U.S. patent application number 15/103378 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-06 for applicator for a cosmetic product and associated applicator assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is ALBEA SERVICES. Invention is credited to Camille Schreiber.
Application Number | 20160286934 15/103378 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50424500 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160286934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schreiber; Camille |
October 6, 2016 |
Applicator for a cosmetic product and associated applicator
assembly
Abstract
The invention relates to an applicator for a cosmetic product,
in particular for mascara, comprising a core, said core extending
in a main direction of longitudinal extension; a plurality of
strips of material (20, 20'), said strips (20, 20') projecting from
the core in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the
main direction (X), over at least one angular portion of the core;
and a plurality of separators (30, 30'), said separators (30, 30')
projecting from the core between said strips of material (20, 20'),
substantially in the main direction (X); said strips (20, 20') and
said separators (30, 30') defining cavities (40). The invention
also relates to an applicator assembly for a cosmetic product,
comprising a receptacle comprising a body which forms a container
intended to contain the cosmetic product, and an applicator as
described above that is capable of being attached to the receptacle
such that the applicator is housed within the container.
Inventors: |
Schreiber; Camille; (Paris,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ALBEA SERVICES |
|
|
|
|
|
Family ID: |
50424500 |
Appl. No.: |
15/103378 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
December 16, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/078079 |
371 Date: |
June 10, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/021 20130101;
A46B 2200/106 20130101; A45D 40/267 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/26 20060101
A45D040/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2013 |
FR |
1363055 |
Claims
1. Applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular for mascara,
comprising: a core, said core extending in a main direction of
longitudinal extension, referred to as the main direction; a
plurality of strips of material, said strips projecting from the
core in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the main
direction, over at least one angular portion of the core; and a
plurality of separators, said separators projecting from the core
between said strips of material, substantially in the main
direction; said strips and said separators defining cavities.
2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein said strips of material
are crenelated at an angle so as to define an angular succession of
folds having peaks and hollows, when viewed from the same end of
the core, said folds forming angular gaps therebetween.
3. Applicator according to claim 2, wherein the peaks and the
hollows of two adjacent strips in the main direction are in phase
opposition such that the peaks of one strip are opposite the
hollows of another.
4. Applicator according to claim 3, wherein the separators each
have a depression between two adjacent strips of material in the
main direction.
5. Applicator according to claim 3, wherein said separators are
positioned in the gaps in the strips.
6. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the strips of material
form an envelope, said envelope being convex.
7. Applicator according to claim 1, having the last of said strips
at its distal end.
8. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the strips of material
are chamfered in the region of their periphery.
9. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the strips of material
are striated in the region of their periphery.
10. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the strips the
separators extend over the entire radial periphery of the core.
11. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the strips and the
separators are integrally formed with the core.
12. Applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, comprising: a
receptacle comprising a body which forms a container intended to
contain the cosmetic product, and an applicator according to claim
1 that is capable of being attached to the receptacle such that the
applicator is housed within the container.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a cosmetic product applicator and
to an associated applicator assembly.
[0002] Applicator assemblies for cosmetic products, in particular
for cosmetic products to be applied to the eyelashes, such as
mascara, comprising a receptacle containing the cosmetic product
and an applicator capable of being removably attached to the
receptacle, are known.
[0003] The receptacle generally comprises a body, the body
comprising walls delimiting a container in which the cosmetic
product is contained, and a neck defining an opening through which
the cosmetic product can be removed.
[0004] The applicator assembly generally comprises a cap suitable
for being attached to the neck, a rod extending from the cap, and
an applicator attached to a free end of the rod.
[0005] When the cap is attached to the neck, the rod and the
applicator extend within the container. The applicator is immersed
in the cosmetic product contained in the container.
[0006] To use the applicator, the user detaches the cap from the
neck and removes the applicator from the receptacle. When it is
removed, the applicator is wiped by a wiper arranged within the
container in the region of the neck.
[0007] One effect that is sometimes sought is that of grouping the
eyelashes together; however, this is difficult for an inexperienced
user to achieve.
[0008] One problem addressed by the present invention is to propose
an applicator that makes it possible to simplify the process of
applying make-up to the eyelashes of a user, in particular when the
aim is to group the eyelashes together.
[0009] Therefore, the invention relates to an applicator for a
cosmetic product, in particular for mascara, comprising a core,
said core extending in a main direction of longitudinal extension,
referred to as the main direction; a plurality of strips of
material, said strips projecting from the core in a direction that
is substantially orthogonal to the main direction, over at least
one angular portion of the core; and a plurality of separators,
said separators projecting from the core between said strips of
material, substantially in the main direction; said strips and said
separators defining cavities. In other words, strips of material
obtained by a straight line which extends substantially
orthogonally to said main direction. Therefore, said strips of
material may be oriented transversely to said main direction, in
particular orthogonally.
[0010] The strips of material of the applicator of the invention
guide the eyelashes, while the eyelashes are loaded with mascara by
the separators. The separators thus allow the eyelashes to be
loaded in a standardised manner, while the strips of material group
them together evenly.
[0011] In this way, the applicator of the invention allows grouped
eyelashes to be obtained, in particular those in a pointed shape,
and to be loaded with cosmetic product in a consistent manner. The
make-up effect obtained using such an applicator is therefore even
and structured.
[0012] In addition, the rigidity of the strips of material and of
the separators of the invention, compared with protrusions that are
generally flexible, makes it possible to achieve effective
separation of the eyelashes.
[0013] The applicator according to the invention therefore makes it
possible to obtain a unique make-up effect, whether the applicator
is being used by a novice or by a person experienced in make-up, by
guiding the make-up to the user's eyelashes, regardless of the
force that they are applying to their eyelashes.
[0014] In fact, the rigidity of the strips of material and of the
separators prevents them from bending when the force applied to the
eyelashes is high: this also explains why the make-up effect
obtained remains the same regardless of who is using the applicator
of the invention.
[0015] According to different embodiments of the invention, which
may be taken together or separately: [0016] the strips of material
each have a free periphery, [0017] said strips of material are
crenelated at an angle so as to define an angular succession of
folds having peaks and hollows, when viewed from the same end of
the core, said folds forming angular gaps therebetween, [0018] said
folds form a pattern, [0019] said pattern is repeated around the
core, [0020] the peaks and the hollows of two adjacent strips in
the main direction are in phase opposition such that the peaks of
one strip are opposite the hollows of another, [0021] the
separators each have a depression between two adjacent strips of
material in the main direction, [0022] said separators are
positioned in the gaps in the strips, [0023] said separators are
rigid, [0024] the depressions in the separators are substantially
midway between the adjacent strips in the main direction, [0025]
the strips of material form an envelope, in particular by means of
their periphery, [0026] the core has a first end, referred to as
the proximal end, and a second end, referred to as the distal end,
opposite the proximal end in the main direction, [0027] said
applicator has the last of said strips at its distal end, [0028]
said envelope is convex, in particular between said proximal and
distal ends, [0029] the strips of material are chamfered in the
region of their periphery, [0030] the strips of material are
striated in the region of their periphery, [0031] the strips extend
over the entire radial periphery of the core, [0032] the envelope
formed by the peripheries of said strips is an envelope of
revolution, [0033] said envelope of revolution is oval, [0034] the
core is made of plastics material, [0035] the strips and the
separators are integrally formed with the core, [0036] the core,
the strips and the separators are moulded from the same material,
[0037] the core has a constant cross section from the proximal end
to the distal end, [0038] the core is solid, [0039] the core has a
substantially circular cross section, [0040] the applicator forms a
brush.
[0041] The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a
cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle comprising a body which
forms a container intended to contain the cosmetic product, and an
applicator as described above that is capable of being attached to
the receptacle such that the applicator is housed within the
container.
[0042] The invention will be better understood, and its other aims,
details, features and advantages will become more clearly apparent
in 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:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of an example of an applicator
according to the invention;
[0044] FIG. 2 is an isometric, inclined view of the applicator
shown in FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 3 is a view of a detail of the applicator from FIG. 1,
the detail being provided with the reference sign D in FIG. 1.
[0046] FIG. 1 shows an applicator 10 for a cosmetic product
according to the invention, in particular an applicator 10 for
mascara. This applicator 10 comprises a core 12. Said core 12
extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension, referred to
as the main direction and provided with the reference sign X in
FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0047] Here, the core 12 has a first end, referred to as the
proximal end 13, and a second end, referred to as the distal end
15, opposite the proximal end 13 in the main direction X (see FIG.
2). The core 12 is also extended by a cylindrical coupling 14 that
is intended to be joined to a rod that allows the user to handle
the applicator 10.
[0048] The applicator 10 according to the invention also comprises
a plurality of strips of material 20, said strips 20 projecting
from the core 12 between said proximal end 13 and distal end 15
(see FIGS. 1 to 3).
[0049] These strips of material 20 project from the core 12, in a
direction that is substantially orthogonal to the main direction X.
In addition, these strips of material 20 preferably extend over at
least one angular portion of the core 12.
[0050] In the example shown here, the strips of material 20 extend
over the entire radial periphery of the core 12, but they may
extend over a smaller angular portion, for example half, in order
to alternate with other types of protrusions.
[0051] The strips of material 20 are used as guides for the
eyelashes. They group the eyelashes together. In particular, the
example of an applicator 10 shown here makes it possible to group
the eyelashes together into six or seven separate groups, since it
has eight strips of material 20 that particularly project from the
core 12 (see FIG. 1).
[0052] It should be noted that the guiding of the eyelashes may be
further improved by striations that are provided on the free
periphery of the strips of material 20 (embodiment which is not
shown here). These striations thus act as teeth, which encourage
the combing of the eyelashes.
[0053] The applicator 10 of the invention also comprises a
plurality of separators 30, said separators 30 projecting from the
core 12 between said strips of material 20, substantially in the
main direction X (see FIG. 3).
[0054] The separators 30 are rigid. "Rigid" means separators 30
that are not deformable, or not resilient. In other words, the
separators 30 do not have relative flexibility allowing the strips
of material 20 to come closer to one another, in particular in the
main direction X of the core 12, for example when the applicator 10
is in use.
[0055] The separators 30 each have an edge 32 on which the
eyelashes are loaded with cosmetic product. In addition, the
separators 30 each have a depression. Said depression is located
between two adjacent strips of material 20 in the main direction X,
preferably at an equal distance from said two strips 20. In other
words, the separators 30 are each V-shaped, or concave, between two
longitudinally adjacent strips of material 20. A separator 30
therefore has a height h.sub.30 that varies linearly in its
extension direction X, said height h.sub.30 being measured from the
core 12 and perpendicularly to X. This variation in height h.sub.30
is negative from one strip 20 to the depression, then positive from
the depression to the other strip 20', in a symmetrical manner (see
FIG. 3).
[0056] Aside from the capacity for loading provided by their edges
32, these separators 30 have the advantage of assisting in guiding
the eyelashes due to their V shape.
[0057] Said strips 20 and said separators 30 define cavities
40.
[0058] The cavities 40 act as a reservoir for cosmetic product, in
particular as a reservoir for mascara.
[0059] FIG. 3 allows the example of an applicator 10 according to
the invention to be described in detail. Some parts of this figure
have been deliberately darkened in order to aid understanding of
the present description.
[0060] Therefore, in this figure, two strips of material 20, 20'
have been darkened, and are referred to as the first strip 20 and
the second strip 20' in the following. These two strips of material
20, 20' are adjacent along the axis X. It is noted that they are
crenelated at an angle, that is to say that they have an angular
succession of peaks and hollows, in particular in the region of
their periphery.
[0061] The strips of material 20, 20' according to the invention
may also be undulating and/or embossed at an angle. Generally, each
strip of material 20, 20' extends in a zig-zag shape. In other
words again, each strip of material 20, 20' defines an angular
succession of folds having peaks and hollows, when viewed from the
same end of the core 12, for example by an observer positioned in
the region of the distal end 15 of the core 12, said folds forming
angular gaps therebetween.
[0062] Said folds therefore form a pattern that is repeated around
the core 12, it being possible for this pattern to differ, in
particular in terms of phase, between two strips of material 20,
20' that are substantially transverse to the core 12 and in
succession along the axis X.
[0063] Here, independently of said folds, the strips of material 20
have a general orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the
core 12.
[0064] In a variant, the strips of material may have an inclined
general orientation.
[0065] They have the advantage of producing zones of convergence
that are in succession around the core 12. To do this, the strips
of material 20, 20' are preferably arranged in phase opposition
such that, in an alternating manner around the core 12, the
following angular succession is observed: a peak and a hollow
opposite one another, in particular not connected by a separator
30, 30' and at a small distance from one another, then two opposite
gaps, then a peak and a hollow opposite one another, in particular
connected by a separator 30, 30' and at a greater distance from one
another, then two opposite gaps, and so on. A gap is defined here
by the volume enclosed by two peaks and a hollow in succession
within the same strip 20, 20'. The eyelashes are therefore grouped,
released, grouped, released, between the strips 20, 20' when the
applicator is used by a rotational movement about its axis X of
longitudinal extension on the eyelashes.
[0066] This guiding is made easier by the chamfered surfaces, which
are provided with the reference sign 22 in FIG. 3. These chamfered
surfaces are provided on the peaks of said strips of material 20,
in the region of their periphery. This allows a group of eyelashes
to be brought between the two strips 20, 20'. The chamfers 22
therefore intensify the grouping effect on the eyelashes.
[0067] The distance d separating two adjacent strips 20, 20' in the
main direction X is between d.sub.min (between a hollow in the
first strip 20 and a peak on the second strip 20', when viewed from
the distal end 15 of the core 12) and d.sub.max (between a peak on
the first strip 20 and a hollow in the second strip 20', when
viewed from the distal end 15 of the core 12). The distance
d.sub.min is substantially equal to 1.6 mm, for example, and the
distance d.sub.max is substantially equal to 1.7 mm, for
example.
[0068] In addition, it should be noted that the separators 30, 30'
are located between the peaks on the first strip 20 and the hollows
in the second strip 20', when viewed from the distal end 15 of the
core 12. In other words, said separators are located at points
where said two strips of material 20, 20' are the furthest
apart.
[0069] It should also be noted that the hollows in the first strip
20 and the peaks on the second strip 20', when viewed from the
distal end 15 of the core 12, are spaced apart by a distance
d.sub.min, and that they define a peripheral passage around the
core 12, only including the part of the separators 30, 30' having
the depression.
[0070] The average distance d separating two adjacent strips 20,
20' in the main direction X is substantially constant, without
taking into account the undulations, and is within the range of
values of [1; 2 mm], for example being substantially equal to 1.64
mm. Greater spacing between said two strips 20, 20' may reduce the
make-up effect that is sought.
[0071] The structure of the applicator according to the invention
thus allows the eyelashes to be grouped together over a constant
width and to be separated over a constant width.
[0072] The detail in FIG. 3 shows a plurality of separators 30, 30'
according to the invention. The two separators provided with the
reference signs 30, 30' are angularly adjacent. As mentioned above,
they define a cavity 40 together with the two strips of material
provided with the reference signs 20, 20'. The separators 30, 30'
are positioned in the gaps in the strips 20, 20'. The free edges of
the separators 30, 30' are the same height h.sub.30 as the
corresponding strips of material 20, 20' in the region in which
said separators 30, 30' and said strips 20, 20' join.
[0073] The applicator 10 is wiped before being used, in particular
by a wiper arranged in the region of the neck of a receptacle that
is intended to contain the cosmetic product. During this wiping,
the strips of material 20' 20' are wiped in particular in the
region of their free periphery. After wiping, said strips 20, 20'
therefore have a limited quantity of cosmetic product on their
periphery, except inside the gaps.
[0074] As mentioned above, the separators 30, 30' each have an edge
32, 32'. Owing to their V shape, the edges 32, 32' carry along the
cosmetic product, even through the wiper, and therefore make it
possible to provide the user with an applicator 10 loaded with
product, in particular in the region of the depression in the
separator 30, 30'.
[0075] Therefore, the applicator 10 according to the invention
makes it possible to load the eyelashes, and also to group them by
means of the strips 20, 20'.
[0076] The cavities 40 intensify this advantage by being loaded
with an additional quantity of cosmetic product, which serves as a
reserve for loading the eyelashes.
[0077] It should be noted, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 1,
that the free ends of the strips of material 20 form an envelope E.
Said envelope E is convex in the example in FIG. 1. This shape
leads to an applicator 10 having a substantially oval shape between
the proximal end 13 and the distal end 15. For example, the outer
diameter of the applicator 10 in other words the diameter defined
by the free peripheries of the strips of material 20 is
substantially equal to 5 mm in the vicinity of the proximal end 13
and distal end 15, and it reaches a maximum substantially equal to
8 mm between said two ends 13, 15.
[0078] This example is not limiting and the applicator 10 according
to the invention may have any other envelope shape without this
placing any limitations on the make-up effect sought. For example,
the envelope may be in the shape of a straight-sided cylinder, or
may be concave.
[0079] Furthermore, the strips of material 20 and the separators 30
are preferably moulded using the same plastics material as the core
12, or integrally formed with the core 12. This has the advantage
of making it easier to manufacture the applicator 10 according to
the invention. Indeed, said applicator has complex shapes that are
easy to obtain using plastics injection moulding.
[0080] Therefore, said strips of material 20, like the separators
30 described above, are integrally formed with the core 12. For
example, the core 12, the strips 20 and the separators 30 can be
moulded from a material based on LDPE (low-density polyethylene).
Other materials may also be used, namely the material "Exact" from
ExxonMobil or the material "Hytrel" from Dupont, or a mixture of
these materials. Yet other materials may be used, for example
thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU),
styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and
styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymers, or polyamide
(PA).
[0081] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the core 12 is preferably solid
and has a substantially circular cross section, said cross section
preferably being constant from the proximal end 13 to the distal
end 15. Said cross section may have a diameter that is
substantially equal to 2.5 mm, for example.
[0082] The invention also relates to an applicator assembly for a
cosmetic product, comprising a receptacle comprising a body which
forms a container intended to contain the cosmetic product, and an
applicator 10 as described above that is capable of being attached
to the receptacle such that the applicator 10 is housed within the
container.
[0083] The applicator 10 according to the invention will be
particularly beneficial to people seeking an elaborate make-up
effect (grouped eyelashes, in a point, eyelashes loaded with
cosmetic product) without this being time-consuming, or without
using several different applicators to obtain this make-up
effect.
[0084] It should also be noted that variants are of course
possible. In particular, it is also conceivable, in additional
embodiments, for the applicator to comprise protrusions that
project from the core, at least over an angular portion
thereof.
* * * * *