Patent Grant
11653741
This Application is a 35 USC § 371 US National Stage filing of International Application No. PCT/FR2021/0053748 filed on Dec. 20, 2017, and claims priority under the Paris Convention to French Patent Application No. 16 63088 filed on Dec. 21, 2016.
The present invention relates to an applicator device and to a device for packaging and applying a cosmetic product to keratinous materials, in particular keratinous fibers such as eyelashes or eyebrows. The cosmetic product is in particular a mascara.
Patent application EP-A-1 935 279 describes an example of an applicator device for applying a product to keratinous fibers. This applicator device comprises a rod, an applicator member fixed to one end of the rod, and a rigid core extending in the extension of the rod. The core is attached to the rod or is created as one piece with the rod. The applicator device also comprises an outer shell with an attachment area and an application area. The outer shell defines an interior cavity into which the core is inserted. The outer shell is attached at one end of the rod by the attachment area and is free relative to the core, at least over a portion of the application area. The attachment area of the outer shell is fixed to the rod and to the core so as to be sandwiched between the rod and the core. The core may be flexible so as to provide flexibility when applying the product.
The arrangement proposed in this application EP-A-1 935 279 is complex and not very robust, however.
Patent application U.S. Pat. No. 2,008,107 470 describes an applicator device with an applicator element, a rigid rod, and a flexible part between the applicator element and the rigid rod. The applicator element has a rigid twisted core and transversely extending bristles. The rigid twisted core of the applicator element is fixed in a housing of the flexible part, which in turn is fixed in a housing formed at one end of the rod. The flexible part is elastically deformable. This assembly is also complex and not very robust.
International patent application WO-A-2013/034 638 describes a device substantially identical to the applicator device of application US-A-2008 107 470, intended to ensure the attachment of the rigid core of the applicator element. For this purpose, according to a first example, the core of the applicator element is fixed in a housing of the flexible part and held in position by a holding element surrounding a portion of the flexible part. In a second example, the core of the applicator element is fixed in a housing of the holding element, a portion of the flexible part being overmolded around the holding element.
The assembly proposed in this last application is complex, however, and therefore results in a high manufacturing cost.
An object of the invention is to provide an applicator device not having at least some of the disadvantages indicated above. In particular, the invention aims to provide an applicator device comprising a flexible applicator element, which is of simple and robust design. Advantageously, the applicator device according to the invention can be used to apply any type of cosmetic product.
To this end, the invention provides an applicator device for applying a cosmetic product onto keratinous materials, in particular keratinous fibers such as eyelashes or eyebrows, comprising:
wherein:
Thus, advantageously, the applicator device according to the invention has a flexible applicator element improving comfort during use, with no loss of precision in such application.
In addition, the applicator device according to the invention is of simpler design. The applicator device may in particular have dimensions substantially identical to those of known applicator devices. It is therefore not necessary to provide a cosmetic product container of specially adapted shape; a known container can be used. The applicator device therefore does not result in any additional costs in packaging and/or in its assembly process.
The proposed solution also eliminates any constraints on the choice of materials of the applicator element, depending on the product to be applied.
According to some preferred embodiments, the applicator device according to the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics, alone or in combination:
The invention also relates to a device for the packaging and application of a cosmetic product to be applied onto keratinous materials, in particular keratinous fibers such as eyelashes or eyebrows, comprising an applicator device as described above in all its combinations, and a container for containing the product to be applied, the applicator device being suitable for fixing to the container such that the applicator element is received inside the container, in contact with the cosmetic product.
Preferably, the container has an opening and the gripping member is suitable be fixed on the container in order to close the opening of the container.
Preferably, the gripping member has a threaded skirt, the container has a threaded neck, the threaded skirt of the gripping member being suitable for screwing onto the threaded neck of the container.
The invention will be better understood from the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:
In the remainder of the description, elements that are identical or of identical function bear the same reference. For brevity in the present description, these elements are not described in the context of each embodiment. On the contrary, only the differences between the embodiments are described.
This packaging and application device 10 essentially comprises a container 14 containing the cosmetic product 12 to be applied, and an applicator device 16. The applicator device 16 comprises a rod 18 having a first 18a and a second 18b end. The rod 18 extends in a longitudinal direction X0 between the first end 18a and the second end 18b of the rod 18. In
In the example illustrated, the container 14 also comprises wiping ring 28 in the mouth 24, here mounted tightly in the mouth 24. This wiping ring 28 is intended to come into contact with the applicator element 22 when the latter is withdrawn from inside the container 14, in order to eliminate the surplus cosmetic product 12 which could be covering or saturating the applicator element 22.
This wiping ring 28 is optional, however. Similarly, the method of attaching the applicator device 16 by screwing the gripping member 20 onto a threaded neck 26 of the container 14 is only one example among other embodiments that are conceivable to those skilled in the art.
However,
As illustrated in
The application portion 30 can have any desired shape that allows satisfactory application of cosmetic product, particularly mascara. Here, for example, the application portion 30 defines three contiguous areas:
The first, second, and third areas 30a, 30b, 30c may in particular be provided with spikes—not visible in
It is noteworthy that the applicator element 22 here is fixed at the second end 18b of the rod 18 by means of a flexible core 34, elastically deformable to allow the applicator element 22 to bend relative to the rod 18. More specifically, here the applicator element 22 is overmolded onto the core 34.
In the example of
The rod 18 and the core 34 are, for example and without limitation, made of copolyester, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyoxymethylene (POM).
The diameter d3 of the flexible core 34 is for example greater than 0.3 mm, preferably greater than 0.4 mm. This diameter d34 may additionally or alternatively be less than 2.5 mm, preferably less than 1.5 mm, more preferably less than 0.7 mm, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.6 mm. In particular, the diameter d3 of the core 34 is equal to 0.5 mm.
The core 34 extends from the shoulder 19 of the rod 18 to the second end 18b of the same rod 18. In addition, the core 34 extends freely for a length L measured between the shoulder 19 of the rod 18 and the application portion 30 of the applicator element 22.
The length L for which the core 34 freely extends is at least 2 mm, or even at least 3 mm, preferably at least 5 mm. In addition, the core 34 is shaped to allow maximum bending of the applicator element 22 relative to the rod 18, by elastic deformation of the core 34, such that a maximum bending angle α between the longitudinal direction X1 of the applicator element at rest and the longitudinal direction X2 of the bent applicator element 22, measured in a longitudinal plane of the applicator device 16 including the longitudinal direction X1 of the rod 18 and the longitudinal direction X2 of the applicator element 22, is at least 1°, even at least 2°, even at least 5°, or indeed even at least 10°. Here, in the rest position, the applicator element 22 is subjected only to its weight and to the reaction of the core 34. In the flexed position, an additional external force is applied to the applicator element, for example by the keratinous material onto which the cosmetic product is applied.
Thus, the core 34 allows a relative displacement of the applicator element 22 with respect to the rod 18. It should be noted here that because the core 34 is more flexible than the rigid rod 18, it is the core 34 which deforms and not the rod 18 if a force is applied on the applicator element 22. This deformation enables compensating for excessive pressure on the applicator element 22, as such pressure could be painful without this deformation. This deformation thus results in greater comfort during application. In addition, this deformation also allows using an applicator element 22 whose spikes are more rigid, the stiffness of the spikes being particularly advantageous for combing the eyelashes or eyebrows onto which the cosmetic product is applied.
The maximum bending between the applicator element 22 and the rod 18, obtained by elastic deformation of the core 34, is preferably limited. For example, the maximum bending angle α of the applicator element 22, obtained by elastic deformation of the core 34, is at most 30°, preferably at most 20°. Too large of a maximum bending angle α can affect accuracy when applying makeup. Too large of a maximum bending angle α can also result in requiring significant pressure during application, rendering the application of makeup a delicate operation.
The second example 50 of the applicator device shown in
First, in this second example 50, the core 34 is not one piece with the rod 18, but with the applicator element 22. The mounting of the applicator device 50 can then be carried out in two stages: first the applicator element 22 is created with the core 34, then the whole is fixed to the rod 18.
In addition, as illustrated in the figures, the applicator element 22 comprises a base 32 in addition to the application portion 30. This base 32, as illustrated, has a substantially cylindrical shape. The base 32 may in particular have a round cross-section of a diameter d32 that is smaller than the diameter d30 of the smallest base of the first area 30a of the application portion 30. Thus, the cylindrical surface of the base 32 is recessed relative to the surface of the application portion 30, so that the base 32 cannot be in contact with the keratinous material onto which the cosmetic product is to be applied. This prevents the base 32 from being used for applying the cosmetic product, which would affect accuracy when applying the cosmetic product. The base 32 is thus distinct from the application portion 30 of the applicator element 22.
According to the example of
Finally, the rod 18 forms a housing 52. The housing 52 is substantially tubular. The housing 52 extends in the longitudinal direction X0 of the rod 18 between a bottom 54 of the housing 52 and an outlet 56 of the housing 52 at the second end 18 of the rod 18. The housing 52 has a length, measured between the bottom 54 of the housing 52 and the outlet 56 of the housing 52. The length of the housing 52 is for example between 2 and 10 mm, preferably equal to 4 mm. The housing 52 also has a diameter d52, measured in a plane transverse to the length of the housing 52. The diameter d52 of the housing 52 is preferably between 1 and 3 mm, more preferably equal to 2.5 mm. In the illustrated example, the base 32 of the applicator element is completely received in the housing 52, making the base 32 inaccessible from outside the housing 52. The base 32 therefore cannot be used to apply cosmetic product onto keratinous material of a user, such that the base 32 is distinct from the application portion 30 of the applicator element.
A hole 58 is made in the rod 18, coaxial with the rod 18. The hole 58 outlet is at the bottom 54 of the housing 52. In accordance with the knowledge of those skilled in the art, the diameter of the hole 58 is equal to or substantially less than the diameter of the core 34, in order to be able to mount the core 34 tightly in the hole 58. It is thus possible to fix the core 34, and therefore the applicator element 22, onto the rod 18 in a simple and effective manner. Of course, other assembly techniques known to those skilled in the art can also be implemented.
The length of the hole is for example between 4 and 10 mm, and preferably equal to 6 mm. Because the core 34 is received tightly in the hole 58, the application portion 30 of the applicator element 22 projects out of the housing 52. In addition, transverse clearance is maintained between the core 34 and the side wall 60 of the housing 52. Transverse clearance is also maintained between the base 32 of the applicator element, received in the housing 52, and the side wall 60 of housing 52. Thus, the applicator element 22 is able to bend with respect to the rod 18.
It should be noted here that the portion of the core 34 received tightly in the hole 58 is not considered as extending freely. The length L of the core 34 extending freely in this second example 50 thus comprises the length of the core 34 passing through the housing 52 from the bottom 54 thereof to the base 32 of the applicator element, and the length l32 of the base 32, which in this case can be considered as a portion of the core 34, since it is not part of the application portion 30 of the applicator element 22. This length L is again at least 2 mm, or even at least 3 mm, preferably at least 5 min.
In addition, the core 34 is shaped to allow a maximum bending angle α obtained by elastic deformation of the core 34, identical to that of the first example 16, Here, this maximum bending angle α can be defined using the side wall 60 of the housing 52 and the base 32 of the applicator element 22. Advantageously, in fact, the base 32 of the applicator element 22 is deformed, by abutting against the side wall 60, to the desired maximum bending angle α. The base 32 comprises for example spikes capable of deforming in order to damp the bending of the core 34, to further improve comfort during use of the applicator element 22.
Variants of this example may of course be considered.
For example, the applicator element 22 may be made of one or more thermoplastic materials, in particular one or more elastomeric thermoplastic materials.
Furthermore, other shapes for the cross-section of the base 32 may be envisaged, in particular an oval shape, so that the bending is different depending on the orientation of the applicator element. Also, according to another variant, the base 32 may be in the extension of the application portion 30, the base 32 and the application portion 30 being for example cylindrical, of the same cross-section, and contiguous or non-contiguous. In this case as well, the base 32 is distinct from the application portion in that this base 32 cannot be used to apply the cosmetic product, unlike the application portion 30. In this case, where the base 32 and the application portion 30 are cylindrical with the same cross-section, the base 32 is then formed by the portion of the applicator element 22 which is not accessible to the keratinous material on which the cosmetic product is to be applied. This portion of the applicator element 22 may for example correspond to the portion of the applicator element 22 received in the housing 52.
In this third example 70, the core 34 is not integral with either the rod 18 or the applicator element 22. The core 34 here is a piece separate from the rod 18 and separate from the applicator element 22. The applicator element 22 is overmolded on the core 34. Other modes for fixing the applicator element 22 on the core 34 are possible, however.
The core 34 may be made of thermoplastic material or of metal.
The core 34 is fixed to the rod 18 as described with reference to the second example 50 of
One should note that the geometry of the applicator element 22 is different here from that of the first two examples. Here the application portion 30 comprises only the frustoconical portion 30c of the first examples, in which the largest base, of diameter D30, faces towards the second end 18b of the rod 18. Other shapes of the element applicator and other cross-sections of this applicator element are conceivable.
In the illustrated example, the cross-section of the applicator element 22 is centered relative to the core 34. As a variant, the core 34 may also be off-centered relative to the cross-section of the shell surface on at least one point of the application portion. The cross-section of the application portion 30 may in particular be square, rectangular, or oblong. Whatever its shape, the cross-section of the application portion 30 may be centered or off-centered with respect to the core 34.
The diameter of the wire—in other words the diameter of the strand or strands twisted to form the twisted wire—is for example greater than 0.3 mm, preferably greater than 0.4 mm. This diameter of the wire may additionally or alternatively be less than 0.7 him, preferably less than 0.6 mm. In particular, the diameter of the wire is equal to 0.5 mm.
As illustrated, a portion 86 of the core 34 has short bristles. This short-bristled portion 86 is preferably contiguous with the application portion 30 of the applicator element 22. This short-bristled portion 86 is preferably received in the housing 52. The tufts of bristles of this short-bristled portion 86 are preferably of a length less than or equal to the length l82 of the tufts of bristles of the application portion. The length of the tufts of bristles of this short-bristled portion 86 is again, preferably, less than or equal to the diameter of the housing 52, in order to maintain a transverse clearance between the tufts of bristles of the short-bristled portion 86 and the side wall 60 of the housing 52. Indeed, the short-bristled portion is not intended to be used to apply cosmetic product. Thus, although contiguous with the application portion 30, the short-bristled portion 86 of the core 34 is distinct from this application portion 30, in that the short-bristled portion cannot be used to apply cosmetic product on keratinous material. Indeed, in this case the keratinous material is not accessible to the short-bristled portion 86, because the latter is received in the housing 52.
The short-bristled portion 86, received in the housing 52, defines the maximum bending angle α by contact with the side wall 60 of the housing. For this definition to be more precise, the tufts of bristles of the short-bristled portion 86 are preferably rigid, in other words more rigid than the tufts of bristles 82 of the application portion 30. The maximum bending angle can thus be defined by the quality, in particular the stiffness, and/or the density of the tufts of bristles of the short-bristled area 86.
Alternatively, the tufts of bristles of the short-bristled portion 86 are more flexible than the tufts of bristles 82 of the application portion 30.
The short-bristled portion 86 thus makes it possible to define the maximum bending angle. In addition, this short-bristled portion 86 makes it possible to control the bending of the core, by the damping induced by the contact of the bristles of the short-bristled portion with the side wall 60 of the housing 52.
As described above, the quality, in particular the stiffness, of the tufts of bristles 82 of the application portion 30 may be different from the quality of the tufts of bristles of the short-bristled area 86. However, the stiffness of the tufts of bristles 82 may be chosen to be relatively high as well, for example to allow combing the eyelashes during the application of mascara, the comfort during application then being ensured by the possible bending of the applicator element 22.
This last embodiment is of particularly simple design, the twisted wire required to fix the tufts of bristles being implemented as the core enabling the applicator element 22 to bend relative to the rod 18. No other intermediate part is necessary.
In the example described, the core 34 is composed of a twisted metal wire 84 in which the bristles are held. The strands of the core 34 may be twisted to the left or to the right. The core 34 may be a double core, formed by two basic cores twisted together. Each basic core may comprise two strands twisted together and gripping the bristles. The two basic cores may each consist of an arm of a single twisted core folded into a U, the two arms being twisted together.
It is also possible to use all kinds of bristles in an applicator element according to the invention, and in particular bristles having a cross-section that is circular or other than circular. In particular a mixture of bristles of different types or a mixture of bristles of different lengths, possibly of the same type or not, may be used.
The bristles may have a diameter of between 6.5 hundredths of a millimeter and 40 hundredths of a millimeter. The cross section of the bristles may in particular be round, oval, polygonal, circular with a flattened side, star-shaped, cross-shaped, U-shaped, H-shaped, T-shaped, V-shaped.
The bristles retained between the twisted strands of the core may have, before placement between the strands of the core, a shape that is or is not rectilinear, for example a wavy shape. The bristles may undergo processing to form balls or forks at their ends.
The bristles may be flocked. The bristles may be made by extruding a plastic material loaded with particles, for example particles of a moisture-absorbing material, to give a microrelief to the surface of the bristles or to give them magnetic or other properties.
The bristles may be natural or synthetic, for example made of a material chosen among: PE, PA, in particular PA6, PA6/6, PA6/10, or PA6/12, HYTREL®, PEBAS®, silicone, PU, this list not being limiting.
Also in the case of
It should be noted that, in the case of the example 90 of
Finally,
In this case, as shown in
Finally, the example 110 of
Of course, the frustoconical shape of the housing 52 can be implemented in all the preceding examples where the rod 18 has a housing 52, regardless of the nature of the applicator element 30 and/or the core 34.
In addition, the diameter d18 of the rod 18 is for example, in the example 110 of
The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above with reference to the figures, but on the contrary is suitable for many variants accessible to those skilled in the art.
First, the features of each embodiment y be combined in embodiments that are not shown or described.
Furthermore, the applicator element may be of any suitable type and/or of any geometry suitable for applying cosmetic product to keratinous materials, in particular keratinous fibers such as eyelashes or eyebrows. The applicator may therefore be a flocked applicator.
Also, the rod 18 is substantially cylindrical in the examples described. In particular, the rod 18 is not flared at its second end 18b where the housing 52 opens. Such flaring does not appear necessary, as it may make the applicator device 50 more difficult to insert into its container 14. However, such flaring may be provided in some embodiments (not illustrated).
The principle of bending the core 34 is applicable to any cross-section of this core 34: oval, polygonal or other. The shape of the cross-section of the core can give preference to some bending planes of the core over others, which can contribute to a more accurate application of cosmetic product.
In the examples described, the housing 52 is tubular, of substantially circular cross-section. Alternatively, however, the cross-section of the housing 52 may take any other shape, including an ellipse, a polygon, in particular a square or rhombus shape. Depending on the shape of the cross-section of the housing 52, it is possible to have a maximum bending of the applicator element 30 that differs according to the different orientations of the rod.
The invention may also be implemented for applicators other than mascara applicators, for example eye shadow applicators, blush applicators, eyebrow applicators, lip product applicators.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 63088 | Dec 2016 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2017/053748 | 12/20/2017 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018/115752 | 6/28/2018 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080107470 | Gueret | May 2008 | A1 |
| 20130045039 | Jeong | Feb 2013 | A1 |
| 20160143419 | Sanchez et al. | May 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0811336 | Dec 1997 | EP |
| 1935279 | Jun 2008 | EP |
| 2945417 | Nov 2010 | FR |
| 3004627 | Oct 2014 | FR |
| 2006305191 | Nov 2006 | JP |
| 2014140724 | Aug 2014 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report related to Application No. PCT/FR2017/053748; reported on Mar. 28, 2018. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210127814 A1 | May 2021 | US |
