APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A COSMETIC PRODUCT

Abstract

Applicator for applying a cosmetic product to the skin, in particular the eyelids, comprising an applicator member (10), the latter having on its external surface a recess (12) and an applicator tip (15) having a substantially flat main facet (20) extending from the recess (12) towards the distal end of the applicator member (10).

Claims

1-15. (Canceled)

16. Applicator for applying a cosmetic product to the skin, comprising an applicator member, the latter having on its external surface a recess and an applicator tip having a substantially flat main facet extending from the recess towards the distal end of the applicator member.

17. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the main facet extends as far as the distal end.

18. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the applicator member extends along a longitudinal axis, the main facet extending along an axis inclined at an angle α relative to the longitudinal axis.

19. Applicator according to claim 18, the angle α being between 0 and 60°.

20. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the main facet has two rectilinear edges in front view that converge towards the distal end of the applicator tip and form an angle β of between 2° and 45° between one another.

21. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the recess is connected to the main facet by a ridge.

22. Applicator according to claim 21 the longitudinal axis Z of the main facet and the recess forming an angle η of between 30° and 145° between one another at their junction.

23. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the recess forms an indentation that extends from the main facet in the direction of a proximal end of the applicator member.

24. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the applicator tip has at least two flat side facets that extend from the main facet towards the back of the applicator tip.

25. Applicator according to claim 16, wherein the applicator tip has, on its face away from the main facet, a back surface that forms the back of the applicator tip.

26. Applicator according to claim 25, the back surface being defined at least by a cone or a cylinder portion.

27. Applicator according to claim 25, the back surface comprising a notch.

28. Applicator according to claim 25, the notch overlying with the recess over a length l lying between 2 and 3 mm when measured along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member.

29. Applicator according to claim 16, which comprises a handle that is provided at its end with the applicator member.

30. Applicator according to claim 29, wherein the handle is hollow and forms a reservoir containing the cosmetic product, the applicator member comprising, on its proximal side, a mounting end piece, the mounting end piece of the applicator member being inserted at least partially into the opening in the handle and extending at least partially into the reservoir.

31. Applicator according to claim 29, wherein the handle is rectilinear or curved, the main facet extending along a longitudinal axis.

32. Applicator according to claim 29, wherein the applicator tip extends from one end of the handle, the end of the handle extending, at its junction with the applicator tip, along a longitudinal axis, the main facet extending along an axis that forms a non-zero angle θ with the axis.

33. Applicator according to claim 25, wherein the thickness e of the applicator member at the indentation is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.

34. Assembly comprising an applicator according to claim 16 and a container containing the product to be applied, the container being separate from the applicator.

35. Makeup method comprising the step of applying or dabbing a cosmetic product onto the skin with the applicator according to claim 16, the distal end being oriented towards the outside of the face or the applicator being inclined slightly upwards at the end of the line, in order to extend the line with a flick towards the outside of the face.

Description

[0071] 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:

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a perspective and partial view of an applicator according to the invention,

[0073] FIG. 2 shows more particularly the applicator member of the applicator from FIG. 1,

[0074] FIG. 3 is a partial view of the applicator member from FIG. 2 along the arrow

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the applicator member along the arrow IV,

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the applicator tip on V-V in FIGS. 3 and 4,

[0077] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a variant applicator tip according to the invention,

[0078] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the main facet of the example in FIGS. 2 to 4,

[0079] FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIG. 7 of variant main facets according to the invention,

[0080] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a side view of a variant applicator according to the invention,

[0081] FIG. 11 is a top view along XI in FIG. 10,

[0082] FIG. 12 shows an assembly according to the invention,

[0083] FIG. 13 shows an example of a makeup result produced with the applicator according to the invention,

[0084] FIG. 14 shows a perspective and partial view of another variant applicator according to the invention,

[0085] FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the applicator of FIG. 14,

[0086] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the applicator of FIG. 14,

[0087] FIG. 17 is back view of the applicator of FIG. 14, and

[0088] FIG. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the applicator tip along XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 15.

[0089] FIG. 1 shows an applicator 2 according to the invention, comprising a handle 5 and an applicator member 10 extending along an axis X.

[0090] Preferably, the handle 5 is rectilinear, but it may also be curved.

[0091] In the example in FIGS. 1 to 5, the handle 5 is hollow and contains the cosmetic product to be applied. The handle 5 acts as a reservoir.

[0092] The applicator member 10 comprises a mounting end piece 23 which is inserted into an opening 11 in the handle 5 and extends at least partially into the latter in order to be in contact with the cosmetic product.

[0093] The applicator member 10 is porous so as to allow the cosmetic product to reach, in particular by capillary action, the surface used for application.

[0094] The applicator member 10 is for example a porous material, in particular a felt.

[0095] The applicator member may be made of a mixture of polyamide and polyurethane resin, or of polyolefin, in particular of polyethylene.

[0096] The applicator may comprise a closure cap, not shown, that is attached to the handle 5 and thus covers the applicator member 10.

[0097] As illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 4, the applicator member 10 has, on its external surface, a recess 12 and an applicator tip 15 having a main facet 20. The latter extends from the recess 12 to the distal end 25 of the applicator member 10.

[0098] Preferably, the width l of the main facet 20 decreases towards the distal end 25 of the applicator tip 15, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0099] The width l of the main facet 20, at a given abscissa on the longitudinal axis X, can define, in front view, the width of the applicator tip 15.

[0100] The greatest width l.sub.max of the main facet 20 is preferably less than or equal to 10 mm, better still between 2 mm and 5 mm.

[0101] The length D of the applicator tip 15 is for example between 3 and 20 mm, better still between 5 mm and 15 mm.

[0102] Preferably, the main facet 20 is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis X. The main facet 20 extends along an axis Z that forms an angle α of preferably between 0 and 60°, better still between 0 and 45°, even better still between 2° and 45°, with the axis X.

[0103] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main facet 20 has two rectilinear main edges 35a and 35b that converge at the distal end 25 of the applicator tip 15 and form an angle β of between 2° and 45°, better still between 5° and 45°, even better still between 15° and 30°, between one another. Preferably, the edges 35a and 35b are symmetrical with respect to the axis Z.

[0104] The main facet 20 can also comprise two rectilinear secondary edges 37a and 37b that each extend from one of the edges 35a or 35b to the recess 12.

[0105] Preferably, the main facet 20 is symmetrical with respect to its axis Z and can have a substantially triangular shape, as illustrated.

[0106] As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the applicator tip 15 can comprise two side facets 40a and 40b that extend from the main facet 20 to the back 43 of the applicator tip 15.

[0107] The width of the side facets 40a and 40b preferably decreases in the direction of the distal end 25. In cross section, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the side facets 40a and 40b converge in the direction of the back 43 of the applicator tip 15, forming an angle δ of preferably between 5 and 50° between one another.

[0108] The applicator tip 15 preferably has, on its face away from the main facet 20, a back surface 45. The back surface 45 can be an outwardly convex surface, for example a cone portion in the variant illustrated in the FIG. 5, that forms the back 43 of the applicator tip 15. This convex surface 45 is attached to the side facets 40a and 40b.

[0109] Preferably, the back 43 of the applicator tip 15 extends at its apex along an axis Q which is for example rectilinear and forms a cone generatrix with an angle ε of less than or equal to 10°, better still less than or equal to 5°, with the axis X of the applicator member 10.

[0110] The applicator tip 15 forms an apex angle γ, the angle γ being the angle formed between the axis Q of the back 43 of the applicator tip 15 and the axis Z of the main facet 20, being equal to α+ε.

[0111] The recess 12 and the main facet 20 can form a ridge 13 between one another.

[0112] Preferably, the facet 20 and the indentation 30 form an angle η of between 30° and 145°, better still between 80° and 130°, between one another, as illustrated in FIG. 4, at the recess 12.

[0113] Preferably, the indentation 30 has a rounded shape in side view, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The bottom of the indentation 30 has for example a radius of curvature r of between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, better still between 1 mm and 2 mm.

[0114] Preferably, the thickness e of the applicator member 10 at the bottom of the indentation is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, better still between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0115] Preferably, the ridge 13 is rectilinear, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

[0116] The mounting end piece 23 preferably has a shape substantially in the form of a cylinder of revolution, preferably with a chamfer 50 at its end to make it easier to introduce into the opening 11 in the handle 5.

[0117] The diameter E of the mounting end piece 23 is for example between 2 and 20 mm, in particular between 2 and 10 mm.

[0118] In the variant illustrated in FIG. 6, the applicator tip 15 does not have side facets. The convex surface 45 can then extend directly to the main edges 35a and 35b of the main facet 20.

[0119] In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the main side edges 35a and 35b extend from the distal end 25 to the recess 12, such that the main facet 20 has a triangular shape.

[0120] In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the main side edges 35a and 35b extend from the distal end 25 to the edge that delimits the recess 12. The ridge 13 has a curved shape, in particular a circular concave shape towards the proximal end 25 with a radius p of between 1 mm and 10 mm. The main facet 20 then has more or less the overall shape of a droplet.

[0121] In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, the handle 5 has a curved profile, being bent in a median plane M.

[0122] The handle 5 has a portion A of convex curvature towards the side of the main facet 20 and a portion B of concave curvature towards the side of the main facet 20, in the plane M.

[0123] Preferably, the applicator tip 15 extends, as illustrated, directly from the distal end 60 of the handle 5. Preferably, the applicator tip 15 is attached to the handle 5 by the back of its proximal part, such that the main facet 20 is on the side away from that of the handle 5.

[0124] The distal end of the handle 5 extends along a longitudinal axis T and the axis Z along which the main facet 20 extends can form an angle θ of between 20° and 90°, better still between 30° and 70°, even better still between 50° and 70°, with the axis T.

[0125] The recess 12 is bordered on one side by the applicator facet 20 and formed on the other by the distal end 60 of the handle 5.

[0126] The recess 13 presents a break of slope relative to the main facet 20. Preferably, in this example, the axis Q of the back of the applicator tip 15 forms an angle δ of between 10° and 90°, better still between 30° and 80°, with the axis T.

[0127] The handle 5 can be disposed entirely beneath the plane S of the main facet 20, such that the user is not impeded by his or her hand during the application of the cosmetic product.

[0128] The applicator member 10, better still the applicator 2, is preferably made of an elastomeric material, in particular of SEBS or polyester, and can be flocked on its surface.

[0129] The handle 5 does not contain the reservoir.

[0130] The product can be contained, as illustrated in FIG. 12, in a container 100 separate from the applicator 2.

[0131] The container 100 can be closed by a lid 105.

[0132] During use of the applicator 2, the user can dab his or her skin, or draw one or more lines with the applicator 2 until the desired makeup effect has been obtained.

[0133] For example, in the case of application to the eyelids, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the user can draw a line by applying the main facet 20 to the eyelid at the inner corner C1 of the eye and by moving it towards the outer corner C2 of the eye along the eyelid.

[0134] Preferably, the applicator 2 is held such that its applicator tip 15 is oriented towards the outside of the face, the axis Z of the main facet 20 being approximately parallel to the eyelid. Such handling makes it possible to finish off the line neatly, in particular to produce a rising flick V, as illustrated in FIG. 13, by orienting the applicator tip 15 slightly upwards at the end of the line, this flick V narrowing towards the outside of the face.

[0135] In the variant illustrated in FIG. 14, the applicator member 10 comprises a cylindrical proximal portion 22 adjacent to the endpiece 23. The recess 12 is bordered on one side by the cylindrical proximal portion 22, as can be seen in FIG. 16 and on the other side by the main facet 20, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0136] The back surface 45 comprises a cylinder portion in the variant illustrated in the FIG. 16. The back 43 of the applicator tip extends along a direction parallel to the axis of the applicator member X, i.e. γ=α.

[0137] The applicator member 10 further differs from the variant illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 at least in the fact that the back surface 45 of the applicator member comprises a notch 61.

[0138] In a cross-section perpendicular to the axis X of the applicator member 10, the back surface 45 may have a shape of a truncated arc as illustrated in FIG. 18.

[0139] The notch 61 may have a rounded shape in a side view as illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0140] The notch 61 is preferably offset relative to the recess 12 so that over a length l of the applicator member 10 on which the notch 61 overlies with the recess 12, the thickness e of the applicator member 10 is substantially constant.

[0141] The length l lies preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm.

[0142] Preferably in a side view as represented in FIG. 16, the depth d of the notch relative to the back 43 of the applicator member 10 is such that the back surface 45 presents zones 62a and 62b of strip shape between the notch 61 and the respective side facets 40a and 40b.

[0143] Preferably, the length L of the recess 12, measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member 10, lies between 5.5 mm and 7 mm.

[0144] Preferably, the length S of the notch 61, measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member 10, lies between 6.5 mm and 7.5 mm.

[0145] The notch 61 preferably has droplet-shape when viewed from the back side of the applicator member 61, as illustrated in FIG. 17.

[0146] The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described, the characteristics of which can be combined with one another as parts of variants which are not illustrated.

[0147] It is possible in particular to have a curved handle containing the product to be applied, the applicator having an applicator member made of a porous material or an applicator comprising a feed duct for product.

[0148] The expression “comprising a” is synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary.