Pinching seal for airtight containers

Abstract

A cosmetic product container includes a dish and a cover, the dish having a base and a lateral wall, and the cover being equipped with a seal typically placed at the periphery of the cover. The seal includes at least one substantially axial internal lip and one substantially axial external lip that surround a recess intended to receive the upper edge of the lateral wall of the dish, the seal being designed so that when the upper edge of the lateral wall of the dish comes into contact with the base of the recess by transmitting an axial closing force (F) on the seal, the ends of the internal and external lips are subjected respectively to a centrifugal (E) and centripetal (I) lateral movement so that both come into contact with the lateral wall of the dish. The container may be a refill or a pan for a make-up compact.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to French Application No. 0510363 filed Oct. 11, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to the field of containers for cosmetic products, typically compacts for make-up products, comprising a base and a cover, the cover and the base being provided with complementary closure means. It relates more specifically to compacts with a tight seal. BACKGROUND [0003] Cosmetic products, in particular for make-up and skin care, often contain volatile compounds that ensure some moisture upon application but that evaporate very quickly when in contact with the free air to leave a dry material on the skin. Other products, packaged similarly, may also contain compounds that are sensitive to air. All of these products must be packaged in airtight compacts in order to prevent their condition from quickly deteriorating and becoming either aesthetically unacceptable (for example, a dried-out product at th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Embodiments of the invention overcome the problems of dimensional tolerance in production associated with the desired diametrical or lateral interference. Aspects of the invention also overcome, with the pressure stress exerted horizontally on the seal being transformed into a lateral stress acting on the ends of the seal, the problems of planarity encountered in the compacts of the prior art. Indeed, even if the upper edge of the lateral wall does not come into contact with the base of the recess, the overall deformation of the seal may cause a pinching that provides, also in this location, two airtight areas. Embodiments of the invention also make it possible to instantaneously eliminate any diametrical interference upon unlocking of the compact, which in fact makes it possible to apply a lower opening force.

[0013] The examples provided below describe various seal cross-sections enabling the desired effect to be obtained. These seals are adapted to various embodiments and various possible applications. Their cross-sections are based on the same principle: the base of the recess can easily be bowed under the effect of axial stress, and its axial movement causes a bend in the seal resulting in a pinching of the internal and external lips. The profile of the cross section of the seal and that of the end of the edge of the lateral wall can be developed so as to find the best contact conditions according to the position of the desired contact area. For example, the presence of gadroons on the portions opposite the ends of the lips, at the end of the recess edge can allow for a greater contact surface under the direct effect of the axial closing force.

[0017] The cover can be made of any material if the seal covers it completely. Otherwise a material similar to that of the dish may be used, preferably a bit more rigid to preserve the shape of the cover, and therefore that of the seal, under the effect of the stresses caused when the container is opened and closed.

Problems solved by technology

Some compacts use the same diametrical interference sealing system as lipstick tubes, but due to the large diameters of the pans, the diametrical interference necessary for ensuring air-tightness is often very high, thereby necessitating significant forces to close and open the compact.

However, the diametrical or lateral interference, which allows for a tight seal, requires not only a relatively significant force to close the container (achieved by pressure on the cover), but also a high force to open it.

This can be inconvenient for the user, because the application of such a force can result in a sudden opening of the compact with a risk of spilling the elements contained inside the compact.

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