EP3242751B1

EP3242751B1 - Dispensing head for a cosmetic product with locking system

Info

Publication number: EP3242751B1
Application number: EP16700245.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Marc Lebrand; Lionel Drugeon; Emeric RENAUDIN; Sébastien CROIBIER; Yann SIBILLE
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 2015-01-06
Filing date: 2016-01-06
Publication date: 2018-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-06
Also published as: WO2016110508A1; EP3242751A1; FR3031344A1

Description

This invention relates to a dispensing head for a cosmetic product, of the type comprising a mechanism for actuation and dispensing the product, said actuating mechanism comprising: a part for coupling to a member for dispensing product mounted on a receptacle; at least one duct for dispensing a product, carried by the part for coupling, with the dispensing duct exiting via an opening for dispensing product outside of the head; a maneuvering lever, rotatably mounted around a pivot axis, the maneuvering lever able to displace the part for coupling along an actuating axis between a rest position and a position for dispensing the product.
This head is intended to be mounted at the end of a receptacle containing a cosmetic product, in order to form a device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product that is particularly sealed.
The cosmetic product is for example a fluid product, such as a liquid, a gel, a foam, a cream, or a powder.
In particular, the cosmetic product is a solar protection product, intended to protect a surface of the body of a user from an exposure to solar radiation, in particular ultraviolet radiation (UVA or UVB).
More generally, a cosmetic product is a product as defined in EC Regulation N° 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council of November 30, 2009, relating to cosmetic products.
Certain cosmetic products are used outdoors in environments that are dusty or which contain macroscopic particles, such as grains of sand, or in a wet area, in particular via spraying or immersion. This is the case in particular with sun creams, which are used for example on the beach or in nature.
In this case, the device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product must be adapted to the use, and to the contamination that can occur under the effect of particles and/or dust, and moisture.
In order to protect the receptacle containing the product and the actuating pump for the dispensing of the product, it is known to mount a dispensing head of the aforementioned type on the receptacle. The head comprises a protective cap, which masks at least partially the dispensing mechanism and the pump, which participates in protecting the conditioning with regards to exterior contamination.
The use of a protective cap however generates difficulties during the manipulation of the device, in terms of dispensing the product. In particular, the actuating of the pump can be meticulous to carry out, and require substantial actuating force.
The dispensing head described in patent application FR3014650 , in the name of the Applicant, makes it possible to overcome this problem. Such a head for dispensing a cosmetic product allows a product to be dispensed, guaranteeing the seal of the device for packaging in order to satisfy advantageously standard CEI 60529, without requiring a high actuating force. Other examples are disclosed by WO2013/107541 and EP2910491 .
However, the facility of actuating the dispensing head can lead to untimely dispensing of the product, caused for example by impacts during the transport of the receptacle in a bag. Examples of dispensing heads solving this problem are disclosed in US2008/0061087 , EP2228319 , US3828982 , and US2009/0127293 .
A need therefore exists for a simple system for the locking/unlocking of the actuating mechanism of the head, guaranteeing advantageously the seal of the device.
To this effect, the invention has for object a head of the aforementioned type, comprising a mechanism for blocking the maneuvering lever, said blocking mechanism able to be displaced by the user between a immobilization configuration of the lever and released configuration of the lever. The head further comprises a protective cap that covers the actuating and dispensing mechanism, the protective cap delimiting the dispensing opening, the protective cap comprising at least one portion deformable to the touch, placed opposite the maneuvering lever.
According to further advantageous aspects of the invention, the dispensing head comprises one or several of the following features taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

the blocking mechanism comprises a slider that can be displaced with respect to the maneuvering lever, between the immobilization configuration and the released configuration, according to an axis of displacement that is perpendicular to the axis of actuation or inclined with respect to the axis of actuation;
the axis of displacement of the slider is substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the lever;
the axis of displacement of the slider is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the lever or inclined with respect to the pivot axis of the lever;
the blocking mechanism comprises an abutment carried by the slider and counter-abutment carried by the lever, such that: in immobilization configuration, said abutment and counter-abutment are able to come into contact with one another by rotation of the lever around the pivot axis in such a way as to prevent the displacement of the coupling part by the lever; and in released configuration, said abutment and counter-abutment are separated from one another, in such a way as to authorize the displacement of the coupling part by the lever;
the blocking mechanism comprises a first ratchet element carried by the slider and a second ratchet element carried by the actuating and dispensing mechanism, said first and second ratchet elements able to cooperate during the displacement of the slider to induce an elastic deformation of the first and/or of the second ratchet element, so as to generate an audible signal;
the slider comprises at least one zone and advantageously two bearing zones, with the slider able to be displaced between the immobilization configuration and the released configuration by a pushing on said bearing zone, advantageously on each one of said bearing zones, according to its axis of displacement;
the blocking mechanism is housed in the protective cap, the blocking mechanism able to be actuated by pressing on a region of the deformable portion of the protective cap;
the deformable portion of the protective cap comprises a visual marking opposite the zone or each of the bearing zones of the slider.

The invention further relates to a device for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product comprising: a receptacle delimiting a reservoir intended to contain a cosmetic product; a member for dispensing the product, mounted on the receptacle; and a head such as described hereinabove, capping the receptacle and the dispensing member, with the coupling part being engaged on the dispensing member.
The invention will be easier to understand in view of the following description, provided solely as a non-restricted example and with reference to the drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging and dispensing device, equipped with a dispensing head according to an embodiment of the invention;
figure 2 is a cross-section view according to a axial mid-plane of the device of figure 1;
figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the dispensing head in figure 1;
figure 4 is a partial perspective view of a blocking mechanism of the dispensing head in figure 1.

A device 10 for packaging and dispensing according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 1 to 4.
The cosmetic product packaged and dispensed by the device 10 is for example a fluid product, such as a liquid, a gel, a foam, a cream, or a powder.
In particular, the cosmetic product is a solar protection product, intended to protect a surface of the body of a user from an exposure to solar radiation, in particular ultraviolet radiation (UVA or UVB).
The device 10 comprises a receptacle 12 containing the cosmetic product, a product dispensing member 14 (shown as a dotted line in figure 2), mounted on an end of the receptacle 12, and a dispensing head 16 according to the invention, mounted on the receptacle 12 and connected to the product dispensing member 14.
The recipient 12 comprises a reservoir 20 containing cosmetic product, and a neck 22 through which the reservoir 20 opens.
The dispensing member 14, formed here by a pump, comprises a movable actuating element 28 that can be displaced along an axis 24 in order to provoke the dispensing of the product.
In the following description, it is considered that the actuating axis 24 is vertical and that, for the understanding of the terms "high", "low", "upper", "lower", the head 16 is situated higher than the reservoir 20.
In particular, the movable element 28 comprises an upper end 29 along the axis 24.
The dispensing head 16 comprises a mechanism 30 for actuating and for dispensing the product. Advantageously, the dispensing head 16 further comprises a protective cap 32, covering the mechanism for actuating and dispensing 30, and the dispensing member 14.
In the cap 32 is arranged an opening 33 for dispensing the product. The opening 33 is substantially arranged in a median plane of the device 10, containing the axis 24 and corresponding to the cutting plane of figure 2.
In the following description, it is considered that, with respect to a plane containing the axis 24 and perpendicular to the cutting plane of figure 2, "the front" of the device 10 corresponds to the side of the device 10 that comprises the opening 33, with "the rear" of the device 10 corresponding to the opposite side.
The dispensing head 16 also comprises a mechanism 34 for blocking in position of the mechanism for actuating and dispensing 30. Figure 3 shows the mechanism for actuating and dispensing 30 and the blocking mechanism 34.
Advantageously, the dispensing head 16 also comprises a seal 36, shown in figure 2. The seal 36 prevents the contamination of the inside volume 38 delimited by the protective cap 32.
As shown in figures 2 and 3, the mechanism for actuating and dispensing 30 comprises an insert 40 engaged on the receptacle 12 around the neck 22 and the dispensing member 14, a movable coupling part 42 with the dispensing member 14, and a dispensing duct 44 for a product towards the outside of the device 10.
The mechanism for actuating and dispensing 30 further comprises a rotating lever 46, articulated on the insert 40 around a pivot axis 47, advantageously perpendicular to the actuating axis 24.
The insert 40 comprises a base 48 for mounting on the receptacle 12. The insert 40 further comprises a support tab 49 of the levier 46, protruding with respect to the base 48.
The base 48 defines a central continuous hole 50, of axis 24, receiving the dispensing member 14.
On either side of the hole 50, the base 48 comprises a front slide 52 and a rear slide 54, with the slides 52, 54 extending according to axes perpendicular to the actuating axis 24 and advantageously parallel to the pivot axis 47. Moreover, the base 48 comprises a pawl 56 arranged under the rear slide 54 and oriented towards the axis 24.
As shall be detailed in what follows, the slides 52, 54 and the pawl 56 are intended to cooperate with the blocking mechanism 34.
The tab 49 protrudes upwards from the base 48 of the insert 40. Its advantageously extends parallel to the axis 24, from the periphery of the base 48.
An upper end of the tab 49 forms a hinge 63 that materializes the pivot axis 47 of the lever 46.
As shown in figure 2, the coupling part 42 is formed by a hollow engagement cover on the movable element 28. The upper end 29 of the movable element 28 is inserted into the cover 42.
The cover 42 has an upper surface 68 in contact with the lever 46.
The dispensing duct 44 protrudes transversally with respect to the cover 42. Advantageously, the duct 44 is formed from a part with the cover 42.
The dispensing duct 44 opens downstream to the outside of the device 10 and of the head 16. A distribution nozzle 74, forming a downstream end of the dispensing duct 44, is in particular inserted into the opening 33 for dispensing the product, arranged in the protective cap 32.
The coupling part 42 is mobile in translation along the axis 24, jointly with the movable element 28, between an upper rest position, wherein the cosmetic product is confined in the reservoir 20, and a lower dispensing position, wherein the cosmetic product circulates from the reservoir 20, through the movable element 28, the cover 42 and the dispensing duct 44. The upper rest position is that shown in figures 2 and 3.
The dispensing duct 44 can be deformed by bending during the displacement of the coupling part 42 between the rest position and the product dispensing position.
The lever 46 comprises articulation arms 80, a bearing region 82 on the coupling part 42, and a maneuvering plate 84, intended to be pushed by a finger of the user who is pressing on the protective cap 32.
The articulation arms 80 are rotatably mounted on the insert 40 around the axis 47, by the intermediary of the hinge 63. The articulation arms 80 are arranged on either side of the cutting plane of figure 2.
The pivot axis 47 is situated between the dispensing opening 33 and the actuating axis 24. The dispensing duct 44, in the upper rest position, passes substantially through an intersection between the pivot axis 47 and the cutting plane of figure 2.
The positioning of the pivot axis 47 optimizes the displacement of the coupling part 42 and of the movable element 28, for a given force being applied to the opposite end of the lever 46.
The bearing region 82 is mobile in rotation around the pivot axis 47 jointly with the arm 80. The bearing region 82 is oriented downwards and is able to come into contact with the upper surface 68 of the cover 42.
The maneuvering plate 84 is situated to the rear of the lever 46. It advantageously delimits a bowl 88 for receiving the finger of a user, with concavity directed upwards.
The maneuvering plate 84 is able to be pushed downwards by a user through the protective cap 32 towards the receptacle 12, in order to drive the bearing region 82 in rotation around the axis 47, and as such displace the coupling part 42 from its rest position to its dispensing position.
The protective cap 32 comprises a lateral peripheral wall 100 surrounding the actuating and dispensing mechanism 30 and the dispensing member 14, around the axis of displacement 24. The lateral peripheral wall 100 delimits a closed free lower edge 101, extending opposite a shoulder of the receptacle 12. The seal 36 is arranged between the cap 32 and the receptacle 12, in the vicinity of the lower edge 101.
The cap 32 also comprises an upper wall 102, oriented substantially transversally with respect to the axis of displacement 24.
The walls 100, 102 are advantageously solid, except for the dispensing opening 33. The cap 32 as such delimits in a sealed manner the interior volume 38, providing a protection for this volume 38 against outside contamination.
The cap 32, in particular the walls 100, 102, comprise a rigid support portion 106 and a flexible actuation portion 108.
Parallel to the cutting plane of figure 2, the rigid support portion 106 has a profile substantially in the shape of an L. More precisely, the rigid portion 106 comprises a lower portion 107 in the form of a ring, including the lower edge 101 of the lateral peripheral wall 100. The rigid portion 106 further comprises an upper portion 109, substantially arranged at the front of the device 10, around the dispensing opening 33. The upper portion 109 extends over the entire height of the lateral peripheral wall 100 and over a portion of the upper wall 102.
The rigid portion 106 is made from a material that is substantially non-deformable to the touch, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephtalate, polystyrene, copolymers thereof or mixtures thereof.
The rigid portion 106, in particular the lower and upper portions 107, 109, define a rear notch, whereon the flexible portion 108 is arranged.
The flexible portion 108 extends in the continuity of the rigid support portion 106, laying flush with the rigid support portion 106. It is made from a material that is deformable to the touch, such as an elastomer of the polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS), rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) type.
The flexible portion 108 comprises a deformable upper region 110 for maneuvering the lever 46, and deformable lateral regions 114. The region for maneuvering 110 forms a portion of the upper wall 102, applied on the maneuvering plate 84. The region for maneuvering 110 advantageously defines an external bowl 112 for guiding the fingers of a user.
The deformable lateral regions 114 of the flexible portion 108 will be described hereinbelow.
In order to provide for the continuity between the flexible portion 108 and the rigid portion 106, the protective cap 32 is preferably made via a method of bi-injecting a material intended to be substantially non-deformable to the touch and a material intended to be deformable to the touch.
The blocking mechanism 34 comprises a slider 120, mounted mobile between a configuration for blocking the actuating and dispensing mechanism 30, shown in figure 3, and a configuration for releasing said mechanism.
The slider 120 is shown alone in figure 4. It comprises a front rail 122 and a rear rail 124, respectively intended to cooperate with the front slide 52 and the rear slide 54 of the insert 40. The slider 120 is as such mounted sliding on the insert 40 according to an axis 125, said axis 125 being perpendicular to the axis 24 and advantageously parallel to the axis 47 of rotation of the lever. According to an alternative, the axis 125 for sliding of the slider is perpendicular to the axis 47, or forms any angle with the axis 47.
According to another alternative, the axis 125 for sliding of the slider is parallel to the actuating axis 24, or forms any angle with the axis 24.
The slider 120 further comprises a rear wall 126, substantially situated in a plane perpendicular to the cutting plane of figure 2. The rear rail 124 forms an upper end of the rear wall 126.
The slider 120 further comprises at least two notches 128, 130, carried by the rear wall 126 and oriented towards the rear of the device 10. In a plane perpendicular to the axis 24, the notches 128, 130 are formed by the recesses of a sawtooth profile, separated by a ridge 132.
The notches 128, 130 are able to cooperate with the pawl 56 of the insert 40, as described hereinbelow. In particular, in the blocking configuration, the pawl 56 is situated in the first notch 128. In the released configuration, the pawl 56 is situated in the second notch 130.
The slider 120 further comprises lateral actuating walls 134, 136, substantially situated in the planes parallel to the cutting plane of figure 2. Each lateral wall 134, 136 is situated opposite a lateral region 114 of the flexible portion 108 of the cap 32.
The lateral walls 134, 136 are able to be pushed manually by a user through the deformable lateral regions 114 of the flexible portion 108 of the cap 32, in such a way as to displace the slider 120 along the axis 125, between the blocking configuration and the released configuration.
In particular, each one of the lateral walls 134, 136 comprises a bearing zone 138. Preferably, opposite each one of the bearing zones, a lateral region 114 of the cap 32 comprises a visual marking 140, shown in figure 1. The marking 140 indicates to a user the location of said bearing zone 138. The visual marking 140 is for example a printing in color or in relief on the flexible portion 108 of the cap 32.
Each one of the lateral walls 134, 136 comprises an upper end that forms a surface 142, 144, that is substantially oriented upwards. In the example of figures 1 to 4, the upper surfaces 142, 144 are inclined with respect to the axis 24. According to an alternative, the upper surfaces 142, 144 are substantially perpendicular to the axis 24.
The blocking mechanism 34 further comprises protrusions 146, carried by a lower of the maneuvering plate 84 of the lever 46. Preferentially, the blocking mechanism 34 comprises two protrusions 146, situated on either side of the cutting plane of figure 2, with each one of the protrusions 146 being opposite an upper surface 142, 144 of the slider 120 in blocking configuration.
The blocking mechanism 34 is defined in such a way that in blocking configuration, as in figure 3, the protrusions 146 abut against the upper surfaces 142, 144 of the slider 120, in such a way as to maintain the bearing region 82 of the lever 46 at a distance from the upper surface 68 of the cover 42. Preferably, an end of the protrusions 146 has a form complementary with that of said upper surfaces 142, 144.
A method of operating the device 10 according to the invention will now be described.
Initially, when the device 10 is not being used, the coupling part 42 in in the upper rest position, as in figure 2, and the blocking mechanism 34 is in blocking configuration, as in figure 3.
The protective cap 32 covers in a sealed manner the dispensing member 14, and the actuating mechanism 30, with the seal completed by the seal 36. The risk of contamination, in particular by particles and dust is therefore greatly limited, advantageously making it possible for the device 10 to satisfy the standard CEI 60529.
When the user wants to apply the cosmetic product on a surface of the body, he takes the device 10 in his hand. With one finger, the user then presses on the visual marking 140 situated opposite the first lateral wall 134 of the slider 120. Under the pressure of the finger, the slider 120 is displaced in translation along the axis 125, with the rails 122, 124 of said slider sliding in the slides 52, 54 of the insert 40.
The first lateral wall 134 then arrives in abutment against the cover 42, along the axis 125. The slider 120 has then reached the release configuration of the actuating and dispensing mechanism 30.
In this released position, the protrusions 146 of the lever 46 are offset along the axis 125 with respect to the upper surfaces 142, 144 of the slider 120. The lever 46 is as such able to pivot along the axis 47 in such a way as to place in contact the bearing regions 82 with the upper surface 68 of the cover 42.
The displacement of the slider 120 along the axis 125 induces an elastic deformation of the pawl 56, allowing said pawl to overcome the ridge 132 in order to pass from the first notch 128 to the second notch 130. The crossing of the ridge 132 by the pawl 56 provokes a "click" sound, indicating to the user that the actuating and dispensing mechanism 30 can be actuated.
The user then presses on the upper region 110 for maneuvering of the cap 32. He pushes this upper region 110 downwards, by manually deforming the flexible portion 108.
The pressure exerted on the upper region for maneuvering 110 is transmitted to the maneuvering plate 84, driving in rotation the lever 46 around the axis 47.
The rotation of the lever 46 towards the receptacle 12 provokes the pressing of the region 82 on the upper surface 68 of the coupling part 42. This generates a displacement in translation along the axis 24 of the coupling part 42 and of the movable element 28, and the dispensing of a dose of cosmetic product.
The course of the coupling part 42 and of the movable element 28 along the axis 24 is for example greater than 6 mm and is in particular between 2 mm and 8 mm. This large course authorizes a dispensing of a substantial volume of product, for example greater than 2 ml, by a single actuating of the movable element 28.
The cosmetic product is conveyed through the movable element 28, in the cover 42, then in the dispensing duct 44 to the nozzle 74, from which it exits the dispensing head 16 via the opening 33, in order to reach the surface of the body.
During the displacement of the coupling part 42, the dispensing duct 44 is deformed slightly by bending and the nozzle 74 pivots slightly inside the dispensing opening 33.
The user then releases the flexible portion 108 which returns to its rest configuration, advantageously under the effect of the recalling of the movable element 28, driving the coupling part 42 and the lever 46 away from the receptacle 12.
After use, in order to return the mechanism 34 to blocking configuration, the user presses on the visual marking 140 situated opposite the second lateral wall 136 of the slider 120. The slider 120 is displaced in translation along the axis 125, until the second lateral wall 136 arrives in abutment against the cover 42. The slider 120 has then reached the initial blocking configuration, such as shown in figure 3.
During the reverse displacement of the slider 120, the pawl 56 again crosses the ridge 132 in order to return in the first notch 128, which emits a "click" sound, indicating to the user the return to the blocking configuration.
Such a blocking mechanism effectively prevents untimely dispensing of cosmetic product, while still benefiting from the seal provided by the protective cap.

Claims

Dispensing head (16) for a cosmetic product, comprising an actuatingmechanism (30) for actuating and dispensing the product, said actuating mechanism comprising:
- a coupling part (42) to a member (14) for dispensing the product mounted on a receptacle (12),

- at least one product dispensing duct (44), carried by the coupling part (42), with the dispensing duct exiting via a dispensing opening (33) for dispensing the product outside of the head (16);

- a maneuvering lever (46), rotatably mounted around a pivot axis (47), with the maneuvering lever able to displace the coupling part (42) along an actuating axis (24) between a rest position and a product dispensing position;
the dispensing head comprising a blocking mechanism (34) for blocking the maneuvering lever, said blocking mechanism able to be displaced by the user between a immobilization configuration of the lever and released configuration of the lever,
the dispensing head being characterized in that it comprises a protective cap (32) covering the actuating mechanism (30), said protective cap delimiting the dispensing opening (33), the protective cap comprising at least one portion (108) deformable to the touch, placed opposite the maneuvering lever (46).
Dispensing head according to claim 1, wherein the blocking mechanism (34) comprises a slider (120) that can be displaced with respect to the maneuvering lever (46), between the immobilization configuration and the released configuration, according to a displacement axis (125) perpendicular to the actuation axis or inclined with respect to the actuation axis.
Dispensing head according to claim 2, wherein the displacement axis (125) of the slider is substantially parallel to the pivot axis (47) of the lever, or substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis, or inclined with respect to said pivot axis.
Dispensing head according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the blocking mechanism comprises an abutment (142, 144) carried by the slider and a counter-abutment (146) carried by the lever, such that:
- in the immobilization configuration, said abutment and counter-abutment are able to come into contact with one another via rotation of the lever around the pivot axis (47) in such a way as to prevent the displacement of the coupling part (42) by the lever; and

- in the released configuration, said abutment and counter-abutment are separated from one another, in such a way as to authorize the displacement of the coupling part (42) by the lever.
Dispensing head according to claims 2 to 4, wherein the blocking mechanism comprises a first ratchet element (128, 130, 132) carried by the slider and a second ratchet element (56) carried by the actuating mechanism, said first and second ratchet elements being able to cooperate during the displacement of the slider to induce an elastic deformation of the first and/or of the second ratchet element, so as to generate an audible signal.
Dispensing head according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the slider comprises at least one bearing zone and advantageously two bearing zones (134, 136, 138), the slider being able to be displaced between the immobilization configuration and the released configuration by a pushing on said bearing zone, advantageously on each one of said bearing zones, according to its displacement axis (125).
Dispensing head according to claim 6, wherein the deformable portion (108) of the protective cap (32) comprises a visual marking (140) opposite the zone or each one of the bearing zones of the slider.
Dispensing head according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking mechanism (34) is housed in the protective cap (32), the blocking mechanism being able to be actuated by pressing on a region (114) of the deformable portion (108) of the protective cap (32).
Device (10) for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic product, comprising:
- a receptacle (12) delimiting a reservoir (20) intended to contain the cosmetic product;

- a dispensing member (14) for dispensing the product, mounted on the receptacle (12); and

- a dispensing head (16) according to any of the preceding claims, covering the receptacle (12) and the dispensing member (14), with the coupling part (42) being engaged on the dispensing member (14).