U.S. patent application number 11/190010 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for exfoliating container.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'OREAL. Invention is credited to Laure Thiebaut.
Application Number | 20060037886 11/190010 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35908648 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060037886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thiebaut; Laure |
February 23, 2006 |
Exfoliating container
Abstract
A container for a cosmetic product includes a body having at
least one opening, and a closure element for closing or restricting
the opening in the body. The container includes at least one
abrasive element located on the outer surface of the body or of the
closure element, with the abrasive element being configured to
exfoliate the skin. A method of forming the container is also
provided.
Inventors: |
Thiebaut; Laure; (Clichy,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
L'OREAL
Paris
FR
75008
|
Family ID: |
35908648 |
Appl. No.: |
11/190010 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60601607 |
Aug 16, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/581 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 7/03 20130101; A45D
34/042 20130101; A45D 2200/1054 20130101; A45D 2200/1018
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/581 |
International
Class: |
B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2004 |
FR |
04 51667 |
Claims
1. A container for a cosmetic product comprising: a body having at
least one opening; a closure element which at least partially
closes the opening in the body; and at least one abrasive element
located on an outer surface of the body or the closure element,
wherein the abrasive element is configured to exfoliate the skin,
and wherein the abrasive element has an abrasive power of between
0.01 and 0.02 g/cm.sup.2/min, inclusive.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
comprises a cellular material having a plurality of cells opening
onto an outer face via at least one outward edge.
3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the cellular material
is a foam.
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the foam is a
closed-cell foam.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the foam is a
thermoplastic foam.
6. A container according to claim 3, wherein the foam is a
thermoplastic foam.
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the foam includes a
polyolefin material.
8. A container as recited in claim 6, wherein the foam includes at
least one of a polyethylene material and a polypropylene
material.
9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
has a thickness which is greater than or equal to 1 mm.
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the
abrasive element is between 4 mm and 5 cm, inclusive.
11. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
comprises passages opening out on an outer face on one side of the
abrasive element and opening out inside the body on another side of
the abrasive element.
12. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
is located on a side wall of the body.
13. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
is located on a top wall of the closure element.
14. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
is adhesively bonded to the body or to the closure element.
15. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
is welded to the body or to the closure element.
16. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises
elastically deformable walls.
17. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is in the
form of a tube.
18. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is in the
form of a jar.
19. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is in the
form of a bottle.
20. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is made of a
thermoplastic material.
21. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is at least
partially formed of a polyolefin.
22. A container according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of
a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and
polypropylene.
23. A container according to claim 1, further including a cosmetic
product inside of the body of the container.
24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the cosmetic product
includes at least one of a cleansing product, an exfoliating
product or a desquamating product.
25. A container according to claim 24, wherein the cosmetic product
is in the form of a gel, a cream or a mousse.
26. A container according to claim 1, wherein said closure element
completely closes said opening, and wherein said abrasive element
is provided on said closure element.
27. A container according to claim 1, further including a cosmetic
disposed in an interior of said body, wherein said closure element
partially closes the opening of the body, said closure element
including at least one passage extending therethrough to provide
direct communication of the cosmetic product inside said body to
outside of the container and wherein the abrasive element is
provided on said closure element.
28. A container according to claim 1, wherein said abrasive element
is integrally molded with said body.
29. A container according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive element
includes a foam material having a density of between 25 and 65
kg/m.sup.3.
30. A process for producing a container according to claim 1, which
comprises: placing an abrasive element in a mould; placing a
preform having an opening in the mould; deforming the perform by
exerting internal pressure on the preform to make it substantially
match the shape of an inside surface of the mould and of the
abrasive element.
31. A process according to claim 30, wherein the preform is
deformed by blow moulding.
32. A process according to claim 30, further comprising a step of
producing the preform by injection moulding.
33. A process according to claim 30, further comprising a step of
producing the preform by extrusion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This document claims priority to French Application Number
04 51667, filed Jul. 27, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/601,607, filed Aug. 16, 2004, the entire content of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a device for cleansing the
body. A particularly preferred form includes a container which is
designed to contain a cosmetic product and which includes an
exfoliating element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Discussion of Background
[0003] To remove dead skin cells, use is often made of cosmetic
products containing exfoliating particles such as, for example,
polyethylene powder, fine quartz or nutshell particles, or
desquamating products having a biological action on the skin.
However, such cosmetic products are sold without an applicator so
that users have to apply the product using a traditional facecloth,
a sponge or their own hands. Alternatively, gloves, for example
massage gloves, have been used to exfoliate the skin.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,963 describes a back scrubber device,
which includes a netting formed of intertwined cords. US patent
application U.S. 2003/0,208,871 also describes a netting.
[0005] There is a need for a skin exfoliating device which is
simple and inexpensive to produce.
[0006] There is also a need for a device having an exfoliating
power similar to that of a massage glove, without it being
necessary to add an exfoliating product.
[0007] There is also a need for a device which is practical to
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one example, the invention relates to a
container for a cosmetic product which includes a body having at
least one opening, and a closure for closing or restricting the
opening in the body. The container includes at least one abrasive
element located on the outer surface of the body or of the closure
element, with the abrasive element being configured to exfoliate
the skin. According to a preferred form, the abrasive element has
an abrasive power of between 0.01 and 0.02 g/cm.sup.2/min,
inclusive.
[0009] Because the abrasive element is on the outer surface of the
container or applicator, it may be used when the container is
closed. The body of the container or the closure element can thus
serve as a handle for applying the abrasive element to the skin,
making it possible to exfoliate the skin very practically and
effectively.
[0010] The abrasive element has an abrasive power enabling it to
exfoliate the skin, i.e. enabling it to remove at least some of the
dead cells from the surface of the skin by moving it over the
skin.
[0011] The abrasive power of the abrasive element corresponds to
the amount of plaster removed per minute by one square centimeter
of an abrasive surface applied to a plaster tile 50 mm thick using
a Black & Decker CD400 135W sander, with the pressure exerted
on the plaster tile resulting from the weight of the sander
regarding, with additional force applied only to move the sander in
the direction of the plane of the abrasive surface.
[0012] The abrasive element can include, for example, a cellular
material having a plurality of cells opening onto the outer face
via at least one outward edge. The cellular material can be a foam,
in particular a closed-cell foam. The foam can also be a
thermoplastic foam, in particular made of a polyolefin such as a
polyethylene or a polypropylene. Also by way of example, the foam
can have a density lower than 70 kg/m.sup.3, or lower than 40
kg/m.sup.3. By using a foam to make the abrasive element, an
inexpensive exfoliating element is obtained.
[0013] The thickness of the abrasive element can be, for example,
greater than or equal to 1 mm, in particular between 4 mm and 5 cm,
inclusive.
[0014] According to one example, the abrasive element can include
passages opening out, on the one hand, on the outer face of the
abrasive element and, on the other hand, inside the body. With this
arrangement, the passages can provide direct communication of the
product inside the container to the exterior of the container for
the product to exit the container.
[0015] The abrasive element can be located on a side wall of the
body. Alternatively, the abrasive element can be located on a top
wall of the closure means. The abrasive element can, for example,
be adhesively bonded or welded to the body or to the closure
means.
[0016] By way of example, the body can include deformable walls, in
particular elastically deformable walls. The container may be in
the form of a tube, ajar or a bottle. The container can contain a
cosmetic product, in particular a cleansing product. The container
may also contain an exfoliating product or a desquamating product.
The container could also contain a product in the form of a gel, a
cream or a mousse.
[0017] According to another of its aspects, the invention also
relates to a process for producing a container as described above.
According to a preferred example, the process includes placing an
abrasive element in a mould, placing a preform having an opening in
the mould, and deforming, by exerting internal pressure on the
preform to make it substantially match the shape of an inside
surface of the mould and of the abrasive element.
[0018] By placing the abrasive element in the mould, a container
which can be used both to contain a product and to exfoliate the
skin is obtained simply and inexpensively. The process does not in
fact require any additional step with respect to a process for
producing the container alone. Also, with this process, the
abrasive element can be integrally molded with the body of the
container.
[0019] The preform, which may be produced by injection moulding or
by extrusion, may be deformed by blow moulding, for example.
[0020] As should be apparent, the invention can provide a number of
advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that, in
practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to
include one or more features or benefits of embodiments disclosed
herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that
the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples
and are not to be construed as limiting, particularly since
embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not
include each of the features of the disclosed examples.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In addition to the features described above, additional
features and arrangements will become apparent from the description
below, in relation to non-limiting embodiments, described with
reference to the attached figures; in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
container according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a partial section of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1
during use;
[0025] FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of other embodiments of
a container according to the invention;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the container of FIG. 5 during use; and
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment
of a container according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the container 10
includes a bottle designed to contain a liquid product, preferably
a cosmetic product, for example a shower gel or facial
cleanser.
[0029] The bottle 10 includes a body 20, having rectangular overall
shape, a side wall 22 having a substantially elliptical cross
section, and a substantially flat base 23. In the illustrated
example, the side wall 22 of the body includes two relatively flat
large faces, with these faces being connected by two rounded edges
having hollows 25 for receiving the user's fingers to make it
easier to grasp the container. The side wall 22 is also preferably
elastically deformable to make it easier to extract the
product.
[0030] At the other end from the base 23, the body 20 has a neck
24, preferably made as a single piece with the rest of the body.
The neck 24 defines an opening 21 via which the product can be
extracted. The body of the bottle is made of polyethylene, for
example.
[0031] The opening 21 in the body of the bottle can be closed off
by a closure element such as closure cap 30 designed to snap-fasten
on the neck 24 in this example. The cap 30 includes a fastening
skirt, not visible in the figures, which is fastened to the neck 24
by a fastening arrangement including, for example, a groove
designed to receive a protuberance, such as an annular bead 26
provided on the neck 24. Alternatively, for example, the cap may be
screwed onto the neck of the bottle.
[0032] The cap also includes a cover skirt 31 which follows the
outline of the body in the illustrated example so as to obtain a
bottle of substantially rectangular overall shape.
[0033] At the top, the cover skirt 31 is connected to a transverse
wall (not shown) which includes an orifice designed to be opposite
the opening 21 in the neck of the bottle when the cap is fastened
on the bottle.
[0034] The cap 30 also includes a lid 32 hinged to the cover skirt
31 and designed to close off the orifice.
[0035] According to the invention, the body 20 includes, on its
outer surface, an abrasive element 40 for exfoliating the skin.
According to a particular example, the abrasive element 40 can
include a cellular material, preferably a closed-cell foam made of
non-crosslinked polyethylene. For example, the foam can have a
density of between 25 and 65 kg/m.sup.3, for example, approximately
35 kg/m.sup.3.
[0036] As can be seen in detail in FIG. 2, the abrasive element 40
in this example includes a plurality of cells 41 opening onto its
outer face via at least one outward edge 42. Such a configuration
makes it possible to define a relatively abrasive surface.
[0037] The density of the foam can be selected according to the
exfoliating power it is desired to obtain. Specifically, for the
same material, the denser the foam the smaller the cells and,
hence, the more outward edges 42 there are and the greater the
exfoliating power of the foam.
[0038] According to a preferred example, the abrasive element has
an abrasive power of between 0.01 and 0.02 g/cm.sup.2/min,
inclusive. To perform this measurement, an abrasive surface
approximately 166.5 cm.sup.2 (9 cm.times.18.5 cm) is applied to a
plaster tile 50 mm thick using a Black & Decker CD400 135W
sander, with the pressure exerted on the plaster tile resulting
from the weight of the sander, in which only the movement in the
plane of the abrasive surface is forced, for a period of time. The
amount of plaster removed from the plaster tile during this time is
then measured.
[0039] According to this method, the abrasive power of the
non-crosslinked polyethylene closed-cell foam, having a density of
35 kg/m.sup.3, was measured, with this abrasive power being
measured to be 0.015 g/cm.sup.2/min. By way of comparison, the same
measurement of abrasive power was performed for other items under
the same conditions. The results obtained were as follows: for a
sheet of No 0 sandpaper, an abrasive power of 0.014 g/cm.sup.2/min
is obtained, and for a sheet of No 2 sandpaper an abrasive power of
0.018 g/cm.sup.2/min is obtained. For a soft foam, PTZ.RTM. or
Plastazote.RTM. (crosslinked low-density polyethylene foam) having
a density of 45 kg/m.sup.3, an abrasive power of 0.001
g/cm.sup.2/min is obtained.
[0040] The abrasive element 40 is located, for example, on one of
the substantially flat large faces of the side wall 22 of the
bottle body. The abrasive element has for example the shape of a
substantially rectangular sheet approximately 7 mm thick.
[0041] The abrasive element can have any shape suitable for the
surface of the bottle on which it is fixed and also for the surface
to be exfoliated. The abrasive element may, for example, be an
oval, teardrop-shaped or even flower-shaped sheet.
[0042] As a variant, there may be an abrasive element on each of
the large faces of the side wall 22, and the two abrasive elements
can be identical or different. When the two abrasive elements are
different, foams having a different exfoliating power are
preferably selected so as to allow the user to choose between more
or less gentle exfoliation.
[0043] The bottle 10 may be made in the following manner, for
example.
[0044] First, a polyethylene foam is produced by extrusion, by
blending polyethylene and isobutane to obtain a block of foam with
cells containing isobutane. This block of foam is then stored for
degassing so that ambient air replaces the isobutane in the cells.
During degassing, the polyethylene polymerizes to form the closed
cells of the foam, which are then relatively rigid. The block of
foam thus obtained is smooth on the surface owing to the presence
of a skin which forms on the walls of the extrusion mould. This
block of foam is then cut to obtain at least one face with cut
cells, with this face being intended to form the exfoliating
surface of the abrasive element.
[0045] The block of foam is then cut to the desired size to obtain
the abrasive element 40. Preferably, the foam is cut in the form of
a sheet around 7 mm thick, having two large faces at least one of
which includes the cut cells, with the face having the cut cells
facing the wall of the mould.
[0046] This sheet of foam is placed in a mould whose cavity has the
shape of the body of the bottle it is desired to produce, on the
wall intended to form one of the substantially flat faces of the
side wall of the body.
[0047] By way of example, the sheet is held in the mould by any
heat-resistant attachment means. For example, it may be fixed to
the mould using hooks, double-sided adhesive, Velcro.RTM., or using
a suction system. It may also be held in a recess made in the
inside wall of the mould, with the dimensions of the recess being
slightly smaller than those of the sheet of foam so as to keep it
in place.
[0048] Preferably, the foam is compressed in the mould in such a
way that when the bottle is taken out of the mould the foam expands
and forms a relief on the bottle. When the foam is held in the
mould using the recess, it is not necessarily compressed.
[0049] Next, polyethylene is injected into this mould to produce a
preform comprising a tubular part closed at its lower end and
connected, at the top, to the neck defining the opening 21. A hot
gas is then injected through the opening 21 into the preform, so as
to dilate the tubular part, which is sufficiently hot, until it
substantially matches the shape of the inside surface of the mould
and of the face of the sheet of foam facing the inside of the
mould.
[0050] Since the preform is still hot, the face of the sheet facing
the inside of the mould melts slightly in contact with the bottle
and, on cooling, becomes welded to the external wall of the bottle.
Moreover, the outer surface of the bottle may mould itself around
the cells 42 of the foam due to the blow moulding. The abrasive
element 40 is thus securely fixed to the body 20 of the bottle.
[0051] The temperature of the preform and the pressure it is under
when the gas is injected are selected so that the foam can weld
itself to the bottle wall and so that the foam does not melt in the
mould and air trapped in the cells of the foam does not
explode.
[0052] For example, when the foam and the bottle are made of
polyethylene, the temperature and pressure parameters can be very
close to those used to make a conventional polyethylene bottle. The
polyethylene preform is at a temperature of between 50 and
100.degree. C., for example, and is subjected to a pressure of
between 8 and 10 bar.
[0053] Instead of being produced by injection blow moulding, the
body of the bottle may be formed by other expedients, for example,
by extrusion blow moulding.
[0054] Instead of being welded to the side wall of the body of the
bottle, the sheet of foam may be attached by other expedients, for
example, it can be adhesively bonded, in particular using a hot
adhesive or a double-sided adhesive. The body of the bottle can
then be produced conventionally, without placing the sheet of foam
in the mould beforehand.
[0055] As yet another alternative, the foam may be welded on the
wall of the bottle outside the mould, for example by mirror
welding.
[0056] To use the bottle, the user takes the bottle by its side
wall 22, placing his figures in the hollows 25 provided on the
edges of the body, with the bottle closed by the cap 30. He or she
can then apply the foam 40 to the skin, as shown in FIG. 3, by
rubbing gently, after having applied shower gel to the area to be
treated, for example. By using the bottle as a handle, the user
thus has a good grip for exfoliation purposes. Moreover, the
combined effect of the abrasive surface and of the product
increases the effectiveness of exfoliation.
[0057] After each exfoliation, the user can rinse the bottle in
water to clean the foam. The foam cleans easily because it
preferably includes closed cells, so that any dead skin that might
get caught in the foam stays at the surface.
[0058] According to another example shown in FIG. 4, the container
110 can be in the form of a jar including, for example, an
axisymmetric cylindrical body 120 having, at the top, a threaded
annular part 124 defining an opening 121. The opening 121 is
preferably relatively large so as to allow, for example, the
product contained in the body of the container to be extracted
using an applicator inserted through the opening.
[0059] A closure element or cover 130 is then provided to close off
the opening 121 in the body by screwing it onto the threaded
annular part. The cover includes a flat top face 131 covered with
an abrasive element 140. This time the abrasive element 140 is in
the shape of a disc. The abrasive element 140 can be adhesively
bonded to the cover or be welded by overmoulding onto the
cover.
[0060] According to a variant of this embodiment shown in FIG. 7,
the body 320 of the container can be designed to contain a metered
quantity of product for single use, and the body can be refilled by
the user for each use. The body 320 is in the shape of a handle,
for example. It also has, at the top, a threaded annular part 324
defining an opening 321.
[0061] A cover 330 is then provided to restrict the opening 321 in
the body by screwing it onto the threaded annular part. The cover
includes a flat top face 331 covered with an abrasive element 340.
In this example, the abrasive element has passing through it
passages 322 opening out, on the one hand, on the outer surface of
the abrasive element and, on the other hand, inside the body.
[0062] According to this variant, the user can apply the product
while rubbing the surface with the abrasive element at the same
time, since the product coming from the body of the container is
conveyed to the outer face of the foam via the passages 322.
[0063] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the
container 210 can include a tubular body 220 with flexible walls.
In the example illustrated, the container includes a threaded neck
224 at a first end, with the neck being partly closed off by a
transverse wall 223 passed through by an orifice 221. The tubular
body 220 is closed at the other end opposite from the neck by a
pinched portion so as to form a tube.
[0064] A closure element such as closure stopper 230 is provided,
for example, to be screwed onto the neck by virtue of a threaded
skirt. The stopper is substantially frustoconical in the
illustrated example, and includes a flat upper transverse wall,
covered with an abrasive element 240. Preferably, the side wall of
the frustoconical stopper flares out towards its upper wall so as
to make it easier for the user to grip the cap when he or she
applies it to the skin, as shown in FIG. 6, if using the stopper
alone. The user may also hold the whole container with the tube
closed off by the stopper so as to apply the foam.
[0065] This embodiment is particularly suitable for application to
the face since the surface area of the foam is relatively
small.
[0066] As a variant, the body of the container can be surmounted by
a pump or a valve.
[0067] In the above detailed description, reference has been made
to preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously, numerous
modifications and variations of the present invention are possible
in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood
that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
* * * * *