APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC, MAKE-UP OR CARE PRODUCT

Abstract

An applicator for applying an eye-liner, extending along a straight longitudinal axis, including: an application member, in particular an applicator tip, a support carrying the application member, extending along an exposed length along the longitudinal axis of the applicator, a handle defining a gripping surface allowing the user to hold the applicator when applying the product, the handle having at least one cross-section, considered perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the applicator, with a substantially triangular general shape, the handle extending along a length along the longitudinal axis of the applicator, the ratio of the length of the handle to the exposed length of the support being greater than 2, preferably between 2 and 7, and more preferably between 3 and 6, the handle having at least two cross-sections, separate from each other, with a substantially triangular general shape, the two cross-sections being angularly offset relative to each other.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. An applicator for applying an eyeliner, which extends along a rectilinear longitudinal axis and comprises: an applicator member, a holder carrying the applicator member, which extends along a visible length measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator, a handle defining a gripping surface enabling a user to hold the applicator during application of the product, the handle having at least one cross section, taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the applicator, of substantially triangular overall shape, and the handle extending along a length measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator, wherein: the ratio of the length of the handle to the visible length of the holder is greater than 2, and the handle has at least two spaced-apart cross sections of substantially triangular overall shape, the two cross sections of substantially triangular overall shape being angularly offset relative to one another.

13. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the holder extends along a visible length greater than 7 mm.

14. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handle extends along a length of between 40 and 90 mm.

15. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the greatest width of the handle is between 8 and 30 mm.

16. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the ratio of the length of the handle to the greatest width thereof is between 2 and 7.

17. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handle has at least two spaced-apart cross sections of substantially triangular overall shape and at least one intermediate cross section of a shape other than substantially triangular.

18. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handle has at least three facets arranged so as to define the cross section of substantially triangular overall shape, said facets being nonparallel to the longitudinal axis of the applicator.

19. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handle has at least six facets interlocking top-to-tail around the longitudinal axis of the applicator.

20. The applicator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handle has a narrowed intermediate portion.

21. A packaging and application device comprising: a container containing an eyeliner to be applied and an applicator as claimed in claim 12.

22. A method for making up an eyelid, comprising drawing a line on the eyelid using the device as claimed in claim 21.

23. A method for making up an eyelid, comprising drawing a line on the eyelid using the applicator as claimed in claim 12.

Description

[0050] The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0051] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views, in the closed position and open position, respectively, of an example of a packaging and application device in accordance with the invention,

[0052] FIGS. 3a and 3b are perspective views of the handle of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0053] FIG. 4a is a side view of this same handle,

[0054] FIGS. 4b and 4c are views in longitudinal section of said handle, along IV B and IV C, respectively,

[0055] FIGS. 5a to 5c are other perspective views of the handle of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0056] FIG. 6 is a view of detail VI of FIG. 4c,

[0057] FIG. 7 is a view in partial longitudinal section of a variant embodiment,

[0058] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view thereof,

[0059] FIGS. 9a and 9b are perspective views thereof,

[0060] FIG. 10a is a side view of this same device,

[0061] FIGS. 10b and 10c are views in longitudinal section, along X B and X C, respectively,

[0062] FIG. 11 is a cross section thereof along XI-XI,

[0063] FIG. 12 is a view of detail XII of FIG. 10,

[0064] FIGS. 13a to 13c are side views of a variant embodiment,

[0065] FIG. 14 is a perspective view thereof,

[0066] FIG. 15 is a top view thereof along XV in FIG. 13b,

[0067] FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section thereof along XVI-XVI in FIG. 13a,

[0068] FIG. 17 is a view of detail XVII in FIG. 16, and

[0069] FIGS. 18 and 19 are exploded perspective views of the applicator in FIGS. 13a to 17.

[0070] The packaging and application device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises a container 2 containing the eyeliner to be applied and an applicator 3 which, when not being used to apply the product, can be mounted on the container 2 in order to close it, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and can be separated from the container in order to apply the product, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The applicator 3 extends along a rectilinear longitudinal axis X.

[0071] The container 2 comprises for example a threaded neck onto which the applicator 3 can be screwed, the latter comprising a holder 5 carrying an applicator member 6 constituted by an applicator tip.

[0072] The applicator member 6 can be produced in various ways, with a shape which allows the user to draw a more or less thick line depending on the orientation of the applicator member 6 with respect to the eyelid and the direction of movement thereon.

[0073] The applicator member 6 can be formed by a felt tip or by an end piece made of an elastomer material, which may or may not be flocked at its distal end. Examples of applicator members that may be suitable are described especially in the publications FR 2 933 281, FR 2 947 702, FR 2 890 296 and U.S. Pat. No. 7 077 592.

[0074] The applicator 3 comprises a handle 10 defining a gripping surface that allows the user to hold the applicator while applying the product.

[0075] The handle 10 comprises at least two spaced-apart cross sections of substantially triangular overall shape.

[0076] The applicator thus comprises a first cross section, taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator, with a substantially triangular overall shape, situated closer to the distal end 10a of the handle, that is to say closer to the holder 5 and to the applicator member 6. The handle thus has three facets 11a arranged so as to define the first cross section of substantially triangular overall shape. The facets 11a are nonparallel to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator, being inclined by an angle a which may vary relative to the axis X, as illustrated in FIG. 4a. The inclination thereof favors the pressing of the fingers onto the facets and prevents them slipping in the direction of the holder 5. The angle of inclination a may be of the order of 12° at the distal end of the handle 10.

[0077] The container 2 comprises a shoulder 2a, also of substantially triangular shape.

[0078] In addition, the applicator comprises a second cross section, taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X, of substantially triangular overall shape, which is situated closer to the proximal end of the applicator.

[0079] The handle thus has three facets 11b arranged so as to define the cross section of substantially triangular overall shape.

[0080] The facets 11a and 11b are each symmetrical relative to a median plane containing the longitudinal axis X of the applicator.

[0081] The six facets 11a and 11b of the handle 10 are arranged interlocking around the longitudinal axis X of the applicator. The bases of the three facets 11b are situated at the proximal end 10b of the handle, and the bases of the three other facets 11a are situated at the distal end 10a of the handle.

[0082] The handle 10 also comprises a narrowed intermediate portion 14, situated in the example described approximately 1/3 L.sub.1 from the proximal end and approximately 2/3 L.sub.1 from the distal end, L.sub.1 denoting the length of the handle. The handle thus has at least one intermediate cross section of a shape other than substantially triangular, which is situated along the longitudinal axis X of the applicator, between the two cross sections of substantially triangular overall shape.

[0083] The two cross sections of substantially triangular overall shape are angularly offset relative to one another. The angular offset is 60°, such that the vertices of the triangles of the two sections of substantially triangular overall shape are offset uniformly and regularly, as can be seen in the figures. Thus, the handle of the applicator according to the invention has a twisted appearance.

[0084] The handle 10 houses a stopper 13 at the proximal end 10b thereof, more particularly visible in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 6. It is fixed to the handle 10 by snap-fastening, by cooperation of an annular bead with a corresponding annular groove in the handle.

[0085] L.sub.2 being the visible length of the holder measured along the longitudinal axis X of the applicator, the L.sub.1/L.sub.2 ratio is greater than 2, better still greater than 3. This ratio may especially be between 2 and 7, and even between 3 and 6.

[0086] In the example described, the visible length L.sub.2 is of the order of 20 mm. In the example described, the length L.sub.1 is of the order of 85 mm.

[0087] The greatest width of the handle 1 is around 15 mm in the example described. This greatest width is situated in this case at the distal end 10a of the handle, closest to the applicator member 6.

[0088] The L.sub.1/l ratio of the length L.sub.1 of the handle to the greatest width 1 thereof is of the order of 5 in the example described.

[0089] The handle comprises snap-fastening ridges 15 on its inner surface, which are intended for fixing the holder 5 in the handle 10. In the exemplary embodiment described, the handle comprises three ridges 15 each arranged at 120° from one another, and close to its distal end 10a, as illustrated.

[0090] The structures of the holder, of the applicator member and of the container will be described in more detail in conjunction with the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 12, but may of course be identical for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0091] The holder 5 comprises a stem 5a which supports the applicator member 6 at its distal end and an end piece 5b for fixing to the handle 10 at its proximal end, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. This fixation end piece 5b is terminated by a triangular flange 5c.

[0092] The container 2 houses an open-ended perforated sheath 8, beyond which the applicator member 6 may extend a short distance to be loaded with the product P contained in the container. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed especially in the publication FR 2 947 702.

[0093] It is possible for the container to have various shapes, for example an elongated shape with a generally constant outer cross section, which is triangular in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, and in that of FIGS. 7 to 12.

[0094] In the embodiment of FIGS. 13a to 19, the container has a non-constant shape when moving along the longitudinal axis X of the device. The cross section of the container is substantially triangular in shape at its point of attachment to the handle, and circular in shape towards the bottom of the container.

[0095] In the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, the container 2 is separated from the applicator 3 during application of the product.

[0096] As a variant, the container 2 remains attached to the applicator member during application of the product, the applicator member 6 being for example supplied with product through an internal channel from the container 2, the latter possibly being provided with a pump, or else with a free reservoir or a reservoir comprising an impregnated pad enabling supply by capillary action, or with any other system making it possible to force the product to flow through the abovementioned internal channel to reach the application surface.

[0097] The application surface may also be supplied by virtue of the porosity of the applicator member, by capillary action, through the applicator member.

[0098] Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

[0099] In particular, the features of the various examples illustrated can be combined within variants that are not illustrated.

[0100] The applicator tip may be a flocked or non-flocked felt, a sintered product, a brush or a flocked end-piece. The applicator tip preferably has a single, rounded apex. In a variant, the applicator tip is a “double liner”, with two apices, making it possible to draw two lines simultaneously.

[0101] The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary.