Patent Application
20220369791
The invention relates to an applicator end piece for cosmetic product, an applicator and an associated applicator assembly. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such an applicator end piece.
Applicator assemblies for cosmetic products are known, for example for cosmetic products intended to be applied to the lips of a user. Said applicator assemblies comprise a container containing the cosmetic product and an applicator adapted to be removably attached to the container.
The container generally comprises a body, the body comprising walls defining a reservoir in which the cosmetic product is contained, and a neck defining an opening through which the cosmetic product can be removed. The applicator generally comprises a cap adapted to be attached to the neck, a rod extending from the cap and an applicator end piece attached to a free end of the rod.
When the cap is attached to the neck, the rod and the applicator end piece extend inside the reservoir. The applicator is immersed in the cosmetic product contained in the reservoir.
To use the applicator, the user removes the cap from the neck and extracts the applicator from the container.
The known applicator end pieces generally have a spatula-shaped area intended to come into contact with the part to be made up, in particular to load them with cosmetic product. However, the spatula-shaped area usually only allows for a local application of cosmetic product, for example, to one lip at a time. The spatula has also a not very comfortable rigidity when a pressure is applied to the part to be made up.
The present invention aims to provide an applicator end piece allowing to make-up a large area of a user, for example both lips, in a single application, while maintaining a comfort of use during the make-up.
The invention relates to an applicator end piece for cosmetic product extending along a longitudinal extension direction, called principal direction, and comprising:
“Enclose” means to surround completely. In other words, the central element is surrounded by the free space.
The free space in the central cavity allows to form a reservoir volume of cosmetic product. This makes it possible to apply the cosmetic product to a large area, such as the lips, in a single application.
Moreover, the free space allows to bring suppleness and flexibility to the external shell which is however limited by the presence of the central element so as to bring a comfort of use during the make-up.
According to various embodiments, which may be taken together or separately:
The invention also relates to an applicator comprising an applicator end piece as described above and a handling rod.
Advantageously:
0.9≤d3/D≤4,
The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for cosmetic product, comprising:
According to various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:
The invention further relates to the applicator assembly, the container of which is filled with cosmetic product. Advantageously, the cosmetic product is viscous, pasty or liquid. Preferably, the product is intended for making up the lips of a user.
The invention finally relates to a method for manufacturing an applicator end piece for applying cosmetic product as described above.
The method comprises:
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference is made to the attached drawings in which:
As illustrated in the various figures, the invention relates to an applicator end piece 1 extending along a longitudinal extension direction, called principal direction X, from a proximal end 1a to a distal end 1b.
The applicator end piece 1 comprises:
According to the invention, in at least one position, the internal surface 3i of the external shell 3 is at a distance do, dl from the central element 7 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension direction and in the longitudinal direction so as to define a free space enclosing the central element 7.
An “application part” is defined as a part of the applicator end piece 1 that is adapted to retain the cosmetic product when it is brought into contact with it, and subsequently releasing it.
On the other hand, the applicator end piece 1 comprises a sleeve 9. The sleeve 9 is intended to be assembled to a rod 11, here embedded in the rod 11, to form an applicator. The sleeve 9 extends from the proximal end 1a of the application part 20 along said principal direction X in the opposite direction to that pointing to the distal end 1b of the applicator end piece 1.
Advantageously, the central element 7 is arranged entirely inside the cavity 5. In other words, the central element 7 is circumscribed inside the cavity 5.
Advantageously, the central element 7 can be in material connection with the external shell 3. Preferably, the central element 7 is in material connection at the level of the distal end 1b or at the level of the proximal end 1a.
The central element 7 may also be in material connection with the rest of the external shell 3, for example by material bridges, so that this connection does not prevent a movement of the external shell 3 towards the central element 7 or away from the central element 7.
Without departing from the scope of the invention, the central element 7 may be without any connection with the external shell 3.
Advantageously, the external shell 3 is designed to hold the central element 7 inside the cavity 5.
Advantageously, the external shell 3 is formed of a thin material thickness, preferably between 0.3 and 1.5 mm. In other words, the external surface 3e and the internal surface 3i of the external shell 3 are spaced apart by 0.3 to 1.5 mm.
This small thickness provides a flexibility and suppleness to the external shell 3 which can be easily moved, crushed due to the free space enclosing the central element 7 as described below. The movement of the external shell 3 may be observed in particular when a pressure P is exerted on it, for example when the applicator end piece 1 passes through an opening (neck 29, wiper 31) of a container 33 or when it is applied to a surface to be made up.
Preferably, the external shell 3 comprises at least one orifice 19, 25, 27 so as to allow an entry and/or an exit of the cosmetic product therethrough. These entries and/or exits of cosmetic products are advantageously favored by the movement of the external shell 3 as explained below. The external shell 3 is compressed towards the central element 7 causing a pressure P on the cosmetic product contained in the cavity 5, causing its exit. This pressure P allows also to improve the distribution of the cosmetic product in the cavity 5.
Advantageously, the orifices 19, 25, 27 are sized such that the central element 7 cannot exit the cavity 5.
The cavity 5 thus serves as a reservoir for the cosmetic product which is returned to the applicator part by means of the at least one orifice 19, 25, 27.
Advantageously, the external shell 3 has an oblong shape, elongated along the principal direction X. Preferably, the external shell 3 has a cross-section of variable diameter, the maximum diameter d3 of which is located near the proximal end 1a. This shape at the level of the proximal end 1a allows for a large application surface area.
Preferably, the external shell 3 has a refined, in particular conical, distal end 1b. This refined shape at the level of the distal end 1b allows to provide a precision application surface and facilitates the insertion of the applicator end piece 1 into a container 33 containing the cosmetic product.
Advantageously, the central element 7 may have a generally variable shape.
In particular, the central element 7 may have a shape similar to the shape of the external shell 3, such as an oblong shape or may be spherical in shape.
Advantageously, the application part may comprise several different application areas 13, 15.
Preferably, the application part comprises a first application area 13 extending along the principal direction X from the proximal end 1a of the applicator end piece 1 to an intermediate position 1c and a second application area 15 extending along the principal direction X from the intermediate position 1c to the distal end 1b of the applicator end piece 1.
Each of the application areas 13, 15 may or may not comprise orifices 19, 25, 27, in particular orifices 19, 25, 27 of different sizes. This allows to have an applicator end piece 1 with application areas 13, 15 of different nature and thus able to offer a diversity of make-up effects.
In this first embodiment, the applicator end piece 1, in particular the external shell 3, has a general flame shape in which a cross-section 1of the principal direction X is inscribed in a circle of varying diameter along the principal direction X and whose maximum diameter is d3.
The first application area 13 is generally spherical in shape (noted S in the figure). The radius of curvature is preferably between 2 and 8 mm.
The second application area 15 is generally conical in shape (noted C in
This shape is also particularly suited to the shape of the lips and the applicator end piece 1 thus has a large application surface. In addition, this shape allows a simultaneous application to the upper lip and the lower lip. The pointed distal end 1b allows a more meticulous and precise application of the cosmetic product on a less accessible surface, for example the corner of the lips or the outline of the lips. The spherical part allows to provide a large application surface area.
In this first embodiment, the external shell 3, the cavity 5 and the central element 7 are similar in shape. They each have a maximum diameter d3, d5, d7 at the level of the maximum diameter d3 of the external shell 3.
The central element 7 is in material connection with the external shell 3 at the level of the proximal end 1a of the applicator end piece 1 by a connecting part 17. In other words, the central element 7 is in continuation of the sleeve 9 and extends towards the distal end 1b of the applicator end piece 1. This connecting part 17 provides rigidity to the central element 7 which is thus stationary with respect to the sleeve 9.
The first application area 13 comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots 19 extending from the proximal end 1a of the applicator end piece 1 towards the intermediate position 1c parallel to the principal direction X. The slots 19 are oblong in shape and have a maximum transverse width at the level of the maximum diameter d3 of the external shell 3. The slots 19 are separated by strips 21 of material which extend from the proximal end 1a of the applicator end piece 1 towards the intermediate position 1c parallel to the principal direction X. These strips 21 are of constant width and form the external shell 3.
This first embodiment comprises six longitudinal slots 19 spaced apart by six strips 21 of material.
The second application area 15 has no orifice.
The slots 19 allow the restitution of the cosmetic product at the level of the first application area 13. Advantageously, the slots 19 extend to the second application area 15 and are sufficiently elongated to allow a distribution of the cosmetic product at the level of the second application area 15.
This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the central element 7. The central element 7 is a sphere in connection with the external shell 3 at the level of the proximal end 1a of the end piece. The central element 7 is thus located in the cavity 5 defined at the level of the first application area 13 leaving a substantial free space at the level of the second application area 15.
Advantageously, the central element 7 has a diameter designed so that there is a free space between the central element 7 and the internal surface 3i of the external shell 3. Preferably, the radius of curvature of the central element 7 is between 1 and 6 mm.
This third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the orientation of the longitudinal slots 19 at the level of the first application area 13.
The slots 19 here have a helical winding around the principal direction X. The helical winding allows to have orifices over the entire circumference of the applicator end piece 1 and thus a restitution of the product stored in the cavity 5 over the entire application surface.
The strips 21 of material between the slots 19 also have a width less than the width of the strips 21 of material of the first and second embodiments. The external shell 3 is thus more supple and has a greater flexibility when a pressure P is exerted to favor the cosmetic product to exit through the slots 19.
This fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in the shape of the central element 7.
As with the applicator end piece 1 of the second embodiment, the central element 7 is here a sphere in connection with the external shell 3 at the level of the proximal end 1a of the end piece. The central element 7 is thus located in the cavity 5 defined at the level of the first application area 13. The connection to the external shell 3 is made by means of a narrow connecting part 17, in particular narrower than in the second embodiment shown in
The cavity 5 thus has a larger volume, which increases the cosmetic product storage capacity of the applicator end piece 1.
In addition, the reduction of the cross-sectional area of the connecting part 17 allows to provide flexibility to the central element 7 and thus suppleness to the applicator end piece.
This fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that the central element 7 is connected to the external shell 3.
As in the fourth embodiment, the central element 7 is a sphere but this is connected to the external shell 3 at the level of the distal end 1b. In other words, the central element 7 is in continuation of the distal end 1b and extends into the cavity 5 towards the sleeve 9.
In order to stiffen the central element 7, the end piece does not have cavity 5 at the level of the second application area 15, in other words, the interior of this second application area 15 is solid. The cavity 5 is only located at the level of the first application area 13.
As in the third and fourth embodiments, the slots 19 helically wind around the principal direction X. They extend from the proximal end 1a to the second application area 15. Thus, advantageously, the slots 19 are open in the cavity 5 located at the level of the first application area 13 and form channels 23 at the level of the second application area 15. Thus, the cosmetic product emerging from the slots 19 can be directed towards the second application area 15 by means of these slots 19. Cosmetic product is thus available at the level of both application areas 13, 15.
This sixth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a plurality of orifices are provided at the level of the second application area 15.
The orifices of the second application area 15 are circular orifices 25 with a diameter preferably between 0.5 and 3 mm.
The circular orifices 25 are arranged in two radial rows. Each of the rows comprises six circular orifices 25. For better restitution over the entire surface of the second application area 15, the circular orifices 25 of one radial row are angularly offset with respect to the circular orifices 25 of the other radial row.
The slots 19 are also shorter than in the first embodiment and extend over only the first application area 13.
Advantageously, cosmetic product can be restituted at the level of both application areas 13, 15.
Furthermore, the circular orifices 25 of the second application area 15 are thus smaller in size than the orifices (slots 19) of the first application area 13. Depending on the area where the pressure P is applied, the amount of product restituted varies. Thus, it is possible to restitute a small amount of product by applying a pressure P at the level of the second application area 15 and a larger amount by applying a pressure P at the level of the first application area 13.
This seventh embodiment differs from the sixth embodiment in the orientation of the longitudinal slots 19 at the level of the first application area 13.
As in the third embodiment, the slots 19 have a helical winding about the principal direction X.
This eighth embodiment differs from the seventh embodiment by the shape of the orifices of the second application area 15, which are in the form of secondary slots 27, here six in number, which are smaller in size than the slots 19 of the first application area 13 so as to be able to regulate the quantity of cosmetic product restituted.
The secondary slots 27 extend longitudinally along substantially the entire length of the second application area 15 and have an inclination with respect to the principal direction X. The elongated shape of these secondary slots 27 allows for a restitution of cosmetic product over the entire surface of the second application area 15.
Two mechanisms of use will now be described.
The first mechanism of use is illustrated in
A more sustained pressure P causes the external shell 3 to move until the internal surface 3i thereof is in contact with the central element 7 as seen in
In this mechanism, the pressure P applied to the applicator end piece 1 is applied radially.
As will be explained in the second operating mechanism, it is possible to apply an axial pressure P, i.e. a pressure P at the level of the distal end 1b of the end piece.
The second mechanism of use is illustrated in
In this second mechanism, the pressure P is exerted at the level of the distal end 1b and along the principal direction X.
As can be seen in
The movement continues until the internal surface 3i of the external shell 3 and the central element 7, which is preferably substantially stationary with respect to the sleeve 9, come into contact, as can be seen in
This pressure P is particularly advantageous for causing the cosmetic product to emerge through the orifices 25, 27 at the level of the second application area 15.
Both mechanisms of use can be combined.
Advantageously, the applicator end piece 1 is a single monolithic piece obtained without assembly. In other words, the applicator end piece 1 is not obtained by assembly.
Assembly is understood here as the fact of putting together, joining at least two isolated elements, but does not exclude the possibility of several steps.
Preferably, the applicator end piece 1 described above is obtained by an additive manufacturing method.
Additive manufacturing method means a manufacturing method by adding material, generally computer assisted. Such a manufacturing method is also called three-dimensional printing or 3D printing.
Advantageously, the use of three-dimensional printing can allow to carry out in a single step of a one-piece, material-continuous applicator end piece 1 comprising an external shell 3 and a central element 7. Such an applicator end piece 1 could be very complex or even impossible to obtain, in particular in one piece, by a conventional injection molding method. The applicator end piece 1 can thus be produced directly and in a single manufacturing operation. In addition, this technique allows to eliminate the need for complex molds.
Alternatively, it may be envisaged that the three-dimensional printing is used to form the applicator end piece 1 with the sleeve 9 and/or the rod 11.
Various additive manufacturing technologies known to the person skilled in the art can be used. In particular, this may include:
Preferably, these are sintering and/or stereolithography technologies.
The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an applicator end piece 1 as described above. The method comprises:
The digital model is a computer file that corresponds to a virtual model of the applicator end piece 1. To obtain this, the applicator end piece 1 is first modeled to obtain a CAD model which is then converted into a suitable format such as an .STL file. The file is then processed on an additive manufacturing machine. When the digital model is read, it is divided into a number of layers depending on the desired accuracy. Preferably, the layers correspond to a cross-sectional are of the applicator end piece 1, i.e., a cross-section of the applicator end piece 1 taken in a plane perpendicular to the principal direction X.
The suitable materials for manufacturing the applicator end piece 1 by three-dimensional printing are polyamides, light-sensitive resins, polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP).
The rod 11 allows, among other things, a handling of said applicator end piece 1. More specifically, the applicator comprises a closure cap 39 adapted to be manipulated by the user and the rod 11 advantageously extends from the cap 39.
It is to be noted, here, that the cap 39 is formed of a head 41 made of material with the rod 11, and of a cover 43 force-fitted and held in position on the head 41 of the rod 11 by means of internal counter-forms intended to cooperate with shapes made on the head 41. The cover 43 is rigid. “Rigid” means not deformable either by atmospheric pressure or by pressure exerted by the fingers of a user. It is with the aid of said cover 43 that the user manipulates the applicator of the invention, in particular because the cover 43 imparts the movement that the user gives it to the head 41 of the rod 11, which itself transmits this movement to the sleeve 9 with which it is assembled.
The cap 39 is intended to be removably attached to an opening belonging to the container 33. Said opening is here the neck 29 through which the cosmetic product can be extracted.
It should be noted that the sleeve 9 and the rod 11 each have a substantially cylindrical shape and a principal direction of longitudinal extension coincident with the principal direction X.
It should also be noted that the assembly between the sleeve 9 and the rod 11 is an embedding. Alternatively, the applicator end piece 1 may be over-molded onto or through the rod 11 or obtained in one single piece, for example by additive manufacturing.
It is also visible, in
Advantageously, the wiping orifice 45 is cylindrical in shape; this choice is not limiting and any other shape of orifice 45 may be chosen for the wiper 31 without leaving the scope of the invention. The diameter d45 of said wiping orifice will advantageously be chosen in relation to the diameter D of the rod 11 and the maximum diameter d3 of the applicator end piece 1, from which it scrapes off the surplus of product carried on board.
It should also be noted that the diameter d45 of the wiping orifice 45 may be substantially the same as the diameter d3 of the applicator end piece 1. This has the advantage that the product is scraped off the applicator end piece 1 only slightly.
Since the external shell 3 is supple and flexible, it is possible that the diameter d45 of the wiping orifice 45 is slightly smaller than the diameter d3 of the applicator end piece 1. This has the advantage of distributing the cosmetic product stored in the cavity and eliminating any excess stored in the cavity 5.
Thus, in addition to having a large application surface area, the applicator assembly is designed such that the wiping out of the applicator end piece 1 is optimized when removed from the container 33. In other words, the quantity of cosmetic product that the applicator end piece 1 is able to take on board is optimized by the wiper 31 through which it passes when it is extracted from said container 33.
Advantageously, the applicator assembly 31 may be obtained in whole or in part by three-dimensional printing.
To achieve further advantageous effects, the embodiments may be combined without leaving the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR1915303 | Dec 2019 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/087257 | 12/18/2020 | WO |
