Cosmetic product applicator comprising supports

Abstract

The cosmetic product applicator comprising; protuberances, and at least three supports for said protuberances, the supports being arranged in a non-uniform manner along a longitudinal axis of said applicator.

Claims

1. Cosmetic product applicator comprising: protuberances, and supports including at least three supports which support said protuberances, the supports being arranged in a non-uniform manner along a longitudinal axis of said applicator wherein at least one of the supports comprises at least two through-holes, at least one of the supports is formed by a branching of branches, the branching forming the at least two through-holes; wherein the supports are made along the longitudinal axis of the applicator and at least two of the supports one after the other form a cell between them, the cell crosses a longitudinal axis of the applicator and comprises at least two cells which communicate with each other via at least one of the at least two through-holes in one of the supports.

2. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein all the supports are selected from the group consisting of having a dimension that is different from others of the support, a shape that is different from others of the supports and combinations thereof.

3. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the supports is selected from the group consisting of: having no axis of symmetry, having no plane of symmetry, having a non-planar face and combinations thereof.

4. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein all the supports have a non-ruled face.

5. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the supports is generally leaf-shaped.

6. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the supports are distributed in pairs of adjacent supports along the longitudinal axis of the applicator, each support being closer to the support of the same pair than the other supports.

7. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the protuberances form a generally curved shape or a straight shape and extend from the support.

8. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the protuberances extending from a same support are selected from the group consisting of: not forming a repetitive pattern not being arranged in the same way as the protuberances of the other supports and combinations thereof.

9. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is selected from the group consisting of: having no axis of symmetry, having no plane of symmetry and combinations thereof.

10. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator has no core.

11. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator has an open cell foam structure.

12. Applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator is made in one piece.

13. Cosmetic article comprising an applicator according to claim 1.

14. Method of manufacturing by additive synthesis comprising the following steps: obtaining data concerning an applicator; and performing additive synthesis of the applicator using the data wherein the applicator comprises: protuberances, and supports including at least three supports which support said protuberances, the supports being arranged in a non-uniform manner along a longitudinal axis of said applicator wherein at least one of the supports comprises at least two through-holes, at least one of the supports is formed by a branching of branches, the branching forming the at least two through-holes; wherein the supports are made along the longitudinal axis of the applicator and at least two of the supports one after the other form a cell between them, the cell crosses a longitudinal axis of the applicator and comprises at least two cells which communicate with each other via at least one of the at least two through-holes in one of the supports.

15. A computer file comprising data that can be used by a computer program to control the implementation of a computer implemented method, the computer implemented method comprising: obtaining data concerning an applicator; and performing additive synthesis of the applicator using the data wherein the applicator comprises: protuberances, and supports including at least three supports which support said protuberances, the supports being arranged in a non-uniform manner along a longitudinal axis of said applicator wherein at least one of the supports comprises at least two through-holes, at least one of the supports is formed by a branching of branches, the branching forming the at least two through-holes; wherein the supports are made along the longitudinal axis of the applicator and at least two of the supports one after the other form a cell between them, the cell crosses a longitudinal axis of the applicator and comprises at least two cells which communicate with each other via at least one of the at least two through-holes in one of the supports.

16. The computer file of claim 15 wherein the computer file is stored on an electronic storage medium comprising stored data to implement the method.

17. The computer file of claim 15 wherein the computer file is provided by download on a telecommunication network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) We will now describe one embodiment of the invention given as a non-limiting example in reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-section of a cosmetic article according to one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the applicator of the article of FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B are respectively side and perspective views of the applicator of the article of FIGS. 1 and 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a view, from its free end, of the applicator of FIGS. 3A and 3B; and

(6) FIGS. 5A to 5D are perspective views of a proximal portion of the applicator of FIGS. 3A to 4 showing a pair of supports.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) We will now describe an embodiment of the article and of the method according to the invention, in reference to FIGS. 1 to 5D. We will describe here a mascara applicator but, obviously, the applicator could be used with another cosmetic product, for example nail polish or lipstick.

(8) The mascara applicator 1 described in this embodiment is part of a cosmetic article 2 comprising a cap or plug 3, to which the applicator 1 is rigidly attached, and a case 4 comprising a mascara container 5 and a wiper 6 (see FIG. 1) housed in a collar of the container on which the cap can be removably attached, for example screwed, to close the container and the article. The applicator thus extends in the container and is immersed in the mascara.

(9) Obviously, other types of article with mascara applicators can be considered such as for example “pen” type articles in which the applicator is not connected to a cap or articles in which the applicator is not immersed in the mascara reserve when not used.

(10) The applicator is carried by a rod 8 which connects it to the cap 3. The article has a cylindrical general shape of circular, square or elliptical cross-section, and is elongated along its longitudinal axis 9. The rod 8 has a cylindrical general shape and its longitudinal axis is coincident with the longitudinal axis 9 of the applicator. The rod and the applicator are connected together by one of their ends (see FIG. 3A).

(11) The article could have other general shapes, for example a spherical, parallelepiped or cubic general shape.

(12) The Applicator

(13) The applicator comprises protuberance supports 10 and protuberances 11. In the present case, the applicator 1 comprises twelve protuberance supports 10, each comprising between ten and thirty protuberances 11. Obviously, the number of supports 10 and the number of protuberances may vary. There could be a lower number of supports, for example five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or eleven, or a greater number of supports, for example fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, etc. There could also be a greater number of protuberances on a same support, for example thirty-five, forty or forty-five, or a lower number, for example between one and ten.

(14) Each support is flat in this case so as to have two faces opposite one another. In the present example, each face is non-planar and even non-ruled, and has one or more convex curves and/or one or more concave curves. One or some of the supports could have a non-ruled face. It may be provided that at least some of the supports are flat, or even that all the supports are flat.

(15) In addition, none of the supports has a plane of symmetry or an axis of symmetry. All the supports are different from one another, both as regards their shape and their dimensions. Obviously, all the supports could be identical or at least some of the supports could be identical.

(16) Some of the supports have for example the shape of a tile, saddle, portion of a cylinder, a cone or a torus. One of the supports can have one of these shapes and another support can have another of these shapes.

(17) In the present case, each support 10 is in contact with at least one other support of the applicator and forms with it a junction at at least one point or even along a line or a curve.

(18) The supports 10 are arranged in a non-uniform manner along the axis 9.

(19) Each support 10 has in a median portion a central through-hole 12 from which several branches 13 extend. In the present case, the central holes 12 of the supports 10 are all located along the axis 9. At least one of the central holes 12 could not be located along the axis 9, or even all the central holes 12 could not be located along the axis 9. All the branches 13 of the support are branched two at a time so as to form holes 14 of elongate oval general shape between them. Obviously, the holes 14 could have a different general shape, for example circular, rectangular, oblong, or even have no particular shape.

(20) The supports 10 are grouped in pairs 15 of adjacent supports (see FIGS. 5A to 5D). The supports of a given pair are globally closer to one another than other pairs of supports of the applicator. A pair 15 of supports 10 comprises two supports which follow one another directly along the axis 9 and which merge together, i.e. they have a common junction on at least a part of their respective median portions. In the present case, the applicator comprises six pairs 15 of supports which follow one another along the axis 9.

(21) In this case, most of the supports of a given pair 15 are interlaced. More precisely, if we define an upper face and a lower face of the supports in a pair 15 comprising a proximal support and a distal support, one part of the proximal support will be opposite the upper face of the distal support, and another part of the proximal support will be opposite the lower face of the distal support. Obviously, it may be provided that none of the pairs 15 is composed of interlaced supports, or only some of the pairs are interlaced. There could also be groups of supports comprising a different number of supports 10. For example, there could be groups of three, four or five supports which all merge together at at least a part of their median portions.

(22) Two successive pairs 15 define between them a cell 16. The applicator thus comprises five cells 16. The cell is formed by the curve of the supports of the respective pairs which are opposite one another.

(23) Each cell 16 communicates with the cell immediately before it or after it along the axis 9. This communication takes place via the holes 12, 14 of the supports which form the cells. Obviously, there could be at least one of the cells 16 which does not communicate with any other cell. Each cell crosses the longitudinal axis 9 and thus forms a tunnel. Obviously, none of the cells could cross the axis or one or only some of the cells could cross this axis 9. In the present case, the directions of the cells are radial to the axis 9. The orientation could be different.

(24) In an alternative embodiment, the cells could not be formed by two pairs 15 of supports but simply by two supports 10.

(25) As already mentioned, each support 10 comprises between ten and thirty protuberances 11. These protuberances 11 have a generally curved or straight shape and form in this case spines which extend from the support. On a same support 10, at least one of the protuberances 11 has a shape and/or dimension and/or orientation different from those of the other protuberances. In the present case, each protuberance has a unique combination of these characteristics (shape, dimension and orientation) within the applicator. Several protuberances could have the same shape, dimension and orientation characteristics within an applicator.

(26) Some, or even all, of the protuberances could be formed by fingers, bristles or strands rather than by spines.

(27) The above characteristics give the applicator of this example a disorganised, irregular and ruffled shape. We observe in particular that the supports, like the protuberances, extend respectively in all directions. The same applies for the cells. We also note that it has numerous faces with undercut.

(28) The applicator has no core, making it highly flexible and thus making application more comfortable for the user. This flexibility helps the product to come out of the cells when the user uses the applicator. The lack of a core implies that the applicator structure is self-supporting.

(29) Using the Applicator

(30) Initially, the user handles the applicator 1, holding the cap 3 between her fingers and inserts the applicator 1 into the mascara reserve 5 of the article 2. During this step, the cells 16, the holes 12, 14 as well as the supports 10 and the protuberances 11 are loaded with mascara.

(31) When the applicator is removed from the container and therefore as it passes through the wiper 6, the applicator is wiped but the cells keep all or some of this mascara reserve. This wiping also helps to distribute the product in and on the applicator, the product being able to cross the holes and the cells.

(32) During use, the user brings the applicator up to her eyelashes in order to apply the make-up, using a traditional make-up movement, mostly vertical. The mascara present on the spines 11 and on the supports 10 is thus deposited on the eyelashes. The spines 11 and the edges of the supports 10 smooth this deposited mascara in order to avoid the formation of clumps and also comb the eyelashes. Since each spine, and each support, has different dimensions and/or orientations and/or shapes, the eyelashes are combed in different directions, thus helping to achieve the required “ruffled” effect.

(33) During application, the applicator behaves like a sponge due to its flexibility and releases mascara into the contact areas, i.e. into the application areas, which simplifies the make-up by reducing in particular the number of times that the user needs to reinsert the applicator into the container by directing the mascara into places where it is required.

(34) More specifically, when the applicator 1 is pressed against an area of the eyelashes, it is compressed locally due to its flexibility. The mascara present in a cell 16 near this compression area is thus directed towards the application area. This mascara can spread in particular, from its cell 16 onto the support(s) 10 forming the cell then onto the spines 11 and is thus available for application. The holes 14, 12 of the supports also allow the mascara to spread from one support to another within the applicator, making it possible in particular to use mascara which is relatively far away from the application area.

(35) The Manufacturing Method

(36) The applicator described above is manufactured in one piece. More particularly, this applicator is manufactured in this case by additive synthesis, also known as 3D printing.

(37) Any suitable material can be used to manufacture the applicator. It may be a plastic, for example a polyamide, in particular a polyamide 1102, a PEBA 2301, or an ABS type resin, or a powdered metal such as a stainless steel or titanium.

(38) The material may be rigid but will preferably be elastically flexible. Preferably, the material, in combination with the applicator's shape characteristics, gives the applicator a certain degree of flexibility, in particular at the supports and especially at the protuberances.

(39) Note that the length of a mascara applicator is generally less than 20 mm.

(40) Several additive synthesis methods may be used to manufacture an applicator as described previously. We may mention in particular selective laser sintering from powdered material, and stereolithography (SLA). In the present case, a selective laser sintering method is used, this method offering the advantage of allowing objects of complex shape to be manufactured.

(41) The applicator is first designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software. A file in STL format with the applicator design data is therefore created and then exported. This data determines the shape of the applicator. Other standard file formats for additive synthesis may be used.

(42) This file is then processed by software supplied by the manufacturer of the machine used to carry out the additive synthesis. This software breaks down the file into sections in the form of about hundred digital images in SLI or BFF format, each image corresponding to a layer of the model to be printed, i.e. to a section of the applicator taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis 9. This data is then sent to the printer to produce the applicator.

(43) Once the synthesis is finished, treatments may be applied to the applicator, for example to improve its appearance.

(44) Obviously, numerous modifications can be made without leaving the scope of the invention.

(45) The embodiment described above concerns mascara applicators, but these characteristics can be applied to other types of cosmetic product applicator such as nail polish applicators or cosmetic product applicators for the eyebrows or the hair.

(46) An applicator could have supports distributed in a uniform manner but on which the protuberances are distributed in a non-uniform manner.

(47) An applicator could also have identical supports, each having protuberances organised in the same way, these supports being distributed in a non-uniform manner along the longitudinal axis of the applicator.

(48) The applicator could also have an exoskeletal structure.

(49) An applicator could comprise supports having at least three holes, each having a different main opening direction.