Application unit for a lipstick-type product

Abstract

An application unit ( 1 ) includes a first compartment ( 4 ) intended to form a housing for an application ( 6 ) containing a product capable of solubilizing or gelling on its surface in contact with a liquid composition, and mounted in a detachable manner in the first compartment ( 4 ) through a first opening ( 11 ); and a second compartment ( 5 ) separated from the first compartment and including an element ( 14 ) impregnated with the liquid composition, and capable of restoring a quantity of the liquid composition to the applicator ( 6 ) when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment ( 5 ) through a second opening ( 18 ) and caused to bear on a restoring surface ( 50 ) of the element ( 14 ). A detachable closure ( 3, 8, 9, 20 ) is provided for respectively obturating the first opening ( 11 ) and the second opening ( 18 ).

What we claim isWhat is claimed is:  
     
       1. An application unit comprising: 
       a first compartment having a first opening;  
       an applicator containing a product capable of solubilizing or gelling on a surface in contact with a liquid composition, and mounted in a detachable manner in said first compartment through said first opening;  
       a second compartment separated from the first compartment and having a second opening;  
       an impregnated element in said second compartment and impregnated with a liquid composition, said impregnated element being capable of applying a quantity of said liquid composition to the applicator when the applicator is introduced into said second compartment through said second opening and caused to bear on a restoring surface of said impregnated element; and  
       detachable closing means for respectively obturating said first opening and said second opening.  
     
     
       2. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said impregnated element is formed by at least one of a foam block with at least semi-open cells, a felt wick, a sintered element, and an elastomer of low hardness with at least semi-open cells. 
     
     
       3. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the restoring surface of said impregnated element is covered by one of a flocked coating, a perforated film of a thermoplastic elastomer, a plastic, a layer of felt, and a textile fabric. 
     
     
       4. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition is substantially wholly contained inside said impregnated element. 
     
     
       5. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said impregnated element has a first end in the vicinity of said second opening and a second end on an opposite side to the first end, and wherein said impregnated element has, at least at said first end, a cross-section substantially identical with an internal cross-section of the second compartment. 
     
     
       6. An application unit according to  claim 5 , wherein said second compartment has a bottom, said second end being substantially in contact with said bottom. 
     
     
       7. An application unit according to  claim 6 , wherein in a vicinity of said bottom, the second compartment defines all around said impregnated element an annular space defining a volume capable of containing a reserve of said liquid composition for feeding said impregnated element, said impregnated element being capable of drawing up said liquid composition from the reserve. 
     
     
       8. An application unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the second end is situated in a fixed intermediate position between a bottom of the second compartment and said second opening, so as to define, between the bottom and the said second end, a volume capable of containing a reserve of said liquid composition for feeding said impregnated element, said impregnated element being capable of drawing up said liquid composition from said reserve. 
     
     
       9. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said applicator is one of a styptic pencil, a stick of lipstick, a make-up foundation, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), guar gum, and a skin treatment product. 
     
     
       10. An application unit according to claim  1 , wherein the liquid composition contains at least one of water, any other solvent, preservatives, film-forming elements, emollients, and active compounds. 
     
     
       11. An application unit according to  claim 1 , including means for detachably mounting the second compartment relative to the first compartment. 
     
     
       12. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second compartments are aligned along a single axis and are disposed so that said first and second openings are situated in opposite directions to one another. 
     
     
       13. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment has an auxiliary opening on an opposite side to said second opening for replacing said impregnated element or for allowing said second compartment to be refilled with the liquid composition, further comprising detachable means for sealingly obturating said auxiliary opening. 
     
     
       14. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said applicator includes a gripping element providing a leakproof seal of said first opening. 
     
     
       15. An application unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the gripping element has a frustoconical portion cooperable with a complementary profile of said first opening. 
     
     
       16. An application unit according to  claim 14 , wherein said gripping element has means for limiting a degree of insertion of the applicator into the second compartment. 
     
     
       17. An application unit according to  claim 14 , wherein said applicator is disposed in a cup carried by said gripping element, and wherein said applicator is formed by molding or extrusion. 
     
     
       18. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said detachable closing means comprises a detachable cap carrying a frustoconical element, wherein said second opening is sealingly obturated by said frustoconical element cooperating with a complementary profile of said second opening. 
     
     
       19. An application unit according to  claim 18 , including a sealing element disposed inside said second opening, said sealing element being disposed so as to prevent the emergence of said impregnated element through said second opening. 
     
     
       20. An application unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said applicator has a cross-section which is one of circular, triangular, square, oval, and elliptical. 
     
     
       21. An application unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising, in the bottom of the first compartment, an element which is not in contact with the applicator and which is impregnated with a humidifying liquid. 
     
     
       22. An application unit comprising: 
       
         a first compartment having a first opening;  
       
       
         an applicator comprising a product having a surface capable of solubilizing or gelling when placed in contact with a liquid composition, the applicator being configured to be removably disposed in the first compartment through the first opening;  
       
       
         a second compartment separated from the first compartment and having a second opening; and  
       
       
         an impregnatable element in said second compartment, the impregnatable element being configured to be impregnated with a liquid composition, the impregnatable element being capable of applying a quantity of the liquid composition to the applicator when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment through the second opening and placed in contact with a surface of the impregnatable element. 
       
     
     
       23. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the applicator comprises a portion configured to provide a removable closure for the first opening. 
     
     
       24. The application unit of  claim 22 , further comprising a removable closure for at least the second opening. 
     
     
       25. The application unit of  claim 24 , further comprising a movable lid, wherein the removable closure for at least the second opening is associated with the movable lid. 
     
     
       26. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the impregnatable element comprises at least one of a foam block with at least semi- open cells, a felt wick, a sintered element, and an elastomer of low hardness with at least semi - open cells.   
     
     
       27. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the surface of the impregnatable element is covered by one of a flocked coating, a perforated film of a thermoplastic elastomer, a plastic, a layer of felt, and a textile fabric. 
     
     
       28. The application unit of  claim 22 , further comprising liquid composition contained in the second compartment. 
     
     
       29. The application unit of  claim 28 , wherein the liquid composition is substantially wholly contained inside the impregnatable element. 
     
     
       30. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the impregnatable element has first and second opposite ends, the first end of the impregnatable element being closer than the second end of the impregnatable element to the second opening, and wherein at least the first end of the impregnatable element has a cross- section substantially identical to an internal cross - section of the second compartment.   
     
     
       31. The application unit of  claim 30 , wherein the second compartment has a bottom, the second end of the impregnatable element being substantially in contact with the bottom of the second compartment. 
     
     
       32. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the second compartment has a bottom, and wherein in a vicinity of the bottom of the second compartment, the second compartment defines adjacent to the impregnatable element a space capable of containing a reserve of the liquid composition for the impregnatable element, the impregnatable element being capable of drawing up the liquid composition from the reserve. 
     
     
       33. The application unit of  claim 30 , wherein the second end is located in a fixed intermediate position between a bottom of the second compartment and the second opening, so as to define, between the bottom and the second end, a volume capable of containing a reserve of the liquid composition for the impregnatable element, the impregnatable element being capable of drawing up the liquid composition from the reserve. 
     
     
       34. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the product is chosen from a styptic pencil, a stick of lipstick, a make- up foundation, polyvinyl alcohol  ( PVA ) , guar gum, and a skin treatment product.   
     
     
       35. The application unit of  claim 28 , wherein the liquid composition comprises at least one of water, any other solvent, preservatives, film- forming elements, emollients, and active compounds.   
     
     
       36. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are detachably mounted together. 
     
     
       37. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed so that said first and second openings face in opposite directions to one another. 
     
     
       38. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the second compartment has an auxiliary opening on an opposite side to the second opening for at least one of replacing the impregnatable element and allowing the second compartment to be filled with the liquid composition, and wherein the application unit further comprises detachable means for sealingly obturating the auxiliary opening. 
     
     
       39. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the applicator includes a gripping element providing a leakproof seal for the first opening. 
     
     
       40. The application unit of  claim 39 , wherein the gripping element has a frustoconical portion cooperable with a complementary profile of the first opening. 
     
     
       41. The application unit of  claim 39 , wherein the gripping element is configured to limit a degree of insertion of the applicator into the second compartment. 
     
     
       42. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the applicator includes a cup containing the product, and a gripping element on the cup. 
     
     
       43. The application unit of  claim 42 , wherein the cup and the gripping element are formed by one of molding and extrusion. 
     
     
       44. The application unit of  claim 22 , further comprising a detachable cap including a sealing element configured to seal the second opening. 
     
     
       45. The application unit of  claim 22 , further comprising an element in the second compartment configured to prevent passage of the impregnatable element through the second opening. 
     
     
       46. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the product has a cross- section chosen from circular, triangular, square, oval, and elliptical.   
     
     
       47. The application unit of  claim 22 , further comprising, in the first compartment, an element impregnated with a humidifying liquid. 
     
     
       48. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined in a case formed of a unitary piece of material. 
     
     
       49. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the second compartment has an auxiliary opening and wherein the application unit further comprises a lid covering the auxiliary opening. 
     
     
       50. The application unit of  claim 49 , wherein the second opening is at a first end of the second compartment and the auxiliary opening is at a second end of the second compartment opposite to the first end. 
     
     
       51. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the impregnatable element comprises compressible material, and wherein the applicator is configured to compress the impregnatable element when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment. 
     
     
       52. The application unit of  claim 22 , wherein the impregnatable element is configured to retain the liquid composition in the second compartment. 
     
     
       53. An application unit comprising: 
       
         a first compartment having a first opening;  
       
       
         a second compartment separated from the first compartment and having a second opening, the second compartment being configured to contain a liquid composition; and  
       
       
         an applicator comprising a product having a surface capable of solubilizing or gelling when placed in contact with the liquid composition, the applicator being configured to be removably disposed in the first compartment through the first opening, and the applicator being configured to be removably disposed in the second compartment through the second opening. 
       
     
     
       54. The application unit of  claim 53 , further comprising an impregnatable element in the second compartment, the impregnatable element being configured to be impregnated with the liquid composition. 
     
     
       55. The application unit of  claim 54 , wherein the impregnatable element is capable of applying a quantity of the liquid composition to the applicator when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment through the second opening. 
     
     
       56. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the applicator comprises a portion configured to provide a removable closure for the first opening. 
     
     
       57. The application unit of  claim 53 , further comprising a removable closure for at least the second opening. 
     
     
       58. The application unit of  claim 57 , further comprising a movable lid, wherein the removable closure for at least the second opening is associated with the movable lid. 
     
     
       59. The application unit of  claim 54 , wherein the impregnatable element comprises at least one of a foam block with at least semi- open cells, a felt wick, a sintered element, and an elastomer of low hardness with at least semi - open cells.   
     
     
       60. The application unit of  claim 53 , further comprising liquid composition contained in the second compartment. 
     
     
       61. The application unit of  claim 60 , further comprising an impregnatable element, wherein the liquid composition is substantially wholly contained inside the impregnatable element. 
     
     
       62. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the product is chosen from a styptic pencil, a stick of lipstick, a make- up foundation, polyvinyl alcohol  ( PVA ),  guar gum, and a skin treatment product.   
     
     
       63. The application unit of  claim 60 , wherein the liquid composition comprises at least one of water, any other solvent, preservatives, film- forming elements, emollients, and active compounds.   
     
     
       64. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are detachably mounted together. 
     
     
       65. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed so that the first and second openings face in opposite directions to one another. 
     
     
       66. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the first and second openings face in the same direction. 
     
     
       67. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the second compartment has an auxiliary opening for allowing the second compartment to be filled with the liquid composition. 
     
     
       68. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the applicator includes a gripping element providing a leakproof seal for the first opening. 
     
     
       69. The application unit of  claim 68 , wherein the gripping element is configured to limit a degree of insertion of the applicator into the second compartment. 
     
     
       70. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the applicator includes a cup containing the product, and a gripping element on the cup. 
     
     
       71. The application unit of  claim 53 , further comprising a detachable cap including a sealing element configured to seal the second opening. 
     
     
       72. The application unit of  claim 53 , further comprising, in the first compartment, an element impregnated with a humidifying liquid. 
     
     
       73. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined in a case formed of a unitary piece of material. 
     
     
       74. The application unit of  claim 53 , wherein the second compartment has an auxiliary opening and wherein the application unit further comprises a lid covering the auxiliary opening. 
     
     
       75. The application unit of  claim 74 , wherein the second opening is at a first end of the second compartment and the auxiliary opening is at a second end of the second compartment opposite to the first end.