COSMETIC COMPOSITION REFILL

Abstract

Cosmetic composition refill (20) for a hair treatment device (1), comprising an applicator member (26) initially saturated with liquid cosmetic composition and having an application surface (35) for the composition, said application surface (35) being intended to be placed in contact with a lock of hair during the treatment, and: when the quantity by weight of liquid cosmetic composition initially contained in the refill (20) is greater than 4 g, a discontinuous distribution of the cosmetic composition on the application surface (35) before the first use, with less than 90% of the application surface (35) occupied by the composition before the first use, or when the quantity by weight of liquid cosmetic composition initially contained in the refill (20) is less than or equal to 4 g, a continuous distribution of the composition on the application surface (35) before use, with more than 90% of the application surface (35) occupied by the composition before use.

Claims

1. Cosmetic composition refill for a hair treatment device, comprising an applicator member initially saturated with liquid cosmetic composition and having a composition application surface intended to be placed in contact with a lock of hair during the treatment, and: when the quantity by weight of liquid cosmetic composition initially contained in the refill is greater than 4 g, a discontinuous distribution of the cosmetic composition on the application surface before the first use, with less than 90% of the application surface occupied by the composition before the first use, or when the quantity by weight of liquid cosmetic composition initially contained in the refill is less than or equal to 4 g, a continuous distribution of the composition on the application surface before use, with more than 90% of the application surface occupied by the composition before use.

2. Refill according to claim 1, the initial quantity by weight of liquid cosmetic composition being greater than 4 g, in which the flow rate of composition on paper is between 0.07 g/m and 0.9 g/m on the length corresponding to at least two applications, on the basis of 30 passes per application.

3. Refill according to claim 1, the initial quantity by weight of liquid cosmetic composition being less than or equal to 4 g, in which the flow rate of composition on paper is between 0.07 g/m and 0.59 g/m on the length corresponding to one application, on the basis of 30 passes for this application.

4. Refill according to claim 1, in which the applicator member is entirely porous.

5. Refill according to claim 1, in which the applicator member is made of felt.

6. Refill according to claim 5, the fibres of the felt all being oriented substantially in the same direction.

7. Refill according to claim 1, in which the density of the applicator member is greater than 0.11 g/cm.sup.3 and less than 0.250 g/cm.sup.3.

8. Refill according to claim 1, in which the applicator member has an elongate form, with a cross section in the shape of a rectangle or cross, and with one end forming the application surface intended to be in contact with the hair to be treated, the application surface being flat.

9. Refill according to claim 1, in which the applicator member is made at least partially or entirely of polyethylene, of polypropylene, or of a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene, the mixture preferably comprising between 50% polyethylene and 50% polypropylene by weight.

10. Refill according to claim 1, in which the liquid cosmetic composition is an anhydrous composition of which the viscosity is between 100 centipoise and 600 centipoise.

11. Refill according to claim 1, comprising a body delimiting a cavity that is formed at least partially by two opposite walls and a bottom and that opens towards the outside by way of an opening, said applicator member being partially received in said cavity and extending partially out of the cavity, through the opening.

12. Cosmetic article comprising a closed package and at least one cosmetic composition refill according to claim 1, contained in the package.

13. Hair treatment device comprising: at least one arm, a cosmetic composition refill according to claim 1, which is mounted on the arm.

14. Device according to claim 13, comprising at least one heating element.

15. Method for treating the hair, comprising the step of applying a cosmetic composition to a lock of hair using a device according to claim 13.

16. Refill according to claim 6, the fibres of the felt all being oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated or parallel to a longitudinal direction of the applicator member.

17. Refill according to claim 9, in which the applicator member is made of a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene, the mixture comprising 50% polyethylene and 50% polypropylene by weight.

18. Refill according to claim 10, wherein the anhydrous composition comprises an oil.

19. Device according to claim 14, constituting a hair straightener.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0059] 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:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a perspective and schematic view of an example of a hair treatment device,

[0061] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view on II-II in FIG. 1,

[0062] FIG. 3A is a schematic side view of an example of an applicator member, viewed in isolation, that can be employed in the hair treatment device in FIG. 1,

[0063] FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the application surface on IIIB in FIG. 3A,

[0064] FIG. 4A is a schematic side view of a comparison example of an applicator member, viewed in isolation, not included in the invention,

[0065] FIG. 4B is a schematic view of the application surface on IVB in FIG. 4A,

[0066] FIG. 5A is a schematic side view of another comparison example of an applicator member, viewed in isolation, not included in the invention,

[0067] FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the application surface on VB in FIG. 5A,

[0068] FIG. 6A is a schematic side view of an example of an applicator member, viewed in isolation, that can be employed in the hair treatment device in FIG. 1,

[0069] FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the application surface on VIB in FIG. 6A,

[0070] FIG. 7A is a schematic side view of an example of an applicator member, viewed in isolation, that can be employed in the hair treatment device in FIG. 1,

[0071] FIG. 7B is a schematic view of the application surface on VIIB in FIG. 7A,

[0072] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates two graphs with different curves showing the flow rate as a function of the number of passes carried out on the basis of measurements made on the applicator member from FIG. 3A after different storage conditions,

[0073] FIG. 9 is a graph showing a curve of the flow rate as a function of the number of passes carried out on the basis of measurements made on the applicator member from FIG. 3A under given conditions,

[0074] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates graphs similar to those of FIG. 8 for the examples of applicator members shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B and 7A, 7B, and

[0075] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an example of a ready-to-assemble assembly for treating the hair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0076] In the rest of the description, identical elements or elements having identical functions bear the same reference sign. In order to make the present description concise, they are not described for each of the figures, only the differences between the embodiments being described.

[0077] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a handpiece 2 of an example of a hair treatment device 1.

[0078] This handpiece 2 has two jaws 3 and 4 that are movable with respect to each other between a spaced-apart configuration (not shown) for introduction of a lock of hair between said jaws, and a moved-together configuration, shown in FIG. 1, for treating the lock of hair.

[0079] The jaws 3 and 4 are carried by an upper arm 5 and a lower arm 6, respectively, which, in the example in question, are connected together at one end by an articulation 8, the handpiece 2 thus forming tongs.

[0080] The upper arm 5 and lower arm 6 each preferably have a total length of between 22 cm and 37 cm and define, between the articulation 8 and the jaws 3 and 4, respective half-handles 10 and 11 on which the user can press in order to move the jaws 3 and 4 together.

[0081] An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the jaws 3 and 4 to a spaced-apart configuration, this elastic return member being for example a spring disposed around an articulation pin 8.

[0082] The invention is not limited to a particular manner of connecting the upper arm 5 and lower arm 6 together, and the jaws 3 and 4 may be rendered movable in some other way without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of an articulation is largely preferred for the ergonomics it provides.

[0083] The jaws 3 and 4 define between them a region for treating the hair, said region being intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated, the handpiece 2 being moved along said lock during the treatment, for example in the direction from the root to the end of the hair.

[0084] In the example in question, the handpiece 2 is configured to apply a cosmetic composition, to treat the hair by way of steam and then to carry out a heat treatment of the hair by contact with two hot surfaces of heating elements 15 and 16 that are carried by the upper arm 5 and the lower arm 6, respectively.

[0085] The direction D of movement of the handpiece 2 over the hair, illustrated in FIG. 1 or 2, is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 5 and lower arm 6 and to the longitudinal axis of the device.

[0086] The handpiece 2 is connected by a line 18, in the example in question, to a base station (not shown) that is fixed during the treatment and is connected to the mains.

[0087] This base station provides the electric power supply to the handpiece 2 and also its supply with water in order to generate steam, and may also carry out additional functions of processing electrical signals received from the handpiece 2. The line 18 which connects the handpiece 2 to the base station can thus comprise various electrical conductors and a water supply pipe.

[0088] A user interface (not shown in the figures) can be present on the handpiece 2 so as to allow the user for example to start up certain components thereof, or not.

[0089] The cosmetic product is applied by a refill 20 carried by one of the two arms, 5 or 6, in this case the upper arm 5, which comes into contact with a pressing element 21. The latter may be removable.

[0090] The refill 20 comprises a body 23 and an applicator member 26 disposed so as to come into contact with the hair extending through the treatment region.

[0091] The refill 20 may be fastened to the arm 5 or 6 by any means, notably, as illustrated in FIG. 2, by sliding a rib of the body 23 into a groove with a complementary shape.

[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the body 23 has a cavity 30 that opens towards the outside by way of an opening 31 into which the applicator member 26 is inserted, along an insertion axis X, while the refill is being manufactured. More specifically, the cavity 30 is formed at least partially by two opposite lateral walls 34, 36, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, and by a bottom 37 of the body 23. The applicator member 26 is partially received in the cavity 30 and extends partially out of the latter, through the opening 31. The body 23 may comprise coupling reliefs that extend into the cavity 30.

[0093] The body 23 substantially has an elongate shape along the longitudinal axis of the device. In cross section, the body 23 is U-shaped, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the applicator member 26 may be in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The applicator member 26 thus has a substantially flat application surface 35 that is intended to be in contact with the hair to be treated. The dimensions of the applicator member 26 are for example 8 mm20 mm90 mm, the application surface 35 intended to be in contact with the hair having dimensions of 8 mm90 mm.

[0095] In the example illustrated, the applicator member 26 is porous. It comprises, for example, a mixture of 50% polyethylene and 50% polypropylene.

[0096] In this embodiment, the material from which the applicator member 26 is made is a felt. The fibres of the felt may be oriented parallel to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated, the fibres preferably being oriented substantially in a longitudinal direction of the applicator member, perpendicularly to the direction D of passage over the hair. In one variant, the fibres of the felt of the applicator member are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated, i.e. perpendicularly to the direction D and to the longitudinal direction of the applicator member 26.

[0097] By way of examples or comparison examples, five applicator members have been shown in FIGS. 3A to 7B.

EXAMPLES

[0098] Cosmetic composition C below was prepared from the ingredients indicated in the table below. The concentrations are expressed as weight percentages of active material in the composition.

TABLE-US-00001 Ingredients C Cyclopentasiloxane 94.6 Dimethiconol 5.4

[0099] This anhydrous cosmetic composition has a viscosity of 113 centipoise at 22 C.

First Sample Tested

[0100] FIGS. 3A and 3B show, on its own, an example of an applicator member 26 that can be used in the refill 20 in the hair treatment device 1. This is the first sample E1.

[0101] The density of the porous material from which the applicator member 26 is made is 0.180 g/cm.sup.3.

[0102] In this embodiment, the initial quantity by weight of cosmetic composition C, before use, is 3 g.

[0103] The initial degree of absorption of cosmetic composition C in the applicator member is 30%. The initial degree of occupation of the application surface 35 by the cosmetic composition C, as can be seen in FIG. 3B, is 100%. The distribution of the cosmetic composition C on the application surface is continuous, the cosmetic composition C being shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B by hatching.

Second Sample Tested, Comparison Example

[0104] FIGS. 4A and 4B show, on its own, an example of an applicator member 26 (given as a comparison example) that can be used in a refill in a similar hair treatment device. This is the second sample E2.

[0105] The density of the porous material from which the applicator member 26 is made is 0.210 g/cm.sup.3.

[0106] In this embodiment, the initial quantity by weight of cosmetic composition C, before use, is 10.5 g.

[0107] The degree of absorption of cosmetic composition C in the applicator member is 100%. The initial degree of occupation of the application surface 35 by the cosmetic composition, as can be seen in FIG. 4B, is 100%. The distribution of the cosmetic composition C on the application surface is continuous, the cosmetic composition C being shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B by hatching.

Third Sample Tested, Comparison Example

[0108] FIGS. 5A and 5B show, on its own, another example of an applicator member 26 (given as a comparison example) that can be used in a refill in a similar hair treatment device. This is the third sample E3.

[0109] The density of the porous material from which the applicator member 26 is made is 0.210 g/cm.sup.3.

[0110] In this embodiment, the initial quantity by weight of cosmetic composition C, before use, is 7.7 g.

[0111] The initial degree of absorption of cosmetic composition C in the applicator member 26 is 70%. The initial degree of occupation of the application surface 35 by the cosmetic composition C, as can be seen in FIG. 5B, is 100%. The distribution of the cosmetic composition C on the application surface is continuous, the cosmetic composition C being shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B by hatching.

Fourth Sample

[0112] FIGS. 6A and 6B show, on its own, an example of an applicator member 26 that can be used in the refill 20, in the hair treatment device 1. This is the fourth sample E4.

[0113] The density of the porous material from which the applicator member 26 is made is 0.210 g/cm.sup.3.

[0114] In this embodiment, the initial quantity by weight of cosmetic composition C, before use, is 3 g.

[0115] The initial degree of absorption of cosmetic composition C in the applicator member is 30%. The initial degree of occupation of the application surface 35 by the cosmetic composition C, as can be seen in FIG. 6B, is 100%. The distribution of the cosmetic composition C on the application surface is continuous, the cosmetic composition C being shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B by hatching.

Fifth Sample

[0116] FIGS. 7A and 7B show, on its own, an example of an applicator member 26 that can be used in the refill 20, in the hair treatment device 1. This is the fifth sample E5.

[0117] The density of the porous material from which the applicator member 26 is made is 0.210 g/cm.sup.3.

[0118] In this embodiment, the initial quantity by weight of cosmetic composition C, before use, is 7.7 g.

[0119] The initial degree of absorption of cosmetic composition C in the applicator member is 70%. The initial degree of occupation of the application surface 35 by the cosmetic composition C, as can be seen in FIG. 7B, is 50%. The distribution of the cosmetic composition C on the application surface is discontinuous, the cosmetic composition C being shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B by hatching.

[0120] For all the samples, the applicator members have a parallelepipedal shape with fibres oriented substantially in a longitudinal direction of the applicator member, parallel to the surface to which the cosmetic composition is applied. They are composed of a felt comprising a mixture of 50% polyethylene and 50% polypropylene.

[0121] For the first, fourth and fifth samples, in order to introduce the cosmetic composition C into the applicator member 26, use has been made at the factory of a conventional method for injecting the composition with the aid of needles inserted into the material.

[0122] For the second and third samples, the applicator member has been placed into a composition which it has absorbed. The exact quantity of composition needed has been provided, notably to impregnate the applicator member of the third sample by 70%.

[0123] The initial quantity is understood here to be the quantity of cosmetic composition present in the applicator member or at the application surface before use, that is to say before the first pass over the hair to be treated.

[0124] The degree of absorption of cosmetic composition in the applicator member is understood to be the ratio between the mass of cosmetic composition effectively present in the applicator member and the maximum mass of composition that the applicator member is able to absorb. This degree of absorption is measured at atmospheric pressure of 1.01325*10.sup.5 Pa and a temperature of 22 C.

[0125] The initial degree of occupation of the application surface by the cosmetic composition is understood to be the ratio between the surface area of cosmetic composition effectively present at the application surface and the total surface area of the application surface before use, that is to say before the first pass over the hair to be treated.

[0126] The test to which the different applicator members are subjected entails: [0127] storing applicator members according to the five samples tested under all or some of the following different conditions: 0 month at ambient temperature of 25 C., 0.5 month at a temperature of 45 C., 1 month at ambient temperature of 25 C., 2 months at temperature of 45 C. and 2 months at ambient temperature of 25 C., and, for each sample tested, the applicator member being disposed with the application surface facing downward or upward; [0128] for each of the samples stored under the conditions listed above, performing the flow rate measurement protocol, that is to say: carrying out fifteen passes of 15 seconds each of the applicator member, placed on the treatment device, over strips of paper of 80 g/m.sup.2 from the manufacturer Clairefontaine, each strip measuring 27 cm in length and 10.5 cm in width, a force of 35 N+/2 being applied to the treatment device, in the direction of the strip of paper, so as to deliver a quantity of cosmetic composition onto the fifteen strips. The flow rate of cosmetic composition C can be measured every five passes, for example by weighing the applicator member at every five passes.

[0129] It is important to note that the strips have to be saturated along their entire length. In other words, the applicator member is moved over the strip at a speed of around 1.8 cm/s.

[0130] The result obtained for the first sample has been illustrated in FIG. 8. The result obtained for the first, second, third, fourth and fifth samples, respectively E1, E2, E3, E4 and E5, has been shown in FIG. 10.

[0131] For the first sample E1, one hundred passes similar to those described above were also made on strips of paper, with the applicator member being weighed at every five passes. The resulting graph has been illustrated in FIG. 9.

[0132] FIG. 8 shows two graphs labelled E1B and E1H. The graph E1B was obtained after storing the applicator member with the application surface facing downwards, while the graph E1H was obtained after storing the applicator member with the application surface directed upwards.

[0133] On each of these graphs, and also on the graphs in FIGS. 9 and 10, the abscissa axis represents the number of passes n, while the ordinate axis represents the mass flow rate g of the composition, that is to say the quantity of cosmetic composition deposited on the strip of paper according to the protocol specified above. Therefore, these graphs in FIGS. 8 to 10 indicate the mass flow rate of the cosmetic composition C as a function of the number of passes carried out.

[0134] On each of these graphs: [0135] the curve a corresponds to measurements performed at 0 month of storage at ambient temperature; [0136] the curve b corresponds to measurements performed at 0.5 month of storage at a temperature of 45 C.; [0137] the curve c corresponds to measurements performed after 1 month of storage at a temperature of 45 C.; [0138] the curve d corresponds to measurements performed after 1 month of storage at ambient temperature; [0139] the curve e corresponds to measurements performed after 2 months of storage at a temperature of 45 C.; and [0140] the curve f corresponds to measurements performed after 2 months of storage at ambient temperature.

[0141] The curves h and i in plain dashed lines delimit between them the zone Z of acceptability measured in vivo. If the curves a to f are essentially within this zone Z, then, despite the different storage conditions, the distribution of cosmetic composition can be considered to be stable and uniform.

[0142] Thus, it is noted that the first, fourth and fifth samples corresponding to the graphs E1B, E1H, E4B, E4H and E5B, E5H, respectively, satisfy this criterion. Indeed, looking at the curves on these graphs, it is seen that the curves are essentially located within the zone Z, between the curves Z1 and Z2.

[0143] However, as regards the second and third samples, corresponding to the graphs E2B, E2H, E3B and E3H respectively, these do not satisfy the criterion according to which the curves a to f are essentially within the zone Z of acceptability. Consequently, they are not acceptable for the desired stability.

[0144] The first and fourth samples correspond to a single-use refill, the initial quantity of cosmetic composition C being less than 4 g.

[0145] The fifth sample corresponds to a multiple-use refill permitting at least two uses, the initial quantity of cosmetic composition C being greater than 4 g.

[0146] The graph in FIG. 9 shows the curve illustrating the number of possible passes with the applicator member according to the first sample. One use has been realized after approximately 30 passes. However, when the flow rate is less than 0.07 g/cm.sup.3, the quantity of composition deposited is insufficient. This is why FIG. 9 illustrates the fact that only a single use can be effected, i.e. approximately 30 passes, with the first sample.

[0147] It has thus been found that, for a single-use refill (initial quantity of composition less than 4 g), the best stability of distribution of the applicator member, regardless of the length of storage (between 0 month and 2 months) and the temperature (between ambient temperature and 45 C.), is obtained with an applicator member whose application surface is occupied to at least 90% by the composition, distributed continuously.

[0148] It has also been found that, for a multiple-use refill (initial quantity of composition greater than 4 g), the best stability of distribution of the applicator member, regardless of the length of storage (between 0 month and 2 months) and the temperature (between ambient temperature and 45 C.), is obtained with an applicator member whose application surface is occupied to at least 90% by the composition, distributed discontinuously.

[0149] The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

[0150] Thus, the invention also relates to a ready-to-assemble assembly 200 as illustrated schematically in FIG. 11. This ready-to-assemble assembly 200 comprises a hair treatment device 1 and a cosmetic article 202. This article comprises a cosmetic product refill 20 in a package 204 which is closed so as to avoid, notably, any evaporation of the cosmetic product from the applicator member. In a variant, the package 204 may comprise a plurality of cosmetic product refills 20. In this case, it is preferred for the package to be able to be reclosed so that the other cosmetic product refills do not dry out when a refill is withdrawn from the package. In a variant, in this case, each individual refill is preserved in an individual package, inside a package common to the multiple refills.