U.S. patent application number 09/765362 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-30 for enhanced tightness compacts for cosmetics.
This patent application is currently assigned to LIR France. Invention is credited to Petit, Robert.
Application Number | 20010017140 09/765362 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8846124 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010017140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Petit, Robert |
August 30, 2001 |
Enhanced tightness compacts for cosmetics
Abstract
The compact (1) comprises a lid (2), a hollow base (3) typically
comprising, using an intermediate grid (4), a recipient (5), a
hinge (7) and a clasp (8), "upper" sealing means attached to said
lid and "lower" sealing means attached to said base, said sealing
means co-operating when said compact is closed, and is
characterised in that: a) each of the "upper" and "lower" sealing
means comprises a typically vertical skirt, referred to as upper"
(20) or "lower" (40) respectively, b) said tight co-operation is a
tangential connection of said "upper" (20) and "lower" (40) skirts,
with an angle .alpha. between 45.degree. and 90.degree., c) at
least one of said "upper" or "lower" skirts is a flexible skirt (8,
28, 48), d) masking means (21, 41), typically rigid and attached to
said compact, surround at least one of said skirts.
Inventors: |
Petit, Robert;
(Chevilly-Larue, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Morris Liss
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP
P.O. Box 19088
Washington
DC
20036-0088
US
|
Assignee: |
LIR France
50 avenue de la Republique
Chevilly-Larue
FR
94550
|
Family ID: |
8846124 |
Appl. No.: |
09/765362 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 33/008 20130101;
A45C 13/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/301 |
International
Class: |
A45D 042/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2000 |
FR |
00 00723 |
Claims
1. Compact (1) intended to be filled with cosmetics (10) comprising
a lid (2), generally fitted with a mirror (22), a hollow base (3)
typically comprising, possibly using an intermediate grid (4)
attached to said base (3), a recipient (5) intended to receive said
cosmetics, a hinge (7) and a clasp (8), comprising "upper" sealing
means attached to said lid and "lower" sealing means attached to
said base or, if applicable, to said grid or said recipient, said
sealing means co-operating when said compact is closed, and
characterised in that: a) each of the "upper" and "lower" sealing
means comprise a typically vertical skirt, referred to as "upper"
(20) and "lower" (40) respectively, b) said tight co-operation is a
tangential connection of said "upper" (20) and "lower" (40) skirts,
with an angle a between 45.degree. and 90.degree., such that said
skirts are placed under a deflection stress when said compact is
closed, c) at least one of said "upper" or "lower" skirts is a
flexible skirt (8) and shows an elasticity or reversible
deformability under stress, such that said tangential connection
induces said deformation of at least said flexible skirt (8) by
reaction along a direction typically perpendicular to the angle a,
d) masking means, typically rigid and attached to said compact,
border, and possibly surround, at least one of said skirts, and
typically said flexible skirt, over all or part of its height, at a
distance from said skirt enabling all or part of said reversible
deformation of said flexible skirt, so as to obtain a tight compact
(1) with sealing means, which firstly are completely or partially
masked and secondly enable great freedom in terms of relative axial
positioning and, as a result, standard precision for the parts
forming said compact.
2. Compact according to claim 1, wherein said flexible skirt (8)
forms: a flexible surface (80), or, a "U" or "V" profile,
comprising two components meeting at one end, one of which forms a
flexible surface (81), or a "U" or "V" profile, comprising two
components meeting at one end, each of which forms a flexible
surface (82).
3. Compact according to claim 1, wherein at least one upper and/or
lower flexible skirt (8) is a "U" or "V" shaped flexible section
(83).
4. Compact according to claim 3, wherein said section is an upper
section (283) secured between said mirror and upper masking means
(21).
5. Compact according to claim 3, wherein said section is a lower
section (483) secured between said recipient (5) and upper masking
means (21).
6. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said upper
skirt (20) and lower skirt (40) are flexible skirts (8, 80, 81,
82), said tight cooperation being formed between a flexible upper
skirt (280, 281, 282), and a flexible lower skirt (480, 481,
482).
7. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said upper
skirt (20) is a flexible skirt (280, 281, 282) , said lower skirt
being a rigid skirt (9, 409).
8. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said lower
skirt (40) is a flexible skirt (480, 481, 482), said upper skirt
being a rigid skirt (9, 209).
9. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the section
of said mirror (22) forms masking means for said upper skirt (280,
281, 282, 283).
10. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the skirt of
said recipient (5) forms masking means for said lower skirt (480,
481, 482, 483).
11. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 10, comprising upper
masking means (21) surrounding said upper skirt 20, typically said
flexible upper skirt (280, 281, 282, 283).
12. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 11, comprising lower
masking means (41) surrounding said lower skirt (40), typically
said flexible lower skirt (480, 481, 482, 483).
13. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said
masking means form a stop for said "U" or "V" profile flexible
skirt (81, 82, 83) , such that it remains under continuous
tension.
14. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein one of the
skirts (20, 40) comprises a rib, typically less than 1 mm wide,
providing said tangential connection.
15. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein one of the
upper or lower sealing means may have a degree of freedom in the
horizontal plane, either by translation, typically of 1 mm in at
least one direction, or by rotation of a few degrees around a fixed
rotation centre or axis, the other means being fixed, so as to
improve said tight co-operation.
16. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the angle
.alpha. of said tangential connection is selected such that said
deflection stress increases with an axial movement of said "upper"
and "lower" means.
17. Compact according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the
skirts (20, 40) comprises axial movement means and setting means
for said axial movement, so as to select a predetermined level of
stress.
18. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 17 comprising several
compartments, one of which comprises said recipient and said
sealing means.
19. Compact according to claim 18, wherein said masking means
consist of a plate which, in the compartment comprising said
sealing means, is punched to surround said skirt, and which, in
another adjacent compartment, forms a tray or a trough to receive
additional makeup means.
20. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein one of the
upper (20) or lower (40) skirts comprises or two rigid ribs (290)
which form said tangential connection with the other skirt.
21. Compact according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein one of the
upper (20, 29) or lower (40, 48) skirts comprises a groove (291,
484), typically between 0.2 and 0.6 mm wide, forming a vent, so as
to limit positive pressure in the compact when it is closed, and
negative pressure in the compact when it is opened.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of compacts intended to
contain cosmetics or beauty products, typically makeup powder.
STATE OF THE ART
[0002] As a general rule, compacts typically comprise:
[0003] a hollow lid fitted with an inner mirror,
[0004] a hollow base, typically equipped with a grid or
intermediate support of at least one recipient intended to receive
said cosmetic,
[0005] a hinge, forming the connection between said lid and said
base, enabling the articulation of said lid and the opening of said
compact,
[0006] a clasp or any locking and unlocking means of said lid in
relation to said base, so as to ensure the opening and closing of
said compact, a clasp typically comprising a push button.
[0007] Numerous embodiments of compacts are known, which may relate
to one or more components of the compact.
[0008] In this way, in relation of the patents in the applicant's
name, it is possible to mention:
[0009] patent FR 2 661 080 which describes a small class makeup
compact,
[0010] patent FR 2 701 365 which describes a convertible makeup
compact,
[0011] patent FR 2 725 958 which relates an assisted opening joined
closure compact,
[0012] patent FR 2 737 192 which describes a pivoting lid compact
equipped with a flexible tabbed hinge,
[0013] patent FR 2 755 352 which describes a compact with assisted
opening,
[0014] patent FR 2 755 353 which describes a compact with an
unlocking and pre-opening push button,
[0015] patent FR 2 756 155 which describes a makeup compact
comprising a base, an intermediate plate and a lid fitted with an
inner mirror.
[0016] In addition, the French application No. 2 761 243 relating
to a tight closure compact for cosmetics is known.
PROBLEMS POSED
[0017] The compacts according to the state of the art are typically
suitable to be filled with powders in a form which is relatively
inert and stable over time.
[0018] However, increasingly, manufacturers are offering powders
with a more complex formulation, which may, for this reason,
comprise a volatile product.
[0019] Therefore, it has become essential to be able to manufacture
tight compacts, i.e. compacts which, once closed, lose little or no
volatile product, at least over a period which is at least
equivalent to the average service life of said compacts.
[0020] Moreover, the tightness must be obtained without modifying
the appearance of the compact significantly, particularly once
open.
[0021] In addition, the means introduced to seal the compacts must
not generate a marked additional cost, with reference to standard
compacts, meaning that said means must be inherently simple and
that the manufacture of the different parts, their assembly and
assembly rates and the materials forming these different parts,
must be approximately those already used in the art.
[0022] Finally, in the field of compacts in particular, product
range renewal is continuously required, as is product
personalisation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] According to the invention, the compact intended to be
filled with cosmetics comprises a lid, generally fitted with a
mirror, a hollow base typically comprising, possibly using an
intermediate grid attached to said base, a recipient intended to
receive said cosmetics, a hinge and a clasp, comprises "upper"
sealing means attached to said lid and "lower" sealing means
attached to said base or, if applicable, to said grid or said
recipient, said sealing means co-operating when said compact is
closed, and is characterised in that:
[0024] a) each of the "upper" and "lower" sealing means comprise a
typically vertical skirt, referred to as "upper" and "lower"
respectively,
[0025] b) said tight co-operation is a tangential connection of
said "upper" and "lower" skirts, with an angle a between 45.degree.
and 90.degree.,
[0026] c) at least one of said "upper" or "lower" skirts is a
flexible skirt and shows an elasticity or reversible deformability
under stress, such that said tangential connection induces said
deformation of at least said flexible skirt by reaction along a
direction typically perpendicular to the angle .alpha.,
[0027] d) masking means, typically rigid and attached to said
compact, border, and possibly surround, at least one of said
skirts, and typically said flexible skirt, over all or part of its
height, at a distance from said skirt enabling all or part of said
reversible deformation of said flexible skirt,
[0028] so as to obtain a tight compact with sealing means, which
firstly are completely or partially masked and secondly enable
great freedom in terms of relative axial positioning and, as a
result, standard precision for the parts forming said compact.
[0029] This combination of means solves the problems described.
Indeed, the applicant has observed that a tight co-operation could
be obtained with only one tangential connection of a relatively
high slope of an angle .alpha. at least equal to 45.degree., and
preferentially greater than 75.degree., such that said "upper" and
"lower" skirts co-operate by sliding on each other with deflection
of said flexible skirt to the position corresponding to the closed
lid, where the deflection stress may remain constant during the
closure of the lid when the angle .alpha. is around 90.degree., or
increase slightly for a smaller angle a.
[0030] Preferentially, the materials selected to implement this
tight co-operation are plastics which show, in addition to
sufficient resilience, a sufficiently smooth surface condition such
that the friction coefficient is low and a sufficient surface
hardness such that there is no premature wear of the sealing means
due to friction of said upper and lower skirts; the hardness or
rigidity of the materials should not be too high either so as not
to create sealing problems.
[0031] According to the invention, said tangential connection must
preferentially form a strip, which is closed on itself, but narrow
in width, typically less than 3 mm wide, and preferentially less
than 1 mm wide, such that the deflection stress created by said
tight co-operation creates a local pressure which increases as the
width of the strip decreases, and thus, ensure the tightness,
possibly using localised plastic flow in the event of a very high
local concentration of deflection stress, due to irregular
dimensions.
[0032] In this way, contrary to expectations, the means of the
invention, although they are simple, are sufficient to obtain the
required tightness.
[0033] According to a theory suggested by the applicant, this may
be due to the actual design of said tight cooperation according to
the invention, and particularly due to the fact that the upper and
lower skirts never come to a stop against any surfaces, the ends
being free in terms of axial movement. However, if the end of a
flexible skirt came to a stop and was blocked, it can be assumed
that a compression stress would appear in the skirt, which would
probably affect the deflection stress and reduce its
effectiveness.
[0034] In addition, in practical terms, the fact that a deflection
stress is sufficient to ensure tightness means that it is possible
to have, for the parts forming the sealing means, a manufacturing
precision, typically by moulding, which is the same as that for
standard parts, which represents a major advantage of the
invention. Indeed, tightness is obtained by the existence of a
tangential deflection stress over the entire skirt perimeter, and
which is applied over a relatively large axial distance, typically
of several mm, which therefore allows the system a degree of
freedom in the axial direction.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0035] All the figures relate to the invention and are vertical
sections (except FIG. 13b which is a partial view from below, and
FIGS. 15b and 16b which are partial horizontal views), where the
compact is assumed to be placed on a flat surface, and are partial
sections (except FIGS. 1 and 12 which are full sections), intended
to illustrate the co-operation of the upper skirt 20 and lower
skirt 40 resulting in the tightness according to the invention.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a section perpendicular to the hinge 6 of the
compact 1. This compact comprises, in addition to a hinge 6 and a
clasp 7:
[0037] a lid 2 fitted with a mirror 22, and a sealing skirt
20--forming the upper sealing means--the perimeter of which is
bordered by a punched insert forming upper masking means 21,
[0038] a base 3 comprising a grid 4 wherein a removable recipient 5
containing the cosmetic 10 is placed. This grid comprises a lower
flexible skirt 48 in the form of an inverted "U" 482--forming the
sealing means and is surrounded by an insert 41 forming lower
masking means 41.
[0039] FIG. 1a illustrates the position of the upper skirt 20 and
lower skirt 40 just before said tight cooperation, flexible skirts
28, 48 surrounded externally by the upper 21 and lower 41 masking
means, respectively. The upper skirt 20 is a single flexible
surface 280, while the lower skirt 40 is an inverted "U" or "V"
shaped skirt 482.
[0040] FIG. 1b illustrates the position of the upper skirt 20 and
lower skirt 40 and flexible skirts 28, 48 forming said tight
co-operation, with the direction .alpha. of the tangential
connection, of around 90.degree., with the direction F,
perpendicular to the above direction, deflection stress applied
between the two skirts, and the axial distance Z along which said
tight cooperation is retained.
[0041] FIG. 1c represents an alternative of FIG. 1c wherein the
direction ( of the tangential connection is around 60.degree..
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the upper skirt 20, an
inverted "U" shaped skirt 282, wherein the mirror is also used as
the upper masking means 21.
[0043] FIG. 2a illustrates the co-operation of the two skirts,
upper 20 and lower 40, both skirts 282, 482 having an inverted "U"
shape.
[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment wherein the upper skirt 20
is a rigid skirt 29, the lower skirt 48, 482 being similar to the
lower skirt in the previous figures.
[0045] FIGS. 4a and 4b, similar to FIGS. 1a and 1b, illustrate
another embodiment wherein the upper skirt is that in FIG. 2, the
lower skirt 40 being a rigid skirt 49.
[0046] FIGS. 5 and 5a illustrate a particular embodiment of the
invention wherein tightness is obtained with a flexible section 483
forming two tangential connections, one with the rigid upper skirt
29, the other with the grid 4 or the recipient 5. In the latter
case, the section 483 may comprise ribbing 4830 providing contact
with the grid 4 or the recipient 5.
[0047] FIGS. 6a and 6b, similar to FIGS. 4a and 4b, illustrate the
case in which the upper and lower skirts are flexible 28, 48 and
are flexible-surface skirts 280, 480, the upper skirt 280 using the
mirror 22 as upper masking means 21, and the lower skirt using a
punched insert 41 as lower masking means.
[0048] FIGS. 7 and 7a illustrate another embodiment, similar to
FIG. 6b in relation to the lower skirt 480, but where the end 4800
of the lower skirt is resting against the lower masking means 41,
wherein the upper skirt is a rigid skirt 29, FIG. 7a illustrating
said tangential connection.
[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates another skirt embodiment 281, 481, each
skirt comprising a rigid part 2810, 4810 and a flexible part 2811,
4811 ensuring tightness.
[0050] FIGS. 9a and 9b, similar to FIGS. 6a and 6b, illustrate
another embodiment wherein the upper skirt 29 is rigid--or possibly
flexible if the recipient 5 is rigid, wherein the lower skirt 484
is inserted and held in said lower masking means 41, and wherein
tightness is obtained by the tangential connection between the
upper skirt 29 and the free end 4820 of the lower skirt 482.
[0051] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate similar embodiments wherein the
lower skirt 49 is rigid, the flexible upper skirt being comprised
between the mirror 22 and an insert 21 used as the upper masking
means. In FIG. 10, the upper skirt 282 has a "U" or "V" profile,
the end 2820 of which is masked by the masking means 21, while in
FIG. 11, the upper skirt is a skirt 283 shaped like a section
similar to the section 483 in FIGS. 5 and 5a.
[0052] FIG. 12 illustrates the case where the upper skirt encloses
the mirror 22 and may be oriented with a rotation axis 23, parallel
with the hinge, so as to facilitate the tight operation of the lips
280, 480.
[0053] FIGS. 13a and 13b illustrate the case of a compact for which
only the base 3 is shown, which comprises axial movement means and
setting means for said axial movement, so as to select a
predetermined level of stress. In this case, these means consist of
firstly tight co-operation selected to vary with the axial
movement, as in the case of FIG. 7a, and, secondly, the possibility
to select a predetermined axial movement, in this case, by means of
screwing/unscrewing the grid 4, possible via an opening in the base
of the compact, and therefore the possibility of having several
referenced positions (FIG. 13b), particularly on the periphery of
said opening, which correspond to an axial movement of said lower
skirt.
[0054] FIG. 14 illustrates a tangential connection between a rigid
upper skirt 29 and a flexible lower skirt 48, the rigid upper skirt
comprising two rigid sealing ribs 290 formed on the rigid skirt
29.
[0055] FIGS. 15a to 16b relate to the presence of a vent in the
form of a narrow groove --0.3 mm wide in these figures: groove 291
formed in the rigid upper skirt 29 in FIGS. 15a and 15b, groove 484
in the flexible lower skirt 48 in FIGS. 16a and 16b.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0056] According to the invention, said flexible skirt 8 may
form:
[0057] a flexible surface 80, or,
[0058] a "U" or "V" profile, comprising two components meeting at
one end, one of which forms a flexible surface 81, or
[0059] a "U" or "V" profile, comprising two components meeting at
one end, each of which forms a flexible surface 82.
[0060] All the embodiments of flexible skirts have been illustrated
in the figures, with references starting with "28" in the case of a
flexible upper skirt 28, or 280, 281, 282, respectively, and with
"48" in the case of a flexible lower skirt 48, or 480, 481, 482,
respectively.
[0061] There are other possible forms of flexible skirt, for
example, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 5a and 10 where the upper
and/or lower flexible skirt 8, is a "U" or "V" shaped flexible
section 83.
[0062] This section 83 may be an upper section 283 secured between
said mirror and upper masking means 21, as shown in FIG. 10, or may
be a lower section 483 secured between said recipient 5 and upper
masking means 41, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0063] According to the invention, there are three possible cases
for obtaining tight co-operation of the upper skirt 20 and lower
skirt 40:
[0064] said upper skirt 20 and lower skirt 40 are flexible skirts
8, 80, 81, 82, said tight co-operation being formed between a
flexible upper skirt 280, 281, 282, and a flexible lower skirt 480,
481, 482, as illustrated in figures 1b, 1c, 2a, 6b, 8, or
[0065] said upper skirt 20 is a flexible skirt 280, 281, 282, said
lower skirt being a rigid skirt 9, 409, as illustrated in FIGS. 4b,
10, 11, or
[0066] said lower skirt 40 is a flexible skirt 480, 481, 482, said
skirt being a rigid skirt 9, 209, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, 7,
9b.
[0067] As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 2 and 6b, the section
of said mirror 22 may form masking means for said upper skirt 280,
281, 282, 283.
[0068] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9a, the skirt of said
recipient 5 may form masking means for said lower skirt 480, 481,
482, 483.
[0069] In both cases, the mirror of the recipient masks the end of
the flexible skirt 2820, 4820, particularly when this skirt has a
"U" or "V" profile, the end of which is oriented towards the mirror
or the recipient.
[0070] The compact according to the invention may comprise upper
masking means 21 surrounding said upper skirt 20, typically said
flexible upper skirt 280, 281, 282, 283, as illustrated in FIGS.
1a, 10, 11.
[0071] It may comprise lower masking means 41 surrounding said
lower skirt 40, typically said flexible lower skirt 480, 481, 482,
483, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 3, 5, 6b, 7, 8, 9b.
[0072] The masking means may play a clear aesthetic role for
cosmetic objects or the packaging of cosmetic products. However,
the masking means may play a technical role in the assembly of said
compact. They may also form a stop for said "U" or "V" profile
flexible skirt 81, 82, 83, such that it remains under continuous
tension, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, etc.
[0073] According to the invention, one of the skirts 20, 40 or a
flexible section 483 may comprise a rib, typically less than 1 mm
wide, providing said tangential connection, as illustrated in FIGS.
5, 5a, 10. Indeed, it may be advantageous to have a narrow
tangential connection, and therefore, with a relatively high
pressure, it may be easier to produce tightness with a "cylinder on
plane" type than with a wide connection which would be of the
"plane on plane" type.
[0074] It is also possible to ensure the tightness of the compact
with the co-operation of a rigid skirt 29, 49 equipped with one or
two rigid ribs 290 which ensure the tight contact with the flexible
lower skirt 48, 28, as illustrated in FIG. 14 with the ribs 290 of
the upper skirt 29 in contact with the flexible lower skirt 48.
[0075] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, one
of the upper or lower sealing means may have a degree of freedom in
the horizontal plane, either by translation, typically of 1 mm in
at least one direction, or by rotation of a few degrees around a
fixed rotation centre or axis, the other means being fixed, so as
to improve said tight co-operation.
[0076] FIG. 12 illustrates the case of a compact in which the upper
skirt 20, 280 can rotate a few degrees along an axis parallel with
the axis of the hinge 6. This may enable improved distribution of
the deflection stress which appears when the compact is closed.
Indeed, when closing the compact, it is beneficial that a uniformly
distributed deflection stress is induced on the entire perimeter of
the skirts intended to cooperate in a tight fashion.
[0077] According to another particular embodiment of the invention,
said deflection stress may increase with an axial movement. Indeed,
it is imaginable that, depending on the value of the angle a, an
axial movement, i.e. as illustrated in FIG. 1b, a movement Z along
the vertical direction, could modify the deflection stress: it can
be expected to increase insignificantly when the angle a is around
90.degree., as illustrated in FIG. 1b, and that it increases more
when the angle .alpha. is smaller, as illustrated in FIG. 1c.
[0078] As illustrated in FIG. 13b, this may be beneficial in the
case of a compact wherein at least one of the skirts (20, 40)
comprises axial movement means and setting means for said axial
movement, so as to select a predetermined stress level,
particularly in order to obtain a predetermined level of
tightness.
[0079] According to another embodiment of the invention, not
represented by a figure, the compact may comprise several
compartments, one of which comprises said recipient and said
sealing means. In this case, said masking means may be a plate
which, in the compartment comprising said sealing means, is punched
to surround said skirt, and which, in another adjacent compartment,
forms a tray or a trough to receive additional makeup means.
[0080] In addition, the applicant has observed the benefit of
having a vent so as to limit, when the compact is closed, positive
pressure or a "bicycle pump" effect, and when it is opened,
negative pressure or a "suction pad" effect. Indeed, closing a
tight compact results in positive pressure inside the compact,
while temporary negative pressure is formed when the compact is
opened.
[0081] This vent, which is typically formed by a recess or a groove
between 0.2 and 0.6 mm wide, of a small cross-section ranging
between approximately 0.1 and 1 mm.sup.2, may be formed on said
upper skirt 20, 29 as illustrated in FIGS. 15a and 15b, or on said
lower skirt 40, 48, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 16b. It enables
a leak which restores the pressure equilibrium inside the
compact.
[0082] Surprisingly, the presence of a vent 291, 484 of a small
cross-section, which is therefore intended to facilitate the
closure and opening of the compact, does not increase weight losses
of cosmetic considerably, probably due to the fact that, once the
pressure inside the compact returns to atmospheric pressure, after
the compact is closed, the gaseous exchange between the inside of
the tight compact and the outside becomes practically non-existent
given the small cross-section of the vent.
EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS
[0083] The figures represent examples of embodiments of the
invention.
[0084] The compacts produced were made of PE.
[0085] The parts forming the different parts of the compacts were
produced by moulding:
[0086] the lid 2 with, preferentially, its upper skirt 20 when said
skirt could be moulded and therefore removed from the mould
simultaneously, otherwise the upper skirt 20 was moulded
separately,
[0087] if applicable, the upper masking means 21, which in some
cases could be moulded at the same time as the lid 2,
[0088] the base 3,
[0089] the grid 4 with its lower skirt 40,
[0090] if applicable, the lower masking means 41, possibly moulded
at the same time as the base 3,
[0091] the recipient 5.
[0092] Using a known process, these parts were designed to be
assembled mechanically by clip-on or snap-on connection, by the
co-operation of male and female parts, or by bonding when a
mechanical assembly was not possible.
[0093] The flexible skirts 8, 28, 48 and the rigid skirts 9, 29, 49
were obtained by adapting the thickness or the type of PE (LD or
HD): a skirt 0.5 mm to 1 mm thick is relatively flexible, while a
skirt 1 to 2 mm thick is relatively rigid.
[0094] Similarly, HDPE is more rigid than LDPE.
[0095] Tests were also performed with moulded flexible sections
283, 483, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 10.
[0096] Tests were also performed with compacts comprising a rigid
upper skirt 29 with two sealing ribs 29, as shown in FIG. 14.
[0097] Similarly, compacts comprising a vent 291, 484 as
illustrated in FIGS. 15a to 16b were produced.
[0098] All the compacts were tested in terms of their tightness by
filling them with powder comprising a volatile product, and making
samples and performing assays at regular intervals, over a one-year
period.
[0099] These tests showed the effectiveness of the sealing means
described by the invention.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0100] The invention discloses sealing means offering the advantage
of the ability to be adapted to virtually any type of compact.
[0101] Through its design, it also allows great manufacturing
flexibility in that the tight connection, resulting from the
compression between the upper and lower skirt, one of the skirts,
which is flexible, being deformed under stress, is produced
tangentially. In this way, play in the dimensions of the parts is
possible, which reduces the cost of the moulding parts and reduces
the number of discarded parts due to non-conforming dimensions.
LIST OF REFERENCES
[0102] Compact . . . 1
[0103] Cosmetic . . . 10
[0104] Lid . . . 2
[0105] "Upper" skirt . . . 20
[0106] "Upper masking means . . . 21
[0107] Mirror . . . 22
[0108] Rotation axis . . . 23
[0109] Flexible upper skirt . . . 28
[0110] flexible surface . . . 280
[0111] single flexible surface U/V . . . 281
[0112] rigid part . . . 2810
[0113] flexible part . . . 2811
[0114] double flexible surface U/V . . . 282
[0115] end . . . 2820
[0116] flexible section . . . 283
[0117] Rigid upper skirt . . . 29
[0118] rigid rib . . . 290
[0119] vent-groove . . . 291
[0120] Base . . . 3
[0121] Grid . . . 4
[0122] "Lower" skirt . . . 40
[0123] "Lower" masking means . . . 41
[0124] Flexible lower skirt . . . 48
[0125] flexible surface . . . 480
[0126] end . . . 4800
[0127] single flexible surface U/V . . . 481
[0128] rigid part . . . 4810
[0129] flexible part . . . 4811
[0130] double flexible surface U/V . . . 482
[0131] end . . . 4820
[0132] flexible section . . . 483
[0133] rib . . . 4830
[0134] vent-groove . . . 484
[0135] Rigid lower skirt . . . 49
[0136] Recipient . . . 5
[0137] Hinge . . . 6
[0138] Clasp . . . 7
[0139] Flexible skirt . . . 8
[0140] Flexible surface . . . 80
[0141] single flexible surface U/V . . . 81
[0142] double flexible surface U/V . . . 82
[0143] flexible section . . . 83
[0144] Rigid skirt . . . 9
* * * * *