초록 ▼

A unit for applying at least one product comprises a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve. The container comprises an interior and an opening. The unit further comprises a cap configured

A unit for applying at least one product comprises a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve. The container comprises an interior and an opening. The unit further comprises a cap configured to seal the opening, a flexible stem, and an applicator member at an end of the flexible stem. The applicator member is removably arranged in the interior of the container and is accessible via the opening.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A unit for applying at least one product, the unit comprising: a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve, the container comprising an interior and an opening; a cap

What is claimed is: 1. A unit for applying at least one product, the unit comprising: a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve, the container comprising an interior and an opening; a cap configured to seal the opening; a flexible stem; and an applicator member at an end of the flexible stem, the applicator member being removably arranged in the interior of the container and being accessible via the opening, wherein the interior of the container is configured to guide the flexible stem substantially along the longitudinal axis when the applicator member is removably arranged in the interior of the container. 2. The unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one product in the container. 3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the at least one product is chosen from cosmetic products, care products, and hygiene products. 4. The unit of claim 2, wherein the at least one product comprises make-up. 5. The unit of claim 1, wherein curvature of the axis is substantially constant along the length of the axis. 6. The unit of claim 1, wherein curvature of the axis varies along the length of the axis. 7. The unit of claim 1, wherein the curve lies substantially in a plane. 8. The unit of claim 1, wherein the applicator member is secured to a first end of the stem and the cap is secured to a second end of the stem opposite to the first end. 9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the stem is hollow. 10. The unit of claim 1, wherein the stem has at least one region of greater flexibility proximate to the applicator member. 11. The unit of claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises flocking. 12. The unit of claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises foam. 13. The unit of claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises a brush comprising a twisted wire core. 14. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a mirror associated with the container. 15. The unit of claim 1, wherein at least part of the container is formed by a method chosen from extrusion, blow-molding, machining, injection-molding, thermoforming, and molding. 16. The unit of claim 1, wherein the container is formed as a unitary part. 17. The unit of claim 1, wherein the container is formed as a multi-component part. 18. The unit of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an attached bottom and an attached neck and wherein the opening is defined by a free edge of the attached neck. 19. The unit of claim 1, wherein the unit is configured so that the applicator member contacts an inner surface of the container during rotational movement of the stem. 20. The unit of claim 1, wherein the interior of the container comprises a longitudinal axis at least substantially the same as said longitudinal axis of the container. 21. The unit of claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to seal the opening to prevent leakage of product from the container. 22. The unit of claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to cover the opening. 23. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a wiping member mounted near the opening, wherein the wiping member interacts with the applicator member at least when the applicator member is withdrawn from the interior of the container. 24. The unit of claim 23, wherein the wiping member comprises an annular element. 25. The unit of claim 24, wherein the annular element has an interior cross-section that is smaller than a maximum cross-section of the applicator member. 26. The unit of claim 23, wherein the wiping member comprises a material chosen from thermoplastic materials, elastomeric materials, and foam materials. 27. The unit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stem is configured in the form of a helical spring. 28. The unit of claim 27, wherein said at least a portion of the stem has contiguous turns. 29. The unit of claim 1, wherein the stem comprises a metal element. 30. The unit of claim 29, wherein the stem further comprises a tubular element and wherein the metal element is inside the tubular element. 31. The unit of claim 30, wherein the tubular element comprises a thermoplastic material. 32. The unit of claim 29, wherein the metal element comprises metal wire. 33. The unit of claim 1, wherein the stem comprises a solid element. 34. The unit of claim 33, wherein the solid element comprises a thermoplastic material. 35. The unit of claim 1, wherein the cap is removably mounted to the container. 36. The unit of claim 35, wherein the cap is removably mounted to the container by one of snap-fastening, screw-fastening, and a system involving ramps. 37. The unit of claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises at least one of a paintbrush-type brush, a bottle-type brush, an applicator comb, a molded element, a spring, a felt element, a sintered material, and a threaded shank. 38. The unit of claim 37, wherein the sintered material is chosen from thermoplastics and ceramics. 39. The unit of claim 37, wherein the applicator member has reliefs formed on its surface. 40. The unit of claim 39, wherein the reliefs are chosen from the striation type and the diamond-tip type. 41. The unit of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a thermoplastic material. 42. The unit of claim 41, wherein the thermoplastic material is chosen from polyethylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyethylene terephthalates, polyamides, polyesters, and polystyrenes. 43. The unit of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a first container and wherein the unit further comprises an auxiliary container associated with the first container. 44. The unit of claim 43, wherein the auxiliary container is located inside the curve defined by the axis of the first container. 45. The unit of claim 43, further comprising a mirror mounted on the first container. 46. The unit of claim 43, further comprising a mirror mounted on the auxiliary container. 47. The unit of claim 43, wherein the auxiliary container is removably mounted to the first container. 48. The unit of claim 43, wherein the auxiliary container is permanently mounted to the first container. 49. The unit of claim 43, further comprising at least one product in the auxiliary container. 50. The unit of claim 49, wherein the at least one product is chosen from cosmetic products, care products, and hygiene products. 51. The unit of claim 49, further comprising at least one product in the first container, wherein the at least one product in the auxiliary container differs from the product in the first container. 52. The unit of claim 49, further comprising at least one product in the first container, wherein the at least one product in the auxiliary container is identical to the product in the first container. 53. The unit of claim 1, wherein the stem is removably arranged in the interior of the container. 54. The unit of claim 53, wherein the stem is configured so that the stem returns to a substantially straightened shape when the applicator member is removed from the container. 55. The unit of claim 1, wherein the interior has a generally tubular shape comprising at least one curve. 56. The unit of claim 55, wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of the container has a generally tubular shape comprising at least one curve. 57. A method of applying product, comprising: providing the unit of claim 1; loading the applicator member with product; and placing the loaded applicator member in contact with at least one of skin, hair, a finger nail, a toe nail, eyelashes, and eyebrows so as to apply product thereto. 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the loading comprises loading the applicator member with at least one of lip make-up, mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, nail varnish, cream, blush, and powder. 59. The method of claim 57, further comprising wiping the applicator member with a wiping member. 60. The method of claim 57, further comprising placing the applicator member in contact with an inner surface of the container. 61. The method of claim 57, further comprising removing the applicator member from the container, wherein the stem returns from a curved shape to a substantially straightened shape during the applicator member removal. 62. The method of claim 57, further comprising inserting the applicator member into the container, wherein the stem becomes curved during the inserting. 63. A unit for applying at least one product, the unit comprising: a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve, the container comprising an interior and an opening; a cap configured to seal the opening; a flexible stem; and an applicator member at an end of the flexible stem, the applicator member being removably arranged in the interior of the container and being accessible via the opening, wherein the curve lies substantially in a plane, and wherein the curve extends over an interval ranging from one-fourth of a full turn to three full turns. 64. The unit of claim 63, wherein the curve extends over an interval ranging from one-half of a full turn to one and a half turns. 65. A unit for applying at least one product, the unit comprising: a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve, the container comprising an interior and an opening; a cap configured to seal the opening; a flexible stem; and an applicator member at an end of the flexible stem, the applicator member being removably arranged in the interior of the container and being accessible via the opening, wherein the curve defines at least a portion of a helix. 66. The unit of claim 65, wherein the curve extends over at least one-half of a full turn. 67. The unit of claim 66, wherein the curve extends over at least one full turn. 68. A unit for applying at least one product, the unit comprising: a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve, the container comprising an interior and an opening; a cap configured to seal the opening; a flexible stem; an applicator member at an end of the flexible stem, the applicator member being removably arranged in the interior of the container and being accessible via the opening; and a mirror associated with the container, wherein the mirror is located inside the curve defined by the axis of the container. 69. A unit for applying at least one product, the unit comprising: a container defining a longitudinal axis curved over at least a portion of its length so that at least a portion of the axis defines at least one curve, the container comprising an interior and an opening; a cap configured to seal the opening; a flexible stem; and an applicator member at an end of the flexible stem, the applicator member being removably arranged in the interior of the container and being accessible via the opening, wherein the flexible stem is configured to have a curvature similar to the curvature of the longitudinal axis when the applicator member is removably arranged in the interior of the container. 70. The unit of claim 69, further comprising at least one product in the container, the at least one product being chosen from cosmetic products, care products, and hygiene products. 71. The unit of claim 69, wherein curvature of the longitudinal axis is substantially constant along the length of the axis. 72. The unit of claim 69, wherein curvature of the longitudinal axis varies along the length of the axis. 73. The unit of claim 69, wherein the curve lies substantially in a plane. 74. The unit of claim 69, further comprising a wiping member mounted near the opening, wherein the wiping member interacts with the applicator member at least when the applicator member is withdrawn from the interior of the container. 75. The unit of claim 69, wherein the applicator member is secured to a first end of the stem and the cap is secured to a second end of the stem opposite to the first end. 76. The unit of claim 69, wherein at least a portion of the stem is configured in the form of a helical spring. 77. The unit of claim 69, wherein the stem has at least one region of greater flexibility proximate to the applicator member. 78. The unit of claim 69, wherein the cap is removably mounted to the container. 79. The unit of claim 69, wherein the container comprises a first container and wherein the unit further comprises an auxiliary container associated with the first container. 80. The unit of claim 79, wherein the auxiliary container is removably or permanently mounted to the first container. 81. The unit of claim 69, wherein the stem is configured so that the stem returns to a substantially straightened shape when the applicator member is removed from the container. 82. The unit of claim 69, wherein the unit is configured so that the applicator member contacts an inner surface of the container during rotational movement of the stem. 83. The unit of claim 69, wherein the interior of the container comprises a longitudinal axis at least substantially the same as said longitudinal axis of the container. 84. A method of applying product, comprising: providing the unit of claim 69; loading the applicator member with product; and placing the loaded applicator member in contact with at least one of skin, hair, a finger nail, a toe nail, eyelashes, and eyebrows so as to apply product thereto. 85. The method of claim 84, wherein the loading comprises loading the applicator member with at least one of lip make-up, mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, nail varnish, cream, blush, and powder. 86. The method of claim 84, further comprising removing the applicator member from the container, wherein the stem returns from a curved shape to a substantially straightened shape during the applicator member removal. 87. The method of claim 84, further comprising inserting the applicator member into the container, wherein the stem becomes curved during the inserting.