Cosmetic Product Applicator

Abstract

The invention relates to a cosmetic product applicator, including a core forming a winding over at least one turn around a main axis of the applicator and along this axis so as to define an internal convex volume extending from one end of the winding to another end of the winding, and protrusions extending from the core. The applicator is arranged such that no part of the applicator, with the possible exception of certain protrusions, is located in the internal convex volume.

Claims

1. A cosmetic product applicator comprising: a core forming a winding over at least one turn around a main axis of the applicator and along this main axis so as to define an internal convex volume extending from one end of the winding to another end of the winding, and protrusions extending from the core, the applicator being arranged such that no part of the applicator, with the possible exception of certain protrusions, is located in the internal convex volume.

2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the winding of the core is helical.

3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the winding of the core has at least two sections with different helix pitches.

4. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core forms less than ten turns around the main axis.

5. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the protrusions form a single piece with the core.

6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the protrusions have different lengths between each other.

7. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core has an inner side directed towards the main axis and an outer side directed away from the main axis, some of the protrusions which extend from the inner side being longer than some of the protrusions which extend from the outer side.

8. The applicator according to claim 7, wherein the protrusions extending from the inner side are between 1 and 5 mm long.

9. The applicator according to claim 7, wherein the protrusions extending from the outer side are between 0.5 and 1 mm long.

10. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the protrusions are elongated and straight and extend in planes perpendicular to the axis.

11. The Applicator according to claim 1, forming a cosmetic product applicator for the skin, the nails, the lips, the eyelashes or the eyebrows or forming a mascara applicator.

12. A cosmetic article comprising an applicator according to claim 1.

13. A method of manufacturing by additive synthesis an applicator, comprising the following steps: obtaining data concerning the applicator, the applicator comprising a core forming a winding over at least one turn around a main axis of the applicator and along this main axis so as to define an internal convex volume extending from one end of the winding to another end of the winding, and protrusions extending from the core, the applicator being arranged such that no part of the applicator, with the possible exception of certain protrusions, is located in the internal convex volume; and additive synthesis of the applicator using the data.

14. An electronic storage medium comprising stored data to implement the method according to claim 13.

15. A method of placing on a telecommunications network a computer file comprising data suitable for use by a computer program for controlling the implementation of the method according to claim 13, in order to download it.

16. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core forms less than six turns around the main axis.

17. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the core forms less than four turns around the main axis.

18. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein all of the protrusions form a single piece with the core.

19. The applicator according to claim 7, wherein all the protrusions which extend from the inner side being longer than all the protrusions which extend from the outer side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross-section of a cosmetic article according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIGS. 2 and 4 are side views in two different positions around the main axis of the applicator of the article shown on FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3 is an end view of this applicator; and

[0044] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the applicator shown on FIGS. 2 to 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] We will now describe an embodiment of the applicator and of the method according to the invention, in reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. We will describe here a mascara applicator but, obviously, the applicator according to invention could be used with another cosmetic product, for example nail varnish, lipstick, eyeliner or gloss.

[0046] 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 the collar of the container on which the cap can be removably attached, for example screwed, to close the container of the article. The applicator thus extends in the container and is immersed in the mascara.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The applicator is carried by a straight rod 8 which connects it to the cap 3. The applicator has a generally elongated oval shape along its main axis 9. The rod 8 has a generally straight cylindrical shape. The rod and the applicator are connected together by one of their ends.

[0049] Obviously, the applicator could have other general shapes, for example a frustoconical shape.

[0050] The applicator

[0051] The applicator 1 comprises a core 10 which forms a winding around the axis 9 of the applicator and along this axis (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0052] In the present case, the core forms three complete turns 11, or revolutions, around the axis 9 of the applicator. Obviously, the core could form a winding having a larger or smaller number of turns 11. For example, the core winding could have one, two, four, five, six or seven turns 11. The core is connected by one of its ends to the rod 8, its other end being free. In the present case, the applicator 1 comprises only one core 10. An applicator comprising a greater number of cores, for example two, three, four or five, extending away from each other around the axis and defining a common internal volume could be planned.

[0053] The most proximal turn 11 and the most distal turn 11 have a substantially equal helix pitch p1 which is greater than the helix pitch p2 of the median turn 11. Obviously, all the turns of the applicator could have the same helix pitch p or they could all have different helix pitches p.

[0054] The core 10 has a circular cross-section in a plane locally perpendicular to the core axis. This cross-section could have another shape, for example oblong polygonal or oval.

[0055] In the present case, the core 10 is solid but it could be hollow and/or its walls could form a mesh.

[0056] The core extends entirely at a distance from the axis. The winding of the core 10 defines an internal convex volume 12 extending from one end of the winding to another end of the winding. In the present case, the internal volume 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape of axis 9, with circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to this axis. This volume 12 can act as a mascara reserve. This internal convex volume 12 could have another shape, for example a conical or frustoconical shape.

[0057] The core has an inner side 13 directed towards the axis and an outer side 14 directed away from the axis. Protrusions extend from these two sides of the core 10. The protrusions 15 which extend from the inner side 13 are longer than the protrusions 16 which extend from the outer side 14.

[0058] In the present case, all the protrusions are elongated and straight. Obviously, at least some of the protrusions could have another general shape, for example a curved, wavy or looped shape. In this case, the protrusions 15, 16 form a single piece with the core 10. This does not have to be the case or only some of the protrusions could form a single piece with the core.

[0059] The sizes of the protrusions are such that the applicator has a substantially cylindrical general shape (see FIG. 3). This offers in particular the advantage of helping to produce a uniform make-up effect and avoids the presence of portions of the applicator which project out, since this could make the user worried when bringing the applicator close to her eye during make-up.

[0060] On most of the core, except on its free end section, protrusions 15, 16 extend all around the core when considering any short section of the core. This creates a high density of protrusions and therefore further improves the make-up effect. In addition, this section comprises both long protrusions 15 and short protrusions 16, so that a given section of the core can be used, by simply rotating the applicator around its axis, to apply mascara on the eyelashes, smooth this mascara on the eyelashes and comb the eyelashes.

[0061] Using the applicator

[0062] Firstly, the cap 3 is screwed onto the collar of the article 1 and the applicator is immersed in the mascara reserve and is therefore loaded with mascara. More particularly, the internal convex volume 12 and the protrusions 15 extending from the inner side 14 of the core 10 are loaded with mascara. The applicator is then closed. The user handles the applicator 1 holding the cap 3 between her fingers and unscrewing it from the collar.

[0063] When coming out of the container, the applicator 1 passes through the wiper 6 and is wiped but all or some of the mascara reserve present in the internal convex volume 12 and the mascara present on the portion of the long protrusions 15 present in the internal volume 12 is preserved. Mascara is also loaded on the short protrusions but a greater quantity of mascara than for the long protrusions is wiped.

[0064] 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 and accompanied by a slight rotation of the applicator 1 around its axis 9.

[0065] The long protrusions 15 deposit mascara on the eyelashes and the short protrusions smooth this mascara and separate and comb the eyelashes.

[0066] The fact that the core 10 forms a winding around the axis of the applicator can provide a certain degree of flexibility depending on the material and dimensional characteristics of the applicator. In this case, during application, the applicator is locally compressed by the eyelashes, which draws out the mascara present in the internal convex volume 12 in this area. The mascara present in the volume 12 is thus even more available for make-up. In addition, due to the flexibility of the applicator, make-up is more pleasant for the user.

[0067] In addition, the shape of the core 10 helps to comb and organize the eyelashes. More particularly, depending on the type of use, it allows the eyelashes to be directed towards the outside, which is a make-up effect particularly required.

[0068] The manufacturing method

[0069] The applicator described above is manufactured in one piece. More particularly, this applicator is manufactured by additive synthesis, also known as 3D printing.

[0070] Any suitable material can be used to manufacture this 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] Note that the length of a mascara applicator is generally less than 20 mm.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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. These data determine the shape of the applicator. Other standard file formats for additive synthesis may be used.

[0075] 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 1 taken in a plane perpendicular to the main axis 9 of the applicator. These data are then sent to the printer to produce the applicator.

[0076] Once the synthesis is finished, treatments may be applied to the applicator, for example to improve its appearance.

[0077] Obviously, numerous modifications can be made without leaving the scope of the invention.

[0078] The embodiment described concerns a mascara applicator, but the same characteristics could be considered on an applicator of another cosmetic product for the eyelashes, or a cosmetic product for the eyebrows, the skin, the nails or the lips.

[0079] An applicator of generally elongated oval shape has been described, but the applicator could have another general shape, for example a generally frustoconical shape.