control member 60 around the X axis causes the spherical ball 57 to pivot about the transverse axis Y. In the example shown, the spherical ball 57 comprises two grooves 64 of identical shape, diametrically opposite, of which only one serves to the pin 63. This arrangement facilitates the mounting of the ball valve by avoiding having to guide said ball valve during mounting by rotation about the transverse axis Y.

The control member 60 has a bearing surface 65 forming a sphere portion, which abuts under the spherical ball by biasing said ball valve against the sealing lip 53 of the yoke 52, so that the spherical ball 57 sealingly closes the output of the applicator device 1 when said ball valve is in its closed position. This sealing of the spherical ball against the sealing lip 53 is allowed by the mounting with axial play of the pins 56 in the slots oblong 55 of the yoke. The spherical plug 57 may advantageously be made with one of the following materials: an acrylenitryle-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a polyoxymethylene (POM), a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

In the example considered here, the valve control member 60 is furthermore secured in rotation with the reservoir 20. For this purpose, the valve control member 60 may, for example, cooperate by interlocking with the reservoir 20 in such a way that to realize this solidarity in rotation. In the example considered here, the valve control member 60 comprises two tabs 66 extending towards the reservoir 20, which tabs 66 may optionally have, in their end face, each a notch 67 which fits on a protruding pin 68 formed in the upper face of the bearing ring 62, so that the valve control member 60 and the bearing ring 62 are secured in rotation. The tabs 66 of the slide control member 60 are mutually separated by axial notches 69 into which tabs 71 belonging to the body 28 of the reservoir and projecting axially upwards from the upper end of said body, penetrate into the chamber. passing through radial notches 70 formed inside the support ring 62.

The reservoir 20 can be retained in the yoke 52 for example by means of an annular rib 72 formed outside the distal end of the body 28 of the reservoir 20, which rib 72 is clipped into an inner annular rib 73 formed in the yoke 52 The reservoir 20 can thus only rotate around the axis X relative to the yoke 52, but not move axially relative to said yoke.

In addition, the bearing ring 62 may optionally be itself engaged in an annular inner groove 74 formed inside the yoke 52. To facilitate this engagement, the bearing ring 62 may optionally be split as may be possible. see him on the figures 9 and 10 , to be able to deform elastically radially.

Finally, the lugs 68 of the valve control member 60 may optionally be provided with internal teeth or ribs 75 which penetrate into an annular groove 76 formed outside the wiper 50. The lower edge of the yoke 52 may be provided with one or more notches 77 axially oriented towards the base 3 (see in particular the figure 17 ), which notches extend angularly between two ends in the vicinity of which are provided notches 78 projecting downwards (a pair of notches 78 by notch 77). Slots or other recesses 79 may be provided in the side wall of the yoke 52 above these projecting notches 78 to allow said notches to be erased elastically to the passage of a pin 80 which projects radially at the distal end. of the body 28 of the reservoir and which moves in the corresponding notch 77 thus defining the extent of the authorized angular movement of the reservoir 20 relative to the outer body 2 and to the yoke 52. In the particular example considered here, the notches 77 are 2 in number and the salient pegs 80 are 2 in number. Thus, each pair of notches 78 allows a sensory identification of the beginning and end of opening and also has a non-return function avoiding an opening or accidental closure of the bushel.

The device of the first embodiment of the invention operates as follows.

• une première portion de trajectoire consistant en une rotation dans le premier sens angulaire 4 autour de l'axe X, depuis la position initiale de stockage jusqu'à une position intermédiaire (figures 13 à 15) où le boisseau sphérique 57 est en position ouverte tandis que la tige 16 est toujours en position rentrée,
• puis une deuxième portion de trajectoire dans laquelle la base 3 coulisse selon l'axe X en direction du corps externe 2 dans la direction 6A, de façon à faire sortir la tête applicatrice 19 au travers du passage central 58 du boisseau sphérique (figures 16 et 17).

From the storage position shown on the Figures 1 to 12 a user who wishes to use the applicator device moves the base 3 relative to the outer body 2 according to an actuation path which comprises:

• a first trajectory portion consisting of a rotation in the first angular direction 4 around the X axis, from the initial storage position to an intermediate position ( Figures 13 to 15 ) where the ball 57 is in the open position while the rod 16 is still in the retracted position,
• then a second trajectory portion in which the base 3 slides along the X axis towards the outer body 2 in the direction 6A, so as to make the applicator head 19 come out through the central passage 58 of the spherical plug ( figures 16 and 17 ).

In the first portion of the trajectory, where the user rotates the base 3 about the axis X in the first angular direction 4 with respect to the external body 2 ( Figures 13 to 15 ), the base 3 turns first alone since it is mounted to movement lost relative to the body 28 of the reservoir 20: during this first portion of the first trajectory portion, the pins 38 of the inner guide 13 move in the first angular direction 4 from the end 36a of the orthoradial branch 36 of the slideway 35, to the opposite end of this orthoradial branch 36 which communicates with the axial branch 37 of the slideway 35 (see FIG. figure 6 ).

In the rest of the rotational movement of the base 3, the base 3 rotates the reservoir 20 via the pins 38 of the inner guide 13, so that the pins 80 of the body 28 of the reservoir move each of a end to the other of the corresponding notch 77 of the clevis 52. When leaving one end of this notch 77 and arriving at the other end of said notch 77, the pin 80 must pass the notches 78 of the notch 77, which disappear by deformation of the tongue of material of the yoke which separates the notch 78 of the corresponding slot 79 (the final position of the pin 80 in the notch 77 is visible on the figure 17 which corresponds to the position of use of the applicator device).

The presence of the notches 78 makes it possible to create hard points, preferably associated with a "click" noise which serves as a guide for the user in the use of the applicator device. When the user turned the base 3 in the first angular direction 4 until the pins 80 of the guide 13 come into abutment in the notches 77 of the yoke, this rotational movement of the reservoir 20 also caused a rotation of the control device 59 of the plug, rotation in which the pin 63 of the valve control member 60 slides in the corresponding groove 64 of the plug by forcing the plug to pivot about the Y axis into the open position shown on the Figures 13 to 15 where the central passage 58 of the plug is oriented along the axis X.

In the second trajectory portion of the base 3, the user axially pushes the base 3 in the outer body 2 in the direction 6A of the figure 16 until the output position of the rod 16 where the applicator head 19 is disposed outside the outer body 2 and where the rod 16 passes through the central passage 58 of the ball valve and the lip 51 of the wiper 50 is sealed with the rod 16 in this position, the piston spring 34 is compressed and urges the piston 32 upwards, that is to say towards the wiper 50, which makes it possible to ensure that the reservoir 20 is always filled with mascara 21 between the piston 32 and the wiper 50 substantially without air pockets, despite the progressive removal of mascara 21 by the applicator head 19 as and when the use of the applicator device. This ensures, on the one hand, that the applicator head 19 is always immersed in the product 21 when the rod 16 is in the retracted position, and secondly, it avoids drying mascara 21.

• déplace d'abord les pions 38 du guide 13 dans la première branche 36 de la glissière 35 correspondante, jusqu'à la première extrémité 36a de la branche orthoradiale 36,
• puis entraîne le corps 28 du réservoir dans le deuxième sens angulaire 5 de façon à fermer le boisseau sphérique 57 pendant que les pions 80 du guide 13 se déplacent dans le sens angulaire 5 dans leurs encoches respectives 77 jusqu'à arriver en position de butée, correspondant à la position de stockage du dispositif.

In the use position, as shown on the figure 17 , the retaining device 39 holds the base 3 in its final position, close to the yoke 52, by engaging the pin 48 of the inner guide 13 in the recess 45 of the V-shaped part of the cross path 40. In this position, a axial clearance remains between each pin 38 and the upper end 37a of the axial branch 37 of the corresponding slideway 35, which then allows the user, after using the applicator device, to put the applicator device 1 in the storage position by first pushing the base 3 upwards so as to release the pin 48 which thus makes it stand out from the way of cross 40 while the reservoir spring 33 pushes the base 3 downwards by sliding the pins 38 of the inner guide 13 to the lower end of the axial branch 37 of the corresponding slideway 35, then the user rotates the base 3 in the second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction, which:

• first moves the pins 38 of the guide 13 into the first branch 36 of the corresponding slideway 35, as far as the first end 36a of the orthoradial branch 36,
• then drives the body 28 of the reservoir in the second angular direction 5 so as to close the spherical plug 57 while the pins 80 of the guide 13 move in the angular direction 5 in their respective notches 77 until reaching the stop position, corresponding to the storage position of the device.

B. Second embodiment of the invention

In the second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 18 to 33 , the applicator device 1, visible on the figure 18 in the storage position, extends longitudinally along the central axis X and comprises, as before, an external body 2 and a base 3. This base 3 is however not movable axially relative to the outer body 2, but only rotatable about the axis X, according to the first and second angular directions 4, 5 mentioned above.

As shown in more detail on figures 19 and 20 the outer body 2 may for example be a plastic or other molded part having a cylindrical side wall 81 centered on the X axis which extends between an open bottom end 82 and an open top end 83.

As shown on the figure 25 , the outer body 2 comprises coupling means that selectively couple or uncouple the outer body 2 with the reservoir 20 it contains. In the particular example considered here, these coupling means comprise a notch 85 formed in an inner shoulder 84 which is formed in the side wall 81, in the vicinity of its lower end 82. This notch 85 extends angularly between a first abutment face 86 and a second abutment face 87. A protruding notch 88 may be formed in notch 85, in the vicinity of its first abutment face 86, while an indentation 89 is hollowed axially in the housing. shoulder 84, deeper than the remainder of the notch 85, at the second abutment face 87.

Furthermore, the base 3 can be made for example in the form of a plastic or other molded part, and comprises a cylindrical lateral wall 90 centered on the X axis, which extends between, on the one hand, an open upper end 91 nested in the open lower end of the outer body 2, and on the other hand, a bottom 92.

The base 3 is rotatably mounted relative to the body 2 by any known means. In the example considered here, the base 3 is clipped onto the body 2, for example by resilient interlocking of an annular rib 82a formed at the lower end 82 of the lateral wall of the outer body 2, in an outer annular groove 91a trained in near the upper end 91 of the side wall of the base 3.

Moreover, as can be seen from the figures 19 , 20 and 21 the base 3 may further comprise inner fins 93 which extend axially along the X axis from the bottom 92 of the base 3 to the vicinity of the upper end 91 of its side wall, on the inside of said side wall 90. These fins 93, which may advantageously be formed in one piece with the base 3, may for example be 2 in number and may each have a cylinder portion shape centered on the X axis, these fins 93 being respectively separated by two axial slots 94 parallel to the axis X and extending over the entire height of said fins 93.

As in the first embodiment, the applicator device 1 further comprises a cylindrical rod 16 (see FIG. figure 19 and 20 ) which may for example be in the form of a molded piece of plastic material extending longitudinally along the X axis between a lower end 17 and a free upper end 18 which is disposed inside the outer body 2. Unlike the first embodiment of the invention, the lower end 17 of the rod 16 is not fully secured to the base 3: the rod 16 is here a separate part of the base 3 and the lower end of said rod comprises a stem foot 95 forming for example a transverse bar perpendicular to the central axis X and whose two lateral ends form indexes 96 which are axially guided respectively in the two axial slots 94 of the base 3.

In the vicinity of the free end 18, the rod 16 comprises an applicator head 19, for example a brush, which can be made in one piece with the applicator rod 16 as in the example considered here, or possibly be reported on that for example by interlocking.

The applicator device further comprises a reservoir 20 which is filled with mascara 21 to be applied and which extends longitudinally along the X axis between a lower proximal end 22 sealed to the mascara and an upper distal end 23 which is open. axially.

The reservoir 20 may for example be in the form of a plastic part having a cylindrical side wall 25 which extends between an open upper end 97 and forming the aforementioned distal end and a bottom bottom 98 pierced with a central opening 99 (see figures 19 and 22 to 24 ).

The reservoir 20 is extended in the direction of the central axis X, beyond its proximal end 22, by a transmission tube 100 which can advantageously be formed in one piece with the reservoir 20 and which extends up to at an open lower end.

Inside the tube are hollowed two parallel helical grooves 101, centered on the X axis, into which the indexes 96 of the stem base 95, described above, penetrate. In addition, at the lower end of the transmission tube 100, each helical groove 101 has an indentation 102 which is separated from the remainder of the groove by a notch 103 projecting downwardly. The indent 102 delimits, with the projecting notch 103, a housing which is adapted to receive the upper part of the corresponding index 96 when the applicator device 1 is in the storage position, while slightly raising the transmission tube 100 and the reservoir 20. relative to the bottom 92 of the base 3, as shown in FIG. figure 23 .

Moreover, as represented on the figure 24 , the reservoir 20 advantageously forms, at the junction with the transmission tube 100, a shoulder 104 oriented towards the base 3, this shoulder 104 comprising a pin 105 projecting towards the bottom 92 of the base 3, the pin 105 is adapted to angularly move in the notch 85 of the shoulder 84 of the outer body 2, said pin 105 being resting on the notch 85, abutting against the first abutment face 86, when the applicator device 1 is in the storage position. In this storage position, the pin 105 contributes, with the indexes 96 of the rod 16, to maintain the reservoir 20 and the transmission tube 100 in a slightly elevated position, away from the bottom 92 of the base 3, as shown on the figure 23 .

As shown on figures 19 and 20 , a piston 32 similar to that already described, slides sealingly in the cylindrical side wall 97 of the reservoir 20, the piston 32 also sliding sealingly on the rod 16 along the axis X.

The applicator device further comprises a piston spring 34 similar to that already described, of helical shape, which is arranged around the rod 16 and at the center of the fins 95, the piston spring is supported, on the one hand, on the bottom 12 of the base 3 and, on the other hand, on the piston 32, through the opening 99 of the tank bottom. This piston spring 34 is slightly compressed in the storage position of the applicator device, or even uncompressed if the piston is in the upper position in the reservoir.

As shown on Figures 26 to 29 , the distal end of the reservoir 20 is provided with a wiper 50 similar to that described in the first embodiment, which comprises a radial inner lip 51 adapted to seal against the free end 18 of the rod 16 in the retracted position of said rod 16, against a portion of the rod 16 located below the applicator head 19 in the extended position of the rod 16.

This wiper 50 is fitted into the valve control member 60 and secured to the distal end of the reservoir 20 by any known means. In addition, the yoke 52 of the applicator device is also similar to that described with respect to the first embodiment, and comprises as before a lip 53 extending radially inwards and defining an opening central 54, this yoke 52 being fixed by any known means to the upper end of the outer body 2, for example by interlocking in the side wall 81 of the outer body possibly clipping an inner annular rib 83a of the outer body 2 in an annular groove 52a of the yoke (see Figures 25 to 29 ).

The yoke 52 internally comprises, as in the first embodiment, elongate housings 55 parallel to the axis X, in which are mounted sliding with lost motion of the pins 56 belonging to the plug 57 and allowing said bushel to pivot about a transverse axis Y perpendicular to the axis X, as in the first embodiment. As before, the spherical plug 57 defines a central passage 58 which, in the storage position of the applicator device 1, is arranged perpendicularly to the central axis X.

• un organe de commande de boisseau 60 de forme similaire à celui de la première forme de réalisation, qui comporte comme précédemment décrit un pion 63 engagé dans une rainure biaise 64 du boisseau sphérique 57, et une portée d'appui annulaire 65 en contact avec la partie inférieure du boisseau sphérique 57,
• un ressort métallique hélicoïdal 61 qui prend ici appui axialement contre l'essoreur 50 solidaire de l'extrémité distale 23 du réservoir 20 et qui sollicite directement le boisseau sphérique 57 vers la lèvre d'étanchéité 53 de la chape, de façon à assurer un contact étanche du boisseau contre ladite lèvre d'étanchéité,
• et une bague d'appui 62 qui est solidarisée avec l'extrémité distale 23 du réservoir 20.

Furthermore, as in the first embodiment of the invention, the plug 57 is biased elastically towards the lip 53 of the yoke by a control device 59 which comprises, as in the first embodiment:

• a valve control member 60 of similar shape to that of the first embodiment, which comprises as previously described a pin 63 engaged in a groove 64 of the ball valve 57, and an annular bearing surface 65 in contact with the lower part of the spherical cup 57,
• a helical metal spring 61 which here bears axially against the wiper 50 integral with the distal end 23 of the reservoir 20 and which directly urges the ball valve 57 towards the sealing lip 53 of the yoke, so as to ensure contact tightness of the plug against said sealing lip,
• and a support ring 62 which is secured to the distal end 23 of the reservoir 20.

In the example shown, the bearing ring 62 has axial teeth 62a which fit into axial teeth 97a formed at the distal end of the tank 1 (see figures 22 , 26 and 27 ).

Moreover, as shown on Figures 26 to 29 the plug control member 60 is integrally formed of plastics material with the bearing ring 62, and an additional plastic plug spring 107 which connects the plug control member 60 to the ring 62.

The applicator device of the second embodiment of the invention operates as follows.

From the storage position shown on the figures 18 , 19 , 28 , 29 when the user rotates the base 3 in the first angular direction 4 about the central axis X, this rotation of the base 3 also causes a rotation of the rod 16 and the rod foot 95, whose indexes 96, prisoners of the indentations 102 of the transmission tube 100 also drive the transmission tube 100 in the first angular direction 4. During this movement, the pin 105 of the reservoir 20 thus moves along the notch 85 in the first angular direction 4 (see the figure 25 ), until abutting against the abutment face 87 which then prevents the reservoir 20 from continuing to rotate with respect to the outer body 2. During this first trajectory portion of the base 3, the reservoir 3 rotates the plug control member 60 which rotates the plug 57 to the open position shown in the Figures 30 to 32 .

The user then continues to rotate the base 3 in the first angular direction 4, but in this second portion of the actuation path of the base 3, the reservoir 20 can not rotate relative to the outer body 2, since the counter 105 of the reservoir is in abutment against the abutment face 87 of the outer body 2 (see FIG. figure 25 ). As a result, the indexes 96 of the shank 95 then emerge from the indentations 102 by slightly raising the transmission tube 100 to the passage of the indexes 96 under the protruding notch 103, after which the lower end of the transmission tube 100 comes to rest against the bottom 92 of the base 3 and the pawn 105 of the tank penetrates simultaneously in the indentation 89 of the outer body 2.

In the following movement of rotation of the base 3 in the first angular direction 4, the indexes 96 of the shank 95 are displaced upwards by helical grooves 101, which causes axial sliding of the rod 16 upwards. , said indexes 96 being guided in axial sliding in the slots 94 left between the fins 93 of the base 3.

During this movement, the rod 16 moves to the visible output position on the figure 33 where the applicator head 19 of the rod 16 is located outside the outer body 2 and the rod 16 passes through the central passage 58 of the ball valve sealingly with the lip 51 of the wiper 50. The applicator device 1 is then in position of use and, as in the first embodiment of the invention, the piston spring 34 is then compressed and slightly moves the piston 32 to the wiper 50 to compensate for the removal of product 21 by the applicator head, so that the space between the piston 32 and the wiper 50 is always completely filled with product 21.

To return the applicator device 1 to the storage position after use, the user simply has to rotate the base 3 relative to the outer body 2 in the second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction 4, which first causes a retraction movement of the rod 16 by axial sliding towards the bottom 32 of the base 3, then, when the stem foot 95 comes into abutment against the bottom 32 of the base 3, the indexes 96 of the stem foot 95 enter again in the indentations 102 in the lower part of the transmission tube 100, which makes the pin 105 of the tank 20 out of the indentation 89 and then allows an angular displacement of the pin 105 in the notch 85, to the face of stop 86 of this notch (see figure 25 ), which allows to close the ball 57 and return to the storage position. It should be noted that at the end of this move, the 88 notch notch 85 guides the user by forming a hard point and possibly causing the emission of a "click" at the end of the race.

C. Third embodiment of the invention

The third embodiment of the invention is close to the second embodiment already described above, and therefore will not be fully described: only the different elements of the second embodiment will be described below.

• le pied de tige 95 de la tige 16 comporte un pion 110 qui fait saillie axialement vers le fond 92 de la base 3 (figure 34) et qui est en appui axial contre ce fond 92 dans la position de stockage du dispositif ; les index 96 du pied de tige 95 sont alors à l'extrémité inférieure des rainures hélicoïdales 101 dans cette position de stockage, le tube de transmission 100 étant alors maintenu écarté du fond 92 de la base 3 en soulevant également le réservoir 20 vers la chape 52 ;
• les rainures hélicoïdales 101 du tube de transmission 100 ne comportent pas les indentations 102 et crans 103 ;
• l'encoche 85 du corps extérieur 2 et le pion 105 du réservoir 20 sont supprimés ; le réservoir 20 est solidarisé en rotation avec le corps extérieur 2 par emboîtement mutuel de cannelures axiales 111, 112 ménagées respectivement à l'intérieur de la paroi latérale 81 du corps externe 2 et à l'extérieur de la paroi latérale 97 du réservoir 20 ; ces cannelures axiales permettent un coulissement relatif entre les deux pièces 2, 20 selon l'axe X ;
• l'organe de commande de boisseau 60 et la bague d'appui 62 sont deux pièces distinctes, qui comportent respectivement des jupes cylindriques 113, 114 centrées sur l'axe X et emboîtées l'une dans l'autre, ces deux jupes étant reliées entre elles par une glissière biaise qui impose un mouvement de rotation relatif entre l'organe de commande de boisseau 60 et la bague d'appui 62 lorsque ces deux pièces coulissent selon l'axe X l'une par rapport à l'autre (voir figures 35 à 37), en positionnant le boisseau sphérique 57 en position fermée lorsque la bague d'appui 62 est rapprochée au maximum de l'organe de commande de boisseau 60, comme c'est le cas dans la position de stockage du dispositif applicateur 1 : dans l'exemple considéré ici, la glissière biaise susmentionnée comprend deux rainures hélicoïdales externes 115 de la jupe cylindrique 113 de l'organe de commande de boisseau dans lesquelles coulissent respectivement deux pions internes 116 de la jupe 114 de la bague d'appui 62 ;
• le ressort de boisseau 61 est monté à l'intérieur des jupes cylindriques 113, 114 et prend appui contre l'organe de commande de boisseau 60 et la bague d'appui 62 pour solliciter ces deux pièces à l'écartement mutuel, au lieu d'être monté entre l'essoreur 50 et le boisseau 57 ;
• le ressort de boisseau supplémentaire 107 est supprimé ;
• la bague d'appui 62 est en appui axial sur l'essoreur 50 lui-même solidaire de l'extrémité distale 23 du réservoir (la bague d'appui 62 peut en outre éventuellement être accrochée sur l'essoreur 50, comme dans l'exemple représenté) ;
• une bague antifriction 117 réalisée par exemple en téflon, est interposée axialement entre le ressort de boisseau 61 et la bague d'appui 62 pour permettre une rotation relative aisée entre le ressort de boisseau 61 et la bague d'appui 62 (cette bague antifriction pourrait éventuellement être interposée entre le ressort de boisseau 61 et l'organe de commande de boisseau 60).

This third embodiment is distinguished from the second embodiment essentially by the following points, visible on the Figures 34 to 37 :

• the stem foot 95 of the rod 16 comprises a pin 110 which projects axially toward the bottom 92 of the base 3 ( figure 34 ) and which bears axially against this bottom 92 in the storage position of the device; the indexes 96 of the shank 95 are then at the lower end of the helical grooves 101 in this storage position, the transmission tube 100 then being held away from the bottom 92 of the base 3 by also lifting the reservoir 20 towards the yoke 52;
• the helical grooves 101 of the transmission tube 100 do not include the indentations 102 and notches 103;
• the notch 85 of the outer body 2 and the pin 105 of the reservoir 20 are removed; the reservoir 20 is secured in rotation with the outer body 2 by interlocking axial splines 111, 112 formed respectively inside the side wall 81 of the outer body 2 and outside the side wall 97 of the reservoir 20; these axial grooves allow relative sliding between the two parts 2, 20 along the X axis;
• the plug control member 60 and the support ring 62 are two distinct pieces, which respectively comprise cylindrical skirts 113, 114 centered on the X axis and nested one inside the other, these two skirts being connected between them by a biased slide that imposes a relative rotational movement between the valve control member 60 and the support ring 62 when these two parts slide along the X axis relative to each other (see Figures 35 to 37 ), by positioning the ball valve 57 in the closed position when the support ring 62 is brought to the maximum of the valve control member 60, as is the case in the storage position of the applicator device 1: in the the example considered here, the aforementioned bias slide comprises two external helical grooves 115 of the cylindrical skirt 113 of the valve control member in which slide respectively two inner pins 116 of the skirt 114 of the bearing ring 62;
• the ball spring 61 is mounted inside the cylindrical skirts 113, 114 and bears against the valve control member 60 and the support ring 62 to urge these two parts to the mutual spacing, instead of be mounted between the wiper 50 and the plug 57;
• the additional leaf spring 107 is removed;
• the support ring 62 bears axially on the wiper 50 itself integral with the distal end 23 of the reservoir (the support ring 62 may furthermore possibly be hooked on the wiper 50, as in FIG. example shown);
• an anti-friction ring 117 made for example of teflon, is interposed axially between the plug spring 61 and the bearing ring 62 to allow easy relative rotation between the plug spring 61 and the bearing ring 62 (this anti-friction ring could possibly be interposed between the plug spring 61 and the plug control member 60).

The device according to the third and third embodiments operates as follows.

From the storage position shown on the figures 34 and 35 when the user rotates the base 3 in the first angular direction 4 about the axis central X, this rotation of the base 3 also causes a rotation of the rod 16 and the shank 95, which allows first to the transmission tube 100 to descend to the bottom 92 of the base 3.

During this first portion of trajectory of the base 3, the descent of the transmission tube 100 and the reservoir 20 towards the bottom 92 of the base 3, causes a mutual spacing of the bearing ring 62 relative to the body control valve 60, under the effect of the plug spring 61. This mutual spacing causes a rotation of the valve control member 60 in the direction corresponding to the opening of the ball valve 57.

When the lower end of the transmission tube 100 comes into abutment against the bottom 92 of the base 3, the ball valve 57 is in the open position, with its central passage oriented along the X axis ( figures 38 and 39 ).

The user then continues to rotate the base 3 in the first angular direction 4, but in this second portion of the actuation path of the base 3, the transmission tube 10 abuts against the bottom 92 of the base 3, therefore the indexes 96 of the shank 95 slide upward along the axial slots 94 of the base, driven by the helical grooves 101 of the transmission tube. The rod 16 then moves to the visible output position on the figure 40 where the applicator head 19 of the rod is located outside the outer body 2 and the rod 16 passes through the central passage 58 of the ball valve sealingly with the lip 51 of the wiper 50. The applicator device 1 is then in position of use and, as in the first and second embodiments of the invention, the piston spring 34 is then compressed and slightly move the piston 32 to the wiper 50 to compensate for the removal of product 21 by the applicator head , so that the space between the piston 32 and the wiper 50 is always completely filled with product 21.

To return the applicator device 1 to storage position after use, the user simply has to rotate the base 3 relative to the outer body 2 in the second angular direction 5 opposite the first angular direction 4, which causes first a retraction movement of the rod 16 by axial sliding towards the bottom 32 of the base 3, then, when the pin 110 of the shank 95 comes into abutment against the bottom 92 of the base 3, the transmission tube 100 is raised again relative to the bottom 92 of the base, which actuates the control device 59 of the plug and puts the ball valve in the closed position and places the applicator device 1 in the storage position.

Claims (23)

1. Applicator device comprising:

   - a reservoir (20) suitable for containing a product (21) to be applied, this reservoir extending along a central axis (X) between a proximal end (22) and a distal end (23), and said reservoir being axially open at said distal end,

   - a cap (52) that is connected to the distal end (23) of the reservoir, said cap comprising an opening (54) on the central axis (X),

   - a spherical plug valve (57) mounted in the cap (52) so as to pivot about a transverse axis (Y) perpendicular to the central axis (X), said plug valve comprising a central passage (58) perpendicular to the transverse axis (Y) and said plug valve pivotable between:

   * a closed position in which said plug valve (57) closes the opening (54) in the cap,

   * and an open position in which said central passage (58) of the plug valve is aligned with the opening in the cap,

   - a plug valve control member (60), movable between a closed position and an open position, and able to place the plug valve (57) in the closed position when said plug valve control member (60) is in the closed position and to place the plug valve (57) in the open position when said plug valve control member (60) is in the open position,

   - a rod (16) extending along the central axis (X) to a free end (18) equipped with an applicator head (19) suitable for applying said product, said rod (16) being movable at least translationally along the central axis (X), between:

   * a retracted position in which the applicator head (19) is positioned within the reservoir (20),

   * and an extended position in which the rod (16) traverses the central passage (58) of the plug valve and the applicator head (19) is outside the reservoir (20),

   wherein the plug valve control member (60) is rotatable about the central axis (X), between the closed position and the open position,
   wherein the reservoir is mounted within an external body (2) solidly connected to the cap (52),
   and wherein the rod (16) traverses the proximal end (22) of the reservoir (20) and is mounted in a base (3) which axially extends the reservoir (20) from the proximal end (22) of said reservoir (20), said base (3) being movable relative to the external body (2) along an actuating path comprising a first path section between a rest position and an intermediate position, and a second path section between said intermediate position and a utilization position, said first path section comprising a rotational movement of the base (3) relative to the external body (2) about the central axis (X), said base (3) being coupled to the plug valve control member (60) so as to rotate said plug valve control member (60) from the closed position to the open position when the base (3) is moved from the rest position to the intermediate position, and said base (3) being adapted to move the rod (16) from the retracted position to the extended position during the second path section.
2. Applicator device according to claim 1, comprising a piston (32) mounted so as to slide in the reservoir (20) while maintaining the seal and traversed by the rod (16) while maintaining the seal, the piston (32) being resiliently biased towards the distal end (23) of the reservoir.
3. Applicator device according to claim 2, wherein the piston (32) is resiliently biased by a piston spring (34) having a first end related to the rod (16) and a second end pressing against the piston (32).
4. Applicator device according to any of the above claims, wherein the distal end (23) of the reservoir comprises a wringer (50) which is adapted to wring the applicator head (19) and/or the rod (16) when said applicator head exits the reservoir (20), the free end (18) of the rod (16) being adapted to establish a seal with the wringer (50) when the rod (16) is in the retracted position, said rod (16) additionally comprising an intermediate portion which is located before the applicator head (19) and which is adapted to establish a seal with the wringer (50) when said rod (16) is in the extended position.
5. Applicator device according to any of the above claims, wherein the plug valve control member (60) comprises a pin (63) slidingly engaged in an angled groove (64) of the plug valve (57).
6. Applicator device according to any of the above claims, wherein the cap (52) comprises an annular lip (53), the plug valve (57) is mounted in the cap so as to have play along the central axis (X), the plug valve control member (60) is mounted so as to have play along the central axis (X) relative to the cap and is resiliently biased towards the plug valve (57), said plug valve control member (60) coming into contact with the plug valve (57) and pressing said plug valve into axial contact with the lip (53) of the cap (52).
7. Applicator device according to claim 6, wherein the plug valve control member (60) is resiliently biased towards the annular lip (53) by a plug valve spring (61, 107) pressing against the reservoir (20).
8. Applicator device according to claim 7, wherein the plug valve spring (61, 107) presses against a supporting ring (62) which itself is supported by the distal end (23) of the reservoir.
9. Applicator device according to any of the above claims, wherein the plug valve control member (60) is solidly connected to the reservoir (20) such that it rotates with the reservoir.
10. Applicator device according to claim 9, wherein the reservoir (20) is mounted so as to rotate with lost motion relative to the external body (2), about the central axis (X), said first path section including a rotation of the base (3) with the reservoir (20) about the central axis (X).
11. Applicator device according to claim 10, wherein the base (3) is mounted so as to rotate with lost motion on the reservoir (20), about the central axis (X), starting from the initial position of said base (3), with a range of rotation that is less than the angular extent of the first path section, said first path section including a rotation of the base (3) relative to the reservoir (20) and then a rotation of the base (3) with the reservoir (20) about the central axis (X).
12. Applicator device according to claim 11, wherein the base (3) is connected to the reservoir (20) by at least one L-shaped track (35) comprising:

    * an orthoradial arm (36) which permits said rotation of the base (3) relative to the reservoir (20) during the first path section,

    * and an axial arm (37) parallel to the central axis (X) and allowing the base (3) to slide relative to the reservoir (20) in the direction of the distal end (23) of said reservoir when the base (3) follows the second path section from the intermediate position to the final position.
13. Applicator device according to claim 12, wherein the base (3) is resiliently biased to move away from the reservoir (20) and is connected to the reservoir by a retention mechanism (39) suitable for selectively either retaining said base (3) in the final position or releasing said base to enable it to move from the final position to the intermediate position.
14. Applicator device according to claim 13, wherein the retention mechanism (39) is adapted to lock the base (3) in place automatically when it reaches the final position.
15. Applicator device according to claim 14, wherein the retention mechanism (39) is a two-state mechanism adapted to release the base when it is axially actuated towards the distal end (23) of the reservoir after it had been locked in the final position.
16. Applicator device according to claim 15, wherein the retention mechanism (39) comprises a winding path (40) arranged in an outer wall of the reservoir (20), cooperating with a pin (48) supported by an elastic strip (49) solidly connected to the base.
17. Applicator device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base (3) is rotatably mounted on the external body (2) and the actuating path comprises a circular movement about the central axis (X) which includes the first and second path sections, the rod (16) being guided by a first track (94) that is integral to the base (3) and by a second track (101) that is integral to the reservoir (20), so that a rotation of the base (3) relative to the reservoir (20) causes an axial displacement of the rod (16) between the retracted and extended positions.
18. Applicator device according to claim 17, wherein the first track (94) is parallel to the central axis (X) and the second track (101) is helical.
19. Applicator device according to claim 18, wherein the reservoir (20) is axially extended beyond its proximal end (22), by a conveying tube (100) which is solidly connected to said reservoir, the second track (101) extending in a spiral inside the conveying tube (100) between a first end further from the reservoir (20) and a second end closer to the reservoir (20), the rod (16) extending inside said conveying tube (100) to a foot (95) which comprises at least one side post (96) guided in the first and second tracks (94, 101).
20. Applicator device according to claim 19, wherein:

    - the plug valve control member (60) is solidly connected to the reservoir (20) so as to rotate with it, and is resiliently biased towards the plug valve (57) by a plug valve spring (107) pressing against the reservoir (20),

    - the reservoir (20) is axially movable within the external body (2) between an engaged position and a disengaged position that is closer to the plug valve (57) than the engaged position, the reservoir (20) and the external body (2) being adapted to:

    * couple together when the reservoir (20) is in the engaged position, such that the reservoir is then solidly connected to the external body (2),

    * and uncouple when the reservoir is in the disengaged position, such that the reservoir (20) can then turn freely within the external body (2),

    - at least the open position of the plug valve control member (60) is in a stop position,

    - the base (3) comprises a bottom (92) opposite the reservoir (20), and the conveying tube (100) is axially open facing said bottom (92),

    - the foot (95) of the rod (16) is adapted to press axially against the bottom (92) of the base (3) when the rod (16) is in the retracted position, and the first end of the second track (101) comprises a catch (102) which opens axially towards the bottom (92) of the base (3) and is adapted to receive the side post (96) of the foot of the rod when the foot (95) of the rod (16) is pressing against the bottom (92) of the base, the catch (102) and the side post (96) being designed to maintain the reservoir (20) in the disengaged position and to allow the reservoir to be rotated by the base (3) when the side post (96) is engaged with the catch (102), said catch being designed so that the side post (96) of the foot of the rod (16) can escape said catch when the base (3) is actuated in a first angular direction (4) corresponding to the opening of the plug valve (57) and to the plug valve control member (60) having reached the open position, thus allowing the reservoir (20) to move into the engaged position such that the plug valve (57) is locked in the open position and such that an additional rotation of the base in the first angular direction (4) then results in the side post (96) of the rod (16) sliding in the first and second tracks (94, 101), causing the applicator head (19) of the rod (16) to exit through the plug valve (57).
21. Applicator device according to claim 20, wherein the reservoir is solidly connected to a pin (105) held in place by the plug valve spring (61, 107) while pressing axially against an edge (85) formed in the external body (2), said edge (85) extending angularly around the central axis (X) between a first stop (86) and a second stop (87) in the first angular direction, and said edge being discontinuous due to an indentation (89) near the second stop (87), this indentation being adapted to receive the pin (105) of the reservoir when it comes in contact with the second stop (87), the reservoir being in the disengaged position when the pin (105) of said reservoir is pressing against the edge (85) and being in the engaged position when the pin (105) of the reservoir is within the indentation (89).
22. Applicator device according to claim 19, wherein:

    - the plug valve control device (60) is mounted so as to slide at an angle relative to the central axis (X) relative to a supporting ring (62) axially pressing against the distal end (23) of the reservoir, such that moving the supporting ring (62) away from the plug valve control member (60) causes said plug valve control member (60) to rotate from the closed position to the open position,

    - the plug valve control member (60) is resiliently biased towards the plug valve (57) by a plug valve spring pressing against the supporting ring (62),

    - the reservoir (20) is solidly connected to the external body (2) so as to rotate with it but can move axially within the external body (2) between first and second positions, the first position being closer to the plug valve than the second position,

    - the base comprises a bottom (92) opposite the reservoir (20) and the conveying tube (100) is axially open towards said bottom (92), the conveying tube (100) and the foot (95) of the rod being adapted to alternate in pressing axially against the bottom (92) of the base,

    - the foot (95) of the rod comprises a supporting region (110) that is axially offset towards the bottom (92) of the base relative to the side post (96) of said foot, said supporting region being adapted to press against the bottom (92) of the base when the rod is in the retracted position and the base is in the first section of the path, while the conveying tube (100) is distanced from the bottom of the base,

    - and the conveying tube (100) is adapted so that it presses against the bottom (92) of the base during the second path section of the base, such that a rotation of the base (3) relative to the external body then causes an axial displacement of the rod (16) relative to the external body.
23. Use of an applicator device (1) according to any of the above claims, in order to apply a cosmetic product, preferably a liquid or paste cosmetic product.

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