TITLE: One-piece cosmetic product packaging device

The present invention relates to the field of the packaging of cosmetic products.

A “cosmetic product” is understood, in particular within the meaning of the present invention, to be a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products .

More particularly, the packaging device according to the present invention is intended for dispensing a cosmetic product such as, for example, an anhydrous product, in the form of compact powder, intended to be applied, for example, to the user’ s epidermis. The cosmetic product may be a make-up product, for example an eyeshadow, a face powder, foundation or another make-up product.

The invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device comprising an upper cover mounted in an articulated manner on a base.

Reference may be made to document US 2002/0162565 - A l , which describes a container for containing a product, comprising a base and a cover articulated on the base by an intermediate element capable of pivoting so as to allow the cover to pivot through 360° relative to the base. The intermediate element comprises a locking bar protruding vertically from the intermediate element and designed to cooperate with an elongate opening situated on a lateral wall of the base.

Reference may also be made to document FR 2 791 042, which describes a one-piece case comprising a first part and a second part that is articulated on the first part by means of a central hinge and two film hinges. The central hinge is formed by a bar formed on the first part and cooperating with a retaining member formed on the second part.

Such containers require a mobile transverse insert for the moulding and demoulding of the elongate opening, and this generates a complex mould structure. It is therefore necessary to provide a low-cost packaging device that is easy to manufacture, by simplifying the demoulding step.

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a device for packaging at least one product that is of simple structure, easy to manufacture and ergonomic.

The invention relates to a one-piece device for packaging at least one product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a lid or cover, a base or container provided with a lower bearing surface and a hinged platform or intermediate element connecting the base to the lid in a pivoting manner and comprising:

- a first hinge connected to a lower part of a rear wall of the base, in particular to the lower bearing surface, and configured to make the lid, in particular the assembly formed by the lid and the hinged platform, pivot relative to the base from an initial moulding position, in which the lid makes a first angle with the base, towards an open use position in which the lid makes a second angle with the base; and

- a second hinge connected to an upper part of a rear wall of the lid in the initial moulding position and configured to pivot the lid relative to the base from the open use position towards a closed position in which the lid covers the base.

The base and the hinged platform are disposed in one and the same first plane in the initial moulding position, and a lower surface of the lid, which is opposite the upper part of the rear wall, is disposed in a second plane parallel to the first plane of the base and of the hinged platform in the initial moulding position.

The base comprises a rear wall provided with a vertical cutout provided with two opposing vertical snap-fastening grooves, each configured to cooperate with a vertical snap-fastening element protruding vertically from the hinged platform in the initial moulding position.

By virtue of the vertical cutouts made directly in the base and extending in a vertical direction, the snap-fastening force is significant and does not allow the user to easily move the lid from the open position to the moulding position. Therefore, the device only comprises a single snap-fastening line between the hinged platform and the base. The snap-fastening line is realized by two attachment points formed by the cooperation between the vertical grooves and the snap-fastening elements.

In the open position, the snap-fastening elements extend along the longitudinal axis, and in the closed position the snap-fastening elements extend along the vertical axis .

The two vertical snap-fastening elements are separate and spaced apart transversely from one another. The two vertical snapfastening elements are not connected to each other.

Advantageously, each of the two vertical snap-fastening elements comprises a protuberance, which protuberances extend beyond the surface of the hinged platform in two opposite directions and are each intended to cooperate with the corresponding vertical groove in the open position.

For example, each protuberance comprises a flat surface.

Each snap-fastening groove has, for example, in transverse cross section, a parallelepipedal shape designed to correspond to a corresponding shape on a snap-fastening element.

Advantageously, the two vertical snap-fastening grooves extend over the entire height of the rear wall of the base.

According to one embodiment, the hinged platform comprises at least one member for holding in position extending horizontally from a snap-fastening element towards the centre of the hinged platform and configured to cooperate, in the closed position, with a transverse projection protruding from the bottom of the vertical cutout in the base towards the lid, thus forming a first anti-translation stop.

Specifically, in the closed position, the member for holding in position comes to bear vertically on the transverse projection, thus forming a bottom anti-translation stop.

Advantageously, the hinged platform comprises at least two members for holding in position, each extending horizontally from a snap-fastening element towards the centre of the hinged platform, each member for holding in position being configured to cooperate, in the closed position, with a transverse projection protruding from the bottom of the vertical cutout in the base towards the lid, thus forming a first anti-translation stop.

According to one embodiment, the hinged platform comprises at least one anti-translation stud extending along the longitudinal axis in the initial moulding position and configured to cooperate, in the closed position, with a notch of matching shape made in the bottom of the vertical cutout in the base, thus forming a second anti-translation stop.

Specifically, in the closed position, the anti-translation stud comes to be inserted in a notch, thus forming a top anti-translation stop.

The anti-rotation stud is situated transversely between the two vertical snap-fastening elements.

For example, the notch is situated between the two transverse projections .

Advantageously, the hinged platform comprises at least two anti-translation studs, each extending along the longitudinal axis in the initial moulding position, each anti-translation stud being configured to cooperate, in the closed position, with a notch of matching shape made in the bottom of the vertical cutout in the base.

The two anti-rotation studs are situated transversely between the two vertical snap-fastening elements .

The two anti-rotation studs are separate and spaced apart transversely from one another.

Advantageously, the lid is delimited by a front wall, a rear wall, which is opposite the front wall, two lateral walls and a lower surface delimiting an inner cavity and wherein the base is delimited by a front wall, a rear wall, which is opposite the front wall, two lateral walls and a lower surface delimiting an inner cavity for accommodating the product, the first hinge being connected to the lower part of the rear wall of the base and the second hinge being connected to the upper part of the rear wall of the lid, which is opposite the lower surface.

The present invention will be better understood upon studying the detailed description of embodiments, which are given by way of entirely non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1 ] is a perspective top view of a device for packaging a cosmetic product, according to one embodiment of the invention, in an initial moulding position;

[Fig. 2] is a perspective bottom view of the device in Figure 1 ;

[Fig. 3] is a top view of the device in Figure 1 ;

[Fig. 4] is a side view of the device in Figure 1 in an initial moulding position;

[Fig. 5] is a side view of the device in Figure 1 in an open position;

[Fig. 6] is a side view of the device in Figure 1 in a closed position; and

[Fig. 7] ,

[Fig. 8] ,

[Fig. 9] and

[Fig. 10] are detail views of a hinged platform of the device in Figure 1.

In the rest of the description, reference will be made to an orthonormal basis X, Y, Z, where Z corresponds to an elevation axis representing the vertical direction, in which there can be seen:

- a longitudinal axis X, which is horizontal and extends from left to right in the top views ;

- a transverse axis Y, which is horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and extends from front to rear in the top views; and

- a vertical axis Z, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X and transverse axis Y and extends from top to bottom in the side views.

The expressions “upper” and “lower” refer to the upper part and the lower part of the figures, in the initial moulding position.

A device 10 for packaging a product is illustrated in Figures 1 to 10. A “product” means a cosmetic product such as, for example, a finely ground, compacted solid product, in the form of compact powder, which is intended to be applied, for example, to the user’ s epidermis. The compact powder may be of the foundation, face powder or eyeshadow type that is picked up, for example, directly with the finger or with a powder puff or with a brush.

However, the invention is not limited to a cosmetic product. Other types of products, such as anhydrous paint, for example, could also be provided.

The device 10 is of the make-up case type and comprises a cover or lid 20 and a base or receptacle 30 connected to the lid 20 by an intermediate element or hinged platform 40.

The device 10 is a moulded one-piece component, as indicated in Figures 1 to 4 and 7.

The lid 20 is delimited by a front wall 21 , a rear wall 22, which is opposite the front wall 21 , two lateral walls 23, 24 and a lower surface 25 delimiting an inner cavity 26 for accommodating, for example, a mirror and/or an application element (not illustrated).

The front wall 21 comprises a protruding element 21 a that extends beyond the lid 20 and that is designed to engage with a corresponding notch 31 a provided on a front wall 31 of the base 30 in order to reversibly lock the lid 20 on the base 30.

The base 30 is delimited by a front wall 31 , a rear wall 32, which is opposite the front wall 31 , two lateral walls 33, 34 and a lower surface 35 delimiting an inner cavity 63 for accommodating the product.

The hinged platform 40 comprises a first hinge 41 connected to the lower part of the rear wall 32 of the base 30 and a second hinge 42 connected to the upper part of the rear wall 22 of the lid 20, which is opposite the lower surface 25.

In the initial moulding position, illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the base 30 and the hinged platform 40 are situated in one and the same plane P l and the lid 20 is situated in a plane P2 parallel to the plane P l .

The hinges 41 and 42 are of the film hinge type, in the form of a U-shaped transverse groove made in the upper surface 40a of the hinged platform 40. The hinges are also formed with a V-shaped transverse notch (not visible in the figures) made in the lower surface 40b of the hinged platform 40.

The first hinge 41 is designed to articulate the assembly formed by the lid 20 and the hinged platform 40 relative to the base 30 from an initial moulding position, visible in Figures 1 to 4, in which the lid 20 makes a first angle al of between 200° and 220° with the base 30, towards an open use position, visible in Figure 5 , in which the lid 20 makes a second angle a2 of between 70° and 100°, for example equal to 90°, with the base 30.

The second hinge 42 is designed to articulate the lid 20 relative to the base 30 from the open use position towards a closed position in which the lid 20 covers the base 30, as is visible in Figure 6.

The hinges 41 , 42 of the hinged platform 40 are situated in one and the same plane P l , and this makes it possible to simplify the mould, and to reduce the amount of moulding material necessary.

In the closed position, the front wall 21 of the lid 20 is aligned with the front wall 31 of the base 30 and the rear wall 22 of the lid 20 is aligned with the rear wall 32 of the base 30.

The rear wall 32 of the base 30 has a rounded cutout 37 so as to ensure that the lid 20 does not butt against the base 30 during the rotational movement of the lid 20 from the open position towards the closed position and vice versa. The rounded cutout 37 is illustrated in Figure 6.

The rear wall 32 of the base 30 comprises a vertical cutout 32a provided with two vertical snap-fastening grooves 32b along the entire height of the rear wall 32. Each snap-fastening groove 32b has, in transverse cross section, a parallelepipedal or rounded shape designed to correspond to a corresponding shape on a snap-fastening element 44.

The hinged platform 40 comprises two vertical snap-fastening elements 44 that each protrude transversely from an opposite end of the upper surface 40a of the hinged platform 40 in the initial moulding position Each snap-fastening element 44 is intended to cooperate with a vertical groove 32b in the base 30. In the open position, the snap-fastening elements 44 extend along the longitudinal axis X, as can be seen in Figures 7 and 8. In the closed position, the snap-fastening elements 44 extend along the vertical axis Z, as can be seen in Figure 9.

Each of the snap-fastening elements 44 comprises a protuberance 44a, which protuberances extend beyond the upper surface 40a of the hinged platform 40 in two opposite directions along the transverse axis Y in the initial moulding position. Each protuberance 44a is intended to cooperate with a corresponding vertical groove 32b in the open position.

Therefore, the device only comprises a single snap-fastening line between the hinged platform 40 and the base 30. The snap-fastening line is realized by two attachment points formed by the cooperation between the vertical grooves 32b and the snap-fastening elements 44.

As illustrated in detail in Figure 7, the hinged platform 40 comprises two members 45 for holding in position, each extending horizontally from a snap-fastening element 44 towards the centre of the hinged platform 40.

Each member 45 for holding in position cooperates, in the closed position, with a transverse projection 38 protruding from the bottom of the vertical cutout 32a in the base 30 towards the lid 20. In the closed position, the members 45 for holding in position come to bear vertically on the corresponding transverse projection 38, thus forming a bottom anti-translation stop.

As illustrated in detail in Figure 7, the hinged platform 40 also comprises two anti-translation studs 46, each extending along the longitudinal axis in the initial moulding position.

Each anti-translation stud 46 cooperates, in the closed position, with a notch 39 of matching shape made in the bottom of the vertical cutout 32a in the base 30 between the two transverse projections 38. In the closed position, the anti-translation studs 46 come to be inserted in a corresponding notch 39, thus forming a top anti-translation stop.

The device 10 is manufactured from plastics material, such as for example polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), PET, recycled PET or any material appropriate for a make-up case. By virtue of the vertical cutouts 32a made directly in the base 30 and extending in a vertical direction, the snap-fastening force is significant and does not allow the user to easily move the lid 20 from the open position to the initial moulding position. The combination of two anti-translation stops makes it possible to further increase the force required by the user to move the lid 20 from the open position to the initial moulding position. The holding of the hinged platform in the open position of the lid 20 is thus improved. The combination of two anti-translation stops also makes it possible to have a fixed position of the second hinge 42 in order for the lid to be correctly positioned flat on the base.

Furthermore, the mould used to mould the container 10 is of simple structure since the two snap-fastening elements 44 at the ends of the hinged platform 40 can be demoulded in the direction of opening of the mould. In general, all the elements can be demoulded in the direction of opening of the mould.

The container can thus be moulded in the same core without any additional slideway.