Packaging of cosmetic products, typically a case with side clasp

Abstract

Packaging for cosmetic products, typically including a case having a cover provided with a first hinge portion, a recessed bottom possibly including an intermediate support fixed to the said bottom and a receptacle in which the cosmetic products will be placed, the bottom or the mesh being provided with a second hinge portion, a hinge with an axis of rotation R formed by cooperation between the first and second portions of the hinge, a means of locking and unlocking the said cover with respect to the bottom or mesh, typically a clasp, and if possible an applicator for the cosmetic product. The packaging has a driving means to at least partially open the cover, and an opposing braking means, the driving means and braking means respectively applying a driving torque C M =M(α) and a braking torque C F =F(α) on the cover in opposite directions and with a predetermined force depending on the opening angle α of the cover. The driving means and the braking means cooperate with the first hinge portion and second hinge portion.

1 . Packaging for cosmetic products, typically including a case ( 6 ) comprising a cover ( 8 ) provided with a first hinge portion ( 2 ), a recessed bottom ( 7 ) possibly including an intermediate support fixed to the said bottom and a receptacle in which the said cosmetic products will be placed, the said bottom ( 7 ) or the said mesh being provided with a second hinge portion ( 3 ), a hinge ( 1 ) with an axis of rotation R ( 10 ) formed by cooperation between the said first ( 2 ) and second ( 3 ) portions of the hinge, a means of locking and unlocking the said cover with respect to the said bottom or the said mesh, typically a clasp ( 9 ), and if possible an applicator of the said cosmetic product, characterized in that: 
 a) the said packaging comprises a said driving means ( 4 ) to open the said cover ( 8 ) at least partially,    b) in addition to the said “driving” means ( 4 ), the said packaging comprises an opposing “braking” means ( 5 ), the so-called driving means ( 4 ) and braking means ( 5 ) respectively applying a driving torque C M =M(α) and a braking torque C F =F(α) on the said cover, in opposite directions and with a predetermined force depending on the opening angle α of the cover,    c) the said driving means ( 4 ) and the said braking means ( 5 ) cooperate with the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ),    d) the said packaging comprises at least one clasp ( 9 ), typically comprising a pushbutton ( 90 ) located on a side part ( 61 ) of the said packaging, laterally offset from a central plane P ( 60 ) perpendicular to the said axis R, such that the said bottom ( 7 ) is typically gripped between the thumb and one finger of one hand, applying pressure on the said pushbutton ( 90 ) along a direction D ( 61 ) typically parallel to the said axis of rotation R ( 10 ), the said thumb and the said finger trigger the said opening of the cover without coming into contact particularly with the said hinge ( 3 ), and this without hindering opening of the said cover ( 8 ) under the action of the said driving means ( 4 ).    
     
     
         2 . Packaging according to  claim 1  in which the said driving torque C M =CM(α) and the braking torque C F =F(α) are chosen to obtain firstly the relation C M ≧C F  for an opening angle α varying from 0° to α 0 , the angle at which the said opposing torques are balanced, the said cover then tending to open under the action of the said driving torque, and secondly the relation C M <C F  for an opening angle α more than α 0 , possibly as far as a cover stop position, the said cover then having a resistance to opening or possibly tending to close again under the action of the braking torque, such that regardless of the opening angle α of the cover, at least one of the said opposing driving torque C M  and braking torque C F  is active on the said cover, such that the angle α 0  is within the angular range α varying from 60° to 160°.  
     
     
         3 . Packaging according to  claim 2  in which the said hinge ( 1 ) introduces sufficiently large friction forces between the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and the second hinge portion ( 3 ), so that the said cover can be in an equilibrium position for an opening angle α varying from approximately α 0 −β to α 0 +β, so that angular equilibrium is possible with a range equal to 2.β, typically between 30 and 90°, where β is larger when the said friction forces are higher.  
     
     
         4 . Packaging according to  claim 1  in which the said driving torque C M =M(α) and braking torque C F =F(α) are chosen firstly such that the relations C M >0 and C F =0 are satisfied for an opening angle α varying from 0° to α 1 , the said cover then tending to open under the action of the said driving torque, and such that the relations C M =0 and C F >0 are satisfied for an opening angle α greater than α 2  possibly as far as a stop position of the cover, the said cover then having a resistance to opening or possibly tending to close under the action of the braking torque, such that the angles α 1  and α 2  define the limits of an angular equilibrium range α 1 -α 2  typically within the angular range 60°-160°, with the range α 2 -α 1  equal to at least 30°.  
     
     
         5 . Packaging according to  claim 4  in which the said hinge ( 1 ) introduces sufficiently large friction forces between the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ) so that the said cover has an equilibrium position for an opening angle α varying from approximately α 1 -β to α 2 +β so as to form an angular equilibrium range typically between 30 and 90°, where the angle β is larger when the said friction forces are higher.  
     
     
         6 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , in which the said driving means ( 4 ) and/or braking means ( 5 ) form annular or tubular elements ( 40 ,  50 ), typically in the form of rings, cooperating on the inside with either a first hinge portion ( 2 ) or a second hinge portion ( 3 ) forming a central hinge pin ( 11 ) of these annular or tubular elements, and cooperating on the outside with the other hinge portion forming a tubular portion ( 12 ).  
     
     
         7 . Packaging according to  claim 6  in which the said driving means ( 4 ) and/or braking means ( 5 ) form cylindrical elements ( 41 ,  51 ) typically in the form of pins, cooperating with the first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ) forming a central axis for these hinge portions.  
     
     
         8 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , in which the first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ) comprise two parts, a right part ( 11 D,  12 D) and a left part ( 11 G,  12 G), and in which one of the driving means ( 4 ) or braking means ( 5 ) cooperates with one of the two parts, and the other means cooperates with the other part.  
     
     
         9 . Packaging according to  claim 8 , in which each of the said driving means ( 4 ) and braking means ( 5 ) forming the said cylindrical elements ( 41 ,  51 ), cooperates with the first and second hinge portions forming a central axis for these hinge portions acting as the right pins ( 41 D,  51 D) and the left pins ( 41 G,  51 G) to fix the said first and second hinge portions forming the right part ( 12 D) and the left part ( 12 G) of the said hinge ( 1 ).  
     
     
         10 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 7  to  9 , in which the driving means ( 4 ) and/or the braking means ( 5 ) comprise an angular adjustment range ( 410 ,  510 ) in particular enabling modifications to the torques C M  and C F .  
     
     
         11 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , in which the said driving means ( 4 ) and/or the said braking means ( 5 ) comprise one or more springs ( 44 ,  54 ) typically with helical turns in which the axis is the axis ( 10 ) of the said hinge, one of its two ends ( 440 ,  550 ) cooperating with one of the two portions of the hinge, the other end ( 441 ,  551 ) cooperating with the other portion of the hinge, so as to obtain the said driving torque C M =M(α) and braking torque C F =F(α).  
     
     
         12 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , in which the said braking means ( 5 ) include axial cooperation between two non-cylindrical elements forming a friction element ( 56 ): a cam ( 560 ) typically forming a rigid internal element and a tubular element ( 561 ), typically made of an elastically and reversibly deformable material, with an internal profile facing the said cam chosen so as to obtain the said braking torque C F =F(α), and in which one of the non-cylindrical elements ( 560 ,  561 ) cooperates with one of the two hinge portions ( 2 ,  3 ), the other element ( 561 ,  560 ) cooperating with the other hinge portion ( 3 ,  2 ).  
     
     
         13 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , in which each of the driving means ( 4 ) and the braking means ( 5 ) comprises two parts fixed in rotation, one part ( 42 ,  52 ) comprising a means ( 420 ,  520 ) of fixing it to one of the hinge portions ( 2 ) and the other part ( 43 ,  53 ) forming a means ( 430 ,  530 ) of fixing it to the other hinge portion ( 3 ).  
     
     
         14 . Packaging according to  claim 13 , in which each means of fixing to one portion of the hinge is typically formed by an axial assembly of a male part and a female part belonging to the said fixing means and the said hinge, along the axis of the said hinge.  
     
     
         15 . Packaging according to  claim 14 , in which the said male and female parts are typically grooved, with a number N of ribs or grooves ( 20 ,  30 ,  45 ,  55 ) for the male part cooperating with a number N of grooves or ribs ( 20 ,  30 ,  45 ,  55 ) for the female part, where N typically varies from 3 to 18.  
     
     
         16 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  15 , composed of cases, make-up powder compacts, cream pots, perfume receptacles with hinge.  
     
     
         17 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  16 , the said packaging forming a typically round or oval shaped case ( 6 ), in which the said clasp ( 9 ) and possibly the said pushbutton ( 90 ) are placed outside a so-called prohibited area ( 71 ) of the said bottom ( 7 ), the said prohibited area ( 71 ) corresponding to a front and back part of the said case between the planes P 1  and P 2 , parallel to the said plane P, and that surround the said hinge.  
     
     
         18 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , the said packaging forming a typically square or rectangular case, in which the said clasp, and possibly the said pushbutton ( 90 ) are placed on one side or a side wall ( 72 ) of the bottom ( 7 ) of the case ( 6 ).  
     
     
         19 . Packaging according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , comprising two clasps ( 9 ) or pushbuttons ( 90 ) placed symmetrically with respect to the said central plane P, the said two clasps ( 9 ) or pushbuttons ( 90 ) also forming manual areas for gripping the said packaging.  
     
     
         20 . Process for manufacturing a packaging according to any one of  claims 7  to  19 , in which the so-called driving means ( 4 ) and braking means ( 5 ) act as right pins ( 41 D,  51 D) and left pins ( 41 G,  51 G) to fix the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ) together, and after the said first and second hinge portions have been put into position, the so-called driving means ( 4 ) and braking means ( 5 ) are obtained and then assembled to the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ), typically by axial click fitting at zero or almost zero stress, the opening angle α of the cover being close to 0° during assembly of the so-called braking means ( 5 ) and the opening angle α of the cover being close to  900  for the so-called driving means ( 4 ).  
     
     
         21 . Process for manufacturing a packaging according to any one of  claims 10  to  19 , in which the so-called driving means ( 4 ) and braking means ( 5 ) act as first and second pins to fix the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ) together, and after the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ) have been put into position, the so-called driving means ( 4 ) and braking means ( 5 ) are obtained and then assembled to the said first hinge portion ( 2 ) and second hinge portion ( 3 ), typically by axial click fitting at zero or almost zero stress, the so-called driving means ( 4 ) and/or braking means ( 5 ) comprising an accessible fixing means ( 420 ,  430 ,  520 ,  530 ) at one end and comprising an angular adjustment means ( 410 ,  510 ) such that, after it has been assembled, the angle of the said accessible fixing means can be adjusted later, particularly by orientation of the said ribs and grooves ( 20 ,  30 ,  45 ,  55 ) enabling rotation with respect to each other, to obtain the so-called opposing driving torque C M =M(α) and braking torque C F =F(α).