Title: Packaging and application device

The present invention relates to devices for packaging and applying products, in particular those used in cosmetics. The invention relates more particularly to a device comprising a container intended to contain the product and a member for closing the container.

Prior art

It is known from US7334584 to produce cosmetic application devices, in particular mascara applicators, having a container and a closure cap screwed onto the container, with an applicator and a stem manufactured in one piece with the cap from polypropylene, polyamide or polyoxymethylene, and with a wiper made of low-density polyethylene or thermoplastic elastomer mounted on the container.

US9066570 discloses a cosmetic application device having a stem fixed to a handle, and a casing covering the stem, the handle and the casing being able to be screwed or snap-fastened, the stem, the handle and the casing being made from polypropylene.

CN207125463 discloses a nail varnish packaging device comprising a container and a lid screwed onto the neck of the container and bearing a stem, the stem and the lid being made of polypropylene.

US7686528 describes a packaging and application device having a stem and a wiper, the stem and the wiper possibly including polypropylene or polyethylene.

It is known from the application FR2945715 to produce packaging and application devices with, on the container, a neck that has a first relief at its base and, on the closure member, a second relief that can, at the end of the mounting of the closure member on the neck, pass over the first relief by elastic deformation so as to generate a click that is felt tactilely by the user.

It is important that the tactile signalling system does not generate an excessive force impeding the correct opening or closure of the device, or lose too much of its capacity to generate the desired tactile sensation when the number of opening/closure operations increases.

For these reasons, it is thus common to produce the closure member from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polyoxymethylene (POM). Moreover, there is a need to improve the environmental impact of and/or make it easier to recycle such devices, while at the same time maintaining the performance of the tactile signalling system.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to meet this need and achieves this by virtue of a device for packaging and applying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a container for containing the product to be applied and a closure member that can be mounted on the container, at least one of the container and the closure member being made, at least partially, of a nucleated polyolefin.

The use of a polyolefin makes it easier to recycle the device, compared with devices of the prior art using PBT or POM.

The invention also makes it possible, if desired, to use a polyolefin that is at least partially recycled after consumption (PCR), which makes it possible to even further reduce the environmental impact of the device.

The closure member may be made at least partially of a nucleated polyolefin. It may comprise a stem made at least partially of nucleated polyolefin.

One of the container and the closure member advantageously comprises at least one first relief made at least partially of a nucleated polyolefin, and the other of the container and the closure member advantageously comprises at least one second relief, the first relief being able to be disposed so as to pass over, by bending or by compression, the second relief, at the end of the movement for mounting the closure member on the container, in order to produce a tactile sensation for the user.

The aforementioned reliefs make it possible to obtain a satisfactory tactile signalling system, which produces a tactile sensation that remains at a sufficient level over the life of the device, despite the mechanical stresses exerted.

The second relief may be made, at least partially, of a nucleated polyolefin, or of a non-nucleated polyolefin, and this makes recycling easier since the container and the closure member are then made with polymers belonging to the same family of polyolefins.

The first relief may belong to the closure member or to the container, preferably to the closure member. In the latter case, the second relief then belongs to the container. Nucleated polyolefin

“Nucleated polyolefin” should be understood to mean a polyolefin in which one or more nucleating agents have been incorporated.

“Nucleating agent” is intended to denote any adjuvant mixed with the polyolefin in order to modify the mechanical properties thereof by acceleration of the germination or nucleation step during the crystallization of the polyolefin. Examples of such nucleating agents are talc, benzoic acid salts, such as sodium benzoate or lithium benzoate, carbon nanotubes, carbon nano fibers, benzylidene derivatives of sorbitols, metal salts of sulfonic and carboxylic acids and phosphate salts.

Nucleating agents act by introducing a heterogeneous surface into the molten polymer, and this makes the crystallization more favorable from a thermodynamic point of view and promotes the formation of smaller and more numerous spherulites.

Thus, a nucleated polyolefin is characterized microscopically by an increased number of spherulites and a smaller spherulite size compared with a non-nucleated polyolefin.

Macroscopically, this results in a higher crystallization temperature, a higher modulus, greater transparency. The crystallization speed is also higher, implying a cycle time for the injection molding process that is advantageously shorter.

The addition of nucleating agents to the polyolefin so as to make a nucleated polyolefin therefrom therefore makes it possible to increase the degree of crystallinity and the stiffness of the polyolefin. This makes it possible to obtain good mechanical strength of the material, high surface hardness, plastic shrinkage similar to that of PBT or POM and a satisfactory surface state for the sensation on use.

The nucleating agents can be added to the polyolefin upstream in the reactor for forming the polymer. If appropriate, they can also be added to the masterbatch used during the injection, with a polyolefin base. The nucleating agents can be added in the solid state or else in the liquid state.

The nucleated polyolefin used to produce the first relief and/or the second relief may contain an antistatic agent, aiding the demolding.

The nucleated polyolefin used is preferably a nucleated polypropylene (PP), in particular a nucleated polypropylene homopolymer. The polypropylene is, as a variant, a polypropylene block copolymer or a polypropylene random copolymer. As a variant, the nucleated polyolefin used is a nucleated polyethylene (PE), a mixture of nucleated polypropylene and nucleated polyethylene, or a mixture of two nucleated polypropylenes.

The nucleated polyolefin used to produce the first relief and/or the second relief may have a flexural modulus greater than or equal to 1600 MPa (1 mm/min) according to standard ISO527-2, in particular greater than or equal to 2000 MPa (1 mm/min).

The nucleated polyolefin used may have a melt flow index (MFI) less than or equal to 25 g/10 min (230°C/2.16 kg) (ASTDM D1238 or ISO1183). In particular, if the polyolefin is a nucleated polypropylene homopolymer, the melt flow index is preferably less than or equal to 25 g/10 min. If the nucleated polyolefin is a nucleated polypropylene copolymer, the melt flow index is preferably less than or equal to 15 g/10 min.

The nucleated polyolefin used may have a density of between 0.85 g/cm ³ and 0.95 g/cm ³ , in particular equal to 0.9 g/cm ³ (ASTDM D792 or ISO 1183).

The nucleated polyolefin used may comprise a PCR nucleated polyolefin, for example a PCR polypropylene, in particular a PCR polypropylene homopolymer.

The PCR nucleated polyolefin may be obtained by various methods, such as chemical, mechanical, enzymatic, or else pyrolytic treatments.

The nucleated polyolefin may be used alone or mixed with a non-nucleated polyolefin, in proportions that make it possible to maintain the desired mechanical properties. It is possible in particular to use at least 1% by mass of nucleated polyolefin to produce the closure member or the container. The nucleated polyolefin used may be a mixture of nucleated polypropylene and non-nucleated polypropylene, a mixture of nucleated polyethylene and non-nucleated polyethylene, a mixture of nucleated polypropylene and non-nucleated polyethylene, or else a mixture of nucleated polyethylene and non-nucleated polypropylene.

An example of a method for manufacturing nucleated polyolefins is described in the patent US 11 078 310, inter alia.

The nucleated polyolefins may be biosourced and/or biocompostable.

Container

The container, in particular when the first relief belongs to the closure member, may be made at least in part of nucleated or non-nucleated, PCR or non-PCR polypropylene, of polyamide or else of polyethylene terephthalate. It may be produced by injection molding without blowing, by injection blow molding, or else by single-layer or two-layer extrusion blow molding. As a variant, the container is made of glass, in particular PCR glass or a mixture of glass and PCR glass.

The container may be produced with a body and neck, it being possible for the neck to be externally threaded so as to make it possible to screw the closure member onto the container. The first or second relief may be produced at the base of the neck of the container.

The container may also have a shoulder at the base of the neck, it being possible for the first or second relief to project from this shoulder.

The first or second relief may be molded in one piece with the neck of the container. As a variant, the first or second relief is molded separately from the neck of the container.

The container may be of elongate shape, for example the container is a tube of substantially cylindrical shape. As a variant, the container is a bottle.

The container may have a total height of between 50 mm and 150 mm, in particular between 75 mm and 100 mm. The height of the body may be between 40 mm and 110 mm. The height of the neck is for example between 5 mm and 15 mm. The diameter of the neck may be between 5 mm and 25 mm. These values are not limiting.

The container may be flexible, for example the container is a flexible pouch, a tube or a sachet.

The container may comprise a biobased nucleated material and/or a biocompostable nucleated material.

Closure member

The closure member may be made at least in part of polypropylene, polyamide or else polyethylene terephthalate. Preferably, it is molded with the first relief and consequently is made at least partially, and better still entirely, of nucleated polyolefin.

The closure member comprises for example a closure cap to which a stem is connected, the latter bearing an application member.

The closure cap and stem assembly may have a total height of between 35 mm and 135 mm, in particular between 60 mm and 100 mm. The height of the closure cap may be between 10 mm and 80 mm. The stem has, for example, a height of between 25 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 40 mm and 75 mm. These values are not limiting.

The stem may be hollow or solid. It may be molded in one piece with the closure cap. As a variant, the stem is molded with a sub-cap inserted in an outer cap, this outer cap defining a gripping surface that makes it possible to drive the closure member in rotation. The stem may also be attached to the closure cap.

The closure member may be arranged so as to be screwed onto the container, as mentioned above. The closure member may thus comprise a threaded tubular skirt, arranged to be screwed onto the threaded neck of the container.

The closure member may comprise at least one sealing means or all the sealing means of the device. The closure member may comprise a sealing skirt and/or one or more gaskets (for example flat sealing ring) and/or a sealing cone.

The closure member may comprise a biobased nucleated material and/or a biocompostable nucleated material.

Tactile signalling system

Preferably, the first relief is borne by the closure member and the second relief by the container. As a variant, the first relief is borne by the container and the second relief by the closure member.

The first relief may pass over the second relief by bending or by compressing.

The first relief preferably comprises, in particular when it belongs to the closure member, a flexible tab, the latter and the second relief being arranged so as to cooperate such that the rotation of the closure member relative to the container causes the tab to pass over the second relief by bending. As a variant, the first relief does not comprise a flexible tab, but only a boss.

The flexible tab of the first relief is different from a tamperproofing tongue and can bend substantially without damage and reversibly, including on the first use of the device.

The use of a flexible tab makes it possible to limit the wear of the surfaces of the reliefs that come into contact, and to limit the stresses exerted in the materials. The flexible tab may be produced with a free end, or as a variant be connected at its two ends to the piece that bears it, container or closure member, and, in this case, have for example a median portion that moves during the bending of the tab.

The length of the flexible tab is, for example, greater than or equal to 1 mm, or even to 1.5 mm.

At rest, the flexible tab may have an inclination toward the piece that does not bear it, being for example inclined by an angle of more than 10° with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device.

The piece bearing the first relief, in particular bearing the aforementioned flexible tab, may also comprise an end-of-rotational-travel stop, which may bear on the second relief at the end of the mounting of the closure member. The second relief may have an inclined surface against which the flexible tab bears when the second relief is in contact with the stop.

The flexible tab may be made in the thickness of a tubular skirt of the closure member. The flexible tab may thus have two opposite faces that are in the form of cylinders of revolution and coaxial.

It is also possible to produce the device according to the invention with a plurality of successive tactile signalling systems, each comprising a first relief and a second relief, the first relief comprising for example a flexible tab and/or a stop. These tactile signalling systems are for example all identical. They can also be different from one another, and it is possible to have a single first relief passed over successively by at least two second reliefs or a single first relief passing successively over at least two second reliefs, so as to emit successive clicks.

Product

The product may be a cosmetic product. In particular, the product may comprise a washable product or a waterproof product (for example with isododecane in a quantity less than 55% by weight).

The product may be a concealer or a gloss.

Manufacturing method Another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a method for manufacturing the device according to the invention, comprising a step of molding the first relief from a material constituted by or comprising a nucleated polyolefin, this molding taking place in a mold previously used for molding the same piece from a material not comprising the nucleated polyolefin, for example a material comprising or made of PBT or POM.

Surprisingly, a nucleated polyolefin can be used without having to modify the mold, and this limits the cost of the change of material.

Of course, it is also possible to use new molds or to modify existing molds.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof and upon studying the appended drawing, in which:

[Fig. 1] is a schematic and partial elevation view of an example of a device according to the invention,

[Fig. 2] schematically and partially shows, in perspective, the device in Figure 1,

[Fig. 3] shows the container on its own,

[Fig. 4] is a perspective view of the container in Figure 3,

[Fig. 5] schematically and partially shows the closure member on its own,

[Fig. 6] is a schematic view of the first relief of the tactile signaling system, on a larger scale,

[Fig. 7] is a schematic view of the second relief, on a larger scale,

[Fig. 8] schematically and partially shows, in perspective, a variant closure member,

[Fig. 9] shows the results of comparative tests.

Detailed description

The packaging and application device 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a container 2 and a closure member 3 that can be removably mounted on the container 2, in particular screwed onto the container 2. The device 1 can be used to apply cosmetic products, in particular to apply perfume, nail varnish, skincare products, haircare products, make-up products, for example make-up products for the lips or the eyelashes.

The container 2 may, as illustrated in Figure 3 or 4, be produced with a body 5 and a neck 6, which is for example externally threaded. The container 2 may have at the base of the neck 6 a shoulder 7, from which a relief 8 may project upward.

In the example in question, the container 2 has an elongate shape along a longitudinal axis X and may be produced by injection molding or injection blow molding, among other possible techniques. Thus, the relief 8 may be molded with the neck 6 and from the same material.

The closure member 3 may comprise, as illustrated in Figure 5, a closure cap 10 and a stem 11 bearing an application member 12 that is for example a mascara brush but could be of any type, for example a flocked end piece, a fine brush or a point for retaining the product by capillary action.

The stem 11 may be hollow or solid. The application member 12 may be crimped, fitted, welded, adhesively bonded or else clipped onto the stem.

The cap 10 may comprise, as illustrated, a tubular skirt 14 that is arranged to at least partially cover the neck 6 when the closure member 3 is mounted on the container 2.

The tubular skirt 14 may be produced with an internal thread or as a variant support a sub-cap bearing such a thread.

The skirt 14 may be produced, as can be seen in Figure 5, with a flexible tab 16 and a stop 17, it being possible for the latter to have a straight flank 18 parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the closure member 3.

The flexible tab 16 and the relief 8 respectively form the first and second reliefs of a tactile signaling system according to the invention, which generates a hard point sensation during the screwing of the closure member onto the container.

With reference to Figure 6, it can be seen that the tab 16 can extend obliquely with a slight downward slope when the closure member 3 is observed while being held vertically with the application member 12 at the bottom. This slope may form an angle alpha with respect to the horizontal edge 20 of the skirt 14 of between 5° and 30°, in particular around 15°. The width w of the slot 25 present above the tab 16 is for example greater than or equal to 0.4 mm.

The width v of the tab 16 is for example between 0.4 mm and 1 mm, in particular equal to around 0.7 mm.

The stop 17 may have an inclined flank 19 opposite the flank 18, which is inclined with respect to the edge 20 by an angle beta for example of between 10° and 40°, in particular equal to around 25°.

The width I of the stop 17 is for example between 2 mm and 6 mm.

The length z of the tab 16 may be greater than 1 mm and is for example around 1.5 mm.

The distance e between the free edge 24 of the flexible tab 16 and the flank 18 of the stop 17 may be between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

The tab 16 may be made in the thickness of the skirt 14.

The width w of the slot 25 is sufficient to allow the tab 16 to lift elastically upward so as to pass over the relief 8, during the mounting or removal of the closure member 3, in particular during the screwing or unscrewing of the closure member 3.

As can be seen in Figure 7, the height m of the relief 8 may be between 1 mm and 7 mm, for example equal to around 2 mm.

The width n of the top face 32 may be between 0.25 mm and 5 mm, being for example equal to around 1 mm.

The relief 8 is, for example, produced with an inclined flank 30 on one side and a vertical flank 31 on the opposite side that bears against the vertical flank 18 of the stop 17, at the end of the mounting of the closure member 3, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 7.

The angle gamma formed between the inclined flank 30 and the shoulder 7 may be between 15 and 75°, preferably between 30° and 60°, for example equal to 45°.

The free edge 24 of the tab 16 may then bear on the inclined flank 30, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. As a variant, the tab 16 does not remain in contact with the relief 8 at the end of the mounting.

During removal, in particular unscrewing, the inclination of the oblique flank 30 makes the lifting of the tab 16 easier. During mounting, in particular screwing, the passing of the tab 16 over the relief 8, just before the flank 18 abuts against the flank 31, generates a tactile sensation that is felt by the user.

The relief 8 is molded, in the example in question, with the neck 6, at least partially from a nucleated polypropylene homopolymer.

The tab 16 and the stop 17 are molded, in the example in question, with the skirt 14, at least partially from a nucleated polyolefin.

In the variant illustrated in Figure 8, the skirt 14 is produced with two flexible tabs 16, which are diametrically opposite one another, and two stops 17 that are also diametrically opposite one another, these stops each having a straight flank 18 parallel to the longitudinal axis Y of the closure member 3.

Comparative tests

The torque involved when the first relief passes over the second by elastic deformation at the end of the movement for mounting the closure member on the container was compared for various mascara packaging and application devices.

Two groups are compared. For each group, ten different pieces are tested for one hundred and twenty mounting operations of the closure member on the container.

The first group corresponds to a mascara packaging and application device in which the first relief borne by the closure member is made of nucleated polypropylene homopolymer, with a flexural modulus equal to 2200 MPa (1 mm/min) and an MFI equal to 20 g/lO min (230°C/2.16 kg).

The second group corresponds to a mascara packaging and application device in which the first relief borne by the closure member is made of non-nucleated polypropylene homopolymer.

The results of the tests carried out are reported in Figure 9.

In the case of the first group, the torques involved are on average substantially constant over the first closure operations with a slight decrease in the torque for the final closure operations, less than 50% of the initial torque. This demonstrates an advantage linked to the use of a nucleated polyolefin in the invention.

In the case of the second group, the torques involved decrease considerably from the first mounting operations, with torques involved in the final mounting operations at least 50% lower than the first torques. This shows that a non-nucleated polyolefin does not make it possible to obtain satisfactory operation.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described. In particular, it is possible to produce the first and second reliefs in some other way.

The cap 10 and the stem 11 may be made out of two pieces that are assembled; at least one of them can be made of nucleated polyolefin.