US20220071370A1

US20220071370A1 - Disposable capsules and cosmetic-product dispenser

Info

Publication number: US20220071370A1
Application number: US17/420,538
Authority: US
Inventors: Sébastien Fauconnier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-01-04
Filing date: 2019-12-16
Publication date: 2022-03-10
Also published as: FR3091474A1; EP3905921A1; WO2020141267A1

Abstract

An assembly for dispensing a cosmetic product. The assembly includes: a disposable capsule having a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing having a first part forming a cavity; a dispenser having a housing intended to receive the capsule, a hollow needle with a tip having a suction opening, a suction device and a dispensing circuit coupled to the hollow needle, and an element for driving the hollow needle between a position in which the capsule is not pierced and position of suction of the cosmetic product, the capsule, in a receiving position inside the housing, having a collection zone forming a low point of the cavity and, in the suction position of the hollow needle, the tip being located in the collection zone.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/FR2019/053089, filed Dec. 16, 2019, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and published as WO 2020/141267 on Jul. 9, 2020, not in English.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of containers for ready-to-use cosmetic products.
More precisely, the invention relates to a disposable capsule comprising a cosmetic product and a dispenser using this capsule.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the field of the invention, containers are known for cosmetic products that have varied shapes and sizes.
These containers may form independent reservoirs adapted to contain a large quantity of a cosmetic product for the purpose of allowing the dispensing of numerous doses of the cosmetic product.
For example, soap dispensers using such reservoirs are known.
These dispensers may have lever-actuated mechanisms, or of the presence-detector type, coupled to a pump intended to allow extraction of a dose of the cosmetic product from the reservoir as far as a dispensing nozzle.
Such a pump makes it possible to extract a dose of soap while injecting or allowing a passage of air into the reservoir.
According to another design, the soap-dispensing devices may have an extraction mechanism that does not replace the dose extracted from the reservoir with an equivalent volume of air.
In this case, the reservoir compresses on itself because of an internal pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.
These reservoirs that compress or not on themselves do not allow optimised extraction of the cosmetic product.
This is because it may be found that the cosmetic product is retained in the reservoir, in crevices in the flexible wall thereof, even when the reservoir is compressed. The result then is that a certain quantity of product is not extracted and is therefore lost.
In the cosmetic industry, capsules that constitute small receptacles intended to contain a single dose or a small quantity of doses of a product are also known.
These capsules form containers particularly adapted to cosmetic products sensitive to oxidation and having to be dispensed very quickly after the container is opened.
These capsules thus form single-dose containers or ones comprising a small quantity of doses of products, intended to be used directly and completely following the opening of the capsule.
These capsules are complementary to a dispensing device and are particularly simple to use.
Such capsules are now very widespread and form part of normal use of consumers, used to both to the presentation thereof and to the packaging method that these capsules constitute.
This type of unitary disposable packaging is thus very practical to use and it may be advantageous for the consumer to extend the possible applications of capsules, and in particular in the field of cosmetic products, in combination with adapted dispensers.
Capsules for a cosmetic product and a dispenser using this type of capsule is described in the French patent document published under the number 3046359. The disposable capsules described contain a component, such as an active principle, intended to be used for formulating a cosmetic product. These capsules are introduced into the dispenser, wherein a hollow needle pierces the capsule in order to suck out the content.
The dispenser also comprises a dispensing circuit comprising means aimed at mixing the component extracted from the capsule with other components to formulate a cosmetic product ready to be dispensed.
This dispenser does nevertheless have a complex design involving a large number of parts and functions. These parts and functions are however necessary for the correct implementation of a formulation of a cosmetic product and of the mixing thereof from the separate components, with a view to dispensing thereof.
Consequently such a design may involve a high manufacturing cost to be able to obtain a reliable dispenser.

SUMMARY

The objective of the invention is in particular to improve the dispensing of a cosmetic product contained in a disposable capsule.
More precisely, the objective of the invention is to propose a cosmetic-product dispensing assembly that has the ability to optimally extract the cosmetic product contained inside the capsule.
Another objective of the invention is to propose such an assembly that has a reliable design that is inexpensive to manufacture.
Yet another objective of the invention is to propose such an assembly that is practical to use.
These objectives, as well as others that will emerge hereinafter, are achieved by means of the invention, the object of which is an assembly for dispensing a cosmetic product, the assembly comprising:

- at least one disposable capsule comprising a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing comprising a first part forming a cavity and a second part to be pierced containing the cavity;
- a dispenser comprising a housing intended to receive the capsule, a hollow needle with a tip having a suction opening, suction means and a dispensing circuit coupled to the hollow needle, means for driving the hollow needle between a position of in which the capsule is not pierced and a position of suction of the cosmetic product, characterised in that the casing has a recess projecting onto the outside of the first portion of the casing, the recess defining a zone for collecting the cosmetic product, and in that the dispenser comprises means for positioning the capsule in a receiving position inside the housing so that the collection zone forms a low point of the cavity, and in that, in the suction position of the hollow needle, the tip is located in the collection zone, the driving means being designed to drive the needle from top to bottom and vice-versa between the position in which the capsule is not pierced and the suction position, passing through the second part to be pierced of the capsule in the receiving position thereof inside the housing.

By means of such an assembly for dispensing a cosmetic product according to the invention, the cosmetic product contained inside the capsule is extracted optimally.
This is because the suction opening of the hollow needle has the characteristic of being housed in the recess of the casing where the cosmetic product flows by gravity when the capsule is located inside the housing.
In this way, when the cosmetic product is dispensed, and in other words when the cosmetic product is extracted from the capsule, this cosmetic product being sucked by the hollow needle from the recess, a recess into which the cosmetic product located in the cavity tends to flow. This phenomenon of flow as far as the collecting zone, formed by gravity and the shape of the capsule, constitutes a technically viable and realistic design for achieving the extraction of the cosmetic product in an optimum and reproducible manner.
This is because, compared with other solutions where for example the capsule is squashed, the design of the assembly according to the invention uses technically tested and reliable techniques.
Finally, by virtue of the use of a disposable capsule and a dispenser adapted to the capsule, using the assembly proves to be practical and simple to implement for the end user.
According to a preferred design, the first part of the casing is formed by a shell, and a second part to be pierced of the casing is formed by a cover.
Such a design of the capsule of the assembly facilitates the forming of the capsule and the intended purpose of the various portions of the casing of the capsule.
This is because the shell can then be formed by thermoforming and, for example, be made from plastics material or an aluminium and plastic compound. As for the cover, this can then be simply coupled to the shell to enclose the cavity delimited by the shell. Such a cover may be made from aluminium to provide the closure function thereof while having the ability to be easily pierced by the hollow needle.
According to a preferred embodiment, in the suction position of the hollow needle, the suction opening presented by the tip extends at a height in the recess, and the tip of the hollow needle forms a space for the cosmetic product to pass between it and the casing of the capsule.
According to this preferred embodiment, the flow of the cosmetic product from the cavity into the collecting zone is not or is little limited by the presence of the hollow needle in the capsule and more precisely by the presence of the hollow needle in the recess.
Consequently, the presence of the tip in the recess does not interfere with the correct action of the suction of the cosmetic product through the suction opening presented by the tip of the hollow needle.
Advantageously, the positioning means comprise guide runners complementary to a shape of the casing.
Such positioning means with runners optimise the insertion of the disposable capsule inside the housing of the dispenser.
More precisely, the runners provide optimum positioning dependent on the shape of the shell inside the housing. Since the capsule has a recess that is to form the lowest point of the cavity when the capsule is in the dispenser, it is essential for the capsule to be in the correct receiving position (orientation, inclination, etc.) inside the housing. The positioning means then contribute to the correct insertion and to the correct placing of the capsule in the housing by progressively accompanying the insertion thereof by means of the guide runners.
According to a preferred design of the assembly, the dispenser comprises a passage for inserting the capsule in the housing, the insertion passage being delimited by a wall having the guide runners, the insertion passage narrowing from an entrance of the insertion passage as far as the housing.
Such a design of the dispenser greatly facilitates the insertion of the capsule and the positioning thereof by a user inside the housing.
This is because the user then has a certain margin of error in the positioning of the capsule at the entrance to the insertion passage. This design enables the user not to have to carry out a particularly meticulous preliminary positioning of the capsule facing the insertion passage and the housing in order to implement the insertion.
The insertion of the capsule is progressively guided more precisely as far as into the housing by means of the narrowing of the insertion passage.
According to an advantageous solution, the casing has an at least partially asymmetric shape along a vertical central plane parallel to an axis of insertion of the capsule in the housing.
According to this solution, the shape of the capsule thus constitutes positive location for the insertion of the capsule in the housing. This asymmetry corresponds for example to a plane portion presented by the casing and a curved portion also presented by the casing, this plane portion and this curved portion being for example positioned on either side of a vertical central plane of the capsule intended to be parallel to an axis of insertion of the capsule inside the housing.
Such a positive-location function presented by the casing guarantees correct insertion by a user, an insertion in a non-predetermined direction being limited by the very shape of the capsule as well as of the housing.
According to a preferred embodiment, the capsule has an essentially flattened shape, the first part of the casing having a plane portion, and the dispenser comprises means for heating the cosmetic product comprising a heating member in the immediate vicinity of the housing, the heating member being positioned so as to be in contact with the plane portion of the casing when the capsule is received in the housing.
By virtue of this embodiment, the content of the capsule can be heated, thus allowing preheating of the cosmetic product with a view to dispensing thereof. The dispensing of a cosmetic product heated with a view to application thereof, on the skin of a baby, for example, is more pleasant than that of a cold product.
In addition, it should be noted that this position of the heating member and the flattened shape of the capsule optimises rapid heating of the content of the capsule.
It should be noted that heating a cosmetic product can increase the fluidity thereof and can therefore facilitate the flow of the cosmetic product in the direction of the collection zone delimited by the recess. This design thus facilitates the extraction of the cosmetic product from the disposable capsule of the assembly.
Preferably, according to a view from below of the capsule received in the housing, the recess is off-centre and the plane portion is centred on the casing, the plane portion being inclined in the direction of the recess.
Thus the heating member heats more precisely and more easily the cosmetic product that must flow in the direction of the recess. As mentioned previously, a cosmetic product has a tendency to fluidify and to flow more easily in the heated state.
Another object of the invention is a cosmetic-product dispenser for an assembly as described previously, the dispenser comprising a housing intended to receive a capsule, a hollow needle with a tip having a suction opening, suction means and a dispensing circuit coupled to the hollow needle, means for driving the hollow needle between a position in which the capsule is not pierced and position of suction of the cosmetic product, the capsule comprising a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing comprising a first part forming a cavity and a second part to be pierced enclosing the cavity, characterised in that the dispenser comprises means for positioning the capsule in a receiving position inside the housing wherein the second part to be pierced is oriented upwards, the drive means being designed to drive the needle downwards and conversely between the non-piercing position and the suction position.
Another object of the invention is a disposable capsule for an assembly as described previously, the capsule comprising a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing comprising a first part forming a cavity and a second part to be pierced enclosing the cavity, the second part to be pierced being formed by a cap and being the only part designed to be pierced when the cosmetic product is extracted, the first part of the casing being formed by a shell, the shell comprising:

- a peripheral rim;
- a floor;
- a wall extending over a height from the peripheral rim as far as the floor;
  characterised in that the floor comprises a flat portion and a recess, the recess projecting onto the outside of the floor of the shell of the casing, the recess defining a zone for collecting the cosmetic product, in a suction position wherein the connection zone forms a low point of the cavity, the flat portion being inclined in the direction of the recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limitative example, and the accompanying drawings, among which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation along a cross-section of an assembly for dispensing a cosmetic product according to the invention, wherein a disposable capsule is inserted inside a housing of a dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the disposable capsule according to the invention, seen from below;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the disposable capsule according to the invention, in a side view;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the disposable capsule according to the invention in a front view;

FIG. 5 is a representation in perspective illustrating a disposable capsule according to the invention, inserted inside the housing of the dispenser through the insertion passage;

FIG. 6a is a schematic representation illustrating an erroneous attempt at insertion of the capsule according to the invention, inside the housing of the dispenser;

FIG. 6b is a schematic representation illustrating a disposable capsule according to the invention, correctly inserted inside the housing of the dispenser;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view along a cross-section centred on the capsule according to the invention, inserted inside the housing, and wherein a hollow needle is in a position in which the capsule is not pierced;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view in a cross-section centred on the disposable capsule according to the invention, and the housing in which the hollow needle pierces the casing and is in the position of suction of the cosmetic product;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation centred on the hollow needle in the position of suction of the cosmetic product, the tip of the hollow needle being located in the collection zone of the disposable capsule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, an assembly for dispensing a cosmetic product comprising a disposable capsule 1 and a dispenser 2 is illustrated.
The assembly according to the invention makes it possible to dispense a cosmetic product that may for example correspond to a care cream for the hands or for the face. The cosmetic product may also correspond for example to a massage oil or cream.
As illustrated by FIGS. 1, 5, 6 a and 6 b, and as is described in more detail hereinafter, the dispenser 2 comprises a housing 21 intended to receive the capsule 1, and means 27 for positioning the capsule 1 in a receiving position inside the housing 21.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the disposable capsule 1 according to the invention comprises a casing 10 containing the cosmetic product.
The capsule 1 is intended to be pierced to enable the cosmetic product to be extracted.
For this purpose, the casing 10 of the capsule 1 comprises a first part 11 forming a cavity C wherein the cosmetic product is located, as well as a second part 12 to be pierced. The second part 12 encloses the cavity C.
According to the present embodiment, the first part 11 of the casing 10 is formed by a shell 110.
This shell 110 can in particular be formed from a thermoformable plastics material such as PET.
According to the present embodiment, the second part 12 to be pierced is the only part designed to be pierced when the cosmetic product is extracted. This second part 12 that encloses the cavity C is in particular formed by a cap 120. This cap 120 is in particular made from aluminium.
In fact, according to the present embodiment, the shell 110 has a flat portion. This flat portion is described hereinafter in more detail.
According to the principle of the invention, the casing 10, and in particular the shell 110, has a recess 100 projecting onto the outside of the first part 11 of the casing 10.
This recess 100 defines a zone 101 for collecting the cosmetic product inside the cavity C.
The collecting zone 101 constitutes in other words a subspace of the cavity C formed by the first part 11 (and in particular by the shell 110).
According to the principle of the invention, in a position of receiving the capsule 1 inside the housing 21 of the dispenser 2, the zone 101 collecting the cosmetic product forms a low point of the cavity C.
As illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4, the capsule 1 has an essentially flattened shape.
With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6A and 6B, the capsule 1, and in particular the shell 110, comprises:

- a peripheral rim 111;
- a wall 112 extending in height from the peripheral rim as far as a floor.

According to FIG. 2, the floor 113 comprises:

- a flat portion 114;
- the recess 100.

As is detailed hereinafter, the form of the casing 10 allows the guidance and positioning of the capsule 1 inside the dispenser 2.
This casing 10 has a shape that is partially asymmetric along a vertical central plane CV that is parallel to an axis I of insertion of the capsule 1 in the housing 21, as illustrated by FIGS. 6a and 6 b.
In fact, the shape of the capsule 1 constitutes a positive-location device for inserting the capsule 1 in the housing 21.
As illustrated by FIG. 2, the shell 110, and in particular the wall 112, has, on one side of the vertical central plane CV, a flat 115, and on the side opposite to the vertical central plane CV, a curved portion 116.
With reference to FIG. 6a , the capsule 1 cannot be introduced into the housing 21.
On the other hand, with reference to FIG. 6b , the capsule 1 has been correctly introduced into the housing 21, and the vertical central plane CV is coincident with the axis I of insertion of the capsule 1 in the housing 21.
The shell 110, and more precisely the wall 112, also has a portion 1120 recessed with respect to the end of the peripheral rim 111, which forms a gripping zone 117 of the capsule 1. This gripping zone 117 can for example be gripped between the thumb and index finger of a hand for manipulating the capsule 1.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a view from below of the capsule 1 received in the housing 21, the recess 100 is off-centre, and the flat portion 114 is centred on the casing 10.
This flat portion 114 is inclined in the direction of the recess 100. Thus the cosmetic product can flow along the flat portion 114, by gravity, in the direction of the recess and of the collection zone 110.
As mentioned previously, the dispenser 2 receiving the capsule 1 comprises a housing 21.
This dispenser 2 also comprises a body 20 having a base 200 enabling the dispenser 2 to be placed on a surface in a stable manner.
The dispenser 2 also comprises a cover 201 able to move with respect to the body 20.
The cover 201, as illustrated by FIG. 1, can adopt a position in which it is closed. In this closed position, the cover 201 prevents access to the housing 21. This cover 201 also prevents the capsule 1 from emerging from the housing 21.
The cover 201 must be open for inserting a capsule 1 and closed during use of the dispenser 2 according to the invention.
As illustrated by FIGS. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9, the dispenser 2 also comprises:

- the housing 21 intended to receive the capsule 1;
- a hollow needle 22;
- suction means 24;
- a dispensing circuit 25 coupled to the hollow needle 22;
- means 26 for driving the hollow needle 22 between a position in which the capsule 1 is not pierced, illustrated by FIG. 7, and a position of suction of the cosmetic product in which the hollow needle 22 pierces the capsule 1, this position being illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9;
- the means 27 for positioning the capsule 1 in a receiving position inside the housing 21;
- means 28 for heating the cosmetic product.

The positioning means 27 are configured so that, in the position of receiving the capsule 1 inside the housing 21, the zone 101 collecting the cosmetic product forms a low point of the cavity C.
As mentioned previously, the shape of the casing 10 optimises the positioning of the capsule 1 in the dispenser 2.
This is because the positioning means 27 comprise guide runners 270 that are complementary to the shape of the casing 10.
As illustrated by FIGS. 5, 6 a and 6 b, the dispenser 2 also comprises a passage 3 for inserting the capsule of the housing 21.
This insertion passage 3 is delimited by a surface 30. This surface 30 has the guide runners 270.
The guide runners 270 are in particular formed by a reproduction of the shape of the capsule (impression of the capsule) along the axis I of insertion of the capsule in the housing.
The insertion passage 3 narrows from an entrance of the insertion passage 3 as far as the housing 21. In this manner, the impression of the capsule reproduced by the surface 30 of the insertion passage 3 allows the guiding and the positioning of the capsule 1 in the housing 21.
With reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b , the guide runners 270 comprise in particular:

- a first guide runner 271 intended to cooperate with the recess 100 of the capsule 1;
- a second guide runner 272 intended to cooperate with the wall 112 of the capsule 1 (this second guide runner 272 having in particular a shape complementary to the flat 115 and to the curved portion 116 of the shell 110 of the capsule 1);
- a third runner 273 complementary to the peripheral rim 111 of the capsule 1.

These guide runners 270 are in particular stepped in height and allow correct insertion of the capsule 1 as well as correct positioning of the capsule in the housing 21.
With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the hollow needle 22 comprises a tip 220 that has a suction opening 23.
According to FIGS. 8 and 9, in the suction position of the hollow needle 22 and when the capsule 1 is in its receiving position inside the housing 21, the tip 220 of the hollow needle 22 is located in the collection zone 101.
In this way, the suction position of the hollow needle 22 allows suction of the cosmetic product from the lowest point of the capsule 1.
According to the principle of the invention, the drive means 26 are designed to drive the hollow needle 22 from top to bottom and vice-versa between the non-piercing position and the suction position while passing through the second part to be pierced of the capsule 1 in its receiving position inside the housing 21.
According to the present embodiment and with reference to FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 8, the drive means 26 comprise an electric motor and gearing able to cause a translation of the hollow needle 22.
As illustrated by FIG. 9, in the suction position of the hollow needle 22, the suction opening 23 presented by the tip 220 is located in the collection zone 101.
In this suction position, the tip 220 of the hollow needle forms a space for the cosmetic product to pass between it and the casing 110 of the capsule 1.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9, the heating means 28 of the dispenser 2 comprise a heating member 280 in the immediate vicinity of the housing 21.
The heating member 280 in particular takes the form of a heating plate forming a floor on which the flat portion 114 of the capsule 1 rests when the capsule 1 is in its receiving position inside the housing 21 of the dispenser 2.
Thus the heating member 280 is positioned so as to be in contact with the flat portion 114 of the casing 10 in the position of receiving the capsule 1 in the housing 21.
With reference to FIG. 5, according to the present embodiment, the suction means 24 are formed by a peristaltic pump 240, coupled to an emerging end 221 of the hollow needle 22 by means of a tube, not shown.
According to FIG. 1, the dispensing circuit 25 for its part comprises a dispensing nozzle 250.
An example of operation of the dispensing assembly, i.e. of the dispenser 2 and of the capsule 1, is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
Initially, the user lifts the cover 201 of the dispenser 2.
The user grips the gripping zone 117 of the capsule 1 and directs the capsule 1 towards the insertion passage 3.
They then proceed with the insertion of the capsule 1 in the housing 21. The positioning means 27 then orient and guide the capsule 1 as it is inserted in the insertion passage 3, along the insertion axis I.
When the user has completely introduced the capsule 1 and it has arrived in abutment in the housing 21, they close the cover 201 of the dispenser 2 again.
Next, the user activates the dispenser 2. The heating means 27 can begin heating of the cosmetic product contained in the capsule 1.
The drive means 26 lower the hollow needle 22 from its non-piercing position as far as its position of suction of the cosmetic product in which the hollow needle 22 pierces the capsule 1. The hollow needle 22 then perforates the second portion to be pierced 12 and the tip of the hollow needle comes to be housed in the collection zone 101 of the capsule 1.
Following a triggering of a dispensing of a dose of cosmetic product, the peristaltic pump of the suction means 24 causes the suction of the cosmetic product contained in the capsule 1 by means of the suction opening 23 presented by the hollow needle 22 in the collection zone 101.
The cosmetic product then flows in the dispensing circuit 25 until it arrives at the dispensing nozzle 250, where the user collects the required dose of cosmetic product.
Following the application of the cosmetic product, the user opens the cover 201, which causes the hollow needle 22 to rise again from its position of suction of the cosmetic product to its non-piercing position. The user can thus grip the capsule 1 to remove it and dispose of it.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.

Claims

1. A assembly for dispensing a cosmetic product, the assembly comprising:

at least one disposable capsule comprising a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing comprising a first part forming a cavity and a second part to be pierced containing the cavity; and

a dispenser comprising a housing to receive the capsule, a hollow needle with a tip having a suction opening, a suction device and a dispensing circuit coupled to the hollow needle, and a drive for driving the hollow needle between a position in which the capsule is not pierced and a position of suction of the cosmetic product,

wherein the casing has a recess projecting onto the outside of the first part of the casing, the recess defining a zone for collecting the cosmetic product,

the dispenser comprises a positioning element to position the capsule in a receiving position inside the housing so that the collection zone forms a low point of the cavity,

in the suction position of the hollow needle, the tip is located in the collection zone,

the drive is configured to drive the needle from top to bottom and vice-versa between the position in which the capsule is not pierced and the suction position, passing through the second part to be pierced of the capsule in the receiving position thereof inside the housing.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the casing is formed by a shell, and the second part (12) to be pierced of the casing is formed by a cap (120).

3. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein, in the suction position of the hollow needle, the suction opening presented by the tip extends in height in the recess, and the tip of the hollow needle forms a space for the cosmetic product to pass between the tip and the casing of the capsule.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positioning element comprises guide runners complementary to a shape of the casing.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the dispenser comprises a passage for inserting the capsule in the housing, the insertion passage being delimited by a wall having the guide runners, the insertion passage narrowing from an entrance of the insertion as far as the housing.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the casing has a shape at least partially asymmetric along a vertical central plane parallel to an axis of insertion of the capsule in the housing.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the capsule has an essentially flattened shape, the first part of the casing having a plane portion,

and wherein the dispenser comprises a heater for heating the cosmetic product and comprising a heating member in the immediate vicinity of the housing, the heating member being positioned so as to be in contact with the plane portion of the casing when the capsule is received in the housing.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein in a view from below of the capsule received in the housing, the recess is off-centre and the plane portion is centred on the casing, the plane portion being inclined in the direction of the recess.

9. A cosmetic product dispenser, the dispenser comprising:

a housing to receive a capsule containing a cosmetic product;

a hollow needle with a tip having a suction opening;

a suction device and a dispensing circuit both coupled to the hollow needle;

a drive for driving the hollow needle between a position in which the capsule is not pierced and a position of suction of the cosmetic product, the capsule comprising a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing comprising a first part forming a cavity and a second part to be pierced enclosing the cavity; and

a positioning element, which is configured to position the capsule in a receiving position inside the housing wherein the second part to be pierced is oriented upwards, the drive being designed to drive the needle from top to bottom and vice-versa between the position in which the capsule is not pierced and the suction position.

10. A disposable capsule, the capsule comprising

a casing containing the cosmetic product, the casing comprising a first part forming a cavity and a second part to be pierced enclosing the cavity, the second part to be pierced being formed by a cap and being the only part designed to be pierced when the cosmetic product is extracted, the first part of casing being formed by a shell, the shell comprising:

a peripheral rim;

a floor;

a wall extending over a height from the peripheral rim as far as the floor;

wherein the floor comprises a flat portion and a recess, the recess projecting onto the outside of the floor of the shell of the casing, the recess defining a zone for collecting the cosmetic product, in a suction position wherein the connection zone forms a low point of the cavity, the plane portion being inclined in the direction of the recess.