U.S. patent application number 15/525096 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-09 for cosmetic applicator having fibres.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'OREAL. The applicant listed for this patent is L'OREAL. Invention is credited to Alain BERHAULT, Eric CAULIER, Davide MANICI.
Application Number | 20170318945 15/525096 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52392012 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170318945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MANICI; Davide ; et
al. |
November 9, 2017 |
COSMETIC APPLICATOR HAVING FIBRES
Abstract
A device for packaging and applying a makeup product, having a
reservoir containing the makeup product to be applied, and an
applicator for applying the makeup product, having an applicator
member, carried by the stem, having a plurality of fibres, the
fibres having a plurality of portions, at least two portions of
which are made of different materials, and the fibres not having,
in cross section, an articulated zone defined by one of the
portions, the portions made of different materials each defining a
part of the outer perimeter p of the fibre in section, or one of
the portions made of different materials entirely surrounding the
other in section and having at least one region that narrows
towards the outside.
Inventors: |
MANICI; Davide; (Mercenasco,
IT) ; CAULIER; Eric; (Clichy, FR) ; BERHAULT;
Alain; (Clichy, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
L'OREAL |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
L'OREAL
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
52392012 |
Appl. No.: |
15/525096 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
November 6, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/075897 |
371 Date: |
May 8, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46D 1/0207 20130101;
A46B 3/18 20130101; A46B 2200/1053 20130101; A46D 1/0238 20130101;
A46B 9/021 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A46B 3/18 20060101
A46B003/18; A46B 9/02 20060101 A46B009/02; A46D 1/00 20060101
A46D001/00; A46D 1/00 20060101 A46D001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 2014 |
FR |
1460727 |
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. A device for packaging and applying a makeup product, having: a
reservoir containing the makeup product to be applied, and an
applicator for applying the makeup product, having: an applicator
member, carried by the stem, having a plurality of fibres, the
fibres having a plurality of portions, at least two portions of
which are made of different materials, and the fibres not having,
in cross section, an articulated zone defined by one of the
portions, (i) the portions made of different materials each
defining a part of the outer perimeter p of the fibre in section,
or (ii) one of the portions made of different materials entirely
surrounding the other in section and having at least one region
that narrows towards the outside.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein each fibre has
between 2 and 8 of said portions.
17. The device according to claim 15, wherein each fibre has
between 2 and 8 portions made of different materials.
18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the portions are
co-extruded.
19. The device according to claim 15, wherein the portions have a
constant section and extend longitudinally along the entire length
of the fibre.
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the portions are
continuous along the entire length of the fibre.
21. The device according to claim 15, wherein said portions made of
different materials have a difference of at least 10 units on the
same Shore hardness scale.
22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said portions made of
different materials have a difference of at least 20 units.
23. The device according to claim 15, wherein said portions each
occupy, in cross section, between 20% and 80% of the section formed
by the joining of this portion to an adjacent portion made of a
different material.
24. The device according to claim 23, wherein said portions each
occupy, in cross section, between 30% and 70% of the section formed
by the joining of this portion to an adjacent portion made of a
different material.
25. The device according to claim 23, wherein said portions each
occupy, in cross section, between 40% and 60% of the section formed
by the joining of this portion to an adjacent portion made of a
different material.
26. The device according to claim 15, wherein two of said portions
made of different materials are separated, in cross section, by a
contact line with a length greater than or equal to 1/16 of the
perimeter of the area formed by the joining of these portions.
27. The device according to claim 26, wherein two of said portions
made of different materials are separated, in cross section, by a
contact line with a length greater than or equal to 1/8 of the
perimeter of the area formed by the joining of these portions.
28. The device according to claim 15, wherein each fibre has a
shape factor L/e less than or equal to 5, the shape factor L/e
being defined in section by the ratio of the greatest length L of
the fibre to the greatest dimension e of the fibre in a direction
perpendicular to that of the greatest length L.
29. The device according to claim 28, wherein each fibre has a
shape factor L/e less than or equal to 4.
30. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fibres have, in
cross section, a region that narrows towards the outside.
31. The device according to claim 15, wherein at least two
separated portions are made of one and the same material.
32. The device according to claim 15, wherein the applicator has a
core formed by a metal strand folded on itself and twisted, the
fibres being clamped between the strands of the core.
33. A makeup method comprising the step of applying a makeup
product to human keratin materials with the packaging and
application device according to claim 15.
34. A method for manufacturing a device according to claim 15,
comprising the step of heating the applicator member so as to bring
about the deformation of the fibres.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for packaging and
applying a makeup product to human keratin materials and to a
makeup method.
[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a packaging and
application device having an applicator that has an applicator
member comprising fibres for applying the product to the keratin
materials, in particular the eyelashes and/or eyebrows.
[0003] A large number of applicators of this type, in which the
applicator member is in the form of a brush referred to as a
twisted wire brush having a core formed by two arms of a metal wire
that are twisted together and grip the fibres, or is in the form of
a brush referred to as a baleen brush, having a bundle of
substantially parallel fibres, are known.
[0004] Patent Applications US 2002/0034636 and US 2004/0091704 and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,445 relate to brushes for oral or bodily
hygiene.
[0005] Patent Application US 2002/0034636 discloses fibres
comprising a first polymer and a second polymer embedded as a thin
layer in the first polymer. Under the action of a sufficient
mechanical force, the fibre splits into a plurality of filaments at
the thin layers formed by the second polymer.
[0006] Patent Application US 2004/0091704 describes co-extruded
fibres that each comprise two materials, at least one of which
comprises a mixture of polyamide and polyester. The fibre can
consist of a core made of a first material, defining a portion of
the periphery of the fibre, and of a segment made of a second
material, completing the periphery.
[0007] Patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,445 relates to fibres that each
comprise a plastic core and a jacket made of profiled thermoplastic
elastomer.
[0008] European Patent Application EP 0 933 043 relates to a
twisted wire brush. Along their length, the fibres have at least
two preferential deformation zones that define, in cross section,
articulations. The latter can be formed by two narrowed zones or by
zones that comprise a more flexible material.
[0009] There is a need to further improve applicators for applying
a makeup product to human keratin materials, and more particularly
but not exclusively the eyelashes and/or eyebrows.
[0010] Thus, a subject of the invention is a device for packaging
and applying a makeup product, having: [0011] a reservoir
containing the makeup product to be applied, and [0012] an
applicator for applying the cosmetic product, having: [0013] an
applicator member having a plurality of fibres, the fibres each
having a plurality of portions, at least two portions of which are
made of different materials, and the fibres not having, in cross
section, an articulated zone defined by one of said portions,
[0014] (i) the portions each defining a part of the outer perimeter
of the fibre in cross section, or [0015] (ii) one of said portions
entirely surrounding the other of said portions made of different
materials in cross section and having at least one region that
narrows towards the outside.
[0016] A "portion" is understood to be a single-material part of
the fibre, delimited by the outer surface of the fibre and/or by at
least one other part of the fibre formed of a different
material.
[0017] The fact that the portions of different materials each
define, in cross section, a part of the outer perimeter makes it
possible in particular to have different properties on one and the
same fibre, in particular different affinities with regard to
certain constituents that are used in the formulation of the makeup
product.
[0018] This can make it possible to increase the retention of the
product by the fibre and/or to have an applicator that is
compatible with a greater variety of products.
[0019] The two materials may have different heat shrink properties,
thereby making it possible to give each fibre, by heating, a
curvature that is dependent on the arrangement of said portions
within the fibre.
[0020] The cross section of the fibres according to the invention
is particularly advantageous when the fibres are used to
manufacture a mascara brush, being clamped between two metal
strands that are twisted together. In this case, the fibres
according to the invention tend to be oriented in different
directions depending on the way in which each is clamped between
the strands. Since the orientation of the section of the fibres
between the strands of the core is random, this tends to break the
spiral effect on the brush and makes it possible to obtain improved
performance in terms of loading and separation of the eyelashes
and/or eyebrows.
[0021] Each fibre may have between 2 and 8 of said portions.
[0022] Each fibre may have between 2 and 4 portions made of
different materials.
[0023] Said portions may be co-extruded.
[0024] The fibres may have a cylindrical shape. The fibres may have
a circular or non-circular cross section, in particular in the
shape of a .sctn., a double blade, a regular or irregular polygon,
a droplet, nested circles, or a star, this list not being
limiting.
[0025] The fibres may or may not have a concavity towards the
outside in cross section.
[0026] The fibres may have a solid or hollow cross section.
[0027] The abovementioned portions may each have a constant section
and extend longitudinally along the entire length of the fibre.
Preferably, said portions are continuous along the entire length of
the fibre. This makes it easier to manufacture said fibres, in
particular by co-extrusion.
[0028] Preferably, the portions are each made of a plastics
material, in particular of a thermoplastic material, notably
polyamide (PA), elastomer, notably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
polybutadiene terephthalate (PBT), rubber, or mixtures thereof, in
particular a mixture of PA, PBT and rubber or elastomer and
polyamide. Such materials make it possible to have fibres that are
easy to manufacture, with good flexibility properties. Preferably,
at least one of the portions is made of PTFE. This material has
good sliding properties on keratin fibres.
[0029] Preferably, at least two of said portions made of different
materials have a difference of at least 10 units on the same Shore
hardness scale, better still a difference of at least 20 units.
Such a difference in hardness makes it possible to have fibres
which have different flexibility depending on the bending
direction.
[0030] Said portions made of different materials preferably each
occupy, in cross section, between 20% and 80% of the section formed
by the joining of this portion to another, adjacent portion made of
a different material, better still between 30% and 70%, even better
still between 40% and 60%.
[0031] Preferably, the adjacent portions made of different
materials are separated, in cross section, by a contact line with a
length greater than or equal to 1/16, better still greater than or
equal to 1/8, of the perimeter of the area formed by the joining of
said two adjacent portions. This perimeter can correspond to the
total perimeter of the fibre when the latter only has two
portions.
[0032] Each portion may have a perimeter in cross section which has
or does not have a concavity.
[0033] Each portion may have a cross section with a shape that is
substantially circular or non-circular, in particular in the shape
of an oval, an ellipse, a regular or irregular polygon, in
particular a triangle, a comma, a sector, a star, a kidney or a
pear.
[0034] Each fibre preferably has a shape factor L/e less than or
equal to 5, better still less than or equal to 4, the shape factor
L/e being defined in cross section by the ratio of the greatest
length L of the fibre to the greatest dimension e of the fibre in a
direction perpendicular to that of the greatest length L.
[0035] As a result, the fibres are flattened relatively little.
[0036] The greatest width L of the fibre in section may be between
0.05 mm and 0.5 mm, better still between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.
[0037] The greatest dimension e of the fibre in a direction
perpendicular to the greatest width L is between 0.03 mm and 0.5
mm, better still between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm.
[0038] The cross section of the fibres is preferably never the
image of itself when rotated through an angle less than
180.degree..
[0039] At least one of said portions may have, in cross section, a
region that narrows towards the outside.
[0040] The fibre may have two separated portions made of one and
the same material, these two portions being for example
diametrically opposed.
[0041] The applicator may have at least two different sorts of
fibre.
[0042] The applicator may have a stem to which the applicator
member is fixed.
[0043] Although the invention applies preferably to a twisted wire
brush, the applicator may alternatively have a bundle of fibres,
the fibres being substantially parallel to one another and forming
a brush of the baleen type or a fine brush. The stem of the
applicator may then have a longitudinal axis substantially parallel
to the fibres. In a variant, as in the case of a twisted wire
brush, the stem is substantially perpendicular to the fibres.
[0044] A further subject of the invention is a makeup method
comprising the step of applying a makeup product to human keratin
materials with the packaging and application device according to
the invention.
[0045] A further subject of the invention is a method for
manufacturing a packaging and application device according to the
invention, comprising the step of heating the applicator member so
as to bring about the deformation of the fibres.
[0046] Preferably, those portions of the fibres that are made of
different materials have different heat shrink properties. During
the heating step, the portions shrink differently, and the fibres
then each assume a corresponding curvature.
[0047] The invention may be better understood from reading the
following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative
embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in
which:
[0048] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a packaging and
application device,
[0049] FIGS. 2 to 16 illustrate variants of fibres in cross
section, and
[0050] FIG. 17 is an elevation view of another example of an
applicator.
[0051] The packaging and application device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a
container 2 containing a makeup product P to be applied, in
particular to the eyelashes or the eyebrows, for example mascara,
and an applicator 3 having a stem 4 of longitudinal axis X,
provided at one end 4a with an applicator member 5 and at the
opposite end with a gripping member 6 that likewise serves to close
the container 2. The latter has a neck 7 which is externally
threaded so as to allow the gripping member 6 to be screwed on.
[0052] A wiping member 8 is fixed inside the neck 7 in order to
wipe the stem 4 and the applicator member 5 as they are withdrawn
from the container 2. This wiping member 8 has a flexible lip 9
that defines a, for example circular, wiping orifice, the diameter
of which corresponds more or less to that of the stem 4.
[0053] Of course, the invention is not limited to the use of a
particular wiping member and further wiping members can be used,
for example a wiping member with a wavy lip and/or having one or
more slits.
[0054] In the example illustrated, the stem 4 is rectilinear but it
could be curved without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0055] In the example in question, the applicator member 5 has a
twisted core 10 formed in a conventional manner by two metal
strands that are twisted together, in particular two strands made
of one and the same metal wire folded on itself. This core 10 is
fixed at one end in a housing in the stem 4, being for example
force-fitted into this housing.
[0056] The applicator member 5 has fibres 11 which are held in a
clamped manner between the twisted metal strands of the core
10.
[0057] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, these fibres 11 each
have at least two portions 13 and 15 made of different
materials.
[0058] The portions 13 and 15 are preferably made of a plastics
material, preferably of a thermoplastic material, in particular
polyamide (PA), elastomer, polybutadiene terephthalate (PBT),
rubber, or mixtures thereof, in particular a mixture of PA, PBT and
rubber or elastomer and PA.
[0059] Preferably, the fibres 11 are formed by co-extrusion.
[0060] The greatest width L of the fibre 11 in section, in this
case the diameter, may be between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.
[0061] In the example in FIG. 2, the fibre 11 has a circular shape
in section and the portions 13 and 15 are each in the form of a
semicircle and define half of the fibre 11 in section. The shape
factor L/e is in this case equal to 1.
[0062] In section, the line of contact S.sub.35 between the
portions 13 and 15 has a size greater than 1/8 of the perimeter p
of the area formed by the two portions 13 and 15, corresponding in
this case to the total perimeter of the fibre 11. The ratio
S.sub.35/p is in this case equal to 1/.pi..
[0063] The example in FIG. 3 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in that
it has four distinct sectors 13a, 13b, 15a and 15b made of two
different materials, each forming a portion within the meaning of
the invention and each occupying a quarter of the section of the
fibre 11. The diametrically opposed portions 13a and 13b are made
of a first material, and the likewise diametrically opposed
portions 15a and 15b are made of a second material. The ratio
S.sub.35/p is in this case equal to 1/(.pi.+2), p being the
perimeter of the area formed by two adjacent portions, in this case
corresponding to the perimeter of a half-fibre 11.
[0064] The example in FIG. 4 differs from the one in FIG. 3 in that
the fibre has two diametrically opposed portions 13a and 13b made
of one and the same first material, and two portions 15 and 17 made
of respective second and third materials, the portions 13a, 13b,
15a and 15b each occupying a quarter of the section of the fibre
11.
[0065] The example in FIG. 5 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in that
the fibre 11 has three portions 13, 15 and 17 made of different
materials. The portion 13 has a section which is twice that of the
two other portions 15 and 17 that each occupy a quarter of the
section of the fibre 11. The ratios S.sub.35/p.sub.35 and
S.sub.37/p.sub.37 are equal to 1/(3.pi./2+2) and the ratio
S.sub.57/p.sub.57 is equal to 1/(.pi.+2), p.sub.35 being the
perimeter of the area formed by the pair of adjacent portions 13
and 15, p.sub.37 being the perimeter of the area formed by the pair
of adjacent portions 13 and 17, and p.sub.57 being the perimeter of
the area formed by the pair of adjacent portions 15 and 17.
[0066] The example in FIG. 6 differs from the one in FIG. 3 in that
the fibre 11 has four portions 13, 15, 17 and 19 made of four
respective different materials that each occupy a quarter of the
fibre 11.
[0067] The example in FIG. 7 differs from the one in FIG. 6 in that
the four portions 13, 15, 17 and 19 occupy sectors of the fibre 11
with different sizes. The contact lines S.sub.35, S.sub.57,
S.sub.79 and S.sub.39 are in this case identical lengths that are
equal to the radius of the cross section of the fibre 11. The
ratios S.sub.ij/p.sub.ij are different for each pair of adjacent
portions made of different materials but are each less than or
equal to 1/16, better still 1/8, p.sub.ij being the perimeter of
the area formed by the pair of adjacent portions 1i and 1j.
[0068] FIG. 8 illustrates a fibre 11 having a section in the shape
of a droplet (tear) having a first portion 13 made of a first
material, having a circular section forming the round part of the
droplet, and a second portion 15 made of a second material, having
a substantially triangular shape in section, forming the point of
the droplet. The shape factor L/e is less than 2. In section, the
line of contact S.sub.35 between the portions 13 and 15 has a size
greater than 1/8 of the total perimeter p of the fibre 11.
[0069] FIG. 9 shows a fibre 11, the section of which is in the form
of nested discs, having two portions 13 and 15 made of different
materials. The portion 13 forms a large circle and the portion 15
forms a small circle nested in the portion 13. The shape factor L/e
is less than 2. In section, the line of contact S.sub.35 between
the portions 13 and 15 has a size greater than 1/8 of the total
perimeter p of the fibre 11.
[0070] In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the fibre 11 is in
the overall shape of a .sctn. in section, the fibre 11 narrowing
towards the top, terminating at a point oriented towards the right,
and narrowing towards the bottom, terminating in a point oriented
towards the left. The first portion 13 forms the central part and
top of the .sctn. and the portion 15 forms the bottom part of the
.sctn.. The shape factor L/e is less than 4. The external contour
of the fibre 11 may be symmetric with respect to its central axis.
In section, the line of contact S.sub.35 between the portions 13
and 15 has a size greater than 1/8 of the total perimeter p of the
fibre 11.
[0071] The example in FIG. 11 differs from the one in FIG. 10 in
that the first portion 13 has a circular shape in section and forms
the core of the .sctn.. The second portion 15 covers all of the
first portion 13 and gives the fibre 11 its .sctn. shape in
section. The fibre is symmetric with respect to its central
axis.
[0072] FIG. 12 shows a fibre 11 in which the first portion 13 has a
circular shape. The second portion 15 covers all of the first
portion 13 in section and forms points 21 diametrically away from
one another relative to the central axis of the fibre 11. The shape
ratio L/e is less than 3. The fibre 11 is symmetric with respect to
its central axis. In section, the line of contact S.sub.35 between
the portions 13 and 15 has a size greater than 1/8 of the total
perimeter p of the fibre 11.
[0073] The example in FIG. 13 differs from those in the preceding
figures in that the fibre 11 has three portions 13, 15a and 15b
made of two different materials. The portion 13, of circular
section, is made of a first material and the portions 15a and 15b
are made of a second material, each being substantially in the form
of an isosceles triangle in section. The portion 13 forms the
centre of the fibre 11 and the portions 15a and 15b face away from
one another relative to the central axis of the fibre 11, their
bases 23 being in contact with the portion 13. In section, the
contact line S.sub.35a between the portions 13 and 15a has a size
greater than 1/8 of the perimeter pa of the section formed by the
portions 13 and 15a, and the contact line S.sub.35b between the
portions 13 and 15b has a size greater than 1/8 of the perimeter
p.sub.b of the section formed by the portions 13 and 15b.
[0074] The example in FIG. 14 differs from the one in FIG. 4 in
that the fibre 11 is Y-shaped and has three portions 13, 15 and 17
made of three different materials that each occupy a third of the
fibre 11 in section. Each portion 13, 15 and 17 can form one arm of
the Y. In a variant, each portion can form a V extending on two
arms of the Y. Preferably, the legs of the Y form an angle .alpha.
equal to 120.degree. between one another, but this does not have to
be the case. The contact lines S.sub.35, S.sub.37 and S.sub.57 have
a size greater than 1/16 of the respective parameters P.sub.35,
P.sub.37 and P.sub.57. The ratio L/e is less than 2.
[0075] The example in FIG. 15 differs from the one in FIG. 14 in
that the fibre has two portions 13 and 14 made of two different
materials. The first portion 13 forms an arm of the Y and the
second portion 15 forms two arms of the Y. In a variant, the first
portion 13 may be V-shaped and the second portion 15 Y-shaped.
[0076] FIG. 16 illustrates a fibre 11 in section in the form of a
double blade having two portions 13 and 15 made of two different
materials. The first portion 13 has a circular shape and defines
the core of the fibre 11, the second portion 15 surrounds the first
portion with a central part in the form of a circle and has ends in
the form of blades. The ends narrow and are each connected in
section to the central part by a straight line 30 and a curve 32
that is concave towards the outside. The concave curve 32 has a
radius of curvature R less than or equal to the radius of the
central part of the second portion.
[0077] In a variant, the fibres may be hollow.
[0078] FIG. 16 illustrates an applicator having a stem 4 of
longitudinal axis X, provided at one end 4a with an applicator
member 5 and at the opposite end with a gripping member 6, the
applicator member 5 being formed by a bundle of substantially
parallel fibres 11 according to the invention.
[0079] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
which have just been described, and the characteristics of the
various examples can be combined with one another within variants
that are not illustrated.
[0080] For example, the brush can be subjected to a hot air blower
in order to cause at least some of the fibres to deform. The fibres
can also be brought into contact with a hot surface. The exposure
to a heating means can cause the fibres to curve, on account of the
presence of the portions made of different materials.
[0081] The expression "having a" should be understood as being
synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless specified to the
contrary.
* * * * *