[0001] The present invention has as object a wiping device for cosmetic products. Containers
intended to contain cosmetic products, preferably in liquid or semi-liquid form, such
as mascara, and to allow the application thereof are known. Such containers comprise
a casing, usually with cylindrical shape, which has at one end thereof an opening
closed by a removable cap. Mounted on the cap is a stem that bears an applicator,
e.g. in brush form. When the cap closes the container, the applicator is situated
inside the casing, immersed in the cosmetic product. Inside the casing, close to the
opening, a wiping device is also installed whose function is to eliminate, during
the extraction of the stem from the casing, the excess cosmetic product present on
the stem itself and on the applicator.
[0002] A wiping device of known type comprises a hollow body, counter-shaped with respect
to the opening of the casing and inserted by interference in the opening itself. On
the lower part of the hollow body, there is a narrowing usually defined by a frustoconical
appendage made of flexible material tapered towards the bottom of the casing. When
the applicator is inserted in the casing, the appendage slides against the same, offering
little resistance, whereas when the applicator is extracted from the casing, the appendage
interferes with the stem and with the bristles of the applicator to remove the excess
cosmetic product.
[0003] In particular, in order to facilitate the assembly of the wiping device in the opening
of the casing by means of automated apparatuses, and to ensure at the same time an
effective wiping action on the applicator, the document
EP 1771099 on behalf of the same Applicant proposes a wiper comprising a primary body with tubular
conformation made of relatively rigid thermoplastic material; on one terminal edge
of such body, a wiping lip with annular conformation is installed, made of softer
material. Such wiping device can be made by an over-moulding process, in which a second
material is injected in a moulding cavity in order to form the wiping lip directly
joined to the main body previously formed by injection of a first material.
[0004] An annular seal is made on a terminal edge of the main body opposite the wiping lip,
together with the formation of the latter by injection of the second material.
[0005] An auxiliary tubular body can be arranged to completely cover the inner surface of
the primary body, connecting the wiping lip and the holding seal together, so as to
allow the flow from a single point of injection of the second material adapted to
obtain the wiping lip, the seal and the same auxiliary tubular body.
[0006] A further wiping device example, made of two parts of respectively different material,
coupled by means of an over-moulding process, is illustrated in the document
US 2002-195117.
[0007] In this embodiment, the wiping lip projects inside a tubular extension made of elastomer
material, applied in the continuation of a primary tubular body made of rigid material.
[0008] Nevertheless, the Applicant has found that the known implementable solutions can
be improved in terms of structural reliability, assembly simplicity and production
costs.
[0009] For such purpose, it was observed that the reduced size of the area available for
obtaining the attachment between the two different materials at the terminal edge
of the primary body tends to negatively affect the effectiveness of the anchoring
between the two parts, and hence it also negatively affects the structural integrity
of the wiping device following use. Even the use of particular technical solutions,
such as the selection of particular profiles in the attachment interface between the
two materials close to the terminal edge of the primary body and/or the increase of
the thicknesses of the primary body and the wiping lip for increasing the surface
extension of the attachment interface, leads to a significant increase of costs brought
by the structural complications and consequent complications in the production processes,
without however offering satisfactory results.
[0010] The object of the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the limits of
the prior art by providing a wiping device with increased robustness and reliability.
Further object of the invention is to obtain a wiping device that allows simplifying
the manufacturing processes for its production and/or its assembly with a container.
[0011] For such purpose, in accordance with the present invention, it is inferred that in
order to considerably increase the reliability of the anchoring of the wiping lip,
it is critical to prevent separation of the lip itself at its radially external perimeter
edge.
[0012] In particular, a wiping device for cosmetic products forms the object of the present
invention, as defined in claim 1 and/or in one or more of the subsequent claims.
[0013] The Applicant has observed that the main cause of undesired separations is normally
determined by the stresses induced during extraction of the applicator from the container.
Indeed, the mechanical interference of the applicator causes a bending of the wiping
lip towards the geometric axis of the passage opening. In other words, the wiping
lip is bent, rotating approximately around its radially more internal attachment zone,
with consequent tendency to separate its perimetrically external edge from the primary
body. The retention of the radially external edge exerted by the additional-anchoring
means therefore prevents triggering breakage in the attachment interface between the
holding lip and the primary body.
[0014] The effects of the invention are also extended to a container for cosmetic products,
equipped with such wiping device.
[0015] Further characteristics and advantages will be clearer from the detailed description
of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a wiping device in accordance with
the present invention. Such description is set forth hereinbelow with reference to
the drawing set, provided as a mere example and hence non-limiting, in which:
- Figure 1 is a partial, sectional view of a container for cosmetic products provided
with a wiping device in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows an enlarged lateral view of the wiping device of figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wiping device of figure 2;
- Figure 4 shows the wiping device sectioned along the trace IV-IV of figure 3;
- Figure 5 shows the wiping device sectioned along the trace V-V of figure 3.
[0016] With reference to the mentioned figures, with 1 a container for cosmetic products,
preferably for mascara, is indicated in its entirety according to the present invention.
[0017] The container 1 comprises a casing 2, represented only in part in figure 1, intended
to contain a cosmetic product, for example mascara.
[0018] The casing 2 has elongated form, preferably but not exclusively cylindrical with
circular section, and it is equipped with an opening 3 through which the product content
is accessed. A cap 4 is removably mounted on the casing 2, in order to close the opening
3.
[0019] According to what is represented in the enclosed figures, the opening 3 is preferably
delimited by a neck 5 which is extended coaxial to a longitudinal axis "X" of the
casing 2. The neck 5 is threaded and the cap 4 has a cup-like shape, with an internal
thread couplable by screwing to the neck 5. A finishing element 4a can be associated
with the cap 4.
[0020] The container 1 further comprises an applicator 6 integral with the cap 4. The applicator
6, of per se known type and therefore illustrated schematically and not described
in detail, can comprise a brush 6a mounted at a first end of a stem 7, whose second
end is fixed to the cap 4. The stem 7 is extended along the longitudinal axis "X"
of the casing 2 and, according to what is illustrated in figure 1, it is fixed to
one base 8 of the cup-like cap 4. When the cap 4 is closed on the casing 2, the applicator
6 is situated inside the casing 2 and immersed in the cosmetic product.
[0021] The container 1 further comprises a wiping device 9 which is mounted in the casing
2, preferably by interference, during assembly. The wiping device 9 is intended to
enter into contact with the stem 7 and with the brush 6a, at least during the extraction
of the applicator 6 from the casing 2, in order to remove the excess cosmetic product
present on the same. With particular reference to figures 2 to 5, the wiping device
9 comprises a primary body 10 with tubular conformation having an outer side wall
11 and an inner side wall 12 preferably with substantially cylindrical conformation.
The primary body 10, which for example can be made of high density polyethylene or
another thermoplastic polymer, is longitudinally delimited between an upper terminal
surface 13 and a lower terminal surface 14, and it is adapted to being engaged in
the opening 3 of the casing 2, for example by forced insertion. For such purpose,
the primary body 10 can have at least one circumferential ribbing 15 extending on
its outer side wall 11, for being snap-engaged in a corresponding groove arranged
in the opening 3 of the casing 2.
[0022] The wiping device 1 further comprises a wiping lip 16 extending in the continuation
of the primary body 10 for defining therewith a passage extending along a geometric
axis coinciding for example with the longitudinal axis X, through which the applicator
6 is insertable.
[0023] The wiping lip 16 preferably has an annular, substantially frustoconical conformation,
delimited between an outer side surface 17 and an inner side surface 18 respectively
extending continuously with the outer side wall 11 and the inner side wall 12 of the
primary body 10.
[0024] The wiping lip 16, which for example can be made of thermoplastic elastomer softer
than the material forming the primary body 10, is joined to the primary body 10 itself
at an attachment interface 19 extending from the inner side surface 18 up to the outer
side surface 17, at the lower terminal surface 14.
[0025] The attachment interface 19 can be extended along a plane perpendicular to the geometric
axis "X" or, as in the illustrated embodiment, according to a jagged line progression,
such that the wiping lip 16 has a perimeter relief 20 continuous with the outer side
surface 17.
[0026] On the opposite side with respect to the attachment interface, the wiping lip 16
defines a calibrated opening 21 operating in sliding contact relation against the
stem 7 and the brush 6a of the applicator 6.
[0027] The wiping lip 16 is preferably joined to the primary body 10 by molecular bonds
at the attachment interface 19. Such molecular bonds are obtainable following an over-moulding
process, wherein the elastomer forming the wiping lip 16 is injected in a moulding
cavity containing the primary body 10, previously formed by injection of the thermoplastic
polymer.
[0028] In accordance with the present invention, additional-anchoring means 22 are also
provided to inhibit separation of the wiping lip 16 from the primary body 10 at least
when the wiping lip 16 itself, in particular due to the stresses induced during the
extraction movement of the applicator 6, is deformed towards the geometric axis "X".
[0029] The additional-anchoring means 22 are indeed preferably configured for countering
the separation of the wiping lip 16 from the primary body 10 at a radially external
edge of the attachment interface 19, in the illustrated embodiment at the abovementioned
perimeter relief 20.
[0030] For such purpose, the additional-anchoring means 22 preferably comprise a connecting
structure 23 extending along the external wall of the primary body 10, between the
wiping lip 16 and a holding element 24 coupled to the primary body 10, at a position
axially spaced apart from the wiping lip itself.
[0031] Such holding element 24 preferably has annular conformation and it is joined to the
upper terminal surface 13 of the primary body 10, opposite to the wiping lip 16. In
this case, the holding element 24 is adapted to be advantageously employed as a seal,
interposing itself between the end of the neck 5 and the cap 4 fastened by screwing
on the mouth 3 of the casing 2, so as to hermetically isolate the internal of the
container 1 from the external environment.
[0032] As an alternative, the holding element 24 can be exclusively arranged to cooperate
with the connecting structure 23 in order to carry out a mechanical seal function.
[0033] The connecting structure 23 can for example comprise tie-rod elements 25 extending
parallel to the geometric axis "X" and having each a first end connected to the wiping
lip 16 and a second end connected to said holding element 24. In the illustrated embodiment,
two of said tie-rod elements 25 are provided, embedded in respective grooves arranged
in diametrically opposite positions in the primary body 10, and facing each other
from the outer side wall 11 of the latter.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting structure 23 further comprises an auxiliary
holding element 26 connected to the tie-rod elements 25 and extending perimetrically
relative to the primary body 10, in an intermediate position between the wiping lip
16 and the holding element 24.
[0035] The wiping lip 16, the connecting structure 23 and the holding element 24, along
with the auxiliary holding element 26, are preferably of one piece construction, preferably
made by the injection over-moulding process described above with reference to the
single wiping lip 16.
[0036] It is thus possible to obtain the entire connecting structure 23 and the holding
elements 24, 26 at the same time as the obtainment of the wiping lip 16, without requiring
additional operations.
[0037] An effective anchorage of the entire connecting structure and the sealing rings 24,
26 can also be obtained, due to the molecular bonds with the primary body 10 obtainable
by means of the over-moulding process.
[0038] The connecting structure 23 is thus adapted to effectively retain the wiping lip
16, preventing possible separations thereof from the primary body 10 even were the
applicator 6 to be roughly extracted from the casing 2, with little care. The present
invention therefore allows obtaining the wiping device 9 with limited costs, also
due to the possibility of making the same in two parts by means of an over-moulding
process.
[0039] The stable anchoring of the wiping lip 16 also allows limiting, if necessary, the
thickness of the primary body 10 and the wiping lip 16 itself, without the consequent
reduction of the surface extension of the attachment interface 19 overly disrupting
the stability of the anchoring. Such thickness reduction can be advantageous both
in economical terms, e.g. by virtue of the reduced quantity of employed material,
and in relation to facilitating the forced insertion of the wiping lip 16 during assembly
with the container. The improved anchoring of the wiping lip 16 also allows reducing
the size of the calibrated hole 21 defined by the same for the purpose of the passage
of the applicator 6. In particular, the size of the calibrated opening 21 can be significantly
less than that of the stem of the applicator 6, so as to obtain a forced coupling
between the same over elastic deformation of the wiping lip 16. A perfect removal
of the excess product is thus ensured, without the greater stresses induced during
insertion and extraction involving risks for the structural integrity of the wiping
device.
[0040] At least one vent hole 27 can be radially formed through the primary body 10, to
allow the inflow and outflow of air in/from the casing 2 simultaneously with the actions
of introduction and extraction of the applicator 6 through the wiping device 9.
1. A wiping device for cosmetic products, comprising:
- a primary tubular body (10) susceptible of engagement in the mouth (3) of a container
for cosmetic products (1);
- a wiping lip (16) extending in the continuation of the primary body (10) for defining
therewith, a passage extending along a geometric axis (X); wherein the wiping lip
(16) is joined to the primary body (10) at an attachment interface (19) extending
from an inner side surface (18) to an outer side surface (17) of the wiping lip (16),
characterised in that it comprises additional- anchoring means (22), to inhibit separation of the wiping
lip (16) from the primary body (10) at least when the wiping lip (16) is deformed
towards said geometric axis (X).
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional-anchoring means (22) is configured
for resisting separation of the wiping lip (16) from the primary body (10) at a radially
external edge of the attachment interface (19).
3. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said additional-anchoring
means (22) comprises a connecting structure (23) extending along an outer wall of
the primary body (10), between the wiping lip (16) and a holding element (24) coupled
to the primary body (10) at a position axially spaced apart from the wiping lip (16).
4. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least the wiping
lip (16) which preferably has a frustoconical conformation, is made of a softer material
than the material forming the primary body (10).
5. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping lip
(16) is joined to the primary body (10) by molecular bonds at the attachment interface
(19).
6. A device as claimed in one or more of claims 3 to 5, wherein the wiping lip (16),
connecting structure (23) and holding element (24) are of one piece construction,
preferably made by injection over-moulding.
7. A device as claimed in one or more of claims 3 to 6, wherein said holding element
(24) has an annular conformation and is joined to an end of the primary body (10)
opposite to the wiping lip (16).
8. A device as claimed in one or more of claims 3 to 7, wherein the connecting structure
(23) comprises tie-rod elements (25) extending parallel to said geometric axis (X)
and having each a first end connected to the wiping lip (16) and a second end connected
to said holding element (24).
9. A device as claimed in one or more of claims 3 to 8, wherein the connecting structure
(23) further comprises an auxiliary holding element (26) connected to said tie-rod
elements (25) and extending perimetrically relative to the primary body (10) in an
intermediate position between the wiping lip (16) and the holding element (24).
10. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least one vent
hole (27) is radially formed through the primary body (10).