Packaging device

Abstract

A packaging device includes a plurality of applicators and a support for receiving the applicators. A support includes a plurality of spacers disposed between the applicators. Two consecutive spacers are interconnected at one end in a hinged manner. A support is formed as a single piece by molding a plastic material.

1 . A packaging device, comprising: 
 a plurality of applicators; and    a support for receiving the applicators;    wherein: 
 the support comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between the applicators;  
 two consecutive spacers are interconnected at one end in a hinged manner; and  
 the support is a single piece of a molded plastic material.  
   
   
   
       2 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic material is a polyolefin.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein two consecutive spacers are interconnected by a film hinge.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , comprising a receptacle, the support being situated inside the receptacle.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging device of  claim 4 , wherein the receptacle comprises a body and a lid, the lid being releasably secured to the body.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging device of  claim 5 , wherein the lid is configured to be secured to the body in a leak-tight manner.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging device of  claim 5 , wherein the receptacle comprises a threaded neck and the lid is configured to be screwed onto the neck.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein each applicator is impregnated with at least one substance.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging device of  claim 8 , wherein the substance is a liquid or a powder.  
   
   
       10 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicators are impregnated by a substance filling the receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one applicator has two faces impregnated by different substances.  
   
   
       12 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are arranged to prevent contact between faces of the applicators carried by the support.  
   
   
       13 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the support is arranged to cooperate with the receptacle to prevent the support from being completely removed from the receptacle.  
   
   
       14 . The packaging device of  claim 13 , wherein the support comprises a base portion arranged to pass through an opening of the receptacle by deforming elastically and to prevent the support from being completely removed from the receptacle.  
   
   
       15 . The packaging device of  claim 14 , wherein when the support is in a storage configuration, the support stands on a bottom of the receptacle via the base portion of the support.  
   
   
       16 . The packaging device of  claim 14 , wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of elastically deformable tabs.  
   
   
       17 . The packaging device of  claim 14 , wherein each tab comprises a portion extending radially outwards, the portion being extended downwards by a chamfered bottom portion making the support easier to insert into the receptacle.  
   
   
       18 . The packaging device of  claim 16 , wherein the receptacle comprises a neck defining a shoulder at a bottom end, the tabs abutting against the shoulder to retain the support inside the receptacle.  
   
   
       19 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers comprise plates.  
   
   
       20 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are of a transverse size that is smaller than a transverse size of the applicators.  
   
   
       21 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers extend substantially parallel to one another and in a substantially equidistant manner when the support is in a storage configuration.  
   
   
       22 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are configured so that when the support is in a storage configuration, at least one applicator extends beyond a spacer that is contiguous with the applicator.  
   
   
       23 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are arranged such that when the support is in a storage configuration, at least one applicator extends beyond the spacer on a side remote from a hinged side.  
   
   
       24 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises from ten to thirty applicators.  
   
   
       25 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicators are disk-shaped.  
   
   
       26 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicators have a thickness in a the range of from 0.5 mm to 3 mm.  
   
   
       27 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a top portion connected in a hinged manner to an adjacent spacer.  
   
   
       28 . The packaging device of  claim 27 , wherein the top portion is provided with a handle member.  
   
   
       29 . The packaging device of  claim 28 , wherein the handle member is in the form of an outwardly-directed tongue.  
   
   
       30 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a top portion having a transverse size that is greater than a transverse size of the spacers, and a transverse size that is slightly greater than a transverse size of the applicators.  
   
   
       31 . The packaging device of  claim 27 , wherein the top portion completely covers an underlying applicator.  
   
   
       32 . The packaging device of  claim 27 , wherein the top portion has an opening passing therethrough.  
   
   
       33 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein two consecutive spacers are configured to prevent flattening of an applicator placed between the spacers.  
   
   
       34 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a trunk carrying the spacers and all the spacers extend from a same side of the trunk.  
   
   
       35 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein all of the spacers are identical.  
   
   
       36 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein each spacer comprises two ends and wherein the two ends of the spacers are vertically superimposed when the device is in a storage configuration.  
   
   
       37 . A method of treating skin, mucous membranes, nails or hair with the packaging device of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 causing at least one spacer to pivot relative to another spacer to bring an applicator situated between the two spacers into a position enabling the applicator to be taken; and    taking the applicator and applying a cosmetic with the applicator.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein prior to taking the applicator, the support is extracted in part from a receptacle that enables applicators to be packaged hermetically or to be impregnated with the cosmetic.  
   
   
       39 . A method of manufacturing the packaging device of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 obtaining a filler station with a support comprising a plurality of spacers interconnected at one end in a hinged manner; and    inserting applicators between the spacers.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein inserting applicators is performed by spacing apart two consecutive spacers so that they form an upwardly-open V-shape, and causing an applicator to slide vertically between the consecutive spacers.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the applicators for insertion between the spacers are stacked in a dispenser provided with a pusher enabling the applicators to be pressed one by one against a transfer member.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the transfer member comprises a roller that is driven in rotation.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein during filling the support comes to bear against a holder member, and a base portion of the support is moved vertically to cause or accompany movement of the support relative to the holder member.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the support is inserted in a folded-up state into a receptacle.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the support is configured to pass through an opening of the receptacle by elastically-deforming a base portion.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the receptacle is filled at least in part with a liquid and is closed hermetically.  
   
   
       47 . A packaging device, comprising: 
 a receptacle;    a plurality of applicators; and    a support for receiving the applicators;    wherein: 
 the support comprises a plurality of spacers having one end and being disposed between the applicators;  
 two consecutive spacers are interconnected at one end in a hinged manner; and  
 the support comprises a base portion arranged to go through an opening of the receptacle by deforming elastically and to prevent the support from being completely removed from the receptacle.  
   
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein the two consecutive spacers are interconnected by a film hinge.  
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the receptacle comprises a threaded neck and a lid, the lid being arranged to be screwed onto the neck.  
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein each applicator is impregnated with at least one substance.  
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein the substance is a liquid or a powder.  
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the applicators are impregnated by a substance filling the receptacle.  
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein at least one applicator has two faces, each face being impregnated by a different substance.  
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the spacers are configured to prevent contact between faces of applicators carried by the support.  
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein when the support is in a storage configuration, the support stands on a bottom of the receptacle via the base portion of the support.  
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of elastically-deformable tabs.  
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein each tab comprises a portion extending radially outwards, the portion being extended downwards by a chamfered bottom portion and facilitating insertion of the support into the receptacle.  
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the receptacle comprises a neck defining a shoulder at a bottom end, the tabs abutting against the shoulder to retain the support inside the receptacle.  
   
   
       59 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the spacers comprise plates.  
   
   
       60 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the spacers are of a transverse size that is smaller than a transverse size of the applicators.  
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the spacers extend substantially parallel to one another and in a substantially equidistant manner when the support is in a storage configuration.  
   
   
       62 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the spacers are arranged in such a manner that when the support is in a storage configuration, at least one applicator extends beyond a spacer contiguous with the applicator.  
   
   
       63 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the spacers are arranged such that when the support is in a storage configuration, at least one applicator extends beyond the spacer on a side remote from a hinged side.  
   
   
       64 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the device comprises from ten to thirty applicators.  
   
   
       65 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the applicators are disk-shaped.  
   
   
       66 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the applicators have a thickness of from 0.5 mm to 3 mm.  
   
   
       67 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the support comprises a top portion connected in a hinged manner to an adjacent spacer.  
   
   
       68 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein the top portion is provided with a handle member.  
   
   
       69 . The device of  claim 68 , wherein the handle member is in the form of an outwardly-directed tongue.  
   
   
       70 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein the top portion presents a transverse size that is greater than a transverse size of the spacers and a transverse size that is greater than a transverse size of the applicators.  
   
   
       71 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein the top portion completely covers an underlying applicator.  
   
   
       72 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein the top portion has an opening passing therethrough.  
   
   
       73 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein two consecutive spacers are configured to prevent flattening of an applicator placed between the spacers.  
   
   
       74 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the support comprises a trunk carrying the spacers and wherein all the spacers extend from the same side of the trunk.  
   
   
       75 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein all of the spacers are identical.  
   
   
       76 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein each spacer comprises two ends and the two ends of the spacers are vertically superimposed when the device is in a storage configuration.  
   
   
       77 . A method for treating skin, mucous membranes, nails or hair using the packaging device of  claim 47 , comprising: 
 causing at least one spacer to pivot relative to another spacer to bring an applicator situated between the two spacers into a position enabling the applicator to be taken; and    taking the applicator and applying a substance by means of the applicator.    
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein prior to taking an applicator, the support is extracted in part from a receptacle that enables applicators to be packaged hermetically or that enables applicators to be impregnated with the substance.  
   
   
       79 . A method of manufacturing the packaging device of  claim 47 , comprising: 
 obtaining a filler station with a support comprising a plurality of spacers interconnected at one end in a hinged manner; and    inserting applicators between the spacers.    
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein inserting applicators is performed by spacing apart two consecutive spacers so that they form an upwardly-open V-shape and causing an applicator to slide vertically between the two consecutive spacers.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the applicators are stacked in a dispenser provided with a pusher enabling the applicators to be pressed one by one against a transfer member.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the transfer member comprises a roller that is driven in rotation.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein, during filling, a trunk of the support comprising hinges interconnecting the spacers comes to bear against a holder member, and the base portion of the support is moved vertically to cause or accompany movement of the support relative to the holder member.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the support is inserted in a folded-up state into a receptacle.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the support is configured for passing through an opening of the receptacle by elastically-deforming a base portion.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the receptacle is filled at least in part with a liquid and is closed hermetically.