PACKAGING FOR COSMETIC PRODUCT

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for cosmetics of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

Specifically, this invention relates to a packaging for liquid or cream/pasty cosmetic product (hereinafter simply referred to as liquid) including a deformable tank, normally denoted by the anglophone term “squeezable”, adapted to allow the product contained therein to be pushed towards the applicator by means of manual pressure on the walls of the tank.

As known, squeezable cosmetic packaging includes a deformable tank through which the cosmetic product, generally liquid, contained therein can be expelled. Furthermore, the packaging may include an integrated or external applicator, equipped with a soft, possibly spongy, means that allows the cosmetic product to be applied on a user's skin.

Examples of this type of packaging are described in the patent documents US-B-8585309, EP-B-3233654, EP-B-3723541, and CN-U-206761069.

The packaging described by these documents overall include soft applicators external to the tank or integrated with the tank but fixed or in any case placed close to the cosmetic product's exit duct.

Therefore, the known technique described includes some significant drawbacks. In particular, the fact that the packaging includes a soft applicator on which the cosmetic product, liquid or creamy, directly rests as it exits the tank implies that the applicator gets very dirty and soon needs to be replaced.

However, normally, the soft applicator is bound to the tank and cannot be easily replaced and in any case removed therefrom.

Therefore, the packaging of the known technique is effectively performing for a relatively short period.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a packaging for cosmetic product capable of substantially overcoming at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of said technical task, an important aim of the invention is to achieve a packaging for cosmetic product that allows increasing the longevity of the soft applicator.

Another important aim of the invention is to make a cosmetic packaging that allows the soft applicator present in the packaging to be easily replaced, if necessary. The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by a cosmetic packaging as claimed in attached claim 1. Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.

The features and advantages of the invention are further clarified by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a cosmetic packaging according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cosmetic packaging according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of a cosmetic packaging according to the invention.

In this document, measurements, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with words like “approximately” or other similar terms such as “almost” or “substantially,” are to be understood as allowing measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors and, above all, allowing a slight deviation from the value, measurement, shape, or geometric reference associated with it. For example, such terms, when associated with a value, preferably indicate a deviation not exceeding 10% of the value itself.

Moreover, when used, terms like “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “main,” and “secondary” do not necessarily identify an order, priority of relationship, or relative position, but can simply be used to more clearly distinguish different components from one another.

Unless otherwise specified, as is clear from the following discussions, terms like “treatment,” “computing,” “determination,” “calculation,” or similar, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical entities, such as electronic quantities of registers of a computer system and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, registers, or other information storage, transmission, or display devices. Measurements and data reported in this text are to be considered, unless otherwise indicated, as made in International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

Referring to the Figures, the cosmetic packaging according to the invention is globally denoted by number 1.

The packaging 1 is designed to contain liquid or creamy cosmetic products. In general, the packaging 1 is preferably, but not necessarily, of the squeezable type, that is, designed to allow pushing the cosmetic product contained therein towards the applicator by means of manual pressure onto the walls of packaging 1.

In this regard, preferably, packaging 1 comprises a tank 2. Tank 2 is the part of packaging 1 designed to contain the cosmetic product, whether in liquid or creamy form. Furthermore, tank 2 is preferably deformable in such a way that it can be manually squeezed by a user exerting enough pressure to allow the cosmetic product contained therein to come out.

Alternatively, tank 2 may be rigid, i.e. undeformable, or not necessarily deformable, and may include a pump mechanism to push the cosmetic product out of tank 2.

Naturally, tank 2 preferably includes at least one access 20.

Access 20 is an opening made on tank 2 to allow access to its interior, possibly, for example, to allow refilling tank 2 when the latter is depleted.

Packaging 1 also includes a dispenser 3.

Dispenser 3 is designed to convey the cosmetic product from tank 2 to the external environment of tank 2. Thus, dispenser 3 is in fluid open connection with tank 2.

In particular, dispenser 3 is connected to tank 2 at access 20. In this regard, indeed, dispenser 3 preferably comprises a cap 30.

Cap 30 is substantially couplable to tank 2 at access 20. Thus, cap 30 is removably bound to tank 2 in such a way as to allow its closing and opening, on command, by coupling or decoupling cap 30 to tank 2.

Preferably, dispenser 3 includes at least one conduit 4.

Conduit 4 is preferably rigid. Thus, conduit 4 is preferably not deformable by the sole manual force of a user.

Therefore, terms like deformable, soft, rigid are always to be construed in relation to an external manual force applicable by an average adult human user onto the components of packaging 1 without particular effort. Consequently, said terms are to be referred to in relation to the forces applied by a user during the normal use of the cosmetic product and therefore of packaging 1.

Conduit 4, in any case, is preferably in fluid open connection with tank 2. Thus, conduit 4 is the portion of dispenser 3 designed to convey the cosmetic product exiting from tank 2.

In particular, preferably, conduit 4 develops along a main axis 4a. The main axis 4a is a virtual axis that determines the development trajectory of conduit 4.

The main axis 4a is to be understood, in a broad sense, as a development direction that can be straight or even curved.

In any case, conduit 4 defines a channel 42.

Channel 42 is for passage purposes and is therefore the hole of conduit 4 through which the cosmetic product goes through as it exits from tank 2.

Conduit 4, advantageously, includes a support surface 40.

The support surface 40 is positioned at a free end of conduit 4.

Thus, the support surface 40 is adapted to collect the cosmetic product exiting from channel 42.

Said free end identifies the end of conduit 4 distant from tank 2 when dispenser 3 is connected to tank 2.

Thus, the support surface 40 is a low-thickness element (appropriately compared to the rest of packaging 1), preferably flat, acting as a sort of tray for the cosmetic product exiting from channel 42.

Even more in detail, support surface 40 could be configured in such a way as to close conduit 4. Therefore, support surface 40 might also further include a hole 40a. If present, advantageously, hole 40a is a through-hole. Moreover, hole 40a is preferably in fluid open connection with channel 42 thus appropriately putting channel 42 in fluid open connection with the outside.

Therefore, hole 40a preferably defines an extension, on a plane aligned with support surface 40, smaller than channel 42.

Even more in detail, support surface 40 could include a relief 40b. If present, relief 40b develops on the perimeter of the support surface 40 and is facing outward, that is, opposite channel 42. Thus, in this sense, relief 40b can create a sort of frame adapted to prevent the cosmetic product on support surface 40 from spreading beyond it.

Dispenser 3, therefore, also includes a first body 5.

The first body 5 is preferably a stubby element. It is also, at least partially, soft. Thus, first body 5 is preferably deformable by human manipulation. Moreover, first body 5 is designed to allow the application of the cosmetic product onto the skin. Therefore, first body 5 on one side is able to support and/or soak up the cosmetic product, on the other to spread the cosmetic onto the skin.

First body 5, preferably, is distinct from conduit 4. Moreover, advantageously first body 5 includes a recess 50. Recess 50 is configured to accommodate at least part and in detail the entirety of conduit 4, appropriately in a removable manner, and thus reciprocally to bind first body 5 and conduit 4 when conduit 4 is in recess 50. Moreover, it is configured to accommodate conduit 4. In particular, recess 50 is preferably peripheral so as to allow inserting and thus engaging conduit 4 in recess 50 through appropriately by their reciprocal movement along a direction at least partly radial to axis 4a.

Furthermore, advantageously, the recess 50 accommodates the conduit 4 in such a way that the first body 5 embraces the conduit 4 without interfering with the support surface 40 so that the cosmetic product is always accessible by the user when collected on the support surface 40, as shown in all FIGS. 1-3.

Packaging 1 can include further detailed features.

If the case, as already mentioned, cap 30 is preferably couplable to tank 2 at access 20. Moreover, cap 30 is preferably integral with conduit 4.

First body 5 instead preferably includes at least a base 51.

Base 51 is preferably rigid.

Moreover, base 51 is adapted to rest on cap 30 when first body 5 and conduit 4 are coupled.

Therefore, first body 5 includes at least a wall 52. Wall 52 is preferably also rigid. In addition, wall 52 is integral with base 51.

Moreover, advantageously, wall 52 delimits and thus defines recess 50 and preferably develops around main axis 4a when first body 5 and conduit 4 are coupled.

First body 5 also includes a spongy element 53.

Spongy element 53 is preferably integral with base 51. Moreover, the spongy element is preferably wrapped around wall 52.

In a preferred embodiment, spongy element 53 may also include a seat 53a.

Seat 53a is preferably designed to house support surface 40 when first body 5 and said conduit 4 are coupled. Thus, support surface 40 can at least partially sink into spongy element 53 through seat 53a.

Moreover, overall, dispenser 3 can define a particular shape. For example, dispenser 3 can define a main plane 3a.

Main plane 3a is preferably perpendicular to main axis 4a.

Thus, cap 30 can be flat and can develop along the main plane 3a.

In turn, therefore, also base 51 is preferably flat and develops parallel to main plane 3a when first body 5 and conduit 4 are coupled. Wall 52, moreover, can be preferably perpendicular to base 51.

Dispenser 3 preferably defines at least one face 31.

Face 31 can identify the preferred surface of dispenser 3 for contact with the user and thus for application of the cosmetic product.

Face 31 is flat. Moreover, face 31 preferably defines a secondary plane 3b.

Secondary plane 3b is a virtual plane transverse to main axis 4a. Moreover, face 31 preferably includes support surface 40.

Secondary plane 3b and thus face 31 can be parallel to support surface 40.

Conduit 4, in turn, preferably includes a second body 41.

Second body 41 can define an extension of channel 42 along a direction radial to main axis 4a appropriately tapered moving away from main axis 4a.

Second body 41 is hollow and is formed by the outer walls to conduit 4. Second body 41 develops on cap 30. Thus, second body 41 develops on cap 30 radially to main axis 4a up to a peripheral portion of the same cap 30. Second body 41, therefore, also includes a side 41a.

Side 41a is flat. Thus, side 41a is preferably adjacent to support surface 40 and develops along secondary plane 3b.

Therefore, face 31 is collectively formed by side 41a, support surface 40, and part of the spongy element 53.

To ensure a better binding between conduit 4 and first body 5, dispenser 3 may include locking means 6.

Locking means 6 are preferably configured to mutually lock wall 52 and conduit 4. Thus, locking means 6 can include at least a protrusion 60 and a cavity 61.

Protrusion 60 is thus integral with one between wall 52 and conduit 4.

Cavity 61 is preferably integral with the other between wall 52 and conduit 4. Thus, cavity 61 is designed to house protrusion 60. In this regard, it can be made from a through hole or a recess.

Packaging 1 can therefore also include a cap 7. If the case, cap 7 is adapted to be indifferently coupled with one between tank 2 and dispenser 3 to close packaging 1. Thus, cap 7 can be a hollow element housing, when coupled to tank 2 or dispenser 3, dispenser 3, in particular conduit 4 and first body 5.

Cap 7, therefore, also includes a needle 70. Needle 70 is, thus, configured to enter into hole 40a when cap 7 is coupled to tank 2 or dispenser 3.

The operation of packaging 1 for cosmetics previously described in structural terms is as follows.

Essentially, tank 2 can be manually squeezed by the user to push the cosmetic product contained therein towards conduit 4. The cosmetic product passes through channel 42 and exits through hole 40a from conduit 4, depositing onto the support surface 40.

Then, the user can remove the first body 5 of dispenser 3 from conduit 4, detaching wall 52 from conduit 4, and can use the spongy element 53 to pick up the cosmetic product from support surface 40 and apply it onto the skin.

The cosmetic packaging 1 according to the invention achieves significant advantages.

Actually, cosmetic packaging 1 increases the longevity of the soft applicator, that is, the spongy element 53, since it comes into contact with the cosmetic product only during application without always having to be dirtied.

Furthermore, cosmetic packaging 1 allows the spongy element 53 to be easily replaced, if necessary, given the ease of removal from conduit 4.

The invention is susceptible to variations falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims.

Within this scope, all the details can be replaced by equivalent elements, and the materials, shapes, and dimensions can be any.