U.S. patent application number 15/502068 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-17 for cosmetic applicator with adjacent bristles which are connected together by flat elements.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEKA GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is GEKA GmbH. Invention is credited to Irina Skert.
Application Number | 20170231367 15/502068 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53938314 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170231367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Skert; Irina |
August 17, 2017 |
COSMETIC APPLICATOR WITH ADJACENT BRISTLES WHICH ARE CONNECTED
TOGETHER BY FLAT ELEMENTS
Abstract
A cosmetic applicator, in particular in the form of a mascara
applicator with a core which has a border consisting of fingers
that protrude from the core, preferably in the form of bristles.
The aim of the invention is to provide a solution for a cosmetic
applicator which exhibits an increased material storage capability
without substantially impairing the other relevant application
properties. This is achieved in that the border has adjacent
fingers which are connected together by a flat element that
integrally adjoins the circumferential casing surface of both
fingers and the core and has a thickness in a direction
perpendicular to the main surfaces of the flat element, said
thickness being lower than the maximum diameter of each of the
bristles which are thus connected.
Inventors: |
Skert; Irina; (Nurnberg,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GEKA GmbH |
Bechhofen |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
GEKA GmbH
Bechhofen
DE
|
Family ID: |
53938314 |
Appl. No.: |
15/502068 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
August 6, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/068152 |
371 Date: |
February 6, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/262 20130101;
A46B 9/026 20130101; A46B 9/021 20130101; A46B 2200/1053 20130101;
A46D 3/005 20130101; A46D 1/0238 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/26 20060101
A45D040/26; A46D 3/00 20060101 A46D003/00; A46D 1/00 20060101
A46D001/00; A46B 9/02 20060101 A46B009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 6, 2014 |
DE |
20 2014 103 653.9 |
Claims
1. A cosmetics applicator, comprising: a core carrying a covering
of fingers protruding therefrom, wherein the covering has adjacent
fingers that are connected to each other by a flat element which in
each case integrally adjoins a circumferential shell surface of
both fingers and integrally adjoins the core, and the flat element
has a thickness in a direction perpendicular to two main surfaces
of the flat element, and the thickness of the flat element is
smaller than a maximum diameter of each of the fingers that are
connected to each other.
2. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein a central
longitudinal plane of each flat element is a plane in which a
longitudinal applicator axis is also located.
3. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein said
thickness of the flat element is 50% of the maximum finger diameter
at most.
4. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein the
thickness of the flat element decreases starting from the core
towards a radially outward end of the flat element.
5. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein a
respective flat element has a maximum extent in a radial direction
that is smaller than a maximum radial extent of the two fingers it
connects, wherein the maximum radial extent of each flat element is
between 1/2 and 3/4 of the maximum radial extent of the two
respective fingers.
6. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein a
radially outward free end face of the flat element is curved.
7. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein the flat
element is a membrane that can be deformed by forces acting in a
circumferential direction.
8. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 7, wherein adjacent
fingers keep the membrane that respectively connects them
stretched.
9. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, the covering
further comprising at least one row of fingers placed in alignment
one behind another along a longitudinal applicator axis, which
fingers are connected to each other by a flat element.
10. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, the covering
further comprising at least one row of fingers, which are placed in
a zigzag one behind the other to the left and the right next to an
alignment line extending parallel to a longitudinal applicator
axis, and which fingers are connected to each other by a flat
element.
11. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein the
fingers have a radial extent gradually decreasing towards a distal
end of the cosmetics applicator, with a radial extent of each flat
element also decreasing towards the distal end of the cosmetics
applicator.
12. The cosmetics applicator according to claim 1, wherein each
flat element has a sloping free end face towards a distal end of
the cosmetics applicator.
13. A method for manufacturing the cosmetics applicator according
to claim 1, comprising: injection-molding the fingers and the flat
element together to the core, wherein the flat element is
injection-molded in the shape of a film that extends in each case
between two immediately adjacent fingers and is kept stretched by
the fingers.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is directed to a cosmetics applicator,
particularly in the shape of a mascara applicator, with a core
carrying a covering of fingers, preferably in the shape of
bristles, protruding therefrom. In particular, mascara mass can be
applied to the eyelashes with such a cosmetics applicator.
[0002] The invention is further directed to a method for
manufacturing such a cosmetics applicator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Such applicators are known in a variety of forms. In
principle, the problem with applicators of this type is that, on
the one hand, an optimum load of cosmetic mass is to be achieved in
order to save the user from having to interrupt the application,
possibly even several times, in order to reload the applicator with
the required amount of cosmetic mass and continue the application.
In this case, the cosmetic mass accommodated by the applicator has
to be securely retained by it and must not drip off inadvertently,
for example. This is most important especially in the case of the
more liquid cosmetic masses.
[0004] On the other hand, such applicators have to exhibit a good
combing behavior and, if possible, also a good behavior with regard
to the desired curling action, which results in the requirement
that the application organs have to possess sufficient
flexibility.
[0005] Accordingly, the invention is based on the object of
providing a cosmetics applicator that exhibits an increased mass
storage capacity without substantially degrading the other relevant
application properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In the case of a cosmetics applicator of the type referred
to in more detail in the introduction, the object is achieved,
according to the invention, by the covering having adjacent fingers
that are connected to each other by a flat element which in each
case integrally adjoins the circumferential shell surface of both
fingers and integrally adjoins the core, and which has a thickness
in the direction perpendicular to its two main surfaces that is
smaller than the maximum diameter of each of the bristles connected
to each other in this way.
[0007] According to the invention, the object is also achieved by a
method for manufacturing a cosmetics applicator according to any
one of the claims 1-12 with a covering of fingers injection-molded
to a core, in which, together with the fingers, one flat element is
respectively injection-molded in the shape of a film that extends
in each case between two immediately adjacent fingers and is kept
stretched by the fingers, wherein the respective flat element is
formed, preferably injection-molded, integrally with the fingers
and the core.
[0008] Accordingly, a cosmetics applicator with a core is proposed
that has a covering of fingers, which are preferably bristles,
protruding from it. According to the invention, immediately
adjacent bristles of the covering are connected to each other by a
flat element that adjoins the circumferential shell surface of both
fingers, in each case locally and integrally. In addition, the flat
element adjoins the core integrally; it is thus not only held
stretched laterally by the two adjacent fingers to which it is
connected, but also by the core. The crucial point is that the flat
element has a thickness in the direction perpendicular to its two
main surfaces that is smaller than the maximum diameter of each of
the two fingers connected in this manner.
[0009] The fingers, which are mostly configured in the shape of
bristles, have the task of being flexible on the one hand, but, on
the other hand, of exhibiting a certain minimum bending stiffness,
and primarily a certain bend recovery capacity. In contrast, the
flat element according to the invention is configured in such a way
that, at least in the circumferential direction, it does not result
in an increase of the bending stiffness that causes a noticeable
interference.
[0010] Preferably, the imaginary central longitudinal plane of the
flat element is a plane in which the longitudinal applicator axis
is also located so that the flat element in that case protrudes
purely in the radial direction. Such a positioning of the flat
element was found to by most useful in tests. Therefore, an
embodiment of the invention is further characterized in that the
central longitudinal plane of the flat element, in particular of
all flat elements, is a plane in which the longitudinal applicator
axis is also located.
[0011] Since the fingers or bristles, as a rule, have a maximum
diameter of 6/10 mm, and better of only 5/10 mm, said thickness of
the flat element may preferably only be 55% at most, and better 40%
at most, of the maximum finger diameter. Since the fingers or
bristles and the flat element are jointly made from plastic, the
flat element in that case behaves like a membrane or a plastic film
stretched between the two adjacent fingers or bristles. In an
embodiment, the invention also provides that said thickness of the
flat element is 50% of the maximum finger diameter at most.
[0012] In principle, there is the possibility that the thickness of
the flat element is constant starting from the core towards the
radially outward end of the flat element. However, it is clearly
better to make the thickness of the flat element decrease starting
from the core towards the radially outward end of the flat element.
This improves the moldability of the flat element, which is very
sensitive anyway during molding, due to its low thickness. In this
respect, the invention provides that the thickness of the flat
element decreases starting from the core towards the radially
outward end of the flat element.
[0013] It is particularly beneficial if the flat element has a
maximum extent in the radial direction which is smaller than the
maximum extent of the two fingers it connects. Because in that
case, this leaves portions of the fingers above the flat elements
that remain free all around, which provide a good combing effect
and that, in addition, ensure that the eyelash covering is divided
and comes to rest between the fingers in the desired manner. It was
found to be particularly beneficial if the maximum radial extent of
the flat element is 3/4 at most of the maximum radial extent of
each of the two fingers. Ideally, however, the minimum radial
extent of a flat element should at least be 1/3, better 1/2, of the
maximum radial extent of the two fingers. Thus, the invention is
further characterized in that the respective flat element has a
maximum extent in the radial direction that is smaller than the
maximum extent of the two fingers it connects, wherein the maximum
radial extent of the respective flat element, in particular of all
flat elements, is between 1/2 and 3/4 of the maximum radial extent
of the two fingers. It is particularly beneficial if the radially
outward free end face of the flat element is configured in a curved
manner, preferably in a concave manner, which the invention also
provides. This makes the individual eyelashes slip into the center
of the free end face of the flat element, where its concave end
face has its deepest point. There is enough cosmetic mass to be
found here to cover the eyelashes intensively; at the same time,
several eyelashes may possibly be merged thereby, which makes them
appear thicker.
[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, it is useful if the
flat element is a membrane that can be deformed to a more than just
insubstantial extent by forces acting in the circumferential
direction. A more than lust insubstantial deformation is, in any
case, a deformation of more than 50/10 mm or ideally even 10/10 mm
that goes beyond the deformation of one or a few hundredths of a
millimeter that virtually every rigid body shows under stress due
to its inevitable elasticity.
[0015] In any case, the person skilled in the art understands a
membrane to be a structure that is incapable of transmitting any
bending moment in the direction parallel to its two large main
surfaces. As a rule, it can be said that a membrane is, in a manner
of speaking, like a jumping sheet, which is also incapable of
transmitting any bending moment in the direction perpendicular to
its large main surface.
[0016] it is particularly beneficial if adjacent fingers keep the
membrane that respectively connects them stretched, which the
invention further provides. Because in this case, the membrane is
so weak that it would not protrude in a straight manner in the
radial direction, in any case as soon as it has been pulled through
the wiper once.
[0017] In principle, immediately adjacent fingers that are placed
in alignment in the circumferential direction can also be connected
to each other by means of the flat element according to the
invention. However, this is of significantly less use than the
still preferred embodiment of the invention in which at least one
row of fingers placed in alignment one behind the other along the
longitudinal applicator axis belongs to the covering, which, for
the predominant part or preferably all, are connected to each other
by flat elements of said kind.
[0018] An alternative embodiment of the invention provides that at
least one row of fingers belongs to the covering, which are placed
in a zigzag one behind the other to the left and the right next to
an alignment line extending parallel to the longitudinal applicator
axis, and which, for the predominant part or preferably all, are
connected to each other by flat elements of said kind. Such a
placement results in a pattern that is reminiscent of a fence set
up in a zigzag and covered accordingly.
[0019] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the fingers have a radial
extent gradually decreasing towards the distal end of the cosmetics
applicator, with the radial extent of the flat elements preferably
also decreasing, which the invention also provides.
[0020] Finally, an embodiment of the invention is also
characterized in that the flat elements have a sloping free end
face towards the distal end of the cosmetics applicator.
[0021] Other embodiments, modes of action and advantages become
apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below with
reference to FIGS. 1-11.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary
embodiment in an oblique view from above.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view according to FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows the applicator according to FIG. 1 head-on from
the front.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment that is closely
based on the first exemplary embodiment, in a lateral view.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4
head-on from the front.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment in an oblique
perspective view from above.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6
head-on from the front.
[0029] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment
according to FIG. 6.
[0030] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a fourth exemplary
embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 10 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9
head-on from the front.
[0032] FIG. 11 shows a close-up view of a bristle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] The terms "distal end" and "proximal end" refer to the
proximal end 9 facing towards the handle/stem and the distal end 10
of the cosmetics applicator 1 that faces away from the
handle/stem.
[0034] Preferably, the entire part, or at least the predominant
part of the fingers 4 is configured in the form of bristles. A
bristle is understood to be a rod-like structure whose length Lg is
at least 5 times greater than its maximum diameter Dmax above the
region that is possibly rounded in a pronounced manner, with which
the bristle transitions into the core 2 of the cosmetics applicator
1. In this regard, reference may be made to FIG. 11.
[0035] A bristle or a finger 4 preferably has a circular cross
section, or a cross section that is at least substantially circular
except for tolerance variations. However, an oval or elliptical and
a plum-like cross section is also conceivable. Preferably, a
bristle or a finger 4 is characterized in that it tapers from its
base towards its outermost free end. Particularly preferably, the
shell forming the circumference of a bristle or of a finger 4 is
therefore conical, with a cone shell angle .alpha. of preferably
between 1.degree. and 3.degree..
[0036] A bristle or a finger 4 is typically characterized by its
high level of flexibility in the direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal bristle axis BL. In most cases it is useful if a
bristle or a finger 4 is so flexible that its free end is capable,
under the influence of the forces occurring as intended during,
application, of being displaced in an elastic-reversible manner by
an amount AL in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
bristle axis BL which corresponds to at least three times, better
at least four times, the maximum finger diameter Dmax, as this is
shown in FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 1 gives the best overview over an embodiment of a
cosmetics applicator 1 according to the invention. As can be seen,
the cosmetics applicator 1 has a core 2. The core 2 preferably has
a coupling portion 3 that serves for coupling the cosmetics
applicator 1 to a stem or handle that is not shown here. The
predominant part of the core 2 functions as a finger carrier, i.e.
it is covered with fingers 4 or bristles that, as a rule, protrude
from it in the radial direction. Most frequently, the fingers 4 or
bristles are produced jointly and integrally with the core by
injection molding. Seen microscopically, injection molding provides
the fingers 4 or bristles with special properties, because
injection molding achieves a certain alignment of the plastic
molecules in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
fingers 4 or bristles that can only be achieved in this manner by
injection molding. In addition, injection molding results in the
fingers 4 or bristles transitioning into the core 2 without any
gaps, which, in the case of long-term use of the cosmetics
applicator 1, is exceedingly advantageous with regard to hygienic
aspects.
[0038] The fingers 4 or bristles are preferably placed in rows, at
least in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis
L of the cosmetics applicator 1. Adjacent fingers 4 placed in such
a row preferably keep a distance from each other that corresponds
to 2 times to 3.5 times the maximum finger diameter Dmax.
[0039] The special feature of the cosmetics applicators 1 according
to the invention is that the covering has immediately adjacent
fingers 4 that are connected to each other by a flat element 5
which adjoins, in each case locally and integrally, the
circumferential shell surface of the respectively adjacent fingers
4 that are connected to each other by means of a flat element 5.
This flat element 5 has a thickness D in the direction
perpendicular to its two main surfaces 6 that is smaller than the
maximum diameter of each of the two fingers 4 connected in this
manner.
[0040] What is meant here can be seen very well in FIG. 1. As a
rule, the diameter of the fingers 4 is greater everywhere than the
thickness D of the flat elements 5. In this way, a finger fringe is
produced that is continuous in the longitudinal direction. In this
case, the contour of the individual fingers 4 is clearly apparent
everywhere, which is why the finger fringe is reminiscent of the
dorsal fin of a fish or of a fence, between whose fencing posts a
covering is provided, it is also easy to see in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2
that the flat elements 5 transition integrally into the core 2 at
their radially inward ends and are thus integrally connected to the
core 2. In contrast, the radially outward end of the flat elements
5, as can be seen, in each case forms a free end flux 8. In this
exemplary embodiment, the free end face 8 is preferably concavely
curved. Alternatively, however, a V-shaped design of this free end
face 8, for example, is also conceivable.
[0041] It is also easy to see that each flat element 5 has a
maximum extent in the radial direction which is smaller than the
maximum extent of the two fingers 4 it connects. This means that
the fingers 4 continue radially above the flat elements 5 and there
form a part that is free on all sides and that is unimpededly
flexible in all directions.
[0042] As the figures show only to a limited extent, each of the
flat elements 5 is a membrane, i.e, an element that is incapable of
transmitting any perceptible bending moments and only tensile
forces or at least greater tensile forces than compressive forces.
Thus, such a membrane is a flexible element which can be deformed
to a more than just insubstantial extent by circumferentially
acting forces, i.e. undergo a deformation in the range from 1 mm
and more instead of only every deformation in the 1/100 mm range
that virtually every rigid body exhibits under the influence of
externally acting forces.
[0043] In many cases, it is beneficial to configure the flexible
flat elements 5 in the shape of a plastic film, with a thickness of
no more than 3/10 mm, and better of no more than 2/10
millimeters.
[0044] Due to this, it can be said that two immediately adjacent
fingers 4 keep the flat element 5 stretched that is located between
them and attached to them, similar to the way two fencing posts
keep a fence covering stretched between them. Where bristles are
used instead of teeth of a comb, the special feature is that the
"fencing posts" are also flexible. This results in the possibility
of bending the entire bristle fringe at least partially in the
circumferential direction under the influence of the forces arising
during the application as intended. In contrast, the bristle fringe
puts up a significantly greater resistance against the bending of
the individual bristles in the direction of the longitudinal axis
than is observed when tilting back individual bristles, which are
similarly placed and dimensioned but not connected to each other by
a flat element 5. Due to the bend recovery capacity of the
bristles, however, the bristle fringe returns into its initial
position after some time, once the load on it has been
relieved.
[0045] The flat elements 5 are manufactured by being jointly
injection-molded with the core 2 and the fingers 4, most frequently
in a single shot. Alternatively, the procedure may be that, in a
second step, the fingers 4 and the flat elements 5 are
injection-molded subsequently onto a core 2 that was
injection-molded first.
[0046] It can be seen particularly well in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the
fingers 4 have a gradually decreasing radial extent towards the
distal end of the cosmetics applicator 1, i.e., the fingers become
shorter and shorter towards the distal end. In this case, the
radial extent of the flat elements preferably also decreases.
[0047] Taking a close look, it can be seen, particularly in FIG. 2,
that the flat elements 5 have a free end face that slopes as a
whole (irrespective of its, for example, concave curvature) towards
the distal end 10 of the cosmetics applicator 1, i.e. a flat
element 5 extends further radially outwards on the side on which it
is connected to a longer finger 4 than on its other side, with
which it is connected to a shorter finger 4.
[0048] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second exemplary embodiment, which is a
modification of the first exemplary embodiment and is therefore
very similar to it. Due to this, the statements made above with
respect to the first exemplary embodiment equally apply to this
second exemplary embodiment unless the differences described below
clearly lead to a different conclusion.
[0049] In this case, another difference that is preferably to be
realized is that the fingers 4 in this case do not have a circular
cross section, but an elliptical or even a substantially
rectangular cross section. In this case, the cross section is
orientated in such a way that the long semiaxis of the ellipsis is
orientated parallel to the longitudinal applicator axis L, or that
the long lateral edge of the rectangle is orientated parallel to
the longitudinal applicator axis L. In this way, the bristle or
finger fringe puts up an even greater resistance against a tilting
back of the bristles or fingers 4 in the direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis than in the first embodiment. The rigidity of the
bristles or fingers 4 in this direction and their connection to
each other by means of the flat elements 5 are thus combined in
their effects.
[0050] Another difference is that the finger covering is in this
case configured in a barrel-shaped manner on the whole. That means
that each row of fingers 4 that stand one behind the other in
alignment in the direction parallel to the longitudinal applicator
axis L starts at the proximal end 9 of the cosmetics applicator 1
with a short finger 4, then the finger length increases gradually
until it reaches a maximum; later, it gradually decreases again
towards the distal end 10 of the cosmetics applicator 1.
Preferably, the radial extent of the flat elements 5 between two
adjacent fingers 4 increases or decreases with the length of the
fingers 4, as can be seen from FIG. 4.
[0051] However, also in this embodiment, the flat elements 5 are
generally configured as a membrane or plastic film and also behave
in the way already described above for the first embodiment.
[0052] Also in this case, it applies that the maximum extent of
each finger 4 in the circumferential direction is greater than the
maximum thickness of the membrane or of the flat element 5, wherein
the extent of each finger 4 in the circumferential direction is
also in this case preferably greater everywhere than the thickness
of the membrane or of the flat element 5, so that the fingers 4 are
clearly apparent also in this case,
[0053] FIGS. 5 to 8 show another alternative third embodiment.
[0054] In this case, the fingers 4 are configured as preferably
radially outwardly tapering tabs, i.e. as structures that have, in
the direction of the longitudinal applicator axis L, an extent in
the area of their base that is greater by at least the factor three
than in the circumferential direction of the cosmetics applicator
1. Furthermore, all of the tabs that stand one behind the other in
a row in the direction of the longitudinal applicator axis L
advantageously have a common base area that protrudes in a
strip-like manner from the core 2 of the cosmetics applicator 1.
While these tabs are still rather flexible in the circumferential
direction, they are dearly more rigid in the direction parallel to
the longitudinal applicator axis L, already in and of themselves,
than the fingers 4 or bristles of the two above-described exemplary
embodiments. However, the above statements continue to apply to the
flat elements 5 that connect these tabs in the same manner as the
fingers 4 in the two above-described exemplary embodiments. The
flat elements 5 are generally configured as a membrane or plastic
film that again behaves in the way already described above for the
first embodiment.
[0055] However, particularly if such a tab-shaped or tab-like
configuration of the fingers 4 connected to each other by a flat
element 5 is selected, as is the case in this third embodiment, it
is particularly beneficial if the covering consists not only of
such fingers 4, but additionally also of further fingers 4* in the
shape of bristles in the above-defined sense, which are mostly
disposed in rows. Of course, this modification also applies to the
two above-described exemplary embodiments. Such a modification is
only of slightly less use (but not useless) in those exemplary
embodiments.
[0056] Another configuration option, which basically also applies
to all exemplary embodiment but is of significant use particularly
in the case of this third exemplary embodiment, is the wave-shaped
configuration of the individual fingers 4 as it can best be seen in
FIG. 6. For this purpose, the length of the fingers 4 standing one
behind the other in alignment along the longitudinal applicator
axis L is varied in such a way that they become alternately shorter
and longer, so that the result is a wave. The local load of
cosmetic mass, in particular mascara mass, is thus varied. The
troughs of the waves are wiped off to a greater extent and thus
freed to a greater extent from the cosmetic mass, in particular
mascara mass, with which they are originally loaded, than the peaks
of the waves, i.e. the areas in which the fingers 4 have a greater,
in particular a relatively great length. This becomes evident
particularly if tab-like fingers 4 are used, as in this case, that
are additionally stabilized by flat elements 5 that connect them to
each other.
[0057] FIGS. 9 to 10 show a last alternative fourth embodiment. In
this exemplary embodiment, the fingers 4 are again configured as
radially outwardly tapering tabs, but now in a more extreme way
than in the preceding third embodiment. In this case, the tabs
have, in the direction of the longitudinal applicator axis L, an
extent in the area of their base that is greater by at least the
factor 5 than in the circumferential direction of the cosmetics
applicator 1. Also in this case, all of the tabs that stand one
behind the other in a row in the direction of the longitudinal
applicator axis L preferably have a common base area that protrudes
in a strip-like manner from the core 2 of the cosmetics applicator
1.
[0058] However, also in this case, the above statements continue to
apply to the flat elements 5 that connect the tabs in the same
manner as the fingers 4 in all of the above-described exemplary
embodiments, in particular the statements regarding the first
exemplary embodiment. Also in this case, the flat elements 5 are
generally configured as a membrane or plastic film that again
behaves in the way already described above.
[0059] Finally, it must be noted that independent protection is
also sought for a method for manufacturing an applicator with a
covering of fingers injection-molded to a core 2, in which,
together with the fingers, a film is injection-molded that extends
in each case between two immediately adjacent fingers and is kept
stretched by the fingers.
* * * * *