U.S. patent application number 15/525139 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-22 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 | 20180049542 15/525139 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52392013 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180049542 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MANICI; Davide ; et
al. |
February 22, 2018 |
COSMETIC APPLICATOR HAVING FIBRES
Abstract
An applicator for applying a cosmetic product, having a stem,
and an applicator member carried by the stem, having a plurality of
fibres, each having a hollow cylindrical body, and at least one
longitudinal rib attached to the body by its base, each fibre being
without axial symmetry in cross section and being inscribed in a
circle (C) of diameter D.sub.2, such that the ratio D.sub.2/D.sub.1
is less than or equal to 1.75, D.sub.1 being the greatest outside
transverse dimension of the body.
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: |
52392013 |
Appl. No.: |
15/525139 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
November 6, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/075892 |
371 Date: |
May 8, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/021 20130101;
A45D 34/046 20130101; A45D 40/267 20130101; A46D 1/0246 20130101;
A46B 9/028 20130101; A46D 1/0238 20130101; A46B 2200/1046 20130101;
A46B 2200/1053 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A46D 1/00 20060101
A46D001/00; A45D 34/04 20060101 A45D034/04; A45D 40/26 20060101
A45D040/26; A46B 9/02 20060101 A46B009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 2014 |
FR |
1460728 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An applicator for applying a cosmetic product, having: a stem,
and an applicator member carried by the stem, having a plurality of
fibres, each having: a hollow cylindrical body, and at least one
longitudinal rib attached to the body by its base, each fibre being
without axial symmetry in cross section and being inscribed in a
circle of diameter D.sub.2, such that the ratio D.sub.2/D.sub.1 is
less than or equal to 1.75, D.sub.1 being the greatest outside
transverse dimension of the body.
16. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein the ratio
D.sub.2/D.sub.1 is less than or equal to 1.5.
17. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein each fibre has at
least two ribs.
18. The applicator according to claim 17, wherein each fibre has at
least three ribs.
19. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein the number of
ribs is less than or equal to 10.
20. The applicator according to claim 19, wherein the number of
ribs is less than or equal to 5.
21. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein at least one rib
extends inside the body.
22. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein at least one rib
extends outside the body.
23. The applicator according to claim 17, wherein the ribs are all
the same shape.
24. Applicator according to claim 17, wherein at least one rib is a
different shape from the others.
25. Applicator according to claim 15, wherein the ribs are evenly
distributed angularly about the body.
26. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein the rib or ribs
extend(s) along the entire length of the fibres.
27. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein the thickness of
the wall of the hollow body is constant.
28. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein the rib or ribs
has/have a substantially polygonal shape in cross section, chosen
in the group consisting of a triangular, rectangular and square
shape, or has/have a rounded shape.
29. The applicator according to claim 28, wherein the rib or ribs
has/have a rounded shape consisting in a semicircular shape.
30. The applicator according to claim 15, having a core formed by
two strands of a metal wire that are twisted together, the fibres
being clamped between the metal strands.
31. A packaging and application device having: a reservoir
containing the cosmetic product to be applied, an applicator
according to claim 15.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an applicator for applying
a cosmetic product to human keratin materials, in particular the
eyelashes and/or eyebrows, the nails or the lips, and to a device
having the applicator and a reservoir of cosmetic product. The
invention also relates to a cosmetic treatment process with the aid
of the applicator.
[0002] The invention is concerned more particularly with
applicators that have a stem and, at one end thereof, an applicator
member having fibres for applying the product to the keratin
materials.
[0003] A large number of applicators of this type, in which the
brush has a core formed by two arms of a metal wire that are
twisted together and grip fibres, or have fibres that form a bundle
of substantially parallel fibres, are known.
[0004] Patent Applications FR 2 898 782, FR 2 847 436, BE 638 856
describe an applicator having hollow cylindrical fibres with a
circular or square section.
[0005] European Patent Application EP 2 796 532 relates to fibres
having at least one depression and having a helical groove.
[0006] Applications US 2005/0268415 and EP 0 130 611 relate to
fibres having two longitudinal cavities.
[0007] International Application WO 2012/137134 describes a fibre
with a symmetric shape along its longitudinal axis and a hollow
cross section. The fibre has a hollow body in the form of a
cylinder of revolution and, in cross section, six identical
protruding reliefs, with a substantially rectangular shape, that
extend towards the outside from the body and are evenly distributed
around the body.
[0008] European Patent Application EP 1 034 722 relates to an
applicator having fibres. Each fibre has a central core that has at
least two fringes on its surface. The latter can be evenly
distributed around the core of the fibre and be curved. Preferably,
the central core is hollow.
[0009] There is a need to further improve applicators for applying
a cosmetic product to human keratin materials.
[0010] Therefore, a subject of the invention is an applicator for
applying a cosmetic product, having: [0011] a stem, and [0012] an
applicator member carried by the stem, having a plurality of
fibres, each having: [0013] a hollow cylindrical body, and [0014]
at least one longitudinal rib attached to the body by its base,
each fibre being without axial symmetry in cross section and being
inscribed in a circle of diameter D.sub.2, such that the ratio
D.sub.2/D.sub.1 is less than or equal to 1.75, D.sub.1 being the
greatest outside transverse dimension of the body.
[0015] The hollow cylindrical body has a closed contour in cross
section.
[0016] The fact that the fibres have a hollow cylindrical body
makes it easier for them to deform, this taking place in particular
when the fibres are being fixed to the applicator member. The fact
that the fibres are hollow can also increase the retention of
product.
[0017] The presence of one or more longitudinal ribs can also help
to improve the retention of the product, in particular by capillary
action, and influence the orientation of the fibre while it is
being fixed to the core, in the case of a mascara brush.
[0018] The particular 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 random
directions, this making it possible to break the spiral effect on
the brush and to obtain improved performance in terms of loading
and separation of the eyelashes and/or eyebrows.
[0019] The ratio D.sub.2/D.sub.1 may be less than or equal to
1.5.
[0020] Each fibre may have at least two ribs, better still at least
three ribs. The number of ribs may be less than or equal to 10,
better still less than or equal to 5. Preferably, at least one rib
extends inside the body. This can make it possible to limit the
deformation of the fibre by crushing and thus to modify the
behaviour of the fibre, depending on its orientation relative to
the strands of the core which grip it.
[0021] Preferably, at least one rib extends outside the body. The
fact that the fibres have at least one external rib makes it
possible to have surface reliefs which allow better retention of
the cosmetic product.
[0022] The applicator may have at least one rib extending inside
the body and at least one rib extending towards the outside of the
body. In a variant, all the ribs extend inside the body or all the
ribs extend outside the body.
[0023] The ribs may all be the same shape. In a variant, at least
one rib is a different shape from the others.
[0024] The rib or ribs may extend along the entire length of the
fibres along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
fibre. The rib or ribs is/are preferably continuous along the
fibre.
[0025] Preferably, each fibre has an identical cross section along
its entire length. This allows the fibre to have constant
mechanical properties along its entire length, and makes it easier
to produce by extrusion.
[0026] The ribs may be evenly distributed around the body.
[0027] The rib or ribs may have a substantially polygonal shape in
cross section, in particular a triangular, rectangular or square
shape, or have a rounded shape, in particular a semicircular
shape.
[0028] The thickness of the rib, measured radially, in cross
section at its base connected to the body at its radially outermost
free end, may be between 0.01 and 0.06 mm.
[0029] The greatest width of the rib, measured in cross section
perpendicularly to the thickness, may be between 0.01 and 0.06
mm.
[0030] The hollow body of the fibre may define a single cavity.
[0031] The thickness of the wall of the hollow body may be
constant.
[0032] It is possible for the outer surface of the body not to have
a concavity, when the fibre is viewed with its longitudinal axis
rectilinear.
[0033] The body may have a cross section which is substantially in
the form of a regular or irregular polygon, circular or
non-circular, in particular an oval, elliptical, kidney-shaped,
pear-shaped or cruciform cross section.
[0034] The largest dimension D.sub.1 of the body in cross section
may be between 0.07 and 0.25 mm.
[0035] The fibres may be made of a plastics material, preferably of
a thermoplastic material, in particular polyamide (PA), elastomer,
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), rubber, or mixtures thereof, in
particular a mixture of PA, PBT and rubber or elastomer and PA.
[0036] The fibres are preferably made of a single material.
[0037] The applicator may have fibres with different shapes. For
example, the applicator has two types of fibre, each type of fibre
being according to the invention.
[0038] The different types of fibre may be mixed at random or in an
organized manner on the applicator. For example, a first part of
the applicator has only a first type of fibre and a second part of
the applicator has only a second type of fibre.
[0039] Although the invention applies advantageously to a twisted
wire brush, the applicator may alternatively have a bundle of
substantially parallel fibres and faint a brush of the baleen type
or a fine brush. The stem of the applicator may then be
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.
[0040] A further subject of the invention is a packaging and
application device having: [0041] a reservoir containing the
cosmetic product to be applied, [0042] an applicator according to
the invention, as defined above.
[0043] A further subject of the invention is a cosmetic treatment
process comprising the step of bringing an applicator according to
the invention into contact with human keratin materials, in
particular into contact with the eyelashes, the eyebrows, the
nails, the lips or the skin, depending on the nature of the
product.
[0044] 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:
[0045] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a packaging and
application device,
[0046] FIGS. 2 to 7 illustrate variants of fibres in cross section,
and
[0047] FIG. 8 is an elevation view of another example of an
applicator.
[0048] The packaging and application device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a
container 2 containing a cosmetic 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.
[0049] 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 circular wiping orifice, the diameter of which
corresponds more or less to that of the stem 4.
[0050] 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.
[0051] In the example illustrated, the stem 4 is rectilinear but it
could be curved without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0052] In the example in question, the applicator member 5 has a
core 10 formed in a conventional manner by two twisted metal
strands, this core 10 being fixed at one end in a housing in the
stem 4, being for example force-fitted into this housing.
[0053] The applicator member 5 has fibres 11 which are held in a
clamped manner between the twisted strands of the core 10.
[0054] As can be seen in FIG. 2 in particular, these fibres 11 each
have a hollow body 13 with a cylindrical shape, through which a
central cavity 15 passes longitudinally and which is provided with
at least one longitudinal rib 17.
[0055] Each fibre 11 is inscribed in a circle C, the diameter
D.sub.2 of which is such that the ratio D.sub.2/D.sub.1 is less
than or equal to 1.75, better still less than or equal to 1.5,
D.sub.1 being the greatest outside transverse dimension of the body
13.
[0056] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the fibre 11 has a
body 13 in the form of a cylinder of revolution and three identical
ribs 17 with a substantially rectangular shape that are evenly
distributed angularly on the outside of the body 13.
[0057] The cross section of the fibre 11 is not symmetric about its
centre, but in the example illustrated the fibre is the image of
itself by rotation through 120.degree..
[0058] The body 13 has a closed circular section, with a constant
thickness e between its outer surface 21 and inner surface 19, for
example between 0.01 and 0.08 mm, and with an outside diameter
D.sub.1 of between 0.07 and 0.25 mm.
[0059] The longitudinal ribs 17 extend along the entire length of
the fibres 11 and are continuous.
[0060] The maximum thickness h of each rib 17 taken, in cross
section, at its base 23 connected to the body 13 at its end 25 is
between 0.01 and 0.08 mm.
[0061] The greatest width L of each rib 17, in cross section, is
between 0.01 and 0.08 mm.
[0062] While they are being clamped between the metal strands of
the core, the fibres 11 are oriented differently depending on the
orientation of their section with respect to the strands. A random
modification of the orientation of the fibres can thus be obtained,
and the spiral effect that is detrimental to the performance of the
applicator can be weakened.
[0063] The example in FIG. 3 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in that
the ribs 17 are each substantially semicircular in shape.
[0064] The example in FIG. 4 differs from the one in FIG. 3 in that
the body 13 of the fibre 11 has a polygonal cross section, in this
case hexagonal. The ribs 17 are present for example on every other
side, and are centred on their respective sides.
[0065] The example in FIG. 5 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in that
the fibres 11 have ribs 17a and 17b with different shapes and in
that the body 13 has a non-circular, in particular elliptical,
shape in cross section. The rib 17a has a rounded, in particular
semi-oval, shape and the ribs 17b have a substantially triangular
shape, being situated away from the rib 17a. The ribs 17a and 17b
can have different greatest widths L.sub.a and L.sub.b and
different maximum thicknesses h.sub.a and h.sub.b.
[0066] The ribs 17a and 17b are positioned on either side of the
major axis M of the body 13.
[0067] The example in FIG. 6 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in that
the ribs 17 extend towards the inside of the body 13. The diameter
D.sub.1 is equal to the diameter D.sub.2.
[0068] Such ribs 17 make it possible to modify the crushing of the
fibre in some directions.
[0069] The example in FIG. 7 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in that
it has both ribs 17e that extend towards the outside of the body 13
and ribs 17i that extend towards the inside of the body 13. The
ribs 17i are different shapes, one having for example, as
illustrated, a triangular section and the other having a
rectangular section. Such a fibre makes it possible to combine the
effects associated with the presence of the internal and external
ribs, that is to say to allow good retention of product and to
break the spiral effect.
[0070] FIG. 8 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.
[0071] 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.
[0072] The invention is not limited to the shapes of ribs
illustrated.
[0073] The body of the fibres may have a circular, oval or
polygonal shape, but is not limited to these shapes.
[0074] The expression "having a" should be understood as being
synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless specified to the
contrary.
* * * * *