The invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product and to an associated applicator assembly.
Applicator assemblies for a cosmetic product are known, in particular for a cosmetic product intended to be applied to the eyelashes, such as mascara, comprising a receptacle containing the cosmetic product and an applicator suitable for being fixed removably on the receptacle.
The receptacle generally comprises a body, the body comprising walls delimiting a container which contains the cosmetic product, and a neck defining an opening through which the cosmetic product can be removed.
The applicator assembly generally comprises a cap suitable for being fixed on the neck, a stem extending from the cap and an applicator fixed to a free end of the stem. The applicator comprises a core and a plurality of protrusions extending from the core in order to coat the eyelashes with cosmetic product and to comb them.
When the cap is fixed on the neck, the stem and the applicator extend inside the container. The applicator is immersed in the cosmetic product contained in the container.
In order to use the applicator, the user detaches the cap from the neck and removes the applicator from the receptacle.
In order to prevent the applicator from being excessively loaded with cosmetic product, the receptacle generally comprises a wiper, fixed inside the neck. When the user removes the applicator from the receptacle, the applicator slides inside the wiper. The wiper scrapes off the excess cosmetic product on the stem and on the applicator.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the following problem: to propose an applicator which makes it possible to coat the eyelashes in a satisfactory manner whilst combing them.
Thus, the invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising a core extending in a main longitudinal extension direction, referred to as the axis of extension, and a plurality of projecting protrusions extending radially from the core, said protrusions being moulded with the core.
According to the invention, said protrusions are of at least two different types: a first type of protrusions in the form of plates and a second type of protrusion in the form of teeth, said first and second type of protrusions following one another along said axis of extension.
The advantage associated with the applicator according to the invention is the possibility of coating the user's eyelashes with cosmetic product by means of the plates, whilst combing the eyelashes by means of the teeth, and doing so all along the applicator according to the invention since the two types of protrusions follow one another axially.
According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:
The invention also advantageously relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle comprising a body forming a container intended to contain the cosmetic product, and an applicator as described above, suitable for being fixed on the receptacle, in such a way that the applicator is accommodated inside the container.
The invention will be better understood, and other objectives, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent in the course of the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
The invention relates to an applicator 10 for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising a core 12 which extends in a main longitudinal extension direction, referred to as the axis of extension, labelled X in
The applicator 10 according to the invention also comprises a plurality of projecting protrusions 31, 32 extending radially from the core 12, said protrusions 31, 32 being moulded with the core. In this case, the protrusions 31, 32 are integral with the core 12. In other words, the core 12 and the protrusions 31, 32 are moulded continuously from the same material. This has the advantage of simplifying the manufacture of the applicator 10 according to the invention. This also has the advantage of better controlling the rigidity given to said protrusions 31, 32.
The core 12 and the protrusions 31, 32 could be moulded from a material based on LDPE (low density polyethylene). Other materials could also be used, namely the material “EXACT” from ExxonMobil or the material “HYTREL” from DuPont, or a mixture of these materials.
Alternatively, the protrusions 31, 32 are overmoulded on the core 12, in particular for the purpose of varying the colours of the elements constituting said applicator 10.
As can be seen in
It should be noted that the core 12 has a cross section of the type having a constant shape, namely a polygonal shape. More precisely, the cross section of the core 12 has the shape of a polygon with rectilinear sides, preferably with six sides. Preferably, the type of shape and/or the angular orientation of said cross section of the core 12 is substantially constant from its proximal end 13 to its distal end 16. This is understood to mean that even if the cross section of the core 12 could have a variable surface area along the core 12, it retains the same type of contour and/or the same angular orientation. Said cross section is, for example, hexagonal and said distal end 16 is not angularly offset from said proximal end 13.
As illustrated in
Moreover, the protrusions 31, 32 are distributed over the entire radial periphery of the core 12.
Alternatively, the protrusions are distributed over a discrete portion of the radial periphery of the core 12 (embodiment not shown) in order to obtain makeup effects which are additional and/or complementary to those which are described here.
In the following description a radial row of protrusions 31, 32 is understood to be a row of protrusions 31, 32 disposed around the core 12, in the same plane orthogonal to the axis of extension X, said plane intersecting the core 12 according to a section which in this case is substantially circular.
The applicator 10 is wiped during its removal from the container by a wiper disposed inside the container.
According to the invention, the protrusions 31, 32 are of at least two different types.
A first type of protrusions 31 takes the form of plates 31 (see
It should be noted, by way of non-limiting example, that the plates 31 have a substantially triangular shape and preferably have a rounded free end.
On the other hand, the applicator 10 according to the invention comprises a second type of protrusions 32 which are in the form of teeth 32. These teeth 32 have a semi-circular cross section and each have a planar surface. They are positioned in such a way that two adjacent teeth 32 of the same axial row are disposed in a staggered manner, their planar surface being oriented in each case in an opposing rotational direction, for example on either side of the same axial edge of the core. Said teeth 32 are provided in a rectilinear manner, and each extend along a normal to the axis of the core 12. Said teeth 32 give the applicator 10 according to the invention an ability to comb the eyelashes to complement the effect obtained by the radial rows of plates 31.
Thus, according to the invention, and as can be seen in
On the other hand, the radial rows of plates 31 and the radial rows of teeth 32 form zones, referred to respectively as a zone of the first type Z1 and a zone of the second type Z2, which follow one another axially from the proximal end 13 to the distal end 16 (see
It has also been found that the plates 31 have a deflection capacity which is less than the deflection capacity of the teeth 32, in particular in the axial direction.
Consequently, the radial rows of plates 31 have an increased resistance when they pass through the wiper (not shown here) than when the radial rows of teeth 32 pass therethrough. In other words, when the radial rows of plates 31 arrive in the region of the wiper, they lock and lead to a sudden withdrawal of the applicator out of its receptacle.
In order to eliminate this disadvantage, flexibility may be provided in the region of the radial rows of plate 31, in particular by varying the dimensions of the cross section of the core 12. In other words, the core 12 advantageously has at least two cross sections S1, S2 with respect to the axis of extension X, said two cross sections having different dimensions (see
Said sections S1, S2 preferably comply with the following formula: 0.7≦S1/S2≦0.9. By way of example, the section S1 is inscribed in a circle of diameter substantially equal to 2 mm and the cross section S2 is inscribed in a circle of diameter substantially equal to 2.5 mm.
Thus the core 12 of the applicator 10 according to the invention is thinner at the location of the radial rows of plates 31 in order to give it an increased bending capacity in comparison to the zones Z2 bearing the radial rows of teeth 32. It will be noted in
It should be noted that the plates 31, like the teeth 32, each extend along a normal to the axis of the core 12.
The zones of the first type Z1 and/or of the second type Z2 comprise at least two radial rows of protrusions which follow one another along the axis of extension X. In particular x radial rows of plates 31 alternate along the axis of extension X with y radial rows of teeth 32, x and y complying with the formula 1 x,y≦6. In the embodiment illustrated here, without this being limiting, two radial rows of plates 31 alternate systematically and successively along the axis of extension with 4 radial rows of teeth 31.
Providing radial rows of plates in the form of pairs, that is to say two radial rows of plates without a radial row of teeth therebetween, has the advantage of further improving the loading power of the brush. The zone situated between the plates of the same pair will in fact be protected by the upper plate, that is to say the plate which is wiped first when the user takes the applicator out of the container, when said zone passes through the wiper.
The teeth of two successive radial rows of teeth are tangent here, one below and one above the same plane transversely with respect to the core.
It should be noted again that the core is solid. Nevertheless, it could be hollow without departing from the scope of the invention.
It may be recalled that the invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle (not shown) comprising a body forming a container containing the cosmetic product, and an applicator 10 as previously described, suitable for being fixed on the receptacle, in such a way that the applicator is accommodated inside the container. Said applicator 10 is fixed, for example, to the end of a stem, which is itself fixed to a cap (not shown) advantageously screwed to the receptacle. After assembly, the sleeve 14 is situated in the stem and the proximal end 13 of the core forms the visible proximal end of the applicator.
On the other hand, the protrusions 31, 32 form a contour E, in particular defined by their periphery (see
It should also be noted that the applicator 10 forms a brush, in particular a mascara brush.
It should also be noted that alternative embodiments are of course possible. In particular, in a supplementary embodiment the core is curved from its proximal end to its distal end.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1451458 | Feb 2014 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2015/052872 | 2/11/2015 | WO | 00 |