(19)
(11) EP 2 395 874 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
04.09.2013 Bulletin 2013/36

(21) Application number: 10731990.7

(22) Date of filing: 12.01.2010
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A45D 26/00(2006.01)
B65D 81/34(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/US2010/020704
(87) International publication number:
WO 2010/083139 (22.07.2010 Gazette 2010/29)

(54)

CONTAINER FOR DEPILATORY COMPOSITION

BEHÄLTER FÜR EINE ENTHAARUNGSZUSAMMENSETZUNG

CONTENANT POUR COMPOSITION DÉPILATOIRE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 14.01.2009 FR 0950181

(43) Date of publication of application:
21.12.2011 Bulletin 2011/51

(73) Proprietor: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Princeton, NJ 08543-5297 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • COUPARD, Gilles
    92190 Meudon (FR)
  • DELAGNEAU, Hubert
    28300 Bailleau-I'Évêque (FR)

(74) Representative: Wilding, Frances Ward 
Haseltine Lake LLP Lincoln House, 5th Floor 300 High Holborn
London WC1V 7JH
London WC1V 7JH (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 198 362
GB-A- 2 375 709
US-A1- 2004 037 608
US-A1- 2005 254 878
US-B1- 6 609 627
EP-A- 1 457 130
US-A1- 2003 187 463
US-A1- 2005 254 878
US-A1- 2005 260 026
US-B1- 6 609 627
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION



    [0001] The present invention concerns a container for a depilatory composition in particular intended to be raised to the temperature of use by heating in a microwave oven.

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



    [0002] Various depilation techniques exist. In particular depilation by means of a depilatory composition is known, normally referred to as hot depilatory wax, which is applied directly to the skin with removal by peeling, with or without related support strip.

    [0003] The well-known principle thus makes it possible to trap the hairs in the adhesive matrix of the depilatory composition once cooled. Manual removal by peeling off the strip formed by the adhesive matrix provides the pulling away of the hairs thus trapped.

    [0004] Depilatory compositions are generally stored in solid or semi-solid form in compact containers made from metal or plastic materials. These depilatory compositions must be heated rapidly and in a practical fashion to a suitable temperature before being applied in the molten state to the area to be depilated.

    [0005] Since microwave ovens have become very widespread, because of the very great speed of heating of some dipolar materials, this domestic electrical appliance has appeared to be a particularly suitable means for heating up such depilatory compositions formulated for this purpose.

    [0006] With the known containers, when these solid or semi-solid compositions are heated, critical disparities in melting are found. Thus, in order to make this composition useable at this stage it is necessary to be able to homogenise the entire mass of the composition by mixing until a semi-fluid paste is obtained, homogeneous in texture and temperature.

    [0007] This problem of homogeneous heating is posed throughout the useable life of the depilatory composition, including during the very first use of the composition when the volume of depilatory composition is large, during reheating phases that may prove to be necessary when the depilatory composition cools too rapidly, or during reuse of the depilatory composition remaining in the receptacle during subsequent use.

    [0008] Another constraint is being able to maintain the depilatory composition at its desired temperature as long as possible and in an optimum fashion throughout its use so that reheating this composition once again does not become necessary. Thus, beyond making the heating of the composition secure, it is desirable to seek to increase the period during which the depilatory composition remains useable.

    [0009] This duration of use is defined by the range in which the depilatory composition remains at an acceptable temperature and to keep a fluid paste texture compatible with its homogeneous, easy and painless application in a thin layer using a spatula or any suitable applicator in order to be able to trap the hairs to be pulled away and to allow the production of continuous thin bands, homogeneous and able to be pulled away in a single movement.

    [0010] Currently the period of use, within the meaning defined above and to give an order of magnitude, is 10 minutes for 400 g containers according to the prior art.

    [0011] Another major drawback of the depilatory composition containers of the microwaveable hot wax type relates to the possibility of overheating during the heating of the composition with microwaves. The walls of these containers have the potential to become quite hot, the overheating of the container, just like the contents, being difficult to detect.

    [0012] Depilatory composition applicators are known from US2004/0037608, EP1457130, GB2375709, US2005/0254878, and US 2003/0187463 which discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.

    [0013] The present invention aims to mitigate the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a container for a depilatory composition intended to be brought to the temperature of use by heating in a microwave oven, which meets the many constraints mentioned in the preamble.

    [0014] The invention is defined in the independent claim, to which reference should now be made. Advantageous embodiments are set out in the sub claims.

    [0015] Compact container means a container having a height, width and depth with close dimensions.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0016] The invention is now described in detail with regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • Figure 1 depicts a cross section of a container according to the invention,
    • Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of a container according to the invention, open, and
    • Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of a container according to the invention, closed.

    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION



    [0017] The invention therefore relates to a compact container 10 for a depilatory composition 12 intended to be brought to the temperature of use by heating in a microwave oven, comprising a double wall 14 over at least part of its body.

    [0018] The container can be produced from any material preferentially fromheat-resistant material, especially from plastic materials adapted to the working temperature of around 50° to 80°C but able to resist extreme temperatures of 150° to 200°C in the event of faulty handling and overheating.

    [0019] To this end, the container may have an internal wall having a resistance to temperature less than that of the external wall, which will ensure the confinement of the wax in the event of failure of the internal wall.

    [0020] The container may be in any compact form. Preferably the container according to the invention has a parallelepiped shape, and is compact, that is to say substantially cube-shaped, as depicted in figures 2 and 3.

    [0021] Preferentially, the container according to the invention has, in the corners, fillets so as to be able to recover almost all the depilatory composition with a spatula.

    [0022] According to a non-limitative embodiment, the container 10 comprises a lid 16 that makes it possible to close said container 10 for the storage and heating of the depilatory composition 12.

    [0023] The lid 16 may be attached to the container 10 by a hinge 18, for example, made from plastic materials preferentially, but could also be clipped or screwed.

    [0024] The cover 16 comprises at least one opening 20. This opening in the cover is of limited dimensions, in this case a preferential form of this opening is a slot. This slot 20 has a dimension adapted to be able to make a spatula 26 pass through, such as a spatula normally used for applying depilatory compositions.

    [0025] In a preferred embodiment, a dimensional and geometrical arrangement of the spatula and a positioning of the said slot in the lid is provided so that the lid can be opened leaving the spatula immersed in the depilatory composition.

    [0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the container 10 comprises means 24 of receiving a spatula 26 intended for the application of the depilatory composition 12. These reception means 24 serve to store the spatula 26 before use.

    [0027] The container according to the invention allows easy and rapid use of the depilatory composition.

    [0028] A user wishing to perform a depilation with a depilatory composition package in a container according to the invention should firstly, before any heating, open the lid 16 of the container 10 and recover the spatula 26 disposed at the reception means 24. Of course, if the spatula is supplied separately, this operation is unnecessary.

    [0029] The user then recloses the lid 16 and inserts the container 10, the lid 16 being closed, in a microwave oven for a period of between 1 and 5 minutes with a power of 1000 W, for example.

    [0030] After heating, the user recovers the container 10 from the microwave oven and inserts the spatula 26 in the composition 12 through the slot 20, without opening the lid 16. Once the user has checked the state of melting of the depilatory composition, the user opens the lid 16 and proceeds with confidence to mix the composition in

    [0031] order to make it perfectly homogeneous. The user then proceeds with the depilation operations.

    [0032] Advantageously, the container according to the invention makes it possible to heat the depilatory composition that it contains, in a rapid, effective and homogeneous manner.

    [0033] In addition, the walls of the container do not heat up when the composition is heated in the microwave oven, so that the user can easily grip it with confidence.

    [0034] According to another advantage, the container, when it is designed with a double wall, makes it possible to keep the depilatory composition at the temperature of use for a long period, normally without proceeding with a further heating.

    [0035] Likewise, the user, after heating the container in the microwave oven, can check the temperature of the depilatory composition by dipping a spatula in the composition without opening the lid.

    [0036] According to a particularly adapted embodiment, the depilatory composition packaged in the container according to the invention is a composition comprising:
    1. a. at least one base compound allowing adhesion to the hairs,
    2. b. at least one rheology-regulating compound, and
    3. c. at least one microwave-absorbing compound, in particular a hyperbranched or dendritic polymer.


    [0037] The association of the container according to the invention with this specific composition makes it possible to obtain extremely satisfactory results in terms of speed of heating, homogeneity and duration of use.

    [0038] The invention, therefore, consists of providing a single-wall container with a lid having at least one opening in order to allow the introduction of a spatula or any other equivalent element without opening said lid, thus making it possible to test the depilatory composition.

    [0039] Next, the lid is removable, hinged, screwed or a tight fit, in order to allow access to the depilatory composition and allow firstly homogenisation and secondly use.

    [0040] Particularly advantageously, the container is equipped with a double wall that, apart from the well known maintenance of temperature, fulfils a function of double confinement.


    Claims

    1. A microwavable compact container (10) with a double wall (14), containing a depilatory composition (12) that is to be brought to the temperature of use by heating in a microwave oven, characterised in that the container comprises (16) provided with at least one access opening (20), wherein said opening is adapted for a spatula to pass through and come in contact with said depilatory composition in said container with said lid closed.
     
    2. A compact container (10) for an depilatory composition (12) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one access opening (20) to said composition provided in the lid (16) is a slot.
     
    3. A compact container (10) for a depilatory composition (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lid (16) is connected to the container by a hinge(18).
     
    4. A compact container (10) for a depilatory composition (12) according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that it has a compact parallelepipedal shape.
     
    5. A compact container (10) for a depilatory composition (12) according to claim 4, characterised in that it has fillets in the corner.
     
    6. A compact container (10) for a depilatory composition (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said container is produced from plastics material resistant to heat generated by microwave energy.
     
    7. A compact container (10) for a depilatory composition (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means (24) of receiving a spatula (26) intended for the application of the depilatory composition (12).
     
    8. A compact container (10) for a depilatory composition (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said depilatory composition (12) comprises:

    a. at least one base compound allowing adhesion to the hairs,

    b. at least one rheology-regulating compound, and

    c. at least one microwave-absorbing compound.


     
    9. A compact container according to claim 8, characterised in that the microwave absorber is a hyperbranched or dendritic polymer.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Mikrowellentauglicher kompakter Behälter (10) mit doppelter Wand (14), der eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) enthält, die auf die Verwendungstemperatur durch Erhitzen in einem Mikrowellenofen gebracht werden soll, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Behälter einen Deckel (16) umfasst, der mit mindestens einer Zugangsöffnung (20) versehen ist, wobei die Öffnung dafür ausgelegt ist, dass ein Spatel hindurchgeht und dass sie bei geschlossenem Deckel mit der Enthaarungszusammensetzung in dem Behälter in Kontakt kommt.
     
    2. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens eine in dem Deckel (16) vorgesehene Zugangsöffnung (20) zu der Zusammensetzung ein Schlitz ist.
     
    3. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Deckel (16) mit dem Behälter über ein Scharnier (18) verbunden ist.
     
    4. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er eine kompakte quaderförmige Gestalt hat.
     
    5. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er Ausrundungen in den Ecken besitzt.
     
    6. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Behälter aus Kunststoffmaterial hergestellt ist, das gegenüber Hitze, die durch Mikrowellenenergie erzeugt wird, widerstandsfähig ist.
     
    7. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er Mittel (24) zum Aufnehmen eines Spatels (26) besitzt, der für das Aufbringen der Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) bestimmt ist.
     
    8. Kompakter Behälter (10) für eine Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Enthaarungszusammensetzung (12) umfasst:

    a. mindestens eine Basisverbindung, die Haftung an den Haaren ermöglicht,

    b. mindestens eine die Rheologie regelnde Verbindung und

    c. mindestens eine Mikrowellen-absorbierende Verbindung.


     
    9. Kompakter Behälter nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Mikrowellenabsorber ein hochverzweigtes oder dendritisches Polymer ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Contenant compact micro-ondable (10) avec une double paroi (14), contenant une composition dépilatoire (12) qui doit être amenée à la température d'utilisation par chauffage dans un four micro-ondes, caractérisé en ce que le contenant comprend un couvercle (16) muni d'au moins une ouverture d'accès (20), dans lequel ladite ouverture est adaptée pour qu'une spatule passe et vienne en contact avec ladite composition dépilatoire dans ledit contenant avec ledit couvercle fermé.
     
    2. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins une ouverte d'accès (20) à ladite composition prévue dans le couvercle (16) est une fente.
     
    3. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (16) est raccordé au contenant par une charnière (18).
     
    4. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il a une forme compacte parallélépipède.
     
    5. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il a des congés dans l'angle.
     
    6. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit contenant est produit à partir d'une matière plastique résistante à la chaleur générée par l'énergie des micro-ondes.
     
    7. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens (24) pour recevoir une spatule (26) prévue pour l'application de la composition dépilatoire (12).
     
    8. Contenant compact (10) pour une composition dépilatoire (12) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite composition dépilatoire (12) comprend :

    a. au moins un composé de base permettant l'adhésion sur les poils,

    b. au moins un composé régulateur de la rhéologie, et

    c. au moins un composé absorbant les micro-ondes.


     
    9. Contenant compact selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que l'absorbeur de micro-ondes est un polymère hyper ramifié ou dendritique.
     




    Drawing








    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description