Patent Application
20250204675
This application claims priority to French Application No. 2314916, filed Dec. 21, 2023, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to an applicator for cosmetic product, in particular mascara, and an associated applicator assembly.
The mascara applicators may be made from fibrous elements held between the longitudinal parts of a twisted metal pin called a core. These applicators are commonly referred to as “twisted brushes”. The ends of the fibrous elements usually form envelopes along an axis of longitudinal extension of the brush. While it is easy to give a curved shape to the core of these twisted brushes, they have, by their manufacturing mode, a cylindrical envelope that offers few possibilities in terms of make-up effects.
The mascara applicators may also be obtained by plastic injection molding. Typically, these applicators comprise a core and a plurality of protuberances extending from a proximal end connected to the core towards a free distal end. These applicators are commonly referred to as “plastic brushes”. The plastic brushes may be given original shapes so as to create special make-up effects.
However, there is still a need to improve mascara applicators, in particular to obtain applicators that provide a sufficient cosmetic product loading and a good cosmetic product restitution, while retaining flexibility and ease of application of the cosmetic product.
The invention relates to an applicator for cosmetic product, comprising:
In other words, the core comprises a portion wherein the height of the protuberances increases or decreases according to the longitudinal row to which they belong and a distal portion wherein the variation in the height of the protuberances may be different.
In other words, the applicator comprises longitudinal rows of protuberances with a variation in the height of the protuberances, this variation being reversed from one row to the next. As a result, the variation in height of the protuberances in the first longitudinal rows is the inverse of the variation in height of the protuberances in the second longitudinal rows.
The applicator thus comprises different areas with protuberances of different heights. In particular, the applicator has, around the core, an alternation of the height of protuberances, in particular an alternation of high protuberances and short protuberances.
The short protuberances create storage areas and the high protuberances form make-up areas, ideal for combing and lengthening eyelashes and/or adding volume.
According to various embodiments, which may be taken together or separately:
The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for cosmetic product, comprising:
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 wherein:
In the embodiment shown in
The proximal end 3a of the core 3 may be attached to an applicator rod 7 by a sleeve 9 extending the core 3.
Said protuberances 5 are arranged in a plurality of first longitudinal rows 11.1 regularly distributed around the core 3, and in a plurality of second longitudinal rows 11.2 regularly distributed around the core 3.
The first longitudinal rows 11.1 and the second longitudinal rows 11.2 alternate regularly with the first longitudinal rows 11.1.
According to the invention, the first longitudinal rows 11.1 have a rectilinear increase in the height of the protuberances 5 along the core 3 from the proximal end 3a towards a distal portion 13 and the second longitudinal rows 11.2 have a rectilinear decrease in the height of the protuberances 5 along the core 3 from the proximal end 3a towards the distal portion 13.
The “height of the protuberances” is the height measured between the radial periphery of the core 3 and the free distal end of the protuberance. In other words, “height of the protuberances” means their radial extension measured from the base of the protuberance 5, projected onto a plane orthogonal to the main axis X.
In other words, the core 3 comprises a main portion 15 wherein the height of the protuberances 5 increases or decreases depending on the longitudinal row 11.1, 11.2 to which they belong and a distal portion 13 wherein the variation in the height of the protuberances 5 may be different.
In other words, the applicator 1 comprises longitudinal rows 11.1, 11.2 of protuberances 5 with a variation in the height of the protuberances 5, this variation being reversed from one longitudinal row 11.1, 11.2 to the other. Thus, the variation in height of the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 is the inverse of the variation in height of the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2.
The applicator 1 thus comprises different areas with protuberances 5 of different heights. In particular, the applicator 1 has, around the core 3, an alternation of the height of protuberances 5 around the core 3, in particular an alternation of high protuberances 5 and short protuberances 5.
The short protuberances 5 create storage areas and the high protuberances 5 form make-up areas. The combination of the short protuberances and the high protuberances is particularly effective in combing and lengthening the lashes, as well as adding volume.
Advantageously, the rectilinear increase and/or decrease, i.e. the main portion 15, extends over ¾ to 9/10ths of the length of the core 3 and the distal portion 13 extends over a length of between ¼ and 1/10th of the length of the core 3.
In the embodiment shown, the rectilinear increase and decrease (main portion 15) extends over approximately 9/10ths of the length of the core 3 and the distal portion 13 extends over approximately 1/10th of the length of the core 3.
In this way, the height of the protuberances 5 decreases or increases according to the longitudinal row 11.1, 11.2 to which they belong in a constant manner along the entire length of the core 3 extending from the proximal end 3a towards the distal portion 13.
Thus, the free ends of the protuberances 5 of the same longitudinal row 11.1, 11.2 describe a straight line d1, d2 which forms an angle α1, α2 with respect to the core 3, i.e. with respect, here, to the longitudinal axis X. Advantageously, the rectilinear increase and/or decrease is monotonic. Advantageously, the straight lines d1 formed by the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 have the opposite slope to the straight lines d2 formed by the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2.
Advantageously, the angle α1, α2 formed is between 2 and 10 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis X, preferably between 3 and 7 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis X.
Advantageously, the angle α1 formed by the increasing variation in the height of the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 and the angle α2 formed by the decreasing variation in the height of the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2 are substantially similar.
In the embodiment shown, these angles α1, α2 are identical and of the order of 5 degrees.
Advantageously, over at least 70% of the main portion 15, the increase in height between each successive protuberance 5 of the same first longitudinal row 11.1 is between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm, preferably equal to 0.07 mm.
Advantageously, over the entire length of the main portion 15, the increase in height between each successive protuberance 5 of the same first longitudinal row 11.1 is between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm, preferably equal to 0.07 mm.
Advantageously, over at least 70% of the main portion 15, the decrease in height between each successive protuberance 5 of the same second longitudinal row 11.2 is between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm, preferably equal to 0.07 mm.
Advantageously, over the entire length of the main portion 15, the decrease in height between each successive protuberance 5 of the same second longitudinal row 11.2 is between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm, preferably equal to 0.07 mm.
In this way, the increase and/or decrease in the height of the protuberances 5 is gradual. The user may therefore take full advantage of the restitution effect and/or the length of the protuberances 5 along the entire length of the core 3.
In the embodiment shown, the increase and decrease are identical. Advantageously, the increase in height of each protuberance 5 successive to the first proximal protuberance of the same first longitudinal row 11.1 is between 2% and 300% of the height of the first proximal protuberance. Similarly, the decrease in height of each protuberance 5 successive to the first proximal protuberance of the same second longitudinal row 11.2 is between 2% and 300% of the height of the first proximal protuberance.
In the distal portion 13, the protuberances 5 of the first and second longitudinal rows 11.1, 11.2 advantageously have a rectilinear decrease in height along the core 3 and/or a constant height towards the distal end 3b.
In addition, the core portion 3 of the distal portion 13 may have a decreasing diameter towards the distal end 3b.
In particular, this allows to have a distal portion 13 with a conical envelope surface E1, providing a precision area for the make-up, in particular the application of mascara.
The envelope surface E1, E2 of the applicator 1 is defined by the free end of the protuberances 5.
In the embodiment shown, the diameter of the core 3 at least in the distal portion 13 decreases towards the distal end 3b. In this distal portion 13, the height of the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 decreases towards the distal end 3b and the height of the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2 increases. In combination with the decrease in the diameter of the core 3 in the distal portion 13, this gives the impression of a decrease in the height of the assembly of the protuberances 5 in the distal portion 13, giving the conical shape of this distal portion 13, which may be seen in
Advantageously, on the other hand, the core 3 has a constant diameter over the entire length extending from the proximal end 3a towards the distal portion 13, i.e. over the main portion 15. In other words, the diameter of the core 3 is the same throughout the main portion 15 of the core 3, which has a rectilinear increase and/or decrease in the height of the protuberances 5. Advantageously, the alternating rectilinear increase and decrease in the height of the protuberances 5 may allow to obtain an envelope surface E2 having at least one hollow 17 extending angularly over at least part of the periphery of the envelope surface E2.
In the illustrated embodiment, the envelope surface E1, E2 of the applicator 1 has an hourglass shape with a hollow 17 and with the distal portion 13 having a conical shape.
Such a shape allows to alternate, along the same longitudinal row 11.1, 11.2, between a combing area corresponding to relatively high protuberances and a cosmetic product loading area corresponding to short protuberances.
The hollow 17 allows to form an additional cosmetic product storage area. When the applicator 1 comes out of a container 18 and passes through an opening orifice of the container 18 or neck 19, allow the excess of cosmetic product to be removed while retaining a quantity of cosmetic product in the hollow 17, which will allow make-up to be applied without having to insert the applicator 1 back into the container 18.
As mentioned above, the straight lines d1, d2 formed by the free ends of the protuberances 5 are of opposite slope depending on whether they are formed by the protuberances 5 of a first longitudinal row 11.1 or by the protuberances 5 of a second longitudinal row 11.2.
Advantageously, the straight lines d1 formed by the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 intersect the straight lines d2 formed by the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows at the level of the hollow 17.
In other words, the hollow 17 or crossing point marks a change in the variation in height of the protuberances 5.
In the illustrated embodiment, the hollow 17 extends at an angle around the entire periphery of the envelope and is located in the middle of the length of the core 3.
The hollow 17 has a bottom wherein the height of the protuberances 5 of the first and second longitudinal rows 11.1, 11.2 is substantially the same.
As may be seen in
As the first longitudinal rows 11.1 alternate with the second longitudinal rows 11.2, the applicator 1 comprises an alternating of short protuberances 5 and long protuberances 5, resulting in alternating storage areas (short protuberances 5) and combing areas (long protuberances 5) around the applicator 1.
In this embodiment, as may be seen in
The protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 are arranged in first radial rows 21.1 which are offset by half a pitch relative to the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2 arranged in second radial rows 21.2. Advantageously, the first radial rows 21.1 of the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 alternate regularly with the second radial rows 21.2 of the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2.
In other embodiments not shown, the protuberances 5 of the first and second longitudinal rows 11.1, 11.2 are radially aligned and form a single radial row of protuberances 5.
Advantageously, the protuberances 5 of the first longitudinal rows 11.1 may be of a first type and the protuberances 5 of the second longitudinal rows 11.2 may be of a second type.
The first type and the second type may be, for example, different in nature chosen from diameter, material, shape, color, hardness, flexibility, design, orientation, etc.
In addition to the alternation of storage areas and combing areas, the applicator 1 may then have an alternation around the core 3 in the nature of the protuberances 5. We may thus have alternating areas wherein the protuberances 5 will be rigid, for example, and will encourage the combing, and areas wherein the protuberances 5 will be flexible, for example, and will encourage the lengthening of the eyelashes to be made up or allow them to be given volume.
The invention also relates to an applicator assembly 23 for a cosmetic product, comprising the container 18 comprising a body 25 forming a reservoir configured to contain the cosmetic product (not shown), and an applicator 1, as previously described, adapted to be attached to the container 18, so that the applicator 1 is housed inside the container 18, i.e. the reservoir. The applicator 1 is attached, for example, to a proximal end of the rod 7, which is itself attached to a plug 27 advantageously screwed to the container 18.
Advantageously, the container 18 comprises a wiper 29 attached inside the container 18, in particular in the opening orifice of the container or the neck 19.
Advantageously, the internal diameter of the wiper 29 is substantially identical to the maximum diameter of the envelope surface E1, E2 of the applicator 1.
Passing the applicator 1 through the wiper 29 allows to remove any excess cosmetic product and evenly distributes the cosmetic product along the core 3.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2314916 | Dec 2023 | FR | national |
