U.S. patent number RE37,931 [Application Number 09/985,586] was granted by the patent office on 2002-12-10 for deformable applicator with capillary feed.
This patent grant is currently assigned to L'Oreal. Invention is credited to Jean-Louis H. Gueret.
United States Patent |
RE37,931 |
Gueret |
December 10, 2002 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Deformable applicator with capillary feed
Abstract
Applicator including a reservoir containing a substance to be
applied, a cap intended to close the reservoir and supporting a
stopper including an applicator holder supporting a deformable
element for applying the substance. The deformable element has a
shape memory, i.e., can return to its original shape after being
deformed, and a roughened surface. The reservoir holding the
substance includes an end-piece having a base equipped with a seat
including at least one capillary orifice against which the
deformable element deforms when the reservoir is closed by the
cap.
Inventors: |
Gueret; Jean-Louis H. (Paris,
FR) |
Assignee: |
L'Oreal (Paris,
FR)
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Family
ID: |
9444288 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/985,586 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
194919 |
Feb 14, 1994 |
05492426 |
Feb 20, 1996 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Feb 22, 1993 [FR] |
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93 01985 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/126; 401/119;
401/130; 401/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
33/00 (20130101); A45D 34/045 (20130101); A45D
40/265 (20130101); A45D 2200/1018 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
34/04 (20060101); A45D 33/00 (20060101); A45D
40/26 (20060101); A45D 034/00 (); A45D
040/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/119,126,130,123,148 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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92 07 228.3 |
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Aug 1992 |
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DE |
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41 15 275 |
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Nov 1992 |
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DE |
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0263329 |
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Apr 1988 |
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EP |
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0 380 182 |
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Aug 1990 |
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EP |
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1131324 |
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Feb 1957 |
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FR |
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1329881 |
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Dec 1965 |
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FR |
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2 256 739 |
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Aug 1975 |
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FR |
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2 314 686 |
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Jan 1977 |
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FR |
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2 486 375 |
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Jan 1982 |
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FR |
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2 603 780 |
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Mar 1988 |
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FR |
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12662 |
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1909 |
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GB |
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Other References
English Abstract for 22 56 739..
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Primary Examiner: Walczak; David J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,
Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Claims
I claim:
1. Applicator comprising: a reservoir for containing a substance to
be applied; a cap engageable with the reservoir for closing the
reservoir; and an applicator holder supporting a deformable element
for applying the substance, said deformable element being movable
between a first configuration when the cap is disengaged from the
reservoir, and a second configuration deformed relative to the
first configuration, when the cap is engaged with and closes the
reservoir, wherein the deformable element has a roughened surface,
and wherein the reservoir includes an end-piece having a base
equipped with a seat including a capillary orifice against which
the deformable element is applied, .Iadd.wherein the deformable
element .Iaddend.assumes the second deformed configuration when the
reservoir is closed by the cap, and collects through capillary
action the substance.
2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the capillary orifice
is circular and has a diameter between 0.5 and 3 mm.
3. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the capillary orifice
is a slit having a cross-section of between 0.2 and 7 mm.sup.2.
4. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an end of the
deformable element which cooperates with the seat and the orifice
is flat.
5. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an end of the
deformable element which cooperates with the seat and the orifice
is conical.
6. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an end of the
deformable element which cooperates with the seat and the orifice
is round.
7. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the applicator
holder supporting the deformable element comprises a hollow
rod.
8. Applicator according to claim 7, wherein the applicator holder
supporting the deformable element comprises a rigid support sleeve
in the shape of an ogive.
9. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the applicator
holder supporting the deformable element comprises a solid rod.
10. Applicator according to claim 9, wherein the solid rod is
equipped, at an end thereof, with a stiffening element of elongate
shape for guiding the deformable element during movement between
the first and second configurations.
11. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the end-piece
is supported relative to the reservoir by a spacer element which is
integral with the reservoir and through which the applicator holder
passes.
12. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the orifice
opens out in the reservoir along a flared, frustoconical portion
which serves as a capillary reservoir.
13. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the end-piece
is made of semi-rigid material.
14. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the end-piece
is made of a rigid material.
15. Applicator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the deformable
element is made of a low-hardness elastomer in the form of an
open-cell foam..Iadd.
16. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the seat includes a
plurality of capillary orifices against which the deformable
element is applied..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an applicator intended for local
treatment of the skin; such a treatment is, for example, treatment
for spots or for blotches. The aim of the invention is to provide
an applicator which is capable of delivering an infinitesimal dose
directly to the skin in a very precise manner and of additionally
permitting the massage of the skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, such an applicator includes a
reservoir which contains a substance to be applied, a cap which is
intended to close the reservoir, and an applicator holder
supporting a deformable element for applying the substance, the
element being made of foam or of low-hardness elastomer, and is
characterized by the fact that the deformable element has a
roughened surface and is provided with a substantial shape memory,
and in that the reservoir holding the substance is limited by a
finger-shaped capillary end-piece having a base equipped with a
seat which is pierced with at least one capillary orifice against
which the deformable element is applied and deformed in the
position in which the reservoir is closed by the cap.
The application element advantageously includes a foam with open
cells which communicate with one another when the deformable
element is not deformed.
By virtue of this arrangement, when the deformable element is
compressed on the seat of the base of the capillary end-piece, its
surface in contact with the seat is increased; when the applicator
is opened, that is to say when the cap is separated from the
reservoir, the deformable element recovers its initial shape which
it has in the free state and creates a suction effect which draws
up the drop of substance, held hitherto by capillary on that face
of the base of the capillary end-piece which is opposite the one
bearing the seat, on account of the presence of the capillary
orifice.
The design of the applicator according to the invention permits, in
a simple manner, the provision of several functions. The deformable
element compressed on the seat ensures the sealing of the
reservoir. The considerable shape memory of the deformable element
permits the function of pumping and suctioning of the substance.
The flexibility of the deformable element permits a local massage
of the skin.
The capillary orifice, of which there is at least one, is
advantageously circular and its diameter is between 0.5 and 3 mm;
alternatively, the capillary orifice, of which there is at least
one, is a slit having a cross-section of between 0.2 and 7
mm.sup.2.
The end of the deformable element which cooperates with the seat
and the orifice is flat, or in the shape of a conical tip, or
round.
The applicator holder supporting the deformable element preferably
includes a hollow rod; alternatively, it includes a rigid support
sleeve in the shape of an ogive.
According to another alternative, the applicator holder includes, a
rigid solid rod; the solid rod is advantageously equipped, at its
end, with a stiffening element of elongate shape for guiding the
deformable element during its deformation.
The capillary end-piece is supported by a spacer element which is
integral with the reservoir and through which the applicator holder
passes.
According to a preferred embodiment, the capillary orifice opens
into the reservoir along a flared, frustoconical portion which
serves as a capillary reservoir. The dimensions of the capillary
orifice will be adjusted depending on the viscosity of the
substance to be applied.
The capillary end-piece is advantageously made of semi-rigid
material; alternatively, the end-piece is made of a rigid
material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to permit a better understanding of the subject-matter of
the invention, a description will now be given, by way of a purely
illustrative and non-limiting example, of an embodiment thereof
which is shown in the attached drawings:
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an applicator according to
the invention;
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but the applicator is shown in the
open position;
FIGS. 3 to 5 are partial sections showing the respective positions
of the deformable element during the functioning as a capillary
pump;
FIGS. 6 to 8 each show an alternative of the deformable element for
an applicator according to the invention;
FIGS. 9 to 11 each show an alternative of the applicator holder
supporting an alternative of the deformable element, for an
applicator according to the invention;
FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of an alternative of the
applicator according to the invention;
FIG. 13 is a view along XIII--XIII in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view of an alternative of the
applicator according to FIG. 12;
FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of another applicator according
to the invention;
FIGS. 16/I to 16/V show different cross-sectional shapes of the
capillary orifice;
FIGS. 17 and 18 represent, in longitudinal section, two
alternatives of the capillary orifice;
FIG. 19 is a partial sectional view of another alternative of the
applicator according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to FIG. 1, an applicator 1 includes a reservoir 2 in the
shape of a cylinder which has a base and is open at one end; a
spacer element 10 of the same cross-section as the reservoir 2 is
force-fitted through this end until a flange 26 of the spacer
element 10, of an external diameter equal to the external diameter
of the reservoir 2, abuts the frontal outer edge of the opening of
the reservoir 2.
The spacer element 10 supports a finger-shaped end-piece 11; to do
this, the spacer element 10 includes an axial cylindrical recess 13
extended via a coaxial passage 14 of smaller diameter, which is
itself extended via a flared area 15 opening to the outside; in
line with this flared area 15, the spacer element 10 has an
external thread 16 on the surface of a cylindrical end portion
which is of a smaller diameter than that of the part of the spacer
element 10 fitted in the reservoir 2.
At the end of the spacer element 10 distinct from the end which has
the thread 16, the spacer element 10 is equipped with an annular
bulge 17 for snap-in fitting; the end piece 11 is housed in the
cylindrical 13; the end-piece 11 is in the shape of a finger and
defines a cylindrical chamber 25 and a base 20: the base 20 has a
seat 24 pierced with a capillary orifice 23; the base 20 is
bordered by a flange 21 for snap-fitting which is of a shape
complementary to that of the annular bulge 17 of the spacer element
10, allowing the end-piece 11 to be joined to the spacer element 10
by snap- fitting. The base 20 of the end-piece 11 is at a distance
from the base 3 of the reservoir 2 for a substance 5 to be
applied.
The applicator 1 also includes a cap 4 represented partially in the
figures; the cap 4 is also in the shape of a cylinder which has a
base (not represented) and is open at one end; a stopper 40 having
the same cross-section as the cap 4 is force-fitted through this
end, the cap 4 itself having a cross-section similar to that of the
reservoir 2; the stopper 40 is fitted into the cap 4 until a flange
45 of the stopper 40 abuts the outer edge of the opening of the cap
4. The stopper 40 has a top 41 in which there is formed a cavity 42
extended via a bore 43 of greater diameter which has on the inside
a thread 44 complementary to the thread 16 of the spacer element
10.
The stopper 40 is integral with an applicator holder 30 supporting
a deformable application element 35 made in this example, of a
foam; the applicator holder 30 includes a hollow rod 31; pierced
with a bore 32, one end of which has longitudinal 33 for holding
the rod 31 in the cavity 42 of the top 41 by forcefitting. The
other end of the rod 31 is equipped with a rigid supporting sleeve
34 in the shape of an ogive holding the deformable element 35 via
its end of smaller diameter defining of constriction 36. In an
alternative which is not represented, the deformable element 35 is
held directly by the hollow rod 31. The deformable element 35 is
made of a material having a considerable shape memory.
In the position represented in FIG. 1, the applicator is closed;
the cap 4 is screwed onto the reservoir, a seating joint 50 being
placed around the rod 31, between the stopper 40 and the spacer
element; in this closure position, the deformable element 35 is
crushed against the seat 24 and the orifice 23. A ball 60 is housed
in the reservoir 2 and permits agitation of the substance 5, if
necessary. The orifice 23 opens into the reservoir 2 along a
flared, frustoconical portion 22. By virtue of the capillary
orifice 23, whose diameter is of the order of 0.5 to 3 mm, a drop 6
of substances adheres by capillarity to the surface of the base 20
opposite the seat 24.
FIG. 2 shows the applicator 1 in an open position, just before use;
in this position, which corresponds to a position in which the cap
4 is drawn back with respect to the reservoir 2, the deformable
element 35 has recovered its initial position; the deformable
element 35 is charged with a part 8 of the drop 6 of substance, the
remainder 7 of the substance obstructing the orifice 23 in which it
is held by capillarity.
The manner in which the deformable element 35 is charged with
substance is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5; in these figures, the
base of the end-piece 11, in which the capillary orifice 23 is
formed, has been represented diagrammatically. FIG. 3 corresponds
to the closed applicator, the drop 6 of substance being held by
capillarity; FIG. 5 corresponds to the position in which the
deformable element 35 is charged with a part 8 of the drop 6 of
substance 5, the orifice being obstructed by the remainder 7 of the
substance 5; FIG. 4 corresponds to an intermediate position in
which a drop 6A is smaller than the drop 6 in FIG. 3, the
deformable element 35 having begun to be charged with substance, as
it gradually recovers its original shape.
The deformable element 35 can have different shapes at rest: thus,
according to FIG. 6, the deformable element 135 has a flat end;
according to FIG. 7, the deformable element 235 has the shape of a
rounded conical tip; according to FIG. 8, the deformable element
335 has a spherical end.
The deformable element has a roughened surface which can be of any
type: it can include a large number of protrusions separated by
small cavities, or of fine circular and parallel grooves, as
illustrated in FIG. 7.
According to the alternatives in FIGS. 9 to 11, the applicator
holder 400, 500, 600 includes a solid rod 431, 531, 631 whose end
is shaped to support the deformable element 435, 535, 635, here
preferably made of low-hardness elastomer; low-hardness elastomer
is understood to mean an elastomer whose hardness is between 15
Shore A and 70 Shore A. This elastomer is made up of open-cell
foam.
According to FIG. 9, the solid rod 431 has, at its end, a
cylindrical recess 432 in which an end 436 of the deformable
element 435 is tightly fitted.
According to FIG. 10, the solid rod 531 has, at its end, an annular
cylindrical recess 532 bordered at the center with a stiffening
element 534 of elongate shape, along the axis of the rod 531, the
axial length of the stiffening element 534 being greater than that
of the recess 532; the deformable element 535 has a cavity 538 of a
shape complementary to that of the stiffening element 534 on which
it is engaged tightly, the end 536 of the element 535 being
likewise fitted tightly in the recess 532; the stiffening element
534 makes it possible to guide the deformable element 535 during
its deformation.
According to FIG. 11, the solid rod 631 has, at its end, a
stiffening element 634, without the annular recess in the preceding
alternative; a radial protrusion 637 with which the stiffening
element 634 is equipped permits a better axial support of the
deformable element 635.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show an alternative of the applicator in which the
capillary end-piece 11, which limits the substance reservoir 2, is
equipped with a seat 24 pierced with several capillary slits 230,
six slits in the shape of arcs of a circle in the example
represented in these figures; these slits can of course have, in
cross-section, any suitable shapes, such as, for example, those
represented in FIGS. 16/I to 16/V; these slits can have, in
longitudinal section of the base 201; frustoconical shapes 231, as
shown in FIG. 17, or partially frustoconical shapes 232, as shown
in FIG. 18, in such a way as to form a reserve of substance. The
end-piece 11 in this alternative is made of a rigid material and
has threads 203 on the outer surface of an upper part 202 thereof;
the upper part 202 is extended downwards via a flared skirt 200
surrounding the seat 24, being at a radial distance from the
latter; the skirt 200 covers the reservoir 2, of the
hemispherical-shaped type, and is made integral with the reservoir
2, for example by adhesive bonding; the reservoir 2 is
advantageously made of a transport material. The threads 203 of the
end-piece 11 cooperate with threads 403 on the cap 4, which also
has, on the inner face of its upper part, an annular sealing lip
404 for sealed closure of the capillary end-piece 11, the lip 404
surrounding a solid transverse wall constituting the stopper
40.
According to FIG. 14, the applicator is similar to that in FIG. 12,
except that the reservoir 2 is a flexible tube connected to the
flared skirt 200, which is in the case shorter than that in the
alternative in FIG. 12.
According to FIG. 15, the applicator includes an applicator holder
30 which is not integral with the cap 4; the applicator holder 30,
which supports the deformable element 35, is made of a plate 301 on
one face of which the element 35 is secured, while the other face
of the plate 301 bears a grip 302, the applicator holder 30 thereby
constituting a sort of powder puff application. The cap 4 has, on
the inner face of its upper part, a central rib 440 intended to
cooperate with the grip 302, by means of which the applicator
holder 30 is applied on the seat 24 when the cap 4 is screwed on to
the upper part of the end-piece 11, by cooperation of the threads
203 and 403 on, respectively, the capillary end-piece 11 and the
cap 4; the cap 4 also has, on the inner face of its upper part, an
annular sealing lip 404 for sealed closure of the capillary
end-piece 11; a transverse plate closes the skirt 200 at its lower
part in order to form the reservoir 2.
According to FIG. 19, the applicator is of the same type as the
applicators described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, except that
the capillary end-piece 11 is made of semi-rigid material, secured
in the neck of the reservoir 2, the capillary end-piece 11 being a
component distinct from the reservoir 2, as described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.
* * * * *