FR2843948A1 - Container, especially for cosmetic product, has outlet neck in form of insert with cap or dispenser located in surface recess of container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (10) consists of a body (11) with a single outlet fitted with a neck (12) in the form of an insert with an outlet channel (13). The neck, together with its cap or dispenser, are situated in a surface recess (17) in the container wall. The body of the container can be made from a plastic, glass or ceramic material.

Description

i The present invention relates to containers and in particular those intended

at

  contain a cosmetic or care product.

  By "cosmetic product" is meant within the meaning of the present invention a product as defined in Directive 93/35 / EEC of June 14, 1993 amending the Directive

76/768 / EEC.

  There is a need in particular to benefit from easily transportable containers, in particular in a handbag, and which offer a suitable capacity.

consumer requirements.

  The present invention aims to meet this need. 10 It does this by means of a container comprising: - a body having a recess, a neck of axis X extending between a first end situated axially at the level of a wall delimiting the recess and a second end, the neck

  extending over substantially its entire height inside the recess.

  By "substantially its entire height" is meant at least 50% of its height,

  preferably 75%, and more preferably 90%.

  The neck can still extend entirely within the recess.

  Such a container can reduce the size of the container,

  measured along the axis of the neck, compared to a known container such as, for example, disclosed by US Patent 6,227,392.

  In addition, the invention increases, aesthetically, the possibilities of

creation of original shapes.

  The neck and the body can be made in one piece.

  Alternatively, the neck may be formed by an insert attached to the body of the container. In this case, the insert can be fixed in various ways in the opening, depending for example on the nature of the materials constituting the insert and the body of the container or on the nature of the product contained in the container. The insert can in particular

  be retained by friction in the opening of the container body.

  The neck may extend from the bottom of the recess. Alternatively, the neck 30 may extend from a region of the recess which does not correspond to the bottom of the recess. The container can be glass or ceramic or other materials

  again, for example a plastic.

  In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the recess extends along an axis transverse to the axis of the neck, for example perpendicular to the axis of the neck. The recess may have a cylindrical surface, of generatrix substantially perpendicular to the axis of the neck, of circular director or not. Such a configuration of the recess facilitates demolding of the neck during the manufacture of the container by

  blowing, especially when the container is made of glass or ceramic.

  The recess may also have a non-cylindrical surface, which is

  the case in particular when the recess has a cup shape.

  The depth of the container recess may be greater than 2 mm,

or even greater than 5 or 10 mm.

  The container may contain a cosmetic or care product.

  The container may include a closure member configured to seal the container, such as a stopper, for example. Such a closure member 15 can be fixed in various ways to the neck, for example by screwing, and the neck can then

have an external thread.

  The container may also include a dispensing member such as a pump

or a valve.

  The closure or dispensing member may extend above the recess. It may however be desirable, in order to reduce the bulk and improve the aesthetics, for the closure or distribution member to extend in its entirety.

inside the recess.

  Another subject of the invention is, according to another of its aspects, a method of manufacturing a container, comprising the following steps: - producing a preform with a mold comprising two parts configured to form the neck of the container, - blowing the preform to form the body of the container, this body comprising a recess configured to allow demolding of the neck by

  spacing of the two aforementioned parts.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description

  which follows, non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 shows, schematically and in perspective, a container according to an example of implementation of the invention, - Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1, after removal of the dispensing member mounted on the neck, - Figure 3 is a top view of the container according to arrow III of the Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a schematic axial section along IVIV of Figure 3, - Figure 5 shows, schematically and in perspective, the container of Figure 2 and mold elements used for its manufacture, - Figures 6 and 7 show schematically and in perspective variants of the container of Figure 2, in which the neck is formed by an insert, the container of Figure 7 being equipped with a closure member, - Figures 8 and 9 represent r schematically respectively variants of the container of FIGS. 4 and 6, - FIG. 10 represents schematically and in perspective a variant of the container, - FIG. 11 represents the container of FIG. 10, after removal of the dispensing member , - Figure 12 is a schematic axial section of the container of Figure 11, 20 - Figures 13 and 15 show, schematically and in perspective, other variants of containers, and - Figures 14 and 16 show respectively containers of figures

  13 and 15, in schematic axial section.

  FIGS. 1 to 4 show a container 10 comprising a body 11 25 provided with an opening 14 communicating with a neck 12 provided with a passage 13 for the

  exit of the product contained in the body 11, for example a perfume.

  The body 11 is made in one piece by molding material, namely a mineral material such as for example a quartz glass or a crystal glass, in the example considered. Other materials could also be used to make the body 11, for example a ceramic material, in particular porcelain or stoneware, or an organic material, for example a thermoplastic material. The neck 12 is made

  in the example considered in one piece with the body 11.

  The opening 14 and the passage 13 may for example be of circular cross section. The body 11 is produced with a recess 17 which extends between two raised parts 18 of the body 11, each capable of containing product. A wall 9 of the body 11 defines the recess 17. The neck 12 extends along an axis X, vertical in the example considered, between a

  first end 7 located at the wall 9, and a second free end 8.

  In the example considered, the neck 12 extends from the bottom of the recess 17, the center of the opening 14 being located in a median plane M for the container, this median plane M being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the recess 17. The neck 12 can also extend from another region of the wall 9 of the recess without

  that we go beyond the scope of the invention.

  In the example considered, the recess 17 has a surface which is cylindrical, of generatrix parallel to the axis Z. The distance D separating the wall 9 and a plane 15 W perpendicular to the axis X and tangent to the body 11, measured along the X axis, is for example greater than or equal to 5 mm, and the height H of the neck, measured along the X axis, between the ends 7 and 8 of the neck is for example less than 5 mm. The neck 12 extends, in this

  embodiment, entirely inside the recess.

  The depth d of the recess 17, measured along the axis X, between the bottom of the latter and the plane W is for example greater than or equal to 5 mm, always less than the distance D. A distribution member 30 can be reported in the recess 17 and fixed on the neck 12, as can be seen in FIG. 1. This dispensing member 30 may include a cover 35 provided with a dispensing orifice 31, and a push button 32 movable relative to to the cover to activate an invisible mechanism, such as a pump mechanism for example, in order to cause the product to leave through the orifice

  distribution 31 each time push-button 32 is pressed.

  To make the container of FIGS. 1 to 4, one can start by forming a preform with a ring mold comprising two parts 20 and 21 which are assembled to make the neck 12 of the container. This mold also includes a punch 22

  configured to form passage 13 of neck 12.

  The preform is then transported in a finishing mold comprising two

  parts 23 and 24, where it is blown to form the body 11 of the container.

  The neck 12 is demolded by spacing the parts 20 and 21 of the ring mold.

  The presence of the recess 17 makes it possible to separate the parts 20 and 21.

  In the example of FIGS. 1 to 5, the body 11 of the container and the neck 12 are made in one piece. Alternatively, it is also possible to attach and fix an insert 26 intended to form the neck in the opening 14 of the body 11 of the container.

  This insert 26 can be made of the same material as the body 11 of the container or alternatively in a different material. The insert 26 can in particular be produced, when the body 11 of the container is made of glass or ceramic, from a plastic material such as a thermoplastic, for example polypropylene, polyethylene, or

a polyethylene terephthalate.

  In the example of Figure 6, the insert 26 has a shoulder 27 which comes

  resting against the wall 9 of the body 11 bordering the opening 14.

  The insert 26 may also include, as shown in FIG. 7, an annular bead 28 in place of the shoulder 27.

  The insert 26 can be fixed in various ways to the body 11 and in particular can be fixed by force fitting, by gluing or welding, possibly depending

  the nature of the product intended to fill the container.

  The insert 26 may have an external thread 41 allowing for example the screwing of a closure member 50 such as a plug, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The latter may include, as shown, a sealing lip 51 configured to be applied against the interior surface of the insert 26. The closing member 50 illustrated extends entirely inside the recess. It can also, as a variant, protrude

out of the recess.

  In the examples of FIGS. 1 to 7, the neck or the insert extend entirely

inside the recess.

  The neck 12 can, in a variant illustrated in FIG. 8, extend above the recess i7 by a height h measured along the axis X between the plane W and the free end 8 of the neck. The total height H of the neck being measured between the ends 7 and 8 of the neck h 12 along the X axis. The ratio - is less than or equal to 0.5, which means that at least 50 H

  % of the height of the neck 12 extends inside the recess.

  Similarly, the insert 26 can protrude from the recess 17, up to 50% of its

  height that can extend above the recess, as shown in Figure 9.

  Of course, the body 11 of the container can be made with other shapes

  still without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  There is shown in Figures 10 to 12 a container having a shape

general noticeably cubic.

  The body 11 of the container has, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, a recess 17 which has a general shape in cross section.

  rectangular with, in the bottom of the recess 17, two opposite grooves 61.

  It will be noted on examining FIG. 11 that the body 11 has on each of the faces 65 onto which the recess 17 opens in the longitudinal direction, a recess 62 whose depth corresponds to the thickness of a wall 69 of the cover 35

of the distribution unit 30.

  The grooves 61 are used for hooking, by snap-fastening, fixing lugs 15 not shown of the dispensing member 30.

  The body 11 of the container shown in Figures 13 and 14 has a flattened bottom wall 68, extended upward by a side wall 66 in the form of a portion of

  sphere, truncated at the top.

  The recess 17 has a general shape of a cup, delimited by an upwardly concave wall 67. The neck 12 is connected to its base in the bottom of the

recess 17.

  In the examples which have just been described, the axis X of the neck 12 is vertical

  when the container rests on a flat horizontal surface.

  It may however be otherwise without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  By way of example, FIGS. 15 and 16 show a container having a recess 17, the bottom of which extends parallel to an axis Z which is not horizontal, this

  Z axis being perpendicular to the X axis of the neck 12.

  In the example considered, the recess 17 extends at one end on the upper face 78 of the body 11 of the container and at the opposite end on its front face 79. The neck 12 may include an annular bead 75 allowing the attachment , for example by crimping, of a dispensing member 70 such as a valve or a pump, comprising a push button 71 provided with a non-visible dispensing orifice and a dip tube 72. The dispensing member may, as illustrated, protrude out of the

  recess. It can also extend entirely inside the recess.

  The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. In particular, the body of the container may have other forms still without departing from the scope of the present invention, as is the recess, the

  neck or insert inserted into the opening of the container.

  The insert can, if necessary, be made in one piece with an element 10 of a dispensing mechanism.

  The closure and / or distribution members may have other

  forms still than those illustrated.

  Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression

  "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least 15 one", unless otherwise specified.

Claims (20)

  1. Container (10) comprising: - a body (11) having a recess (17), - a neck (12) of axis (X) extending between a first end (7) located axially at a wall (9) delimiting the recess (17) and a second end (8), the neck (12) extending over substantially its entire height inside the recess (17).   2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (12) 10 extends entirely within the recess (17).   3. Container according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   the neck (12) and the body (11) are made in one piece.   4. Container according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   the neck is formed by an insert (26) attached to the body (11) of the container.   5. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that   the insert (26) is retained by friction in an opening (14) in the body of the container.   6. Container according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the neck (12) extends from the bottom of the recess (17).   7. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (11) of the container is made of glass or ceramic.   8. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by   the fact that the container body is made of plastic.   9. Container according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the recess (17) extends along an axis (Z) transverse to the axis (X) of the neck.   10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the recess (17) has a cylindrical surface of generator substantially   perpendicular to the axis (X) of the neck.   11. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the recess (17) has a non-cylindrical surface.   12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that the   recess (17) has a cup shape.   13. Container according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized by the fact that the depth (d) of the recess (17) is greater than 2 mm,   preferably greater than 5 mmn.   14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the depth (d) of the recess (17) of the container is greater than 10 mm.   15. Container according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized by the fact that it contains a cosmetic or care product.   16. Container according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises a closure member (50) configured to seal the container 10.   17. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized   by the fact that the neck (12) has an external thread (41).   18. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized   by the fact that it comprises a dispensing member (30; 70) such as a pump or a valve.   19. Container according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized   by the fact that the closure or distribution member extends entirely inside of the recess (17).   20. Method for manufacturing a container, comprising the following steps: - producing a preform with a mold comprising two parts (20, 21) configured to form the neck (12) of the container, - blowing the preform to form the body ( 11) of the container, this body comprising a recess (17) configured to allow the release of the neck (12) by   spacing of the two parts (20, 21).