U.S. patent application number 11/470681 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for longitudinal applicator with articulated rod.
This patent application is currently assigned to ALCAN PACKAGING BEAUTY SERVICES. Invention is credited to Fabrice Dieudonat.
Application Number | 20070025803 11/470681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34947756 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070025803 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dieudonat; Fabrice |
February 1, 2007 |
Longitudinal Applicator With Articulated Rod
Abstract
An applicator in the axial direction is designed to cooperate
with a receptacle provided with a threaded neck and containing a
cosmetic product. The applicator comprises: a) a manual gripping
means, b) an application means, and c) an axial rod fixing the
manual gripping means to the application means, the axial rod being
an articulated rod with an upper arm and a lower arm forming a
hinge by cooperation of a male element with a female element. The
male element includes two lateral walls comprising a solid part
between them, forming the axle. The female part includes a central
wall, the central wall comprising two projections facing each other
forming a central recess such that the female element forms a hub.
The solid part has an external section forming a complete or
partial order N regular polygon and the central recess has a
homothetic internal section, such that angle .alpha. formed by the
arms is equal to discrete predetermined and stable angular values.
The applicator provides predetermined and stable angular values and
easy assembly of the applicator.
Inventors: |
Dieudonat; Fabrice; (Fosses,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF
1001 G STREET N W
SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Assignee: |
ALCAN PACKAGING BEAUTY
SERVICES
1 avenue du General de Gaulle ZAC des Barbanniers
Le Signac
FR
|
Family ID: |
34947756 |
Appl. No.: |
11/470681 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/127 ;
401/126; 401/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/265
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/127 ;
401/129; 401/126 |
International
Class: |
A46B 11/00 20060101
A46B011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 11, 2004 |
FR |
0408808 |
Claims
1. Applicator of a cosmetic product, wherein the applicator
cooperates in the axial direction with a receptacle having a
threaded neck and containing the cosmetic product, the applicator
and receptacle together forming a dispenser of the cosmetic
product, the applicator comprising: a) a manual gripping means, b)
a means of application of the cosmetic product, c) an axial rod
fixing the manual gripping means to the application means, the
axial rod being articulated in an axial plane, including an upper
arm fixed at its upper end to the manual gripping means, and a
lower arm fixed at its lower end to the application means, the
upper arm cooperating at its lower end with the upper end of the
lower arm and forming a hinge having an axis radially perpendicular
to the axial direction by cooperation of a male element forming an
axle at one end of the two arms, with a female element forming a
hub at one end of the other arm so as to enable rotation of the
arms, the lower arm being rotated manually around a direction
forming an angle .alpha. with the upper arm equal to 0.degree. or
not equal to 0.degree., wherein: 1) the male element includes two
lateral walls oriented in the axial direction and facing each
other, with a recessed part between the two lateral walls with a
radial width L.sub.R and a non-recessed part or solid part forming
the axle, 2) the female part includes a central wall oriented in
the axial direction with a thickness less than the radial width
L.sub.R such that the central wall can slide between the two
lateral walls, the central wall comprising two projections facing
each other forming a central recess and a peripheral recess such
that the female element forms an open hub that can be assembled to
the male element forming the axle by click fitting, the facing
projections having a resilient elasticity and thus being capable of
being temporarily separated under stress, during the click fitting
or the rotation, 3) the non-recessed or solid part forming the axle
has an external section forming a complete or partial order N
regular polygon and the central recess has a homothetic internal
section forming the regular polygon, such that the angle ox may be
equal to at least two discrete adjacent angular values
.alpha..sub.0 and .alpha..sub.1, where
.alpha..sub.0<.alpha..sub.1 such that
|.alpha..sub.1-.alpha..sub.0| is equal to 360.degree./N, where N is
an integer number varying from 3 to 12.
2. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the solid part forming
the axle includes a central axle connecting the lateral walls.
3. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the solid part forming
the axle is composed of two lateral axle portions, each of the
lateral axles being fixed to a lateral wall such that if necessary
the lateral walls can be elastically separated during the click
fitting of the arms or when the arms change from an angular
position with angle .alpha..sub.0 to a neighboring angular position
with angle .alpha.l, and more generally when the arms change from
an angular position with angle .alpha.i to a neighboring angular
position with angle .alpha..sub.j.
4. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the upper arm and lower
arm have the same generally circular cross section, the cross
section being perpendicular to the axial direction.
5. Applicator according to claim 4 wherein the lateral walls of the
male element and the central wall of the female element cooperate
in the hinge, such that the hinge has the generally circular cross
section, particularly when the upper arm and lower arm are in line
and the angle ox formed between them is equal to 0.degree..
6. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the upper arm carries
the male element at its lower end and the lower arm carrying the
female element at its upper end.
7. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the upper arm carries
the female element at its lower end and the lower arm carrying the
male element at its upper end.
8. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the peripheral recess of
the female element is an axial peripheral recess so that click
fitting of the arms is an axial click fitting.
9. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the peripheral recess of
the female element is a lateral or radial peripheral recess, such
that the click fitting of the arms is a lateral or radial click
fitting.
10. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the lengths of the
upper arm and lower arm denoted L.sub.s and L.sub.I respectively
are such that L.sub.s+L.sub.I varies from 20 mm to 100 mm, and
L.sub.s/L.sub.I varies from 0.1 to 10.
11. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of the
lower arm is a tapered end.
12. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of the
lower arm includes an attachment means of the application
means.
13. Applicator according to claim 12 wherein the attachment means
is an axial recess forming a blind hole capable of cooperating with
a portion of the support of the application means.
14. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the angle .alpha..sub.0
is equal to 0.degree. to 15.degree..
15. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein N is an integer number
varying from 3 to 12 and .alpha..sub.0 is equal to 0.degree., and
the discrete angular values are as follows for each value of N: -
for .times. .times. N = 3 , .alpha. 1 = 120 .degree. , .times. -
for .times. .times. N = 4 , .alpha. 1 = 90 .degree. , .times. - for
.times. .times. N = 5 , .alpha. 1 = 72 .degree. .times. .times. and
.times. .times. .alpha. 2 = 144 .degree. , .times. - for .times.
.times. N = 6 , .alpha. 1 = 60 .degree. .times. .times. and .times.
.times. .alpha. 2 = 120 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times.
.times. N = 7 , .alpha. 1 = 51 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 102 .degree.
, .alpha. 3 = 153 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times. N = 8 ,
.alpha. 1 = 45 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 90 .degree. , .alpha. 3 = 135
.degree. , .times. - for .times. .times. N = 9 , .alpha. 1 = 40
.degree. , .alpha. 2 = 80 .degree. , .alpha. 3 = 120 .degree. ,
.alpha. 4 = 160 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times. N = 10 ,
.alpha. 1 = 36 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 72 .degree. , .alpha. 3 = 108
.degree. , .alpha. 4 = 144 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times.
.times. N = 11 , .alpha. 1 = 33 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 66 .degree.
, .alpha. 3 = 99 .degree. , .alpha. 4 = 132 .degree. , .alpha. 5 =
165 .degree. .times. - and .times. .times. .times. for .times.
.times. N = 12 , .alpha. 1 = 30 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 60 .degree.
, .alpha. 3 = 90 .degree. , .alpha. 4 = 120 .degree. , .alpha. 5 =
150 .degree. . ##EQU2##
16. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the solid part forming
the axle of the male element has a variable section homothetically
reducing from the lateral wall over all or part of the radial half
width L.sub.R, so as to form an axle with a variable section.
17. Applicator according to claim 3 wherein the hinge is formed by
cooperation of two lateral axle portions forming the male element
with the two projections facing the central wall forming the
central recess of the female element, and wherein the two portions
of lateral axle and the two facing projections form two pairs of
elements with radial elasticity denoted E.sub.M and E.sub.F
respectively, the radial elasticities E.sub.M and E.sub.F being
oriented at 90.degree. from each other.
18. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the manual gripping
means is a cap having an outer shell and a threaded inner insert
fixed to the upper arm and capable of cooperating with the neck of
the receptacle.
19. Applicator according to claim 18 wherein the inner insert and
the upper arm form a single piece molded part.
20. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the application means
and the lower arm form a single piece molded part.
21. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein the application means
is a brush.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of fluid product
applicators for makeup or face or eye care and typically comprising
a brush as the means of application of a product such as
mascara.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many cosmetic fluid product applicators having a brush are
known, for example as described in European applications No.
8630772, No. 87301927, No. 92303851, No. 94304753, No. 94306189 and
No. 99420221.0.
[0003] Typically, these brushes comprise a metallic frame made of
metallic wires twisted so as to fix the rows of bristles in
place.
[0004] These applicators are typically associated with a receptacle
to form a dispenser, the dispenser typically including:
[0005] the receptacle forming a body containing the fluid cosmetic
product and typically provided with a threaded neck,
[0006] the applicator forming a threaded cap closing off the neck,
the cap being fixed to a means of application, typically a brush,
that dips into the fluid cosmetic product when the dispenser is
closed, a rod fixing the brush to the cap.
[0007] Moreover, the neck is typically provided with a wiping ring
to limit the quantity of cosmetic fluid drawn out by the brush each
time the brush is withdrawn from the body.
[0008] Mascara applicators comprising an articulated brush or rod
are known, such as those described in patents US 4 165 755, US 5
328 282 and US 4 428 388.
[0009] Problems occur with the known applicators. Firstly,
applicators according to the state of the art that include a brush
or an articulated rod as described in patents US 5 328 282 and US 4
428 388 may require a large number of parts and are usually complex
and expensive to make due to the assembly of their different
parts.
[0010] Secondly, when the number of parts is limited, as in some
applicator methods as described in patent US 4 165 755 in which the
articulated rod forms a hinge with two arms, either the arms are
difficult to assemble in order to form the hinge, or the hinge has
an excessively large clearance and is then insufficiently stiff in
the angular direction to enable normal use of the applicators.
[0011] Furthermore in these patents, the articulated arms can form
an angle ox that is almost arbitrary.
[0012] There is a continuous need to renew marketed products and to
provide new technical functions for these products in the field of
cosmetic product application and packaging devices.
SUMMARY
[0013] The invention aims to obtain a simple applicator,
inexpensive to manufacture, comprising a rod provided with a hinge
and two articulated arms, which solves the problems discussed
above. Since these applicators are used by one's self, the gestures
necessary to manipulate such applicators only require a limited
number of angular configurations.
[0014] In accordance with aspects of the invention, the applicator
of a cosmetic product, typically mascara, is designed to cooperate
in the axial direction with a receptacle provided with a threaded
neck containing the cosmetic product so as to form a dispenser of
the cosmetic product. The applicator comprises:
[0015] a) a manual gripping means typically forming a cap used to
close off the neck,
[0016] b) a means of application of the cosmetic product, typically
a brush, and
[0017] c) an axial rod fixing the manual gripping means or the cap
to the application means, the axial rod being articulated in an
axial plane, including an upper arm fixed at its upper end to the
manual gripping means or the cap, and a lower arm fixed at its
lower end to the application means, the upper arm cooperating at
its lower end with the upper end of the lower arm forming a hinge
with its axis radially perpendicular to the axial direction, by
cooperation of a male element forming an axle at one end of the two
arms, with a female element forming a hub at one end of the other
arm so as to enable rotation of the arms, the lower arm possibly
being rotated manually around a direction forming an angle .alpha.
with the upper arm equal to zero or not equal to zero.
[0018] The applicator is characterized in that:
[0019] 1) the male element includes two lateral walls oriented in
the axial direction and facing each other, with a recessed part
between them with a radial width L.sub.R and a non-recessed part or
a solid part forming the axle,
[0020] 2) the female part includes a central wall oriented in the
axial direction with a thickness less than the radial width L.sub.R
such that the central wall can slide between the lateral walls, the
central wall comprising two projections facing each other forming a
central recess and a peripheral recess such that the female element
forms an open hub that can be assembled to the male element forming
the axle by click fitting, the facing projections typically having
a resilient elasticity and thus being capable of being temporarily
separated under stress, typically during the click fitting or the
rotation,
[0021] 3) the non-recessed or solid part forming the axle has an
external section forming a complete or partial order N regular
polygon and the central recess has a homothetic internal section
forming the regular polygon, such that the angle ox may be equal to
at least two discrete adjacent angular values .alpha..sub.0 and
.alpha..sub.1, where .alpha..sub.0<.alpha..sub.1 such that
|.alpha.1-.alpha.0| is equal to 360.degree./N, where N is an
integer number typically varying between 3 and 12.
[0022] The applicator according to the invention solves the
problems that arise.
[0023] Firstly, its articulated axial rod only includes two click
fit arms forming a hinge, such that the applicator according to the
invention is economic.
[0024] With the combination of means according to the invention,
this hinge enables easy assembly by click fitting to give a stable
angular position of the two arms while the applicator is in use,
when the two arms form an angle corresponding to the discrete
angular values between them.
[0025] Furthermore, predetermined angles ox can be formed with this
hinge and can be chosen or modified manually, regardless of whether
or not the application means itself is inserted into the neck.
[0026] The projections facing the central wall of the female
element can have resilient elasticity that makes them capable of
being temporarily separated under stress, particularly during the
rotation, when the upper and lower arms move from an angular
position with angle (.alpha..sub.0 to a neighboring angular
position with angle .alpha..sub.1, and more generally when the
upper and lower arms move from an angular position with an
arbitrary angle .alpha..sub.i to a neighboring angular position
with angle .alpha..sub.j, the angles .alpha..sub.0, .alpha..sub.1,
.alpha..sub.i and .sub.j corresponding to the discrete angular
values.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0027] FIG. 1a shows an axial sectional view of an applicator blank
having an articulated axial rod.
[0028] FIG. 1b shows an axial sectional view similar to that in
FIG. 1a showing an applicator blank having an articulated axial
rod.
[0029] FIG 1c shows an axial sectional view of an applicator
provided with a cap and receptacle.
[0030] FIGS. 2a to 2g show embodiments of an articulated axial
rod.
[0031] FIGS. 3a and 3b are sectional views in an axial plane
perpendicular to the radial axis of the hinge of the articulated
axial rod.
[0032] FIG. 3c shows a side view of a single piece molded part
composed of a lower arm and an application means.
[0033] FIG. 3d shows a sectional view of the hinge.
[0034] FIGS. 4a to 4d are sectional views of hinge embodiments in
an axial plane of the radial axis.
[0035] FIG. 4e corresponds to FIG. 4b having a thinned central
part.
[0036] FIG. 4f shows the outside section of a solid part forming an
axle of the hinge, the section being represented by a double arrow
in FIGS. 4a to 4d.
[0037] FIGS. 5a to 5c are diagrams showing the angle ox as the
abscissa and the torque C to be exerted on the upper arm and lower
arm as the ordinate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] FIG. 1a shows an axial sectional view of an applicator blank
(1') comprising an articulated axial rod (3) fixed to a brush (4')
used as the application means (4).
[0039] FIG. 1b shows an axial sectional view similar to that in
FIG. 1a showing an applicator blank (1'') comprising an articulated
axial rod (3) fixed to a brush (4') as the application means (4),
the axial rod (3) including an upper arm (5) forming a single piece
part (11) with a threaded insert (21) that will form a cap (2).
[0040] FIG. 1c shows an axial sectional view of an applicator (1)
provided with a cap (2) screwed onto the neck (90) of a receptacle
(9) that will contain a cosmetic product.
[0041] FIGS. 2a to 2g show the articulated axial rod (3) in FIG
1a.
[0042] FIGS. 2a and 2b show two side views of the upper arm (5) and
lower arm (6) aligned before axial click fitting, the two views
being oriented at 90.degree. from each other.
[0043] FIG. 2c shows a side view of the articulated axial rod (3)
after click fitting of the upper arm (5) and lower arm (6) arranged
and oriented as shown in FIG. 2b, the upper arm (5) and lower arm
(6) being aligned (angle .alpha..apprxeq.0.degree.).
[0044] FIGS. 2d and 2e show side views of the articulated axial rod
(3) after click fitting of the upper arm (5) and lower arm (6)
arranged and oriented as shown in FIG. 2a, the upper arm (5) and
lower arm (6) forming an angle ox equal to 90.degree. in FIG. 2dand
45.degree. in FIG. 2e.
[0045] FIG. 2f shows an enlarged view of the hinge (31) in FIG. 2d
surrounded by a circle.
[0046] FIG. 2g shows an enlarged view of the hinge (31) in FIG. 2e
surrounded by a circle.
[0047] FIGS. 3a and 3b are sectional views in an axial plane
perpendicular to the radial axis (32) of the hinge (3),
diagrammatically showing different click fitting methods, the upper
arm (5) and lower arm (6) being shown before click fitting as shown
in FIG. 2a.
[0048] FIG. 3a shows the case of axial click fitting corresponding
to that shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c, the peripheral recess (83) of the
female element (8) forming a hub being an axial peripheral recess
(830).
[0049] FIG. 3b shows the case of lateral or radial click fitting,
the peripheral recess (83) of the female element (8) forming a hub
being a peripheral lateral recess (831).
[0050] FIG. 3c shows a side view of a single piece molded part (12)
composed of the lower arm (6) and an application means (4') made of
a plastic material.
[0051] FIG. 3d shows a sectional view of the hinge (31) in a plane
B-B in FIG. 4b perpendicular to the axial direction (10), with a
double horizontal arrow EM diagrammatically showing elasticity
between the two lateral axle portions (74, 74') of the male element
(7) and with a vertical double arrow EF diagrammatically showing
the elasticity between the two projections facing (81, 81') the
female element (8).
[0052] FIGS. 4a to 4d are sectional views in an axial plane
comprising the radial axis (32) of different embodiments of solid
parts (72) forming an axle of the male element (7). In these
figures, the female element forming the hub (8) is shown in dashed
lines.
[0053] In FIG. 4a, the solid part (72) forms a central axle
(73).
[0054] In FIG. 4b corresponding to FIG. 4a, the solid part (72)
forms two lateral axle portions facing each other (74, 74').
[0055] In FIG. 4c corresponding to FIG. 4a, the solid part (72)
forms a central axle (73) that is also an axle with a variable
section (75).
[0056] In FIG. 4d, corresponding to FIGS. 4b and 4c, the solid part
(72) forms two lateral axle portions facing each other (74, 74')
that form a variable section axle (75).
[0057] In FIG. 4e corresponding to FIG. 4b, a thinned central part
(76) joins the two axle portions (74) and (74') so as to increase
the elastic stress between the two lateral walls (70) and
(70').
[0058] FIG. 4f shows the outside section (720) of the solid part
(72) forming an axle, the section being represented by a double
arrow in FIGS. 4a to 4d.
[0059] FIGS. 5a to 5c are diagrams showing the angle ox as the
abscissa and the torque C to be exerted on the upper arm (5) and
lower arm (6) as the ordinate, so as to move from a given stable
angular position to a neighboring stable angular position.
[0060] FIG. 5a corresponds to the case in which N=3, the discrete
and stable angular values of the angle ox then being
.alpha..sub.0=0.degree. and .alpha..sub.1=120.degree., for which
the value of C is minimum.
[0061] FIG. 5b corresponds to the case in which N=6, the discrete
angular values of angle ox then being .alpha..sub.0=0.degree.,
.alpha..sub.1=60.degree. and .alpha..sub.2=120.degree..
[0062] FIG. 5c corresponds to the case in which N=12, the discrete
angular values of angle .alpha. then being .alpha.=0.degree.,
.alpha..sub.1=30.degree., .alpha..sub.2=60.degree.,
.alpha..sub.3=90.degree., .alpha..sub.4=120.degree..
[0063] As shown particularly in FIGS. 4a and 4c, the solid part
forming the axle may be composed of a central axle (73) connecting
the lateral walls (70) and (70').
[0064] However, as shown in FIGS. 4b and 4d, the solid part forming
the axle may be composed of two lateral axle portions (74, 74'),
each of the lateral axles (74, 74') being fixed to a lateral wall
(70, 70') such that the lateral walls (70, 70') can be elastically
separated if necessary during the click fitting of the arms (5, 6)
or when the arms (5, 6) change from an angular position with angle
.alpha..sub.0 to a neighboring angular position with angle
.alpha..sub.1, and more generally when the arms (5, 6) change from
an angular position with angle .alpha..sub.i to a neighboring angle
position with angle .alpha..sub.j.
[0065] Typically, and as shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c, the upper arm (5)
and lower arm (6) may have the same typically circular cross
section, the cross section being perpendicular to the axial
direction (10). As can be seen in FIG. 1c in the case in which the
applicator is a mascara applicator, it is important to be able to
move the applicator (1) with respect to the neck (90) of its
receptacle (9) such that the articulated axial rod (3) does not
offer any resistance when it slides in the wiper (91) fixed to the
neck (90).
[0066] In particular, the lateral walls (70, 70') of the male
element (7) and the central wall (80) of the female element (8) can
cooperate in the hinge (3 1), such that the hinge (31) will have
the cross section, particularly when the upper arm (5) and lower
arm (6) are in line and the angle ox formed between them is equal
to 0.degree. in this case.
[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention shown
particularly in FIGS. 1a to 1c and 2a to 2c, the upper arm (5) may
carry the male element (7) at its lower end (51), the lower arm (6)
carrying the female element (8) at its upper end (60).
[0068] According to another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a or 3b
considered with marks (5) and (6) between parentheses, the upper
arm (5) may carry the female element (8) at its lower end (51), the
lower arm (6) carrying the male element (7) at its upper end
(60).
[0069] As shown in FIG. 3a in particular, the peripheral recess
(83) of the female element (8) may be an axial peripheral recess
(830) such that the click fitting of the arms (5, 6) is an axial
click fitting.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 3b, the peripheral recess (83) of the
female element (8) may be a lateral or radial peripheral recess (83
1), such that the click fitting of the arms (5, 6) is a lateral or
radial click fitting.
[0071] According to the invention and as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b,
the upper arm (5) and lower arm (6) may have lengths denoted
L.sub.s and L.sub.I respectively, such that L.sub.s+L.sub.I varies
from 20 mm to 100 mm, and L.sub.s/L.sub.I varies from 0.1 to 10 and
typically from 1 to 5.
[0072] Both for practical and aesthetic reasons, the lower end (61)
of the lower arm (6) may be a tapered end (62) as shown in FIGS. 1a
to 1c and 2a to 2e.
[0073] The lower end (61) of the lower arm (6) may comprise an
attachment means (63) of the application means (4).
[0074] The attachment means (63) may be an axial recess forming a
blind hole (630) capable of cooperating with a portion of the
support (41) of the application means (4).
[0075] But the lower arm (6) can be insert-molded on the upper
portion (41) of the support (40) of the application means (4).
[0076] According to the invention, the angle .alpha..sub.0 can be
equal to 0.degree. to 15.degree. and typically may be equal to
0.degree., this value .alpha..sub.0 is close to 0.degree. so that
the applicator (1) can be fixed to the receptacle (9).
[0077] According to the invention, N being an integer number
varying from 3 to 12 and .alpha..sub.0 being equal to 0.degree.,
the discrete angular values are as follows for each value of N: -
for .times. .times. N = 3 , .alpha. 1 = 120 .degree. , .times. -
for .times. .times. N = 4 , .alpha. 1 = 90 .degree. , .times. - for
.times. .times. N = 5 , .alpha. 1 = 72 .degree. .times. .times. and
.times. .times. .alpha. 2 = 144 .degree. , .times. - for .times.
.times. N = 6 , .alpha. 1 = 60 .degree. .times. .times. and .times.
.times. .alpha. 2 = 120 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times.
.times. N = 7 , .alpha. 1 = 51 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 102 .degree.
, .alpha. 3 = 153 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times. N = 8 ,
.alpha. 1 = 45 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 90 .degree. , .alpha. 3 = 135
.degree. , .times. - for .times. .times. N = 9 , .alpha. 1 = 40
.degree. , .alpha. 2 = 80 .degree. , .alpha. 3 = 120 .degree. ,
.alpha. 4 = 160 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times. N = 10 ,
.alpha. 1 = 36 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 72 .degree. , .alpha. 3 = 108
.degree. , .alpha. 4 = 144 .degree. , .times. - for .times. .times.
.times. N = 11 , .alpha. 1 = 33 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 66 .degree.
, .alpha. 3 = 99 .degree. , .alpha. 4 = 132 .degree. , .alpha. 5 =
165 .degree. .times. - and .times. .times. .times. for .times.
.times. N = 12 , .alpha. 1 = 30 .degree. , .alpha. 2 = 60 .degree.
, .alpha. 3 = 90 .degree. , .alpha. 4 = 120 .degree. , .alpha. 5 =
150 .degree. . ##EQU1##
[0078] In a typical example of an applicator (1), N is equal to 8
and in this case the lower arm (6) may have four possible angular
orientations with respect to the upper arm (5): .alpha..sub.0,
.alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2 and .alpha..sub.3 typically with
.alpha..sub.0=0.degree., .alpha..sub.1=45.degree.,
.alpha..sub.2=90.degree. and .alpha..sub.3=135.degree..
[0079] As the value N increases, the number of angular orientations
.alpha..sub.i also increases and the manual force necessary to
change from a value .alpha..sub.i to a value close to .alpha..sub.j
or .alpha..sub.i+1 is low. In this respect, preferred values of N
vary from 5 to 10 and a typical value of N is 8.
[0080] As shown in FIGS. 4c and 4d, the solid part forming the axle
(72) of the male element may have a variable section homothetically
reducing from the lateral wall over all or part of the radial half
width L.sub.R, so as to form an axle with a variable section
(75).
[0081] As shown in FIG. 3d, the hinge (31) may be formed by
cooperation of two lateral axle portions (74, 74') forming the male
element (7) with the two projections (81, 81') facing the central
wall (80) forming the central recess (82) of the female element,
and in which the two portions of lateral axle (74, 74') and the two
facing projections (81, 81') form two pairs of elements with radial
elasticity denoted E.sub.M and E.sub.F respectively, the radial
elasticities E.sub.M and E.sub.F being oriented at 90.degree. from
each other.
[0082] Typically and as shown in FIG. 1c, the manual gripping means
may be composed of the cap (2), the cap typically including an
outer shell (20) and a threaded inner insert (21) fixed to the
upper arm (5) and capable of cooperating with the neck (90) of the
receptacle (9).
[0083] According to one embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
1b, the inner insert (21) and the upper arm (5) may form a single
piece molded part (1 1). However, the cap (2) may possibly not have
an outer shell (20) such that the threaded insert (21) forms the
cap (2).
[0084] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 3c, the
application means (4) and the lower arm (6) may form a single piece
molded part (12).
[0085] Typically, the application means (4) may be formed by any
mascara application means, typically by a brush (4').
[0086] But the applicator (1) according to the invention may be
composed of a brush designed for example to apply nail varnish.
EXAMPLES
[0087] FIGS. 1 to 4f form example embodiments according to the
invention.
Advantages Of The Invention
[0088] The applicators (1) according to aspects of the invention
are economic to make, in particular because they are composed of a
limited number of parts that are easy to assemble.
[0089] In addition, the two arms (5) and (6) of the applicator (1)
may have a limited number of angular values, such that the person
using the applicator is assured of having several predetermined
angular orientations (for example four angular orientations
.alpha..sub.0, .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2 and .alpha..sub.4) as a
function of the planned use, and particularly be able to quickly
and easily access each angular position or orientation, considering
the design of the hinge (31) of the articulated axial rod (3).
[0090] Furthermore, these angular positions are stable because
during use of the applicator (1), a torque less than the limiting
torque CN necessary to move from one angular position to a
neighboring angular position is applied to the arms (5) and (6), in
the case of a hinge (31) for which the sections (720, 820) form an
order N regular polygon. See FIGS. 5a to 5c.
[0091] However, a simple manual force is sufficient to change from
one angular position to a neighboring angular position.
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