Patent Application
20070048066
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an applicator for a cosmetic product comprising a rod and an application surface made of a relatively soft material and extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the rod, said application surface being formed by a plurality of cones arranged parallel to each other.
2. Background Art
An applicator of this type is known from US 2002/0048482 A.
With this as the starting point, the invention has as its object to create an applicator, especially for a cosmetic lip product, whose application surface is textured such that the cosmetic preparation penetrates also into skin wrinkles or the like and is able to develop its therapeutic effect there and/or provide for an even, uniform coloring, while at the same time ensuring an optimal wiping action.
This object is met according to the invention in such a way that the application surface is provided on an applicator front part made of a soft material extending over a retention element made of a comparatively hard synthetic material, said retention element being inserted in a cavity of the rod, and the outer contour of the applicator front part and of the rod transitioning into each other without gradation.
These cones, with their free ends, define the application surface. They have a certain elasticity and movability and can therefore massage the cosmetic preparation, which is stored between them and/or within the rim of the application surface, into wrinkles and uneven areas.
As a result of the inventive joining of the applicator and the rod an exterior gradation is prevented, so that a problem-free wiping action is made possible.
The retention element is advantageously inserted in a cavity of the rod, in such a way that this cavity may taper approximately conically toward the proximal end and accommodate the retention element in a press fit.
The applicator front part may have a proximal annular shoulder sitting against the front face of the rod when inserted.
The length of the cones may advantageously be approximately 1 mm, with 10 to 100, preferably approximately 50 cones being provided.
The rod may be arranged in a manner known per se on a closing cap for a receptacle receiving a cosmetic preparation.
The invention also relates to a cosmetic unit comprising an applicator of the above-described type.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing.
A cosmetic unit 1 shown in the drawing comprises a receptacle 2 provided with a screw cap 3, which can be screwed onto an outside thread 4, which is formed on a tapered neck 5 of the receptacle 2.
Inserted in the receptacle neck 5 is a wiper unit 6, which is provided at its distal end with wiper lips 7. The wiper unit 6 extends over the front face of the receptacle neck 5 and in this manner, at the same time, forms a seal 8 that sits against a front face 9 of the screw cap 3 when the same is screwed on.
The wiper unit 6 also comprises an outer positioning extension 10 made of a different synthetic material, which has an annular bead 11 for engaging into a corresponding annular groove 12 on the inside of the receptacle neck 5.
Injection-molded as one piece with the screw cap 3 is a rod 12′ having an interior longitudinal cavity 13, which is sealed off by a transverse wall 14.
Formed at the distal end of the rod 12′ is an inwardly conically tapered cavity 15, in which a retention element 16 is inserted, to which an applicator front part 17 made of a softer synthetic material is secured in such a way that the retention element 16 has a spherical thickening 18, which engages into a corresponding cavity 19 of the applicator front part 17.
An application surface 20 of the applicator front part 17 extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis 21 of the rod 12′ and is slightly concavely arched inward. It is bordered by a rim 22, which is designed
The rim 22 encloses a cavity 23 in which a plurality of cones 24 arranged parallel to each other are disposed, which are injection-molded as one piece with the applicator front part 17 and whose free outer ends define the application surface 20.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 017 438.2 | Aug 2005 | EP | regional |
